Red Wings-Islanders wrap-up: Wings, Islanders look forward as 2017-18 campaigns end with an Islanders OT win

The Detroit Red Wings’ 4-3 OT loss to the New York Islanders wasn’t a microcosm of the Red Wings’ season in the way it unfolded–instead of struggling to score goals, Detroit raced out to a 3-1 lead over New York…

But the Wings’ 3rd period unraveling thanks to defensive errors and poor special teams play were right from the 2017-18 season playbook, as was the Wings’ OT loss and loss on home ice.

The captain spoke for the team after the game, as noted by DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:

The Red Wings were unable to finish on a high note, but they face considerably less uncertainty going forward than the Islanders, as Newsday’s Andrew Gross noted:

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders wrap-up: Wings, Islanders look forward as 2017-18 campaigns end with an Islanders OT win

Grand Rapids Griffins win in Tuscon, clinch playoff berth

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins, who just defeated the Tuscon Roadrunners 4-1 (on Eric Tangradi’s 30th and 31st goals of the season, goals by Turner Elson and Dan Renouf, and a 22-save performance from Tom McCollum):

I know where I’ll be spending most of April, and, hopefully, May and June…

Update: The Griffins posted a press release. Tickets will go on sale Friday at 10 AM:

Continue reading Grand Rapids Griffins win in Tuscon, clinch playoff berth

Krupa’s free to disagree with Wings’ coaching choice, Jeff Blashill

The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa pulls off a rare feat in praising a coach who he does not believe should coach the team he will be coaching.

Say that three times fast, and then stick around for Krupa’s column regarding Jeff Blashill:

Things are not going well, by almost any measure.

The performance of the Wings, in decline for years, diminished again through the course of the third season of Blashill’s four-year contract.

But Blashill has not let them see him sweat.

That is a bigger deal for the Red Wings than it might seem. Because, as looks nearly certain at this writing, Blashill will be back for the fourth year of his contract.

Owner Chris Ilitch announced Saturday Ken Holland will return for two years, at least. Holland said Blashill’s status will be made public Tuesday. But the 44-year-old coach is expected to return.

And that means he will need to tough it out for another season, perhaps more.

The Red Wings’ course for rebuilding the roster seems to navigate somewhere between defying long odds by trying to squeeze into the playoffs and more vigorous tactics that are somewhat short of blowing it all up.

Krupa continues…

St. James talks off-season priorities

The Red Wings won’t clean out their lockers until Tuesday, when they assemble for their team picture and one final set of press conferences and scrums, but the Free Press’s Helene St. James notes that the Wings’ off-season plans–be they scouting potential draft picks, prospects near (with the Griffins or Walleye) or afar, or preparing for the draft lottery, combine and the draft itself–are well underway:

The Detroit Red Wings head into a second-straight offseason having missed the playoffs, encouraged by the growth of their young players but in need of more.

To that end, general manager Ken Holland and assistant to the general manager Kris Draper are among the team personnel who have visas to go to Russia for the IIHF U18 World Championship that runs April 19-29. There are also junior hockey playoff games to scout in advance of meetings to finalize plans for the draft and free agency.

“We’ve got some busy weeks ahead,” Holland said. “This is the time when our people are working on final rankings, we’ve got our pros out watching playoff games, and then we’ll have our year-end meetings.”

Among St. James’ list of off-season points of emphasis:

The NHL will hold its draft lottery April 28, revealing which lucky team will be able to add Dahlin to its lineup. He is the prize of the 2018 draft, but it’s considered a very good year overall, with high-end defensemen and high-scoring forwards available.

The Wings will pick somewhere inside the top 10, and have four picks overall inside the first 40 selections thanks to trades that brought in Vegas’ first-round pick and Ottawa’s second-round pick (via the New York Rangers).

Hence the exodus of team scouts to the Under-18 tournament, where, for example, Swedish defensive draft prospect Adam Boqvist will get a chance to raise his stock after a disappointing showing at the 2018 Five Nations tournament in Plymouth in February.

St. James continues…

Sportsnet’s Saturday Headlines crew talks Holland, Blashill and Zetterberg

Sportsnet’s Headlines segment aired on Saturday night, and Nick Kypreos, Chris Johnston, Elliotte Friedman and Ron MacLean opened the segment discussing Ken Holland’s 2-year contract extension.

Johnston says that meetings in the last month produced the agreement, and the Wings feel that they’re on the right track with 4 of the top 40 picks this year and 11 to come…

Nick Kypreos says that Jeff Blashill is likely to earn another chance to coach the Red Wings, who Kypreos suggests may be in the market for a free agent center (Tavares?) this summer…

And Elliotte Friedman suggests that Henrik Zetterberg’s, “I’ll return if I’m healthy” statement indicates that he’s probably going to return, despite the tremendous amount of preparation he has to take part in to play due to his back issues.

