Duff on Zetterberg’s status

Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff duly notes that Henrik Zetterberg recently spoke about his off-season decision-making process, and it doesn’t sound like Zetterberg is ready to retire…yet…

“Well, for me it’s going to be the same as I’ve been doing the last couple of years,” Zetterberg said. “I will go into the off-season and try to have a good summer, work on my health and hopefully I can come back and be better.”

He doesn’t sound like a guy who’s about to hang up his skates, and it’s interesting to note that since the back surgery that he underwent in 2014, Zetterberg has missed just five games over the past four seasons, and will go into Saturday’s game having appeared in 245 consecutive games.

“Ever since my back surgery that’s been one of the goals, to be able to play as many games as possible,” Zetterberg said. “But in the same way, you want to be able to do something out there, too. You don’t just want to put on the skates. You want to be able to produce and help your team. I felt last year was a good year, and it maybe hasn’t been as good this year.”

He indicated that the disappointment of missing the playoffs the last two seasons will have no bearing on his future with the Wings.

“It’s no fun losing, but I still have a lot of fun playing hockey and being around this group of guys,” Zetterberg said. “Obviously, it would be a lot more fun if we’d still be playing after this weekend. In decision making I don’t think that has anything to do with it.”

Continued, with Zetterberg stating that his health will be the final determinant as to whether he returns or not…

 

Red Wings-Islanders game-day articles: As season winds down, Wings count their blessings in light of Humboldt tragedy

Updated 5x at 2:33 PM: The Red Wings will start Jared Coreau opposite Thomas Greiss as Detroit hosts the New York Islanders this evening (7:00 PM EDT on FSD/MSG +2/97.1 FM).

Tonight is “Fan Appreciation Night” at Little Caesars Arena, but some fans might argue that the best thing the Wings can do tonight is lose.

The Wings are attempting to let fans get in on the giveaways and prizes:

In terms of the game itself, Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill explained his rationale for starting Coreau to MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders game-day articles: As season winds down, Wings count their blessings in light of Humboldt tragedy

Red Wings waive Coreau to send him to Grand Rapids

No surprise here: the Red Wings have placed Jared Coreau on waivers with the intent to send Coreau to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins on Sunday:

 

Wings alums go to the dogs (and cats)

The Romulus News-Herald’s Jackie Harrison-Martin reports that the Red Wings Alumni Association will be taking to the ice for a four-legged cause on April 14th:

They won’t be fighting like cats and dogs, but they will be fighting for them.

Members of the Romulus Police Department plan to square off against alumni from the Detroit Red Wings in a feisty, yet friendly, game of hockey that will benefit the city’s animal shelter.

The puck will drop at 4 p.m. April 14 at the Taylor Sportsplex, 13333 Telegraph Road.

Tickets are $10 in advance, $15 at the door. Children ages 5 and under can enter free of charge.

They are available at the Romulus Police Department, 11165 Olive Street, and can be purchased online at Facebook.com/RomulusPD (click on “events,” and then “get tickets”).

Continued

 

HSJ Tweet: Larkin probable to head to World Championship

According to the Free Press’s Helene St. James, Dylan Larkin may very well play for Team USA at the World Championship despite his status as a restricted free agent-to-be:

 

Wallner: Will Tyler Bertuzzi be assigned to Grand Rapids?

The Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner examines the sticky wicket that is the Red Wings’ decision as to whether Tyler Bertuzzi would be better served by taking a break and spending a full summer training for his 2018-19 campaign, or whether it might better serve Bertuzzi to reprise his role as the Grand Rapids Griffins’ resident playoff performer:

The 23-year-old Bertuzzi, who has been with the Red Wings since December, was put on the Griffins roster on the Feb. 26 trade deadline in a procedural move that made him and Coreau eligible for the AHL postseason.

At the time, [Red Wings assistant GM Ryan] Martin said, Bertuzzi was excited about the idea. But that was before Tomas Tatar was traded and before Bertuzzi took off. He has seven goals, five in the past seven games playing with Henrik Zetterberg and Gustav Nyquist. He has usually averaged between 15 and nearly 20 minutes per game since mid-March.

“The amount of ice time he’s gotten and how many games he’s played certainly plays a role in it,” Martin said. “Say he plays into June. He has to take some time off prior to his training (and) all of a sudden he may only get into the gym in July and August. That’s probably not enough for a player who needs to increase his body strength and work on his quickness. Those are the things we have to assess.”

Bertuzzi has thrived the past three postseasons for the Griffins. Last year, his nine goals and 19 points earned him postseason MVP as the Griffins won the Calder Cup. That 19-game run also went into June and left him with a short offseason as he also healed from a hand injury.

Continued, and Wallner confirms that Jared Coreau will be waived and sent to Grand Rapids…

 

Red Wings-Islanders morning skate Tweets and articles: Coreau to start in regular-season finale

Updated 3x at 11:37 AM: The Detroit Red Wings face the New York Islanders this evening (7:00 PM EDT on FSD/MSG +2/97.1 FM), concluding both teams’ 2017-18 campaigns.

The Red Wings took to the ice first at Little Caesars Arena, per MLive’s Ansar Khan…

Coreau first goalie off the ice, so he’s starting for second game in row for #RedWings

The Free Press’s Helene St. James…

Luke Glendening partaking in morning skate. Had been ruled out with upper-body symptoms, but maybe not.

And the Red Wings:

The Islanders website’s Cory Wright also penned a game preview:

Continue reading Red Wings-Islanders morning skate Tweets and articles: Coreau to start in regular-season finale

What can you say about the bus crash in Saskatchewan?

This isn’t Red Wings-related, but it’s a topic that’s generating a lot of discussion, and sadly so. I don’t know how one faces this, other than acknowledging its presence and offering what one can in the awfully inadequate “thoughts and prayers” department. Per the Canadian Press:

RCMP say 14 people are dead and 14 people were injured Friday after a truck collided with a bus carrying a junior hockey team to a playoff game in northeastern Saskatchewan.

Police say there were 28 people including the driver on board the Humboldt Broncos bus when the crash occurred at around 5 p.m. on Highway 35 north of Tisdale.

“We can now confirm fourteen people have died as a result of this collision,” RCMP said in a release early Saturday.

“The other fourteen people were sent to hospital with a variety of injuries; three of these people have injuries that are critical in nature.”

No names were released and police would not say whether the dead include players or coaches. There was no mention of the truck driver.

The team president said parents from across Western Canada were rushing to the scene as they struggle to cope with the tragedy.

“It’s one of the hardest days of my life,” said Kevin Garinger. “There have been multiple fatalities — our whole community is in shock, we are grieving and we will continue to grieve throughout this ordeal as we try to work toward supporting each other.”

I’ll try to update the charitable endeavors surrounding this horrible tragedy.

Update: Here’s a link to the GoFundMe account: