Author: George Malik

Updated 2x at 4:25 PM: he Free Press’s Helene St. James wrote an article discussing the means by which the Red Wings’ players and coaches are trying to remain healthy during the complicated times that we all face as a world facing a global pandemic:

“I know in our locker room guys are doing a great job trying to be as safe as possible away from the rink,” Dylan Larkin said. “With us being tested as much as we are, you are just trying to take care of yourself away from the rink so that when you are at the rink, you are not going to put yourself or anyone else at risk.

“You can do all that, but unfortunately in the world we live in, and the uncertainty of this virus, sometimes it’s not enough. You have to be ready. It’s going to be a strange year.”

Because they were part of last summer’s playoff bubble, the Stars and Penguins started their training camps Jan. 3. The Wings have been underway since Dec. 31, first taking to the ice on New Year’s Day.

“Anytime we’re not working out or not on the ice, we have masks on,” Luke Glendening said. “When we come in we get our temperature checked and tested every day. It’s always with a mask and social distancing as best we can.”

…

The Wings play their first four games at home before heading out on the road. Usually that’s a time for bonding with teammates over dinners at nice restaurants. Not so this season.

“From what I understand, we are going to be pretty confined to our hotel,” Larkin said. “There won’t be much outside contact. From what I’ve heard, it’s going to be all meals at hotel. You can go for a walk with a mask, which is OK. We are willing to do that because we want to play. Our guys are really committed to wearing a mask and doing all the right things to make sure we are not jeopardizing ourselves or teammates.”

Continued

Update: Here’s a bit more from MLive’s Ansar Khan:

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a subscriber-only article which discusses the Red Wings’ seven new NHL faces in Bobby Ryan, Vladislav Namestnikov, Mathias Brome, Troy Stecher, Jon Merrill, Marc Staal and Thomas Greiss:

Vladislav Namestnikov

He will be sort of the team’s jack-of-all-trades, with the ability to play any forward position, the power play and the penalty kill. He began camp at left wing on the third line with Valtteri Filppula and Sam Gagner but has been moved to a line centered by Luke Glendening, with Mathias Brome at the other wing.

“He is versatile, that’s one of the best attributes for him, he does a lot of good things,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “He said to me one of the things he takes pride in after being in the league a number of years is how well he plays defensively, his penalty kill. He’s a guy who’s mature in his game. He can move up and down the lineup and hopefully make each line better.”

Namestnikov grew up in Detroit a Red Wings fan because of uncle Slava Kozlov, part of Detroit’s famed Russian Five, one of many former players whose photo hangs in the dressing room.

“I sit directly across from it,” Namestnikov said. “When I look up, I see him, so it’s very exciting for me, for my family that I’m playing for the Red Wings.

“Every time I show up to the rink it’s like, ‘Oh my God, a dream come true!’ “

Continued (paywall)

Of prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the SHL, Elmer Soderblom scored his first SHL goal, finishing at +1 with 1 shot in 9:31 played in the Frolunda Indians’ 3-0 win over Farjestad BK.

Lucas Raymond had an assist on Soderblom’s goal, finishing at +1 with 2 shots in 13:38 played; for Farjestad, Albert Johansson finished even with 2 shots and a blocked shots in 17:43 played:

Elmer Söderblom scores his first SHL goal after some good work by Lucas Raymond. pic.twitter.com/TA1q0OPBHZ

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) January 9, 2021

Here’s Soderblom, discussing his goal in Swedish:

Detroit Red Wings forwards Dylan Larkin and Luke Glendening spoke with the media today, as did coach Jeff Blashill:

From the Red Wings:

CHRISTIAN DJOOS CLAIMED OFF WAIVERS BY DETROIT … 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Has 27 Points in 119 NHL Games  …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today claimed defenseman Christian Djoos off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks.

Djoos, 26, saw time with three clubs during the 2019-20 campaign, combining for three points (1-2-3) in 11 games between Anaheim and Washington, and registering 32 points (5-27-32) in 42 American Hockey League games with the Hershey Bears. A former seventh-round pick (195th overall) of the Capitals in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, Djoos spent five seasons in North America in Washington’s system prior to being traded to the Ducks on Feb. 24, 2020. In 119 games between the Capitals and Ducks, Djoos has logged 27 points (5-22-27) and 14 penalty minutes. As a rookie in 2017-18, Djoos posted a career-best 14 points (3-11-14) in 63 games with Washington, and was a regular during their postseason run, adding one assist and four penalty minutes in 22 games to help the franchise win its first Stanley Cup championship.

