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Audio from the 5th day of the Red Wings’ training camp ’18: Smith, Rasmussen, Blashill

The Red Wings wrapped up training camp in Traverse City today, and as a result of the team’s desire to get the heck out of dodge, we received limited media availabilities.

Givani Smith spoke with the media earlier this morning, discussing his anticipated role as he prepares to turn pro with the Grand Rapids Griffins, as well as his ability to play net-front on the power play, which he hopes to do during the exhibition season:

Michael Rasmussen speaking for nearly 3 minutes is a lot of time for “Ras” as he speaks quickly, and Rasmussen made sure to emphasize that he does not plan on heading back to the WHL this season, instead focusing on earning a job with the Wings (a task which I believe he will accomplish):

Finally, coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media, discussing the challenges of the exhibition season, the “tweaks” Vanek and Zadina suffered, his desire to get Hronek and Cholowski working as quarterbacks on the power play and more:

Update: Here are some short Twitter videos from the Red Wings, as well as a Tweet of note:

A discussion of the ‘state of USA Hockey’ as evidenced by the Stars and Stripes Showdown

Sports Illustrated’s Alex Prewitt wrote an article regarding last month’s “Stars and Stripes Showdown” in Plymouth, Michigan, suggesting that the Dylan Larkin-organized exhibition game displayed the fine state of hockey in the United States:

Partway through pregame warmups for the Stars & Stripes Showdown, the summer exhibition that he helped organize to honor the late USA Hockey executive Jim Johannson, Dylan Larkin remembers surveying the star-studded scene in Plymouth, Mich., and remarking to himself, simply, “Holy crap, look at these guys out here.”

At first, the Red Wings forward was simply relieved that his peers were all there. Scores of calls, texts and meetings had dovetailed toward the sold-out event on Aug. 26, seven months after Johannson died of heart failure at 53. A live auction would be held. Tickets for autograph sessions would be sold. Proceeds would either benefit grassroots hockey programs, or help send Johannson’s two-year-old daughter Ellie to college. And Larkin, as a native of nearby Waterford and graduate of the national team development program, had volunteered to make sure the talent showed up.

Once those initial nerves were quelled—“I was like, ‘Thank god everyone’s here, it’s happening,’”—Larkin began to internalize the names of those skaters buzzing around USA Hockey Arena.

Continued

 

Red vs. White Game’s linesmen taken aback by NHL speed

The Cadillac News’s Martin Vieau spoke with the gentlemen who were invited to work as linesmen during Sunday’s Red vs. White Game in Traverse City:

“It was very, very, very fast-paced,” [Ryan] Pendrick laughed. “Being a linesman, you know where to be at the other levels. When (the Wings) were coming down the ice and the dumping the puck in, they give you a nod and you stay there. They blister the puck down the ice and it scares the crap out of you.”

[Evan] Kornacki worked a Red Wings event on Friday at Centre Ice, as well, and said the speed is something to behold.

“It took me a couple of minutes to get used to it,” he said. “You just stay where you are and they can put the puck wherever they want. It’s just crazy.”

And, of course, there’s being on the ice with the Red Wings.

“It was kind of a surreal moment for me,” Kornacki said. “I grew up watching them. The fact that I skated with them and with one of my best friends growing up was pretty cool.”

Continued

Blashill on ‘roster flexibility’

The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Jake Atnip filed a notebook article discussing Justin Abdelkader’s decision to return to the team from paternity leave to get in the flow of training camp, the Wings’ goaltending situation and its player personnel flexibility:

The Red Wings have more open roster spots heading into the preseason than many years past.

The organization is looking toward young players and some veterans to lend some flexibility to their lineup and change some looks they will give in the early going.

Prospects like Filip Zadina, Michael Rasmussen and Dennis Cholowski figure into that equation and Blashill likes the idea of having players to change up the pace.

“I think the more players that are either really good or elite type players and are guys that you can trust, the more flexibility you have,” Blashill said. “You can look for mismatches the more players that are at your disposal. It creates a more competitive environment where lines are competing for ice time. We have set up the teams to give the young guys the opportunity in those first couple exhibition games to see how well they run the power plays and how well they execute.”

Blashill noted veterans Thomas Vanek, Tyler Bertuzzi and Abdelkader as players who can play both ways and create mismatches for the Red Wings

Continued

 

Khan discusses the Red Wings’ presence in ‘Hockeytown North’

MLive’s Ansar Khan wrote a fantastic article about the relationship between the Red Wings and their home away from home, Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City:

From their first camp in Traverse City in 1997, the Red Wings were hooked. This year’s camp is the 20th hosted by Centre ICE (it didn’t host during lockouts in 2004-05 and 2012-13). The facility became home to the eight-team NHL Prospects Tournament in 1998.

“It’s a great part of the world,” Holland said. “Great facilities. The rink has good energy. No reason to move after 20 years. Everyone in our organization looks forward to 10 days there.”

[Pete] Correia, the Peninsula Township supervisor who was instrumental in getting Centre ICE built, lost his battle with cancer in 2016.

Terry Marchand, executive director of Centre ICE, said Traverse City, which branded itself “Hockeytown North” many years ago, enjoys hosting the Red Wings as much as the organization loves training there.

“Ever since the first one, when Pete Correia built the rink here — he’s the one who convinced Ken to bring the team up here — it’s been kind of a match made in heaven,” Marchand said. “The team and players and coaches are all met with open arms by the city and residents of Traverse City, the visitors. Traverse City has a lot to offer and the Red Wings bring people here.

“Ken has always said that he doesn’t want to take it anywhere else,” Marchand said. “As long as he’s the GM, he said it’ll always be here.”

Khan continues…

Darren McCarty discusses comedy and life with the Lansing State Journal

The Lansing State Journal’s Eric Lacy spoke with former Red Wing Darren McCarty regarding his “Slapstick Comedy Tour” and his life at and away from the rink:

Q: You’ve lived quite a life and were once in a rock band. Any topics from your troubled past that you can laugh about now and use in your shows? 

A: Yeah, survival. We’re all the … stars of our own movie. I’m 46 now; we’ve all been to what you may call a war of ourselves. And now being through it, my whole purpose is about now. It’s all the other stuff (in the past,) the hockey stuff, the (incidents with the) cops that all led to reasons why someone like yourself would call me and put it out there for people. I’m just a messenger of truth. Now that I’ve found truth and honesty, and all that …, I can talk about all the money I’ve either lost or blown, or the divorces. My opening line is ‘I want to make sure you’re in the right place.’ I’m not No. 19 (Steve) Yzerman or No. 5 (Nicklas Lidstrom) — the perfect human. I’m the imperfect human.’ You need a lawyer? A bankruptcy attorney? An AA sponsor? Need to know where the best bud is to smoke? I’m your guy. You’re in the right place.’ I’m in such a phenomenal place in my mind.

Lacy and McCarty continue…

Three things: Kronwall on leadership, DeKeyser and Blashill on ‘Shep, Shower and Shave’ and a busy, busy rink

Of Red Wings-related note this evening:

1. In the multimedia department, part 1: Niklas Kronwall spoke with Fox Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson regarding the Wings’ tradition of leadership as it’s been handed down through the Swedish players…

2. In the multimedia department, part 2: WDFN’s Matt Sheppard broadcasted live from training camp on Friday, and the latest episode of, “Shep, Shower and Shave” included interviews with Danny DeKeyser and Jeff Blashill:

3. And in the, “News about the rink” department, per WWJ Newsradio 950:

In its first year of operation, the new Little Caesars Arena in Downtown Detroit has quickly become one of the busiest places in all of North America.