 

Red Wings-Islanders quick take: Wings get burned in a track meet

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to finish their 2017-18 season on a positive note, battling the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

The Red Wings could not prevail, blowing a 3-1 lead en route to a 4-3 OT decision against the Islanders. The game was exciting, fun to watch, and something of a track meet–and Jared Coreau was very, very good–but the Islanders exploited the Wings’ weaknesses defensively and were able to the game with only 30 seconds reamaining, and win 3:14 into OT on a John Tavares marker.

Henrik Zetterberg (1G, 1A0, Justin Abdelkader and Dylan Larkin scored for Detroit, who finished a disappointing season in a disappointing manner.

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders quick take: Wings get burned in a track meet

Red Wings sign Ken Holland to 2-year contract extension

Updated 5x at 7:47 PM: Per the Red Wings…

From the Free Press’s Helene St. James…

Chris Ilitch says general manager Ken Holland has been extended for two years.

Ken Holland: “I love working for the Ilitch family, I think they are greatest owners in NHL … Feel very fortunate to be back. Look forward to challenge of rebuilding Red Wings to compete … for Stanley Cup.”

Ken Holland said he’ll address coach Jeff Blashill’s future on Tuesday at clean-out day. Blashill has year left on contract.

Chris Ilitch: “Ken has been integral part of 4 Stanley Cup championships… He started out as a scout. Many of the players he scouted became integral to our success. .. He is tremendous evaluator of talent at our core.”

Chris Ilitch on why Holland stays to rebuild Wings: “When I fly in an airplane, I love doing it with a pilot who has done it before … Ken has done it before.”

Chris Ilitch: “We are going to be as aggressive as possible in building a team that can … compete for Stanley Cup.”

Fox 2’s Jennifer Hammond…

Ilitch announces that Holland’s contract has been extended for two years.

Ilitch adds: We remain laser focused on one objective…building a Red Wings team that remains focused on competing for Championships.

Holland says he’ll answer all questions about the team on Tuesday when they take the team picture – including the future of Jeff Blashill.

Ilitch on why he thinks Holland is the man for the job: Ken is an integral part of the Wings four Cup Championships and it started with his scouting.

As Ilitch points out, the Wings have the most picks of any team in the 2018 NHL Draft. Hopefully the chips fall their way to bring Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin to Detroit.

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan…

Ken Holland to return next season

The Detroit News’s Gregg Krupa…

chris ilitch say mom, marian, likes decision. touts draft choices and say laser focus is on winning. “confident he is the right person, again.”

holland: i feel very fortunate to be working with passionate owners. i feel fortunate to be back. i know we have a hard task ahead.

chris ilitch: frequent conversations among himself, mrs. I and holland all throughout the season, and as a matter of routine, every season. included some discussion of his status, but no perceived urgency in announcing. no reason for late-season announcement, other than that.

holland: blashill announcement tuesday.

asked about timing of the turnaround and e.t.a. of next winner… c. ilitch: we will work as aggressively as possible. holland is aggressive in his pursuit. gone a terrific job of amassing draft choices. i believe the future of the franchise is very bright.

MLive’s Ansar Khan:

#RedWings announce Ken Holland has signed 2 year extension.

Holland said he will address coach Jeff Blashill’s future Tuesday at locker clean out. Blashill is expected to return. #RedWings

And WDIV’s Jamie Edmonds:

Holland: you have to honor contracts, there’s a salary cap. Slowly the veterans will be replaced by younger guys, but they must be ready.

WXYZ’s Mike Foss also weighed in:

Chris Ilitch: “(Ken and I) just sort of settled on two years, and that’s what we were comfortable with.”

As did DetroitRedWings.com’s Dana Wakiji:

Here’s the press release:

Continue reading Red Wings sign Ken Holland to 2-year contract extension

Kris Draper’s son, Kienan, picked in the OHL draft

From the Detroit News:

Kienan Draper, the son of four-time Stanley Cup champion Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings, was selected in the eighth round of the Ontario Hockey League draft on Saturday.

The 16-year-old Draper was drafted by the Saginaw Spirit, whose owners include former Red Wings goalie Chris Osgood and Jimmy Devellano, the team’s senior vice president.

Kienan Draper, a native of Bloomfield Hills, is a 5’10”, 160-pound forward with Detroit Little Caesars.

Continued, with a list of local players picked in the OHL draft…