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Kasper opens the season with 1G, 1A for Grand Rapids

Marco Kasper registered a goal and an assist over the course of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 3-0 victory over the Milwaukee Admirals last night, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen took note of Kasper’s performance:

The Austrian center Kasper made a strong case to make the Red Wings roster in training camp. In the end, the Red Wings decided it is better for his development to be the Griffins’ No. 1 center rather than competing for playing time in Detroit. Depending upon factors such as injuries and Red Wings performance, Kasper should get to Detroit at some point this season.

“We are going to play the heck out of him down here,” Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson said. “We are going to make sure when he gets that opportunity he’s ready to take it.”

Kasper’s take on his own growth is he is simply more comfortable in the North American professional game this season than he was last season. He put in plenty of work this summer improving his skating and growing stronger.

“Skating a lot more than last year,” Kasper said. “Trying to be involved in the game. That’s a big part of what I’m doing this year.”

Based on his opening night production, Kasper, if he stays in Grand Rapids, could should be the team’s offensive catalyst.

“I’m really just taking it day by day,” Kasper said to the media after the win over Milwaukee. “We are working really hard down here….just working every day, getting one percent better every day.”

Continued; Kasper needs to keep it up. He probably will do just that.

Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets 2: Saros will start opposite Talbot

The Detroit Red Wings’ morning skate revealed that defenseman Albert Johansson will play tonight in lieu of Erik Gustafsson as Detroit battles the Nashville Predators this evening (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM).

Our friends from Nashville didn’t practice yesterday, so their morning skate would be revealing as to whether Juuse Saros was ready to go after missing Thursday’s 4-3 loss to the Dallas Stars with a “lower-body injury”:

It’s Saros…

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets 2: Saros will start opposite Talbot

Red Wings-Predators post-morning skate Tweets: Johansson debuts tonight

The Red Wings held their morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM) at Little Caesars Arena this morning.

At present, it appears that Albert Johansson will be playing in Erik Gustafsson’s place on defense, with Justin Holl subbing for Jeff Petry; we know that Cam Talbot will start tonight, but whether he starts opposite Juuse Saros is uncertain.

After the morning skate, EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro confirmed that Johansson’s playing tonight:

Update: per coach Lalonde:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators post-morning skate Tweets: Johansson debuts tonight

40 for 71?

The Athletic asked its NHL writers to issue “Bold Predictions” for the NHL’s 32 teams, and here’s what they had to say about the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings

Dylan Larkin will score 40 goals: The Red Wings haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09. But Larkin came closer than you might realize to changing that last season: He finished with 33 goals in 68 games, which over an 82-game season totals out to a 39.7-goal pace. He’s found a whole new level as a scorer over the past three seasons, and Detroit has finally surrounded him with the kind of talent needed to threaten 40. The question now is just health, as he hasn’t played a full 82 games since 2017-18. He hit 80 just two seasons ago, though, and if he can do that again, I think it’ll be enough to make this prediction come true. — Max Bultman

Continued (paywall); I sure hope it happens.

Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets: Holl recalled; Petry skating; Talbot vs. Saros?

The Detroit Red Wings hope to earn their first win tonight against the Nashville Predators (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM), and the Predators are equally optimistic that they’ll bounce back from an opening-night loss to Dallas.

We know that the Wings will start Cam Talbot in goal, and that the Wings have recalled Justin Holl from Grand Rapids; we don’t know whether the Predators’ Juuse Saros is healthy, though we should probably determine that based upon Nashville’s morning skate.

The Predators’ game crew posted Tweets from Detroit and LCA first…

While the Red Wings reminded us that the “Red Carpet Walk” is today…

And MLive’s Ansar Khan, and the Hockey News’s Connor Eargood, reported that Jeff Petry was skating before the Wings’ morning skate:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets: Holl recalled; Petry skating; Talbot vs. Saros?

Red Wings-Predators game-day preview: Nashville optimistic they’ll rebound from home opener loss…just like Detroit

The Detroit Red Wings’ opponent tonight, the Nashville Predators, won’t be feeling charitable when the teams meet at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/Bally Sports South/97.1 FM) because Nashville lost its home opener, too, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Field Level Media reports that the Predators felt that they didn’t play badly against Dallas, though Nashville surrendered 4 2nd-period goals:

“I thought we played pretty solid,” Nashville forward Steven Stamkos said. “When you look at shots, the chances, the overall game was there. That’s a very good team over there and you give them a couple quality grade-A chances like we did, it’s in the back of your net. Then, before you know it, you’re down three goals against a really good hockey team. So, probably not the recipe that you want, but we certainly didn’t quit.”

Nashville had 16 more shots on goal than the Stars, who scored on three consecutive shots early in the second.

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators game-day preview: Nashville optimistic they’ll rebound from home opener loss…just like Detroit

Tweet of note via A2Y: It was a very bad night

Via Paul Kukla of Abel to Yzerman comes a Tweet of note:

The Henry Ford’s ‘Hockey: Faster Than Ever’ exhibit to open tomorrow

On September 10th, which feels like a lifetime ago, I mentioned that The Henry Ford is holding an exhibit called “Hockey: Faster Than Ever,” and MLive’s Edward Pevos reports that the exhibit opens tomorrow:

“Hockey: Faster Than Ever” will be at The Henry Ford in Dearborn from Sunday, October 13 through January 5, 2025.

The exhibit will look at the technical advancements and scientific breakthroughs which have shaped the sport over the decades; from technology to the physics of play.

The exhibition is produced by Flying Fish in collaboration with the Montréal Science Centre and support from the NHL and the NHLPA.

“Partnering with the Montréal Science Centre allowed us to create a unique experience celebrating both sports and science,“ said Jay Brown, Principal & Managing Director of Flying Fish. ”We intended to show how technology, physics, and innovation have transformed the game throughout history. We’re thrilled with the result, an exhibition that will fascinate sports enthusiasts and curious minds alike.”

The exhibition features Red Wings artifacts provided in partnership with the team, including jerseys and gear, including The Russian Five game-worn jerseys, actual boards from Joe Louis Arena and more.

Press release: Red Wings recall Justin Holl, reassign Carter Gylander to Toledo

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RECALL JUSTIN HOLL FROM GRAND RAPIDS

  … Detroit Reassigns Carter Gylander from Griffins to ECHL’s Toledo Walleye …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled defenseman Justin Holl from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, the Red Wings have reassigned goaltender Carter Gylander from the Griffins to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.

Holl, 32, spent the 2023-24 season with the Red Wings, recording five assists, a plus-eight rating and 22 penalty minutes in 38 games. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound blueliner played the entire 2022-23 campaign with the Toronto Maple Leafs, collecting 18 points (2-16-18), a plus-15 rating and 39 penalty minutes in 80 regular-season games, in addition to one assist in eight postseason contests. Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (54th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Holl has tallied 87 points (11-76-87), a plus-66 rating and 172 penalty minutes in 323 games with the Maple Leafs and Red Wings since 2017-18. Holl has also logged 68 points (20-48-68), a plus-59 rating and 79 penalty minutes in 194 AHL games between the Rockford IceHogs and Toronto Marlies, helping the Marlies win a Calder Cup championship in 2018. He made his professional debut with the ECHL’s Indy Fuel in 2014-15, contributing 34 points (7-27-34) and 39 penalty minutes in 66 games.

A native of Tonka Bay, Minn., Holl played four seasons at the University of Minnesota from 2010-14 prior to turning professional, notching 38 points (8-30-38), a plus-34 rating and 76 penalty minutes in 142 games. Holl helped the Golden Gophers clinch Frozen Four berths in 2012 and 2014, in addition to capturing the Big Ten’s inaugural regular-season title in 2013-14. He competed at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School from 2007-10, totaling 39 points (18-21-39) and 12 penalty minutes in 77 games. Holl also suited up for the United States Hockey League’s Omaha Lancers during the 2009-10 season, recording four assists, a plus-seven rating and six penalty minutes in 11 regular-season games, along with two points (1-1-2) in eight playoff matchups.

Prospect notes: Walleye drop first exhibition game; Finnie 1A, Spartans shut out

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in North America on Friday night:

In the ECHL, Carson Bantle had a goal and an assist, Gabriel Seger had a goal and an assist and Jan Bednar stopped 20 of 23 shots as the Toledo Walleye lost their first exhibition game, dropping a 4-2 decision to the Kalamazoo K-Wings;

In the OHL, Landon Miller served as the back-up in the Soo Greyhounds’ 5-4 shootout win over the Kitchener Rangers;

In the WHL, Emmitt Finnie finished at -1 with an assist, 4 shots and a 13-for-25 faceoff win record in the Kamloops Blazers’ 3-1 loss to the Seattle Thunderbirds;

In the USHL, Austin Baker finished at +1 with 3 shots in the Sioux Falls Stampede’s 6-3 win over the Dubuque Fighting Saints;

Rudy Guimond was the back-up in the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders’ 5-0 loss to the Fargo Force;

In NCAA Hockey, Trey Augustine stopped 23 of 26 shots and Red Savage finished at -2, going 7-for-9 on faceoffs as Boston College defeated the Michigan State University Spartans 3-0;

Kienan Draper finished even with 2 shots and a 5-for-7 faceoff record as the University of Michigan Wolverines won 4-1 over Arizona State University;

Brady Cleveland finished at +1 with 1 shot and a minor penalty taken and Fisher Scott finished even with 1 shot as the Colorado College Tigers won 4-3 over Northern Michigan University;

John Whipple finished at +2 as the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers won 7-1 over Air Force;

Brennan Ali finished at +1 with 2 shots in the Notre Dame University Fighting Irish’s 4-1 win over St. Lawrence;

Max Plante (upper-body injury) didn’t play in the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs’ 4-2 win over UMass-Lowell;

Larry Keenan finished at -2 with 2 shots in the UMass Minutemen’s 3-2 loss to Nebraska-Omaha;

Jack Phelan finished even with 2 shots and Owen Mehlenbacher finished at -3 with 2 shots and a 4-for-7 faceoff record as the University of Wisconsin Badgers lost 4-2 to Lindenwood.