Three media things: AWood40 posts clips of Abdelkader and Helm’s goals; agent Ryan Barnes speaks with Regner

Of multimedia-related note this evening:

  1. AWood40 posted a pair of clips in which Justin Abdelkader’s 7 2017-18 season goals and Darren Helm’s 8 17-18 season goals are highlighted:

 

2. And DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner spoke with former Red Wings prospect, Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye forward (and Peterborough Petes assistant coach), now-player-agent Ryan Barnes, for the latest “Red and White Authority” podcast, in which they discuss the NHL’s draft combine in Buffalo:

Red Wings sign Gustav Lindstrom to entry-level contract

Sorry this is late, per the Red Wings:

Red Wings agree to terms with Gustav Lindstrom on entry-level deal

38th overall pick from 2017 NHL Entry Draft tied for team lead in goals among defensemen for Almtuna IS in Sweden during 2017-18 campaign

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today agreed to terms with defenseman Gustav Lindstrom on a three-year entry-level contract.

Lindstrom, 19, skated in 39 games during his second season at the professional level for Almtuna IS in second-tier Sweden and recorded 14 points (6-8-14) and 34 penalty minutes during the 2017-18 campaign. His six goals on the season tied a team-high among defensemen. Originally drafted by the Red Wings in the second round (38th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Lindstrom has spent four seasons in Almtuna’s system, totaling 23 points (8-15-23) and 60 penalty minutes in 87 games at the pro level and 20 points (9-11-20), a plus-10 rating and 16 penalty minutes in 14 games at the under-20 level. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound blueliner also recorded 51 points (20-31-51), a plus-15 rating and 68 penalty minutes in 59 games on the under-18 circuit. Lindstrom will skate for Frolunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League for the 2018-19 season.

A native of Ostervala, Sweden, Lindstrom represented his country in the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo, N.Y., recording one assist in seven games to help Sweden to the silver medal. Lindstrom also represented Sweden at the 2017 IIHF Five Nations Tournament and led the team’s defensemen with seven points (1-6-7) in four games. Lindstrom is the nephew of former NHL defenseman Marcus Ragnarsson, who skated in 632 games for San Jose and Philadelphia between 1995-04.

Gustav Lindstrom, Defense

Born Oct 20, 1998 — Ostervala, Sweden

Height 6.02 — Weight 187 — Shoots R

Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 2 #38 overall 2017 NHL Entry Draft

I expect Lindstrom to remain in Sweden for the upcoming season as he signed with the Frolunda Indians.

Kulfan speaks with Ken Holland regarding the draft combine; Wings to hold summer development camp at LCA

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Red Wings GM Ken Holland regarding the NHL’s draft combine, which takes place next week in Buffalo, NY. The combine represents an opportunity for the Wings to get to know a pool of approximately 100 players that the Wings will draft from later next month:

All 31 teams get to spend approximately 20-30 minutes with about 10 players they would like to interview, beginning Monday and lasting until Friday. How the players respond in these types of interview sessions, said Holland, is a useful tool.

“You want to see how they handle that type of situation, how they answer the questions,” Holland said. “It’s not a lot of time, but you get an idea of who they are.”

The Wings’ representatives will also take prospective draft picks to dinner each night, getting to know the players in an informal environment.

Also of Red Wings-related note from Kulfan:

Just after the Entry Draft, the Wings will hold their annual development camp. But unlike previous years, they will not be heading to Traverse City. Instead the camp this year — moved up approximately a week — will be at Little Caesars Arena at the Wings’ practice rink in the Belfor Training Center on June 26-30.

…Holland said Todd Nelson, head coach of the Wings’ minor league affiliate Grand Rapids, has been given permission to interview for possible NHL assistant coaching positions.

Holland added the assistant coaching position for head coach Jeff Blashill remains vacant, as Blashill just returned from Denmark early this week after guiding Team USA to a bronze medal at the world championships.

Jeff Blashill appears on WDFN’s “Shep, Shower and Shave” show

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill appeared on WDFN’s “Shep, Shower and Shave” show on Friday morning, mostly discussing the World Championship with host Matt Sheppard. You can listen to the interview here:

Listen to “Detroit Red Wings Head Coach Jeff Blashill 5-25-18” on Spreaker.
 

Chase Pearson’s coach praises U of Maine co-captain’s pluck

This morning, DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner examines the 2017-18 season of University of Maine Black Bears co-captain Chase Pearson.

Pearson had a superb sophomore season at Maine, posting 27 points (7 goals and 20 assists) in 37 games, and Pearson’s coach told Regner that Pearson overcame adversity along the way:

Quotable: “First off with Chase, you have to take into consideration he was co-captain as a sophomore and that’s not easily done at the college level. The fact that he assumed that level of formal leadership on the team as only a sophomore speaks volumes about his character. He is committed to be the best he can be. As far as his goal production is concerned, he was a little snakebitten at the start and in the first half of the season. He started to score goals in the second half, but over the course of the season if you don’t score a lot over the first 16 to 17 games, you don’t have a lot of time to get your numbers back. It wasn’t anything in his game, it’s just the way the game of hockey can be sometimes. His overall offensive production was improved, his face-off percentage improved, his defensive efficacy improved. Clearly, he is a prospect for the National Hockey League.” – Dennis “Red” Gendron, University of Maine head coach

Regner continues…

It’s a YouTube afternoon for the Red Wings, Griffins, AWood40 and U.S. NTDP

Of video-related note this afternoon:

  1. The Red Wings posted a video recapping the World Championship…


2. And today, the Wings recapped the bicycle giveaway that the organization and Chevrolet conducted earlier this week…

3. As well as a video noting that Little Caesars Arena was named SportsBusiness Journal’s Sports Facility of the Year:

 4. The Grand Rapids Griffins posted an “honor roll” video, recapping some of this past year’s achievements by Griffins players and alumni:

5. AWood40 posted a clip of Andreas Athanasiou’s 2017-18 goals…

6. And if you’re interested, USA Hockey posted a pair of videos recapping the seasons of their Under-17 and Under-18 teams:

Red Wings announce details of equipment sale on June 2nd

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Annual equipment and memorabilia sale to be held on Saturday, June 2

Limited-edition “Inaugural Season at Little Caesars Arena” Red Wings jerseys, game-used equipment & autographed items available for purchase

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings will hold their annual equipment and memorabilia sale at Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (1845 E. Big Beaver Rd.) on Saturday, June 2 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Highlighting the sale, fans will have the opportunity to purchase limited-edition, game-used jerseys from the team’s “Inaugural Season at Little Caesars Arena.” Red Wings Reebok practice jerseys will also be available at a discounted price.

This one-day-only sale includes Red Wings game-used hockey equipment such as sticks, skates, gloves, helmet visors, socks and more. Red Wings fans can add to their autograph collections by purchasing signed items at the merchandise sale, including pucks, photos, skates, sticks and gloves. Quantities are limited for all of these one-of-a-kind items.

Additionally, fans can take advantage of 50 percent off select Red Wings, Tigers and Pistons merchandise such as T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats.

The sale will open to the general public starting at 10:00 a.m. and will be run on a first-come, first-served basis. Fans who cannot attend the equipment and memorabilia sale can still make a purchase by calling Hockeytown Authentics at 248-680-0965. Phone orders will be taken starting at 1:00 p.m.

Take this Tavares rumor with salt(?)

Boston Bruins hockey writer Jimmy Murphy suggested on Twitter that the Red Wings may make a strong pitch for John Tavares’ services should the Islanders’ captain not re-sign with the Lou Lamoriello-led New York regime:

 

Griffins announce 6 guaranteed home dates

The Grand Rapids Griffins Tweeted out 6 guaranteed home dates for the 2018-19 season:

 

HSJ’s mailbag: Mike Green may yet be re-signed

The Free Press’s Helene St. James answered mailbag questions today, and she clarifies the Mike Green situation:

I know there was expressed interest in bringing back Mike Green, or would they give one of the prospects a chance over bringing him back?

— Tim Jennings (@timj_55) May 23, 2018

HSJ: Green was the Wings’ top source of offense from the back end among the regulars, and it’s meager after him. Green had a .50 points-per-game average this past season, with Niklas Kronwall coming in second at .34. Trevor Daley was third at .21. If Green is not on the team, who is going to help with the points? Prospect Filip Hronek had a very good first year of pro hockey with 39 points in 67 games with Grand Rapids, entrusted with running one of the power play units. He played well at the World Championship. Dennis Cholowski (drafted 20th overall in 2016) is a smooth skater with good offensive instincts who is headed into his first year of pro hockey. Maybe one of them can make the team out of camp. 

Green had neck surgery in April, so I know there’s a wariness there about his health. I’d expect the sides to talk sometime in June, see if there’s a fit. 

St. James continues…