Author: George Malik

The Red Wings’ “second group” is on the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center this afternoon:

Second group today at #RedWings camp:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
Namestnikov-Filppula-Gagner
Hirose-Rasmussen-Smith
Pearson-Criscuolo (11 forwards)
Staal-Nemeth
Merrill-Stecher
Hicketts-Lindstrom pic.twitter.com/7bk5X7XFrR— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 4, 2021

Photo gallery! Guess who’s back… back again… https://t.co/S21BMOahi0 #redwings #hockey #trainingcamp #nhl #nhl21 pic.twitter.com/o71cH52Kn1— David Guralnick (@DavidGuralnick) January 4, 2021

Jeff Blashill says the Red Wings are considering using Anthony Mantha on the PK this season. He’s been repping on the PK in a couple practices so far, which could give the Red Wings an interesting element in that phase of the game with his length— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 4, 2021

Troy Stecher made a 35 road trip to move from Vancouver to Detroit — it was him and with his Bernese Mountain dog, Phoebe. Stops in Montana, Minnesota and Madison along the way to break up the drive.

“She was a trooper,” he said. “I couldn’t be more proud of her.”— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 4, 2021

Vladislav Nametnikov talked today about playing for the same team as his uncle, Slava Kozlov, whose photo is among those on the wall in the Red Wings dressing room. pic.twitter.com/4YHItSX1ib— Mike Foss (@MikeFossWXYZ) January 4, 2021

Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri spoke with the media for eight-and-a-half minutes today:

????

Full sound from Robby Fabbri on day four of #DRWTC » https://t.co/dsDMXJlegr pic.twitter.com/UUccNrwfcM— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 4, 2021

The Fourth Period posted an article in which Marc Staal’s possible impact upon both the Red Wings’ blueline, and, quite possibly, the team’s trade deadline possibilities, are discussed:

“It’s been a good couple weeks,” Staal said Sunday during a video conference with the media. “I came down with my family around the 15th and had Christmas here. They’re back home in Connecticut right now. It’s been a lot of fun coming to the rink. The last few days have been tough practices; guys work hard, some good energy around the rink. So, I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m excited to be here and be a part of this thing, and I’m looking forward to getting through camp and getting the season off on the right foot.”

The Red Wings finished last in the NHL standings last season by a considerable margin and Yzerman added a number of pieces, including Staal, to help change their fortunes around while still going through the process of a rebuild.

In addition to Staal, the Red Wings added defenceman Troy Stecher and Jon Merrill, forwards Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov, and goaltender Thomas Greiss.

According to Staal, there doesn’t appear to be a concern over last season’s performance in the first few days of camp.

“I don’t feel like this is a group that’s ready to prove something and not repeat what happened last season,” he said. “You can feel that energy in the room, with the guys.”

Continued

Quick update: I’m trying really hard to come back after a week’s worth of being curled up in bed with a sustained anxiety attack. I was able to go out last night to run a couple of errands, and today I just felt that it was important for me to push as hard as I could and see what would happen coverage-wise.

I’m sorry about the last week’s worth of delay, but my anxiety and depression are, despite therapy, psychiatry and medication, still “moderate to severe,” and I have to fight through them every day to work on this blog. I try not to complain and try not to whine and moan, but the sense of persistent anxiety in particular is always present, and it has been for my entire life.

I don’t know how long I’ll be able to “go” for the next couple of days, but I’ll do my best to attempt to “return to normal” (whatever that is) as soon as my imbalanced brain chemistry allows me.

Thank you very, very much for your understanding during this time, and as always, thank you for your time and your readership. I’m hoping that 2021 will bring some new content, but for today, it’s about getting through a moment at a time.

Red Wings director of European Scouting Hakan Andersson spoke with HockeySverige.se’s Uffe Bodin regarding what the Red Wings might expect from free agent signing Mathias Brome this year, and Andersson also discusses Jonatan Berggren’s successes this season with Skelleftea AIK. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

“Do we have ten forwards who are better than him?”

Yesterday, the Detroit Red Wings started their training camp ahead of the upcoming NHL season. Among the players fighting for a spot during camp is Mathias Brome. Detroit scout Hakan Andersson believes that he has a good chance of becoming an NHL player this season.

“He has the work ethic and intensity to play in the NHL, so I feel he has a good chance,” Andersson says to Hockeysverige.se.

Red Wings prospect Lucas Raymond spoke with HockeyNews.se’s Henrik Sjoberg this morning, discussing Sweden’s disappointing finish at the World Junior Championship. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

Back on Swedish Soil: “Instead of winning, we were afraid of losing

Today, the Junior Crowns land on Swedish soil again after the quarterfinal loss to Finland at the WJC.

