Category Archives: Uncategorized

Kulfan’s notebook: Patrick Kane’s enthusiasm shines through in season 19

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a fine notebook article today, discussing Patrick Kane’s status as a still-enthusiastic rink rat, Sebastian Cossa’s important season ahead, Simon Edvinsson’s injury status and Carter Mazur’s added bulk.

Kulfan notes that Kane will soon be only a year younger than Los Angeles’ Anze Kopitar, who’s calling it a career after this season. Red Wings coach Todd McLellan coached Kopitar, and he sees a spark in Kane every time he comes to the rink:

At age 36 (37 on Nov. 19), Kane is in his 19th NHL training camp. Kane is getting older, but any sort of end doesn’t appear close. Not even close.

“You always look to the person as he’s arriving at the rink,” McLellan said. “You see his body language and the spark in his eyes, and is it becoming real hard, or work? Or does he still have that kid-like demeanor? In my opinion, he still has that kid-like demeanor.”

Kane continues to be a rink rat, spending as much time on the ice as he can. The passion toward the game isn’t disappearing.

“He could play forever,” McLellan said. “He still loves the game. Nineteen years is a long time. They know when it’s time (to end). I don’t think he’s close to that, so good for him.”

Kane himself says that he’s still excited to get going after an offseason that afforded him the ability to train normally:

Continue reading Kulfan’s notebook: Patrick Kane’s enthusiasm shines through in season 19 →

John Gibson’s motivated to make the most of his fresh start in Detroit

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of 32-year-old goaltender John Gibson, who’s s motivated to prove his critics wrong after losing his job to Lukas Dostal last season:

“Maybe a little bit,” Gibson said. “But I’m just leaving that in the past and excited for a fresh start here, and hopefully get this team back to the playoffs. That’s my focus. What happened there (Anaheim) is in the past.”

Gibson, 32, saw injuries cut into his playing time last season. But in 29 appearances, Gibson had an 11-11-2 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and .912 save percentage. It was his best season in the last few years, and gave the Wings plenty of reason to acquire Gibson in a trade for goaltender Petr Mrazek and draft picks. The trade appears to have excited the locker room.

“I believe it does,” coach Todd McLellan said. “I have sensed around the group — I haven’t asked directly — but they’re real excited about having him here and feel he could be a difference-maker. Gibby’s effect on our team has been real positive.”

Gibson arrived in the Detroit area with his family, from his native Pittsburgh, approximately two weeks ago. He was involved in some informal skates at Belfor Training Center and has gotten to know new teammates.

But the time in training camp is proving to be extremely beneficial in terms of strengthening relationships and learning how the Wings operate on the ice.

“For me it’s just getting to know everybody,” Gibson said. “Know their tendencies and getting on the same page. I’ve been here for a bit and had two weeks of captain’s skates, so just getting to know everybody, and now it’s putting the details together and making sure we’re on the same page to start the season strong.”

Continued

Prospect round-up: 9 shots for Kiiskinen and a game misconduct for Svrcek

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen finished at -1 with 9 shots in 18:16 played as HPK Hameenlinna lost 6-0 to Lukko;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Charlie Forslund wasn’t in Mora IK’s lineup as they lost 2-1 in a shootout to former Red Wings prospect Liam Dower Nilsson’s IF Bjorkloven.

And in the Swedish J20 league, Michal Svrcek got 5-and-a-game for a nasty hit in Brynas IF’s 3-1 win over MoDo Hockey. Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter:

Coach McLellan says the Wings’ lines will keep changing as training camp, exhibition season continue

2 Comments

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that the Red Wings’ lineup remains in flux on the second day of training camp:

While parrying questions about possible line combinations, [Red Wings coach Todd] McLellan said to expect them to be “all over the map. We’re just going to keep experimenting with different people in different places until we find something we like.”

Part of the experimentation is driven by the absences of forward James van Riemsdyk (family) and defenseman Simon Edvinsson (lower-body injury), but McLellan revealed a desire to know who plays where isn’t limited to members of the media.

“I would caution everybody: Don’t read into the lines,” McLellan said. “My son called me yesterday and said, you’re starting so-and-so and I said, ‘What do you mean I’m starting so-and-so with so-and-so.’ He goes, well, it’s all over the news, the lines are going to be like this. And I’m going Cale, no.

“We’re moving people around. I think we have to give the younger players every opportunity to experience being on a line with some veterans, and see how that goes. But please don’t read into the lines and good luck guessing, because I don’t even know what we’re doing tomorrow, yet.”

McLellan did sound hopeful Edvinsson will be available before the end of the month, saying, “It’s not overly serious. I hope he’s playing maybe the last exhibition game and game one of the regular season.”

McLellan also conceded he might want to get a look at Edvinsson paired with free-agent signee Travis Hamonic. “You’d have a lefty-righty, so there’s a really good chance that could happen. But it’s too early to get into that.”

Also: Some fatigue has set in:

“We had some goals set in regards to structure [today] and I believe we got that accomplished,” McLellan said. “Day 2 tends to be a little more ragged than Day 1. After Day 1, you feel it. You get up early and you have to go do it all over again.”

Press release: Red Wings post preseason broadcast schedule

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS, FANDUEL SPORTS NETWORK AND AUDACY ANNOUNCE 2025-26 PRESEASON BROADCAST SCHEDULE

  … 2025 Red & White Game and Select Preseason Games Will be Streamed Live on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, in conjunction with FanDuel Sports Network and Audacy, today announced the Red Wings local television, streaming and radio schedules for the 2025-26 preseason. This schedule is subject to change.

The 2025 Red & White Game will be held on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3:00 p.m. at Van Andel Arena, home of the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Fans can watch the sold-out game on WXSP-TV across West Michigan or watch the live stream on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App. Please note that all games on DetroitRedWings.com and the Red Wings Mobile App will only be available to fans in Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

FanDuel Sports Network continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing three preseason contests, beginning with a road game against the Pittsburgh Penguins (Friday, Sept. 26 at 7:00 p.m.) FanDuel Sports Network will also carry home games against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Toronto Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)

Additionally, all four preseason home games will air on the Detroit Red Wings Radio Network. WWJ Newsradio 950 will cover preseason games against the Chicago Blackhawks (Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:00 p.m.) and Buffalo Sabres (Thursday, Sept. 25 at 7:00 p.m.), while 97.1 The Ticket will air preseason matchups against the Penguins (Monday, Sept. 29 at 7:00 p.m.) and Maple Leafs (Saturday, Oct. 4 at 7:00 p.m.)

Training camp weekend fundraising

Okay, training camp is underway, and I’m putting in 12-to-14-hour days as a result. If you’re willing to lend a financial hand to defray the expenses of the website and support the time I’m putting in, that would be wonderful.

Aunt Annie and I are obviously trying to pay the bills, too, so there’s that…But these four days of training camp are a tremendous grind, and I’m hoping that you’re receiving content that’s worth your support.

And I know that this isn’t your favorite thing, but it’s simpler, more direct and often more lucrative to fundraise than it is to have commercials on the blog, so continue to enjoy your commercial-free browsing experience.

As always, I thank you for your time and your readership.

Continue reading Training camp weekend fundraising →