Grand Rapids Griffins name Ben Simon head coach

Updated 7x at 3:17 PM: The Grand Rapids Griffins have named Ben Simon their head coach, per WOOD TV’s Larry Figurski.

The Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner confirms:

The Grand Rapids Griffins hired from within Tuesday, selecting Ben Simon to take over from Todd Nelson as the 11th coach of the AHL franchise.

Simon has been the Griffins’ assistant the past three seasons and was also a member of the team in 2006-07.

The 39-year-old was introduced as a press conference at Van Andel following a quick search by the organization. Nelson officially left the team Thursday to become an assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.

The Griffins also confirm:

Here’s the Griffins’ press release:

Continue reading Grand Rapids Griffins name Ben Simon head coach

On Cameron Frye’s Red Wings jersey

From “Den of Geek’s” Joseph Baxter, regarding Cameron Frye’s choice to wear a Red Wings jersey in the Chicago-based Ferris Bueller’s Day Off:

In an interview with WeAreMEL, actor Alan Ruck, who played Cameron in Ferris Bueller, told a rather fascinating story, revealing the actual reason behind Cameron’s memorable choice in jerseys. While that jersey might be considered an antagonistic move in the sports-obsessed Second City, it seems that it represented something deeper to Cameron.

According to Ruck, the Red Wings jersey was initially part of a character-building narrative for Cameron that writer/director John Hughes ultimately had to cut from the film. As Ruck explains:

“John [Hughes] had spent some of his boyhood in Detroit. [Hughes] had decided that Cameron had a horrible relationship with his father, but a great relationship with his grandfather, who lived in Detroit and would take Cameron to Red Wings games. That’s all it was, and it was never explained in the movie.”

Continued

 

 

Regarding Chris Chelios’s induction into the IIHF Hall of Fame

DetroitRedWings.com employed the services of prolific hockey writer Julie Robenhymer during the World Championship in Denmark, and today, Robenhymer and the Red Wings’ website look back at the comments made by Wings ambassador Chris Chelios during his induction into the IIHF’s Hall of Fame:

In 26 years as an NHL player, including 10 with the Detroit Red Wings, Chris Chelios won three Stanley Cups, earned three Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman as well as the Mark Messier Leadership Award.

He also represented Team USA at the World Junior Championship, three Canada Cups, four Olympics – earning a silver medal in 1998 – as well as the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, where the United States defeated Canada in Canada to win the championship, and the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Upon retirement, Chelios was immediately inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2011, was a first-ballot selection for the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013 and completed the trifecta last month as he was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame during the 2018 IIHF World Championship held in Denmark.

“I never envisioned myself making it to the NHL,” Chelios said during his acceptance speech. “My goal was going to college and making the Olympic team. I thought, what a great honor that would be to represent your country and what a dream to be able to be one of those 22 or 24 players and I’m very fortunate to say that my dream came true.”

Robenhymer continues, and she spoke with Nicklas Lidstrom regarding the challenges involved in playing against Chelios.

NHL.com’s draft experts offer suggestions for Wings’ 6th, 31st(?) picks

NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman, Mike G. Morreale and Guillaume Lepage offer their takes on the first round of the NHL draft on June 22nd, making triple picks for each and every one of the teams with 1st round picks, including the Red Wings.

The trio expect the Wings to pick either Quinn Hughes or Evan Bouchard at 6th overall…

6. Detroit Red Wings

Kimelman — Quintin Hughes, D, Michigan (BIG10): His ability to control the game far exceeds any questions about his size (5-9, 170). He’s a dazzling skater and puck-handler with a hard, accurate shot from the point. The Red Wings should be able to stay in-state to fill a major organizational need.

Morreale — Evan Bouchard, D, London (OHL): The big (6-2, 193) right-shot defenseman tied for seventh in the OHL with 87 points (25 goals, 62 assists); he’s the first defenseman to finish in the top 10 in the league since Ryan Ellis of Windsor in 2010-11 (101 points, tied for fourth). David Gregory of NHL Central Scouting said Bouchard is “the prototypical new-millennium defenseman” NHL teams want.

Lepage — Hughes: Although he has a few shortcomings, mostly his defensive play, he has the potential to become a star. Red Wings fans will appreciate his on-ice vision and instincts.

And the trio are split into thirds regarding the Wings’ options with the 30th or 31st pick (depending on whether the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup):

Continue reading NHL.com’s draft experts offer suggestions for Wings’ 6th, 31st(?) picks

ECHL’s announces “protected lists” for teams: Walleye protect mix of North American, European-playing players

The ECHL allows its teams to protect non-free agent players who the teams wish to retain, and here’s the Toledo Walleye’s protected list:

Simon Denis, Jared Wilson, Trevor Hamilton, Ryan Obuchowski, Kevin Lohan, Beau Schmitz, Parker Reno, Jamie Doornbosch, Scott Czarnowczan, Jacob MacDonald, Kyle Bonis, Austen Brassard, Tyler Barnes, Colin Jacobs, Connor Crisp, Mike Embach, Charlie O’Connor, Christian Hilbrich, Shane Berschbach, Alden Hirschfeld, A.J. Jenks, Dane Walters, Tyson Spink, Tylor Spink

As you’ll note, some of the Walleye’s protected players are skating in Europe or elsewhere, so the Walleye are attempting to retain their rights should players like Simon Denis, Kyle Bonis or the Spink brothers return to North America.