Last week President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Chris Ilitch, said the arena has welcomed nearly three million guests since it opened, including Detroit Pistons and Red Wings games, concerts, various sporting events, and a number of other entertainment events.

“We’re so proud to share that Little Caesars Arena now ranks as the third busiest venue in North America, only behind Madison Square Garden in New York and Barclays Center, in New York as well,” Ilitch said.

According to a report from Crain’s Detroit, the arena has a chance to be the most visited arena in the entire world in 2018 in terms of concerts after the 1.5 million in attendance for Wings and Pistons games is subtracted.

LCA was named earlier this year as the recipient of the Sports Business Journal 2018 Sports Facility of the Year Award, beating out the likes of Notre Dame Stadium, T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and Minneapolis’s Target Center and US Bank Stadium.

Fix the damn ice!

 

MSM takes on Day 4 of the Red Wings’ training camp ’18

Updated at 6:07 PM: The Red Wings’ intrepid beat writers penned a series of stories from the day 4 of the Red Wings’ 2018 training camp.

1. The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan wrote an article discussing the Red Wings’ training camp slogan, “60 Minutes of Hell,” which does not intend to be a summary of watching Red Wings games this upcoming season (ha):

“We have to be harder to play against on a nightly basis,” Blashill said. “We have to make sure we’re not a tweener team – kind of skilled but not winning the skill game and kind of hard but not really hard enough. We have to be miserable to play against every night.

“I want teams walking into LCA saying, ‘Boy, I don’t want to play this game tonight.’ The T-shirts are just a reminder on a daily basis of making sure we stay really miserable to play against every night.”

Blashill borrowed the slogan from former Arkansas basketball coach Nolan Richardson, whose teams played a relentless full-court pressure style in the 1990s. Richardson called it “40 Minutes of Hell” due to the two 20-minute halves in college basketball.

Red Wings players have reacted positively. More than a few have said this camp has been the most  difficult they can remember.

“It’s been hard, harder than any camp I’ve been part of,” said Frans Nielsen, who is entering his 13th season. “It’s new times and it’s a good thing. The amount of pace and attitude, it hasn’t been easy by any means. But it’s the way camp should be you. You should come in prepared and get ready from day one. It’s been good.”

Kulfan continues;

2. The Free Press’s Helene St. James wrote an article discussing Frans Nielsen and Gustav Nyquist’s belief that the pair of linemates can step up in terms of both leadership and scoring:

“I think I’m feeling for sure more home here, starting to feel more like it was when I was in New York,” Nielsen said. “You know all the guys now and you’re not afraid to talk in the room and that kind of stuff. By missing Henrik, I’m for sure one of those guys that has to step up sometimes and talk.”

Nielsen also wants to step up and take on some of Zetterberg’s minutes.

“You want to be in those situations that he was in,” Nielsen said. “You want to be on the ice when you’re down one goal, you want to be on the ice when you’re up one goal. It’s an opportunity and I want to prove to the coaching staff that I should be there.”

…

Nyquist is a new look on the line. He is one of the guys who will feel Zetterberg’s absence the most, as the two were regular linemates, but Nielsen is a good passer who will find his wingers if they are open.

“I like playing with Frans in the middle,” Nyquist said. “He’s a really smart player, two-way guy. You know we are going to be good in the d-zone when he is out there. He can score goals and make plays in the o-zone.”

St. James also continues, and she posted short videos of Nielsen and Blashill speaking with the media:

 


3. MLive’s Ansar Khan noted that both Jimmy Howard and Nyquist talked about the importance of landing new contracts with the Red Wings during their media availabilities, though Howard has a little Spike Spiegel in him:

“I’m just living in the present. I haven’t really given much thought of the future,” Howard said. “Right now, it’s just about getting off on the right foot.”

He doesn’t view it as a distraction.

“I’ve been through it before,” Howard said. “Whatever happens, happens. I try not to think about it. Sometimes it can wear on you. It’s just going out there and playing hard and working hard.”

