Tweet of note: a peek at the Red Wings’ giveaways from Bally Sports Detroit

Red Wings Vice-President of Marketing Ben Broder appeared on tonight’s Tigers Live broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit to discuss some of the giveaways that the Red Wings will have this upcoming season. And he talks about how you can buy ticket plans.

I figured that you’d want to see the “goodies,” so it offsets the free advertising:

Tweet of note: The best caddy?

The Red Wings’ players and coaching staff took part in their charity golf tournament in Traverse City today, and they were asked which player on the team would be the best golf caddy:

A bit more from Steve Yzerman’s presser, per Mills, regarding Joe Veleno and younger players in general

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills offers a few more quotes from Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s press conference held with the media on Tuesday, and Mills closes with an interesting set of comments made about the potential performance of one Joe Veleno, and young players in general:

Forward Joe Veleno is another player who Yzerman is counting on to contribute this season. Veleno is coming off his first full campaign in Detroit in 2022-23, and the 23-year-old forward re-signed a one-year contract with the club on Aug. 22.

“He had 20 points last year,” Yzerman said about Veleno. “I’d like him to improve upon that total. But saying that, I don’t want him focused on going out and scoring. He’s predominately a centerman but can play the wing.

“I’d like to see him potentially take on a bigger role on the penalty kill. He’ll have to earn that. Maybe find a spot on the power play somewhere, just play more minutes and a bigger role for us. Joe is a young guy. He works really hard, is very quiet and a respectful young man. I’m counting on him to take another step this year and just be a more impactful player.”

Player development is critical to future success for the Red Wings and their American Hockey League-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, according to Yzerman.

“We want our young players to play, even at the American-League level,” Yzerman said. “If they can’t keep up or help you win, they’re probably not ready to play at that level so you got to find somewhere else for them to play. As much as we can say, ‘Hey, just play the young guys,’ they got to be able to contribute a little bit. That’s why it’s important to have an affiliate in the East Coast League, or you send them back to juniors or Europe. But ideally, you have your young players play a significant role in the minors and improving as players.”

Continued

Jakub Kindl talks about Mike Babcock

Yahoo sports’ Jacob Stoller reports that yet another former Red Wings player is speaking out about his experiences under former Wings coach Mike Babcock:

Three days after Mike Babcock stepped down as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets, former Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jakub Kindl detailed how difficult Babcock made life for him in an article titled “Seventh Defensemen,” which he published on a Czechia news site titled Bez Frazi.

While Kindl, who spent parts of nine seasons in the Detroit Red Wings organization, lauded some of Babcock’s coaching abilities — such as his game-day preparation — he didn’t shy away from explaining just how miserable Babcock made life for him.

“I wasn’t his favorite player from the beginning, and even though (Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland) liked me, Babcock seemed to constantly test what I could handle and he let me know that he didn’t like me as a player,” Kindl wrote. “I couldn’t stand him as a person.”

The 36-year-old retired defenseman recounted sequences where Babcock ostracized him.

“I saw him making jokes with the others, but with me, he barely exchanged a few words,” Kindl said. “If he did, it was to humiliate me. For example, he once put me on the right side of the defense, and I was looking at the lineup in disbelief. He was just passing by and heard me, so he looked at the lineup and said, ‘Yeah, you’re on the right side. You have trouble playing on the left, and I’m making it harder for you, right?'”

Continued; Kindl’s story in Bez Frazi is available in English.

Khan’s training camp storylines of note

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses pertinent training camp storylines this evening, including the following:

2. Which players are battling for spots in the lineup? The most interesting battle will be on defense, where the late-offseason trade for Petry gives the team seven experienced defensemen. When everyone is healthy – always a big if – Moritz Seider, Jake Walman, Olli Maatta, Gostisbehere and Petry can be penciled into the everyday lineup. That would leave Ben Chiarot and Justin Holl battling for the sixth spot.

They also have 13 NHL forwards, so someone who’s expecting to play regularly will be watching. The top eight could consist of Larkin, DeBrincat, Perron, Raymond, Andrew Copp, Compher, Michael Rasmussen and Robby Fabbri. That would leave four spots for five players – Kostin, Daniel Sprong, Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren and Christian Fischer.

3. Do any prospects have a legitimate chance of making the roster? Not likely unless there is an injury or two to a veteran. Simon Edvinsson made a favorable impression during a nine-game late-season stint, but the Red Wings, with their additions on defense, clearly feel he needs more time in Grand Rapids. The same for 2022 eighth overall pick Marco Kasper, who’s only 19 and could use some seasoning in the AHL. Elmer Soderblom, who played 21 games with the Red Wings as a rookie, probably has the best chance of cracking the roster among prospects. But with any of these young players, including the waiver-exempt Berggren, they’ll only be in Detroit if they’re playing regularly, not as reserves.

Continued; injuries are the great leveler, and they always happen over the course of training camp and the baffling 8-games-in-12-nights exhibition season. Injuries will help tell the tale.

New Red Wings forward J.T. Compher attended a different kind of draft recently

According to NHLPA.com’s Chris Lomon, new Red Wings forward J.T. Compher went to Toronto recently to support his sister, Jesse, as she was drafted by the PHWL:

It has been just over 10 years since J.T. Compher was selected 35th overall at the 2013 NHL Draft in New Jersey.

Compher once again found himself sitting in the stands at another draft on Monday this time in Toronto. The Detroit Red Wings forward was eagerly anticipating hearing the name of his sister, fellow forward Jesse Compher, being called at the inaugural Professional Women’s Hockey League Draft.

It was an experience the Compher family, parents Bob and Valerie, their children, Jesse, J.T. and Morgan, will always remember. It was also a monumental day for women’s hockey that had been years in the making.

Played out in front of a packed house at CBC headquarters, 90 of the top players from across the world in the women’s game were drafted into the PWHL the newly formed six-team league, which will see its first on-ice action in January. Luminaries included board member and tennis legend, Billie Jean King, along with other high-profile sports figures.

It was Minnesota native Taylor Heise who was the first player off the board, the U.S. Women’s National Team member selected by her home state squad. Twenty-five picks later, former Boston University and University of Wisconsin standout, Jesse Compher, was selected 26th overall by Toronto.

“That day will be one for the history books, which was incredible to be part of,” said Jesse, who captained BU in her senior year. “I was lucky to be able to be there and it was awesome to have my family with me. They have supported me throughout my career, and it was amazing to have them there with me. I couldn’t ask for a better support system.”

Continued