The Athletic’s Custance on Mike Green’s return; Yzerman on the Bolts’ conservative deadline philosophy

The Athletic’s Craig Custance answers questions about Henrik Zetterberg’s future, the Red Wings moving “bad” contracts and possible trade deadline scenarios in his latest mailbag, but the most pertinent question he answers regards one Mike Green’s trade value:

What reasonable package can we expect for Mike Green from Tampa? Would Cal Foote be in play?— Greg Jennings

The defenseman market has changed a bit on the Red Wings in reference to any possible deal with the Lightning. It wasn’t all that long ago that Mike Green was the best defenseman you could pick up at the deadline. Things have changed pretty dramatically on that front.

First, came McDonagh and the Rangers’ entry into the sellers’ market. Now, it’s clear that Erik Karlsson is very much in play, even if that’s a deal that might be easier to pull off in the summer. Both of those defensemen are expected targets of the Lightning and you have to imagine GM Steve Yzerman would exhaust efforts to get those two first before turning to Green as a backup plan.

Cal Foote is much more likely to be a part of a package for McDonagh or Karlsson than he would be for Green. The Lightning are a team that needs to make every cap dollar work, so a young defenseman who is one year closer to playing in the NHL than what they’ll get with their first-rounder this year is more valuable to the Lightning than a 2018 draft pick. So, I think that’s a big ask in a Green deal. Where it might make sense is if the deal expands out to include Green along with one of the Red Wings’ wingers and Foote was a player the Red Wings liked in the draft. But again, that would have to mean the Lightning didn’t have success elsewhere in the trade market.

Continued (paywall, and worth your time), and I believe that the best the Wings will get for Green is 2 2nd-round picks.

As Custance suggests, with Erik Karlsson the queen of the deadline brigade on defense and Ryan McDonagh the bridesmaid, Green just isn’t going to go for as much Wings fans would like. No Cal Foote + a 1st…

And part of the reason I say that involves the Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith’s latest talk with Steve Yzerman:

General manager Steve Yzerman said Thursday he’s not sure what, if anything, he’ll be able to accomplish by the deadline, saying there’s “very limited” amount of fits so far in terms of what they want to do. And the fact Yzerman said he doesn’t plan to deal from his current roster – including young core players like Brayden Point and Mikhail Sergachev – makes it unlikely Tampa Bay will have the king’s ransom Ottawa would demand for its franchise player.

“At the trade deadline, when you’re trying to acquire players, usually teams that are selling are looking for younger players, draft picks and prospects,” Yzerman told the Tampa Bay Times today. “At this stage, the young players on our team, we want to keep on our team and we want to add to that. We’re trying to keep this team together with the hope of improving it.”

There’s no guarantee the Senators will even move Karlsson by Monday, as it they could just wait for this summer’s NHL Draft, where there might be more teams in the bidding. But the Lightning is among the teams that have, not surprisingly, kicked the tires on Karlsson.

The Lightning has other options as it hopes to address its blueline. There’s Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh, 28, a shutdown defenseman who has another year on his contract at $4.7 million. McDonagh has a 10-team no-trade list, but the Lightning isn’t on it. They could be a match if the price is right.

Tampa Bay could also target pending unrestricted free agent Mike Green (Detroit). Columbus left-shot Jack Johnson, a pending UFA, seemed like a good fit, but The Athletic reported Thursday the Blue Jackets have began engaging in contract extension talks with the veteran defenseman.

The Lightning has all of its draft picks the next three seasons, and a deep prospect pool including Cal Foote, Taylor Raddsyh, Brett Howden, among others. But Yzerman isn’t going to give up the farm – whether it’s for Karlsson or anyone else – noting there’s no guarantee a Stanley Cup will be the reward.

Keep in mind that if Tampa Bay acquired Karlsson, it’d probably be for just 1 1/2 years, as he’ll likely demand between $10-12 million annually as a free agent in the summer of 2019.

“I really don’t want to just get a player or something at all costs,” Yzerman said. “I don’t believe in that. Obviously if we feel we can improve our team and it gives us a better chance to be more successful in the playoffs, that would be our goal. I may not be able to do that.”

Continued

Red Wings-Sabres quick take: Sabres snag a last-second victory over struggling Wings

The Detroit Red Wings hoped to snap a two-game losing streak while hosting the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday night.

