All about Mike Green and his All-Star ‘audition’

Red Wings defenseman Mike Green scored 2 goals and added an assist while playing in yesterday’s All-Star Game, and USA Today’s Kevin Allen suggested that Green was “auditioning” for other teams:

Mike Green’s audition?

“Anybody can get lucky,” Green said when asked about his two goals in the final for the Atlantic. But Green could have also been responding to a question about his next landing spot. Even though Green, who also had an assist in the semifinal, brushed off a comment from a reporter about Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin saying he’d love him to return, Green’s time in Detroit is coming to an end. The Detroit Red Wings defenseman is playing on an expiring contract and could help any contender — even the Lightning, who are in the market for a right-handed shooting blueliner. He will be highly sought after as the Feb. 26 trade deadline nears.

Also of Mike Green-related note:

Continue reading All about Mike Green and his All-Star ‘audition’

Wings scouting a British player for the 2018 draft

The Sheffield Star’s Bob Westerdale reports that the Red Wings are scouting an intriguing 2018 draft prospect–6’2,” 157-pound forward Liam Kirk, who plays for the English Ice Hockey League’s Sheffield Steelers:

Continue reading Wings scouting a British player for the 2018 draft

On Mike Green and the Washington Capitals

The Washington Post’s Jesse Dougherty wondered aloud whether Red Wings defenseman Mike Green might welcome a trade back to the Washington Capitals:

“Obviously it’s been brought up just recently,” said Green, who was drafted by the Capitals in 2004, of his status heading toward the trade deadline. “I haven’t put too much thought into it. Obviously as the season goes on you focus on the day-to-day path. I wish I could give you more of an answer. I’m sure as the next couple months go on we’ll find out more. I’ll find out more.”

Continued

Sunday/Monday prospect round-up: Walleye beat Cyclones; Zablocki stars for Royals

Of prospect-related note:

In the ECHL, the Toledo Walleye received 2 goals from Shane Berschbach, 3 assists from Kyle Bonis and 28 saves from Matej Machovsky in the Walleye’s 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Cyclones. The Walleye’s website posted a recap:

Continue reading Sunday/Monday prospect round-up: Walleye beat Cyclones; Zablocki stars for Royals

Datsyuk discusses creativity in hockey, or the lack thereof

Pavel Datsyuk spoke with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Jason Mackey about what Datsyuk believes is a lack of creativity in professional hockey today:

“There are not many creative players now,” Datsyuk said after Team Russia’s World Cup of Hockey practice Sunday at UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry. “It’s less and less every year. There’s lots of talent, but teams are playing more systems.”

Datsyuk continues: Continue reading Datsyuk discusses creativity in hockey, or the lack thereof

Rooting for Canada…And North America?

The Globe and Mail’s Roy MacGregor asks an intriguing question:

It’s not likely to happen – but it’s not entirely inconceivable, either.

Canadian hockey fans cheering against Team Canada?

It’s early in the relatively meaningless exhibition round of the World Cup, but there are still some things to be learned. And the most obvious has to be is the most-gimmicky team is for real.

Team North America – more often referred to as the Under-24s by the hockey world – is pretty damn good. The kids, as they’re also known, made easy work of Team Europe in two exhibition games last week. And while Team Europe – composed of players from Slovakia, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France and Slovenia – isn’t expected to be a factor, no one really knows what to expect from the kids.

They could fizzle; they could contend; they could … As the Globe and Mail’s Montreal sports reporter, Sean Gordon, put it in Monday’s paper, they’re “half high-speed circus, half hockey team.”

“Let’s face it,” Team Europe captain Anze Kopitar quickly conceded, “they’re faster than us.” And more skilled. And more ambitious.

MacGregor continues…

Flying over Little Caesars Arena and a happy Mule

The Red Wings posted a very slick Instagram video of a drone flying over Detroit’s skyline, including Little Caesars Arena…

And the Red Wings were very busy in terms of posting Instagram content on Monday. It was good to see Johan Franzen skating again:

Continue reading Flying over Little Caesars Arena and a happy Mule

Braden Holtby’s mask pays tribute to the Tragically Hip

I love this story: Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston hit a chord (no pun intended) in explaining why Team Canada goaltender Braden Holtby is wearing a Tragically Hip-themed mask during the World Cup of Hockey:

“Everyone knows the story in Canada,” Holtby told Sportsnet in an interview. “It’s one of those things that has turned a positive from a negative. It’s pretty amazing kind of what Canadians do. I grew up and I can have vivid memories of listening to my first Hip songs. We even had a class in school, a little part of it that was based on (the song) ‘Wheat Kings’ – I mean you just remember it. It’s Canadian, it’s the Hip, and with me being a huge music lover (it made sense).

“This being the biggest stage for hockey and a lot of Gord’s songs have hockey in them, I mean it ties the two in and I think it’ll be very good.”

The plan, ultimately, is to auction the mask off for charity. Word has already been passed along to the band and Holtby hopes the Hip will determine where the money ends up.

He’s never met Downie or other members of the band, but has long been a fan.

Johnston continues, and the mask looks awesome:

Continue reading Braden Holtby’s mask pays tribute to the Tragically Hip

Chris Chelios, Brett Hull appear on ESPN to promote the World Cup of Hockey

I’m impressed by the quality of these videos:

ESPN’s aired some short videos in which Chris Chelios and Brett Hull recall playing for Team USA and share stories as promotions for ESPN’s World Cup of Hockey coverage. Chelios and Hull discuss the honor of wearing Team USA’s jersey…


Let’s just say that being a Calgary Flame didn’t prevent Hull from allowig Chelios to take on a teammate in Hull’s first NHL game…

Continue reading Chris Chelios, Brett Hull appear on ESPN to promote the World Cup of Hockey