Kulfan’s notebook: Blashill unable to conduct mini-training camp due to decimated roster

The Detroit Red Wings had hoped to press the reset button on their season during Sunday’s practice, but the number of players in COVID protocols prevented that from taking place, as the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan found in his Sunday notebook article:

With so much time off, it would be ideal to have a training camp feel to these practices. But the depleted roster makes that impossible.

“I’d love to, but the problem is you can’t do it to the degree you’d like because the numbers you have available,” ‘Red Wings coach Jeff] Blashill said. “If we had a full team today, the practice would have looked a lot different, or (Monday) the practice would look different. But you are restricted by what you can do.”

Blashill had no information on whether the game against the Islanders — who put five player on the protocol list Sunday — was going to take place.

The Wings, and the rest of the NHL went into a pause last Wednesday in hopes of stemming the rapid rise of COVID cases.  The Wings have had three games postponed and have two games scheduled for this week (Wednesday at New York Islanders, Friday at home against Washington).

“Certainly there will be challenges, but I know the Islanders won’t care and they may still have their own challenges,” Blashill said. “It was probably the right move given where everyone was at across the league (to pause the season). We were going to have a hard time fielding a roster at that point. It’s not about competitive equity as much as just filling a roster. We had a number of guys in the protocol and a number of guys continue to move into protocol over the next couple of days.”

Continued

Khan’s notebook: Wings hit hard by COVID, unsure whether they’ll play Wednesday

MLive’s Ansar Khan filed a notebook article regarding Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill’s media availability on Sunday afternoon, and the Red Wings’ coach was uncertain when or whether the Red Wings will return to play given the COVID outbreak on their team:

“We’re tentatively planning on playing (Wednesday), but I don’t know whether or not the games will happen,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “The NHL has done a good job through the course of this whole pandemic of taking information and making decisions when they have to, not necessarily before they have to. I’ve been watching NHL Network and a lot of guys across the league have tested positive (upon returning from the holiday break). So, I don’t know if that means there will be a further delay in the restart of our schedule.”

One day after their 5-2 victory over New Jersey on Dec. 18, the Red Wings were shut down for a week due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases.

Sunday was Blashill’s final day in COVID protocol. He will join the team on the ice for practice Monday, along with forwards Robby Fabbri and Michael Rasmussen, who were removed from protocol on Sunday.

Blashill said he anticipates having only 12 skaters – two more than they had Sunday — and a goaltender on the ice.

Lucas Raymond and Nick Leddy entered protocol on Sunday (Blashill said Raymond tested positive before Christmas, so he could return sooner), joining forwards Adam Erne, Sam Gagner, Carter Rowney, Givani Smith, Pius Suter, Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina, defenseman Jordan Oesterle and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

It will take players a while to get into playing condition once they start filtering back onto the ice.

“Guys haven’t skated since last Saturday, so (Sunday) was used to start the process of getting our legs back,” Blashill said. “That’s not an easy thing when you’ve been off this long, even for those that weren’t sick. It’s a step today and hopefully we’ll take another step tomorrow.”

Continued

NHL, NHLPA reveal return-to-play parameters

From the NHL and NHLPA:

NHL, NHLPA Agree to Temporary Changes to CBA, Including Reintroduction of Taxi Squads; Three Additional Games Postponed

NEW YORK/TORONTO (Dec. 26, 2021) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association and the National Hockey League today announced agreement on the temporary formation of “Taxi Squads” as well as temporary changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement to address issues related to the ongoing COVID pandemic. While some of the highlights are listed below, a full copy of the temporary changes can be found here.

As well, three additional games have been postponed for COVID-related reasons: Columbus-Chicago on Dec. 28 and Pittsburgh-Toronto and Boston-Ottawa on Dec. 29. All other games currently scheduled, beginning with those on Dec. 28, remain slotted to be played on their scheduled dates.

Continue reading NHL, NHLPA reveal return-to-play parameters

Video: Jeff Blashill speaks with the media for 16 minutes on Sunday

From the Detroit Red Wings:

#RedWings had 10 skaters/1 goalie on ice today; not really practice, more to just back into hockey shape; Blashill unsure about Wednesday’s game at NYI, waiting to hear what NHL says about upcoming schedule #RedWings— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) December 26, 2021

Adds Raymond tested positive before Christmas, which makes his timeline different than Leddy’s. As for Blashill, he began coughing, feeling bad after Carolina game and wasn’t surprised he tested positive. #RedWings— Ted Kulfan (@tkulfan) December 26, 2021

One step at a time. #LGRW

?️: https://t.co/FNkRHn2Gsk pic.twitter.com/DxpZgp7s4c— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) December 26, 2021

Tweets of note: Carley Johnston relays highlights of Blashill Zoom call

Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill held a media conference call today via Zoom:

Coach Blashill joining us via zoom, his first day out of quarantine will be tomorrow #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 26, 2021

Coach says today’s “practice” was 10 skaters and a goalie, just trying to get guys who are healthy out on the ice #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 26, 2021

Coach Blashill anticipates 7 forwards, 5 D and a goalie for tomorrow’s practice #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 26, 2021

Coach Blash says he does not know when their next game is. His understanding is they’re tentatively planning for the 29th against the Islanders, but he’s unsure. #LGRW— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 26, 2021

Coach when asked if they’d be ready Wednesday, “there will be challenges, but I know the Islanders won’t care. They’ve faced their own challenges. If the league says the right thing to do is play the game, then we’ll go and play a hockey game. I don’t let anything be an excuse.”— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) December 26, 2021

Prospect round-up Europe: Johansson posts assist for Farjestad

The Red Wings’ European-playing prospects got back to work on Sunday, skating in games in the Finnish Liiga and SHL:

In the Liiga, Otto Kivenmaki finished at -1 with 2 shots in 13:49 played as the Lahti Pelicans lost 2-1 to IFK Helsinki;

Eemil Viro’s TPS Turku lost 5-1 to Assat Pori;

In the SHL, Albert Johansson had an assist, finishing even with 2 shots in 18:47 played, and Gustav Berglund finished even with 1 shot in 13:51 played as Farjestads BK won 3-1 over Linkoping:

Some SHL action today after a long break, Albert Johansson picks up an assist on Färjestad’s powerplay goal in the first period #LGRW pic.twitter.com/88GHcMn7GQ— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) December 26, 2021

And William Wallinder didn’t play in Rogle BK’s 5-4 OT loss to Djurgardens IF.

Happy Five Goal Fedorov Game anniversary

This game was a wild one…

25 years ago today, Sergei Fedorov scored all five of the @DetroitRedWings‘ goals in a 5-4 overtime win against the Capitals, becoming the first player in NHL history to score all the goals for his team in a game when at least five are scored #Hockey365 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/8Au91WgyNu— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) December 26, 2021