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A bit about Ben Chiarot’s re-adjustment to training camp-less hockey

Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot missed a chunk of training camp and the preseason as his father passed away from cancer (per Bally Sports Detroit’s Ken Daniels) back in Kitchener, and Chiarot spoke with the media today about readjusting to the bump-and-grind of training camp and the exhibition season. DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills took note of Chiarot’s remarks:

“I’ve felt pretty good in games,” Chiarot said after Friday’s practice at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center. “Obviously missing a lot of training camp doesn’t help as far as getting your legs under you or getting in game shape. But I feel like it’s coming along pretty well. I try to take good care of myself in the summer and be prepared.”

A 10-year NHL veteran, Chiarot still views the early part of training camp as extremely valuable.

“The first couple days of camp are usually pretty tough,” he said. “Heavy skating, get your legs and feet under you, getting used to battling and playing physical. Doing all the things in the summer you don’t necessarily do. That first week especially is important, but I’ve felt good so far.”

Chiarot said he feels more comfortable heading into his second season with the Red Wings.

“You’re not finding your way around the room, city and different personalities,” Chiarot said. “It just feels like coming home now.”

Continued; I don’t believe I’m saying this, but Chiarot has actually looked pretty darn good, with a few exceptions, over the course of his exhibition time with Detroit. He looks like he wants to rebound from last year with a more focused game, and he’s been simpler and more poised.

Prospect round-up: Liam Dower Nilsson scores again; Kilpinen, Bicker post points in J20, DEL

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov still hasn’t made the trip from St. Petersburg to Vladivostok, so the Admiral Vladivostok won 3-2 over Lada Togliatti without their cross-continental sniper;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Liam Dower Nilsson scored a goal, finishing at -2 with 5 shots in 17:06 played as IF Bjorkloven lost 5-2 to Almtuna;

In the Swedish J20 league, Maximilian Kilpinen added to his point total with an assist in MoDo Hockey’s 4-2 loss to Leksand. He finished at -1 with 2 shots, and Kilpinen now has 6 goals and 2 assists in 8 J20 games for MoDo;

And in the DEL, Kevin Bicker had an assist, finishing at +2 in 10:07 played–that’s his first point and the most he’s played–as the Frankfurt Lowen won a 7-3 decision over Dusseldorfer EG.

Tweets of note: In which I am a self-proclaimed expert

FYI:

Add Hutchinson to that ** as he’s a pro try-out in Grand Rapids.

Press release: Griffins sign Hutchinson to PTO, add 14 players to roster

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

FOURTEEN PLAYERS JOIN GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Friday assigned forwards Alexandre Doucet, Marco Kasper, and Amadeus Lombardi, defensemen Albert Johansson, Antti Tuomisto, Eemil Viro and William Wallinder, and goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the Grand Rapids Griffins. The Red Wings also released forwards Joel L’Esperance, Riley Sawchuk, Dominik Shine and Tyler Spezia, and defenseman Josiah Didier from their professional tryouts, returning them to Grand Rapids.

In addition, the Griffins signed goaltender Michael Hutchinson to a professional tryout.

Hutchinson enters his 14th professional season and has competed in 410 games throughout the ECHL, AHL and NHL. In the AHL, the 33-year-old has notched a 106-71-23 record with 15 shutouts, a 2.58 GAA and a 0.917 save percentage throughout 209 contests since the 2010-11 campaign. Hutchinson was selected with the 77th overall pick by the Boston Bruins in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

The Griffins will begin practices in Grand Rapids on Monday at 11 a.m. in preparation for next Friday’s season opener against the Colorado Eagles at 7 p.m. at Van Andel Arena.

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. Single-game tickets for the Griffins’ 2023-24 season can be purchased through griffinshockey.com/tickets.

Red Wings make first substantial cuts, including Kasper, Johansson, Wallinder, Cossa; Hutchinson released

The Detroit Red Wings made their first big cuts today, waiving eight Grand Rapids Griffins-bound players and dropping their roster down to 37 players. Per the Red Wings’ PR department:

Red Wings reduce training camp roster to 37

Detroit finishes preseason slate with home game against Toronto on Saturday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena; Game to air on Bally Sports Detroit

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today assigned forwards Alexandre Doucet, Marco Kasper and Amadeus Lombardi, defensemen Albert Johansson, Antti Tuomisto, Eemil Viro and William Wallinder, and goaltender Sebastian Cossa to the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Additionally, the Red Wings released forwards Joel L’Esperance, Riley Sawchuk, Dominik Shine and Tyler Spezia, defenseman Josiah Didier, and goaltender Michael Hutchinson from their professional tryouts.

The Red Wings currently have 37 players on their training camp roster: 22 forwards, 11 defensemen and four goaltenders. Currently at 4-2-1 through seven preseason games, Detroit concludes its preseason schedule with a home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow (Saturday, Oct. 7) at 7:00 p.m. at Little Caesars Arena. The game will air on Bally Sports Detroit.

Allen discusses the ‘intangibles’ of Justin Holl and Christian Fischer

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted a subscriber-only article which discusses the intangibles brought to the Red Wings’ team by defenseman Justin Holl and forward Christian Fischer:

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde once received some advice that always enters into his thinking when it comes to special teams.

“A coach told me a few years ago and it really stuck with me,” Lalonde said. “You can be successful without your power play for stretches… Guys will go dry with the power play and still find ways to win hockey games. You have no chance if you really struggle on the penalty kill.”

The Red Wings were 19th in penalty killing last season. Their 78.3% efficiency almost put them in the middle of the pack. But that is still an area of emphasis for the Red Wings. Lalonde wants Detroit to be better– much better — in its penalty killing.

That’s one of the reasons why GM Steve Yzerman brought in Christian Fischer and Justin Holl as free agents.

Continued (paywall)

Tweets of note: More ‘media day,’ and coach Lalonde on the Red Wings’ 7 defensemen

It’s media day downtown…

And you can take this for what you will:

Tweets of note: 8 of the red Wings’ AHL’ers hit the waiver wire

Per Chris Johnston, the Red Wings have waived Austin Czarnik, Tim Gettinger, Taro Hirose, John Lethemon, Jared McIsaac, Wyatt Newpower, Brogan Rafferty and Nolan Stevens: