Press release: Red Wings, Pistons, Big Sean and Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins to launch program supporting esports careers

This press release from GamingLyfe.com (a website I admittedly do not frequent) is a little convoluted, but the long story short is this:

The Red Wings and the Pistons, along with the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, Big Sean, and a gentleman named Tyler “Ninja” Blevins are collaborating on a program that will help kids pursue careers in sports, entertainment, and yes, “esports.”

How will the Red Wings be involved? That’s a very good question, and here’s the answer:

Detroit Red Wings team up with The Children’s Foundation to deliver year-round programming

As part of their landmark Learn, Play, Score program, the Detroit Red Wings are teaming up with The Children’s Foundation and BGCSM to introduce Esports + Hockey. The program will provide year-round hockey connectivity for young BGCSM members across metro Detroit through hands-on learning experiences, esports engagement, and workforce development. Additional details about this program will be announced later.

“The Red Wings are excited to continue growing the impact of Learn, Play, Score in the city of Detroit through the Esports + Hockey program with The Children’s Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan,” said Kevin Brown, director of community impact for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. “We can’t wait to announce the details of this groundbreaking, year-round interactive program soon.”

Continued; esports is a real career path for some younger folks (and not so young folks) these days, so it’s pretty cool to know that the Red Wings are supporting that particular endeavor.

Impressions from Friday at the World Junior Summer Showcase (and interviews with Carter Mazur and Red Savage)

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At the World Junior Summer Showcase in Plymouth, Michigan today:

  1. Carter Mazur had a goal as Team USA White defeated an Eemil Viro-less Finland (assistant coach Mikko Koivu said that Viro’s injury was minor in nature) 5-4 in overtime. Mazur scored USA White’s 2-2 goal at the 8:56 mark of the 2nd period:

Carter Mazur (DET) scores on a solo rush to make it 2-2. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/gQULMxy3LX— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) July 30, 2021

Mazur spoke with myself and The Athletic’s Max Bultman after the game:

Continue reading Impressions from Friday at the World Junior Summer Showcase (and interviews with Carter Mazur and Red Savage) →

Winged Wheel Podcast interviews Alex Nedeljkovic

Enjoy:

NHL on Sirius XM radio posts 2-minute clip from Alex Nedeljkovic’s interview

I haven’t been able to find the full audio of Alex Nedeljkovic’s interview on the NHL on Sirius XM Radio’s “Power Play,” but here’s a short chunk thereof:

#RedWings Alexander Nedeljkovic @alexned_ on @SiriusXMNHL The Power Play!

The new @DetroitRedWings goalie joined @stevekouleas @Rupper17 @ShaneOBrien55 during #NHLFreeAgency week to talk about how he ended up in Hockeytown and his special season with the #Canes pic.twitter.com/MmZ1ZuvKun— SiriusXM NHL Network Radio (@SiriusXMNHL) July 30, 2021

Red Wings officially announce that training camp will take place in Traverse City

Per the Red Wings:

Detroit #RedWings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman today announced that the Red Wings will return to Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City, MI!

Details: https://t.co/rkWDsmD6r8 pic.twitter.com/WRuY0AekWa— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 30, 2021

FTR: The Traverse City area earns somewhere around $3-5 million from tourism spending related to the prospect tournament and main training camp.

This is hugely welcome news for Traverse City and the businesses there. https://t.co/RoVUc2mlM1— George Malik (@georgemalik) July 30, 2021

Here’s the press release:

Continue reading Red Wings officially announce that training camp will take place in Traverse City →

Wings’ beat writers: Mitchell Stephens likely to replace Luke Glendening as Wings’ 4th-line center

The Detroit Red Wings acquired Tampa Bay Lightning center Mitchell Stephens, a 24-year-old righty, for a 6th-round pick this morning, and the Red Wings’ beat writers are weighing in regarding the pick-up.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen suggests as much…

The Detroit Red Wings found their likely replacement for Luke Glendening when they acquired Mitchell Stephens from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. Stephens, 24, started last season as the Lightning’s fourth-line center until he suffered a serous knee injury.

He is a right-shot, which the Red Wings need. He didn’t play during the Lightning’s Stanley Cup run last season, but played with the team during the 2019-20 run. Stephens has appeared in 45 games for the back-to-back Stanley Cup-champion Lightning over the last two seasons, totaling seven points (3-4-7) and 10 penalty minutes.

MLive’s Ansar Khan, in an article summarizing the Wings’ depth signings, offers this regarding Stephens…

Mitchell Stephens, center: Detroit traded its 2022 sixth-round pick to Tampa Bay for Stephens, selected 33rd overall in 2015 under Steve Yzerman’s watch. Stephens (5-11, 190) appeared in seven games for the Lightning (no goals, one assist) this season and 38 games in 2019-20 (three goals, three assists), when he also played in seven playoff games (one goal) on a Stanley Cup-winning club. The 24-year-old right-handed shooter had a goal and seven assists in four games with AHL Syracuse, for whom he has played in parts of six seasons. He played 3½ seasons with the OHL Saginaw Spirit. He has one year remaining on his contract and will be a restricted free agent next summer.

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan comes out and says it plainly…

Stephens was a 2015 second-round draft pick of the Lightning while Yzerman was still GM of that organization.

Stephens played junior hockey in Saginaw and London of the OHL, and in 209 games had 73 goals and 87 assists (160 points) with 92 penalty minutes.

Stephens would appear to be in the hunt for a job on the Wings’ bottom-six forwards, what with the losses of Darren Helm and Luke Glendening to free agency.

Sportsnet agrees…

Stephens, 24, struggled to find a role on a deep Lightning squad. He has appeared in just 45 NHL games over the past two seasons, including seven last year. He is signed for one more season at an AAV of $737,500.

On the rebuilding Red Wings, Stephens will slot into a hole created by the departure of depth centre Luke Glendening, who signed with the Dallas Stars in free agency.

And so does WDIV’s David Bartkowiak Jr.:

He played just seven games with the Lightning this past year, spending a large portion of the season injured. He returned at the end of the season with the Crunch.

With the departure of Luke Glendening, Stephens is ostensibly stepping in to fill the role of 4th-line center and penalty killer. Stephens boasts a 53% conversion at the faceoff dot in his career (45 games). It’s a small sample size, but still impressive.

Griffins sign Turner Elson, Hayden Verbeek to AHL deals

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The Grand Rapids Griffins brought back forward Turner Elson on an AHL deal…

UPDATE: The Griffins have signed Turner Elson to a one-year AHL contract. #GoGRG

More Info >> https://t.co/pS7S5QLBfe pic.twitter.com/cfPpDlYidR— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) July 30, 2021

And they did the same for Hayden Verbeek, who was not qualified by Detroit:

A Red Wings blog