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St. James on a very motivated Bobby Ryan

The Free Press’s Helene St. James penned a Red Wings free agency round-up, and she focused on Bobby Ryan’s motivation to turn both his career and his new employer’s on-ice fortunes around:

In addition to being a good fit as a mentor, Ryan has the skill set to help an offense that averaged a league-worst 2.00 goals per game last season. A former 30-goal scorer, he tallied 15 goals as recently as 2018-19. He comes in deeply motivated to prove to critics he still belongs in the NHL. 

“It’s the No. 1 factor for me this year,” Ryan said. “Ultimately I’d like to prove to myself that I have more in me and two, everybody else behind that. There’s going to be naysayers because of my age and my speed. I can’t address age but I’m trying to address speed and go from there and show the hockey world I have something left in me.”

Ryan has lost about 10 pounds over the past year, noting that “I cut out about 750 calories a day in a bottle of wine, so that certainly helps.” He is working with a skating coach for the first time in his career. When the NHL shut down in mid-March because of COVID-19, Ryan went to his offseason home in Idaho, where he was able to increase his training. 

“I missed so much time last year from mid-November to mid-February,” Ryan said. “That time gave me a new work ethic. I embraced not drinking and turned to fitness. … I’m trying to get out of my element, my comfort zone, as much as I can to be a better player. 

“I’ve said this before and I hate saying it, but COVID, because of the way it happened, has been a blessing for me. It allowed my body to really heal, it allowed me to get set in my new lifestyle. It gave me a chance to really get into recovery and learn about myself. When the season does start up, whenever that may be, I think I’m way better equipped to handle things now.”

Continued

Detroit News’s latest Octopulse podcast talks free agency, draft, Manon Rheaume

From the Detroit News comes the latest “Octopulse” podcast:

Per the Detroit News:

►1:00: Thomas Greiss signs two-year deal

►2:45: New free agents Bobby Ryan, Jon Merrill 

►4:20: Twelve UFAs on roster this year

►6:50: Livonia’s Torey Krug signs with the Blues

►10:00: Manon Rheaume interview

►41:00 Steve Yzerman on the eight-hour draft on Day 2

►44:20: Kris Draper on key attributes of draft picks

Red Wings sign Troy Stecher for two years

Good depth signing here:

UPDATE: The #RedWings today agreed to terms with defenseman Troy Stecher on a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/XesHsfmlBu— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 10, 2020

Troy Stecher – D
Detroit #RedWings
2 years – $1.7M AAV

Confirmed Breakdown:
2020-21: $1.2M
2021-22: $2.2Mhttps://t.co/Ncvxxdu62e— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 11, 2020

Stecher is 26 and plays right defense. Per Sports Forecaster:

Scouting Report

Owns excellent puck-moving skills and passing ability. Is also mobile, so he can join the rush with aplomb. Can produce quality offensive numbers at lower levels. Needs to add more bulk to his 5-10 frame, since he is somewhat undersized for the National Hockey League level. Must prove himself as a capable defender in the pros.

Long Range Potential: Solid puck-moving defenseman with some upside.

Red Wings have signed D Troy Stecher to a two-year, $3.4M contract.— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 10, 2020

It’s a $3.4 million contract for Troy Stecher with Red Wings – a $1.7M AAV.— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) October 10, 2020

The #LGRW #RedWings signed 26 y/o RD Troy Stecher to 2 year $1.7M Cap Hit Deal per @FriedgeHNIC

-5G 17P in 69GP
-58% 5v5 GF, 47.3% DFF (-1.3% rel team), 48.1% Corsi (-0.6% rel team)
-Scored 1.02 5v5 Points/60
-Rep’d by Eustace King O2Khttps://t.co/E8E43nQBa0— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) October 10, 2020

Continue reading Red Wings sign Troy Stecher for two years

Smile like you mean it

The Free Press posted a short excerpt from Helene St. James’ book, “Big 50: Detroit Red Wings,” which is available on Amazon this Tuesday. She discusses Steve Yzerman’s gap-toothed smile when he lifted the Stanley Cup in 1997:

Steve Yzerman was one of the most photographed men in the NHL in June 1997, when the Red Wings finally ended a 42-year drought and won the Stanley Cup, dispatching the Blues, Ducks, Avalanche, and Flyers en route. Yzerman had lost one of his front teeth two years earlier, and it had been replaced with a crown by team dentist Chet Regula. When a toothache became gradually more unbearable during the spring of 1997, Yzerman ended up in the dentist’s chair the day after Game 1 against the Ducks. “I was feeling lousy all the time and the doctor said I had a bone infection and should have it removed,” Yzerman said at the time.

The tooth was taken out May 17. Before a new one could be put in, the Wings were Stanley Cup champions. The image of Yzerman hoisting the Stanley Cup while grinning a gap-toothed smile became an iconic image. “Here I am looking like a hillbilly,” Yzerman said of the photo. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

Continued

Tyler Johnson? No, thank you.

The estimable Frank Seravalli Tweeted this yesterday…

Tyler Johnson on waivers today seemed to catch some off-guard today. It’s left many wondering if #GoBolts had something in place for a team to claim Johnson (#RedWings?). We’ll see tomorrow at 12 noon ET.— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 10, 2020

Today:

We’re a few minutes away from getting word if anyone put in a waiver claim on #TBLightning Tyler Johnson. Does Stevie Y go for a reunion in Detroit?— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) October 10, 2020

So THIS happened at noon:

Tyler Johnson cleared waivers— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 10, 2020

Johnson’s worn down after playing for so long as an undersized forward. He looked tired during the playoffs. Hard “no” at his $5 million salary. GOOD CALL STEVE.

Tyler Johnson clears waivers. We explored here what’s next for cap-strapped #tblightning, who can still try to move him https://t.co/UTKelpADEv— Joe Smith (@JoeSmithTB) October 10, 2020

Friedman, LeBrun: Red Wings to sign Thomas Greiss to a 2-year deal

This is great news in my opinion:

Hearing Thomas Greiss to DET 2x$3.6M— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 10, 2020

Update:

Detroit has signed UFA goalie Thomas Greiss— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) October 10, 2020

Update #2: Official:

UPDATE: The Detroit #RedWings today agreed to terms with goaltender Thomas Greiss on a two-year contract. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/rD9g8N27Lu— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 10, 2020

Continue reading Friedman, LeBrun: Red Wings to sign Thomas Greiss to a 2-year deal

TMI with TMR: Rogle BK’s Instagram updates Moritz Seider’s status

Per Rogle BK’s Instagram account: Moritz Seider will be wearing #3 for the Angelholm-based team, and Seider did not play today vs. Orebro:

Per CapFriendly: Today’s the deadline for player-selected salary arbitration filings

Keep in mind that both Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi have arbitration rights here:

Reminder that today at 5:00pm ET is the deadline for Player-Elected Salary Arbitration notification.

Players electing for arbitration must do so in writing and notify the NHL Central Registry, the NHLPA and their club prior to the deadline.https://t.co/YAOHlLeC3V— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 10, 2020