More than a few bloggers have posted their end-of-season, “Thank you” letters to their readers, and I offer nothing different today in terms of my main message:

Starting this blog has been a bumpy road, and I am incredibly, incredibly grateful for those of you who’ve read the blog, commented upon its content, and have spread the word about this slowly-growing blog. I’m indebted to you for your support this past season, and I know it was also no easy season in which to follow the Wings…

So, to those of you who are taking a break until September, I bid you a fond farewell, but I would also encourage you to stick around for the off-season, because I’m going to be a busy bee.

After tomorrow’s locker room clean-out, coverage will shift toward the Grand Rapids Griffins and Toledo Walleye’s playoff runs, with my goal being to attend as many Griffins playoff games as possible;

We already know that Dylan Larkin, Martin Frk and Frans Nielsen will be taking part in the World Championship in Denmark in May;

The draft lottery will be held at the end of this month, with the draft to follow in late June (11 Wings picks included);

And who knows what might happen in terms of free agency…

And in between, there’s going to be more than enough time to work on the blog’s design, logo, to fund-raise (sorry, but I’ve got to do it).

For me, this is going to be a busy spring and summer, full of hockey coverage both foreign and domestic, and I hope that you stick around for the ride.

Today, The Athletic’s Topher Scott wraps up a season of examining the Red Wings “on film” from a coach’s perspective, and Scott suggests that the Red Wings simply need more talent to compete for a playoff spot:

Let me be clear: I would take almost every player on the Red Wings’ roster on my team. I think they battled hard a majority of the year and got the most out of their potential. But it’s almost like they have a team of second, third and fourth lines. Good, honest, NHL players. But no superstars in their prime.

Larkin and Mantha can be those guys if they have a great offseason of training. I think they are ready to take that next step. Ken Holland and the management team have a stable of picks in the first few rounds of the draft. I think they can hit on one or two of those picks.

The foundation and culture are there. The difference-makers are not. But if Detroit can find a way to draft or develop a few of those guys, I think you’ll see a successful rebuild sooner rather than later.

Scott continues at length (paywall)…

Red Wings GM Ken Holland appeared on the Matt Sheppard show earlier this morning:

@DetroitRedWings General Manager Ken Holland joined @ShepMatt on @ShepMornings to discuss his extension and the future of the #RedWings

LISTEN ON DEMAND: https://t.co/aufFNCnoIg

— 1130 AM WDFN The Fan (@1130WDFN) April 9, 2018

Listen to “Red Wings GM Ken Holland 4-9-18” on Spreaker. 

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a mailbag column this morning, and Khan suggests that Red Wings forward Andreas Athanasiou is not an untouchable commodity looking toward this summer:

From my understanding, the Red Wings were open to trading anyone on their current roster at the deadline except Henrik Zetterberg, Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi, who they like because of his competitiveness and the different dimension he brings.

Athanasiou was not in that “unavailable” category but they were hesitant to move him and would have only done so for a good, young defenseman.

I don’t know if the Jets will try to move Trouba or if they’d be interested in Athanasiou, but it wouldn’t surprise me if the Red Wings looked to trade Athanasiou in the off-season or next season.

I wouldn’t have thought that a year ago because his elite speed and finishing ability are at such a premium, especially for a team that struggles to score, and he has so much upside. But his compete level wasn’t good enough on many nights — he was called out multiple times by coach Jeff Blashill and once by Henrik Zetterberg (though not by name) — and you wonder if that will change.

Athanasiou is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights, which he lacked last summer, and is coming off a contract with a $1.387 million cap hit. If he doesn’t file, the team can file, and that would assure him of having a contract by early August. Getting him signed shouldn’t be a problem this year. He’s not going to play in Russia. That was a negotiating ploy by his agent.

Khan continues…

 

 

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. The Detroit News’s Bob Wojnowski penned an article discussing the Red Wings’ decision to retain Ken Holland’s services, with Wojnowski suggesting that Christopher Ilitch made a safe, steady pick with the hopes that the Wings’ GM can turn over a new leaf:

In some ways, Ilitch is doing what Holland has done for many years — practicing loyalty. He’s also acknowledging a long, painful process has just begun, and he wants an experienced leader in charge. It’s not necessarily Holland’s 21 seasons as GM that protected him, but his 12 years before that, as a respected scout and director of amateur scouting.

Holland, 62, is returning to his roots, scouring the amateur ranks for prospects rather than focusing on win-now moves. Those days are over, and will be for several years, and in the interim, Ilitch is going with what he knows.

Is it the easy, safe move? Probably.

Is it a defensible move? It is, based on Holland’s record and reputation around the league.

Wojnowski continues at extended length…

2. The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a set of Red Wings final grades via-a-photo-gallery, prefaced with the following:

Zetterberg, and general manager Ken Holland — who Saturday signed a two-year contract extension — and coach Jeff Blashill (who is expected to return next season) see firm opening steps to a rebuild.

Young players such as Dylan Larkin (team-leading 63 points) and Anthony Mantha (team-leading 24 goals), along with Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi, and several prospects on the way, offer promising days ahead.

And for June’s Entry Draft, no team has as many the Red Wings’ 11 draft picks (and 10 in 2019) through aggressive dealing at the trade deadline.

The work this season was impressive from certain corners, and not as much from others.

Kulfan continues, and as usual, my question to you is, “Would my grades be worth your time–or mine–given that all the beat writers weigh in?”

3. On Fox 2’s Sportsworks program, Wojnowski, the Free Press’s Jamie Samuelssen (also Wojnowski’s co-radio host) and Woody Woodriffe eventually discuss the Red Wings, weighing in on Holland’s extension at the 8:10 mark, questioning whether the Wings have the talent to emerge from their rebuild sooner than later:

4. Also, in the prospect department, Givani Smith finished at -1 with 1 shot in the Kitchener Rangers’ 3-2 OT loss to the Sarnia Sting.

The second-round playoff series between the teams is now tied at 1 game apiece.

From the Toledo Walleye and the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

2018 Kelly Cup Playoffs schedule

DIVISION SEMIFINALS: Best-of-Seven Series

• Game 1: Friday, April 13 at 7:35 p.m. |  Walleye vs. Indy Fuel |
• Game 2: Sunday, April 15 at 5:15 p.m. | Walleye vs. Indy Fuel |
• Game 3: Wednesday, April 18 at 7:05 p.m. | Walleye at Indy Fuel
• Game 4: Thursday, April 19 at 7:05 p.m. | Walleye at Indy Fuel
• Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, April 21 at 7:35 p.m. | Walleye at Indy Fuel
• Game 6 (if necessary): Tuesday, April 24 at 7:35 p.m. |  Walleye vs. Indy Fuel
• Game 7 (if necessary): Wednesday, April 25 at 7:35 p.m. | Walleye vs. Indy Fuel

CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS: Best-of-Seven Series | April 27 to May 9

CONFERENCE FINALS: Best-of-Seven Series  | May 11 to May 23

KELLY CUP FINALS: Best-of-Seven Series  | May 25 to June 6

End of the first period, Indy leads Kalamazoo 2-0.
Again the @ToledoWalleye will face the winner of that game in the Central Division semifinals. Game 1 is Friday at the HC.

— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) April 8, 2018

Here’s something of a scouting report from Monroe and Walleye coach Dan Watson:

Toledo is 8-1-0 against Indy this season, including a stunning 5-4 win in overtime at Indy on Saturday night. The Walleye are 23-2-1 all-time versus the Fuel.

“We’re excited to get ready for playoffs,” Walleye coach Dan Watson said. “We know Indy can be very dangerous. They won out. We know they will be tough. I think we were 6-0 in their building. But the playoffs are not the regular season. The slates are wiped clean.”

The Walleye were 2-1 at home against the Fuel and 6-0 on the road.

Indy (36-30-6) needed to secure two points in its season finale on Sunday against Kalamazoo. The Fuel took a 2-0 lead. But the Wings, who also could have earned the final spot with a win, scored in the third period to make it 2-1. However, the Fuel held on before a crowd of 3,603 at Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

Watson said he watched the Indy/Kalamazoo game intently on Sunday. He said the players also were keeping close tabs on the contest.

“It was a well-played game by both sides,” he said. “Indy got off to another quick start. Kalamazoo made a push. Indy did a good job of capitalizing on mistakes like they always do.”

Several ECHL playoff spots were not determined until the 72nd and final game of the regular season on Sunday.

“It just shows how good our league is and how close these races really are,” Watson said. “Any team can win on any given night. That’s why you want to collect as many points as possible by getting points on the road and taking care of home ice. We got a spot early but the other races were so tight. It’s great for hockey and great for the league that these games do mean something.”

Continued

From the NHL:

