Tag: Detroit Red Wings

Posted on

Steve Yzerman’s next move for the Detroit Red Wings may be replacing Jeff Blashill

Embed from Getty Images While the 2019-20 NHL season is only a moth old. While the Detroit Red Wings are are in a rebuild. Changes both need to becoming and have already started. Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has said patience is needed. One problem, while the Red Wings are void of a ton of talent, the team has regressed from last season. A change at the top is needed. Jeff Blashill needs to be replaced as head coach.

The thought among Detroit Red Wings fans is that Jeff Blashill would be gone after this season. The Red Wings have been blown out in some losses. The team was expected to play hard, continue to grind and be in every game. That has not happened. The Red Wings clearly lack confidence, never a good thing with young player.

The Detroit Red Wings are on their way to a 48 point season. Let that sink in. That would be the worst point total since the 1985-86 season for the Red Wings. Weather the team tanks or does not tank 48 points should not be tolerated.

I will be the first to say I am for the tank. Next summer’s NHL draft is the deepest most talented draft in a long time. But in a rebuild, point totals need to go up every season, not down.

The team genuinely seems disengaged on the ice. They look flat and as if they do not care. That is on the head coach. Jeff Blashill has been the Detroit Head coach since Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi were all rookies. The team is getting worse.

Here is one example, the Ottawa Senators are one of the NHL bottom feeders. The Red Wings lost at home to the Sens 5-2. The Red Wings have a more talented roster. That should never happen. There is zero focus and zero desire to win right now. All on Blashill.

While a coaching change alone does not cure all ills, it is a starting point. Steve Yzerman could (and most likely will) send a clear message to his team. This will not be tolerated.

The longer Blashill is allowed to stay as head coach things could get worse. The Time for change is now!

Posted on

Filip Hroneck is becoming a cornerstone of the Detroit Red Wings rebuild

Embed from Getty Images Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi are the names that grab the headlines in Detroit. While Detroit Red Wings top prospects Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno as well as Moritz Seider grab more headlines. Lost in the shuffle is defensemen Filip Hronek.

Filip Hronek is cementing himself as a major part of the Detroit rebuild. A deeper look show us, Hronek leads the Red Wings defense in average ice time or ATOI,  averaging 23 minutes per game. Hroneck currently ranks 33rd among all defensemen in the NHL. Placing him in the company of players like Erik Karlsson, Drew Doughty, and Mark Giordano all elite defensive players.

Filip Hronek seems to have the trust of Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill. Hroneck is not even 22 years old and already plays on Detroit’s top power-play unit. It gets better for the budding young defensive star.

Hroneck, has 3 goals and 4 assists for 7 points in 13 games this season. This comes following a strong finish to the 2018-19 NHL season. The last 36 NHL games, Hronek has scored 5 goals and 15 assists with 20 points. Over a full season would be around 46 points, which would have been in the top 20 of all NHL defensemen last year.

Of the young NHL defensive players, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes may have a tad-bit more talent. Filip Hronek is silently solid. So what is Hronek’s ceiling in Detroit, with the Red Wings? He projects as top line defensive player. It is safe to say Hroneck will not fully hit his ceiling for a few more seasons.

Filip Hroneck is key piece of the franchise and will be going forward. One thing for Detroit Red Wings fans to watch is, just how good Hroneck is at making something out of nothing offensively, given how often he enters the ice in his own end.

Posted on

Detroit Red Wings Dennis Cholowski showing improvement

Embed from Getty Images When his reckless handling of the puck resulted in being pulled from the lineup last season. Detroit Red Wings defensive player Dennis Cholowski was sent to Grand Rapids to work on his game with the Griffins. Cholowski made the 2019-20 Red Wings roster as so far, he has demonstrated better decision-making and earned the trust of coaches and teammates to remain in the  lineup.

“He’s done a really good job of managing his game and a really good job of not giving up easy chances,” coach Jeff Blashill said. “That’s the area where his growth has been the best, is understanding when to try to make a play, understanding when to back off. Understanding when to punt sometimes you just have to put it to a safe area, and I think he’s done a good job of that. He’s been harder in his defense, both in zone and on the rush.”

The Detroit Red Wings drafted Cholowski at 20th overall in 2016. His skating and offensive abilities were a large part of the appeal to the Red Wings. “I’m more calm, more relaxed,” Cholowski told Detroit media. “Better in the D-zone, winning more of my battles now. They know they can rely on me in more situations now. I have it in my head to relax and not be too frantic.”

