Niklas Kronwall, iron man (and arthritis man)

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an off-day notebook in which he discusses Niklas Kronwall’s surprising durability:

Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, despite his chronic knee problems, has played in every game since missing training camp and the opening three games this season.

So, that’s 66 consecutive games played, with only the occasional off-day in practice, playing nearly 20 minutes per night, and continuing to put forth a gutty, workmanlike effort, a regular season of health and durability that not many would have bet happening.

For many, Kronwall’s ability to keep going and overlooking the pain has been rather impressive and surprising.

Kronwall, though, isn’t all that impressed with his durability.

“To be honest with you I haven’t really thought too much about it,” Kronwall said. “To me, it’s all about trying to play better. I haven’t been good enough. There’s been ups and down, no doubt about that.”

Kronwall has appeared in 66 games with 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) and a team-worst minus-17 plus-minus rating, while averaging 18 minutes 30 seconds per game

“At the end of the day I might look back and say it was fun that I got to play, but right now, when you’re in it, I (have to) make the most of it and I have to be be better than I have,” Kronwall said. “To stay in the lineup, yes, I’m happy about that. The play could have been a little bit better, no doubt.”

Continued

 

HSJ on Zetterberg’s milestone, Bertuzzi’s 3-assist night

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

    1. Henrik Zetterberg scored his 336th NHL goal last night, passing Ted Lindsay on the Wings’ all-time goal-scoring list…

And the Free Press’s Helene St. James spoke with Zetterberg regarding his milestone:

Amid the descent towards the end of the 2017-18 season and a second straight playoffs miss, the Detroit Red Wings captain created a positive memory from Monday’s 5-3 loss to the Sharks at SAP Center when he scored in the third period. It was his 336th career goal, moving Zetterberg past Ted Lindsay for sole possession of fifth in franchise history in goals. Zetterberg also had an assist, giving him 950 career points, four shy from tying Sergei Fedorov for fifth in franchise history

“It’s a big goal, passing Ted,” Zetterberg said. “Ted means a lot to me, so passing him and doing it in this barn, too, where I played my first NHL game is a little special.”

Gordie Howe is the clubhouse leader with 786 goals, Steve Yzerman second with 692, Alex Delvecchio has 456, and Fedorov, 400.

“That’s pretty impressive by him,” Gustav Nyquist said. “Those are some big, big, big names up there. He’s been so good for so long. We talk about it all the time but it’s worth talking about because what he’s doing is pretty remarkable out there.”

St. James continues…

2. And St. James discussed Tyler Bertuzzi’s blossoming into a regular contributor as Bertuzzi registered a 3-assist game last night:

Playing with Zetterberg is good for Bertuzzi’s growth, as it was for Dylan Larkin in his rookie year, and as it has been for Anthony Mantha.

“Every game you can learn something from him — his work ethic all the way until he gets to the bench,” Bertuzzi said. “It’s awesome to play with him, and I think it’s going to help my career.

“Going into draws he’s always talking about what we are going to do and where I should be. He makes it pretty black-and-white for me, and that makes it easier for me to just go out and play.”

Part of rebuilding is tipping younger, and seeing a young building block do well is tantamount to going in the right direction. The Wings are going to miss the playoffs again, but that doesn’t mean the last month lacks purpose.

“One of the things when we traded Tats, it was a real opportunity for Tyler and this was the type of ice time I think he needs in order to grow as a player,” Blashill said. “Ultimately I think he’s part of the solution here. I think he can be a big part of the solution so hopefully he gets great experience here now.”

St. James continues here as well…

Red Wings-Sharks wrap-up: seven straight losses and a milestone for the Captain

The Detroit Red Wings dropped their 7th straight game on Monday night/Tuesday morning, losing 5-3 to the San Jose Sharks. There were positives in the game, as Tyler Bertuzzi had 3 assists, Henrik Zetterberg passed Ted Lindsay on the Wings’ all-time goal-scoring list, Gustav Nyquist had a goal and an assist, and most of the Wings’ youngsters…learned…

But Detroit has still dropped 7 straight games (0-6-and-1), the Red Wings made some dumb defensive mistakes over the course of their loss(es), and  Detroit’s veterans appear to be spinning their wheels at times while fans growl as Evgeny Svechnikov and Martin Frk sit on the bench.

Our friends from San Jose have an urgency that the Red Wings cannot match in that they are battling for a playoff spot, and the Sharks were relieved to pull out a win on Monday evening, as the San Francisco Chronicle’s Ross McKeon noted:

Continue reading Red Wings-Sharks wrap-up: seven straight losses and a milestone for the Captain

Red Wings-Sharks quick take: Wings hit seven losses despite strong efforts by Zetterberg, Nyquist, Bertuzzi

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 6-game losing streak while battling a team in a fight for its playoff life in the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.

The Red Wings could not rally from the multiple deficits they surrendered after taking a 1-0 lead only 5:01 into the 1st period–ultimately trying to battle back from a 3-1 and then a 4-2 deficit–and Detroit almost rallied, with Henrik Zetterberg scoring a milestone marker (he passed Ted Lindsay on the Wings’ all-time goal-scoring list), Gustav Nyquist playing strongly (1+1) and Tyler Bertuzzi posting 3 assists, but Detroit was out-hustled and out-desperation-ed by the playoff-hungry Sharks, losing 5-3 on an empty-net goal against.

Andreas Athanasiou (-3), Nick Jensen (-2) and Danny DeKeyser (-1) were among the Wings who had mistake-prone games, Evgeny Svechnikov (-2 in only 7:13 played) wasn’t great, and the Wings made just enough bad mistakes, “learning” mistakes or their concentration lapsed just enough to give the Sharks the breaks they needed to come away with the two points.

Detroit will get 2 days off before playing 3 games over the course of 3 nights, in Los Angeles (Thursday), Anahiem (Friday) and Colorado (Sunday), and the Wings will hustle home for an NBCSN game against Philadelphia on Monday the 19th.

Continue reading Red Wings-Sharks quick take: Wings hit seven losses despite strong efforts by Zetterberg, Nyquist, Bertuzzi

Toledo Walleye’s trade deadline acquisition Doornbosch declines to report, retires from hockey

This is pretty wild stuff. The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that the Toledo Walleye’s ECHL trade deadline acquisition, Jamie Doornbosch, has chosen to retire instead of report to the Walleye:

The Toledo Walleye on Monday suspended recently acquired defenseman Jamie Doornbosch after he opted not to report to the team.

The organization traded for Doornbosch in a deal with Brampton on Thursday in exchange for their leading scorer, Erik Bradford.

But Doornbosch told Walleye officials he has decided to pursue avenues other than hockey and will not be joining the organization.

“I’m disappointed because he [told Brampton officials] that he would report,” Watson said. “I’m glad he chose to quit now rather than getting to Toledo and quitting. We want players who want to be in Toledo. If you don’t want to be here, we don’t want you anyways.”

Bradford, a 23-year-old forward, had tallied a team-high 45 points with 15 goals and 30 assists in 53 games this season. Doornbosch, a 28-year-old defenseman, had appeared in 26 games this season for the Beast posting two goals and 12 assists.

“It was a difficult decision for Jamie,” Watson said. “At this time he felt it was better to start another career than continue playing.”

Watson said he still plans to bring in a high-end defenseman, most likely a recently graduated college player.

Continued, and Mark Monroe reports that the trade hasn’t been invalidated:

 

 

 

Hockeybuzz’s Duff confirms that Mike Green suffered a herniated disc in his neck

Hoceybuzz’s Bob Duff confirms MLive’s Ansar Khan’s report that Wings defenseman Mike Green has a herniated disc in his neck, and Duff reports that Green will need surgery to repair the injury:

No wonder teams shied away from making a move to acquire defenseman Mike Green from the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL trade deadline. According to an NHL source, Green will require off-season surgery for a herniated disc in his neck.

“Yeah, we’ll see,” Green told Mlive.com. “It’s something we’ll talk about. As of right now it’s maintenance and get through it.”

The Tampa Bay Lightning were strongly after Green’s services, and he’d even agreed to waive his no-trade clause to enable a move to the Atlantic Division leaders. But oddly enough, it was in a Feb. 15 game at Tampa Bay that Green suffered his neck injury when checked by Lightning forward Adam Erne.

With the realistic concern that Green’s injury would linger and could flare up again at any moment, the Lightning backed away from Green and opted instead to acquire Ryan McDonagh from the New York Rangers. The Washington Capitals, Green’s team prior to his signing with the Wings as a free agent in 2015, also moved on from his trail, as did the San Jose Sharks, the team the Wings play Monday.

“Obviously it was bad timing,” Green said. “At the end of the day, it is what it is. I’m here and I’m focused and I’m happy, so I move forward.”

Duff continues…

Red Wings-Sharks game-day updates: Wings wary of Sharks’ urgency; on Svechnikov and Bertuzzi

The Detroit Red Wings face the San Jose Sharks this evening (10:30 PM EDT on FSD/NBCS Bay Area/97.1 FM), and the morning skate revealed what you would expect: no lineup changes for the Red Wings, and Jimmy Howard starting opposite Martin Jones.

After the morning skate, DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji spoke with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill regarding the Wings-Sharks match-up…

Continue reading Red Wings-Sharks game-day updates: Wings wary of Sharks’ urgency; on Svechnikov and Bertuzzi