Tag: Detroit Red Wings

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New and notes from the Detroit Red Wings Prospect Tournament

Embed from Getty Images Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is watching. The Detroit Red Wings host the annual prospect tournament in Traver City, Michigan home of the Red Wings training camp. This will be Yzerman’s first camp with the Red Wings.

With the watchful eyes of the teams general manager, Detroit Red Wings prospects should not need motivation to impress the teams new GM. As training camp draws near Steve Yzerman has reminded the young prospects there are spots he is looking to fill. A couple defensemen as well as a couple forwards.

This is where the fruits of the rebuild begin to show. Detroit has some prospects that are knocking on the NHL door. Yzerman was quick to point out, roster spots are earned. No player in entitled just because of prospect rankings or where they were drafted.

Last season defensemen Filip Hronek  and forward Taro Hirose and forward Chirstoffer Ehn played big minutes for the Red Wings. They are now going to be counted on heavily as the Red Wings begin to transition out of the rebuild stage in the next two seasons.

Players who need to step up and grab a roster spot for this years Detroit Red Wings are forwards Evgeny Svechnikov, Michael Rasmussen, Filip Zadina as well as defensemen Dennis Cholowski.

In the first two games of the double elimination prospect tournament, Red Wings forward Joe Veleno and Filip Zadina have developed some very good chemistry. These are the things that catches a general managers eye. Not only who is going to step out and shine, but who has good chemistry.

2019 Detroit Red Wings first round draft pick defensemen Moritz Seider, looks the part. As the Red Wings front office sort out if Seider will return to Germany this season or if he is ready to make the jump to the AHL and the Grand Rapids Griffins. One thing that is becoming more and more clear. Moritz Seider will not be in the lower levels very long.

When Steve Yzerman, patience at his Red Wings introductory press conference this is what he was talking about. Yzerman, knew the Red Wings had some good solid young players who needed more seasoning. Starting next week Yzerman and his staff will begin to map out a plan for the players.

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Breaking news, Detroit Red Wings Niklas Kronwall announces his retirement

Embed from Getty Images Drafted by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2000 NHL entry draft, Niklas Kronwall was a Red Wing lifer, playing his entire 953 game NHL career with the Winged Wheels. He ranks 10th all-time in games played for the franchise. He played along side many greats, including the likes of Steve Yzerman, Niklas Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, and Henrik Zetterberg, on his path to being part of Red Wings lore forever.

Age and bad knees have caught up with Detroit Red Wings Nik Kronwall. Kronwall will be remembered for his on and off ice leadership, dangerously raised visor, and of course, his major open ice hits near side the boards which fans dubbed “getting Kron-WALLED!”

Niklas Kronwall is not going away all together, he will remain with the Red Wings organization as an “Adviser to the General Manager.” During his playing career, Kronwall may not have worn the “C” on his sweater but he sure acted like the team leader. He was a warrior, who battled through constant knee pain.

Steve Yzerman,  gave Kronwall the entire summer to consider whether to retire or return. Kronwall sounded conflicted as the 2018-19 season came to a close.

Kronwall who wore  No. 55 gained notoriety as one of hockey’s most efficient  and clean  body checkers, and most feared hitters in the NHL. When he announced his retirement Niklas Kronwall said his best memory as a Red Wing was when the team won the Stanley Cup in 2008.

He then stated about the current Red Wings rebuild, “We’re gonna get back there,” he said,  “I just won’t be a player when it happens next time.”

From Detroit Red Wings fans everywhere, Thank you Nik!

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The Detroit Red Wings hire former Michigan Wolverines strength and conditioning coach Mike Barwis

Embed from Getty Images Mike Barwis is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). Barwis’ methods help to focus on holistic human performance. Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has hired Mike Barwis to spearhead the strengthening program in Detroit.

When Steve Yzerman took over the Red Wings he had an evaluation period. One can only come to the conclusion Yzerman was not happy with the Detroit Red Wings conditioning.

Mike Barwis, philosophy markets itself as a holistic approach to strength and conditioning based on scientific laws of medicine like that of “Wolff’s Law,” which states, “The body conforms and adapts to the intensities and directions to which it is habitually subjected.

Barwis is one if not the very best strength and conditioning coach’s out there. Barwis replaces Mike Kadar, the Red Wings’ strength and conditioning coach  since July 2015.

While with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Steve Yzerman was known for his emphasis on the conditioning of players. Yzerman has already remade Detroit’s scouting department by replacing former director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright with Kris Draper.

The revamping of the Red Wings staff continued with Mike Barwis. Barwis who was heavily recruited by Steve Yzerman,  will be completely revamping the strength and condition program.

