A trio of Tweets of note

Of note from Paul Kukla of Kukla’s Korner, per Sports Illustrated’s Michael Farber…

And the Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa:

Also, enjoy the following from Dimitri Filipovic:

Prospect round-up: Veleno wins showdown with Seider; a well-dressed Brome; Berggren’s Swedes drop Channel One Cup opener

Updated at 1:13 AM: Of prospect-related note:

In the SHL, Joe Veleno had an assist on the game-winning goal, finishing at -1 with 3 shots and 18:34 played in the Malmo Redhawks’ rare 3-2 win over Rogle BK. Moritz Seider finished at -1 with 1 shot and 1 blocked shot in 22:37 played.

As per usual, IceHockeyGifs on Twitter has some Seider .gifs to share:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Veleno wins showdown with Seider; a well-dressed Brome; Berggren’s Swedes drop Channel One Cup opener

TSN posts Igor Larionov interview in which the Russian WJC team coach discusses ‘Russian Five’ influences

Former Red Wings forward and Russian World Junior Championship team coach Igor Larionov spoke with TSN’s Mark Masters about his desire to bring a little “Russian 5” style to the Russian WJC team. The 4:42 interview isn’t embeddable, but it’s not geo-blocked, so you can watch it from the U.S.:

LEGENDARY LESSONS: Russia ?? head coach Igor Larionov talks about his plans to bring Detroit’s ‘Russian Five’ style to his young team at the #WorldJuniors: https://t.co/IQQU9GFKNQ#TSNHockey pic.twitter.com/4kbn5nsdtq— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) December 17, 2020

Here’s the interview summary:

In his first year as Russia’s head coach at the World Juniors, Igor Larionov has a clear vision for how his team should play. “It’s showing my experience and my knowledge to the young players,” the Hockey Hall of Famer said, “and try to help the young guys to see the game a different way than they’re used to seeing it. I’m happy to see some good signs of listening to how we played back in the day and in Detroit with Russian Five.”

Press release: AHL, ECHL join ‘Hockey is for Everyone’ campaign

This is a good start for the AHL and ECHL in terms of getting on the diversity train:

AHL, ECHL join Hockey is For Everyone campaign’

NEW YORK, SPRINGFIELD, Mass., & PRINCETON, N.J. … As part of committed efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in hockey, the National Hockey League (NHL®), American Hockey League (AHL), and ECHL today announced that the AHL, ECHL and their Member Clubs will join Hockey is For Everyone™, the NHL’s year-long initiative in conjunction with the National Hockey League Players’ Association to emphasize that the official policy of the sport is one of supporting and prioritizing inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and stands. With the AHL and ECHL joining Hockey is For Everyone™, the campaign will reach new fans as the initiative adds 51 new markets across North America.

Continue reading Press release: AHL, ECHL join ‘Hockey is for Everyone’ campaign

ESPN’s Peters ranks Top 100 prospects: Raymond and Seider in top 10

ESPN’s Chris Peters penned a massive article for ESPN+ subscribers, listing his top 100 NHL prospects, and two Red Wings made his top 10:

4. Lucas Raymond, LW, Detroit Red Wings: In the early-going of the season, Raymond has seized the added ice time he has gotten at Frolunda. He has made high-end plays and keeps opposing defenders on their toes with his skill. Raymond has also shown off a quicker and better shot release to enhance his goal-scoring talent. He competes hard and doesn’t take shifts off. Raymond can finish out the year in Sweden and probably grab a roster spot with Detroit as early as the 2021-22 season.

…

9. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit Red Wings: Based on what I’ve seen from Seider in the SHL this season and the AHL in 2019-20, he’s ready to play a big role on an NHL blue line. Seider has such a smoothness and confidence in his game. The offensive elements of his game have come along quite nicely, and he just knows how to play. Defensively, there’s not much cause for concern, as Seider’s feet have continually improved. While he’s not going to bury anyone physically, he’s defending at a high level and is tough to get around. More importantly, however, he can play composed and in control, making good puck decisions and helping his team own the puck more when he’s on the ice.

Continued (Paywall); you may have heard of this guy, too:

74. Joe Veleno, C, Detroit Red Wings: As expected, Veleno’s move to the AHL last season had its ups and downs. He’s still trying to find his offensive game, but a stint in Sweden might help him, as he’s averaging half a point per game in the SHL with Malmo. Veleno is such a smart player that he’s going to find a way to contribute, even if it may be down the lineup.

