Author: George Malik

The Red Wings gave Sam Gagner a microphone to wear during the Red Wings’ win over St. Louis on November 24th:

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan makes quite the set of statements in his latest “Octopulse” podcast…

Per the Detroit News:

Ted Kulfan takes a look at the improving Red Wings (12-9-4), who have won four games in a row heading into Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders at Little Caesars Arena and ex-Red Wing Nick Libett is the interview guest on this week’s podcast.

In episode 63 of OctoPulse, Kulfan says Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill is “one of the leading contenders” for the Jack Adams Trophy as NHL coach of the year.

“He’s done a wonderful job,” Kulfan said on the podcast. “He’s guided the team perfectly. He’s been through the bad times just like some of the nucleus on the team.

“They’ve gained a lot of experience the last couple of years. You can tell they’re a much more mature team and he has a really good pulse on this team.”

…

Kulfan said Blashill’s odds of winning the award may be clearer after a difficult schedule in December, which includes road games against the St. Louis Blues (12-8-3), Colorado Avalanche (12-7-1), Carolina Hurricanes (15-6-1), Minnesota Wild (16-6-1) and New York Rangers (14-4-3) and home games against the Nashville Predators (12-10-1), Avalanche and the Washington Capitals (14-4-6) on New Year’s Eve.

“There are not many if any cupcakes at all on the schedule,” Kulfan said. “There’s a lot of tough teams, one after another. We’re going to know more about this team after they play Washington on New Year’s Eve. By that time, they’ll have gone through the gauntlet of a lot of playoff-tested teams here this month. If they’re still sitting where they are now more or less, I’ll take my cap off to them. That will be more of a surprise than even where they are now in the standings.”

Continued; I’m not willing to hand Blashill the Adams Trophy yet…

I love seeing the guys goof around in practice today, per the Red Wings. This kind of joyful play-fighting hasn’t happened in a Wings practice that we’ve seen in a long time.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/Z1dB22Bfip— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 3, 2021

Red Wings forward Joe Veleno and coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media after Friday’s practice, in which Veleno and Danny DeKeyser telegraphed likely returns to the lineup tomorrow vs. the New York Islanders.

Red Wings forward Joe Veleno (upper-body injury) and Danny DeKeyser (COVID protocol) returned to the Red Wings’ practice on Friday, ahead of a Saturday match-up with the struggling 5-10-and-3 Islanders.

After Friday’s practice, Red Wings forward Joe Veleno spoke with the media, as noted by the Free Press’s Helene St. James and DetroitRedWings.com’s Daniella Bruce:

Plan is for Joe Veleno to return Saturday when Red Wings host Islanders. Has missed 3 games (upper body).— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) December 3, 2021

Joe Veleno said he felt good today in a full practice and the plan is for him to be in the lineup tomorrow vs. NYI @DetroitRedWings #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 3, 2021

FYI via hwcJay on Twitter:

Interview with @alexned_ is now live!

We caught up with Ned about his journey to the NHL, being traded by Carolina, why the Wings are surprising people this year, and his philosophy for life.

Episode brought to you by @hockeyfights and @doordash.

?: https://t.co/gLtZaTlppv pic.twitter.com/zTBSEhbR3z— Dropping the Gloves (@dropping_gloves) December 3, 2021

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff praises Lucas Raymond’s maturity, poise and resolve this morning, noting that Raymond “is his own man”:

Raymond’s own assessment of his game also is supplying indications that he treasures being considered an all-around player above all else.

“I think my main thing is to try to go out there and skate real hard,” Raymond said. “I feel like if I’m playing with pace I get into situations with speed and I get out of them with speed as well and get closer to the puck and get the puck as much as possible.

“So I think that’s my main thing coming into games and practices.”

His learning curve is proving to be impressive. He’s a quick study but perhaps more importantly, is the first to admit that he’s a long way from having it all figured out.

“I’m trying to find my game and I’m still learning every day and trying to get better at the areas that are my weaknesses and always trying to improve my strengths,” Raymond said. “But overall, I’m just trying to be an offensive forward who you can count on defensively, who plays hard every night. I’m still working and going to find my identity as it goes on.”

Continued

I’m a little skeptical of this report, but Red Wings Prospects on Twitter notes that EHC Biel goaltender Joren Van Pottelberghe, who is now 24, is doing very well for the Swiss League team, and may or may not have battled his way back into the Wings’ future plans:

DET 2015 4th round pick Joren van Pottelberghe has quietly developed into a top goalie in the Swiss National League. The Red Wings still hold his rights and it seems like they may be interested in signing him at some point.

Source: https://t.co/7EemsWqCf0 pic.twitter.com/4VkqXKIgtG— Red Wings Prospects (@DRWProspects) December 3, 2021

The 6’3,” 215-pound Van Pottelberghe was drafted by the Wings back in 2015, and EliteProspects has his record as 16-7-and-1 over 25 games with EHC, having registered a 2.12 GAA and a .924 save percentage.

I’m not sure whether the Red Wings are really interested in him unless he’d be willing to play in the AHL.

NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika discusses the successes of the Red Wings’ trio of rookies, Alex Nedeljkovic, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider, this morning:

[Nedeljkovic] is tied for the lead in wins among rookie goalies (seven) with Jeremy Swayman of the Boston Bruins. Among those who have played more than six games, his save percentage is highest at .923, and his goals-against average is second-lowest at 2.58, behind Swayman (2.20 GAA in 11 games).

The best part? It’s still early, especially for Raymond and Seider.

“I’m trying to find my game, and I think I’m still learning, learning every day, trying to get better in the areas that are my weaknesses and always trying to improve my strengths,” Raymond said. “But I think overall I’m just trying to be an offensive forward who you can still count on defensively, who plays hard every night.”

[Red Wings coach Jeff] Blashill tries to strike a balance with Raymond, tempering expectations while giving high praise.

“I’m not going to get ahead of myself right now,” Blashill said. “Let’s see. He’s done a really good job so far. He’s a good player. There’s zero doubt. He plays the right way. When he’s been able to produce while also playing the right way, I think that’s the biggest key. … He doesn’t need to cheat to create offense, and so then he earns ice time.”

Blashill does much the same for Seider, praising his offensive instincts and swagger while not getting carried away.

“My thing with Moritz is, like any winning hockey player, just make sure that that offense comes in an efficient manner without big risk, especially on the back end,” he said. “I don’t know what his upside is offensively. I guess we’ll let him prove it on a night-to-night basis.”

Continued

MLive’s Ansar Khan is reporting from Friday’s Red Wings practice at Little Caesars Arena’s Belfor Training Center:

#RedWings practicing before tomorrow’s game vs. Islanders at ⁦@LCArena_Detroit⁩
DeKeyser skating after being out 10 days and missing four games (COVID protocol). Veleno also back after missing three games (upper body injury). pic.twitter.com/eSjdiFUhIq— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021

Joe Veleno is out there for @DetroitRedWings practice today. #LGRW— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) December 3, 2021

#RedWings practice lines:
Fabbri-Larkin-Raymond
Veleno-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Smith-Rowney-Gagner
DeKeyser/Oesterle-Seider
Leddy-Hronek
Staal-Lindstrom pic.twitter.com/1QtgLQTkg3— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021

Joe Veleno is back skating at practice. pic.twitter.com/9MgaG4PbOX— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 3, 2021

#RedWings power play units:
1. Fabbri (net front), Suter (bumper), Larkin-Raymond (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Rasmussen (net front), Erne (bumper), Hronek-Zadina (flanks), Leddy (point). pic.twitter.com/k6UAQrFROh— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) December 3, 2021