The Grand Rapids Griffins experienced a setback on Friday, losing 5-3 to the Chicago Wolves. Jared McIsaac (2) and Kyle Criscuolo scored for Grand Rapids, securing the team a 3-0 lead, but the Wolves scored 5 times(!) during the third period, with 4 going in on the as-to-yet-unassailable Calvin Pickard, to rally.
The Griffins’ website posted a recap:
Continue reading Recap: Griffins flattened by Chicago Wolves’ 5-goal 3rd period rallyThe Kingston Whig-Standard’s Patrick Kennedy checked in with former Red Wings captain and legend Alex Delvecchio as the man nicknamed “Fats” prepares to turn 90 on December 4th:
“My dad never showed any interest in hockey,” Delvecchio remembers. “He’d say, ‘You can’t eat pucks.’ But I was determined to show him that while you couldn’t eat them, you could make a living playing with one.” To that end, the young teenager would eschew his studies and sneak out the basement coal bin door to play shinny, then sneak back in an hour or so later.
Today he lives quietly with his second wife, Judy, an artist with whom he shares a December birthday. He has five children, 10 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a new Silverado pickup truck. “I don’t let him sit around,” reasons Judy, 16 years her husband’s junior.
“I was very fortunate to play so long and with just one team,” Delvecchio reflects. “I never bought a house until I had the 10 seasons you needed to qualify for a (NHL) pension. I always rented because Adams could unload you at any time for any reason. He kept everyone on edge, except the big guy.”
Delvecchio proved as durable as the Energizer bunny. In all those years in the rough-and-tumble NHL, through all the bumps, bruises and, yes, broken bones, he missed only 43 games. He might’ve missed a few more if not for “the tyrant” Adams.
“I broke my thumb one time and was riding the bike in the dressing room while the other guys were on the ice at practice,” Delvecchio recalls. “Adams comes in and says, ‘What the hell are you doing here?’”
Delvecchio showed him the cast on his hand.
“Horses—!” thundered Adams, who promptly ordered trainer Lefty Wilson to cut off the cast with a pair of snips. Delvecchio played that night. Imagine that happening today?
Of Red Wings-related note from Friday’s practice, per the Red Wings’ beat writers:
“We’re considering it,” coach Jeff Blashill said of the Smith switch. “I’m not sure if we stay with it in a game, but it’s something we want to look at. If we have Smitty up there, he’s a net presence, a big body, so you have (Smith) with a playmaking center (Suter) and a shooter in Fabs.”
Smith, after being a healthy scratch early last week, has strung together games where he’s been more of a physical presence, an area the Wings want to see him develop.
“He’s been solid the last three games,” Blashill said. “The Vegas game, he made a mistake or two defensively, but he was a presence in the offensive zone (scored a goal). He was better defensively in Arizona. The last game (Wednesday) he was a solid player. He can be a guy who if he can get consistent in his game, and brings what he brings to the table different than other people, he can be a guy who can help us.”
The Wings want Smith to be a physical presence, aggressive, but not take needless penalties after the whistle, or lazy penalties such as hooking and holding. It’s a fine line, a delicate balance, and Smith has had difficulty at times finding that fine line.
“Once the whistle blows, get back to our bench, and if he’s upsetting people, great, but don’t need to chat a lot,” Blashill said.
2. MLive’s Ansar Khan filed an article discussing Dylan Larkin’s recovery from a difficult summer spent recovering from a neck injury, as well as his leave from the team due to a family emergency (and a false positive COVID test) this fall:
Continue reading Friday’s notebook round-up: On Givani Smith’s promotion, Dylan Larkin’s recovery and the health of Joe Veleno, Danny DeKeyser and Marc StaalPer DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter:
Continue reading Press release: Red Wings to hold Hockey Fights Cancer night on SaturdayRed Wings set to host Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday
Wings continue annual NHL initiative founded in 1998 to raise money and awareness for hockey’s most important fight
DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings are proud to once again team up with the American Cancer Society for Hockey Fights Cancer Night on Saturday as the organizations join forces to shine a light on cancer awareness and raise money for research, in partnership with Comerica Bank.
To join the fight against this dreaded disease in which one in three people will be diagnosed in their lifetime, the Red Wings are hosting several initiatives before, during and after Saturday’s game against the Buffalo Sabres at Little Caesars Arena.
“We’re once again asking Red Wings fans to rally together for everyone affected by cancer in our community and beyond,” Red Wings and Tigers director of community impact Kevin Brown said. “Through generous support from Comerica Bank, as well as proceeds from several in-arena initiatives, we’re raising awareness and pushing one step closer to finding a cure to defeat this awful disease.”
Saturday’s Hockey Fights Cancer initiatives will begin during pregame warmups when Red Wings players will proudly sport lavender jerseys and lavender-taped sticks on the ice, which will immediately be autographed and auctioned off until Saturday, Dec. 4 at DetroitRedWings.com/Auction.
This is damn impressive:
Not bad, Lucas. ? pic.twitter.com/4tDwoFP5MI— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 26, 2021
The Detroit Red Wings practiced at Little Caesars Arena on Friday, preparing for Saturday’s game vs. Buffalo, and while Danny DeKeyser remains in COVID protocol, coach Jeff Blashill told the media that Joe Veleno (upper-body) and Marc Staal (non-COVID illness) are at least “questionable” to play in Saturday’s game (7 PM EST start on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG-B/97.1 FM).