Update: Here’s more information from the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

Continue reading ECHL’s announces “protected lists” for teams: Walleye protect mix of North American, European-playing players

Toledo Walleye coach Dan Watson exploring opportunities at AHL level

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe reports that Toledo Walleye coach Dan Watson is exploring possible coaching opportunities at the AHL level:

After two successful ECHL seasons as head coach of the Toledo Walleye, Dan Watson has thrown his hat into the ring for several coaching positions at the higher level American Hockey League.

Watson confirmed he has been in talks with several AHL teams regarding vacant coaching positions, including an open spot with Toledo’s fellow Detroit Red Wings affiliate in Grand Rapids.

“Everyone has personal goals they want to achieve,” Watson said. “My personal goal is to be a head coach or assistant coach in the NHL. My goal is to coach at the highest level possible.”

Watson has been with the Walleye organization since its inception in 2009, first as an assistant before becoming head coach in 2016.

The former Toledo Storm defenseman led the Walleye to regular-season conference and division championships the past two seasons. Watson has led Toledo to the Kelly Cup playoffs in both of his seasons, taking the team to the Western Conference final series his first year and the second round in 2017-18.

Watson said he has the full support of team officials.

“It’s exciting that Toledo [officials] allow us to venture out and explore opportunities. We’re very fortunate to have that support,” Watson said. “As of today, I’m still the head coach of the Toledo Walleye.”

Monroe continues…

Grand Rapids Griffins to announce new coach at 11 AM Tuesday

Per the Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner:

The Grand Rapids Griffins apparently will be without a coach for less than a week.

The team announced Monday that the next coach of the Griffins will be introduced at a press conference 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager Ryan Martin, who leads in direction of the Griffins, will introduce the new head coach at the press conference at Van Andel Arena.

The announcement will be live streamed.

Todd Nelson, who was the coach the past three seasons, announced Thursday he had accepted a position as assistant coach with the Dallas Stars.

Tweets of note: A 10-year Cup anniversary and Gordie’s NHL farewell

Of Twitter-related note this morning:

 

WOOD TV’s “exit interview” with Todd Nelson

WOOD TV’s Larry Figurski conducted an “exit interview” with Grand Rapids Griffins coach Todd Nelson (who’s taken an assistant coach’s job with the Dallas Stars and new coach Jim Montgomery’s staff), and the 8-and-a-half-minute long clip was aired on Sports OT last night.

According to Nelson, it was his decision to leave the Red Wings’ organization despite the assistant coach’s vacancy in Detroit. Nelson felt that he needed a fresh start:

 

Two things: Khan on the Wings moving up in the draft; Ouellet’s future likely lies elsewhere

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. MLive’s Ansar Khan answered reader questions in a mailbag article, and Khan answered a couple of draft-related questions:

Q: Do the Wings plan to look for a lot of trade-up opportunities at the draft and use extra picks to move up? – Tom

A: They will try. They would like to move up to No. 3 for a shot at right wing Filip Zadina or No. 4 or 5 to get defenseman Evan Bouchard. If they do trade up or down it would happen during the draft on June 21 and of course depend on what transpires ahead of them.

What would it take to move up? At minimum, in addition to swapping the No. 6 pick, the Red Wings surely would need to relinquish their other first-round selection (30 or 31, depending on whether Vegas wins the Stanley Cup) or one of their second-round picks (No. 33 or 36).

Khan continues, and this is a situation where Ken Holland will have to do his due diligence to determine whether the teams ahead of the #6 pick will go for Bouchard. I hope that the Wings stand pat and draft whoever’s available at #6, but I could easily see the team moving up to 4th or 5th.

2. DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner penned a “By the Numbers” examination of Xavier Ouellet’s 2017-18 season, and Regner was particularly candid regarding Ouellet’s future:

Once the year concluded, he requested a trade and Detroit is seeking to accommodate his request. It has long been speculated the Red Wings have been trying to move Ouellet since the middle of last season but received lukewarm interest.

Whether the Wings can deal Ouellet is iffy. He is in the second year of a two-year, $2.5 million contract and most teams may feel a cap hit of $1.25 million is too high for a player who has been relegated to spot duty.

A likely scenario could be Ouellet getting optioned to Grand Rapids. He will go through waivers and if he isn’t claimed, he will begin next season as a Griffin.

If Ouellet is in Grand Rapids, only $225,000 will count against the Wings salary cap.

Regner continues, and Ouellet’s always been a good soldier, so I hope that the Wings can find him another home.