Kulfan talks about the draft lottery, dreamin’ of Dahlin

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an article regarding the NHL’s draft lottery this upcoming Saturday (8 PM EDT on NBC), where the Red Wings will have an 8.5% chance of moving up from their current 5th overall spot to the #1 draft pick, and a 26.1% chance of landing a top three spot:

With the NHL Draft lottery taking place Saturday night in Toronto, the one large, looming question will be answered: Who gets to pick first, and the right to choose Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin?

There are actually at least 10 legitimate prospects who could provide immediate help to the teams in the lottery. And that’s great. But there’s only one “franchise” player, a guy who can make a team better, quicker, and instantly turn the complexion of his team around. Meet Dahlin, a 6-foot-2, 183-pound prospect that Saturday’s draft lottery will revolve around.

“He’s the best player (in this draft), there’s nobody close,” said Craig Button, TSN’s chief draft analyst, when discussing Dahlin in recent mock drafts. “There’s nobody even in the discussion. He’s advanced beyond his years.”

So, one can see why Saturday’s draft lottery is so huge for the Red Wings. The Red Wings have the fifth-best chance of landing the first pick given their season record, with an 8.5 percent shot of winning the lottery and gaining the first pick.

Buffalo (18.5 percent), Ottawa (13.5 percent), Arizona (11.5 percent) and Montreal (9.5 percent) are the four teams with better odds than the Red Wings.

“(Dahlin) will make whichever team that wins the lottery feel a whole lot better about the miserable season that got them there,” said Jeff Marek, Sportsnet’s draft analyst, who had Dahlin as the No. 1 prospect from start to finish of the season.

There is one piece of trivia that could serve as a good omen for the Red Wings heading into Saturday. Don’t look now, but Saturday also is the birthday of Red Wings’ legendary Hall of Fame (and Swedish) defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, who happened to add late in the season that Dahlin is more advanced at his age than Lidstrom was similar stages of their career.

Kulfan continues…

The Athletic’s Shapiro talks about Todd Nelson as a Dallas Stars coaching candidate

The Athletic Dallas’s Sean Shapiro penned a profile of Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson, who may be a candidate for the Dallas Stars’ vacant head coaching position:

The Key Questions

Nelson is very highly-regarded. With three current openings (Dallas, Carolina, New York Rangers) it’s hard to fathom a scenario where he doesn’t end up coaching an NHL team next season.

But will his style translate to the NHL? That question that will come up in interviews and ultimately be answered on the ice. Players have bought into Nelson’s system throughout his career, but he’s never had a full-season opportunity to install it at the NHL level.

Teams always feel like they’re taking a risk when hiring a coach without vast NHL head coaching experience, but Nelson could be worth the gamble.

Shapiro continues (paywall)…

Khan discusses Niklas Kronwall, mentor

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a locker room clean-out day article regarding Niklas Kronwall, who’s currently serving a role as a mentor as much as a player (though his ice time is still a bit “heavy”):

Kronwall is the ideal mentor and role model for young defensemen, Red Wings captain Henrik Zetterberg said.

“Everyone that has been in this locker room and has spent a lot of time here knows what he’s gone through the last 10 years with his body and how he battles through everything with his work ethic and how he shows the young players how to do things right,” Zetterberg said.

Said Gustav Nyquist: “My first couple of years, I’ve probably never seen anyone work as hard as him.”

Coach Jeff Blashill said he has as much respect for Kronwall as any player, calling him a long-time underrated defenseman.

“I was here as an assistant when he was in his prime (in 2011-12); he was always in the shadows of Nick Lidstrom, but he was such a two-way defenseman,” Blashill said. “He brought the physical element, he brings the offense, he’s done such a good job over the years and there’s not a better pro. Probably sometimes he does too much. There’s been times where we’ve kind of said to him, ‘Do you need to work that hard in the gym?’ He’s just got that inner drive that makes great players.”

Khan continues at length…

 

A pair of videos ahead of tonight’s Griffins game: Nelson on Fox 17; Matt Ford discusses Games 1, 2 of Griffins-Moose series

Of multimedia-related Grand Rapids Griffins note:

  1. Fox 17 filed a game day report ahead of tonight’s game between Grand Rapids and Manitoba (7 PM EDT on ESPN 96.1 FM and the AHL Live), in which Todd Nelson discusses tonight’s game…

2. And the Grand Rapids Griffins posted a video in which Matt Ford discusses Games 1 and 2 of the Griffins-Moose series:

 

Griffins morning skate Tweet: Cholowski’s “in” tonight; Axel Holmstrom’s out

From the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight, ahead of tonight’s game against the Manitoba Moose (7 PM EDT on ESPN 96.1 FM and the AHL Live):

There’s not-so-good news as well, per the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner:

 

All about Dominic Turgeon’s blod clot and his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome

Red Wings prospect and Grand Rapids Griffins forward Dominic Turgeon spoke with the media yesterday, addressing his recovery from a blood clot caused by thoracic outlet syndrome:

The Grand Rapids Press/MLive’s Peter J. Wallner took note of Turgeon’s comments…

After the clot was removed in Texas, where the team was playing in Austin that night, Turgeon flew to Tampa, Fla where a rib was removed from his right side. Turgeon said he was told he could make a full recovery and return to play in time for training camp.

“It’s a scary thing,” Turgeon said. “Especially coming out of nowhere and just realizing that blood clots can be serious.”

After experience swelling in his arm, he told athletic trainer John Bernal who had him go in for tests.

“We went to the hospital and I’m thinking I’m going back for my pregame nap,” Turgeon said. “Then they say you need surgery right away. So, I’m getting hooked up to a machine and then a surgery an hour after that.”

Dr. Karl Illig, who performed the surgery, also successfully treated Tampa Bay Lightning star Steven Stamkos for a similar condition two years ago.

The condition occurs more often in athletes with overhead motions, such as in baseball or tennis, said Dr. Joshua I. Greenberg from Mercy Health Hospital, Saint Mary’s Campus in Grand Rapids. He has treated professional and collegiate athletes for thoracic outlet syndrome, and is also professional acquaintances with Illig.

The condition occurs when the vein between the collarbone and first rib gets compressed, he said.

Wallner continues, and he posted a video of Turgeon’s comments…


24 Hour News 8 filed a report about Turgeon…

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan also filed a report about Turgeon’s recovery…

Not being in the Griffins’ lineup, and getting an opportunity to defend the Calder Cup championship, is difficult.

“You work all summer, you work all year to be in the playoffs and you want to be part of it,” Turgeon said. “But when it comes down to this, it’s a life-threatening thing. I’m glad it went well.”

Turgeon said he’s “feeling a lot better” and the bruising it going away, although he will be on blood thinners the “next few months.”

The support from Griffins’ teammates has been helpful.

“We’re a real close family in here,” Turgeon said.

Turgeon made his NHL debut with the Red Wings this season on Jan. 14 in Chicago, and played five games total.

Turgeon played in 69 games with Grand Rapids, with 14 goals and 18 assists.

As did The Athletic’s Katie Strang…

Continue reading All about Dominic Turgeon’s blod clot and his recovery from thoracic outlet syndrome

McCarty aims for yuks, not punches

From the Lapeer County Times’ Nicholas Pugilese:

Hockey fans will recognize a familiar name heading to the Mezz inside The Polar Palace on Friday. Detroit Red Wings legend Darren McCarty will be headlining a one-night-only comedy show, scheduled to kick off at 8 p.m.

McCarty will share a night of stories, laughs and an audience Question and Answer section, and after the show will participate in a full private meet-andgreet at Louie’s Sports Tavern, as well as time for selfies with audience members. McCarty will be headlining a night of comedy that will also feature Dustin Cole and the Comedy All Stars.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The show beings at 8 p.m. and will run an estimated 90-120 minutes. For tickets or details, call 810-358- 7024. The Mezz is at 3301 Davison Rd., Lapeer.

 

Moose, Griffins hit with suspensions to Buddy Robinson (MB) and Colin Campbell (GR)

From the AHL:

Manitoba Moose forward Buddy Robinson has been suspended for two (2) games as a consequence of an interference incident in a playoff game vs. Grand Rapids on Apr. 22.

Robinson was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss the next two games of the Central Division Semifinals, Wednesday (Apr. 25) and Thursday (Apr. 26) at Grand Rapids.

Grand Rapids Griffins forward Colin Campbell has been suspended for one (1) game as a consequence of an illegal check to the head of an opponent in a playoff game at Manitoba on Apr. 22.

Campbell was suspended under the provisions of AHL Rule 28.1 (supplementary discipline). He will miss Game 3 of the Central Division Semifinals, Wednesday (Apr. 25) vs. Manitoba.

Prospect playoff round-up: Fulcher’s Bulldogs can’t get 4th win in OHL ECF

Of prospect-related playoff note:

In the OHL, Kaden Fulcher stopped 24 of 29 shots as his Hamilton Bulldogs lost 5-2 to the Kingston Frontenacs.

Hamilton now leads the Eastern Conference Final 3 games to 1.

Update: The Hockey News’s Ryan Kennedy took note of Fulcher’s performance:

Kaden Fulcher, G, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL): The Bulldogs have blown their way past Kingston in the first three games of the Eastern Conference final, with Fulcher allowing just four goals in the series so far. After getting passed over in the draft, Fulcher signed with the Detroit Red Wings and the big netminder has cut a lot of the noise out of his game, particularly in the playoffs. NHL arrival: 2021-22

Prospect playoff round-up: Smith’s Rangers strike back; Rasmussen 2G + 1A during Tri-City loss

Of prospect-related playoff note:

In the OHL, Givani Smith finished even with 6 shots as his Kitchener Rangers won 3-0 over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyounds.

Jordan Sambrook finished at -1 with 2 shots for Sault Ste. Marie, which leads the Ontario Hockey League’s Western Conference Final 2 games to 1, and you can watch highlights of the game here;

In the WHL, well…it’s hard to tell that it’s the WHL, given the way that the Tri-City Americans are scoring and surrendering goals.

Michael Rasmussen scored 2 goals and added an assist (including a 4-4, game-tying goal in the 3rd period) on Monday night, but Tri-City collapsed, losing 8-4 to the Everett Silvertips.

Everett leads the Western Hockey League’s Western Conference Final 2 games to 1, and Rasmussen has 14 goals, 15 assists and 29 points registered over the course of 14 playoff games.

Here are Rasmussen’s goals, per the WHL on Twitter: