Wakiji on Christoffer Ehn’s health

Red Wings prospect Christoffer Ehn is notably absent from the Wings’ summer development camp. This morning, DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji reminds us why Ehn’s sitting this one out as she examines the turning-North-American-pro’s 2017-18 season:

Quotable: “Christoffer had an up and down season in Frölunda last year. Didn’t get off to the best start but had a much better second half and was playing his best hockey when he came over to GR to join us for the playoffs. Unfortunately he was diagnosed with mono the day he got here and was unable to play any games. He was extremely frustrated by that and has been working hard this offseason to get his conditioning back up to its normal elite level.” — Shawn Horcoff, Red Wings director of player development

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The media’s takes from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18

Of Red Wings-related note this morning, on a source-by-source basis:

A. Fox Sports Detroit:

1. FSD posted a clip of Joe Veleno speaking with Trevor Thompson, and this clip aired on today’s Tigers game:

2. “The 313” wondered whether Filip Zadina is NHL-ready:

B. DetroitRedWings.com:

1. DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji penned an article about Filip Zadina, the media darling of the day, and Zadina’s belief that he can make an immediate jump from the QMJHL to the NHL:

Continue reading The media’s takes from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18

Impressions from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18

The Red Wings’ top prospects began their 5-day summer development camp on Tuesday, at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center (a.k.a the team’s practice rink).

Teams Lindsay and Howe arrived at the rink early–Team Lindsay arrived at 7 AM, and the players didn’t leave until after 4 PM–and the day started with more goaltending coaches on the ice than goaltenders.

Continue reading Impressions from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18

Oodles of free agent news from Custance: Lehner visits the Wings; could Filppula, Vanek follow?

According to The Athletic’s Craig Custance, goaltender Robin Lehner has visited Detroit as the Wings look for a back-up to support Jimmy Howard:

Multiple sources confirmed that 26-year-old goalie Robin Lehner made an in-person visit to Detroit on Tuesday, meeting with Red Wings management and coaches. Lehner has been the Sabres starting goalie but became an unrestricted free agent when the Sabres declined to give him a qualifying offer.

The Red Wings have a backup goalie position to fill, one that is among the more appealing spots in the market since starter Jimmy Howard’s contract is up after this season. There’s also the outside expectation that the backup goalie signed in Detroit will get plenty of playing time because of Howard’s propensity to get injured at some point during the season.

Lehner is an especially interesting option because he’s still young enough that he could re-emerge as a legit No. 1 goalie after struggling last season in Buffalo with a .908 save percentage. In his first two seasons with the Sabres, Lehner had a .921 save percentage in 80 games played. He has personality quirks, isn’t afraid to speak his mind and may have the occasional meltdown – all things that are part of the equation on a young team. But he might have the most upside of any goalie on the market. New Red Wings assistant coach Dan Bylsma, who coached Lehner in Buffalo, knows him well.

The Red Wings have also spoken with the representatives for Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier among others. Hutton has been the most sought-after of the backup goalies and with that comes the expectation that he’ll get a three-year deal. Hutton was great last season for the Blues, finishing with a career-high .931 save percentage. He’s also in high demand, with the Hurricanes and Bruins among the interested teams.

Custance continues (paywall), reporting that the Wings are talking to Valtteri Filppula (as a fall-back, pun intended, if Henrik Zetterberg gets hurt), Thomas Vanek and Mike Green; the team is also working on a bridge deal for Anthony Mantha and a long-term extension for Dylan Larkin.

Audio from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18: Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina

After a lengthy skill development session, Red Wings prospects Michael Rasmussen and Filip Zadina spoke with the assembled media at the BELFOR training center.

Rasmussen addressed his scoring surge after recovering from wrist surgery, including a tremendous playoff run with the Tri-City Americans, and he spoke about the possibility of making the team out of training camp in the fall…

And Filip Zadina addressed similar topics while discussing the “wow factor” of Little Caesars Arena, the fact that he’s playing with all-new equipment save his skates, and his belief that “playing my hockey” will carry the day at both the summer development camp and come the fall:

Update: The Detroit News also posted a 26-image gallery from camp.

Michigan Hockey, St. James, Khan post videos from the first day of the Wings’ summer development camp ’18

In addition to my audio files from the first day of the Wings’ summer development camp, there are videos available from:

A. Michigan Hockey…

Which posted videos of Dennis Cholowski…

 Joe Veleno…

Alec Regula…

And David Pope:

B. The Free Press’s Helene St. James also posted videos…
Of Shawn Horcoff…

Veleno…

Regula…

And Dennis Cholowski:

C. MLive’s Ansar Khan also posted a video of Veleno:

Update: Khan posted some highlights of Horcoff’s comments as well:

Continue reading Michigan Hockey, St. James, Khan post videos from the first day of the Wings’ summer development camp ’18

Centre Ice announces dates for prospect tournament, training camp

Per Centre ICE Arena come the dates for the 2018 prospect tournament and main training camp:

