The Free Press’s Helene St. James filed a mailbag article this morning, discussing when Dylan Larkin might earn the captain’s “C,” answering some offbeat questions, and discussing the Wings’ options in terms of Moritz Seider’s playing future:
Mannheim is the defending champion and Seider would be a valuable member of the lineup, getting top minutes.
There’s a strong argument for keeping Seider, 18, in North America, too, beyond adjusting to the smaller ice sheet.
The Wings signed Seider, 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, to a three-year entry-level contract in July. If he doesn’t look NHL ready, they could put him in Grand Rapids. He’d be playing on a team that potentially includes fellow top prospects Dennis Cholowski, Filip Zadina, Joe Veleno and Evgeny Svechnikov. The Wings could take a nine-game look at Seider at the NHL level (like they did last season with Zadina) without triggering the contract.
TSN’s Craig Button, a scout extraordinaire, spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner on the latest episode of the “Red and White Authority” podcast, discussing the World Junior Summer Showcase and the top prospects eligible for the 2020 draft in Montreal:
.@CraigJButton joins us to evaluate Detroit's 2019 draft picks, discuss the 2019 WJSS and preview the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.
Joe Veleno, a first-round draft choice of the Red Wings, scored a goal in Canada’s 5-3 loss against the United States in the final game of the World Junior Summer Showcase at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth on Saturday afternoon.
Veleno’s power-play goal gave Canada a 3-2 lead in the second period but K’Andre Miller (New York Rangers), Joel Farabee (Philadelphia Flyers) and Ryan Johnson (Buffalo Sabres) replied for the U.S.
In the earlier game, Sweden’s Samuel Fagemo (L.A. Kings) had a hat trick in a 6-3 victory over Finland.
The Red Wings’ picks on the Swedish team, forward Jonatan Berggren and goalie Jesper Eliasson, did not play. Forward Otto Kivenmaki (Red Wings) was scoreless for Finland.
USA Hockey posted a highlight clip from the USA-Canada game:
Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno and Team Canada coach Dale Hunter play large roles in this video in which Team Canada’s players discuss the team’s visit to Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Thursday:
“Of course it depends on the team. I’m just focused on myself, doing the best I can,” Eliasson said. “It’s hard sometimes to play alone with a lot of breakaways and stuff like that. Of course I just have to focus on myself. I cannot control the team, just play my own game.”
Because the Swedes will hold [goaltender Olof] Lindbom out, Eliasson will serve as the backup for Erik Portillo when Team Sweden faces Team Finland Saturday in the rivalry game.
“It’s like a neighbor. All the time it’s tough games,” Eliasson said. “I played them twice, real fun experience to play against them.”
Eliasson said no matter what the results were at the World Junior Summer Showcase, he will take those lessons with him when he returns to Sweden for his upcoming season in the Allsvenskan, Sweden’s second highest hockey league.
“Just get better at everything, the work,” Eliasson said. “Just work on the edge and everything, quickness. It’s good teams here. It will be in Sweden as well. Just take the games with me and take the things that I can improve.”
MLive posted drone footage of the demolition of Joe Louis Arena via a 56-second YouTube clip:
2. The Detroit News posted a five-minute clip of Red Wings assistant GM Ryan Martin discussing the performances of the Red Wings’ four prospects taking part in the World Junior Summer Showcase (Jonatan Berggren, Otto Kivenmaki, Joe Veleno and Jesper Eliasson):
DET: Goalie prospect Carter Gylander gets a unique opportunity this month as he heads to Russia for the Junior Club World Cup. He’ll play for the Alberta Jr. A League all-stars, who will take on club teams such as Modo (Swe.), Karpat Oulu (Fin.) and Loko Yaroslavl (Rus.), plus an NAHL all-star squad.
Update: Also of Twitter-related note:
The Second Annual Little Caesars Arena Team Store Summer Sale will be August 10th, 9am-6pm and August 11th, 12pm-5pm! Red Wings and Pistons clearance merchandise up to 80% off and regular priced items 20% off. Tigers clearance up to 90% off! Call 313-462-8418 with any questions! pic.twitter.com/BMoHsK08IN— HockeytownAuthentics (@ShopHockeytown) August 2, 2019
Per the Oakland Press’s Kathy Blake and 313 Presents: the Red Wings are holding a blood drive on August 13th at Little Caesars Arena, and you can earn Red Wings tickets for a pint of blood:
To help address the emergency blood shortage, the American Red Cross and Meijer, Inc. are partnering for a blood drive, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Aug. 13, in the Via Concourse at Little Caesars Arena, 2645 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 313-471-3221. Redcrossblood.org. Free parking is available for donors, at the Henry West Garage located at 128 W. Fisher, Detroit, 1-800-RED CROSS. Donors receive a pair of complimentary tickets to a Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons preseason game.