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Tweets of note: Sharks to start Georgiev vs. Husso

The San Jose Sharks held their morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against the hometown Detroit Red Wings (7 PM on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/NBCSA/97.1 FM), and their news developments can be summarized thusly:

Talking trade deadline strategy

Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz discusses each and every NHL team’s “biggest trade chip” ahead of the 2025 trade deadline, and while he believes that the Wings might move Vladimir Tarasenko, he also feels that Detroit might stand pat:

Detroit Red Wings: Vladimir Tarasenko

It remains to be seen what, if anything, general manager Steve Yzerman does at the trade deadline.

The Red Wings have rapidly turned things around after replacing Derek Lalonde with Todd McLellan behind the bench. But is that a real turnaround or just a short-term burst after a coaching change?

If it is a real turnaround, they might be in a position to add something. But Yzerman does not seem happy to just make the playoffs and lose in the first round. He wants to build a consistent contender and may still be patient with his trade deadline approach.

If the Red Wings cool off and slow down, they could still become sellers. One player that should probably be at the top of that list is Tarasenko.

Things have not really worked out as planned for him in Detroit, and even though his numbers are down this season he is a small enough investment and has enough of a track record that there might still be a market for him.

If the buy, I can’t see the Red Wings dipping deep into their prospect pool.

I also can’t imagine selling off anybody major should they fall back out of the race.

Continued; I’m not expecting the Wings to “sell,” but Tarasenko is having a difficult time to be certain.

Video: Veleno, Raymond and coach McLellan speak with the media prior to Wings-Sharks

The Detroit Red Wings held their morning skate before tonight’s game against the San Jose Sharks (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/NBCSCA/97.1 FM).

Coach McLellan delivered “good news/bad news” after the skate as McLellan reported that Ville Husso would start tonight, and that Alex Lyon was making progress in his recovery, but also that Jeff Petry won’t accompany the team on its 4-game road trip.

The Red Wings have posted a video of Joe Veleno, Lucas Raymond and coach McLellan speaking with the media:

Allen on Jake Walman

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wrote an article about former Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman this morning:

Defenseman Jake Walman prefers to look at today’s return to Detroit more in terms of renewing friendships rather then rehashing the circumstances of his departure.

“Can’t really change what happened in the past, but take the positives from it,” Walman told San Jose Hockey Now’s Josh Frojelin.

Walman told our sister website that he’s excited to visit with old friends. Two months ago, when the Red Wings visited San Jose, Walman went to dinner Alex DeBrincat, Joe Veleno, Moritz Seider, and Lucas Raymond.

“A lot of good memories will probably be flowing through my head,” Walman said. “It’ll be a happy time and a lot of smiles for me, for sure. Seeing guys I know, seeing people from the city that I know.”

To read the entire SJHN story, click here…

Last summer, the Red Wings paid the Sharks a second-round pick to take Jake Walman and his $3.4 million cap hit.

The Red Wings’ primary objective was to clear some cap space needed to re-sign existing players such as Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane. At the time, the Red Wings were also interested in signing others that didn’t happen. But there were underlying issues beyond the salary cap. Not everyone in the organization appreciated Walman’s “Griddy” celebration, nor the possibility that it would become part of his routine.  Although it was never a major issue, it’s fair to say management didn’t always like Walman’s approach.

Continued

Post-morning skate Tweets: Husso starts vs. Sharks; Lyon progressing

The Detroit Red Wings host the San Jose Sharks at Little Caesars Arena this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/NBCSCA/97.1 FM), with the Red Wings hoping to extend their winning streak to eight games.

MLive’s Ansar Khan and the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton reported that Ville Husso will start tonight, and that there were no changes otherwise to the Wings’ lineup at the morning skate.

After Detroit’s morning skate, the players and coach spoke with the Wings’ media corps:

Continue reading Post-morning skate Tweets: Husso starts vs. Sharks; Lyon progressing

Tweet of note: Anton Johansson may re-sign with Leksands IF

Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter and “Mr. Madhawk”:

Red Wings-Sharks morning skate Tweets and set-up: Husso starts as Wings hope to extend winning streak to 8 vs. Walman’s Sharks

The 20-18-and-4 Detroit Red Wings host the 13-26-and-6 San Jose Sharks this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/NBCSCA/97.1 FM), with the Red Wings hoping to extend their winning streak to eight games.

The Sharks are on a 3-game losing streak at present, but they won 2 of their past 5 games, and Macklin Celebrini and the Sharks’ corps of young players have been excellent of late, and Jake Walman has posted 26 points in 31 games (he’s just returning from a lower-body injury), emerging as the Sharks’ top defender.

Anyway, here are this morning’s game notes…

Continue reading Red Wings-Sharks morning skate Tweets and set-up: Husso starts as Wings hope to extend winning streak to 8 vs. Walman’s Sharks

The Athletic’s Pronman ranks 140 under-23 prospects into ‘tiers’

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman ranks the NHL’s best players under 23 years of age into “tiers” today.