2018 Dates Announced

2018 NHL Prospect Tournament
September 7 – 11, 2018

DRW Golf Classic
September 13, 2018

Detroit Red Wings Training Camp
September 14 –18 , 2018
Alumi Game – Saturday September 15 – 7:00pm
Red & White Game –
Sunday September 16 – Time TBA

 

Audio from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18: Eliasson, Regula, Cholowski, Veleno, Pope and Horcoff

Of audio-related note from the first day of the Red Wings’ summer development camp ’18:

Goaltender Jesper Eliasson was the first player brought out of the locker room to speak with the media, and the affable Troja goaltender and 3rd round 2018 pick spoke about his assets in the crease, his desire to get better and his belief that all aspects of his game need improving upon:

Dennis Cholowski followed, and Cholowski gave a long media availability in which he expressed his confidence in his ability to compete for a spot on the Red Wings’ roster come fall. Cholowski finally looks like a grown-up after being a consummate “late-bloomer,” and he spoke earnestly:

Defenseman Alec Regula regaled the media with tales from his father’s days working as the Red Wings’ dentist, when Regula was able to have access to the team and took a liking to Valtteri Filppula. Regula also spoke about his season spent with the London Knights, playing alongside Evan Bouchard against other teams’ best lines:

Joe Veleno sounded somewhat spurned as he addressed his status as having dropped to the Wings at 30th overall, and the once-“exceptional” QMJHL player spoke at length about his belief that he’s a better player than his draft spot indicates:

David Pope gave an excellent interview, speaking about his growth toward professional-level maturity as he advanced through his four years at the University of Nebraska-Omaha:

And Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff addressed the development camp in wide and small scopes, discussing the purposes thereof, the fundamentals that the Wings hope to instill upon their younger players and the efforts necessary for the players to deliver upon their promise as professionals:

Grand Rapids Griffins sign Matt Ford to 2-year extension

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS RE-SIGN CAPTAIN MATTHEW FORD FOR TWO YEARS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday re-signed right wing Matthew Ford to a two-year contract.

Ford, 33, captained the Griffins in 2017-18 and totaled 38 points (22-16—38) and 42 penalty minutes in 72 regular season games before posting five points (2-3—5) in five Calder Cup Playoff appearances. He placed fourth on the team in goals and ranked sixth in points. Ford’s career-high-tying 12 power play goals tied for fifth in the AHL and seventh on the franchise’s single-season list.

In two seasons with the Griffins, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound winger has tallied 73 points (36-37—73) and 70 PIM in 123 regular season contests. He’s skated in 24 postseason games in Grand Rapids, showing 17 points (10-7—17) and helping the Griffins win the franchise’s second Calder Cup in 2017.

Originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the eighth round, 256th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Ford has accumulated 379 points (185-194—379) and 429 PIM in 603 career AHL contests between Hartford (2008-09), Lake Erie (2008-11), Hershey (2011-12), Adirondack (2011-13), Springfield (2012-13), Oklahoma City (2013-15), Bakersfield (2015-16) and Grand Rapids. He showed career highs in both goals (29) and points (59) in 2011-12, while splitting the campaign between Hershey and Adirondack. Ford posts 30 points (15-15—30) and 58 PIM in 45 career Calder Cup Playoff games.

A native of West Hills, Calif., Ford played college hockey at the University of Wisconsin (WCHA) from 2004-08. He totaled 39 points (21-18—39) in 124 games and helped the Badgers claim the 2006 NCAA National Championship. Ford was also named the USHL’s Rookie of the Year in 2003-04 after scoring 68 points (37-31—68) in 60 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede.

Update: Here’s Ford speaking to the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner:

“I’m obviously excited to stay here in Grand Rapids,” Ford said after the announcement. “A place my family has come to call home.

“The last couple years with the Griffins have been some of the most enjoyable and proudest moments of my career. It was a no brainer that I wanted to stick with this group of guys and this winning culture that this organization has developed with the Red Wings.”

More on the Jamie Daniels Foundation from The Athletic

From The Athletic’s Max Bultman:

[On Monday, Ken] Daniels announced the Jamie Daniels Foundation’s partnership with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation — a partnership meant to address the opioid crisis in Michigan. Daniels’ foundation “supports individuals and families struggling with addiction by providing the education, resources, professional guidance, and financial support they need to make recovery possible.”

“I think he’d be very proud of what we’re doing,” Daniels told The Athletic. “I really do. And the fact that his sister (Arlyn)’s involved with the foundation, he’d love that. … He was a very caring, loyal person, and his friends will tell you that. He went over and above to bring people into a group — when kids felt on the outside, he’d bring them in. And that’s who he was.”

Daniels first felt a dark cloud around him begin to dissipate after meeting with Matt Friedman, a PR professional from Tanner Friedman, and Larry Burns, president and CEO of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, to discuss a partnership.

The foundation may prevent that cloud from needlessly attaching itself to so many families each year. There were more than 63,600 drug overdose deaths in the United States in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Jamie had been seven months sober, but set up to fail by greed, an abusive system and insurance scams,” Daniels said in his speech. “Addiction is a mental illness. Addicts don’t want to be addicts.”

Continued