Grand Rapids Griffins to host blood drive at Van Andel Arena on January 2nd

FYI if you are in the Grand Rapids area this January:

GRIFFINS AND VERSITI BLOOD CENTER TO HOST BLOOD DRIVE AT VAN ANDEL ARENA ON JAN. 2

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – With the need for blood elevating even more after the holidays, the Grand Rapids Griffins and Versiti Blood Center of Michigan will once again team up to host a blood drive at Van Andel Arena, on Saturday, Jan. 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

All donations are by appointment, with a goal of 65 donors for this drive. Please click here or call 866-642-5663 to register.

Continue reading Grand Rapids Griffins to host blood drive at Van Andel Arena on January 2nd

Roughly translated: Aftonbladet reports that SHL teams are eying William Wallinder

According to Aftonbladet’s Hans Abrahamsson and Tomas Ros, several SHL teams are attempting to secure the rights to MODO defenseman and Red Wings prospect William Wallinder. Here’s a rough translation of their Swedish-language report:

The SHL teams are fighting for the defensive talent

Modo’s defensive factory has produced player after player in the SHL in recent years.

Now William Wallinder, 18, is the next name on SHL teams’ radar.

According to Sportbladet’s information, the talented defenseman is heavily courted by Rogle and Brynas.

Continue reading Roughly translated: Aftonbladet reports that SHL teams are eying William Wallinder

HSJ discusses ‘The Russian Five’ with Keith Gave ahead of tonight’s PBS film premiere

The Russian Five will air on Detroit Public Television’s PBS channel this evening at 9 PM EST, and the Free Press’s Helene St. James spoke with former Free Press sportswriter Keith Gave to discuss the film, Gave’s novel about the Russian Five, and the ways in which the pioneering quintet changed the game:

Though the Russian Five were together relatively briefly, the legacy was immense. Not just for the way they dazzled with the puck, but for the way they proved how sports can unite, rather than divide.

“The guy who emphasized it more than anybody was Slava Fetisov,” Gave said. “When he talked about sports being a bridge between cultures — I’m not sure there’s any greater spokesman for that kind of thing than a decorated hero from the former Soviet Union who came to the United States and completed his war chest. The last thing he hadn’t won was the Stanley Cup, and he did that.”

Fetisov retired after the 1998 Stanley Cup victory and returned to Russia, where he became a member of the State Duma, one of the two bodies of the Russian Federal Assembly.

“He talked about bridging cultures a lot,” Gave said. “And he still does. I spent my military career, six years of it, fighting the Cold War. And it feels like now we’re back to the Cold War. Our relationship with Russia is as bad as it was at the height of the Cold War. I’m glad we have people like Slava Fetisov over there, part of that government, a close friend, it seems like, of Vladimir Putin, who can vouch for how good things can be with sports as a bridge.”

Continued; here’s St. James’ video interview with Gave as well:

SHL’s website posts an English-language profile of Albert Johansson

The SHL’s website’s Sixten Funqvist posted a superb article about Red Wings prospect and Farjestads BK defenseman Albert Johansson, who hopes to follow his father’s footsteps toward the NHL:

No matter who he plays with – during the season he’s been playing with Vojtech Mozik, Jonathon Blum and Sebastian Erixon – he always seem to know when to push forward, when to make the other team scramble. When to wreack havoc.

“It is part of my style of play to find spaces and to jump in on the attack. When you get the puck and you see the other team being out of sync – maybe they’ve done a line change or so – that kind of presents an opportunity” he says with the hint of a laugh. “I guess that’s it. I trust my instinct. But I do want to be an attacking D-man. I know how hard it is to face opponents where the D joins the rush and how difficult it is to defend when they come in as a second, or third, wave of attack.” he says.

He continues: “We kind of help eachother out. If my partner goes forward on one shift, I try to cover for him. Then, maybe in the next shift, I go forward.”

With three goals and four assists, including some nifty primary assists, Johansson has already exceeded his goal total from last season (2) and he is on his way to beat his point total from last year as well (13). And he is somewhat satisified with his play so far:

“I think it’s gone pretty well. I’ve taken some strides from last season and that was my goal entering this season” he says. And the numbers show that coach Johan Pennerborn has confidence in the 19-year-old, who is now averaging 15:59 minutes of ice time per game, compared to 12:56 minutes last season.

Continued; Johansson will play for Sweden at the World Junior Championship.