Dennis Cholowski now has a coveted spot on the team’s first power play unit,  with Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi and Taro Hirose. Cholowski said he just wants to contribute however he can to make the team and the power-play unit better.

Viewed as a player who can help the Detroit blueline, Cholowski is now beginning to live to live up to his scouting report. He is a fast, smooth skating defensive player. Dennis is a strong two-way defender, while offensively he moves the puck very well, with a strong first pass out of the zone to get the transition game started.

Dennis Cholowski is a very smart defender. This season Cholowski seems to always be in the right position. Keeping attackers to the outside, while keeping himself between the puck and the net at all times. Cholowski maintains good gap control as well.

This is good for a Red Wings team struggling with older defensive players.

Posted on

Anthony Mantha playing the way the Detroit Red Wings believed he could

Embed from Getty Images 5 goals, 7 points in two games. The Detroit Red Wings, Anthony Mantha has come out of the gate swinging. Mantha has started playing like teammates, coach’s and the Red Wings front office always believed he could, using his 6′ 5″, 234-pound body to bulldoze opponents.

Anthony Mantha’s teammate and line mate Dylan Larkin said this about the Detroit forward, “He’s skating right now, he’s moving his feet, He’s flying. When he’s doing that, he’s fun to play with. He’s dynamic. When he’s hot, he can be one of the best in the world. You’re seeing that right now.”

Mantha credits former Detroit Red Wing Thomas Vanek with his improved play. “Vannie saw a lot of a players, had a lot of years behind him,” Mantha said. “He’s been a great mentor, just telling me to cut to the net, that’s one example, that not a lot of people can stop me. It was just little details that he told me that I brought to my game this year.”

Mantha, 25, says this is the most confident he has felt since his junior days. That speaks volumes to the start Mantha has had. The Detroit Red Wings home opener was on Sunday night. A night in which Anthony Mantha put on a show for the home crowd. 4 goals. Using speed, quickness and his physical ability the Dallas Stars defense had no answers for Mantha. Few team do and will have an answer.

There is one additional note to be made. Anthony Mantha has had a successful start due in large part by his other line mate Tyler Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi, has been great on the forecheck as well as boxing out opposing players allowing Mantha to spring open.

Anthony Mantha, credits his teammates and understands hockey is the ultimate team sport. “Playing with Bert and Larks, I can’t praise them enough. They’re playing unreal hockey right now.

The rest of the NHL has been put on notice, Anthony Mantha is locked-in.

Posted on

The Detroit Red Wings are counting on top players development with the Griffins

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings have five first round draft picks assigned to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Griffins head coach Ben Simon has been charged with developing the talented group. Grand Rapids will be a fun yet dangerous team to watch this season.

Michael Rasmussen, Evgeny Svechnikov, Filip Zadina, Moritz Seider and Joe Veleno, widely viewed as five players who will help the Detroit Red Wings get back to the NHL Playoffs.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman resisted temptation to bring one, two or all five prized players to Detroit. Yzerman, instead opted for ice time which is critical to a prospects development. The general manager was wise to not let his emotions dictate decisions.

Each player has been asked to work on certain aspects of their game. For Filip Zadina, who  looked tentative making plays and hesitant to go to his shot this training camp and preseason, the ultra talented Zadina needs to trust his shot more. That comes with ice time.

Joe Veleno, is looking to become a player that coaches trust, at all times. 5-on-5, power play, in the final moments of games. Yzerman believes he can become that and has challenged Veleno to take that step. It is a fast way to the NHL.

Moritz Seider, 18, was Steve Yzerman’s first draft pick. He was one of the last prospects to be assigned to the Griffins. Seider, had a very good prospect tournament and it carried over to training camp and preseason games. He will fine tune his game and is not long for the minors.

Michael Rasmussen, who played in Detroit much of last season is being asked to learn to better use his 6′ 6″ frame. To box players out as well as put himself in better position to take shots on goal.

Evgeny Svechnikov, who looked very good leading up to the season was assigned to Grand Rapids in order to make sure he does not suffer a set back from the torn knee ligament he suffered last season. Svechnikov should be one of the first call-ups for the Detroit Red Wings.

Last season Griffins head coach Ben Simon helped Dennis Cholowski overcome holes in his game. Cholowski is on the Red Wings opening night roster. That is good news. Simon is now in charge of getting five dynamic prospects NHL ready.

