On the Fathers/Mentors Trip

DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji spoke with Wings players and their fathers/mentors regarding the Dads’ Trip:

There’s something special when the Red Wings get to take their dads with them on the road.

These are the people that helped them reach the NHL and now they get to show them what their lives are truly like when they take a trip.

For David Booth, who grew up in Detroit but spent most of his NHL career with other organizations, it’s an incredible opportunity to share this experience with his dad, Michael.

“This is something I know he’s probably extremely excited for,” Booth said. “I don’t know how to describe it for him. To see what I’ve done my whole career, just traveling and going on the road, it’s just as much a part of our daily job as being here at home, so it’s going to be fun for him to kind of see the ins and outs, the part that most people don’t see. The part that people don’t really know about.

“It’s great that the organization is doing this. I’ve only done it once in my 10-11-12 years and that was in Toronto, and it was just a one-day trip to Pittsburgh and back. To be on the Red Wings plane, staying the cities we are, it’s just awesome that the management decides to do this for the families. I think that speaks volumes for this organization.”

Continued

Krupa marvels as Datsyuk’s play

The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa suggests that Pavel Datsyuk still looks superb as he plays for Team Olympic Athletes from Russia at the 2018 Olympics:

He played so well! Watching Pavel Datsyuk lead his team of Russian players against the United States Saturday, bright and early TV, tested resolve.

Red Wings fans had to let him go. In the case of one of the greatest players in the history of the franchise, with his enthralling talent and beguiling, impish humor, it dumped a heap of separation anxiety.

To break the habit after 2016, and Datsyuk’s departure to his homeland, nearly required a 12-step program. Make it 13, in his honor.

And so, a preliminary-round Olympic game, played halfway around the globe at a most un-hockey-like hour, arrived as grotesque temptation for the dependent.

What, of comfort? Maybe, at 39, the oldest player in the men’s ice hockey tournament in the Pyeongchang games would not be quite so alluring, especially after plying his trade for a couple of years in the KHL.

Yeah, well, forget about that. Datsyuk looked like he was 26, again, except for two things: he is even smarter a third of a lifetime later, which is noteworthy given his big head start in the cunning department, and way more physical.

Krupa continues at considerable length, and his article is worth your time: I will say that Datsyuk looks like he’s finally recovered from the ankle surgery that hobbled him during his final campaign with the Wings…

Red Wings-Predators game-day updates: Green-less Wings prepare to battle Predators’ ‘process’; Mrazek vs. Saros in goal

Of Red Wings-related note ahead of tonight’s game against the Nashville Predators (8:00 PM EST on FSD/FS Tennessee/97.1 FM), a game in which Jusse Saros and Petr Mrazek will face off in goal, Mike Green will sit due to an upper-body injury and Luke Witkowski will substitute:

Update: here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview video:


Also:

1. The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that Trevor Daley will replace Mike Green on the power play via a video conversation with coach Blashill:

2. NashvillePredators.com’s Thomas Willis posted a set of Predators lineup notes:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators game-day updates: Green-less Wings prepare to battle Predators’ ‘process’; Mrazek vs. Saros in goal

Khan talks trades

Among MLive’s Ansar Khan’s trade scoops is the probable destination for Mike Green…

One player almost certain to be dealt is Mike Green. Tampa Bay is the most likely destination for the 32-year-old defenseman, who has agreed to waive his no-trade clause if a deal with the Lightning can be made, a source told MLive.

The Red Wings and Lightning have had many discussions and will continue to talk. Detroit would like Tampa Bay’s first-round pick this year, which is sure to be in the high 20s, if not 30th or 31st. If the Red Wings must settle for a second-round pick, which would be around 60th overall, they’ll also want a young player who can step into their lineup next season.

Luke Glendening…

Maple Leafs coach Mike Babcock coached Glendening for two seasons in Detroit and is desperately seeking a fourth-line center and “shut-down guy.” The Red Wings have made it clear they’re not giving him away; they want a decent pick or one of Toronto’s many good prospects. Right wing Kasperi Kapanen, who’s appeared in 16 games for the Leafs this season, is a possibility.

The Wings’ goalies…

The Red Wings tried to move goaltender Jimmy Howard to the New York Islanders earlier in the week, but their asking price of a high pick wasn’t being met.

Since then, Jaroslav Halak made 50 saves Thursday in a 3-0 victory vs. the New York Rangers and Thomas Greiss stopped 45 shots in a 3-0 win at Carolina the next night. That could curtail talks with the Islanders.

The Red Wings offered Howard or Petr Mrazek to Philadelphia after Flyers goalie Brian Elliott was injured last week (he had core muscle surgery and is expected to be out 5-6 weeks). The Flyers said they’re not interested in either. They appear content with Michal Neuvirth, who has gone 3-0-1 since Elliott’s injury.

And Khan discusses Gustav Nyquist and Xavier Ouellet’s potential futures as well…

Griffins Game-Day Preview: Can Grand Rapids sweep away the Moose?

The Grand Rapids Griffins hope to sweep their two-game series with the Manitoba Moose this evening (8 PM EST on WOOD Radio), and Griffins announcer Bob Kaser sets up tonight’s game:

 

Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets and articles: Context galore; Mrazek vs. Saros?

Update: Mike Green is out tonight with an upper-body injury.

The Detroit Red Wings will open a home-and-sort-of-home series against the Nashville Predators this evening (8 PM EST on FSD/FS Tennessee/97.1 FM). These teams will play again at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, but the Wings will battle Toronto tomorrow night, so this isn’t a classic home-and-home series.

Nashville comes into tonight’s game with a 7-1-and-2 February record, and the Central Division-leading Predators are back-stopped by Pekka Rinne, who’s 10-1-and-1 over his past 12 starts.

Prior to the Predators’ morning skate, Brooks Bratten penned a game-day preview for NashvillePredators.com:

Continue reading Red Wings-Predators morning skate Tweets and articles: Context galore; Mrazek vs. Saros?

Duff weighs in on Glendening rumors

Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff chose to discuss the rumor that Luke Glendening may be headed to Toronto:

TSN reported that both the Leafs and Dallas Stars have talked to the Wings about what it would take to pry Glendening away from Detroit. And the answer they got from the Wings was quite a bit.

The Wings are looking to cut salary and add assets, mainly draft picks, and the Leafs have extra picks in the second and seventh rounds of the 2018 NHL entry draft.

The Wings signed Glendening as an undrafted free agent in 2013 and he was sent down to AHL Grand Rapids and recalled seven times during the 2013-14 season before making the NHL for good via a New Year’s Eve 2013 call up. He played the next day for Babcock’s Wings against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium, the school where Glendening played college hockey.

Saturday, the Wings are in Nashville, but Sunday, they play host to the Babcock-coached Leafs and perhaps Glendening’s future home.

Certainly, if Babcock has any pull the Leafs will made a concerted effort to land Glendening. Toronto has been seeking a reliable fourth-line center almost for as long as the Leafs have been seeking their next Stanley Cup win. OK, it hasn’t been that long, but if you were to ask a Leafs fan, it sure seems like it has.

….

Glendening is versatile and can also play the wing, as he has frequently this season on Detroit’s matchup forward unit with Frans Nielsen and Darren Helm. He’s posted 8-6-14 numbers in 44 games, and leads the Wings at the faceoff dot, winning 57.8 percent of his faceoffs. Glendening ranks fifth in the NHL among players who’ve taken at least 400 draws.

Glendening’s current contract runs through the 2020-21 season and has a cap hit of $1.8 million per season.

Duff continues…

USA Today’s Allen talks about Pavel Datsyuk’s possible last hurrah

USA Today’s Kevin Allen spoke with CBC/TSN/NBCSN announcer Ray Ferraro, agent Igor Larionov and some of Pavel Datsyuk’s peers to discuss the importance of winning an Olympic gold for #13:

He turns 40 in five months, and it’s anticipated that he will retire after the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs. He has played two seasons in his native Russia since leaving the NHL after the 2015-16 season.

“His head, hands, and the DNA of his work ethic, are still there,” Ferraro said. “He doesn’t have the same foot speed he used to have, but at 39 who does?”

The Russians are considered the favorite to win the gold medal in men’s hockey.

“The last chance for a gold medal is motivation for him,” said Russian great Igor Larionov, Datsyuk’s teammate with the Detroit Red Wings. “He has a Stanley Cup, but he doesn’t have a gold.”

Datsyuk looked highly motivated, playing surprisingly physical, in his team’s 4-0 win against the Americans. He has two points in three games.

“Pavel is a fantastic player,” said Russian forward Nikolai Prokhorkin, a Los Angeles Kings prospect. “We all know how much he has achieved during his career. He helps us in every way he can. Above all, with his game and experience.”

Continued

HSJ’s mailbag: Talking trades

Among the Free Press’s Helene St. James’ mailbag questions and answers:

It seems to be widely accepted that the Wings will trade Green. Do you think they also should trade a goalie? Who is the next most likely skater to be traded? #Heleneonhockey

— J. Tiberius Smirk (@twittahlessJ) February 16, 2018

Teams have inquired about Mike Green, as the offensive defenseman is the type of player teams eyeing a Stanley Cup like to add this time of year. Tampa Bay has interest, but since the Lightning will be picking late in rounds, the Wings want a pick and a prospect who is ready to play next season. There is also interest in goaltender Jimmy Howard. Petr Mrazek is not drawing interest – he was offered to Philadelphia after the Flyers lost Brian Elliott last week (he’s out five-to-six weeks) for an asking price of a third-round pick and the Flyers declined. The Wings are trying to move defenseman Xavier Ouellet, who doesn’t fit into their plans any more. Forward Gustav Nyquist is drawing interest, though he has a year left on his contract.

Continued

Prospect round-up: Rasmussen posts 2 assists; Pope scores again; Sambrook’s Greyhounds rout Hamilton

In the Finnish Liiga, Libor Sulak finished even with 4 shots in 20:39 played during the Lahti Pelicans’ 1-0 loss to HPK;

Julius Vahatalo won 62% of his faceoffs in 16:23 played as Jukurit lost 3-0 to KalPa;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Malte Setkov played as the seventh defenseman in IK Pantern’s 3-1 loss to Leksands IF;

Mattias Elfstrom played wing on the fourth line during Vasterviks IK’s 4-1 loss to Tingsryds IF;

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Rasmussen posts 2 assists; Pope scores again; Sambrook’s Greyhounds rout Hamilton