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Tweet of note: Axel Sandin Pellikka’s attending the NHLPA Rookie Showcase today

NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman Tweeted out a group photo from the NHLPA Rookie Showcase at the Washington Capitals’ practice facility today. The players involved, including Red Wings prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka, will take part in photo shoots and promotional activities for Upper Deck Hockey:

Dylan Larkin’s the only Red Wings representative on Daily Faceoff’s Top 50 forwards list

For what it’s worth, Daily Faceoff’s Paul Pidutti ranked the NHL’s Top 50 Forwards this morning, based upon a weighted average of the past 3 seasons’ worth of performance…

And Dylan Larkin is the only Red Wings’ representative, at #40. No Lucas Raymond at all, most likely due to his 45-point sophomore campaign.

It’s a little weird to not see Raymond, but he’s still earning respect as far as most hockey experts are concerned, for better or worse.

A very fair ranking of the Red Wings’ goaltending tandem

Bleacher Report’s Joe Yerdon ranks every NHL team’s goaltending tandems ahead of the 2025-2026 regular season, and…

The Red Wings rank in the middle of the pack?

18. Detroit Red Wings

John Gibson and Cam Talbot

Detroit got solid goaltending from Cam Talbot last season but were let down by the rest of the group that featured Alex Lyon, Ville Husso and Petr Mrázek as well as injuries. Adding John Gibson from Anaheim to be the No. 1 while Talbot slides into the backup role, on paper, gives the Red Wings much better overall goaltending.

Yes, injuries will need to be kept to a minimum, especially for Gibson, but when he was in the lineup for the Ducks, he was outstanding. Having Gibson, Talbot and Sebastian Cossa in the AHL gives Detroit a lot of depth. It’s just hard to ignore the injury history with Gibson and how overall inconsistent play has been for the Red Wings the past few years. If Gibson can settle everything down, maybe their playoff drought won’t hit double figures.

Continued; that’s really a very fair ranking. Gibson has to have something of a bounce-back season injury-wise for the Red Wings’ goaltending to really shine, and he’s going to need Cam Talbot’s help as the Wings will tend to work off the tandem model…

And Cossa should get at least a couple “cup of coffee” call-ups this upcoming season. I wouldn’t be totally surprised if Michal Postava saw time in Detroit’s crease on an emergency basis, either.

Overall, there are questions about Gibson’s health and consistency, there are questions about Talbot’s age (38) and consistency, and Cossa’s got pressure upon his shoulders to shine when he gets a chance to impress. 18 out of 32 seems about right.

Praise for Nate Danielson from The Athletic

The Athletic transcripted an episode of “The Athletic Hockey Show” with Corey Pronman, Max Bultman and FloHockey’s Chris Peters, and the trio discussed Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson at some length:

Peters: Then let’s talk about Cole Hutson — kidding. I’m still trying to figure out (Danielson) the player. Corey, in terms of a top‑50 prospect and where he landed, what are the things you’re seeing from him? I just haven’t seen it yet.

Pronman: One of the youngest players in the AHL last year, one of Grand Rapids’ better players, one of their better players in the playoffs. 6‑2, right‑shot center who can skate, has legit skill, plays both special teams, works hard. A lot of traits. I know the skill isn’t eye‑popping, but it’s good skill — legit skill. I think it’s second‑power‑play skill in the NHL — maybe bumper/net‑front type. He has a lot of traits that will translate and will lead to him being a highly effective NHL center for a long time. It’s hard to see him miss, frankly. He checks every box, and some with emphasis. Really natural skater, natural puck handler. He can break shifts open with his puck handling at times. The pace he plays at — he just feels like a really good hockey player. I don’t know what to say other than he doesn’t meet some people’s ideal statistical profile.

But every time I watch him — well, that’s the question I have, and I’m sure Max feels the same way because he’s watching a bunch — it feels like every time you watch him, he’s one of the most impactful players on the ice, right?

Bultman: Yes. And then you look at the score sheet and it’s, you know, one assist or no assist.

Peters: What’s a reasonable expectation?

Pronman: I think 45-55 points with penalty‑kill duty.

Continued (paywall); the thrust of the conversation involves yesterday’s Under-23 prospect rankings from Pronman.

Tweet of note: Dylan Larkin appears on Tuesday night’s Tigers broadcast

Via the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin spoke with the Detroit Tigers’ broadcast crew for 7:05 earlier this evening, discussing the offseason, his preparations for the upcoming hockey season, and more…

Meet Travis Hamonic

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a profile of new Red Wings defenseman Travis Hamonic earlier this afternoon, but you’re getting it now as my aunt is having a bad day, and I needed to step away from the blog for a bit to take care of somebody who’s just coming off a heavy antibiotic.

Anyway, Mills’ profile is quite good, and worth a read:

Not only does Travis Hamonic, who signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings on Aug. 15, want to bring a hardworking style of play to his new club in the 2025-26 season, but the veteran defenseman also hopes to make a difference away from the rink.

“I’m excited to come in,” Hamonic said in his introductory Zoom call with the media last week. “It seems like a great, very close group. I’m ready to integrate myself into the team and community. Such a storied franchise…I’ve only been a Wing for a little bit, but very proud of that opportunity to wear that jersey. Very thankful for the organization for giving me that chance, so I want to make sure that I’m ready to go and I believe that I am, and to be a positive impact through my time in Detroit and as a Wing.”

Embracing a physical, third-pair role with the Ottawa Senators last season, Hamonic finished with seven points (one goal, six assists) in 59 games while averaging 17:04 of ice time per contest.

Continue reading Meet Travis Hamonic

Tweet of note: Moritz Seider discusses his iron man streak

We can’t listen to the SiriusXM Canada NHL Radio’s 11-minute interview with Moritz Seider unless you happen to have SiriusXM Radio Canada, but the NHL posted a 1:45 teaser of Seider’s interview with David Pagnotta and Dennis Bernstein during the NHL/NHLPA European media tour:

‘Bear’-ing with Carter Bear’s status as a WHL’er for this upcoming season

The NHL’s collective bargaining agreement will enshrine various changes to long-standing rules, some of which will be going into effect this season…

But PuckPedia reports that the concept that 1 of a team’s CHL-drafted prospects may skip their draft-year tenure in the QMJHL, OHL or WHL and play in the AHL instead, with coordination with the CHL itself, won’t happen until 2026-2027–at the very earliest:

So the Hockey News’s Jake Tye’s suggestion that Red Wings prospect Carter Bear might play in the AHL this season…

Continue reading ‘Bear’-ing with Carter Bear’s status as a WHL’er for this upcoming season