The Red Wings posted a video of coach Blashill’s remarks to the media…
As well as a clip of comments from Adam Erne:
The Detroit Red Wings practiced without Danny DeKeyser (COVID protocol) and Joe Veleno (???) but with Marc Staal (non-COVID related illness) on Friday at the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena, and, ahead of Saturday’s home game vs. Buffalo (7 PM on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG-B/97.1 FM).
After Friday’s practice, coach Jeff Blashill spoke with the media…
Coach Blashill says Joe Veleno is day to day, questionable for tomorrow. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 26, 2021
Marc Staal practiced today, but Blashill says he’s questionable for tomorrow after he was out with a non-Covid related illness. #LGRW @DetroitRedWings— Carley Johnston (@carleykjohnston) November 26, 2021
Joe Veleno (upper body) is day-to-day, questionable for tomorrow, per Jeff Blashill.— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 26, 2021
Blashill said Veleno (upper body injury) day to day, out tomorrow. Not sure if Staal will be ready for tomorrow. Planning on giving Smith a look on Suter-Fabbri line because of his size and net-front ability. #RedWings— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 26, 2021
MLive’s Ansar Khan was the first Red Wings scribe to weigh in from Friday’s Wings practice at the Belfor Training Center inside Little Caesars Arena:
#RedWings on ice for practice before tomorrow’s game vs. Buffalo and LCA. Staal is back after missing three games. DeKeyser (COVID protocol) and Veleno (upper body injury) not skating. pic.twitter.com/YdfFDdSSRO— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 26, 2021
The Wings host Buffalo tomorrow night at 7 PM EST (on Bally Sports Detroit/MSG-B/97.1 FM), and the Sabres are hosting the Montreal Canadiens in Buffalo tonight, so, in theory, anyway, the 9-9-and-3 Wings will be able to pounce upon the 7-10-and-2 Sabres.
Marc Staal back on the ice with the boys.
Veleno (upper body) and DeKeyser (COVID protocol) not practicing. pic.twitter.com/vbT4Kb7nMQ— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) November 26, 2021
#RedWings lines at practice:
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Raymond
Fabbri-Suter-Smith
Namestnikov-Rasmussen-Erne
Gagner-Rowney-Zadina
Notable that Smith and Zadina switched spots, at least for start of practice.
They’ve been rotating the seven healthy defensemen, using various pairs. pic.twitter.com/isO2QFb9dQ— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 26, 2021
#RedWings power play units:
1. Bertuzzi (net front), Fabbri (bumper), Larkin-Raymond (flanks), Seider (point).
2. Erne (net front), Suter (bumper), Hronek-Zadina (flanks), Leddy (point).
Wings no power plays first time this season Wednesday vs. STL, 7 in 6 games, 13 for opponents pic.twitter.com/fpQZ0GNrev— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) November 26, 2021
It must be the day after Thanksgiving, because The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn and Sean Gentille are back with their weekly power rankings list, full of smarm, sarcasm and witty banter, and this week Luszczyszyn says…Something nice about the Red Wings?
Record: 9-9-3
Last Week: 25
Dom rank: 24
Sean rank: 26What should this team be thankful for? Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider look like draft-day steals to numb the pain of their low lottery luck.
Dom: I don’t know if the Red Wings have enough depth to really take a leap, but the emergence of Raymond and Seider to start the season means the team is a lot closer than they appeared to be before the season. Their underlying numbers are slightly above average, the goaltending is good enough to steal games and they have one of most electrifying top lines in the league. Add a true number one defender to the mix as Seider is working his way towards and a path forward starts looking a lot clearer for Detroit. It may not be much, but compared to other rebuilds around the league that are struggling to get off the ground it looks very promising. The 2017-18 Avalanche and 2016-17 Leafs are the blueprint here and while Detroit may be a bit off from that, even being in the same breath is a step in the right direction.
Continued (paywall);
I don’t know whether the Red Wings have the depth to “take a step” yet, either, but I do know that the team appears likely to hit on a couple more draft picks before all is said and done, and that’s going to tell the tale for the course and duration of the Wings’ rebuilding effort under GM Steve Yzerman.
The Athletic’s Max Bultman spoke with several Red Wings players regarding their difficult searches for the flavors of home this morning, and, as you might expect, it’s not as easy as going to IKEA for the Wings’ Swedes…Though IKEA helps…
Gustav Lindstrom is in his third pro hockey season in North America. He left his native Sweden to come stateside in 2019, and by all hockey measures, he’s making the adjustment quite well — slowly but surely working his way into becoming a regular in the Red Wings lineup.
But Lindstrom is still just 23, and still a long way from home. And one of the places that distance can become most obvious is at the dinner table.
“Doesn’t matter what you eat, really, but it feels like the taste is like, different,” Lindstrom said recently. “It’s kind of (the) same food, but it still tastes a little different.”
He’s not alone in this. Hockey is a global game, and the NHL is made up of players from all around the world. The Red Wings alone have nine Europeans on the roster.
So when Swiss-born Pius Suter was told after a recent practice about Lindstrom’s experience with the different flavors in his new home, Suter was quick with a quip.
“He go to Ikea?” Suter laughed.
Continued (paywall); this is a fun one.
