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

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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

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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(?)

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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

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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…

USA Hockey names John Vanbiesbrouck assistant executive director

From USA Hockey:

John Vanbiesbrouck Tabbed Assistant Executive Director of Hockey Operations for USA Hockey

Will take over for the late Jim Johannson; To begin duties June 4

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – John Vanbiesbrouck (Detroit, Mich.), a Hall of Fame goaltender who has spent the last five years as general manager and director of hockey operations for the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks, has been named assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey it was announced today.

“We are beyond thrilled to have John join our staff,” said Pat Kelleher, executive director of USA Hockey. “Through his exceptional playing career, what he has done since retiring and his history with USA Hockey, John is well positioned to lead a very important part of our organization and I know he is excited to get started.”

Vanbiesbrouck’s responsibilities will include oversight of all of USA Hockey’s international efforts, including its men’s, women’s and sled programs as well as the National Junior Development Program.

“It is really exciting to get someone with John’s background,” said Jim Smith, president of USA Hockey. “He brings a unique perspective, including being a key volunteer for our organization for the last year eight years.”

Vanbiesbrouck, who will also play a significant role in maintaining and enhancing USA Hockey’s relationships with key constituent groups, including the U.S. Olympic Committee and NHL, began his volunteer work in 2008 as an athlete director on USA Hockey’s board of directors and was elected vice president and chair of the Junior Council in 2012.

“John brings knowledge, passion and commitment and will be a terrific leader in helping us continue to advance as a hockey nation,” said Gavin Regan, vice president of USA Hockey and chair of the organization’s International Council. “His credentials speak for themselves and we’re excited to welcome him to this new role.”

During Vanbiesbrouck’s tenure as GM in Muskegon, the Lumberjacks recorded a regular-season record of 162-115-6; won the Eastern Conference title in 2015; and made three trips to the Clark Cup Playoffs, including an appearance in the Clark Cup Final (2015).

“I’m really humbled and honored to have this opportunity,” said Vanbiesbrouck. “I look forward to building on the foundation that has been put in place by Art Berglund and Jim Johannson, among others, and while I know I have much to learn, it’s a challenge that I’m really excited about.”

Vanbiesbrouck had a remarkable NHL playing career that spanned parts of 20 seasons and included stops with the New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils. The five-time NHL All-Star won 374 games, the most by any American netminder in NHL history. He earned the Vezina Trophy as the top goaltender in the NHL in 1986 as a member of the New York Rangers and 10 years later helped the Florida Panthers advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.

Inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2007 and Florida Sports Hall of Fame in 2015, Vanbiesbrouck has represented the United States on the international stage as a player on nine occasions, including the Olympic Winter Games in 1998; two Canada Cups (1987, 1991), four men’s world championships (1985, 1987, 1989, 1991) and two world junior championships (1982, 1983).

Vanbiesbrouck and his wife Rosalinde have four sons, Ian, Ben, Nick and Daniel.

He will officially begin his duties on June 4th and be based at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich.

The pride of Herning, Frans Nielsen, talks about the home-town World Championship

NHLPA.com’s Tim Wharnsby spoke with Red Wings center Frans Nielsen regarding the recent World Championship, which was held in Copenhagen and Herning, Denmark. The latter locale is Nielsen’s hometown:

“The worlds were great for Denmark,” the Detroit Red Wings veteran centre said. “I think we have gotten a lot of new fans that never watched hockey before. It got so popular they had to put our games on a [television] channel everyone in the country has.”

Hockey always had more appeal for Nielsen over Denmark’s two most popular sports, soccer and team handball.

You see, his father Fritz, coached the local pro team in his hometown of Herning and made it easy for Frans to fall in love with hockey. Herning played host to all of Denmark’s games in the worlds.

“My dad played and coached the pro team in Herning my whole childhood,” Nielsen said. “So basically I grew up in a hockey rink.

“It’s a small town of about 80,000 people. But it’s one of the only towns I would actually call a hockey town in Denmark. There always has been lots of hockey tradition here.”

Continued

 

Chris Osgood speaks with Cotsonika regarding Marc-Andre Fleury

NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika penned an article in which Chris Osgood compared resumes with Marc-Andre Fleury, who’s reclaimed his reputation as a tremendous clutch goalie with the Vegas Golden Knights:

“As your career goes along and you’re in one place, sometimes change is good,” Osgood said. “Murray was there [in Pittsburgh]. He’d won a Cup. Murray’s a great teammate, but at the same time, I think the change of scenery was great for [Fleury].

“Not that you’d ever think this was going to happen on an expansion team. No way. But he’s the centerpiece of that. You’ve got a goalie that’s won the Cup. Put him on that team, that’s the difference-maker. He’s proven that all year. … Not only that, he’s a great guy. He does everything the right way, and now he’s getting rewarded for it.”

Osgood said he thought if Fleury hadn’t sustained a concussion and missed two months of the regular season, he probably would have won the Vezina. Among goaltenders who played at least 45 games, Fleury tied with Antti Raanta of the Arizona Coyotes for first in goals-against average (2.24) and tied with Pekka Rinne of the Nashville Predators for second in save percentage (.927) behind Raanta (.930).

“It’s not easy, and I’ve done it,” Osgood said. “You lose your job. You’re not playing. You have to bring up these young guys, because you’re a good teammate. I see the difference in [Vegas backup Malcolm] Subban when he’s in there too, the way he plays. The trickle-down effect for having a goalie like that is so great on so many different levels, that people don’t even notice. It’s unbelievable to me, from Subban to the players to when times get tough and you know he’s going to play a great game.”

Continued

Tweets of note: Wings, Griffins have season tix plans available; Centre Ice Arena renovations underway

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If you are interested, both the Detroit Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins have season ticket plans available as of today:

Also of Red Wings-related note:

 

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