A few current Detroit Red Wings, Dylan Larkin, Dennis Cholowski and Anthony Mantha are already said to be using the Barwis plan for conditioning. Bringing in Barwis is a very solid move by the Detroit Red Wings.

With over 500 Olympic and elite athletes across 42 sports, nine professional  sports teams in three different leagues including MLB with  the New York Mets, and  has coached 38 National Strength and Conditioning (NSCA) All-Americans with 27 years of experience it becomes clear Mike Barwis is good at his job.

Barwis, training methods align with Steve Yzerman’s vision for how he wants his team to be conditioned and gain strength. This can do nothing but have a positive impact of the Red wings organization.

 

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The Detroit Red Wings need to make the call on Justin Abdelkader

Embed from Getty Images In 2014-15 Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader scored 23 goals and had 44 points. His abrasive, physical play earned him the respect of his teammates and admiration of the Detroit Red Wings coach’s and front office. It rubbed opposing teams the wrong way. Those were the good old days.

In the 2015-16 season, Justin Abdelkader once again posted solid numbers recording 19 goals and notching 42 points for the  Red Wings. These were the best offensive seasons of his career it also came with Pavel Datsyuk playing the majority of the time as his center.

The only issue (which at the time was not a big issue) was Justin had signed a seven year, $29.75 million dollar contract extension. Now it has become an albatross  of a  problem. This past season Abdelkader had gone 23 games without a goal and 12 games without a point.

Justin Abdelkader is a good penalty killer and grinding winger with one small problem. The Red Wings are paying out a lot of money for a guy who does not have the offensive ability he showed early in his career. Given his age, contract and declining numbers Justin Abdelkader is basically impossible to trade.

That leads us to waivers. Steve Yzerman and his  Detroit Red Wings are serious about rebuilding the team this is a fact. Then a clear message  needs to be sent  and place Justin Abdelkader on waivers if he starts next season the same way he played this past year.

Every NHL team and all hockey teams need an Abdelkader type player on the fourth line. But absolutely not at $4.25 million per season,  for a player who scores 6 goals and has multiple extended scoreless slumps during the season.

Detroit Red Wings, general manager Steve Yzerman was right to not buy Abdelkader’s contract out. That would have tightened the Wings salary cap. Waivers would send a strong message. Justin Abdelkader would clear waivers and be sent to Grand Rapids with only a $1.19 million cap hit. Opening a roster spot for one of Detroit’s top prospects like Filip Zadina.

Tyler Bertuzzi has taken Abdelkader’s spot as a tough, hard hitting, abrasive forward who is very capable of putting up solid offensive numbers.

It is time to move on from Justin Abdelkader.

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Jonathan Ericsson’s time as a Detroit Red Wings may be coming to an end

Embed from Getty Images Last season Jonathan Ericsson was plagued by injuries to start the season, the injuries came back at the end of the season as well. At least two different times Ericsson was a healthy scratch in back-to back games. The only consistent in Ericsson’s career has been his inconsistent play.

His time in Motown is coming to an end. So much so that Jonathan Ericsson, is not guarantee a roster spot this coming NHL season. Red Wings likely defenders this year will be Danny DeKeyser, Mike Green, Patrik Nemeth, Filip Hronek along with Madison Bowey and Dennis Cholowski.

The veteran defensemen Ericsson faces an up hill battle to knock out one of the younger better defensive players. In order for that to happen Ericsson will need to be both healthy and consistent. Two things he has yet to be in his career.

Atrocious, that is the description that is most commonly associated with Jonathan Ericsson’s defensive play. He turns the puck over way too often and has next to no pace to his game. When Ericsson is on ice his lack of pace, makes the rest of his line play without a good pace as well.

Ericsson loves to join the rush up ice, but is incapable of getting back to the defensive end because of slow foot speed. For a big defensive player, Ericsson is regularly beaten in board battles and in front of the net.

As a fan, it is unkind to point out a players flaws. However, for the rebuilding Red Wings there is no masking Ericsson’s bad play. Coupled with the fact Detroit needs to make roster spots for young defensive player makes Jonathan Ericsson the odd man out. That may not be a bad thing.

Players that will be sent to Grand Rapids to get seasoning with the Griffins will get called up for a look during the season to see how far away they are from helping the Red Wings.

Jonathan Ericsson has had opportunities and failed. It is time for the Detroit Red Wings to move on and in so doing strengthen the defense.

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Detroit Red Wings: The importance of Tyler Bertuzzi

Embed from Getty Images As the Detroit Red Wings continue to sort out players who will be on the roster when the rebuild reaches it’s end, one player that is sure to be there is Tyler Bertuzzi. Last season Bertuzzi (or Bert as he is known to teammates, coach’s and fans) became the first Detroit Red Wing player ever to record four consecutive three-point games.

