Kulfan profiles Cross Hanas

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of Red Wings 2020 draft pick Cross Hanas, whose hockey background is unique:

Meet Cross Hanas, the last of the Red Wings’ three second-round draft choices last month. Hanas, a 6-foot-1, 170-pound offensively skilled left wing, is from that hockey hotbed of … Dallas.

Say what?

Yes, Dallas. In the football-mad state of Texas. Home of the Cowboys and Friday Night Lights.  But it’s also home to a rapidly growing hockey culture, too, that is beginning to impact the NHL.

Hanas was quick to point out last month after being selected by the Wings that this growing hockey base has seen players such as Seth Jones (Columbus), Blake Coleman (Tampa) and Tyler Myers (Vancouver) emerge. And now, Cross Hanas.

“Dallas-area hockey is actually growing and there’s a lot of real passion for the game,” Hanas said. “For me, I have some Canadian roots and have a lot of people who played hockey in my family, so it was always in my blood. But here in Dallas, we have a lot of great coaches and it’s awesome.”

Continued

Red Wings announce that Jared McIsaac has had shoulder surgery

Not great news from the Wings:

JARED McISAAC UNDERGOES SUCCESSFUL SHOULDER SURGERY

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jared McIsaac underwent successful surgery last week on his left shoulder. The procedure was performed by Dr. Kyle Anderson at UnaSource Surgery Center in Troy, Mich. McIsaac’s expected recovery time is five to six months. McIsaac previously underwent a similar procedure on his right shoulder prior to the 2019-20 season.

McIsaac, 20, began his professional hockey career last month after he was loaned to HPK in Finland’s SM-Liiga in September. A former second-round pick (36th overall) of Detroit in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, McIsaac wrapped up his major-junior career in 2019-20, splitting time with the Halifax Mooseheads and Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and totaling 19 points (4-15-19) in 28 games. The Truro, Nova Scotia, native also captured a gold medal with Canada at the 2020 IIHF World Junior Championship, contributing four points (1-3-4) in seven games.

Bultman discusses Jonatan Berggren’s superb start with Skelleftea AIK

The Athletic’s Max Bultman profiles Red Wings prospect Jonatan Berggren this morning, discussing the small but mighty forward’s excellent start with Skelleftea AIK of the SHL:

Berggren, a 2018 second-round pick who is just 20, ranks third in SHL scoring. His 16 points in 13 games are already more than he had through 40 games in his two previous, injury-shortened pro seasons combined. And perhaps most importantly, that production is coming in conjunction with a key improvement to his game, one that has the potential to help the supremely talented young winger become the kind of breakthrough prospect the Red Wings need in their rebuild.

“He is even faster, so he beats the opponents even better, but he’s also taken a big step in going into (the) front of the net, driving the net, and going to those areas,” said Skellefteå general manager Erik Forssell. “Like last year, maybe he was a little bit too much on the outside, (a) perimeter player.”

For all the positives Berggren’s impressive point total reflects, his growth in that aspect of his game may well be the most important. His skating has never been in question. His puck skills and hockey sense have had him making highlight-reel plays for a while now. But the ability to bring those traits closer to the net is what could vault Berggren into the next tier of Red Wings prospects, beyond the land of raw upside.

“Some of the things that he’s got (are) very rare,” Forssell said. “And those offensive skills, they’re very rare. If he can continue to improve — I mean, those are maybe the most valuable assets you can have as a player. So I can’t really see a ceiling for him. But still, if you want to be a producing top player in the NHL, that’s not easy.”

Continued (paywall)

Khan speaks with Shawn Horcoff regarding the Wings’ Swedish prospect armada

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff regarding the fact that so many Red Wings prospects are skating in Sweden this season:

While hockey is on hiatus in North America, more than a dozen Red Wings prospects are playing and developing in Sweden. A few are on loan, others are with their regular clubs.

Shawn Horcoff, Red Wings’ director of player development, and the rest of the front office is keeping tabs on the young players via computer and phone, due to the international travel ban.

“The nice thing is we’re able to see all their games on-line,” Horcoff said. “It’s not the same as watching these kids live. We enjoy not only watching them but meeting with them, spending some time with them, going on the ice with them, taking them for dinner, lunch, building a relationship, especially the new guys drafted, so that’s been a little bit difficult.

“The nice thing is we have Nik Kronwall (assistant to general manager Steve Yzerman) in Sweden and it’s a huge benefit to have Nik on the ground and taking care of these guys. We’re finding ways to be creative, staying on top of these guys and making sure they get what they need in order to develop in areas we see fit.”

Continued

Prospect round-up: More injuries and 1+1 from Niederbach

Of prospect-related note today:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, William Wallinder missed MODO Hockey’s 4-3 loss to BIK Karlskoga due to an injury;

Both Gustav Lindstrom and Filip Larsson missed Almtuna IS’s 4-0 loss to Timra IK due to injuries;

Gustav Berglund finished at +1 in 13:03 of ice time as Vasteras IK won 3-2 in OT over Vasby IK;

In the Swedish J20 league, Theodor Niederbach registered a goal and an assist in the Frolunda Indians’ 6-3 win over Orebro Hockey. Red Wings Prospects and AntonJ85 on Twitter posted Niederbach’s goal:

No Deutschland Cup for Moritz Seider due to Swedish coronavirus restrictions

This news comes from long-time IIHF.com writer and Alliance of European Hockey Clubs Director Szymon Szemberg:

Eishockeynews.de is reporting that Red Wings prospect Moritz Seider is going to remain in Sweden with Rogle BK during the Deutschland Cup due to coronavirus concerns.

Germany’s national team coach, Toni Soderholm, also tested positive for the coronavirus, so the German national team will be shorthanded during the Deutschland Cup.

This week is a week off for the SHL due to the various camps and cups taking place–the Deutschland Cup, the Karjala Cup (Jonatan Berggren and Filip Hronek are taking part in that one), the Swedish and Finnish World Junior Championship selection camps (see: Lucas Raymond, Albert Johansson, Gustav Berglund, Albin Grewe and Theodor Niederbach taking part for Sweden), et. al., so Seider will get a chance to catch his breath and settle down in Angelholm a bit.

HSJ predicts the Red Wings’ ‘starting lineup’

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an article framing the Red Wings’ opening-night lineup for the 2020-2021 season:

Forwards

Valtteri Filppula-Robby Fabbri-Anthony Mantha 

We know Larkin, Mantha and Bertuzzi have chemistry, but I’d like to see Mantha with more of a playmaker than Larkin and Fabbri could fit that bill. He has played more center than wing in his career, and he’s creative with the puck. Filppula was one of many Wings who didn’t have a good 2019-20, but he has way longer history as a dependable two-way forward who makes deft passes and is sound defensively, and adds a responsible veteran presence to the line.

Tyler Bertuzzi-Dylan Larkin-Bobby Ryan

I think Ryan would fit well with Larkin and Bertuzzi, adding a big, right-shot dimension to make that line more dangerous. Ryan is super motivated to get his career rebooted after being bought out by Ottawa, and it was Larkin he called before signing to make sure he was going to a team that hadn’t accepted losing. Bertuzzi will do what he does, which is add grit and a scoring presence around the net.

Continued

William Wallinder unable to take part in Swedish WJC selection camp

The Red Wings have suffered their share of injuries overseas this season, and in Sweden, a pair of Wings prospects have had to pull out of the Swedish World Junior Championship selection camp.

First, Frolunda’s Elmer Soderblom had to take a pass on the Sweden-vs-Finland camp to be held in Malmo this week due to a foot injury, and today, HockeyNews.se’s Alexander Nilsson reports that MODO Hockey’s William Wallinder has had to decline an invitation to the camp.

Albin Grewe and Theodor Niederbach were already named to the Tre Kronor’s WJC camp as injury replacements, joining fellow Wings prospects Lucas Raymond, Albert Johansson and Gustav Berglund.

Norm Maracle returns to Quinte, Ontario to coach youth hockey

Former Red Wings goaltender Norm Maracle spoke with InQuinte.ca’s Paul Svoboda regarding his professional career and his status as returning to his home province to coach youth hockey:

He has hoisted the Stanley Cup in the Motor City and danced, on ice, for appreciative fans in Germany. He is Norm Maracle.  And, he’s back. And he wants to give back.

Maracle, 46, a proud member of the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory First Nations Reserve, has returned to his roots and is eager to get back into coaching. 

“I see myself coaching around here,” said Maracle, during a recent conversation with Inquinte.ca. “I will always love the game of hockey. And, I want to give back what I learned as a young boy.”

Continued

Prospect round-up: Kivenmaki posts assist, Johansson scores in last Finnish, Swedish action before the November break

Of prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Otto Kivenmaki had an assist and finished at +1 in 18:22 played, and Kasper Kotkansalo took 12 penalty minutes and finished at +1 in 14:35 played as Assat Pori lost 4-3 to Karpat Oulu;

Eemil Viro finished at +1 in 17:03 played as TPS Turku lost 4-3 in OT to IFK Helsinki;

Victor Brattstrom did not play in KooKoo’s 3-2 OT loss to Tappara;

In the SHL, Matias Brome finished even in 18:05 played as Orebro Hockey won 3-2 over Skelleftea AIK. Jonatan Berggren had 1 shot, took 1 penalty and finished even in 15:36 played for Skelleftea;

Albert Johansson scored a goal and finished even in 19:10 with 1 hit as Farjestads BK won 3-2 over the Malmo Redhawks. Malte Setkov took a shot and finished at -2 in 15:47 as he returned from an injury, and Joe Veleno had 3 shots, took a penalty, finished at -1, won 33% of his faceoffs and registered 2 hits in 18:33 played for Malmo;

Finally, in the Swedish J20 league, Theodor Niederbach was held off the scoresheet as the Frolunda Indians’ J20 team lost 3-2 to Farjestads BK.

Update: Kyle Aucoin registered a goal, an assist, a penalty taken and a +2 in the Tri-City Storm’s 9-0 win over Lincoln.