Author: George Malik

The Grand Rapids Griffins have posted their weekly press release:

Manitoba Comes To Town

November 9, 2021

This Week’s Games

GRIFFINS vs. Manitoba Moose // Fri., Nov. 12 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena
GRIFFINS vs. Manitoba Moose // Sat., Nov. 13 // 7 p.m. // Van Andel Arena

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM/1300 AM at 6:35 p.m. on Friday, 96.1 The Game at 6:35 p.m. on Saturday

Watch: AHLTV

Season Series: 0-1-0-1 Overall, 0-0-0-0 Home. Third and fourth of eight meetings overall, first and second of four at Van Andel Arena

All-Time Series: 65-34-1-1-8 Overall, 35-14-1-1-5 Home

NHL Affiliation: Winnipeg Jets

Noteworthy: Since the Moose rejoined the AHL in 2015-16, Grand Rapids is 21-10-0-1 against them, including 12-4 at Van Andel Arena, and has outscored Manitoba 100-73. The Griffins are winless in their opening two games against the Moose for the first time since the 2015-16 season.

Ken Kal and Daniella Bruce discuss tonight’s game vs. Edmonton in the latest episode of The Forecheck:

Of Red Wings-related note from my “maintenance day”:

Field Level Media posted a Red Wings-Oilers game preview;

The Edmonton Sun’s Robert Tychkowski posted a Red Wings-Oilers game preview;

The Edmonton Oilers’ Game-Day Preview and set of lines for tonight’s game are being updated presently;

In terms of Oilers press, The Athletic’s Daniel Nugent-Bowman’s “What I believe and what I know” about the Oilers through their first 10 games, Jason Gregor’s game preview for Oilers Nation and Lowetide’s game preview are all solid reads;

Sam Gagner also spoke with TSN 1260 Edmonton for 15 minutes yesterday, reflecting upon his hitting the 900-game mark tonight;

In prospect news, the Grand Rapids Griffins released Max Humitz from his pro try-out;

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe discussed the renewed rivalry between the Toledo Walleye and Fort Wayne Komets;

HockeyNews.se’s Henrik Sjoberg reports that Simon Edvinsson is practicing with the Swedish World Junior team ahead of the Four Nations Cup;

And in Red Wings-related news: The Athletic’s Max Bultman and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted profiles of Tyler Bertuzzi;

MLive’ Ansar Khan and Tyler Kuehl posted Red Wings-Oilers game previews;

The Free Press’s Helene St. James had a conversation with Ken Holland and Marlowe Alter set up tonight’s game;

The Detroit Red Wings held a morning skate today ahead of tonight’s game vs. the 9-and-1 Edmonton Oilers (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit/Sportsnet East/Sportsnet Ontario/Sportsnet West/97.1 FM), and Sam Gagner (who will play in his 900th NHL game tonight) and Jeff Blashill spoke with the media after the morning skate, with coach Blashill revealing that Troy Stecher needs to see a specialist for an injury.

Here are the videos of Gagner and coach Blashil’s media availabilities:

There was no earth-shattering news from the Red Wings’ morning skate ahead of tonight’s pivotal game vs. the surging Edmonton Oilers (7:30 PM EST on Bally Sports Detroit/Sportsnet East/Sportsnet Ontario/Sportsnet Pacific/97.1 FM).

After the Red Wings’ morning skate, coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media…

Coach Blashill raving about Kenny Holland’s patience and who he is as a person and GM. Said he was a great boss to work with during their time together #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 9, 2021

Blashill says Troy Stecher will see a specialist for an undisclosed injury— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) November 9, 2021

Jeff Blashill said Troy Stecher will see a specialist today. Will hopefully have an update in the next couple of days. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) November 9, 2021

As did Sam Gagner, who spoke with Edmonton’s TSN 1260 yesterday for 15 minutes:

Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland caught up with the “Stoney and Jansen With Heather” show on 97.1 the Ticket this morning:

The Detroit Red Wings face off against the Edmonton Oilers this evening (7:30 PM on Bally Sports Detroit/Sportsnet East/Sportsnet Ontario/Sportsnet Pacific/97.1 FM), with the 6-5-and-2 Wings facing perhaps their stiffest test in battling the 9-and-1 Oilers.

The Red Wings took Monday off after defeating the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday; Edmonton comes into Detroit having won 4 straight games, including a 6-5 victory over the New York Rangers on Saturday.

The Red Wings took to the ice first at Little Caesars Arena, per The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

Red Wings lines at morning skate ahead of game against Edmonton

Bertuzzi-Larkin-Raymond
Fabbri-Suter-Zadina
Namestnikov-Stephens-Gagner
Smith-Rasmussen-Erne

DeKeyser-Seider
Leddy-Hronek
Staal-Lindstrom

Oesterle, Rowney extra— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) November 9, 2021

The Red Wings said, “Hello”…

Good morning, Hockeytown.#EDMvsDET, 7:30pm.

? : https://t.co/a1ZFiGyALB pic.twitter.com/m0ye5i6muI— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 9, 2021

FYI:

This Saturday is Military Appreciation Night and we will be giving out the first of our Champion Series bobblehead, with a Mitch Callahan bobblehead! #GoGRG

Tickets >> https://t.co/YjJxKktFsa pic.twitter.com/66VgSjkwkU— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) November 9, 2021

Via Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff comes the first part of a 2-part interview in which former Red Wings GM Ken Holland speaks with Vancouver Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson about his time spent with the Detroit Red Wings:

In a subscriber-only article this morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James speaks with former Red Wings GM Ken Holland, who currently runs the Edmonton Oilers, regarding his former team:

Tuesday will mark the second time Holland will be at Little Caesars Arena to watch his Edmonton Oilers (9-1-0) play the Wings (6-5-2). Holland left the Wings organization in May 2019, less than a month after Holland had stepped aside so Yzerman could succeed him as general manager of the Wings.

“I was a Red Wing for 36 years,” Holland said. “I’m glad we’re in the Western Conference, so it’s only twice a year. I still have a lot of ties to the organization — Steve, the Ilitches, Jimmy D. was my mentor. I have lots of good memories.

“I pay attention to all the teams, but particular attention to the Wings. I’m glad to see them doing well.”

Holland played briefly in the organization before being hired as a scout and working his way up to being named GM in July 1997. He won four Stanley Cups with the Wings, and on the strength of that was named to the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder in 2020. The pandemic delayed the induction ceremony until Nov .

It is a far different Wings team that takes on the Oilers than the one Yzerman inherited in April 2019. Among those no longer on the roster are: Justin Abdelkader, Jimmy Howard, Trevor Daley, Mike Green, Frans Nielsen, Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha. Tyler Bertuzzi and Dylan Larkin (both drafted by Holland) are among the more veteran forwards and rookies Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider (both drafted by Yzerman) are among the team’s leading scorers.

“Seider and Raymond have created a lot of optimism,” Holland said. “I was happy to see Joe Veleno battling for a spot.”

Continued (paywall)