Posted on

The Detroit Red Wings send top prospects to the Grand Rapids Griffins

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Red Wings franchise icon Steve Yzerman built a juggernaut in Tampa Bay. Yzerman has preached patience since replacing Ken Holland, refusing to put a timeline on Detroit’s rebuild. So what does this mean for the organization this season?

While the Detroit Red Wings have some established young players led by Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi, with Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen, Evgeny Svechnikov, Filip Zadina and Moritz Seider leading the next wave they’re surrounded by some high-priced holdovers and veteran placeholders from the Holland era.

Ken Holland stuck Yzerman with seven players holding no trade clauses.  Yzerman and the Red Wings will have a bit more roster flexibility next summer, with six restricted free agents and three unrestricted ones.

Before training camp opened Steve Yzerman met the media and announced there was open roster spots. In my opinion, If a couple prospects showed enough to earn a roster spot, Yzerman would have eaten one or two of the team bad contracts.

No top prospect showed the teams general manager enough. Yzerman made the right move and assigned Filip Zadina, Evgeny Svechnikov, Joe Veleno, Oliwer Kaski and 2019 first round draft pick Moritz Seider along with 2017 first round draft pick Michael Rasmussen to the AHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins.

There are a couple things to read into this. First and foremost Yzerman like Ken Holland believes wholeheartedly in prospect development. Something he learned under Ken Holland before his Tampa Bay days.

The other factor could be Yzerman, understand the state of the Detroit Red Wings. The team is strapped by underperforming over paid veterans. While players like Zadina and Seider (who was the final prospect to be assigned) could have played in Detroit. It is best to allow them to play and find chemistry together and possibly make the AHL playoffs, while letting bad contracts expire.

Yzerman is still in the getting to know phase with the entire Red Wings organization. But, this is a smart move. By allowing prospects the chance to fail and succeed in Grand Rapids, it gives him time to map out his vision for call-ups as well as what veterans could be bought out after the season.

It was a solid move by Steve Yzerman.

 

 

Posted on

Steve Yzerman will rebuild the Detroit Red Wings in his image

Embed from Getty Images Steve Yzerman is known as a methodical, meticulous executive. Upon being name Red Wings general manager, Yzerman said he wanted to proceed somewhat slowly and get to know everyone in the organization. This explains why Detroit will not name a captain when the 2019-20 NHL season kicks off. It also explains why there was not a coaching change.

Detroit Red Wings fans and media will soon learn that Steve Yzerman will  make up his own mind about what Detroit has both on ice in Detroit as well as in the minor league pipeline. Yzerman will also determine what the organization needs before making any big decisions.

The Detroit Red Wings are not expected to make a playoff run this season. The teams primary focus will be on the young core of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Tyler Bertuzzi, Andreas Athanasiou and Filip Hornek. All those players took a big step in their development last season. They all must take another step this season.

While top Detroit prospects will be called up at various time during the season. Oliwer Kaski, Dennis  Cholowski, Moritz Seider, Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno need to both develop and grow together in Grand Rapids with the Griffins.

The Detroit Red Wings have roster spots open in the middle six up front and the bottom pair on defense. So it is possible a prospect will break camp with the Red Wings.

Steve Yzerman is not making any promises about quickly being able to turn around the Red Wings. As he should not.  ”It just takes time,” Yzerman said. ”I can’t tell you in three years we’re going to be this. In five years, we’re going to be this.”

While the Red Wings appear to have a handful of promising players, Detroit still seem to be at least another year away from being talented enough to earn a spot in the NHL postseason.

The good news is Steve Yzerman is taking his time. Yzerman is not rushing into anything. The Red Wings general manager, did not make a splash in free agency, figuring a high-priced free agent would not suddenly turn the team into a contender. It is the correct path to take.

The better news, Steve Yzerman is overseeing the Detroit Red Wings rebuild.

Posted on

Taro Hirose has turned into a diamond in the rough for the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images Taro Hirose signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent last March. He took the ice with the Red Wings and made a good impression right off the bat. Hirose amassed seven points in his first 10 NHL games. This preseason Taro has picked up where he left off.

Taro Hirose, has shown to be crafty and smart. He is always one play ahead on the ice. The good one usually are. For a player who appears to be unassuming Hirose, let’s his play speak for him.

Last season Taro Hirose was paired with Fans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek. the players quickly gelled. In Hirose’s favor he has great hockey sense and know how to find lanes. Being undersized has not hampered Hirose’s game.

What coach’s and fans have come to appreciate about Hirose, is he creates. He makes plays with and without the puck. This is going to sound a bit odd, but Taro Hirose is better playing with better players. Before you roll your eyes, let me explain. When young players come into the league the trend is they shy away from the style of play that earned them a callup.

Hirose, because he has a sharp hockey mind, understands he needs to play his game no matter who he is paired with. Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill said the young forward is making a strong case to land on the second or third line.

While that is a good thing, I for one would like to see Hirose paired on a line with Andreas Athanasiou. Those two on a line would open up scoring opportunities. While is Hirose was paired with Nielsen and Valtteri Filppula, he would be the main and possible only scoring chance for that line. Nielsen and Filppula are defensive centers who do not take a lot of shots.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman announced last week there are open roster spots to be won, Taro Hirose seems to be a roster lock. That is a good thing for the Detroit hockey team.

Posted on

The Detroit Red Wings will head into a second straight season with four alternate captains

Embed from Getty Images In what turned into  an outpouring of vocal shocked and angry fans the Detroit Red Wings announced they would not name a team captain. It has been widely assumed since the team drafted him that Dylan Larkin would be the successor to Henrik Zetterberg. Larkin has been the face of the Detroit rebuild.

Dylan Larkin, Frans Nielsen and Justin Abdelkader will return with an “A” on the front of their sweaters.  Luke Glendening will replace newly retired Niklas Kronwall as an alternate captain.

Detroit Red Wings general manager said upon the press conference to announce him as the organizations new architects that he needed time to get to know the entire team. The fact that he is unwilling at this time to place a “C” on a players jersey should come as no surprise.

Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill did say that  “we reserve the right to change our mind.” He hinted Dylan Larkin could still be named captain at some point this season, but “right now, that’s not our focus. Our focus is on how we’re going to attack the year.”

Blashill said after talking with new general manager Steve Yzerman, it was determined to go with the four alternates. In my opinion there could be a couple reasons for the decision. Only Yzerman and Blashill know for sure.

The Detroit Red Wings pipeline is the strongest it has been in a very long time. The Red Wings prospects just finished a tournament and players like Joe Veleno and Moritz Seider, showed on ice leadership. With the eyes of the general manager watching.

Yzerman, sat in his box with the rest of his Red Wings staff with him. The smart thinking is he may want to do the same thing for the first month or two of the 2019-20 Red Wings season.

In the grand scheme, this is a good move. It is important to have the right captain. The Red Wings last three captains served a long time. Steve Yzerman 1986-2006,  Nicklas Lidstrom 2006-2012 and Henrik Zetterberg 2013-2018.

The choice will come soon enough. But, first the general manager needs to get a pulse on his team.

Posted on

Detroit Red Wings Moritz Seider is becoming a fan favorite

Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Red Wings prospects are on full display in Traverse City, Michigan. While Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina are there and playing very well, it is the Detroit Red Wings 2019 first round draft pick that is putting on a show. Moritz Seider, the big German defenseman has earned high praise.

The prospects tournament Has seen Seider flash his great skating and skill with a physical edge bringing the Traverse City fans to their feet roaring with approval. In games against the Chicago Blackhawks and Toronto Maple Leafs prospects, Moritz Seider showed something else, he played with a physical   snarl.

Seider, also has been very physical in the corners. For a player who some thought may need to polish some aspects of his game up. Moritz Seider is showing to be further along in his development than first thought on draft night.

Seider played against men back in the German league last season, Detroit Red Wings general manage Steve Yzerman and Kris Draper director of amateur scouting knew getting Seider reps over in North America against a bunch of other hungry prospects would be a very important next step for the defensive prospect.

The German ice rinks are bigger than the rinks in the AHL and NHL arena’s. The smaller ice makes for a faster, more aggressive game. Even with a rather drastic change in ice, Seider has adjusted his game and played with very good speed. He is feeling more and more comfortable with every game played. So much so that Moritz Seider has ruled out returning to the German league this season and is opting to play in Grand Rapids Michigan, with the Griffins.

He has bonded with players who will be in Detroit shortly. “Everybody is hanging around with everybody,” Seider said. “We’re having a good time and you can see that on the ice. We’ve played solid.”

While  Seider will be challenging for time in Detroit during the main training camp. He is expected to head to the AHL. But his time in Detroit will arrive soon.

Detroit Red Wings fans can dream of a first line pairing on Filip Hronek and Moritz Seider. That dream soon could be reality.