Jimmy Howard still hopes to latch on with another NHL team

Jimmy Howard spoke with the Bangor Daily News’s Larry Mahoney 24 hours after Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman confirmed that the team will not be bringing Howard back for the 2020-2021 season:

“It’s bittersweet,” Howard said. “All good things come to an end. It has been such an honor to play for this organization and this city.”

Howard said he is looking to land an NHL job for next season, saying this one left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I want to go out and prove I can still play in this league for one or two more years,” he said. “I don’t think anyone would want to go out this way.”

Howard isn’t surprised Detroit didn’t offer him a contract.

“It’s the business side of this profession. We all have an expiration date with an organization,” he said.

Howard said he isn’t going to dwell on the past. He is skating and working out in Michigan while hoping to latch on with another team. He said he is looking forward to opening a new chapter of his career with another franchise.

“I’m excited about it. It’s the first time I will be going through free agency. I’m curious to see how it will all work out,” he said.

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Roughly translated: 20 questions with Matias Brome

SHL.se’s Johannes Hagglund asked Red wings forward Matias Brome 20 questions, and here are Brome’s answers, roughly translated from Swedish:

The interview series “20 questions”–where we mix high and low–is back. The first person we will get to know better this season is Orebro’s Matias Brome, 26. Here he tells us, among other things, who is the best player he’s met, his contact with the Red Wings aWhnd why there will be no more motor home holidays:

Continue reading Roughly translated: 20 questions with Matias Brome

European prospect roundup: Berggren, Brome post 2 assists apiece

Of Red Wings prospect and loaned player note from Thursday’s European professional league action:

In the SHL, Jonatan Berggren had 2 assists and a penalty in 10:36 as Skelleftea AIK won 3-1 over the Frolunda Indians. Elmer Soderblom played 4:21 for Frolunda;

Malte Setkov played 12:26 in the Malmo Redhawks’ 3-0 loss to Djurgarden. Albin Grewe played 8:35 for Djurgarden;

Matias Brome had 2 assists, finishing at +2 in 21:32 played as Orebro won 5-3 over Leksand;

Albert Johansson had 1 shot in 16:08 played as Farjestads BK lost 4-2 to IK Oskarshamn;

In the Finnish Liiga, Jared McIsaac didn’t play in HPK’s 4-2 loss to Karpat;

And on Twitter, per Red Wings Prospects:

Roughly translated: Michael Rasmussen is ready to play for Graz

Red Wings prospect Michael Rasmussen has put his two-day stay in Zurich’s airport behind him, and he spoke with the Kronen Zetiung’s Christoph Kothgasser regarding his travel troubles and his hopes for his upcoming campaign with the Graz 99ers. What follows is roughly translated from German:

After his odyssey, the new 99ers star Rasmussen is excited to play!

After his travel odyssey, the new Graz 99ers star received “Krone” for an interview after his arrival in Graz. The NHL forward, who is in Graz on loan from Detroit, chatted before today’s debut in the home game vs. Dornbirn.

On his turbulent journey: “I’ve been on my way to Graz since Monday–over two days in total. The problem is that I flew in via Zurch, and due to coronavirus regulations, I was never allowed to enter [Switzerland]. But then I wasn’t allowed to travel any further, either. I was locked in at the airport in Switzerland and couldn’t go to any hotel. I only had a day room at the airport with a bed. I actually felt a bit like Tom Hanks in the movie “Terminal.” He too was stuck at the airport in the film.”

New in Austria: “I actually have no history with Austria, I’ve neer been here before. I didn’t even know that Thomas Vanek was from Graz. I played with him in Detroit, he assisted on my first goal in the NHL. Maybe I should give him a call right away. Maybe he’ll have a few tips for me.”

Thomas Vanek: “Playing with him on the Red Wings was great. He had great skills as a pro with a strong shot.”

Graz as a stop-over: “After the NHL wasn’t going to play for a long time, I looked for opportunities to gain practical experience. There were a couple of options. When I heard about Graz’s interest, I got on the plane. I don’t know how long I’ll be here, but I want to help the team quickly.”

The premiere against Dornbirn: “I haven’t played since March. But I’m fully fit and I’m dying to play again. I have a good physique: I can set picks on the power play and can also score goals. I’m ready for my debut with the Graz 99ers!”

Toledo Walleye bring Marcus Vela back into the fold

Per the ECHL…

Toledo, Ohio – Forward Marcus Vela has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2020-21 season.

Vela, 23, returns with Toledo after playing 49 games with the team during the 2019-20 season.Vela was assigned to Toledo by the Grand Rapid Griffins in late October after being acquired from the San Jose Barracuda in exchange for defenseman Marcus Crawford.

In his first professional season, Vela notched 25 points (12g-13a) with the Walleye after starting the season with the Orlando Solar Bears, where he posted one assist and six penalty minutes in three games.

