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DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills discusses the Red Wings’ goaltending situation this morning:

[Alex] Nedeljkovic and [Ville] Husso headline the Red Wings’ new goalie tandem, which is up next in DetroitRedWings.com‘s “Red Wings Reset” series that breaks down the club’s 2022-23 roster and new-look coaching staff.

“I think it will be great for both of us to have each other and push each other to get better,” Nedeljkovic said about sharing the crease with Husso in an Aug. 11 episode of The Word on Woodward. “And to be better every day to try to carry the team back into the playoffs.”

Husso joins Detroit after compiling a 25-7-6 record with a 2.56 goals-against average and .919 save percentage in 40 regular-season games last season for St. Louis.

The 27-year-old also posted a 3.67 GAA with an .890 save percentage and one shutout in seven Stanley Cup Playoffs games for the Blues, who lost to the eventual 2022 Stanley Cup-champion Colorado Avalanche in the second round of the postseason.

“It’s a different game for a goalie when you jump in for a playoff game,” Husso said in an Aug. 24 episode of The Word on Woodward. “A lot of ups and downs during the game. You need to be mentally strong, so I think that’s the biggest thing I learned last year.”

Continued

The Canadian Hockey League, the parent organization for the QMJHL, OHL and WHL, posted an article in which they examine the CHL-playing prospects for the Red Wings this morning. Among their selections:

Jan Bednar: A hulking presence between the pipes, the Czech import is an athletic netminder who covers much of the net given his large frame. Making 47 appearances last season with the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, Bednar found the win column on 28 occasions coupled with a 2.72 goals-against average and .912 save percentage, helping him to earn a spot on the QMJHL Second All-Star Team. Bednar, 19, was chosen by the Red Wings in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Sebastian Cossa: Chosen by the Red Wings in the opening round of the 2021 NHL Draft, Cossa is a modern goaltender who excels at using his massive size to turn aside the opposition. That was witnessed last season with the Edmonton Oil Kings as he put together a 33-9-2-1 showing through 46 appearances. In all, Cossa was recognized as part of the WHL’s Central Division First All-Star Team as part of a season where he helped his club claim the Ed Chynoweth Cup. A 19-year-old product of Fort McMurray, Ont., Cossa has also represented the Great White North on several occasions including this summer’s World Juniors. Cossa and the Red Wings came to terms on an entry-level contract last August.

Cross Hanas: A creative puck-handler, Hanas capitalizes by deftly finding his linemates in scoring position as shown last season with the Portland Winterhawks where he pushed the pace offensively with a team-leading 86 points coming in 63 appearances and was later named to the WHL’s U.S. Division First All-Star Team. A 20-year-old Texas native, the talented right-wing is expected to join the pro ranks next season with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. Hanas was chosen by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2020 NHL Draft.

Amadeus Lombardi: Bringing a game built on speed and skill, Lombardi put together an impressive first season with the Flint Firebirds in 2021-22 as he ranked second in team scoring with 59 points in 67 outings. A 19-year-old native of Aurora, Ont., the talented centre heard his name called by the Red Wings in the fourth round of this summer’s NHL Draft.

Continued with three more prospects…

Per the Toledo Walleye:

🚨 PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨

Welcome to T-Town, Gordie Green!

👉 https://t.co/hCdJQhPp1M pic.twitter.com/nLgYkuojX1— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) September 1, 2022

Here’s their press release:

(Toledo, OH) – Forward Gordie Green has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2022-2023 season.

Green, a native of Ann Arbor, MI, comes to the Walleye after completing a strong 2020-2021 season with the Newfoundland Growlers in which he collected 47 points (15G, 32A) over 57 contests while adding in another 14 points (7G, 7A) in 19 playoff contests. In two pro seasons, he also has skated in 15 games for Toronto in the AHL with a goal and an assist. His pro career also features a 19-game stint with Wichita in the 2020-2021 season with eight goals and ten assists.

Before turning professional, Green spent four years at Miami University in which he skated in 145 games while collecting 115 points (48G, 67A). As a captain his senior season, the 25-year-old posted a career-best point total with 36 in 34 games. He collected at least 20 points in all four seasons for the Red Hawks and was a NCHC Second Team All-Star for the 2019-2020 season.

Green is 25 and stands at 5’8″ and 172 pounds, per EliteProspects.

Pretty cool, posted a little late as I took a nap:

It’s here and it’s beautiful. pic.twitter.com/BukCeSypkC

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 1, 2022

Update: Here’s the video:

There’s a pro camp taking place at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin is part of the fray:

Inside USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, NHL all-stars and young sensations are back home working together.

There’s no summer vacation for Dylan Larkin, Zach Werenski, Jack and Quinn Hughes, Matty Beniers, Cole Caufield, Trevor Zegras, and a group of players with Michigan roots. pic.twitter.com/vUK7aEgPJa— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) August 31, 2022

Here’s the YouTube video:

We did a great job of kicking off the fundraising campaign in earnest yesterday, but I’ve got at least $3,000 to go, for better or worse.

As the prospect tournament is just over two weeks away, I’m certainly trying to earn my keep, but part of my job is to post a daily reminder that I’m raising money to get up to Traverse City for the prospect tournament and main training camp because I’ve got a hotel bill, gas & groceries, dry cleaning, a couple of shirts and three headlights’ (and an oil change?) worth of car repairs to get up there on the 14th and return home two weeks later.

You’re wonderful readers, and I’m grateful as hell for your readership, but this is one of those “times of need,” and I’m trying to learn to not be ashamed to ask for help here. This is just how the blog works right now, and if that’s the case:

If you’re are willing to help, you can use PayPal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com. And you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen, writing a subscriber-only article, discusses 4 very important factors which may determine whether the Red Wings manage to earn a playoff spot this upcoming season. The first factor is the most obvious one–improving on defense:

It’s not difficult to quantify how bad the Red Wings were defensively. According to NaturalStatTrick.com, they gave up more High Danger Chances Against (881) than any other team. That was 318 more than the Boston Bruins gave up. Boston finished fourth in the Atlantic Division.

The importance of dangerous scoring chances is illustrated in this statistic: last season, the New York Rangers were the only team to qualify for the playoffs after finishing in the bottom 10 in HDCA.

Yzerman addressed this issue by adding four defensemen, including shutdown defenseman Ben Chiarot and defensive-minded Olli Maatta. Both of those players should give the Red Wings steadier defensive play, while Robert Hagg add to the team’s physical presence.

But changing personnel is only part of the solution. New coach Derek Lalonde is expected to instill a much stronger defensive culture than we’ve seen over the last few seasons.

The Red Wings surrendered  3.78 goals-per-game last season and need to cut that down to near three goals per game to make the playoffs. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the worst defensive team to make the playoffs last season and they were at 3.07 goals-against per game.

Continued (paywall)

Daily Faceoff’s Mike Gould posted a massive Red Wings 2022-2023 season preview, and here’s the gist thereof–the “burning questions” and season prediction:

BURNING QUESTIONS

1. Can Edvinsson follow in Seider’s footsteps? One thing the Red Wings really need is a strong, consistent partner for Seider. They tried DeKeyser, Marc Staal, Jordan Oesterle, and a few others in that spot last season, but none of them really worked. If Edvinsson can jump in and play like a top-four guy at age 19, he’ll help answer a lot of questions in Detroit.

2. What does Robby Fabbri’s future hold? Fabbri looked to be on the right track in Detroit after tearing his left ACL twice as a member of the St. Louis Blues. But the 26-year-old suffered another ACL injury — this time, to his right knee — late last season, and it’s unclear when he might ready to return in 2022–23. Fabbri is an effective middle-six scoring forward when healthy, and he’s under contract through the end of the 2024–25 season.

3. Is Tyler Bertuzzi on his way out? Trade rumors followed Bertuzzi throughout the 2021–22 season, which was the most productive of his NHL career to date. The 27-year-old winger netted 30 goals in just 68 games and played with a ton of snarl on the Red Wings’ top line. He has just one year left on his current deal, which carries a $4.75 million cap hit, and is eligible to become a UFA next summer.

Continue reading Daily Faceoff posts its Red Wings season preview

Okay, so the Red Wings released their prospect tournament roster ahead of the September 15th-19th tourney in Traverse City, MI.

Here’s the roster, which is particularly thin at forward and particularly stout on defense:

Continue reading Breaking down the Red Wings’ prospect tournament roster

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings release 2022 NHL Prospect Tournament roster and schedule

First-round pair of Edvinsson and Cossa headline 24-man roster for five-team tournament

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today released their 2022 NHL Prospect Tournament roster and a complete tournament schedule for the event, held from Thursday, Sept. 15 to Monday, Sept. 19 at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, Mich. The team consists of 24 recent draft picks, free agent signees and tryouts who will battle against prospect teams from the Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Red Wings roster is highlighted by a pair of first round picks from the 2021 NHL Entry Draft: defenseman Simon Edvinsson (6th overall) and goaltender Sebastian Cossa (15th overall). Edvinsson recorded 19 points (2-17-19) in 44 games for Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League and led league rookies with an average of 19:46 time on ice en route to being named a finalist for the SHL’s Rookie of the Year Award. The 19-year-old blueliner also helped Team Sweden to a bronze medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship, averaging 22:27 time on ice and recording two points (1-1-2) in six games for Sweden. Cossa was a finalist for the Western Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year Award last season after posting a 33-9-3 record, a 2.28 goals against average and a 0.913 save percentage for the Edmonton Oil Kings. In all, Cossa owns a 71-16-7 record with a 2.12 goals against average and a 0.921 save percentage across three seasons for the Oil Kings. The 19-year-old also appeared in one game to help Team Canada to a gold medal at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Other roster notables include left wing Elmer Soderblom (159th overall, 2019), who at 6-foot-8, 249-pounds led Frolunda of the SHL with 21 goals in his first full season with the club and recorded 33 points (21-12-33) to lead all Under-21 SHL skaters; center Cross Hanas (55th overall, 2020), who averaged more than point-per-game to pace the Portland Winterhawks of the WHL with 86 points (26-60-86) in 63 games; defenseman Donovan Sebrango (63rd overall, 2020), who has already skated in 96 games for Grand Rapids as a 20-year-old and helped Team Canada win the gold medal as an alternate captain at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship; and blueliner Albert Johansson (60th overall, 2019), who posted a career-high 25 points (5-20-25) in 52 regular-season games and chipped in eight points (2-6-8) in 19 postseason appearances to help Farjestads claim the 2022 SHL Championship.

Fourteen of the 24 players on the roster are former Red Wings draft picks, with the two first-round picks in addition to two second-round picks, three third-round selections, two fourth-round picks, two fifth-round choices, two sixth-round picks and a seventh-round pick. The drafted prospects range in age from two 18-year olds (Andrew Oke and Tnias Mathurin) to 25-year-old Drew Worrad.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings post 2022 prospect tournament roster and schedule