The Hockey News’s Proteau asks ‘burning questions’ about the Red Wings

The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau has asked a set of three “Burning Questions” about the Detroit Red Wings, and it’s question #1 that piques my interest, more than his questions as to whether GM Steve Yzerman is done making trades/signings, and/or what the ceilings for Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond’s performance envelopes may be:

1. How quickly will Detroit’s slew of new acquisitions fit in? Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman used much of his salary cap space this summer on veteran free agents at all positions: in goal, he traded for, then signed unrestricted free agent Ville Husso; on defense, he added UFAs Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Mark Pysyk and Robert Hagg; and at forward, he signed UFAs Andrew Copp, David Perron and Dominik Kubalik. Suddenly, Detroit’s outlook for 2022-23 improved significantly, to the point many observers believe they can be a playoff team this season.

Now, it may take all those new acquisitions to pan out as hoped for the Wings to make the post-season, but on paper, they do have a vastly improved group of forwards, a better defense corps, and a goaltending tandem (that also includes the returning Alex Nedeljkovic) that should be an improvement from last season’s dubious duo. Are the Red Wings better? No question. Does new head coach Derek Lalonde have enough talent to work with to at least be in the chase for a playoff berth in the improved Atlantic Division? Yes he does. Is it possible the Wings come up just short and finish fifth in the division? Yes, that also could happen.

But this writer feels like Detroit will be grinding it out in the final weeks of the regular season, and they’ll be in the mix for a playoff spot to the end of the year. It’s not only a question of the Wings being better – it’s also about the Ottawa Senators being better, and the Boston Bruins (who held the fourth and final playoff spot last season) being worse. Much needs to go right for the Red Wings to make a notable jump in the standings, but far crazier things have happened in hockey’s top league.

Continued;

Especially given that the Red Wings have a new coaching staff (save Alex Tanguay) in addition to all their new acquisitions, and a couple of young players who are making strides toward pushing for NHL jobs, I am very curious to see what form this Red Wings team takes come October 14th, and where it goes from there.

Impressions from Thursday’s practice at the 2022 Red Wings prospect tournament

The Detroit Red Wings’ annual prospect tournament has gotten underway at Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City. The St. Louis Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets were the 3 PM game (Columbus won 7-1!), and Dallas and Toronto will play tonight at 6:30 PM.

You’ll note, of course, that the Red Wings’ prospects didn’t participate in a game today, choosing instead to play three games, on Friday vs. Columbus (3 PM, live streamed on the Red Wings’ social media channels), Saturday vs. Dallas (6 PM, also live streamed), and Monday vs. Toronto (11 AM, also live streamed).

Between the fact that it’s a 5-team tournament instead of an 8-team tourney, and given the fact that the Wings could afford to use a “getting to know you” day ahead of a busy three games in four nights, the Wings chose to play 3 round robin games instead of 4, and I believe that it’s the right call.

On Thursday, the Wings’ prospects hit the ice promptly at 11:30 AM, and Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon, assistant coaches Matt MacDonald, Mike Knuble, video coach Erich Junge and goalie coach Brian Mahoney-Wilson all put the prospects through their paces over the course of a spirited 72-minute practice.

A little panorama. pic.twitter.com/UGc1uUdGev— George Malik (@georgemalik) September 15, 2022

Coach Simon did a lot of teaching in terms of imparting the Red Wings’ systems of play to a set of players who mostly haven’t played together before, and he was emphatic, enthusiastic, and at times, more than willing to bark at the collective group in order to keep the pace of practice high.

Continue reading Impressions from Thursday’s practice at the 2022 Red Wings prospect tournament

A bit about Jakub Vrana’s fantasy hockey value

DobberHockey’s Jamie Molloy posted a set of “good value” picks for fantasy hockey poolies, and Jakub Vrana leads his list:

#1) Jakub Vrana – LW – Detroit Red Wings

Contract: $5.25M – 2 Years remaining

Vrana has been fairly limited in NHL game action over the past two seasons, only playing in 37 total games (30 points, 21 have been goals). While I don’t think anybody expects that goal pace to continue into next season, this is a player who may be playing on a team that may not make the playoffs, but he has always been a solid producer on the second line during his career with the Capitals. I would say in Detroit there is a better chance of him being on the ice in a crucial moment given the Red Wings lack of elite offensive talent. Realistically he will be deployed on the second line that received an overhaul this summer alongside of Andrew Copp and David Perron (both solid players in their own right). If the Red Wings top-six begin to struggle, maybe we see a duo of Dylan Larkin and Jakub Vrana through stretches of the season. Vrana may not be able to help you in the hits and blocks columns, he can sure help in the pure offensive stats, including the powerplay. If the injuries that he has faced don’t scare you, I would recommend this player.

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Audio: Elmer Soderblom and Simon Edvinsson speak with the media at the Red Wings’ prospect tournament 2022

Red Wings prospects Elmer Soderblom (over the course of a longer interview) and Simon Edvinsson (in a shorter interview, because the bus was waiting for him) spoke with myself, The Athletic’s Max Bultman, DetroitRedWings.com’s Daniella Bruce and Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Kal today.

The gents were affable and forthcoming, and Soderblom discussed everything from the adjustments he’s making to North American hockey to his talent for playing the guitar to his favorite number (or the lack thereof); Edvinsson discussed his adjustments made and his hopes for the tournament:

Red Wings release local TV broadcast schedule; 69 games on Bally Sports Detroit

Per a Tweet:

Another step closer!

🗓️ » https://t.co/VJMJyRUwlb pic.twitter.com/zqb2vNpTJf— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 15, 2022

NEWS: Bally Sports Detroit announces 2022-23 @DetroitRedWings TV schedule.

➡️ https://t.co/MSpk2cXO1r#LGRW | @ThinkFordFirst pic.twitter.com/iAAxNzYOY6— Bally Sports Detroit (@BallySportsDET) September 15, 2022

69 games will be broadcast on Bally Sports Detroit.

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and Bally Sports Detroit today announced the Red Wings local television schedule for the 2022-23 season.

Bally Sports Detroit (BSD) continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing a total of 69 regular-season contests with 58 games slated for BSD and 11 on Bally Sports Detroit Extra (BSD EXTRA).

The popular announce team of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond return to call the action, while Bally Sports Detroit’s comprehensive coverage also includes pregame and postgame editions of RED WINGS LIVE. In addition to live reports from Little Caesars Arena, studio portions of RED WINGS LIVE will originate from Bally Sports Detroit’s studios at its Southfield headquarters.

A total of 13 Red Wings regular-season games will be nationally exclusive broadcasts on TNT and ESPN+ / Hulu. Additionally, the Red Wings’ game on Jan. 4 vs. New Jersey will be broadcast nationally on TNT, but will air exclusively on Bally Sports Detroit in the local market.

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Another angle on watching Simon Edvinsson

FloHockey’s Chris Peters posted a list of 10 prospects to watch at the various prospect tournaments being held across the U.S. and Canada this weekend, and he picked an obvious choice from Detroit:

Simon Edvinsson, D, Detroit Red Wings; There’s no question that Edvinsson is among the top defensive prospects in the game right now. There is a valid question, however, if he’s ready to play in the NHL this season. He took a big step forward last season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League and his overall potential is tantalizing. Now he’ll have a chance to show off that progress even more at the 2022 Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, Mich.

As a 6-foot-6 defenseman, he’s such a fluid, comfortable skater who can make some plays. I still think his offensive game has more maturing to do and while at the summer World Juniors, he didn’t necessarily look like a guy that was about to jump into the NHL. This rookie tournament will give Edvinsson a chance to show where he is relative to the other defensemen in Detroit’s system. It will also give the Red Wings another data point in how they need to make their decision about him. Given how cautious and patient they are with their prospects, I would be surprised to see Edvinsson on the team’s opening night roster. That said, he can make that decision a lot harder on them with a good showing this week and in training camp.

Continued; I would be a little surprised to see Edvinsson make the opening-night roster as well, given the Wings’ depth at defense, but the prospect tournament, training camp and the exhibition season will afford him opportunities to change the coaches and management’s respective minds.

A quick prospect tournament FYI: Wings add one more depth defenseman in Jeremie Biakabutuka

The Detroit Red Wings have posted their updated prospect tournament roster on Pointstreak, and the team chose to add an 8th defenseman to the mix.

Jeremie Biakabutuka is a 6’4,” 203-pound defenseman who’s played for Val-d’Or, Rimouski and now the Charlottetown Islanders of the QMJHL.

He hasn’t dazzled in the points category, but the 20-year-old is a big hunk of guy who will provide depth wearing #63 for the Wings.

And yes, his uncle is Tim Biakabutuka.