Niyo: Yzerman trying to revamp the long rebuild

The Detroit News’s John Niyo penned a superb subscriber-only column, discussing Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s discussion of his free agency moves (as Yzerman remarked upon during today’s press conferences) in light of the fact that the Red Wings have been in a “rebuild” for a very long time now.

As Niyo suggests, Yzerman is attempting to correct some of the “wrong moves” made in the later portions of Ken Holland’s time with the Red Wings, and Yzerman’s attempting to do so without inflicting long-term damage with any mistakes of his own:

You remember the Red Wings’ ill-fated summer of 2016, right? After a second straight first-round playoff exit to Yzerman’s Lightning, Holland lost out again in free agency that summer when star winger Steven Stamkos stayed put in Tampa, forcing Detroit to shift to Plan B. The Wings had already cleared cap space by trading Pavel Datsyuk’s contract to Arizona, and Holland opted to spend a big chunk of it on a 32-year-old center, Frans Nielsen, who now is a buyout candidate himself after putting up nine points in 60 games last season.

Yzerman has opted not to write that one off the books for now. Instead, though, he’s bringing in a player on the other side of a buyout in 33-year-old Bobby Ryan, a right-winger who still had two years left at a $7.25 million cap hit when Ottawa put him on waivers last month. In Detroit, Ryan sees an opportunity to reboot his career. In Ryan, the Red Wings see a right-handed shot who can help their power play and the right kind of low-risk gamble at a $1 million price tag.

But the same is true for the other free-agent signings. Namestnikov probably slots in as the second-line center, though Yzerman says he’s capable of playing all three forward spots here. Merrill’s a left-shot defenseman who’ll bolster the blue line and provide insurance — along with newly acquired veteran Marc Staal — since Danny DeKeyser is coming off back surgery last winter. Stecher adds another solid two-way defender on the right side, which is notable since top prospect Moritz Seider is on loan playing in Sweden this season, at least until March or April. In goal, Greiss gives the Red Wings a more viable tandem with Jonathan Bernier than what they had last season, given Jimmy Howard’s struggles in net.

“We’re trying to surround the younger players with high-quality veterans,” Yzerman said. “With guys that can help our team get better, help our young guys improve, make us more competitive, and try and improve our team but buy time to let our young guys develop.”

Continued (paywall)

WOOD TV8: Justin Abdelkader’s still helping his hometown’s schools keep pupils fed

Former Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader has always been a charitable sort, and WOOD TV8’s “Maranda Where You Live” reports that Abdelkader is still working hard to help his hometown of Mona Shores.

Abdelkader’s continuing his partnership with Milk Means More to purchase coolers for the Mona Shores school district so that they can keep their pupils fed during the spring, summer and now fall:

Kulfan notes Yzerman’s get-‘er-done stance on Mantha, Bertuzzi contract negotiations

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan took particular note of Steve Yzerman’s remarks regarding his contractual negotiations with restricted free agents Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi:

In the grand scheme of things, there’s plenty of time before next season begins — whenever that’ll be — and the Wings aren’t hamstrung by salary cap issues.

Bertuzzi, in fact, filed for salary arbitration, with hearings beginning Oct. 20, guaranteeing the Wings will have a contract with Bertuzzi at some point — through arbitration or not.

Yzerman expects to talk with Mantha’s representatives this week.

“I’ll have some discussions and expecting to talk to Anthony’s agent in the coming days,” Yzerman said. “We’ll talk so more and I’m confident we’ll get a deal done. I can’t tell you exactly when or for howlong but it’s both of our intentions to get a deal done.

“And likewise with Tyler Bertuzzi. He field for arbitration, so ultimately we know we’ll get a deal done. It might be for one year or it might be longer,  We’ll continue to talk.”

Continued

Darren McCarty appears on The HUGE Show to discuss Yzerman’s free agency, trade and draft moves

Former Red Wing Darren McCarty spoke with The HUGE Show’s Bill Simonson today, discussing Steve Yzerman’s free agency, trade and draft moves over the course of an eight-and-a-half-minute interview:

Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Updated at 8:01 PM: So Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman appeared in the media of his own accord twice today, which is rare for the Wings’ GM. First, he was on 97.1 the Ticket with Stoney and Jensen, speaking for 13-and-a-half minutes…

As annotated by 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield…

Continue reading Wrapping up a busy media day for Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Moritz Seider skated in his first practice with SHL team Rogle BK today, and after he skated, he spoke with Rogle BK’s website‘s Lasse Mauritzson about his experiences. Here’s a rough translation of the interview:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Moritz Seider’s first practice with Rogle BK is ‘short but tough’

Griff wants you to register for the Griffins’ virtual 5K

Yes, this post is a little silly. I don’t really mind, because it’s for a good cause.

The Grand Rapids Griffins are holding a “Virtual 5K” to raise funds for the Griffins’ Youth Foundation, and here’s a gratuitous clip of a mascot–the beloved “Griff”–getting ready to run a 5K as a promotion:

You can register for the 5K here, and find out more about the Griffins’ Youth Foundation here.

Prospect round-up: Raymond dazzles as Frolunda beats Skelleftea (with snazzy .gifs)

Two Red Wings prospects had an international stage to themselves this afternoon, and they dazzled with their dangles. Lucas Raymond registered a shootout goal on 4 shots and 16:19 played as his Frolunda Indians won 3-2 in a shootout over Skelleftea AIK.

Jonatan Berggren had 2 assists for Skelleftea in 16:50 played, and both players received strong .gif games from Here’s Your Replay and Antonj85:

Here are two angles of Raymond’s shootout winner:

Elsewhere, in the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Berglund played 8:05 in Vasteras IK’s 4-1 loss to Timra IK.

Khan speaks with Ken Daniels regarding the ‘Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman’

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels ahead of this Wednesday’s Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman, which will air at 8 PM EDT on Fox Sports Detroit:

“I think people will laugh; I think people will cry,” Daniels said. “Hopefully, they’ll be educated. We need to talk about what substance abuse disorder is to end the shame and stigma.”

More than 700 attended the inaugural event; this format will reach more people, Daniels said.

“We thought it best to keep the theme going rather than just disappear for a year and I think we made the right decision,” Daniels said. “To keep the message out there is so important because isolation, when you add to COVID, for those suffering from substance abuse disorder, just exacerbates the problem. They need social interaction, meetings. They’re doing things with therapy. At our site, jamiedanielsfoundation.org, we have that, and the ability to find places to go. But meetings and interactions for people suffering from this disease is so important when you look at the numbers.”

Daniels said Michigan ranks 10th in prescriptions written for opioids and 18th in opioid deaths.

“As we say with our foundation, end the shame and stigma of what is substance use disorder,” Daniels said. “We have to talk about it. It’s a mental illness. People need help.

“Our long-term goal is to build safe, long-term sober housing in Southeast Michigan and we’re making headway there, too. That’s where the funds are going, here and the collegiate recovery program (at Michigan State).”

Continued