Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Updated at 8:01 PM: So Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared in the media of his own accord twice today, which is rare for the Wings’ GM. First, he was on 97.1 the Ticket with Stoney and Jensen, speaking for 13-and-a-half minutes…

As annotated by 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield…

Continue reading Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Moritz Seider skated in his first practice with SHL team Rogle BK today, and after he skated, he spoke with Rogle BK’s website‘s Lasse Mauritzson about his experiences. Here’s a rough translation of the interview:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Griff wants you to register for the Griffins’ virtual 5K

Yes, this post is a little silly. I don’t really mind, because it’s for a good cause.

The Grand Rapids Griffins are holding a “Virtual 5K” to raise funds for the Griffins’ Youth Foundation, and here’s a gratuitous clip of a mascot–the beloved “Griff”–getting ready to run a 5K as a promotion:

You can register for the 5K here, and find out more about the Griffins’ Youth Foundation here.

Prospect round-up: Raymond dazzles as Frolunda beats Skelleftea (with snazzy .gifs)

Two Red Wings prospects had an international stage to themselves this afternoon, and they dazzled with their dangles. Lucas Raymond registered a shootout goal on 4 shots and 16:19 played as his Frolunda Indians won 3-2 in a shootout over Skelleftea AIK.

Jonatan Berggren had 2 assists for Skelleftea in 16:50 played, and both players received strong .gif games from Here’s Your Replay and Antonj85:

Here are two angles of Raymond’s shootout winner:

Elsewhere, in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Berglund played 8:05 in Vasteras IK’s 4-1 loss to Timra IK.

Khan speaks with Ken Daniels regarding the ‘Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman’

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels ahead of this Wednesday’s Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman, which will air at 8 PM EDT on Fox Sports Detroit:

“I think people will laugh; I think people will cry,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, they’ll be educated. We need to talk about what substance abuse disorder is to end the shame and stigma.”

More than 700 attended the inaugural event; this format will reach more people, Daniels said.

“We thought it best to keep the theme going rather than just disappear for a year and I think we made the right decision,” Daniels said. “To keep the message out there is so important because isolation, when you add to COVID, for those suffering from substance abuse disorder, just exacerbates the problem. They need social interaction, meetings. They’re doing things with therapy. At our site, jamiedanielsfoundation.org, we have that, and the ability to find places to go. But meetings and interactions for people suffering from this disease is so important when you look at the numbers.”

Daniels said Michigan ranks 10th in prescriptions written for opioids and 18th in opioid deaths.

“As we say with our foundation, end the shame and stigma of what is substance use disorder,” Daniels said. “We have to talk about it. It’s a mental illness. People need help.

“Our long-term goal is to build safe, long-term sober housing in Southeast Michigan and we’re making headway there, too. That’s where the funds are going, here and the collegiate recovery program (at Michigan State).”

Continued

97.1 the Ticket’s Burchfield annotates today’s Yzerman interview

As you know by now, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared on 97.1 the Ticket this morning, speaking to Stoney and Jansen…

And 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield annotated some of the more important points that Yzerman made:

“There are a lot of changes,” Yzerman told 97.1 The Ticket on Monday. “It takes a little bit of time usually for everybody to fit in and figure out where everybody plays and who they play with, but I think we’re an improved team.

“I can’t tell you if it’s five wins, 10 wins, 20 wins, but I think it’s an improved team, a quicker team. A little bit more skill up front with Namestnikov and Bobby Ryan in the lineup. Our D was a little bit older and banged-up last year, and I’m hoping that with Marc Staal, Jon Merrill and Stetcher we’re a little bit younger, maybe a little bigger even, but a little bit more energy on the backend now.”

The Red Wings can also count on improvement from within. On the backend, Yzerman is expecting 22-year-old Filip Hronek to continue the ascent he began last season, and hoping 21-year-old Gustav Lindstrom can secure a full-time role in Detroit. Among the forwards, he’s eyeing further growth from 20-year-old Filip Zadina and bigger contributions from Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi.

“I expect us to be better,” Yzerman said. “I expect Filip Hronek to take a step. Does Gustav Lindstrom, who played a little bit for us last year, is he able to hang on to a full-time job and play regularly? I think Dylan, Anthony and Tyler are just going into their prime years. Filip Zadina unfortunately got hurt (toward the end of last season). He really showed signs that he was becoming an NHL-er with an ability to make plays and score goals, so I look to have him in there.”

Mantha and Bertuzzi are both restricted free agents in need of new contracts, but Yzerman has no worries about getting that done.

“We’ll sign Anthony and Tyler. I’m pretty certain we’ll get them signed,” he said. “It’s a question, is it one year, is it five years, is it four years? … Each year as our young guys’ contracts expire, a year from now Filip Hronek’s up and we’ll extend his contract. But we’re hoping we can move our younger players in, one or two every year for the next two, three, four years.”

A trio of Red Wings Tweets of note, and a prospect profile of a different kind

The Red Wings posted several Tweets of note this afternoon:

  1. The Wings have wished our neighbors to the North, East, West, Northwest and Southeast (if you live in Michigan) a Happy Canadian Thanksgiving:

2. I said this when the Wings signed him…

3. FYI:

4. And on both Twitter and YouTube, the Red Wings introduce us to Anthony, a young man living in Southwest Detroit. Anthony’s fallen in love with hockey thanks to the Detroit Red Wings’ street hockey program:

Update: Here’s a little Vladislav Namesnikov highlight reel:

Tweet of note: It’s a Lidstrom record-setting sort of day

From LA Kings scribe Mike Commito comes this note regarding Nicklas Lidstrom’s scoring exploits:

On this day in 2001, @DetroitRedWings‘ Nicklas Lidstrom picked up two assists to become the highest scoring defenseman in Red Wings’ history #Hockey365 #LGRW pic.twitter.com/hcgyKWOM5W— Mike Commito (@mikecommito) October 12, 2020

Roughly translated: Joe Veleno discusses his arrival in Sweden with ‘Mr. Madhawk’

Red Wings prospect Joe Veleno spoke with Johan “Mr. Madhawk” Svensson after his first practice with the SHL’s Malmo Redhawks this morning, speaking with Kvallsposten regarding his adjustments to European hockey. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Joe Veleno discusses his arrival in Sweden with ‘Mr. Madhawk’