Tyler Bertuzzi isn’t flashy. He is not the fastest, or strongest, or quickest or flashiest player on the ice. That is perfectly fine with the Detroit Red Wings organization. What Bertuzzi is, is a hockey player, who does the hard work and gets results.

2018-19 stats: 73 games, 21 goals, 26 assists, 47 points, plus-11 rating, 36 penalty minutes, put Bertuzzi on the map. It gets better for the young forward, named NHL’s second star of week on April 1 after tallying 10 points three goals, seven assists in four games. Career highs in goals, assists and points. … First career hat trick Jan. 12 at Minnesota in 100th career game.  Six power-play points three goals, three assists.  Tied for team lead with four game-winning goals. Tyler Bertuzzi led the  team in plus-minus rating plus-11 at home, even on road. Bertuzzi also led the team in shooting percentage 16.0%. Showing some defensive skill Tyler was third on team in takeaways 34.  winning 33%  of faceoffs 10-of-30. Showing he is not afraid to get under opposing teams skin, Bertuzzi was suspended two games Dec. 4-6 for punching Colorado’s Matt Calvert from bench. Tyler missed seven games Feb. 1-14 due to a concussion.

Those are working mans numbers. Make no mistake it was Bertuzzi’s ability to play the same type of hard working game every night that made Bertuzzi’s season so successful. Tyler Bertuzzi’s first full NHL season was a huge success. Bertuzzi, showed he can be an offensive threat in addition to providing grit, physicality and abrasiveness. He has a knack for being around the puck and he goes to the hard areas with reckless abandon , in the corners and in front of the net, making him an ideal complement on the top line with Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha.

Tyler Bertuzzi has flashed his worth and is they type of player the Detroit Red Wings need going forward.

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Filip Hronek looking to improve in his sophomore season

Embed from Getty Images Do the Red Wings have a special player on their hands? Defensive player Filip Hornek looks to be a top four defensive player for the Detroit Red Wings. During his 2018-19 rookie season, Hornek played in 46 games, tallying five goals and 23 points, his 19:57 average ice time was the third-best among all NHL rookies.

Last season only Rasmus  Dahlin (Buffalo Sabers) at 0.54 averaged more points per game among first year defensemen with at least 45 games played. Filip Hronek will start the season on the second pairing, but if Mike Green begins to have health issues again not too mention the odds of him playing 82 games is highly unlikely, Hronek could be playing top pairing minutes quickly.

At only 21 years old, Hronek looks like the real deal. His output during the 2019 World Championships saw Hronek put up  11 points in 10 games and was named  the best defenseman of the tournament, a strong 2019-20 NHL campaign for the Red Wings seems probable.

Filip Hronek could become a 40 to 50 points player for the Detroit Red Wings. His point totals could be somewhat elevated if Hronek quarterbacks one of Detroit’s power play units which again is something probable.

40 points would be close to his 2018-19 numbers 0.50 points per game in 46 games. The Detroit Red Wings need Hronek to step up and find another level to his game given his work ethic that should not be a problem. Hronek is expected to be one of the teams top defensemen moving into the future post rebuild alongside Dennis Cholowski, Jared McIsaac, and Moritz Seider. Becoming a two way threat on the blue line would help Detroit’s rebuild.

At  the end of the 2018-19 season, Hronek was the Red Wings’ best defenseman. After starting the season is Detroit, Hronek was sent to Grand Rapids to work on his passing and mental mistakes. Having cleaned that up he was recalled and his game took off.

Widely viewed as a pivotal part of the Detroit Red Wings rebuild, Filip Hronek looks like a player who will be in Motown for some time to come.

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Anthony Mantha is ready to breakout for the Detroit Red Wings

Embed from Getty Images When the 2018-19 NHL season was nearing it’s end. Detroit Red Wings Anthony Mantha was on a roll. Mantha had achieved a level of consistency in his all around game that had eluded him. In the last eight games, Anthony Mantha had 8 goals and 15 points, and came alive on Detroit’s power play. It looks like Mantha is ready to take another step for the Red Wings.

This past spring, Anthony Mantha played in the IIHF World Championship. The big forward put up 14 points in nine games for Team Canada. Mantha had just finished his Red Wings season with a third 20 plus goal season, then turned in a fantastic tournament.

Through the first 3 season of his career, Mantha has been plagued by both injuries and inconsistency in his play. Often a target of Detroit Red Wings head coach Jeff Blashill. Everyone can see the possibilities Mantha has. He looks ready to take the next step.

