Game-day HSJ: On Jeff Blashill and Sam Gagner’s comments to the media today

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article noting Red Wings forward Sam Gagner’s comments made to the media today regarding the sexual assault against Kyle Beach:

Forward Sam Gagner commended Beach for his “tremendous courage.

“You feel for Kyle Beach and stand with him and everything he’s gone through. It obviously took a lot for him to get to the point. It’s something you never want to see somebody go through. You want to see accountability for the things that have happened. It’s certainly an awful thing. We’re just hoping that Kyle, that this process has kind of helped him. With the culture of accountability, we’re hoping it helps our game grow as well. You hate to see it happen. Hopefully it’s a reckoning and helps us move forward.”

In addition to the revelations in independent investigation by Jenner & Block LLP, Beach has said he told the NHL Players Association what happened. The fact that nothing happened for a decade is something the Wings organization has emphasized must not happen.

Update: Here’s a bit more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:

Blashill indicated that the Red Wings have in place support that players can access in times of need.

“There’s a number of things our players go through. We want to make sure there’s support for them here and we certainly have discussed that and will continue to discuss that,” Blashill said.

“The first part and the most important part is doing everything possible to not be in situations where people are exposed to predators. But that’s sometimes impossible to understand and know. When that type of action happens, no matter what happens after it, it doesn’t take away from the fact that action happened. It’s something that none of us would ever want to subject anybody to.

“From our perspective we have to make sure our players understand there’s support here for them in a lot of different areas. We have to make sure we’re making the best decisions we can with our players and our staff and anybody around us. That we’re putting their personal lives first and foremost.”

Game-day Khan: Wings trying to focus on the on-ice aspect of beating the ‘distracted’ Panthers

MLive’s Ansar Khan has filed a game-day article in which he speaks with Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill about tonight’s game against the unbeaten, 7-and-0 Florida Panthers (7 PM EDT on ESPN+/hulu/97.1 FM):

“From a hockey perspective, we focus like we normally would to play against Florida,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “There are no real adjustments, probably, to their systems and all that stuff is probably going to remain the same. Obviously, there is a lot going on there and I can’t speak to that within their own dressing room.

“That’s the hockey perspective. From a life perspective, I think all of us in our locker room, our biggest thoughts, me personally, I speak for myself, my heart going out to Kyle Beach, to Joe Doe in Hope, Michigan (another alleged victim of Aldrich), in what they’ve had to go through in the hands of a predator. It’s something that’s not going to go away, something they’ll have to live with the rest of their lives. From a personal perspective, in our room we all have great sympathy for what those two have to go through and any others.”

Blashill continues, and offers this take on the Wings’ supports for their players:

“The first part and the most important part is doing everything possible to not be in situations where people are exposed to predators, but that’s sometimes impossible to understand and know,” Blashill said. “When that type of action happens, no matter what happens after it, it doesn’t take away from the fact that action happened. It’s something that none of us would ever want to subject anybody to.

“From our perspective, we have to make sure our players understand there’s support here for them in a lot of different areas. We have to make sure we’re making the best decisions we can with our players and our staff and anybody around us, their personal lives first and foremost.”

Rooting for Elizabeth Mantha today

We’ll consider this story to be somewhat Red Wings-related in the alumni vein. Former Red Wings forward Anthony Mantha’s sister, Elizabeth, is making her AHL debut as a referee this evening, and she’s earned a hearty cheer from The Malik Report for her efforts, as described in a story by The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir:

Elizabeth Mantha will achieve a milestone many years in the making when she takes the ice as an AHL referee Friday night in Quebec.

Close to 50 friends and family members will be in the crowd at Place Bell, where the Laval Rocket will host the Rochester Americans.

About 600 miles away, there will be another very interested party who won’t be able to make it to Mantha’s debut because, well, he’ll be skating in a professional hockey game of his own. But Capitals winger Anthony Mantha will be sure to text his older sister before leaving Capital One Arena to get all the scoop on her first pro game in stripes.

Anthony and Elizabeth aren’t able to see each other much these days, even in the offseason, due to their hectic schedules. But they frequently make time for a quick text or FaceTime, particularly before or after a game.

“We’re under the same kind of pressure,” Elizabeth told The Athletic in a recent telephone interview. “We know how it’s hard, the pressure that comes with it. So we just encourage each other.”

Continued (paywall)

Tweets of note: Get the chicken Parm ready

Guess who’s in town today for tonight’s ESPN+ broadcast?

Andrew Brunette’s first practice as @FlaPanthers Head Coach here in Detroit pic.twitter.com/hLYB9ZPb4f— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 29, 2021

I really like this barn. The seat colors, the trimming…it has a cool feel to it..and I hear the broadcast booth is butter, too. ? tonight ESPN+..7pm https://t.co/wzHzi5zGEk— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 29, 2021

Thursday prospect round-up: The Simon Edvinsson show

Of prospect-related note from Thursday’s games:

In the SHL, William Wallinder had an assist, finishing at+2 in 16:39 played as Rogle BK won 5-2 over Skelleftea AIK:

Albert Johansson finished at -2 with 1 shot in 19:42 played as Farjestads BK lost 2-1 to Lulea Hockey;

And, in Frolunda HC’s 5-2 win over Djurgarden:

Simon Edvinsson had 2 assists, finishing at +3 with 4 shots in 16:08 played;

Theodor Niederbach finished at -1 with 2 shots in 13:03 played;

Liam Dower Nilsson finished even with 1 shot in 6:52 played;

Elmer Soderblom finished even with 1 shot in 17:26 played.

