Tweet of note: THN’s Stockton reports roster re-shuffling at the WJSS

Per the Hockey News’s Sam Stockton, Team USA coach David Carle is shaking up the rosters of Team USA Blue and Team USA White ahead of Wednesday’s match-up between the two teams at the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan:

Team USA Blue will take on Augustine and Team USA White at 4 PM on Wednesday; Sweden will battle Finland at 1 PM.

Not hockey, not hokey: Grand Rapids Griffins to hold ‘bike rodeo’ for kids 10 and under this Saturday

This is not hockey-related per se, but the Grand Rapids Griffins are holding a “bike rodeo” for kids this upcoming Saturday near Van Andel Arena, and it helps kids learn how to ride bikes safely, and the Griffins will also be handing out free bike helmets.

My generation learned the hard way that you’ve got to protect your noggin, so I want to give this one a shout out for safety’s sake:

A bit of discussion about Lucas Raymond’s (fantasy hockey) value

In the fantasy hockey department, DobberHockey’s Michael Clifford discusses Lucas Raymond’s usage by the Red Wings as Alex DeBrincat joins the fold, and, well, Clifford doesn’t believe that Raymond’s successful rookie season was the product of his own hard work:

Lucas Raymond: Anyone that reads my Ramblings knows that I’m not a big fan of Raymond and think he may be a bit overvalued. Of course, he’s still a young player, but he’ll turn 22 years old during the season and will crest 200 career games after Christmas (if he stays healthy). It would be nice to see him start showing signs of pushing the play rather than just relying on Dylan Larkin to feed him in a shooting position.

With that said, Raymond’s share of Detroit’s PPTOI rose as the season went on, hovering around 50% before pushing closer to 60%. The team tried a lot of different combinations as they were holding onto faint playoff hopes, but Tyler Bertuzzi moving on helped in this regard.

Competition is obviously an issue here. Alex DeBrincat is now in the fold, Larkin isn’t going anywhere, and it’s hard to see them leaving David Perron off that top quintet. Robby Fabbri was earning heavy PP ice time in certain stretches, J.T. Compher showed some man advantage prowess on an injured Colorado roster, and there are a handful of young guys that’ll push the veterans. That is not great for Raymond but if he can take that step forward, it’ll be hard to deny him that top PP role. He’s flirted with 20 PPPs in his brief career, and seems poised to finally get there in 2023-24. He will have to earn it, though, given the replacements that are waiting. Detroit may even run two even-ish PP units for large chunks of the season.

Continued;

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and the expression thereof.

I would like to believe that Raymond can be more than a simple sniper who chips in passes fed toward him on a tee, and I don’t believe that the Red Wings’ youngsters will replace Raymond on the power play, but we are free to disagree.

Does he need to drive play more, and generate more of his own scoring chances? Sure, I’ll suggest that Raymond needs to take that kind of criticism and listen to it, especially when it comes to consistency of effort on a game-by-game basis. But that’s where I’d leave it.

A quip from Klim Kostin via DHN’s Duff

In early July, I mentioned that Klim Kostin gave an interview the YouTube show “Cherkas Atlant,” but that it was a Russian-language video. Today, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff shares a snippet of the interview:

Shortly after Klim Kostin was being acquired by the Detroit Red Wings from the Edmonton Oilers, the big forward was signing a two-year contract with his new club. The pact will be paying the Russian center an AAV of $2 million.

That’s much more than what the average NBA mascot is earning, a fact that brings a smile to Kostin’s face.

It wasn’t all that long ago when he was barely earning more than someone who gets paid to dress up in a costume on game night and entertain children. That was in 2017. Taken 31st overall in the NHL entry draft by the St. Louis Blues, Kostin would ink an entry-level pact with the Blues.

“Did I say that I’m ready to stay in the NHL even for a bowl of soup?” Kostin explained on the YouTube channel Cherkas Atlant. “I was young. The NHL is a dream, of course.

“For example, I signed a $750,000 contract with the St. Louis that year. The minimum contract in the NHL. I know that mascots who jump before NBA games get $650,000. And I, an NHL player, have $750,000. We have a difference of one hundred thousand.”

Continued; Kostin’s an outspoken fellow.

Impressions from Day 5 at the World Junior Summer Showcase

The World Junior Summer Showcase’s first set of games took place on Saturday, and a more fan-friendly set of start times (4 PM and 7 PM) afforded more spectators the ability to watch Team USA Blue take on Finland, with Team USA Blue winning 4-1, and Team USA White battled Sweden, with Team USA White winning 10-1.

The crowd turnout ended up being fairly good for a Monday afternoon in late July (though I’ll readily admit that black track jacket-clad NHL scouts made up a significant minority of the paying customers, especially in the early game), so I wonder whether future WJSS tournaments may adapt this particular schedule.

After Tuesday’s very early practices, Wednesday will provide the brightest match-ups of the entire WJSS in Sweden vs. Finland at 1 PM EDT, and Team USA Blue vs. Team USA White at 4 PM.

On Friday, the tournament will conclude with USA Blue facing Sweden at 1 PM EDT, and USA White battling Finland at 4 PM.