A 6-foot, 180-pound defenseman, Djoos has also skated in 173 career AHL games, all with Hershey, totaling 113 points (26-87-113), a plus-24 rating and 56 penalty minutes between 2014-20, including a career-best 58 points (13-45-58) in 66 games during the 2016-17 campaign to rank third among all AHL defensemen in scoring. Prior to coming to North America, Djoos competed in 145 Swedish Hockey League games with Brynas IF, recording 38 points (8-30-38) and 64 penalty minutes from 2011-15. The Gothenburg, Sweden, native has also collected several medals while playing international for his country, including a silver medal at the 2013 and 2014 IIHF World Junior Championships and a silver at the 2012 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Djoos is the son of Per Djoos, who played 26 games with the Red Wings in the 1990-91 campaign.  

Updated 5x at 4:22 PM: Interesting move here:

Detroit claims Christian Djoos off waivers from Anaheim.— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 9, 2021

DET claims Djoos— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 9, 2021

Djoos is a 26-year-old defenseman who is 5’11” and 181 pounds, and yes, he’s the son of former Wings part-timer Per Djoos.https://t.co/yHFZK0Rk6w— George Malik (@georgemalik) January 9, 2021

The Djoos pick-up is a little strange in my opinion.

The Wings have more than enough defensemen, but perhaps Yzerman felt that the taxi squad didn’t have enough depth.

In any case, he’s always had a high ceiling, but has never been able to convert in the NHL. We’ll see.— George Malik (@georgemalik) January 9, 2021

Defenseman Christian Djoos (6-0, 180), shoots left, age 26. Played 11 NHL games last season between Washington and Anaheim (1-2–3). Played 42 games for AHL Hershey (5-27–32). One year left on contract at $1 mil. Will be RFA after season. https://t.co/jgtotZDWOq— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 9, 2021

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill and forward Anthony Mantha spoke with the media last night regarding the team’s attempts to avoid coronavirus-related issues, and Mantha’s answer in particular was blunt:

Players wear masks except when on the ice, and workouts are limited to small groups. Every attempt has been made to ensure a secure environment (all media interviews, for example, are conducted via Zoom), but players realize how precarious it will be to play even a 56-game schedule.

“It’s going to be hard,” Anthony Mantha said. “You never know where you can catch COVID. But we are a week away from the start of the season, so for me personally, I’m trying to stay away from anyone that could have been in contact, if it’s at their work, or whatever. You’re just trying to make the details not to catch anything. Obviously if it gets in the room, it spreads super quickly. Probably that’s what happened in Dallas.

“It’s the life we live in right now and we’re going to have to live with it for this season. I know it’s going to be hard, but, it’s going to be a lot of sacrifice from players and staff and anyone around the team.”

Coach Blashill agreed:

“These are different times,” Blashill said. “There are multiple things at plays. You have your regular injuries and you have your COVID concerns. We are going to have to roll with the punches. There might be times when the schedule changes. There might be times where guys that are supposed to be in the lineup all of a sudden aren’t in the lineup on the same day that you’re playing a game. We have to be ready to handle whatever comes our way.”

Continued

The Red Wings’ main training camp team has taken to the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center:

Gustav Lindstrom, Alex Biega are out there with the Red Wings main group today.— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 9, 2021

Red Wings on at LCA practice facility. No Ryan, Helm, Svechnikov (all designated unfit to practice). pic.twitter.com/x7qo1zWhLd— Helene St. James (@HeleneStJames) January 9, 2021

#RedWings main group on ice. Don’t see Fabbri and Zadina out there, in addition to Ryan, Svechnikov and Helm, who were previously labeled “unfit to play.” pic.twitter.com/bABByWPF3X— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 9, 2021

The Larkin power play unit repping today looks like:

Bertuzzi
Larkin-Filppula-Mantha
DeKeyser— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) January 9, 2021

Update:

Per MLive’s Ansar Khan…

#RedWings first practice group today in camp is limited and features mostly players who’ll start with ⁦@griffinshockey⁩ The next group scheduled to take the ice at 11:15. pic.twitter.com/KKL4aHHO8k— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) January 9, 2021

The Red Wings are live streaming Day 7 of training camp with Daniella Bruce and Art Regner: