The Anaheim Ducks are going to terminate the contract of 35-year-old power forward Chris Kreider today, and you’d think that the 6’3,” 231-pound might fit the Red Wings’ needs in terms of adding both secondary scoring and physicality.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff is here to suggest otherwise:

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Kreider wants to return to the East. While the Red Wings play in the Eastern Conference, Detroit really isn’t in the East geographically. And the Wings haven’t made the playoffs in a decade. For a 35-year-old player who’s never won the Stanley Cup, that could be a deal-breaker.

The Red Wings do project to have $20 million in available salary cap space. They need to save a chunk of that cash to get RFA defenseman Simon Edvinsson locked into a new pact. Even so, there should be more than enough left over to sign Kreider. He made $6.5 million with the Ducks last season.

Then again, is there anyone available to offer Kreider a contract? According to Edvinsson, no one from the club has talked to him about his contract situation since Yzerman’s removal.

If you’re Kreider, do you want to come to a team that, from the outside, appears to be in disarray?

Continued; I just don’t see the Wings signing Kreider. He wants to win right now, and the Red Wings are not a team that is perceived to be making a long playoff run at this moment.

ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton discuss “burning questions” for all 32 NHL teams this morning, and their take on the Red Wings’ most pressing issue is no surprise:

Detroit Red Wings
How will the new GM right the ship?

This a two-parter for the Red Wings. It starts with who is going to replace Steve Yzerman as the team’s general manager? Yzerman stepped down in July, and the search for a replacement has been mostly quiet since then (other than Detroit Tigers assistant GM Jeff Greenberg pointedly removing himself from the candidate conversation).

What hasn’t been so silent is the reverberations around captain Dylan Larkin‘s ongoing standoff with the team following his June trade request. The club is under no obligation to let Larkin go to one of his few desired landing spots — the 30-year-old is under contract through 2030-31 with an $8.7 million AAV — and even if the Red Wings wanted to play ball, any return has to reflect Larkin’s status as one of Detroit’s top skaters (with 67 points in 74 games last season).

It’s a lot of drama for the incoming GM to tackle right away. If Larkin stays, how does that affect team chemistry? Does he retain the captaincy? The still-unnamed GM should have an easier time with another internal issue though — getting RFA Simon Edvinsson‘s next deal done so he’s ready to be in the lineup. Whomever fills Yzerman’s shoes will just have to show their mettle in a hurry.

Continued; yep, the Red Wings need a new GM, and that GM has to address the Larkin and Edvinsson issues, for starters.

“The Sheet’s” Jeff Marek and the Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta discuss the Red Wings’ GM search, Simon Edvinsson’s re-signing, Alex DeBrincat and Dylan Larkin’s respective situations and more over the course of a 13:37 clip from Daily Faceoff:

EliteProspects’ Kareem Elshafey was tasked with compiling a list of 10 NHL prospects who Elshafey believes will make an impact with their respective NHL teams this upcoming season, and the final prospect on his list will likely play for the Red Wings this fall:

Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, RW/LW, Detroit Red Wings

Of all the non-blue chip affiliated prospects, there aren’t many who seem as projectable as Michael Brandsegg-Nygård is. Ever since he transitioned to North American pro hockey, he hasn’t had many issues adapting. 

The common theme throughout all his AHL games is his physicality and his work rate; those two traits will be the foundational pieces to his effectiveness as an NHL player.

Brandsegg-Nygård is the ultimate disruptor as a forechecker and a puck-battler. On the forecheck, he constantly pressures opponents and looks to land the big hit, and if he’s able to turn it into a 50/50 battle, he mixes in more subtle physical skills with his positioning, stick work, and puck protection to come away with possession. He’s perfectly suited to play the puck-retriever role on a forward line but still has scoring skill, specifically his shot, to contribute offensively.

With Brandsegg-Nygård, there’s no need for the Red Wings to start him in a scoring role like other prospects would require. He can contribute in a checking role right off the bat, which makes it easier to find him an opportunity. Detroit’s forward depth is also average, meaning an impressive camp from him could see him beat out competition for a roster spot. 

The long term question is not if he can handle the NHL game, but how diverse his offensive game is and what that means for his ceiling. Still, that’s a question to be answered down the road, and the Red Wings can afford to be patient, which should allow Brandsegg-Nygård to do what he does best without other major responsibility or pressure.

Continued (paywall); Brandsegg-Nygard may have a higher or lower offensive ceiling than some anticipate, depending on his developmental curve, but there’s no doubt that the 6’1,” 207-pound forward is, at the very least, a power forward in the making.

Long-time NHL analyst Barry Melrose has passed away at 70 years of age. If you grew up in the 90’s or 00’s, Melrose and John Buccigross were welcome sights on ESPN’s NHL broadcasts and the “NHL 2Night,” the highlight show that was a lifeline for hockey fans across the United States.

Barry Melrose, the former NHL player and coach who was a beloved, longtime hockey analyst for ESPN, died Wednesday, his wife, Cindy, told ESPN's Steve Levy. He was 70. https://t.co/68PGbK6rkI

— ESPN (@espn) September 10, 2026

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Barry Melrose.

