Articles from practice: on shot production, the hot goaltending hand and Tatar’s ‘sick move’

The Detroit Red Wings held a light practice on Thursday, hoping to build upon their win over San Jose as the Wings prepared for a two-game road trip against a pair of teams that the Wings must catch and hold off, respectively, to earn a Wild Card spot.

The Wings sit 6 points behind the Carolina Hurricanes, who will host the Montreal Canadiens this evening, and Detroit leads the Florida Panthers by 2 points (and the Panthers play in Buffalo tonight).

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reported that Henrik Zetterberg “took a maintenance day” on Thursday, but it’s assumed that Zetterberg will play on Friday; St. James also confirmed that Petr Mrazek will start against the Hurricanes.

After practice, the Red Wings posted Twitter videos in which coach Jeff Blashill and forward Tomas Tatar spoke with the media…

Continue reading Articles from practice: on shot production, the hot goaltending hand and Tatar’s ‘sick move’

Griffins game-day preview: GR prepares for 3 straight vs. Monsters

Grand Rapids Griffins announcer Bob Kaser sets up the Griffins’ 3-game slate against the Lake Erie Monsters in today’s game-day preview video:

FYI:

More Wings trade talk from TSN

Via Kukla’s Korner, TSN’s Scott Cullen penned a set of “trade deadline playbooks” for the Eastern and Western Conferences, and Cullen’s Eastern Conference Playbook discusses the Wings’ outlook as we head toward the February 26th trade deadline:

DETROIT RED WINGS
UFA in 2018: LW David Booth, D Mike Green
RFA in 2018: LW Andreas Athanasiou, C Dylan Larkin, RW Anthony Mantha, RW Martin Frk, G Petr Mrazek
No-Trade Clauses: C Frans Nielsen (modified), RW Gustav Nyquist, RW Justin Abdelkader, C Darren Helm, D Mike Green, D Niklas Kronwall (modified), D Trevor Daley, G Jimmy Howard (modified)
Others of Interest: LW Tomas Tatar, D Xavier Ouellet

Continue reading More Wings trade talk from TSN

Thursday’s practice: Zetterberg takes a maintenance day, Mrazek starts Friday, Canes in tough

Updated with videos of Blashill and Tatar speaking with the media at 2:07 PM: The Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena just after 12 PM on Thursday.

Detroit hoped to build upon Wednesday’s win over the San Jose Sharks as the Wings prepared for back-to-back road games in Carolina (on Friday) and Florida (on Saturday):

That was the last practice-related Tweet that anyone posted for over an hour, save a Grand Rapids Griffins giveaway plug:

Continue reading Thursday’s practice: Zetterberg takes a maintenance day, Mrazek starts Friday, Canes in tough

TSN’s Seravalli ‘picks a team’ for Mike Green

TSN’s Frank Seravalli believes that the Vegas Golden Knights are the best fit for Mike Green…

Vegas Golden Knights: No one really knows how GM George McPhee will tinker with his long-range plan for the Golden Knights after their superlative-exhausting start to the franchise. Will he pay the price for a rental? Maybe if that price is offset by also shipping one of his out. If there’s one area Vegas could use help, it’s on their 22nd-ranked power play, where Green has generated half his points last year. McPhee knows Green better than just about anyone out there.

Seravalli also suggests that the Lightning, Maple Leafs and Capitals (the hot rumor team) are possible landing spots for Green.

Video, video: Filthy Tats and extended Wings-Sharks highlights

Of video-related note this morning:

    1. Hockey Webcaster/Robert Soderlind posted a clip of Tomas Tatar dekeing out Martin Jones during the Red Wings’ shootout win over San Jose last night…

2. And AWood40 posted an extended set of highlights from last night’s game:

Update: Sportsnet posted a clip of the Wings-Sharks shootout as well:

Continue reading Video, video: Filthy Tats and extended Wings-Sharks highlights

February is Hockey Is For Everyone month in the NHL; Abdelkader to serve as Wings’ ambassador

The NHL and NHLPA have joined forces to celebrate Hockey Is For Everyone month, and as part of the long slate of initiatives and promotions, the NHL has named 31 player ambassadors for a month focused upon inclusiveness in the hockey community.

Justin Abdelkader will represent the Red Wings during Hockey Is For Everyone month, and it will be interesting to find out whether the Red Wings will celebrate diversity in hockey. As of today, there are no listed HIFE promotions for the month, but that could change very quickly.

I am a big supporter of the concept that hockey really is for everyone–my middle-school friend Joe Kim introduced me to a sport with a dynamic Russian (Sergei Fedorov) playing for the Red Wings, and as my dad wasn’t a hockey person, my mom helped teach me how to play. I truly believe that anyone can develop a passion for the sport, and I believe it’s incredibly important to send that message.

Update: FYI:

Continue reading February is Hockey Is For Everyone month in the NHL; Abdelkader to serve as Wings’ ambassador

Prospect round-up: Lindstrom registers 2 assists; Rasmussen 1+2; Sambrook 1G, 2nd star

In prospect news:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Lindstrom had 2 assists in Almtuna IS’s 4-3 win over Tingsryds IF;

Mattias Elfstrom centered the 3rd line (a promotion!) in Vasterviks IK’s 3-2 win over IF Troja/Ljungby;

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Lindstrom registers 2 assists; Rasmussen 1+2; Sambrook 1G, 2nd star

Red Wings-Sharks wrap-up: Mrazek strong as Wings prevail in shootout

The Detroit Red Wings earned a much-needed victory on Wednesday night, opening the post-All-Star Break portion of their schedule with a 2-1 shootout win over the San Jose Sharks.

Justin Abdelkader of all people delivered the shootout winner, dekeing and dangling Martin Jones:

Continue reading Red Wings-Sharks wrap-up: Mrazek strong as Wings prevail in shootout