Category: Uncategorized

Press release: Grand Rapids Griffins hire Brad Krakowitz as video coach

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

BRAD KRAKOWITZ NAMED VIDEO COACH FOR GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals. Krakowitz replaces Erich Junge who is now the assistant video coordinator for the Red Wings.

Krakowitz most recently served as the assistant video coordinator for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners from 2022-25. In addition to his role with the Roadrunners, Krakowitz served as the assistant coach for the Tucson Jr. Roadrunners from 2019-2023, working primarily with their high school teams. He also worked for Recruit Scouting from 2020-22, scouting draft eligible prospects. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Krakowitz played on the inaugural Tucson Jr. Roadrunners high school team that finished as state runners-up in 2019.

Tickets for the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. remain available to the general public through griffinshockey.com. 

Tweet of note: Griffins video coordinator Erich Junge hired by Red Wings as assistant video coordinator

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

Three Wings alums among the ’20 greatest nicknames in hockey history,’ but the Perfect Human misses the cut

Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz compiled a list of his “20 greatest nicknames in hockey history,” and four notable Red Wings made his list–but the Perfect Human did not:

Mr. Hockey

There was nothing on the ice that Gordie Howe could not do. Score, defend, fight, play physical … it was all there. His all-around abilities helped earn him the moniker “Mr. Hockey,” a nickname that was actually trademarked by him and his wife, who was nicknamed “Mrs. Hockey.”

The Dominator

It is perhaps one of the most fitting nicknames because it was so representative of the way Dominik Hasek played. He was, simply, one of the most dominant players in NHL history and could change the fortunes of a team in a way few other players could. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hasek played at a level that was pretty much unmatched by any goalie in any era. He was the reason some of those Buffalo Sabres teams went as far as they did in the playoffs, including the 1998 Stanley Cup Final team. 

The Professor

Part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ famed Russian Five, an awesome nickname in its own right, Igor Larionov was dubbed “The Professor” for his cerebral approach to the game. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman called him a “real brainy player,” and Sergei Fedorov said he was one of the smartest players he played with. Larionov was also one of the players who was instrumental in Russian stars defecting to the NHL. 

Continued (does “Cujo” count as a legendary Red Wing? Methinks not); I’m not sure how Nicklas Lidstrom misses out on the list, but that’s just me.

Roughly tranlsated: Anton Johansson’s ready to be an underdog on Leksands IF’s SHL team

Anton Johansson‘s Leksands IF had a rough season last year, finishing in 11th place in the 14-team SHL, but Johansson and Leksands’ coach, Johan Hedberg, told Hockeynews.se’s Andreas Hanson that the team still believes that it’s going to improve beginning this Saturday, when the SHL season begins:

At the SHL’s media season-start meeting in Stockholm, it was clear that many have low expectations for Leksand for the 2025-2026 season. In the annual experts’ vote, in which about a hundred media representatives responded to questions, among other things, which team will be relegated from the SHL, Leksand received as much as 38% of the votes–the most of any team.

But both coaches and players choose to turn the talk into motivation.

“We in our team believe more than you believe in us. And it’s going to be a good start,” said head coach Johan Hedberg.

Hedberg describes how the team uses the tip-offs as a driving force, and he believes that it can even be an advantage to start as an underdog.

“It’s easier to create a “us versus the world” feeling. If you go in with expectations and can’t live up to them, the height of the fall is worse. That’s when it comes starts to haunt you,” he told Hockeynews.

Defenseman Anton Johansson is on the same track.

“I’ve said it before that I like to be a bit of an underdog. I think we on the team are pretty confident with that as well. We aren’t favorites. We have a team that can develop throughout the season. I really think we will do it, and take big steps,” Johansson said.

Both coaches and players agree that there is great potential in the team – and that the season will be about building, growing and sharpening the performances game after game.

“We know we might not earn four straight wins, but we’re going to be in every game. So our panic is not as great as if Färjestad would lose four straight games. Now, of course, we don’t want to start with four losses – but you have to take it where we are and try to build something for the long run,” says Hedberg.