Barry played parts of two seasons with Detroit and was a Calder Cup-winning coach with the Adirondack Red Wings. He would go on to have an immeasurable impact on the entire hockey world as a beloved TV analyst.… https://t.co/Y4mRateHsM pic.twitter.com/coL0jAkH1b

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 10, 2026

As Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff notes, Melrose once played for the Red Wings, and coached the Wings’ AHL team at the time, the Adirondack Red Wings, to a Calder Cup win in 1992…

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski offers this regarding Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat’s views on one Dylan Larkin:

“He makes our team better and I’m more than happy to have him as a teammate,” said DeBrincat, speaking at the NHL/NHLPA North American Player Media Tour in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

News broke in June that Larkin, 30, had requested a trade from Detroit. He has a full no-trade clause in his contract through the 2027-28 season.

Sources told ESPN that issues between Larkin and Detroit management had been brewing for a while, dating back to testy contract negotiations in 2023. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman abruptly stepped down in July after seven seasons — none of them resulting in a playoff berth. The team has yet to name a new general manager.

The trade request stunned the NHL, given that Larkin is signed through 2030-31 season ($8.7 million AAV) and has been Detroit’s captain since 2020. DeBrincat said he’s been coming to terms with Larkin’s request — as a friend and teammate.

“I think sometimes in life you’ve got to make decisions for yourself. If that’s the case, and he feels the need to still be out, then that’s his decision,” he said. “Coming to Detroit, he really made me feel welcome and is obviously a great player.”

Continued

According to Octopus Thrower’s Jake Rivard, interim Red Wings GM Shawn Horcoff will not be considered as Steve Yzerman’s permanent successor as the GM and/or director of hockey operations:

The Detroit Red Wings are inching ever closer toward finally signing a general manager. Earlier this week, reports confirmed that Detroit Tigers general manager (and reported finalist for the position) Jeff Greenberg pulled himself out of consideration.

This time around, another candidate is out of consideration: assistant general manager (and interim GM) Shawn Horcoff.

According to Octopus Thrower Site Expert Jake Rivard, sources close to the matter have confirmed that Horcoff is no longer in the running for the GM role.

…

If Tony Wolak of The Hockey Writers‘ sources are believed to be correct, assistant general manager Kris Draper is out of consideration for the role, as well. The only remaining candidates, as of right now, are Brett Peterson, Scott White and Jeff Kealty. There could, of course, be another candidate out of left field, but these three are the most oft mentioned and sourced as finalists for the role.

Continued…We shall see. Hopefully soon.

Late yesterday evening, Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin offered a set of comments from Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat , made during the NHL’s Player Media Tour in Las Vegas (DeBrincat also spoke with NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika), and this morning, he offers more from DeBrincat, including this regarding Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin…

“It sucks. Doesn’t really change what we think of him,” DeBrincat said Tuesday. “He’s still a great player. He’s been a great friend and a great teammate to me, and we obviously love him here. That’s kind of for him to answer, what’s next for him. But for us, I think it’s all the same. We’re happy to see him at the rink and happy to get started.”

And, despite Mr. Larkin’s objections, DeBrincat is optimistic about the Red Wings’ outlook for the upcoming season:

From the NHLPA:

NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS AND CLARK PARK COALITION TO CELEBRATE FORMER NHLPA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BOB GOODENOW’S LEGACY

… NHLPA Goals & Dreams to unveil a meaningful contribution supporting the next generation of hockey players at Clark Park

TORONTO (September 9, 2026) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association’s charitable arm, NHLPA Goals & Dreams, and the Clark Park Coalition will host a special community hockey event on September 15 to celebrate the enduring legacy of former longtime NHLPA Executive Director Bob Goodenow.

The event will bring together Clark Park youth hockey players and their families, members of the Goodenow family, NHLPA representatives, Clark Park leaders, former NHL players and community partners for an evening celebrating hockey’s ability to inspire, connect and create opportunity.

As part of the event, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will make a special announcement in support of Clark Park Coalition’s hockey program, a multi-season contribution to help more Detroit youth experience the game for seasons to come. The full details of the donation will be revealed during the event.

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRIFFINS 2026-27 SINGLE-GAME TICKETS ON SALE NOW

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Single-game tickets for each of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ 36 regular-season home games at Van Andel Arena are on sale now through griffinshockey.com/tickets.

Under fourth-year head coach Dan Watson, the Griffins will begin the home portion of their 72-game slate on Friday, Oct. 9 against the Manitoba Moose with the Home Opener presented by Huntington Bank.

Griffins tickets can be purchased through the following methods (all purchases subject to a convenience charge):

• Online through griffinshockey.com/tickets;
• On the Griffins app, available for iPhone and Android;
• In person at The Zone at Van Andel Arena, beginning Oct. 1 (open 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday);
• By phone at (616) 774-4585 or (800) 2-HOCKEY.