Morning news: on David Pope, Superior Fish, arbitration for all and FYI’s of note

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. “On video,” the Grand Rapids Griffins posted a profile of David Pope:

2. Fox Sports Detroit’s “The 313” also posted a video commemorating the closure of Superior Fish Company:

3. In text form, The Hockey News’s Ken Campbell offered the following while using the Red Wings’ contract impasse with Andreas Athanasiou last summer as a recommendation that every NHL player be given salary arbitration rights:

Let’s take the Red Wings as an example. They still have to sign Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha to deals, but neither side has the option of going to arbitration because the players are too young. The Red Wings essentially view Larkin as about a $6 million-per-year player and Mantha somewhere in the $3-million range. If the two sides were faced with the possibility of going through arbitration, those deals probably would have been done by now. As it is, the Red Wings face the uncertainty of locking horns this summer with two of their top three scorers. And with neither player having any form of leverage beyond withholding his services during training camp and beyond, it sets things up to get ugly if the two sides can’t come to a deal.

4. FYI, part 1, via the Red Wings’ Twitter account:

5. FYI, part 2, via the Red Wings’ Twitter account:

6. FYI, part 3, via Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff:

Wings assistant coach Pat Ferschweiler will serve in a similar position with USA Hockey’s under-18 select team at the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

That tournament is slated for Aug. 6-11 in Red Deer and Edmonton, Alta.

Krupa: Zadina’s NHL rights to be determined via legal analysis

According to the Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa, the Red Wings and the NHL are attempting to determine whether Filip Zadina’s non-NHL rights belong to the QMJHL’s Halifax Mooseheads or the Red Wings (assuming that the Wings sign Zadina to an NHL contract):

The key, GM Ken Holland told The Detroit News on Friday, is the agreement that got Zadina from playing in the Czech Republic in 2016-17, to the roster of the Halifax Mooseheads, in Nova Scotia, in 2017-18.

Different NHL eligibility applies to European players and players in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), a major junior association for 16- to 20-year-olds.

And, whether Zadina is a European player on loan to the CHL (the umbrella organization to which the QMJHL, the Ontario Hockey League and the Western Hockey League belong), or officially a CHL player will determine his destination, should the Wings not retain him on the NHL roster after training camp.

If he is a European player, on loan, Zadina could then go to Grand Rapids.

If he is a CHL player, he must return to Halifax, if the Wings do not retain him.

The key is in the details of whatever the Halifax Mooseheads hammered out with HC Dynamo Pardubice, when Zadina decided to play in the QMJHL last season.

If Zadina is not playing in Detroit, in October, the Red Wings clearly would prefer him in Grand Rapids, rather than Halifax.

Krupa continues, and Zadina has a playing say in this, of course, but the Red Wings want to control their player regardless of whether he’s in the NHL or otherwise, so it’s, “Send in the lawyers!”

Update: MLive’s Ansar Khan confirms:

If the NHL determines Zadina to be a European player on loan to the CHL club, then he will be able to play in Grand Rapids in 2018-19, if the Red Wings opt to send him there.

If it is ruled that Zadina is a CHL player, then he must return to Halifax if the Red Wings don’t keep him on their roster.

The Red Wings prefer the option of sending Zadina to Grand Rapids. That way, they can recall him at any time. He’ll also be playing against better competition that will better prepare him for the NHL.

Khan talks cap space

MLive’s Ansar Khan attempts to discern the Red Wings’ salary cap situation this morning, and Khan believes that the Wings have enough money remaining to re-sign Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha without significant difficulty:

The Red Wings have 20 players signed to one-way contracts, totaling a cap hit of approximately $70.8 million (12 forwards, six defensemen, two goaltenders).

That includes Johan Franzen, who’ll be placed on long-term injured reserve before the season, giving the club cap relief (possibly close to $3.9 million).

Add to that about $2.6 million of dead cap space from the bought-out contracts of Stephen Weiss and Xavier Ouellet and some bonus payouts from last season.

That adds up to about $73.4 million (including Franzen). The cap ceiling is $79.5 million.

As Khan notes, things get complicated if the Wings are to play Filip Zadina and Michael Rasmussen on the roster, but the Wings could get some cap relief by demoting a player to Grand Rapids (see: Luke Witkowski or Martin Frk).

Wakiji profiles Jonatan Berggren

DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji wrote an article about Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren, who impressed at the Wings’ summer development camp:

“He’s a young kid, he led the Swedish Junior league in scoring this year,” Detroit’s director of European scouting Hakan Andersson said at the draft in Dallas. “He’s on the team that’s going to play in Kamloops (World Junior Summer Showcase), World Junior teams, the first tournament before the big one. We’re happy.

“A couple of teams came up and said they were planning to take him right after us. Montreal was one of them.”

Playing for Skelleftea AIK J20 in Sweden’s SuperElit League, Berggren had 18 goals and 39 assists in 38 games.

“I’m a skilled forward who has much speed and likes to make plays, play in the offensive zone,” Berggren said, describing his assets.