“It’s more than a fan than favorite. The team looks promising. I think it’s going to be a damn fun season,” said Anton Johansson.

Red Wings’ Sergei ‘Fedorov 5-game plan’ now includes a ‘rinkside chat’ with Fedorov

The Detroit Red Wings are attempting to sell their 5-game ticket plans which include access to Sergei Fedorov’s jersey retirement game on January 12th via a novel approach:

We just had to share this incredible news! Scoring a Fedorov 5-Game Plan today not only guarantees you get the best seats at the best price when No. 91 goes up into the rafters, but a plan now includes a Rink Side Chat with the legend himself, Sergei Fedorov!

The Red Wings are asking interested parties to share their phone number and email for further information regarding the 5-game packs.

Does Dustin Wolf’s 7 x $7.5 mil contract portend a similar future deal for Simon Edvinsson?

I’m not usually one to deal in speculation, but the Calgary Flames signed sophomore goaltender Dustin Wolf to a massive 7-year contract with a $7.5 million cap hit today…

And, after Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson posted 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 78 games during his first full NHL season in 2024-2025, the Wolf contract and Frank Nazar’s similarly-structured 7-year, $6.59 million cap hit deal with the Blackhawks got me thinking.

Given that Edvinsson is 22, and given that the salary cap is going to skyrocket over the course of the next couple of summers, should the Red Wings lock up their 6’5,” 209-pound defenseman before he becomes a restricted free agent next summer? And, if so, how much is reasonable for a player who appears to be a 30-50-point producer?

I’d guess that Edvinsson could earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $7.5 million. How much do you think the Red Wings might pay Edvinsson to buy some of his future earning years?

Duff: Dan Cleary’s pushing Nate Danielson to ‘bring it’ every game

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff filed a subscriber-only article which focuses on Red Wings director of player development Dan Cleary’s comments regarding Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson’s consistency of play:

“I’m on him quite a bit sometimes,” Cleary acknowledges. “I don’t know if he likes to see me coming that often, but I love Nate. I love his game.”

Danielson, 20, finished his first full pro season by collecting 12-27-39 totals in 71 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. In terms of productivity, Danielson seemed to grow into his game as the season continued. The player Detroit selected ninth overall in the 2023 NHL entry draft scored eight of his 12 goals over the final 24 regular-season games played by the Griffins.

“Yeah, strong,” Cleary said of Danielson’s second-half performance. “He had a strong finish. Probably his best game was his last game (of the Calder Cup playoffs) in Texas. Very competitive. One of our better players. I know we lost (and were eliminated) in double overtime, but he was tremendous. It was a must-win game, and he brought it.”

After that game, Cleary once again confronted Danielson. This time, it was to accentuate the positive.

“I’m like, ‘That’s how you’re going to have to play.’ And that’s what he’s going to have to play coming in the fall.”

Continued (paywall); Danielson and every other young player needs to find more consistency to their game. Danielson has to “bring it” at a playoff level every game, and that makes sense.

Photos: Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat strike poses during the NHL/NHLPA North American Media Tour

The NHL/NHLPA North American “Media Tour” took place today in Las Vegas (per the Fourth Period/NHL on SiriusXM Radio’s David Pagnotta), and Getty Images has a dozen or so pictures of Red Wings forwards Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat striking fashionable poses:

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 08: (EDITOR’S NOTE: Image was converted to black and white.) Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings poses for a portrait during the NHL North American Player Media Tour at the Waldorf Astoria on September 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 08: Alex DeBrincat of the Detroit Red Wings poses for a portrait during the NHL North American Player Media Tour at the Waldorf Astoria on September 08, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)

Via Duff: Jakub Rychlovsky shares his lessons learned from a rough North American hockey debut

24-year-old Red Wings prospect Jakub Rychlovsky is a bit of a wild card.

The 5’10,” 181-pound winger led the Czech Extraliga in scoring with 26 goals and 46 points in 51 games in 2023-2024, but, this past season, he was only able to suit up for 38 games with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, posting 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points.

Rychlovsky signed a 2-year contract with the Red Wings in the summer of 2024, so he’s bound to play in at least one more North American season, and it’s a safe assumption to suggest that he wants to improve upon his first campaign.

This evening, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff found and has now shared an interview from Rychlovsky’s former Czech team, the “Bli Tygri Liberec,” whose Lukas Novotny and Jan Cermak discovered that Rychlovsky’s first North American season was a crash course in the tremendously difficult job that is being an AHL pro:

“Honestly, it was a tough encounter with reality when you get to know how the business works in America,” Rychlovsky said on the website of Czech club White Tigers Liberec. “It took me a while to get over it.”

His struggles with the adjustment were evident in both Rychlovsky’s health and productivity. Injuries would limit him to 38 AHL games for the Grand Rapids Griffins. His numbers were a pedestrian three goals and five assists.

“Maybe I was looking for faults in myself too much at first, rather than getting over it and not thinking about it that much,” Rychlovsky said. “After the New Year, I got injured, had to have surgery (for a lower-body injury), and that ended my season. So my impressions are kind of embarrassing. I know I didn’t play my best hockey.”

Duff notes that Rychlovsky, like so many European players, found the AHL’s punishing travel schedule to be a bit much as well…

The 24-year-old Czech forward admits he wasn’t at all prepared for the grind of the AHL. Three games in three nights, sometimes all on the road. Overnight bus trips. Broken sleep patterns. It all took a toll on his well-being.

“Traveling was extremely demanding,” Rychlovsky said. “Some matches ended at eleven in the evening, for example, and we then got on a bus and drove five hours to another city. There was also a time difference there, and we played the match from seven in the evening. My body was often confused and didn’t know if it was morning or evening.”

But the young man provides goal-scoring abilities, which the Red Wings need as much of as humanly possible, so they’re willing to forgive a difficult debut season…

And Rychlovsky told Novotny and Cermak that he’s not going to do anything less than focus on improving his own performance, and he will continue to relentlessly pursue his hopes of earning an NHL job:

Continue reading Via Duff: Jakub Rychlovsky shares his lessons learned from a rough North American hockey debut

Trey Augustine’s determined to improve over the course of his junior season at MSU

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills looks back to this past July’s Summer Development Camp while discussing the fall plans of one Trey Augustine, who is going into his junior season with Michigan State University:

Last season, as a sophomore, Augustine posted a 19-7-4 record with a 2.08 goals-against average, .924 save percentage and three shutouts in 30 games to help lead the Spartans to their second consecutive BIG Ten title.

“It was a good year,” Augustine said. “Obviously, ended on a negative note and there’s still something to prove there. I want to go back and win a national championship. There were a lot of good things that happened throughout the year. In the moment, it’s kind of hard to realize those good things but I got better as a hockey player and as a person. I’m looking to do that again next year.”

Augustine also racked up the accolades in 2024-25, being named Big Ten Goaltender of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten, selected to the Big Ten All-Tournament Team, recognized as a First Team AHCA All-American and was a finalist for the Richter Award as the top netminder in Division I men’s ice hockey as well as for the prestigious AAU Sullivan Award, given to the top amateur athlete in the United States.

Aside from his collegiate honors, the 20-year-old backstopped the United States to a gold medal at 2025 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Junior Championship in Ottawa, Ont., becoming the winningest goalie in Team USA history at the IIHF World Junior Championships.

When asked how he views his development up to this point, Augustine said he believes his statistics don’t tell the whole story.

“I think it’s very hard to look at it from a numbers point of view,” Augustine said. “For me, it’s just more internal – how I feel with everything. Like, right away, I know if something went wrong. Just being able to realize that thing on the fly and grade myself from my own point of view.”

Continued; Augustine told Mills that he’s got more to learn in terms of responding to both negative and positive moments:

“It’s more focused on after a negative — how do you respond? But the same thing happens after a positive – you make a big save, but if they have another good chance you have to be focused again,” Augustine said. “Whether something goes wrong or right, for me, it doesn’t really matter. It’s the same approach. I have to be ready for the next shot and opportunity where I can have a positive impact on the game.”