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Grand Rapids Griffins acquire Carter Camper from Tuscon

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS ACQUIRE CARTER CAMPER FROM TUCSON

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday acquired center Carter Camper from the Tucson Roadrunners.

Camper, 29, posted a career-high 61 points (16-45—61) and 14 penalty minutes in 68 games while splitting the 2017-18 campaign between the Cleveland Monsters and Tucson. Camper concluded the season as the Monsters’ leader in both points (42) and assists (29), appearing in 53 contests before being traded on Feb. 26. The 5-foot-9, 176-pound forward tallied 19 points (3-16—19), a plus-six rating and four PIM in 15 regular season games with the Roadrunners. He tied for the team lead in Calder Cup Playoff scoring with eight points (1-7—8) in nine appearances, which included a team-best seven assists.

Leaguewide, Camper tied for 11th in point production and tied for fifth in assists during the regular season.

An eight-year pro, Camper has banked 330 points (87-243—330) and 114 PIM in 443 AHL games with Providence (2010-14), Springfield (2013-14), Binghamton (2014-15), Hershey (2015-16), Albany (2016-17), Cleveland (2017-18) and Tucson (2017-18), and he participated in the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic during his first full pro season. Camper adds 45 points (18-27—45), a plus-nine rating and 10 PIM in 51 career Calder Cup Playoff games. He was Hershey’s leading scorer with 17 points (6-11—17) in 21 games during the Bears’ run to the 2016 Calder Cup Finals.

Camper made his NHL debut with the Boston Bruins during the 2011-12 season and potted one goal in three games.

A native of Rocky River, Ohio, Camper played four seasons (2007-11) at Miami University prior to turning pro. Appearing in 156 games, he logged 40 or more points all four years and his 183 career points (69-114—183) rank second all time in team history. As a senior co-captain in 2010-11, he scored a career-best 57 points (19-38—57) and was named a Hobey Baker Award finalist, an All-CCHA First Team selection and the CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Led by first-year head coach Ben Simon, the Griffins will begin the home portion of their 2018-19 season on Friday, Oct. 12 at Van Andel Arena with Opening Night Presented by Huntington Bank. Additional home dates confirmed by the American Hockey League include Dec. 31, Jan. 19, Jan. 26, Feb. 9 and Feb. 16.

Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. Fans can secure their full-season, select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.

Morning news: regarding Khan’s mailbag, Howard’s home run derby and Flyers saying farewell to Mrazek

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a mailbag feature this morning, and Khan suggests that the Red Wings will probably import a top-four defenseman after spending their first three draft picks on forwards at this past weekend’s draft:

Q. By taking two forwards in the first round, does this pave the way to trade a winger like Athanasiou or Svechnikov for a defenseman? – Margaret

A. I think so. Athanasiou remains the most likely candidate and might just be a matter of when. I think they’ll give him one more season (or most of it) to show he can be more engaged on a consistent basis before looking to move him. It would be risky, since it’s not easy to find someone with his combination of blazing speed and finishing ability.

Some might suggest moving Svechnikov to Carolina where he can play with his brother, Andrei, selected second overall on Friday, but I highly doubt the organization is ready to give up on him after a bad second season with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Carolina defenseman Justin Faulk is rumored to be on the trading block. He’s 26, has two years remaining on his contract at a $4.8 million cap hit and shoots right. The Hurricanes, however, have only five defensemen on their roster and four of them shoot right. It’s a weak free-agent class on defense, so if Carolina moves Faulk they might want a left-shooting defenseman in return.

In any event, I think Zadina will make the team in the fall. Since they were able to land Zadina, I don’t think they’ll purse Thomas Vanek in free agency, which they planned to do if they had selected a defenseman at No. 6 (Evan Bouchard would have been their choice if Zadina had been off the board).

Khan continues…

2. In the charitable news vein, WHMI 93.5 FM reports that the Jimmy Howard Foundation’s home run derby in Brighton this past weekend went well:

Continue reading Morning news: regarding Khan’s mailbag, Howard’s home run derby and Flyers saying farewell to Mrazek

Monday morning Wings draft discussion

Of Red Wings draft-related note this morning:

1. In the “out-of-towners’ takes” department, The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler and Sportsnet’s Dimitri Filipovic gave praise to the Wings’ draft haul, with Wheeler suggesting that the Wings’ first three picks maximized value…

Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings were in the best shape coming in, and had eight picks in the top 100. Mix in that I didn’t like seven of their 10 picks, including where they took two players (Alec Regula and Jared McIsaac) who were on my list, and it’s a miracle they’re on this list. But they did so damn well with their first three picks of the draft that they deserve a ton of credit. Zadina was an obvious home run at No. 6, but the real value was in Joe Veleno, ranked 13th on my board, at 30th overall, and Jonatan Berggren, who was a risky pick they didn’t have to take but were right to anyways. Berggren, ranked 20th, has unique upside, pull-away speed, outstanding puck skills, a nifty release point, escapability, and playmaking ability in traffic. There’s a chance they found three future top-nine forwards. Read more about Veleno, one of the better two-way players in the draft and a fabulous skater, here.

And Filipovic agreed:

Continue reading Monday morning Wings draft discussion

A bit of Howard trade talk

Of trade rumor-related note this morning:

The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta and Newsday’s Andrew Gross have both suggested that the Red Wings may be “getting calls” regarding Jimmy Howard’s availability, and the New York Islanders may be the team most interested in Howard and Ottawa Senators goaltender Craig Anderson:

Here’s Newsday’s Andrew Gross:

Lou Lamoriello, currently encamped in Los Angeles as part of the John Tavares contract pitch festival, certainly liked the eight players the Islanders selected in the seven rounds of the NHL Draft on Friday and Saturday.

But the Islanders’ president knows much more needs to be done regardless of whether Tavares opts to re-sign or leave via unrestricted free agency when the market opens July 1. There’s still a No. 1 goalie to acquire, with the Senators’ Craig Anderson or the Red Wings’ Jimmy Howard as possibilities, and a need for NHL-ready defensemen.

“I think that’s an ongoing process. There is a plan in place,” Lamoriello said Saturday afternoon in Dallas. “I’ve always said it’s a five-year plan that changes every day. We’ll see how the week goes.”

Wojo on the Wings’ draft: Detroit takes talent where it falls to them

The Detroit News’s Bob Wojnowski suggests that the Red Wings did exactly what they had to do during this year’s NHL draft–they accumulated as much talent as they possibly could, despite the fact that they were unable to address shortcomings on defense:

By most accounts, the Wings essentially got two steals in the first round, which might not alter the long-term timetable, but it sure makes it more interesting. They took Czech winger Filip Zadina at No. 6, after virtually every projection had him going third to Montreal. They took center Joe Veleno at No. 30, a stunner considering three rating services pegged him at six, eight and 11.

Holland didn’t try to outsmart or outmaneuver anyone. The Wings wisely didn’t reach for a much-needed defenseman. They did precisely what a rebuilding team must do — grab as much high-end talent, regardless of position, as you can grab.

Zadina, 18, might be the best scorer in the draft, and brings a confident edge (as well as 82 points in 57 games for the Halifax Mooseheads last season). Veleno is a play-making center some compare to Dylan Larkin. The Wings even went with another skilled forward, Jonatan Berggren, early in the second round before finally taking defenseman Jared McIsaac, a projected first-rounder, three picks later at 36.

As far as positional replenishment, the Wings didn’t get a break, and they’ll continue their never-ending quest for a top-tier defenseman, the most precious commodity. Buffalo got lucky in the lottery and landed the premier one at No. 1, Rasmus Dahlin.

The Wings found their fortune elsewhere, and added to a promising young forward core that includes Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi and last year’s No 1 pick, Michael Rasmussen. In rebuilds, you take the best player and don’t look back. It’s like what the Tigers have done, under the same ownership. The Tigers desperately need positional players, but pitchers keep popping up where they pick, and they recently added to their stockpile with No. 1 choice Casey Mize.

Wojo continues…

 

Bob Probert Ride facilitates cardiac center in Tecumseh, ON

The Blackburn News’s Mark Brown reports that the community of Tecumseh, Ontario was the indirect beneficiary of this year’s Bob Probert Ride:

A popular motorcycle benefit was the springboard for an announcement concerning a local sports facility.

A new satellite cardiac centre will be included in the town of Tecumseh’s soon-to-be-built Sportsplex, thanks to proceeds from the eighth annual Bob Probert Ride, held Sunday.

The announcement was made before the ride by Tecumseh Mayor Gary McNamara.

Over 1,500 riders from all over North America participated in the fundraising event, raising money for cardiac services provided by Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare (HDGH).

The Tecumseh facility will be the third satellite heart centre set up by HDGH.

“To extend the current services offered into the east-end community has been one of our ambitious fundraising goals for a few years now,” said Dani Probert, Bob’s widow, in a statement.

Continued, and I know this isn’t Red Wings-related, but it’s pretty cool that the Bob Probert Ride’s community clout helped spurn the growth of Windsor’s Hotel-Dieu Grace Hospital’s services.

Update: Here’s more from the Windsor Star’s Taylor Campbell:

Continue reading Bob Probert Ride facilitates cardiac center in Tecumseh, ON

Kulfan on why the summer development camp relocated to LCA

The Red Wings chose to relocate their summer development camp to Little Caesars Arena for this summer, and not hard to understand why the Wings would want their prospects and prospective free agent signings to enjoy the comforts of a two-thirds-of-a-billion-dollar arena.

The Red Wings’ practice facility will both wow the prospects and serve as something of a recruitment tool, as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan notes:

The camp is being relocated to Little Caesars Arena from Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena, where it’s been held for multiple years.

In Traverse City, players had the beach, could golf, and various outdoor activities they could take part in with fellow draft picks. But the switch to LCA — specifically the Belfor Training Center (the practice rink) — has different benefits.

“I love it,” [Wings director of player development Shawn] Horcoff said. “It gives them a chance to work in an NHL facility, a chance to see what it’s like here, and it gives them something to aspire.”

Essentially, the young players will live the life of an NHL player this week, getting to see how the NHL trains on and off the ice.

“With the benefits of having a state of the art facility, players will have an opportunity to work with Mike Kader (strength and conditioning coach) in the training facility, they’ll have their meals prepared for them (in the dining area), use the locker rooms,” Martin said. “It’s an excellent opportunity for them.”

Ben Simon, the Grand Rapids Griffins new head coach, and staff from the Wings minor league affiliate Toledo Walleye will handle the majority of on-ice practices, with Horcoff and Dan Cleary also participating.

A limited number of free tickets remain on a first-come, first-served basis for the practices and scrimmage.

According to Kulfan, all 10 draft picks from this past weekend’s draft will be making their way to Detroit for the development camp.

Jamie Daniels Foundation partners with Children’s Hospital

Crain’s Detroit Business’s Sherri Welch reports that the Jamie Daniels Foundation has partnered with Children’s Hospital of Michigan to administer its funds:

Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation will administer a new fund created by Detroit Red Wings announcer Ken Daniels and his family to combat opioid abuse in the wake of the overdose death of his son.

The fund builds on several the $120 million foundation, independent of its namesake hospital, is now managing as it evolves into a broader community foundation for children.

The aim is to manage philanthropic assets that support children for donors and other nonprofits, in addition to making annual grants of about $6 million focused on community benefit, pediatric research and medical education from its own assets.

“There are more opportunities to fund programs that support our mission than we have funds for,” said foundation Chairman Matt Friedman, co-founder of public relations firm Tanner Friedman.

Taking on the functions of a community foundation “allows us as a foundation to have a larger footprint and a greater impact,” he said.

Continued

Red Wings trade Robbie Russo to Arizona for conditional pick

From the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins:

DETROIT ACQUIRES CONDITIONAL DRAFT PICK FROM ARIZONA FOR ROBBIE RUSSO
… Defenseman Skated in 19 Games for Detroit During 2016-17 Season …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for defenseman Robbie Russo.

Continue reading Red Wings trade Robbie Russo to Arizona for conditional pick

HSJ: Red Wings waive Ouellet for buyout purposes

Per the Free Press’s Helene St. James…

The Detroit Red Wings are parting with Xavier Ouellet.

General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press that Ouellet is being placed on waivers to enable a buyout.

It has been clear for some time Ouellet, 24, no longer fit into the Wings’ plans. He played only 45 games in 2017-18, unable to gain a foothold and passed on the depth chart by Nick Jensen.

It’ll cost roughly $166,000 against the salary cap next season and $266,000 the following season. The benefit is it clears a roster spot. The Wings are banking that at least one prospect from a group that includes Dennis Cholowski, Filip Hronek, Libor Sulak and Joe Hicketts will push for a spot in Detroit out of training camp this autumn.

…

They are in contract talks to re-sign Mike Green, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. The issue is the length of the deal – the Wings would prefer to keep Green at two years, where he’s looking for more security.

Ouellet, yesterday: