Via KK on Twitter: NHL on XM Sirius radio Canada to focus on 2008 Wings today

FYI from Paul Kukla on Twitter:

Reminder: the Grand Rapids Griffins’ ‘virtual teddy bear toss’ is today

If you’re in Grand Rapids and are looking to lend a charitable hand, the Grand Rapids Griffins are holding their “Virtual teddy bear toss” today at Griff’s Icehouse:

‘The Word on Woodward’ to focus on NHL’s latest ‘return to play’ situation, plus interviews with Cotsonika and Thompson

The Word on Woodward will be fairly Red Wings-centric today (airing from 12-2 PM EST), per its YouTube description:

The Word on Woodward is all new with an update about the potential NHL season start-up date and a discussion on the seven Red Wings prospects competing in the World Juniors Championship. Plus, NHL.com’s Nick Costonika and Fox Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson join us for interviews.

Centre ICE arena to hold training camp merchandise and memorabilia sale

Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City is holding a memorabilia and training camp merchandise sale to attempt to raise funds for the rink this week, and it looks like what they’ve got will be worth your time:

The Athletic’s Smith addresses the ‘Zetterberg LTIR’ rumor

The Athletic’s Joe Smith addressed something of a strong undercurrent today while answering a reader’s mailbag question:

What are you hearing on the Henrik Zetterberg LTIR trade rumors? What would it take in addition to Johnson for the Red Wings to deal that LTIR contract? Hopefully not a first-round pick but who knows. — Matt C.

It’s an interesting idea, first floated on the internet in Russia, but I haven’t heard anything as far as confirmation on that. I do think that the Red Wings and Lightning are good fits for a potential deal, and whether that includes taking on Zetterberg’s LTIR, Tampa Bay would need to add an additional sweetener to make that kind of deal work. You’re talking about a draft pick or prospect there, though I don’t think the Lightning wants to give up a first-rounder.

Continued; I never put stakes in what’s coming out of the Russian hockey rumor mill.

Zadina, Berggren crack NHL.com’s ‘Prospect Watch’ ahead of Channel One Cup

Every week, NHL.com’s Mike G. Morreale pens a list of prospects to watch in Europe, and this week, he takes note of two Red Wings prospects who will be participating in the Channel One Cup in Moscow starting on Thursday:

Filip Zadina, F, Trinec: Zadina (6-0, 189), selected by the Detroit Red Wings with the No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft, has scored 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 17 games in the Czech Extraliga. The 21-year-old right wing will play for the Czech Republic at the Channel One Cup, an international tournament in Russia that starts Thursday.

…

Jonatan Berggren (Red Wings), F, Skelleftea: Berggren (5-10, 181) is fourth in the Swedish Hockey League with 24 points (five goals, 19 assists) in 23 games. The 20-year-old right wing was chosen by the Red Wings in the second round (No. 33) of the 2018 draft.

Kulfan: Larkin discusses the mental grind of 10 months without hockey

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with Dylan Larkin via an NHL promotional tour on Monday night, and Larkin said that he’s a little tired of the grind that has been attempting to keep oneself motivated while not playing hockey for over ten months:

“Absolutely, it’s been hard,” Larkin said, noting the Wings haven’t played a game since March 10, two days before the pandemic shut down the NHL regular season. “That’s probably an understatement with our team, it’s been hard for us because so we’ve been off for so long. We’ve been really quiet. But the hunger, a lot of guys are back in town and skating at (Little Caesars Arena), and guys are ready.

“It’s been a long time, a challenging time. You go through periods of motivation, you feel good and excited, and there was a (potential) start date of mid-October, I can’t even remember, and it got pushed back and it seemed to get pushed back and you get upset about it. It’s been harder mentally than physically.”

The Wings had the league’s worst record (17-49-5) last season, were outscored by a whopping 122 goals, only won five of 34 road games, and were near the bottom of every team statistical category.

But general manager Steve Yzerman addressed needs in every position group through free agency and trades this off-season — and might not be done yet — making the Wings’ roster much deeper and experienced on paper.

“The moves we’ve made, it’s exciting,” Larkin said. “Most of the guys we’ve added are skilled guys that can make plays and can play with the puck. As a player that likes to do that, too, it helps. I really enjoy it.”

Continued

Toledo Walleye re-sign defenseman Blake Hillman

From the Toledo Walleye:

Defenseman Blake Hillman has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2020-21 season.

Hillman returns to the Pond after splitting his time between Toledo, Grand Rapids, and Stockton during the 2019-20 season. He played 35 games for the Fish, where he racked up 13 points (1G, 12A) and eight penalty minutes. The 24-year-old added 12 games at the AHL level; five with the Griffins and seven with the Heat. 

Head Coach Dan Watson is excited to have Hillman return for his second season with the Walleye. 

“He has great patience with the puck, plays a smart and detailed game and has tremendous leadership skills. He will be counted on heavily to play against teams’ top lines and anchor our penalty kill unit again.” Dan Watson, Walleye Head Coach

Prospect Round-up: Rasmussen posts 4-point game for Graz99ers

Of prospect-related note this afternoon:

In the ICE Hockey League, Michael Rasmussen scored 2 goals and added 3 assists, finishing at +1 with 5 shots in the Graz99ers’ 6-4 loss to the Innsbruck Haie;

In the Belarusian League, Kirill Tyutyayev didn’t play in Yunost Minsk’s 4-2 loss to Mogolev-2;

And in NCAA Hockey, tonight, Keith Petruzzelli and the Quinnipiac Bobcats will battle Sacred Heart at 7 PM EST.

Update: Keith Petruzzelli stopped 13 of 15 shots as the Quinnipiac Bobcats won 9-2 over Sacred Heart.