Detroit found a way to lose, again and again. Playing perimeter hockey, the Red Wings started slow, gave up the game’s first goal, tied things up, and went down on a disputed marker by Evander Kane…The Wings tied things up with 1:25 remaining in regulation…and Mario Scandella broke the hearts of the non-tankers, scoring a screened OT marker with 0.3 seconds remaining in overtime.

Ultimately, Detroit lost 3-2 in OT, and Detroit had a rough night–they fired 37 shots into Robin Lehner (Buffalo had 30), fired 23 into Sabres shin pads and 10 wide of the net on a night when Buffalo’s Tenacious Defense and disruptive hockey were too much for a passive team to overcome. Frustrating!

The Wings are now 0-2-and-1 over their last 3 games, and the Wings are 2-and-9 in OT.

Continue reading Red Wings-Sabres quick take: Sabres snag a last-second victory over struggling Wings

Grand Rapids Griffins to hold, “Hockey, Hops and Hope” event on March 6th

Of charitable note, from the Grand Rapids Griffins:

HOCKEY, HOPS AND HOPE RETURNS MARCH 6

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins and Easterseals Michigan are partnering for the seventh annual Hockey, Hops and Hope (formerly Corks, Pucks and Brews), a wine and craft beer tasting fundraiser to be held on Tuesday, March 6 from 6:30-9 p.m. at The Sharpe Collection Jaguar Land Rover Showroom (1030 28th St SE).

Griffins players and coaches will serve over 100 varieties of wine and craft beer samples to guests at the event, which will feature live music, a strolling dinner and silent and live auctions. Items up for bid include Chicago Cubs VIP packages consisting of four tickets, food and parking for an upcoming game; Griffins packages; a University of Michigan ultimate tailgate package featuring food, parking and four tickets for an upcoming football game; the weekend use of a brand new BMW, Mini, Land Rover or Jaguar; golf packages; vacation packages; casino packages; wine and beer tours; gift cards and more.

Continue reading Grand Rapids Griffins to hold, “Hockey, Hops and Hope” event on March 6th

Griffins/Walleye news: Sadowy, McCarron head to Toledo; Walleye sign back-up Angus Redmond

The Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye made moves today, with the Griffins reassigning Dylan Sadowy and Patrick McCarron to Toledo, and the Walleye signing a back-up for Pat Nagle, as reported by the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

The Toledo Walleye have acquired goaltender Angus Redmond, a 22-year-old rookie.

Redmond was assigned to Toledo from San Diego of the American Hockey League on Thursday. Redmond, a native of Langley, British Columbia, started his pro career with the ECHL’s Utah Grizzlies in October.

Redmond has played in 18 games for Utah and has posted a 2-8-2 record with a 4.07 goals-against average.

Redmond played last season at Michigan Tech University in the Western Conference Hockey Association, going 22-10-5 with a 1.85 GAA and .917 save percentage. Redmond led the NCAA in goals-against average for most of the 2016-17 season and also ranked among the top 10 in save percentage and winning percentage.

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound goalie also was in net for Michigan Tech’s 3-2 double-overtime win over Bowling Green State University in the WCHA championship game last March.

Redmond signed a three-year entry level NHL contract with the Anaheim Ducks shortly after his collegiate career ended. He was subsequently assigned to Utah, Anaheim’s ECHL affiliate.

Monroe continues…

 

Two Sabres things: Housley worried about Wings’ speed; Wilson settling in with Sabres

Of note regarding the Buffalo Sabres this afternoon:

1. BuffaloSabres.com’s Jourdon LaBarber reports that Sabres coach Phil Housley is wary of the Red Wings’ speed going into tonight’s game:

The Red Wings have lost three of their last four games and sit eight points removed from a wild card berth. Even so, the Sabres know their young core can present problems.

“Through the neutral zone, you have to make sure you get pucks deep because they’re going to try to force turnovers and use their quick strike, use their transition and speed against us,” Sabres coach Phil Housley said. “Any time we get through the neutral zone, [we need to] get it in deep, get on the forecheck and make them play defense.

“In saying that, even in the offensive zone, if they come up with the puck they’re taking off, they’re stretching the play, stretching the ice. We’re well aware of that. If we can control the gaps and not allow them their time and space, it’s going to be important tonight.”

Robin Lehner will be back in net for the Sabres after missing their game against Washington on Monday to rest a lower-body injury. Since joining the Sabres, Lehner is 3-2-1 with a .953 save percentage and a 1.65 goals-against average against the Red Wings.