A seventh-round selection (190th overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Vela made his pro debut with the Barracuda at the end of the 2018-19 campaign and contributed two assists in six appearances.

Before turning pro, the Burnaby, British Columbia native had a four-year career at the University of New Hampshire where he amassed 58 points (24g-34a) and 112 penalty minutes in 135 games from 2015-19.

And the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

Walleye coach Dan Watson said Vela was a bright spot for the team last season.

“He was somewhat of a surprise for us,” Watson said. “He is very versatile and can play in any situation. He plays a responsible, 200-foot game and brings quality leadership attributes to the table.”

Griffins assistant coach Mike Knuble’s son Cam signs with Western Michigan

From the Western [Michigan University] Herald’s Derek Patterson:

Western Michigan hockey has announced the addition of Cam Knuble to the 2020-21 roster. The Grand Rapids native joins the Broncos after three seasons in the USHL, including two with the Muskegon Lumberjacks. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward appeared in 118 games in his USHL career and served as an assistant captain for the Lumberjacks last season. Before Knuble made it to the USHL, he spent time with the Fox Motors Youth hockey organization.

“Cam is a player that made a late change in his college commitment and we are excited to have him in our program,” said head coach Andy Murray in a press release. “Cam is a quality young man and his versatility as a player is something we need. We believe that he will thrive in our culture and that his best hockey days are in front of him.”

Knuble is the son of former NHL player Mike Knuble, who played in 1,100 career games with the Detroit Red Wings, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Philadelphia Flyers and Washington Capitals. Mike Knuble also won a Stanley Cup with Detroit  in 1998 and a national championship with the University of Michigan in 1994.

Talking about free agent goaltenders

The Free Press’s Ryan Ford offers a list of 12 free agent goalies that the Red Wings could consider to replace Jimmy Howard. Among them:

Thomas Greiss: Greiss took a step back this season, with a .913 save percentage and 2.74 GAA after posting a .927 percentage and 2.28 GAA in 2018-19. But the 34-year-old German knows how to share time in net; he started 39 games for the Islanders in 2018-19 as he and Lehner finished with the league’s lowest GAA, then started 28 times in 2019-20 while splitting the job with Semyon Varlamov. Greiss, 34, has just one season as a No. 1 goalie, going 26-18-5 with a .913 save percentage and 2.69 GAA in 2016-17 over 51 games with the Isles.

Jacob Markstrom: For his first six NFL seasons, Markstrom was a solid backup, with a 2.91 GAA and zero shutouts in 109 games with the Panthers and Canucks. But he has stepped it up — a 2.74 GAA and five shutouts in 163 games — since taking over the No. 1 spot in Vancouver in 2017, perhaps not coincidentally overlapping with the Canucks’ streak of three straight top-two rookie of the year finishes. Markstrom, 30, established his market with his first 10 starts of the playoffs, in which he went 7-3 with a .929 save percentage and only 25 goals allowed as the Canucks eliminated the Wild and the defending champion Blues. The Swede’s four games in the second round against Vegas were less impressive: 15 goals allowed.

Braden Holtby: The Capitals goalie has individual and team bona fides — he won the Vezina Trophy in 2016 and was runner-up in 2017, followed by a Stanley Cup victory in 2018. But he turned 31 in September and posted the worst numbers of his 10-season career in 2019-20 with a .897 save percentage, 3.11 GAA and no shutouts. Still, he has made the past five All-Star teams and had 25 wins in 47 starts in 2019-20; he could be looking for one last big paycheck, coming off a five-year $30.5 million deal with Washington.

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Khan speaks with Drew Miller regarding his post-hockey career

A couple of weeks ago, Winging It in Motown’s Kyle McIlmurray noted that Drew Miller has landed a post-hockey career as an insurance agent, and MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Miller regarding his new career on Thursday afternoon:

“Life after hockey, you’re looking at ways to be successful and I always enjoyed the relationships I had with people and trying to help people,” Miller said. “I think that’s the name of the game in insurance. It’s kind of grown into something I really enjoy on a day to day basis.”

After wrapping up his playing career in 2018 following one season in Sweden, Miller started working with an insurance agency in East Lansing. He joined the Korotkin Insurance Group (KIG), a Southfield-based company founded in 1913, last month.

Miller enjoyed interacting with fans at various team community events when he played and continues doing so in retirement. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he was among several former Red Wings who provided pre-game and in-game commentary on the Jumbotron at Little Caesars Arena and took part in suite-holder events. Those communications skills are beneficial in his new line of work.

“When it comes to insurance, someone’s looking for a professional they can trust, that knows they have their best interest,” Miller said. “I think maybe being a Red Wing gives me more credibility. People feel like they know me a little bit more. From my side, I enjoy those interactions with people and I’m in a position to help them protect their assets. I think that’s a huge thing for people’s lives, to make sure everything they’ve worked so hard for is protected in a way that is actually coverage that they need.”

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