Today’s assessments of the Red Wings prospects participating in the Showcase build upon Thursday, Friday and Saturday’s comments, but I should note that today was Axel Sandin Pellikka’s first game, and that…

One must keep in mind that I’m watching players at a competitive exhibition hockey tournament in late July, and that these young gentlemen are still at an early point in their respective journeys toward professional hockey.

Continue reading Impressions from Day 5 at the World Junior Summer Showcase

DHN’s Duff profiles big, mean Brady Cleveland

The Red Wings selected big defenseman Brady Cleveland with the 47th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiles the 6’5,” 209-pound incoming freshman at the University of Wisconsin:

The mean inside of Detroit Red Wings draft pick Brady Cleveland is definitely above average.

“That’s kind of what I pride myself on,” acknowledges Cleveland. “I like to be that guy who’s mean and physical and get up in your face and be hard to play against. It doesn’t matter what game, what scenario, I’m going to be out there and make it a nightmare for you.”

Looking to the future, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman was setting out an agenda to grow his team’s size and also to create a roster that will be a handful for the opposition. Cleveland checks off all those boxes.

“He’s just an element that we like,” Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said of the 6-foot-5, 211-ound Cleveland. Detroit made him the 47th overall selection of the 2023 NHL entry draft.

“He can skate, he can defend hard,” Draper said. “He has a bit of a mean streak and obviously he’s a big kid. It was somebody that we decided to go with there.”

Continued; Cleveland racked up 105 penalty minutes in 55 USHL games last season. That’s a LOT of penalty minutes for that league.

Audio: A conversation with Finland F Tommi Mannisto at the World Junior Summer Showcase

Team USA Blue beat Finland 4-1 at the World Junior Summer Showcase on Monday.

There were no Red Wings prospects participating in that game, so I chose to speak with undrafted Finland forward Tommi Mannisto. Mannisto, a 6,’ 192-pound left wing, grew up in the Tappara Tampere organization, but he’s a Michigan State University commit at 19 years of age.

We spoke about his decision-making process in terms of going the “college route,” we discussed the strengths of his game, the fact that he’s already been in East Lansing training with his incoming MSU compatriots, and the fact that he happens to be roommates with Red Wings prospect goaltender Trey Augustine, against whom Mannisto scored a goal on Saturday.

The affable young Finn was very nice in speaking with a complete stranger for the first time (me) about several topics that he wasn’t familiar with, and I wanted to share our short conversation with you:

The World Junior Summer Showcase isn’t all about Red Wings prospects, though that’s certainly my focus. It’s also about finding players who catch your eye who might be undrafted, and beginning to follow them as well.

They usually land in professional hockey players’ skates, so it’s neat to get to know them and follow their journeys.

DHN’s Allen ranks the Red Wings’ goaltending 5th in the Atlantic

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen rates the goaltending situations of the 8 Atlantic Division teams, and he ranks the Red Wings just out of the playoff cut at #5:

5. Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings believe Husso’s second half dip reflects the high number of injuries the team was experiencing. The Red Wings were simply giving up too many high danger scoring chance.

On the season, Husso had 24 games in which he gave up two or fewer goals. He posted four shutouts

“Overall, I’m encouraged,” Yzerman said. “I expect him to be better next year for the experience that he’s had.”

Detroit’s backup goaltending should be improved. The Red Wings signed veterans James Reimer and Alex Lyon. Reimer is supposed to be No. 2 and Lyon is expected to begin the season in Grand Rapids. But it’s not unthinkable that Lyon could end up as the backup. Don’t forget that Lyon was Florida’s goalie early in last season’s playoffs.

Continued; agree or disagree?

Tweet of note: Wings offer first crack at tix to 10-game package buyers

Just out here as an FYI and/or a little free advertising:

Red Wings single-game tickets are going on sale this Friday, August 4th, but it appears that those of you who buy in bulk will be able to get the first crack at purchasing 1 of 3 separate 10-game “partial season ticket” packages.

THN’s Stockton speaks with Anton Johansson at the WJSS

The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton posted an interview with Team Sweden defenseman Anton Johansson, who scored a goal on Saturday at the World Junior Summer Showcase. Johansson isn’t an offensive defenseman, but the 6’4,” 196-pound blueliner tells Stockton that he hopes to mold his game after someone known for his two-way game:

When asked where he sees room for growth in his game, Johansson told The Hockey News that he wants to focus “mostly on the defensive plays.  I think I’ve got my offense pretty good, so I want to work on my defense and be tough there and just play hard.”

On the difference between regular season hockey with Leksands IF versus international play, Johansson said “it’s other players and other coaches, so you have to be your best and show yourself because it’s a small time you’re here, and you’ve got to show yourself the best.”

“It’s a big, big honor to play [at the World Junior], and of course everybody wants to play for the national team,” Johansson continued.  “I’m looking forward to hopefully taking a spot there.”

As he continues down the path toward the NHL, Johansson will have one of his favorite players to watch in the league waiting for him.  “I always watch Mortiz Seider actually,” Johansson says when asked about his favorite players.  “I’m a big defender, can skate the puck and can use the puck.  He’s a big guy, and I look at him a lot.”

Continued