HSJ in the morning: As the Wings’ management gathers for trade deadline discussions, the team’s players are betting upon themselves

The Free Press’s Helene St. James reports that the Red Wings’ management team has assembled ahead of Friday’s trade deadline at 3 PM EST, and as such, the team is bracing for the possibility of making acquisitions–or not making any additions:

Nicklas Lidstrom took the elevator up to the press box Tuesday and made his way to the management suite, eager to catch the Detroit Red Wings live as a crucial week nears the end point.

Lidstrom is one of a handful of advisors who have joined general manager Steve Yzerman in meetings this week to discuss what changes to make, if any, ahead of Friday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. The Wings expect to have Michael Rasmussen available Thursday when they host the Utah Hockey Club, helping the depth down the middle. But the Wings could still use some help at center, in addition to addressing the lack of depth on defense.

…

It’s on Yzerman, Lidstrom, assistant general managers Kris Draper and Shawn Horcoff, plus pro scouts including Kirk Maltby, to parse whether there’s a bigger move that makes sense, that can be made at a reasonable cost to the rebuild.

Continue reading HSJ in the morning: As the Wings’ management gathers for trade deadline discussions, the team’s players are betting upon themselves

Tweet of note: WXYZ’s Galli tells the story of Hutson, a Make-a-Wish kid whose dream came true

From WXYZ’s Brad Galli:

Reviewing the Red Wings’ moves over the past 2 days

I’ve been gone for a day-and-a-half, and the Red Wings have been relatively busy transaction-wise. Let’s see if I’ve got them all down:

  1. The Red Wings sent Sheldon Dries down to Grand Rapids as Michael Rasmussen is ready to return from his “upper-body” (head) injury;
  2. Detroit ate a quarter of Yanni Gourde’s salary to help Tampa Bay facilitate a trade with Seattle, earning a 4th round draft pick for the Wings’ trouble (with defensive prospect Kyle Aucoin heading to Tampa Bay as well);
  3. The Red Wings also waived Christian Fischer, who may or may not be sent to the Griffins if he clears waivers;
  4. The team recalled Carter Mazur from the Grand Rapids Griffins today–which is important, because, once the trade deadline hits, teams can only make 4 non-roster-emergency recalls;
  5. And finally, the Wings extended Grand Rapids Griffins forward Austin Watson on a one-year, two-way contract.

At this point, it looks like the Red Wings are taking care of the internal business that’s necessary to tidy up the team’s “P’s and Q’s” before the trade deadline.

Detroit could still make several additions, with the center position and the blueline as areas of focus. It’s also entirely possible that the Wings may not make any moves, given that the players most readily available for trades are older and/or are “rental players.”

My gut feeling is that the Wings won’t be making any trades unless the team can add some long-term solutions in exchange for draft picks, players or prospects, though I could very well be wrong here.

Press release: Red Wings recall Carter Mazur from Grand Rapids

From the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS RECALL CARTER MAZUR FROM GRAND RAPIDS

  … 2021 Third-Round Pick Has Recorded 15 Points in 20 Games with Griffins in 2024-25 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today recalled forward Carter Mazur from the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

Mazur, 22, has recorded 15 points (8-7-15) and eight penalty minutes in 20 games with the Griffins during the 2024-25 season. The 6-foot, 189-pound forward has tallied 11 points (7-4-11) in his last 11 contests dating back to Feb. 8. Mazur spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Griffins and ranked among the team leaders with 17 goals (2nd), 20 assists (8th), 37 points (2nd), 48 penalty minutes (T7th), six power play goals (T1st), 11 power play points (3rd), three game-winning goals (T4th), one overtime goal (T1st) and 122 shots (4th) in 60 regular-season games. He also registered eight points (3-5-8), a plus-six rating and 18 penalty minutes in nine Calder Cup Playoff games, helping the Griffins reach the Central Division Finals. Mazur made his professional debut with the Griffins in 2022-23, logging six points (3-3-6) in six games to conclude the regular season. Selected by the Red Wings in the third round (70th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Mazur has totaled 58 points (28-30-58) and 56 penalty minutes in 86 AHL games with the Griffins.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings recall Carter Mazur from Grand Rapids

Sometimes mental illnesses make me physically sick

My apologies for not covering the Red Wings’ loss to Carolina on Tuesday night. I’ve been physically ill since my anxiety attack last Thursday, and I was too ill to work the game.

I’m having a very difficult time right now, but I’m doing everything I can to be healthier for the trade deadline on Friday.

Right now, all I can do is deal with the physical pain I’m feeling, and I promise that I’ll be back as soon as I can sit up and type.

Video: Albert Johansson, Alex DeBrincat and coach Todd McLellan speak with the media after the Red Wings’ morning skate

Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson, forward Alex DeBrincat and coach Todd McLellan spoke with the Wings’ media corps after Detroit’s morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes (7 PM EST on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/FanDuel SportsNet South/97.1 FM):

Red Wings-Hurricanes post-morning skate Tweets: Lyon starts vs. Carolina; lineup remains unchanged

The Detroit Red Wings held an optional morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/FanDuel SportsNet South/97.1 FM).

After the Wings’ skate, Red Wings coach Todd McLellan addressed the media:

Red Wings-Hurricanes morning skate Tweets: Lyon starts vs. Andersen as Wings ‘take an optional’

The 30-24-and-6 Detroit Red Wings face off against the 35-22-and-4 Carolina Hurricanes this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/FanDuel SportsNet South/97.1 FM).

Carolina has gone 3-and-3 over its past 6 games, most recently winning a 2-1 overtime decision over the Calgary Flames on Sunday.

The Canes’ website posted a quick game preview which notes that tonight’s game is part of their “Fathers’ Trip,” with Fredrik Andersen expected to start in the Canes’ crease this evening.

This is the first of 3 meetings between the Red Wings and Hurricanes down the NHL’s “stretch run,” too, so these games may help determine the Red Wings’ playoff fate.

EliteProspects’ Sean Shapiro reminds us that the Red Wings will be wearing their Stadium Series jerseys tonight…

And he reports that Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary has an entourage today…

According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, the Wings are taking an optional morning skate today…