Howard, 34, aims to improve his numbers from a year ago (2.85 goals-against average, .910 save percentage). He’ll be pushed by veteran Jonathan Bernier, who signed a three-year, $9 million deal on July 1.

“Try to be as great as I was two years ago,” Howard said. “I don’t think last year was a down year by any means. I feel like if I can get back to the .917, .920 area, this team will be a lot better.”

Khan continues…

4. Khan also posted a clip of the skating test:

 

Update: Here’s one more set of notes from DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner:

When he first joined the Wings full time in the 2009-10 season, Howard shared the net with Chris Osgood and a tight bond developed between them. They remain close and Osgood is still a sounding board for Howard when he needs to work through the ups and downs of the game.

This year he has a new goaltending partner in Jonathan Bernier, who has said he’s here to push Howard and he expects Howard to push him in a healthy competitive way.

“We need to have that working relationship, we have to push each other, but at the same time we’re teammates, we’ve got to support each other,” Howard said when told about Bernier comments. “We’ve got to be there for each other to bounce things off, because at the end of the day, we’re the ones sitting back there and sometimes it can feel like you’re on an island. So, it’s important to have a partner you can bounce stuff off of.”

Last season Howard was a workhorse for the Wings, appearing in 60 games. It was the most games he’s played since he backstopped Detroit in 63 games in back-to-back seasons, 2009-10 through 2010-11.

As much as Howard likes to play, Wings coach Jeff Blashill would like to see him play less games this upcoming season, especially with Bernier on the team.

“Jimmy has been a really good goalie for us for two years without question, but I had to over-work him last year. I’d like to stay away from any one goalie playing 60 games,” Blashill said. “I’d like it to be closer to that 50-30 split because the games are so close. They got to be in on their game so much, there’s zero room for error at the goaltending position on our hockey team that if you get to a 50-30 split, it makes more sense. But I’m also going to watch. Ultimately, guys decide who plays more based on their play over a long period of time. But certainly, I think Jimmy has been great for us for two years.”

Continued

Update #2: The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan also noted Frans Nielsen’s comments:

Now in his third season with the Wings, Nielsen is more comfortable leading this younger group.

“I’m feeling more at home here, for sure,” Nielsen said. “I’m starting to feel more like it was when I was in New York. You know all the guys now and you’re not afraid to talk in the room, that kind of stuff. Missing Henrik, I’m for sure one of those guys that has to step up sometimes and talk.”

Nielsen likes the idea of playing with Helm and Nyquist, and the different attributes they all bring to a line.

“I like playing with Helmer, you can trust Helmer every night,” Nielsen said. “You’re going to get an honest effort from him. He rarely has a bad game with his compete level and how hard he plays every night. From playing against him, I know how tough he is to play against with his skating and never-give-up mentality on pucks.

“It’s been an issue for us the last couple of years scoring goals, so with Nyquist, we are trying to spread the goal scoring a little bit all over the lineup. With Helmer, the way he works, and having that on one side and then having Gus’ skill set on the other side, hopefully it can be a good combination.”

Continued

Impressions from Day 4 of the Red Wings’ training camp ’18

The Detroit Red Wings wrapped up their final full day of 3-team practicing at Centre ICE Arena with a battle-filled day.

The players were challenged by the coaching staff’s emphasis on one-on-one and two-on-two battling during drills, as well as the grueling skating test, where players had to skate 3 laps up and down the ice 4 times, with 3, 2, 1 and then 1 more minute’s worth of rest between reps.

The “teams” were set up differently, with the “Red” team and then the “White” team from Sunday’s scrimmage (with Justin Abdelkader joining “team White), and a slimmed-down team of AHL and ECHL-bound players taking part in a smaller third practice, without the presence of 10 players who’ve been sent back to Major Junior hockey.

Continue reading Impressions from Day 4 of the Red Wings’ training camp ’18