League Announces Odds for 2018 NHL Draft Lottery

NEW YORK (April 8, 2018) – The National Hockey League announced today the odds for the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery following the conclusion of the 2017-18 regular season. The 2018 NHL Draft Lottery – which will be held Saturday, April 28, in Toronto (NBC, CBC, TVAS) – will consist of three drawings: the 1st Lottery Draw will determine the club selecting first overall, the 2nd Lottery Draw will determine the club selecting second overall and the 3rd Lottery Draw will determine the club selecting third overall. The 15 clubs that did not qualify for the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs – or the clubs that have acquired the first-round picks of those non-playoff clubs – will participate in the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery. The allocation of odds for the 1st Lottery Draw of the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery is as follows: Non-Playoff Team (Fewest Points to Most): Odds Buffalo Sabres: 18.5% Ottawa Senators*: 13.5% Arizona Coyotes: 11.5% Montreal Canadiens: 9.5% Detroit Red Wings: 8.5% Vancouver Canucks: 7.5% Chicago Blackhawks: 6.5% New York Rangers: 6.0% Edmonton Oilers: 5.0% New York Islanders: 3.5% Carolina Hurricanes: 3.0% New York Islanders (from CGY): 2.5% Dallas Stars: 2.0% St. Louis Blues^: 1.5% Florida Panthers: 1.0% * Under the terms of a Nov. 5, 2017, trade: The Senators have the option to retain their pick and instead send the Avalanche their first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. ^ Under the terms of a June 23, 2017, trade: If St. Louis’ pick is in the top 10, the Blues have the option to retain their pick and instead send the Flyers their first-round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Otherwise, Philadelphia will receive St. Louis’ first-round pick in 2018. The odds for the remaining clubs will increase on a proportionate basis for the 2nd Lottery Draw, based on which club wins the 1st Lottery Draw, and again for the 3rd Lottery Draw, based on which club wins the 2nd Lottery Draw. The 12 clubs not selected in the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery will be assigned 2018 NHL Draft selections 4 through 15, in inverse order of regular-season points. More details about the 2018 NHL Draft Lottery will be announced at a later date. The 2018 NHL Draft will take place at American Airlines Center in Dallas. The first round will be held Friday, June 22. Rounds 2-7 will take place Saturday, June 23.

Per the ECHL, Toledo Walleye goaltender Pat Nagle’s goalie mask won the ECHL’s “March MASKness Challenge”:

The March MASKness Final commenced on April 2^nd and ECHL fans had 48 hours to cast their vote of which mask was more deserving of being named champion – either [Ty] Reichenbach’s or Nagle’s.  Over 1,800 votes were cast in the final in which Nagle won 67% of the fan support to become the 2018 ECHL March MASKness champion.

Continue reading Walleye’s Pat Nagle wins ECHL’s “March MASKness Challenge”

The Oakland Press’s Pat Caputo weighs in on the Red Wings’ decision to retain Ken Holland’s services today, offering “5 Factors” as to why the Wings kept KH in the fold (though this is more of Caputo offering his own suggestions as to what Holland should do next as opposed to analyzing the reasons why he was retained):

4. There is a silver-lining to this – It’s at least the Red Wings veterans with the over-valued deals still play exceptionally hard. They care about the game, and the Red Wings’ tradition. It should help during the transitional period. Zetterberg is a terrific captain, who plays hard every night and is willing to call out his young teammates when necessary.

Holland needs to display he can make value-for-value trades involving players from other organizations, not just draft picks. Athanasiou and Gustav Nyquist have value and should be moved.

And who would replace them?

5. Evaluating Red Wings’ coach Jeff Blashill has been very difficult – Blashill will be back next season, but whether he is the long-range answer as coach remains the great unknown. He inherited a very difficult situation. He was replacing a future Hall-of-Famer, Mike Babcock, and with a declining team. Blashill has displayed the spine to hold the Red Wings’ younger players accountable, but at times his decision-making involving speciality units and line combinations could be better. His team didn’t quit on him, though.

Continued

 

Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff shares his impressions from yesterday’s en Holland-and-Christopher Ilitch press conference announcing Holland’s 2-year contract extension, and Duff suggests that Holland’s job is still on the line if one reads the owner’s body language:

Does anyone really think the mess that is the current state of the Red Wings will rectify itself in two short years?

This contract doesn’t seem to be a vote of confidence for Holland as much as it appears to be one last lifeline of opportunity before he is voted off the island.

Naturally, Wings governor Chris Ilitch didn’t see it that way at all.

“When Ken and I were talking, two years is what we settled on and what we are both comfortable with,” Ilitch explained. “There’s really no magic to it. Like I said, we’ve known Ken and he has known our family and our organization for so long, length is nothing we’re really too concerned about.

“We just sort of settled on two years and felt comfortable with that, and that’s why we extended Ken for two years.”

It’s no secret that Wings co-owner Marian Ilitch, Chris’ mother, is a big Ken Holland fan, although her son may not share her fondness for Holland’s work. The two men didn’t exactly look like close pals as they shared a podium during Saturday’s announcement.

Duff continues, and I happen to disagree, though I respect Duff’s take to no end.

The young Mr. Ilitch attended a friend’s wedding a decade ago, and he was stiff. In every interview I’ve seen Christopher give, he seems a little stiff. To me, Ilitch is simply the way he is–a little disconnected and disengaged most of the time as it’s his affect.

I didn’t read much into the body language at all, instead listening to Ilitch’s praise for Holland as “the man I’d want flying the airplane,” and you can make your own judgment viewing the Red Wings’ 19-minute-long video of the presser:

 All of that being said, if Holland doesn’t deliver some tangible improvement over the next two years, I fully believe that he’ll be moved into an advisory and/or team president’s role. Duff’s spot-on there.