LaBarber continues…

2. The Buffalo News’s John Vogl spoke with one-time Red Wings forward Scott Wilson regarding his status as a blossoming Buffalo Sabre:

 

Wilson entered Thursday’s game against Detroit as a regular on the score sheet. He had three goals and five points in the previous six games, solid numbers for a team in dire need of solid performers.

“Scott Wilson has done a terrific job since he’s been part of our team, not only the way he handles himself and the way he approaches the game, but the way he plays it,” coach Phil Housley said in Little Caesars Arena. “He does the right things. He finishes checks. He’s tough to play against, and he’s a really good addition to our team.”

He’s the type of addition who could stick around. Acquired from the Red Wings in December for a fifth-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, Wilson is showing he can handle scoring- and checking-line roles. The 25-year-old will be a restricted free agent this summer with a qualifying offer due of $726,000.

It’s easy to envision him becoming a complementary piece of the rebuild. He envisions it, too.
“Absolutely,” said Wilson, who spent parts of four seasons in the Penguins’ organization after being drafted by a front office that included Jason Botterill. “Being in Pitt, you kind of see what it takes. With Bottsy being there and everything, you obviously know what needs to be done. Being part of the rebuild is exciting being a little bit of a younger guy.”

Continue reading Two Sabres things: Housley worried about Wings’ speed; Wilson settling in with Sabres

Videos: A Game Day Preview and Game Day Housley

Here are the Red Wings’ Game Day Preview videos and the Sabres’ Game-Day clip of coach Phil Housley speaking with the media:

Update: Here’s the Sabres’ game-day preview video:

Griffins to hold ‘Bring Your Dog Game’ this Sunday

From Fox 17’s Lindsay Hoffman:

Hockey fans are invited to watch the Grand Rapids Griffins with man’s best friends all for a good cause at the fourth annual Bring Your Dog Game.

Owners can bring their dogs to the game by purchasing both a human ticket and a dog ticket, with all the dog ticket proceeds going to the Great Lakes Weimaraner Rescue.

While there are no more dog tickets available, there are still human tickets available for Sunday’s game for $5.

For more information, visit griffinshockey.com/doggame.

 

Red Wings weigh in on Team USA’s Olympic victory

The Red Wings’ locker room was abuzz with discussion of Team USA’s Olympic victory in women’s hockey last night, as noted by MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Detroit Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill couldn’t stay up late Wednesday to watch the women’s hockey gold medal game at the Olympics but was delighted to learn of the result Thursday morning. The United States defeated Canada 3-2 in a shootout in South Korea.

“I want to congratulate (coach) Robb Stauber and the women on an unreal gold medal,” Blashill said. “I had a chance to watch them win the World Championship last year in Plymouth and it was awesome. Robb was a childhood idol of mine when he was a goalie at Minnesota and he was winning the Hobey Baker. Anytime we can beat Canada it’s a great thing.”

Blashill was impressed by Jocelyne Lamoureux’s dazzling move for the winning goal in the shootout.

“Oh my gosh! What guts to be able to pull that off in that moment. Unreal.,” Blashill said. “Nobody wants to see the game end in a shootout, I think everybody would like to see them play it out, but that’s the rules that they’re given, and the men lost that way and the women thankfully won that way.”

And the Wings’ players discussed Lamoureaux’s shootout winner with DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:

 “That is top-notch,” Howard said. “I’m pretty sure I would have been right there with the Canadian goalie. That’s pretty slick.”
Jared Coreau was asked what his chances would be in trying to stop that goal.
“I don’t know, I haven’t been too good in shootouts lately down in the AHL but before that I was on a 3-0 streak,” Coreau said. “It’s about 50-50 maybe. I think I would try a poke check, throw my pads one way and stick the other way and hope for the best.”
Gustav Nyquist has 13 shootout goals in 36 career attempts but none like Lamoureux-Davidson’s.
“By far that’s a better move than any move I have,” Nyquist said. “I don’t know what to say. It looks kind of a little bit like Double-A’s best move but just the opposite since he’s a lefty.”

Athanasiou gave his stamp of approval upon seeing video of the goal.

“She did a really good job selling that fake,” Athanasiou said. “That’s a move I like to do. I do that most of my breakaways. I think it’s just something when you’re coming down with speed, you want to get that goalie to bite on the fake. I think as long as you sell that backhand fake, she actually did a pretty sweet job of bringing it all the way across the ice to the other side of the net so it was a pretty goal.”