Among the .gifs from IceHockeyGifs of Edvinsson:

Continue reading Thursday prospect round-up: The Simon Edvinsson show

Red Wings-Panthers morning skate Tweets III: Bucci in town; Panthers’ lines

There was no news from the Red Wings’ morning skate as to whether the lines have changed or the lineup is different, though coach Blashill and Sam Gagner did speak with the media.

The Panthers, who are in flux due to Joel Quenneville’s resignation, skated at LCA as well:

Andrew Brunette’s first practice as @FlaPanthers Head Coach here in Detroit pic.twitter.com/hLYB9ZPb4f— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) October 29, 2021

Cats on the ice for morning skate!

? @LCArena_Detroit pic.twitter.com/CGmzHSacng— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 29, 2021

Don’t see Lundell on the ice.

Still working his way back from an upper-body injury.— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 29, 2021

#FlaPanthers forward lines this AM:

Verhaeghe – Barkov – Duclair
Huberdeau – Bennett – Tippett
Marchment- Luostarinen – Reinhart
Vatrano – Thornton – Hornqvist— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 29, 2021

D-Pairs:

Weegar – Ekblad
Forsling – Gudas
Connauton – Montour— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 29, 2021

A quick huddle up around Brunette to end practice ends with a loud “Let’s go!” from all the guys. pic.twitter.com/r7sGRyhwOX— Jameson Olive (@JamesonCoop) October 29, 2021

Update:

Continue reading Red Wings-Panthers morning skate Tweets III: Bucci in town; Panthers’ lines

Monroe: Toledo Walleye open 21-22 season with a road trip

The Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe discusses the Toledo Walleye’s season-opening 5-game road trip this morning:

The Toledo Walleye are once again opening a season with a schedule full of road games but coach Dan Watson believes playing in hostile environments early on can pay dividends through team bonding.

The Walleye travel to Coralville, Iowa this week to take on one of the ECHL’s two new expansion teams, the Iowa Heartlanders. Toledo plays its new Central Division opponent on Friday and Saturday nights.

The Walleye opened the season with a 5-2 loss at Kalamazoo last Saturday. It was the sixth consecutive season that the Walleye have opened on the road. This is the third season in a row that the team will open with five straight road contests.

“It’s been the norm,” Watson said. “I like to actually go on the road and get a trip out of the way early on.”

Following the trip to Iowa, Toledo will play two more road games next week. The Walleye play at Indy next Wednesday before playing at Kalamazoo next Friday.

The home opener is set for Saturday, Nov. 6 against Kalamazoo. The latest a Toledo team has started its home schedule was Nov. 7, 2015, against Adirondack. Toledo played the first eight games on the road that season.

“I think getting away from home is helpful early in the season,” Watson said. “The guys are confined together. They’re in the hotel together. They go to the movies together. They go to dinner together.”

Continued

Red Wings-Panthers post-morning skate Tweets and videos: Gagner, Blashill speak with the media

The 4-2-and-1 Detroit Red Wings held a brief morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the 7-and-0 Florida Panthers (7 PM EDT on ESPN+/hulu/97.1 FM), and after the skate, the Red Wings held media availabilities with Sam Gagner and coach Jeff Blashill:

Sam Gagner said Wednesday’s come back win in D.C. was a big step. Wins like that help the mentality moving forward. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 29, 2021

Jeff Blashill also adds that his heart goes out to Kyle Beech. His team has great sympathy for what they have to go through. From a hockey perspective, Blashill said they won’t do anything much different tonight. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 29, 2021

Blashill adds, “We have to make sure our players understand that there is support here for them.” #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Daniella Bruce (@daniellabruce_) October 29, 2021

Coach Blashill sending his thoughts and support to Kyle Beach— saying he can’t fathom what he had to deal with.— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) October 29, 2021

Here’s coach Blashill on video…

And here’s Gagner:

Off-day round-up: Kulfan on the Wings’ win over Washington; ‘Mad Scientist’ Yzerman; Lucas Raymond’s rookie card; Edvinsson, Olympian?

Of Red Wings-related note from my illness-induced day off:

  1. The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan penned an article discussing the Wings’ win over Washington from a larger perspective…

This easily could have been a loss the last several years — in fact, it was Wings’ first victory against Washington since Feb. 11, 2018 — and it felt early as if it would be. But this just might be a growing, developing team taking shape.

“We’ve been in situations where we’ve found our way to wins and that breeds confidence, so that’s part of it,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “We have some guys that have matured over the years in terms of living through some of that. As hard as some of those moments are to live, you hope you grow and a number of our guys have grown even through some of the difficulties we faced. And we have some new faces that have a calm demeanor to them and just kind of keep playing.”

The Capitals noticed a different type of Wings team.

“They are a good team,” Capitals forward Lars Eller said. “They’re probably better than people give them credit for.”

Kulfan continues;

2. Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon posted a set of Halloween-themed power rankings…

15. Detroit Red Wings (4-2-1)
Can’t you just picture GM Steve Yzerman in a lab coat, a mad scientist cackling to himself, an evil genius who knows he’s a few tweaks and turns from unleashing another perennial contender on the world?

3. WXYZ’s Brad Galli explained how Lucas Raymond’s first rookie card will be available via Upper Deck’s ePack feature:

Continue reading Off-day round-up: Kulfan on the Wings’ win over Washington; ‘Mad Scientist’ Yzerman; Lucas Raymond’s rookie card; Edvinsson, Olympian?