Continued

Griffins president Tim Gortsema earns AHL’s ‘Outstanding Executive’ award

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS PRESIDENT TIM GORTSEMA NAMED AHL’S OUTSTANDING EXECUTIVE

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Grand Rapids Griffins President Tim Gortsema has been named the 2017-18 recipient of the American Hockey League’s James C. Hendy Memorial Award, which is given annually to the league’s outstanding executive.

AHL President and CEO David Andrews presented the award to Gortsema Thursday evening at a gala reception during the Board of Governors’ Annual Meeting at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

A member of the Griffins’ original 1995 staff, Gortsema began directing the team’s business operations in February 2007, was promoted from senior vice president to president in June 2015, and has overseen tremendous growth during his tenure. The Griffins drew more than 300,000 fans to Van Andel Arena for the fifth consecutive season in 2017-18 (302,471; 7,960 avg.) and finished second in average attendance during the 2018 Calder Cup Playoffs (7,273) despite playing only three weekday, first-round home games.

Grand Rapids led the AHL in partial-plan ticket sales last season while ranking among the league’s leaders in all other major ticket revenue categories, including full-season plans, group sales, individual ticket sales and total ticket sales. Under Gortsema’s leadership, the organization also set a franchise record for corporate sales, and it continues to be at the forefront of community relations efforts and digital and social media practices, including pacing the AHL in both Facebook and Snapchat followers.

Gortsema was also involved in the renewal of the Griffins’ affiliation agreement with the Detroit Red Wings last summer, and he oversaw the operation and rebranding of the organization’s second community ice rink, Griff’s IceHouse West in Holland, Mich. As he prepares for his 23rd season with the club, Gortsema continues to be involved in all other facets of the team’s business operations, including finance and administration, marketing, public relations, arena advertising, and Griff’s IceHouse at Belknap Park.

Gortsema, who in 2011 received the Griffins’ inaugural Founders “Overtime” Award for his career contributions to the organization, earned his bachelor’s degree from Hope College and his MBA from Western Michigan University.

The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is named for the late Jim Hendy, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and AHL Hall of Fame and long-time statistician and historian for the AHL who won four Calder Cups as general manager of the Cleveland Barons.

Khan, Custance: Red Wings re-sign Athanasiou to 2-year, $6 million contract

Per MLive’s Ansar Khan:

The Athletic’s Craig Custance confirms:

Here’s Khan in text form:

Athanasiou’s salary for 2017-18 was $1.3875 million, when he produced 16 goals and 33 points in 71 games after signing in late October.

Athanasiou, who turns 24 on Aug. 6, has 43 goals and 33 assists in 172 career games.

He will still be a restricted free agent when this deal expires in 2020.

The Red Wings are negotiating contracts with restricted free agents Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha, neither of whom was arbitration eligible. Mantha is expected to sign a two-year bridge deal. Larkin might sign a long-term extension, likely no more than five years, after which he would still be a restricted free agent.

Update #2: FYI:

Update #3: The Detroit News confirms:

Continue reading Khan, Custance: Red Wings re-sign Athanasiou to 2-year, $6 million contract

Three things: Profiles of Cholowski and Kivenmaki, and congrats, Manny

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. In the prospect department, part 1: MLive’s Ansar Khan penned a profile of Dennis Cholowski:

The Red Wings’ message to Cholowski after the 2017 preseason was to be more assertive. He tallied 14 goals and 52 assists in 69 games in a season divided between Prince George and Portland of the WHL. He appeared in one playoff game with the Griffins after Portland was eliminated in the playoffs.

Cholowski said being more assertive means “quicker decisions, more aggressive, always wanting the puck on my stick and being able to be the guy that’s going to make a play to create a chance or break the puck out.

“Confidence is up, I’m skating with the puck more, moving my feet and making plays,” Cholowski said. “I’m not afraid to make mistakes anymore. Things are looking up for sure.”

He took significant strides last summer in the gym and looks to do the same this year while staying in metro Detroit, training with other Red Wings and prospects.

“You feel your body is a little bigger, you’re a little stronger and you can win puck battles easier,” Cholowski said. “I think my season was really good for that. I’m going to carry that over into camp and into the season.”

Khan continues, quoting Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff and Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon…

2. In the prospect department, part 2: Craig Custance wrote an article about the Wings’ drafting of 5’8,” 154-pound Finnish forward Otto Kivenmaki:

Continue reading Three things: Profiles of Cholowski and Kivenmaki, and congrats, Manny

Mid-day news: Marek and Friedman’s Wings-related ‘thoughts’; a merch sale and McIsaac and Zadina ‘try not to laugh’

Of very disparate Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman addressed all 31 teams’ statuses in their latest “31 Thoughts” podcast, and the gents touched upon both the Red Wings and a possible trade situation:

22:10 – Red Wings welcome back Mike Green and Thomas Vanek and they find a new goaltender in Jonathan Bernier.

Also, per Chris Nichols and WDIV’s David Bartkowiak Jr.:

2. In the merchandise department, from Hockeytown Authentics:

3. And in a humorous vein:

 

 

Regner speaks with Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon on the latest ‘Red and White Authority’

DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner speaks with Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon on the latest Red and White Authority. Simon took the coaching reins while working with the Red Wings’ summer development campers, and he’s just hired his assistant coaches, so there was much to talk about over the course of a 52-minute interview: