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Naming some of the Griffins’ more notable veteran players

TheAHL.com’s Patrick Williams posted a list of “familiar faces in new places” ahead of the AHL’s 2023-2024 season, and his list of notable Grand Rapids Griffins vets includes the following:

Forward Tim Gettinger joins the Detroit/Grand Rapids organization after five seasons with the New York Rangers, where he is joined by Nolan Stevens and Zach Aston-Reese, who signed a two-way deal with Detroit last week. Brogan Rafferty solidifies the Red Wings’ blue-line depth after helping Coachella Valley reach the Finals last spring.

Continued; players like Gettinger, Stevens, Aston-Reese and Rafferty aren’t Wings prospects (nor is Josiah Didier, for example), but the Griffins’ vets will help the Wings’ prospects grow and shine.

Promotional Tweets: ‘Time to make the [Red Wings-themed] doughnuts…’

You kids are probably too young to remember the headline, which was from a Dunkin’ Donuts ad. Instead, we’re going to Tim’s tomorrow:

Evening power rankings and whatnot

Amongst this evening’s Red Wings-related content:

  1. CBS Sports’ Austin Nivison posted a set of power rankings for the first week of the 2023-2024 season…

22. Red Wings: There is potential for the Red Wings to finish much higher than this ranking. The addition of Alex DeBrincat gives them a much-needed scoring touch at the top of the lineup, but there are still several questions about this roster. The forward depth leaves something to be desired, and the blue line is questionable outside of Moritz Seider and Jake Walman. There is pressure for the Yzerplan to come together this season, but Detroit might fall shy of a playoff spot once again.

2. USA Today’s Mary Clarke sounded similar notes in her power rankings…

23. Detroit Red Wings: Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings were incredibly active this offseason, bringing in names like Alex DeBrincat, J.T. Compher, Shayne Gostisbehere and Jeff Petry, among others. That much turnover usually results in a bit of a transitionary period as players find chemistry with one another and get used to the new systems in place. Even though these moves make the Red Wings objectively better, it likely isn’t enough to save them from a bullish Atlantic Division.

3. And the New York Post’s Larry Brooks offers this take on the Wings’ status in his preseason NHL preview, deeming Detroit to inhabit the NHL’s “mushy middle”:

The Red Wings continue to build under GM Steve Yzerman, but not with the immediate results the GM enjoyed in Tampa Bay. It’s getting a little bit late for a team that hit on Moritz Seider but whiffed like the Whammer in “The Natural,” on 2018 sixth-overall Filip Zadina, taken a pick ahead of Quinn Hughes.

Zadina, now a San Jose Shark, was drafted by Ken Holland and Tyler Wright. Steve Yzerman was not a part of the Red Wings’ organization at the time.

And it’s early yet.

Kulfan’s notebook: Wings ready to battle the heralded Devils, start proving their worth

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took note of Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s comments regarding opening the 2023-2024 season against the highly-heralded New Jersey Devils…

The schedule makers gave the Wings a bit of help in that they don’t open the season until Thursday in New Jersey. So, it’s an extra three days of practice to refine things. But, you could tell the excitement to get the schedule rolling is there.

“The opening game of the year is unique,” Lalonde said. “I know there are 82 (games) of them but there is something special about that opening game.”

Lalonde is also thankful about facing a powerhouse like the Devils.

“I love the fact we are playing a team that top to bottom is a legit Stanley Cup contender,” Lalonde said. “Maybe the best team toward the second half of last season. I don’t think it’s an accident they rolled, easily to a 6-0 record (in the preseason). They have depth, play with pace and I just think it’s a real good test for us to start.”

And forward David Perron summarized the Wings’ take regarding their need to prove their critics wrong:

Perron said the Wings learned some valuable lessons last year that need to be carried over.

“We made some strides and we had those moments like we felt the games were getting bigger and bigger and then we didn’t have enough (after the trade deadline),” Perron said. “You have to put up the results, and points in the bank, and I’m not saying it’s naturally going to happen. We have everything to prove. We had a good start last year and it carried us for a while and we’ll try to do that (again) but every year is different and we have to prove it all over again.”

Tweet of note: Bally Sports Detroit’s Natalie Kerwin interviews Wings team photographer Dave Reginek

20 years of Dave:

Here’s the YouTube version:

Edvinsson has ‘something to prove?’ You bet.

EliteProspects’ Mitch Brown posted an article for EP Rinkside, discussing six prospects who “have the most to prove” this upcoming season, and he’s not wrong in suggesting that the immensely-talented Simon Edvinsson needs to display more consistency in his game:

Simon Edvinsson, D, Grand Rapids Griffins (Detroit Red Wings): Like [Seattle’s Shane] Wright, Simon Edvinsson is on this list not as a prospect on the verge of failing to make the NHL, but as one needing another step forward to achieve their lofty upside. But unlike Wright, it’s tough to paint Edvinsson’s 2022-23 season as anything other than a success, even if it wasn’t quite what we expected. 

Edvinsson’s dynamic offence game took a hit in his first AHL season, while his defence took off. A tighter gap and more aggression made him a formidable 1-on-1 defender, and his off-puck reads improved. His puck game became more streamlined – point shots, simple passes, etc. – but he still showed the rather incredible tools, easily evading pressure with his feet and hands, and then showing both shooting and passing skill to complete the best play. 

This season, expect Edvinsson’s offensive game to take centre stage. That means lots of points, highlights, and a consistent playmaking impact. If he does that, he should still become the top-pairing defender he looked like two years ago. 

Continued (paywall); Edvinsson proved that he could play defense last year in Grand Rapids, and this year, if he can balance his tremendous offensive skills with actually playing defense…

There’s the hope for him to become an elite offensive defenseman.

Prospect round-up: Buchelnikov’s ice time increases with Admiral; ASP plays 17:00 in Skelleftea Champions League win

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov at least finished even in 9:55 played as the Admiral Vladivostok lost 3-0 to the Ak Bars Kazan;

In the Swedish J20 league, Noah Dower Nilsson’s Frolunda HC lost 3-1 to the Vaxjo Lakers;

And in the Champions Hockey League, Axel Sandin Pellikka finished at +1 with 3 shots and a penalty taken in 16:58 as Skelleftea AIK won 2-1 over HC Kosice.

Here’s a highlight clip: