A little preseason scare for Simon Edvinsson

I was alerted this via Google email alerts, which led me to a story from GT.se’s Martin Aghassi stating that Simon Edvinsson of the Frolunda Indians (the Wings’ 6th overall pick in this summer’s entry draft) got hit in the shoulder while playing a preseason game vs. Leksands, but was deemed to be OK by coach Roger Ronnberg…

But it should not surprise anyone that IceHockeyGifs was on the case:

Continue reading A little preseason scare for Simon Edvinsson

Two clips from the NHL Network discussing the Red Wings’ summertime improvements

Via Paul Kuklas of Abel to Yzerman, the NHL Network posted a video of Ken Daneyko discussing the improvements made by the Detroit Red Wings over the summer…

And this is part of a 5-minute clip in which Daneyko offers more insights:

Duff profiles Pasquale Zito

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a profile of Red Wings 2021 draft pick Pasquale Zito, who the Wings chose to acquire with the 166th overall pick despite the fact that Zito didn’t play during the 2020-2021 season due to the Ontario Hockey League halting operations during the coronavirus pandemic:

“He’s an energetic right-shot that plays with pace, quick feet and a tenacious forechecker,” assessed Dan Stewart of Draft Prospects Hockey. “He has solid playmaking ability but is not overly creative, transitions the puck quickly, plays with some bite, is willing to drop the mitts, and battles hard for positioning and pucks.”

The 6-foot, 175-pound Zito projects out to be a bottom-six type forward, one capable of chipping in the odd goal, being a physical presence and someone who is difficult to play against.

Currently, those types of forwards are in short supply in Detroit. There’s Tyler Bertuzzi, Adam Erne and if he makes the team, Givani Smith.

Zito, who lists Calgary Flames forward Matthew Tkachuk as the type of player he’d one day like to be, fits into this mold. “He wants to be a hard player to play against,” Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said of Zito. “He wants to compete against the other team’s top players, he wants to make a tough net-front presence. Those are the things you like.

“When you interview a player and they start talking about ‘My favorite players are the Tkachuks’ it kind of puts a smile on your face. I let him know that’s not easy to do what they do every night and he just kind of smiled.”

Continued

Tweet of note: Petruzzelli, Kotkansalo and Holway now free agents

Per CapFriendly, the Red Wings have lost the “exclusive rights” to sign Keith Petruzzelli, Kasper Kotkansalo and Patrick Holway as of August 15th:

WXYZ: Tim Horton’s giving away season tickets as prize to rewards-holders

From WXYZ:

Tim Hortons’ rewards members have the chance to win a variety of prizes this month with just one scan!

According to the franchise, from August 18 to September 14 Tims Rewards scan enters members in for a chance to win a variety of prizes. Some include months of free Timbits, months of free coffee, and thousands of bonus points.

The biggest prize is a free year’s supply of Tim Hortons’ coffee and two Detroit Red Wings season tickets.

All customers have to do is use a rewards card at a local Tim Hortons.

Kulfan discusses the state of the Wings’ defense and Seider’s potential impact

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan has written a subscriber-only article chronicling the improvements made by the Red Wings’ defense over the course of the offseason. Kulfan concludes his column with this about Moritz Seider’s potential impact:

Here comes Seider?

Moritz Seider has been one of the top two or three prospects not in the NHL for the past two seasons.

Seider, 20, projects as a top-pairing defenseman who can anchor the Wings’ defense for a decade. Seider had a superb season playing in Sweden this past winter, and progressed steadily as a rookie pro in the AHL playing in Grand Rapids two seasons ago.

All indications are that Seider is ready for the NHL.

But, given the way the Wings’ defense looks, the Wings aren’t necessarily going to just hand Seider a lineup spot.

“If (Seider) is in the top six and he’s earned that spot, he’ll play,” Yzerman said. “I’m not sure if he’s not in the top six how much we’re going to want to sit him in the press box (and not play). We anticipate him making a really good push to play.”

Continued (paywall)

Just call them believers in lost causes

According to DetroitLions.com’s Tim Twentyman and Mike O’Hara…

Hockey visit: Red Wings players Robby Fabbri, Michael Rasmussen, Jordan Oesterle and captain Dylan Larkin took in Lions practice Tuesday night in Allen Park.

Update: From the Red Wings:

Guelph Storm forward Cooper Walker invited to Red Wings’ prospect tournament

Via the Guelph Today’s Tony Saxon:

Congratulations to Chayka, Profaca and Walker on each being invited to a #NHLDevelopmentCamp! ?@DetroitRedWings @GoldenKnights @DallasStars pic.twitter.com/YAs4fnPoJx— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) August 17, 2021

Walker is listed by Elite Prospects at 5’9″ and 157 pounds, and he’s a 2002-born player who’s 19 years of age, and did not play this past season as the OHL suspended operations.

Former Walleye forward A.J. Jenks retires

Per the Toledo Walleye on Twitter:

Here’s more from the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

Former longtime Toledo Walleye forward A.J. Jenks has retired.

Jenks, who played five seasons for the Walleye from 2014-19, announced his decision on Twitter.

The 31-year-old forward from Wolverine Lake, Mich., played the last two seasons for the Fort Wayne Komets. Last season, Jenks served as Fort Wayne’s captain and helped lead the Komets to the ECHL’s Kelly Cup championship.

“What a ride it has been,” Jenks wrote on Twitter. “So blessed and thankful to be able to play the game I love for 11 years. A big thank you to everyone that has helped along the way, especially teammates, coaches, trainers, and fans.”

Jenks played in 579 games at the American Hockey League and ECHL level.

Toledo Walleye re-sign Butrus Ghafari

From the Toledo Walleye:

? PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT ?

Defenseman Butrus Ghafari returns to the Fish for the 2021-22 season.

? https://t.co/ovrjpKpFC4 pic.twitter.com/WOaP6cPPgx— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) August 17, 2021

Here’s the Walleye’s press release:

(Toledo, OH) – Defenseman Butrus Ghafari (boo-truhs, ga-far-ee) has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2021-2022 season.

Ghafari, the West Bloomfield, MI native, started his pro career with the Walleye by appearing in one game prior to the end of the 2019-2020 season. He did play for Rapid City a season ago, appearing in 58 games with 10 points (1G, 9A) and 72 penalty minutes in his first full pro season.

Prior to turning professional, the 25-year-old spent four years at Michigan State University with 114 total games played. Ghafari appeared in at least 20 games in each of his four years as a Spartan and posted four goals with five assists in his college career. The defenseman also had 200 games played in the USHL before heading to Michigan State, where he was a plus 21 from 2012-2016.

Update: Here’s more from the Toledo Blade’s Mark Monroe:

Continue reading Toledo Walleye re-sign Butrus Ghafari