“It will take a while before we release this. Instead of wanting to win, we became more afraid of losing,” says Lucas Raymond to HockeyNews.se.

Sweden had a 2-0 lead in the WJC quarterfinal against the Finns, but did not manage to tie the knot. Instead, they conceded three straight goals, and were directly eliminated from the playoffs.

It was a heavy day for the Swedish team.

“Now we are just waiting to fly home, we go and wait out the clock in principle,” says Lucas Raymond when HockeyNews.se reaches him by phone a few hours before the trip to Sweden.

The Red Wings took to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center on Monday for their fourth day of training camp:

Red Wings on for first practice today inside LCA. pic.twitter.com/hvLfV6PP28— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 4, 2021

This was inevitable:

UWM named exclusive mortgage partner of #RedWings & Little Caesars Arena; Will feature branding on Red Wings’ player helmets, along with on-ice logos, in-arena signage, and extensive digital branding.

More » https://t.co/FARpkdVjH7 pic.twitter.com/S4yLU8EEda— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 4, 2021

No Darren Helm with first Red Wings practice group. Jeff Blashill said Sunday Helm was “unfit to practice” which can mean illness or injury.— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 4, 2021

Another day at the office. #DRWTC #LGRW pic.twitter.com/wSBN45Yf5G— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 4, 2021

Day 4 #RedWings camp first group:
Zadina-Fabbri-Ryan
Brome-Glendening-Erne
Svechnikov-Nielsen-Barber
Turgeon-Elson (11 forwards)
DeKeyser-Hronek
Cholowski-Biega
Lashoff-McIlrath
Helm (unfit to practice) remains out. pic.twitter.com/1RaCV0PPPs— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 4, 2021

Update: The Wings are holding a video broadcast of Day 4:

A press release from the Red Wings:

United Wholesale Mortgage Named Exclusive Mortgage Partner of Detroit Red Wings, Will Be Featured on Player Helmets During 2021 Season

Pontiac-based United Wholesale Mortgage will feature branding on Red Wings’ player helmets,along with on-ice logos, in-arena signage, and extensive digital branding

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings have entered into a dynamic new, multi-year partnership with United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), a Michigan-based business that will serve as the official mortgage provider for the Red Wings and Little Caesars Arena. The partnership is highlighted by UWM’s brand marks prominently appearing on the club’s home, away, and practice helmets during the entirety of the 2021 season, which is set to begin on Jan. 14, 2021.

Founded in 1986 and based in Pontiac, Mich., UWM is the No. 1 wholesale mortgage lender in the United States, and No. 2 overall lender with over 7,400 dedicated team members. UWM’s unique business model focuses exclusively on providing independent mortgage brokers nationwide superior service through proprietary technology that enables them to process mortgage applications faster, more efficiently and at lower rates than competitors, to ensure borrowers across America are being placed in the best loan for them.  

UWM named exclusive mortgage partner of #RedWings & Little Caesars Arena; Will feature branding on Red Wings' player helmets, along with on-ice logos, in-arena signage, and extensive digital branding.

More » https://t.co/FARpkdVjH7 pic.twitter.com/S4yLU8EEda

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 4, 2021

Day 2 of the Red Wings’ training camp begins in 10 minutes, and there’s just no way that I’m going to be able to cover it this morning. I’m still struggling from the physical effects of going into hibernation for a week, and instead of putting a timeline on things, I’d prefer to suggest that I’ll be back as soon as my body and brain let me work.

I desperately miss covering camp and I just want to get my ass back to work on a daily and regular basis. The anxiety attack I had was sustained for all five days that I missed, and it may knock me down again today, so I’m still in the middle of the fight. As soon as it subsides enough for me to battle through it, that’s what I’ll do.

I’m sorry for the inconvenience, and it sucks for me, too.

Of brief blog-related note:

1. I’m starting to feel like a human being again after my anxiety attack, and I anticipate returning to work tomorrow. It sucks to miss the first day of training camp, but it is hard to recover from a sustained combination of anxiety and panic attacks that last for four days.
2. Regarding training camp itself, the reason I didn’t fundraise this year is simple: I have a 78-year-old to take care of at home, and she and I agreed that, even with social distancing and masks in place, it didn’t make much sense for me to head down to Little Caesars Arena if I would expose her to the coronavirus. We’re both certain that would happen over the course of training camp, and, as a result, I need to do whatever I can to protect her–including following training camp from home. This is a huge disappointment, but it’s all I can do to ensure that she’s safe.