This coming NHL season, the question is once again, is this the season Mantha joins his Red Wings teammates, Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou in the 30 goal club, or another 20 plus goal season.

If Anthony Mantha can stay healthy and consistent the 30 goal plateau will be within reach. Playing on Detroit’s top line with Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi gives Mantha the talent he needs to advance his game. Yet, when top Red Wings prospect forwards Filip Zadina and Joe Veleno are ready, Mantha could slide on a line with Athanasiou and one of the top young forwards.

The sky is the limit for a player like Anthony Mantha. A big, fast player with a wicked one-timer. Anthony Mantha is perhaps the key player in the Detroit Red Wings rebuild. A rebuild that is nearing it’s end.

The Red Wings who the past two seasons were blown out in many games. Are in much better position to compete and they should not be blown out this coming season. If Anthony Mantha can find the back of the net 30 times, it sets the Detroit Red Wings up for a playoff run in the 2020-21 season.

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The Detroit Red Wings need Danny DeKeyser to stay consistent

Embed from Getty Images Missing 27 of the first 47 games with two separate hand injuries that required surgery, Detroit Red Wings defensemen Danny DeKeyser  played in the fewest games of his six full NHL seasons. His play improved when he returned. The the Red Wings need him to stay consistent.

In the 2018-19 NHL season, DeKeyser averaged 1.8 blocked shots per game, second on team and first among defensemen. He also led the team in average ice time 21:58 and averaged 2:31 on penalty kill, third on team among defensemen. DeKeyser’s plus-minus rating was minus-5.

 DeKeyser showed improvement and more consistency during an injury-plagued season that cost him a total of 30 games. His skating and mobility enabled him to move the puck out of his zone more efficiently and quicker than he had the previous three years. Added strength allowed him to win more puck battles. Danny DeKeyser had his best season since 2014-15, but he still was not as strong as he was his first two full NHL seasons.

The question that needs to be asked is, was last season as good as DeKeyser can get at this point of his career or can he return to the form he played at during his first two NHL seasons?

DeKeyser  showed growth in terms of consistently defending last season. Danny has been good at different times in his career. Last season DeKeyser looked stronger, in the physical battles along the boards. He knocked people around way more. Some believe he is becoming an elite defender in the league, what was once envisioned for him   and now believe he is becoming.

This season the Red Wings are hopeful Danny DeKeyser picks up where he left off last season. He figures to be paired with Mike Green or Filip Hronek. Whoever he is not paired with on the top line will slide to the second line defense with Patrik Nemeth.

Those four defensive players should make up Detroit’s top four on defense.

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Detroit Red Wings Steve Yzerman imprints will be felt next off-season

Embed from Getty Images During his eight years as Tampa Bay Lightning general manager, Steve Yzerman was aggressive and also  progressive. Yzerman bought out Lightning captain Vincent Lecavalier. He also traded  star Martin St. Louis. He traded forward Jonathan Drouin, a third overall pick, for defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, swap of young talent for young talent . Yzerman oversaw NHL drafts that netted high end players such as Nikita Kucherov, Andre Vasilevskiy and Braydon Point.

When Steve Yzerman, who succeeded Ken Holland on April 19 was named Detroit Red Wings general manager, many media members and fans thought an even wrote stories that Yzerman would have an immediate impact with a series of bold moves. Fans and media braced for a significant trade, a buyout, a big name free agent signing. It did not happen.

Yzerman’s plan will not be felt until next off-season. The Yzer-plan as Red Wings fans have dubbed it. The Red Wings GM is absolutely correct taking a measured approach with a team likely to miss the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season.

There are players Detroit Red Wings fans think should be bought out.

Justin Abdelkader, four years remaining at a $4.25 million cap hit, Frans Nielsen, three years at $5.25 million and Darren Helm, two years at $3.85 million. But the Red Wings do not need the salary cap space or roster spots, so  the question is why would one of the top GM’s in the NHL  saddle his team with dead money for the next six-to-eight years?

Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou, Tyler Bertuzzi will all need new contracts after the 2019-20 season. It is possible at that time Yzerman will choose to buy out one or more players.

Steve Yzerman used the draft this past June to make his boldest move, with the shocking selection of defenseman Moritz Seider with the sixth overall pick.

This years free agent market was thin. It was hard to see a team mid-rebuild sign top-tier players Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene or Sergei Bobrovsky. Yzerman chose more wisely. Bringing in NHL veterans on cheap two year contracts. This buys the team  time for younger players and prospects to develop.

The Detroit hockey team has stockpiled young forwards. Given his history Yzerman might look to package one or two with other assets for a young defenseman.

So while it looks like he has not done much, Steve Yzerman has done a lot and done it wisely.