Author: George Malik

As MLive’s Ansar Khan notes, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde, who asks his players to call him “Newsy” (after the Montreal Canadiens legend), was too busy doing his job with his new team to focus on the fact that he’s finally become an NHL head coach on Thursday morning:

“You’re so busy in trying to get everything prepped,” Lalonde said. “More nervous about today just going smoothly. You want to make a first impression with everyone, we want to be sharp with what we’re doing as a staff, which will reflect in our practice and our play. Maybe after our first win we can reflect back on that.”

Jeff Blashill was the only NHL coach Dylan Larkin ever played for, so he admittedly was a little nervous getting on the ice amid some uncertainty.

“Your first day to make a first impression,” Larkin said. “I think that’s so important for everyone on our team. It’s going to be a very competitive camp, but you get a clean slate and a new opportunity to impress a new staff. You got to capitalize on it.”

Lalonde was tagged “Newsy” when he was a goaltender for SUNY-Cortland in New York, after Hockey Hall of Famer Edward “Newsy” Lalonde, who played for the Montreal Canadiens more than a hundred years ago.

“I think there’s some people today in Tampa that don’t even know who Derek is — they only know me as Newsy,” Lalonde said. “I’m comfortable with it. I don’t mind ‘Coach,’ but ‘Coach’ feels very old. It feels a little more personal when guys call me Newsy.”

Continued, with one hell of a compliment for Larkin…

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin spoke with the media today regarding his contract negotiations with the Red Wings, and he was blunt, to the point, and a wee bit evasive regarding his status as an unrestricted free agent-to-be who has yet to re-sign with his team.

As Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff noted, Larkin plain old got to the point…

“I don’t have any updates for you guys,” Larkin pointed out. At the same time, he wasn’t seeking to create any cause for alarm. “I don’t see myself playing anywhere else,” Larkin quickly added.

Larkin’s contract with the Red Wings will be expiring at the conclusion of the current season. If he doesn’t sign an extension with Detroit, he would become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2023.

In May, Larkin’s decision to switch agents as he was entering this negotiating window ended up causing a ripple of concern that he and the Red Wings were far apart in what they were seeking the shape of his new pact to be. Dropping KO Sports, Inc. the agency headed by Kurt Overhardt. Larkin ended up moving to Pat Brisson and the Creative Arts Agency.

Larkin did seek to be adding a note of levity when the discussion was turning to his need for a new contract.

“I think it’s very important to get it done before next season,” Larkin said, “so I can play hockey.”

Duff continues; I’m not worried about Larkin re-signing. Tyler Bertuzzi…We shall see.

Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman spoke with Red Wings vice president of hockey operations Nicklas Lidstrom at training camp in Traverse City, and here’s a rough translation of their meeting:

Lidstrom back on the classic hockey ground

Sportbladet has met Detroit’s new vice president in Traverse City.

Traverse City. For 20 years, he himself was one of the Red Wings who toiled through tough training camps in Traverse City in Northern Michigan.

Now Nicklas Lidstrom stands on a bridge over the ice and inspects those fighting for a place on the team he himself led to four Stanley Cup championships.

“It’s very fun and inspiring to be back in the organization in this role,” says Detroit’s new vice president of hockey operations.

Red Wings play-by-play commentator Mickey Redmond spoke with Bally Sports Detroit’s John Keating today about the differences between training camps of yesteryear and the modern training camp in which the Red Wings’ players are currently participating:

Of Red Wings prospect-related note, in the SHL:

In Rogle BK’s 4-2 win over Lulea Hockey:

Marco Kasper had an assist, finishing at +1 with 2 shots in 15:05 played;

William Wallinder scored a goal, finishing even with 3 shots in 21:07 played;

And Theodor Niederbach finished even in 9:14 played:

Marco Kasper with some quick hands at the net front hits the crossbar but Sheen scores on the rebound, 2-0 Rögle in the 1st period and🍏Kasper #LGRW pic.twitter.com/aySgkSjoUw— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 22, 2022

William Wallinder scores in his second straight game, with a pretty powerplay tally to give Rögle a late 4-2 lead #LGRW pic.twitter.com/QYkbqWSbVd— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 22, 2022

Liam Dower Nilsson finished at -1 in 9:08 played as Frolunda HC won 4-2 over Orebro;

And Anton Johansson was dressed as the 8th defenseman in Leksands IF’s 1-0 win over Skelleftea AIK, but he did not leave the bench, finishing with zero minutes played.

41 seconds, to be exact:

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and coach Derek Lalonde spoke with the media after the first day of training camp:

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a subscriber-only article discussing Simon Edvinsson’s chances of earning a spot on the Wings’ roster, and the five factors which will play into Edvinsson’s battle to become a Red Wing. Among them:

Playing Time: This is the most important factor.  Yzeman usually plays his cards close to his vest, but was candid in saying he wants to be sure that wherever Edvinsson plays this season he will be playing important minutes.

“I want him playing regularly, don’t want him in and out of the lineup, don’t want him not getting an opportunity on special teams, at least one of the units,” Yzerman said.

In other words, If he can’t kill penalties or earn power play time in Detroit, Yzerman would prefer to see him in Grand Rapids playing 22 minutes per night and on the power play and penalty kill.

But with Edvinsson’s size and skating, it’s hard to imagine that he wouldn’t at least be on the Red Wings’ penalty kill. He can certainly can get stronger, but he has some bulk to him.

Continued

From their media availabilities today:

Red Wings prospect Elmer Söderblom is big — but check out his hands 🚨

Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin were impressed pic.twitter.com/cnMQMqhv82— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 22, 2022

first day of camp = plenty of new photos to share 😃 pic.twitter.com/HaC8PjN2g8— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 22, 2022