 

Red Wings-Sabres game-day updates: Ouellet wants to make it as a Wing; Green update; Wings weigh in on U.S. women’s win

Updated 5x at 2:17 PM with articles and video:

The Detroit Red Wings host the Buffalo Sabres this evening (7:30 PM EST on FSD/MSG B/97.1 FM), and the morning skate revealed that the Wings will play without Mike Green, and Xavier Ouellet will fill in on defense. Jimmy Howard will oppose Robin Lehner in goal.

After the skate, MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Ouellet about his desire to “stick” here in Detroit…

Khan touched upon Ouellet’s comments in his game-day notebook, and he also noted the following:

Green hopeful for weekend: Mike Green will miss his fourth game in a row due to a neck injury sustained last Thursday in Tampa Bay on a hit from Adam Erne midway through the third period. Blashill said Green, who’s expected to be traded by Monday, hasn’t been shut down. He is hopeful to return Saturday against Carolina.

“I thought there was a good chance Green could have been in the lineup today,” Blashill said. “As it turned out he wasn’t quite there. I expect him to play on the weekend, doesn’t mean he’s going to play for sure.”

Frk to sit again: Martin Frk will be a healthy scratch for the second time in three games, replaced by David Booth in the lineup. After scoring in back-to-back games, Frk has no points in the past five games and his ice time has dwindled.

“I think Marty has had moments of playing really good, moments of playing fine,” Blashill said. “He needs to make sure he’s playing really good so he’s not in that spot. That’s his job and my job is to make the decision on the lineup.”

Bertuzzi back on power play: Tyler Bertuzzi replaces Frk on the second power-play unit.

“I think ultimately Bert is going to be a real good power-play player,” Blashill said. “It’s more of a shoot it and get it back (mentality) … not with the big one-timer but more of a downhill approach that we’ve had success with, going back to the year before I got here, with Babs. Bert is a strong, heavy kind of guy in that slot area with good ability around the net, so I’m hoping he can at least pick up some loose-puck rebounds and find a way in the back of the net. Bert is a good enough player that he should be on the power play and we’re going to give him power play opportunity here.”

On the Sabres’ side of the ice, WGR 550 Tweeted out Buffalo’s probable lineup…

WGR 550’s Paul Hamilton posted the following…

And the Buffalo News’s John Vogl posted “5 things to know” about tonight’s game:

 

1. Not a marquee matchup

Buffalo is 0-2-1 in its last three games to drop to 17-32-11 overall. Detroit is 1-3 in its last four, sliding to 24-26-9.

While the Sabres are just one point ahead of last-place Arizona with a game in hand, the Red Wings still have slim playoff hopes. They’re eight points out of the final wild-card spot, but they have four teams ahead of them.

“We believe we still have lots of life in us, but we’ve got to go out and play that way,” Detroit coach Jeff Blashill said after the morning skate. “We’ve played some good teams. Buffalo is a good team. I don’t care what their record is.

“There are no teams anymore in this league that aren’t really good hockey teams. Some just don’t have good records.”

2. Lehner is back: Robin Lehner was scratched from the Sabres’ last game due to a hip injury, but he’ll start against the Red Wings.

Since joining the Sabres prior to the 2015-16 season, Lehner is 3-2-1 against Detroit with a .953 save percentage and 1.65 goals-against average.

Also of Red Wings-related note:

Update: Here’s DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji’s game-day notebook:

It has been a challenging season for Red Wings defenseman Xavier Ouellet.

Ouellet has played in just 36 games total and only one of the last 11. He has four assists and is minus-2.

“Personally, it’s been rough,” Ouellet admitted after Thursday’s morning skate. “I think every athlete wants to play, wants to contribute. So yeah, it’s not fun to sit for a long period of time. So that’s been a little rough mentally but I guess it’s part of the game. I need to keep working on myself, which I did. I kept working hard in the gym and on the ice so I feel really good physically, now it’s just getting the timing back and feel good and feel better with the puck.”

Ouellet’s name has been mentioned in a few rumors as Monday’s trade deadline approaches but that doesn’t mean he is looking for a fresh start elsewhere.

“I want to play. I’m 24 years old, I think I need to play, personally,” Ouellet said. “I’m a Red Wing today and I want to be a Red Wing. I’ve worked really hard to be where I am here right now. So I’m looking for an opportunity, hopefully it’s here. I don’t know, it’s kind of hard to say.”

Continued

Update #2: Here’s NHL.com’s Dave Hogg’s game preview:

The Game; The Detroit Red Wings will be looking for a crucial home victory when they play the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena on Thursday.

Detroit is 1-3-0 in its past four games and trails the Columbus Blue Jackets by eight points for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.