Lucas Raymond earns a “tier 2” selection as “Tier 2: NHL All-Star”…

Lucas Raymond

Raymond has been the leader on Detroit’s offense this season and one of the best U23 forwards in the league overall in the first half. He’s a dynamic player with the puck. He has special puck skills, with the ability to make high-skill maneuvers in tight areas at a high rate. He combines that skill with excellent offensive IQ and vision. He sees plays other players don’t, and has a unique ability to hold onto pucks for an extra second to let lanes develop. He had a good shot and with how many plays he makes he can run a PP1 in the NHL. Raymond isn’t that big, but he works hard and even added PK duty for the Red Wings this season. He’s not that fast, but he’s very elusive and has good edges. He’s a budding star forward.

#36, Nate Danielson, ends up in “Tier 4: Top of the lineup player”…

Nate Danielson

Danielson’s first pro season has been a familiar story. He looks like an impactful all-around player, who logs a lot of minutes and creates a lot of chances, but doesn’t score in big amounts. His numbers aren’t amazing for where I have him projected, but I’ve seen enough offense from this player to think he’s going to score in the NHL. He has excellent one-on-one skills, he skates well, and his ability to create chances in transition will make him dangerous as a pro. He’s both a strong passer and shooter who can make a lot of things happen inside the offensive zone. Danielson is also a diligent two-way center. I get the concerns about his production, but when I’ve watched the player I think his skill is legit. If he’s Detroit’s second-line center of the future he can be a heck of a 2C.

#40, Simon Edvinsson, makes “Tier 5: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player”…

Continue reading The Athletic’s Pronman ranks 140 under-23 prospects into ‘tiers’

ESPN issues the Red Wings’ mid-season grade

ESPN’s Kristen Shilton and Ryan S. Clark issue mid-season grades for every one of the NHL’s 32 teams this morning:

Detroit Red Wings

Record: 20-18-4
Preseason over/under: 90.5
Current points pace: 85.9

Class president: Lucas Raymond. The Red Wings have a burgeoning star in Raymond. He’s Detroit’s leading scorer — with 16 goals and 41 points — but that’s not why he’s ahead of the pack. He’s been a jack-of-all-trades in Detroit, producing as a top-line performer and also trusted to be a second-line driver. Raymond’s potential as a two-way player seems to grow on a game-by-game basis, and that confidence has translated not only on the scoresheet but in Raymond’s overall leadership with the club. It’s exactly what Detroit should be getting from a player they signed to an eight-year, $64.6 million extension in September.

In danger of failing: Dylan Larkin. Detroit has been in a bind for scoring all season, and the captain could do more to help there. He’s averaging less than a point per game — with 16 goals and 33 points — and while those aren’t awful totals, it’s not nearly enough to be setting a standard for Detroit’s other forwards to follow. That said, Larkin could get on a heater at any time but needs to display a defensive effort to match. That’s how he — and Detroit — can get back on track.

Grade: B- (first-quarter grade: C+). The Red Wings’ poor start put coach Derek Lalonde out of a gig before midseason. That’s about as suboptimal as it gets, especially when they have more than enough talent to be a playoff contender. And could it be that the Red Wings are actually starting to play like it? They’re on a seven-game winning streak that has put them within striking distance of a playoff spot. The team will have to improve their offensive game at 5-on-5 (they’re 23rd overall averaging 2.86 goals per game) but its second-ranked power play is a true difference-maker. New coach Todd McLellan has Detroit turned in the right direction.

Continued (paywall)

Press release: ‘Never Offside with Julie and Cat’ premieres today

Per the NHL:

Debuting Today, “Never Offside with Julie and Cat” Takes Listeners Inside the Life of an NHL Player … From the Wives Point of View!

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Joins the Duo for First Episode of the NHL’s Newest Podcast Experience

NEW YORK (January 15, 2025) – Have you ever wondered how professional athletes balance the challenges of constant travel, family dynamics, game day preparation, unexpected hazards of the business and everything in between? Well, Julie Petry, married to Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jeff and Cat Toffoli, married to San Jose Sharks forward Tyler are about to answer these very questions in their new NHL Productions podcast called, “Never Offside with Julie and Cat”. Episode 1 is available for download now.

Julie and Cat will take listeners behind the curtain of what life is like as a wife of an NHL player. From the glitz and glamour of game nights to managing their families when the boys are on the road. Jeff and Tyler have played 28 seasons and over 1,800 games between them, so the ladies will have plenty of real-life experiences to rely on when they share candid stories, laughs, and unforgettable moments most fans don’t see. These off-ice GMs will have conversations with notable weekly guests, including players, celebrities, executives and other hockey wives. They’ll answer your most burning questions and share an inside look into the world of hockey.

In the debut episode airing today, Julie and Cat sit down with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman from the NHL headquarters in New York to talk hockey and drop the puck on their new venture. Among the topics discussed were home-life balance, hockey in Florida including the two outdoor games slated for 2026, as well as the first round of the ‘shootout’. Julie and Cat wrap the episode with their ‘Garesy’ takeaways and Julie’s excitement for the upcoming 2025 Navy Federal Credit Union NHL Stadium Series — the outdoor matchup between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, Home of the Buckeyes, on Saturday, March 1.