The Sabres is 0-2-1 in its past three games and 3-6-2 since the All-Star break. Buffalo has been held to two goals or fewer in six of its past 11. Goaltender Robin Lehner is expected to play after missing one game with an upper-body injury.

Players to watch: Sabres forward Ryan O’Reilly has seven points (two goals, five assists) in his past five games, and is second on the team with 44 points (18 goals, 26 assists) in 59 games.

Red Wings center Dylan Larkin, Detroit’s leading scorer with 44 points (nine goals, 35 assists), hasn’t scored a power-play goal since a season-opening 4-2 win against the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 5.

They said it: “We know that we’ve got to get the puck through the neutral zone and dump it in deep. Detroit will be trying to force turnovers and use their speed in transition, and we have to prevent that. We have to take away all of their space.” — Sabres coach Phil Housley

“There can’t be anything like a trap game for this team. We’re fighting for our lives right now, and there aren’t bad teams in this league any more. We need to get these two points.” ­— Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill

Update #3: Here’s the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s game-day update:

Ouellet was a 2011 second-round draft pick whose potential was such that the Red Wings inserted into the lineup during 2013-14 playoffs against Boston. But that kind of confidence has waned in recent years.

He played a career-high 66 games last season, but heading into Thursday, Ouellet had only played in 36 games with four assists and a minus-2 plus-minus rating.

“I have to find my timing back,” Ouellet said. “I feel real good physically, so that’s a good positive. Now, it’s just getting the timing back and execute, get passes tape to tape, get pucks on net, being solid defensively.”

Coach Jeff Blashill wants to see Ouellet play with a higher level of confidence.

“It’s a difficult thing for athletes when they’re out for a while and to step back in and play with the kind of confidence you need to be successful,” Blashill said. “But that’s what he has to do. He has to play with confidence. He’s been a good player in the league going back a number of years. The last couple of times he’s played, he’s come in and not played with that type of confidence and swagger you have to play with to be successful.”

The Red Wings only dressed six defensemen against Buffalo, so Ouellet was going to get a regular shift and more ice time than he’s seen in more than a month.

“When he’s at his best, he’s doing a good job of passing the puck, being physical defensively and hard to play against, and playing with a shot-first mentality,” Blashill said. “Let’s get back to that.”

Update #4: The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article about Ouellet as well…

Ouellet’s opportunity comes as Mike Green nurses a sore neck. Green hasn’t played since Feb. 15, but coach Jeff Blashill said Green could be ready by the weekend. Green is the Wings’ top trade asset, but injured players can still be traded so long as the new team is satisfied with the situation.

While Green has value because of his offensive touch, the Wings haven’t found any takers for Ouellet, who has a year left on a contract with a cap hit of $1.25 million. Ouellet’s lack of foot speed has left him a spare part.

“It’s a difficult thing for athletes when they’re out for a while to step back in and play with the kind of confidence that you have to play with to be successful,” Blashill said. “But, that’s what he has to do. He’s been a good player in this league at different times going back a number of years, The last couple times he’s played he’s come in and not played with that type of confidence and swagger that you have to play with to be successful. He has to find it within himself.

“When he’s at his best, he’s doing a good job passing the puck, he’s physical defensively, he’s hard to play against and he’s a shot-first mentality. He’s got to trust his feet and go out and play.”

Ouellet trained with a skating coach last summer.

“I need to keep working on my skating, that’s for sure,” he said. “But the big thing is timing — the more you play, you find your speed and you can angle the guys a little better. That goes with playing, but at the same time, I need to keep working on my skating every day.”

And St. James posted a video of Ouellet and Blashill’s game-day comments:

Update #5: From WGR 550’s Paul Hamilton:

Scott Wilson won two Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh, but the Penguins were always looking to add players, not sell. Despite that, Wilson doesn’t see much difference, “I think honestly it’s kind of the same. Every team at the deadline, there’s a few guys on each team that could be moved or other teams want, so it’s not really talked about as much as you think.”

The Sabres play Wilson’s old team Detroit. Pittsburgh traded him to Detroit on Oct. 21. He only played 17 games with the Red Wings before heading to Buffalo. Wilson had no points in 20 games with Detroit and Pittsburgh and he’s looking forward to playing in Detroit tonight, “Hockey is a business and at the end of the day, it doesn’t always go your way, but I’ve been feeling pretty good as of late, kind of finding myself a little bit so I’ll definitely have an extra step tonight.”

Wilson has three goals and two assists for five points in his last six games.