Detroit Hockey Now Archives | Detroit Hockey Now https://detroithockeynow.com/tag/detroit-hockey-now/ Your new home for the best Detroit Red Wings coverage Tue, 24 Sep 2024 04:29:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://detroithockeynow.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2021/05/cropped-DHN-Puck-Small-32x32.png Detroit Hockey Now Archives | Detroit Hockey Now https://detroithockeynow.com/tag/detroit-hockey-now/ 32 32 193802861 Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/24/can-gustafsson-kane-and-debrincat-rediscover-chicago-chemistry-with-red-wings/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/24/can-gustafsson-kane-and-debrincat-rediscover-chicago-chemistry-with-red-wings/#respond Tue, 24 Sep 2024 08:00:09 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15687 The post Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Trio were part of potent Blakhawks power play

The post Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Back in the day, there was a time when the combination of Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and Erik Gustafsson were the cause of nightmares for the Detroit Red Wings.

During the 2018-19 season, that trio were linchpins on a potent Chicago Blackhawks power play that was clicking at 20.17%. Kane led the Blackhawks in scoring that season with 44 goals and 110 points. DeBrincat was third on the club with 41 goals and 76 points. Gustafsson would enjoy a career year. He wound up with 17 goals and 60 points.

On the power play, Kane was contributing nine goals and 30 points. DeBrincat would account for a team-high 13 power-play goals. Gustafsson put up 4-14-18 numbers when Chicago was enjoying the man advantage.

Two years ago, none of the three were Red Wings. Now that they all are, that chemistry they possess on the power play is already surfacing even during training camp drills.

“Gus does find a way of transporting the puck from the blue line and giving Patrick some time,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde said. “He seems to find a way to bring it to the sweet spot. So there is some chemistry between those three.”

It’s one of the reasons why when defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere was opting to take his power play expertise elsewhere in the summer, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was setting his sights on acquiring UFA Gustafsson.

“He runs a great power play,” Detroit captain Dylan Larkin said.

Red Wings DeBrincat Raves About Gustafsson

Lalonde went to the video when determining whether Gustafsson would indeed be a good fit for his team. The study of that chicago power play proved to be eye opening.

“One of a coach’s first exercises is to watch them from their past,” Lalonde explained. “The beauty of technology in this day, you can literally pick out any time of the season.

“I watched a lot of their power play and there is some chemistry there.”

The coach didn’t need to look far to find salesmen willing to step up and pitch him on the advantages Gustafsson could bring when Detroit was in a man-advantage situation.

“I think he’s a great passer on the power play and off the power play,” DeBrincat said of Gustafsson. “I think he’s a guy that can really make that first pass out of the zone.

“He’s very deceptive. On the power play you may think he’s shooting, but then he’s giving a nice pass over for a one timer. So I think he adds that aspect of it.”

That deception in Gustafsson’s game is also what Kane finds most enticing.

“He was so deceptive up top, really knows how to run the top, maybe as good as anyone I played with, to be honest with you,” Kane said. “He was a key component to our power play.”

The Red Wings are hopeful that the Chicago trio will be key components to their power play this season.

The post Can Gustafsson, Kane And DeBrincat Rediscover Chicago Chemistry With Red Wings? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/24/can-gustafsson-kane-and-debrincat-rediscover-chicago-chemistry-with-red-wings/feed/ 0 15687
Simon With Mo? Red Wings May Make It Happen https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/simon-with-mo-red-wings-may-make-happen-lalonde-petry-chiarot-rasmussen/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/simon-with-mo-red-wings-may-make-happen-lalonde-petry-chiarot-rasmussen/#comments Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:55:49 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15680 The post Simon With Mo? Red Wings May Make It Happen appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit coach Lalonde prepared to pair first-round picks

The post Simon With Mo? Red Wings May Make It Happen appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Simon With Mo? Red Wings May Make It Happen appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

This season, the Detroit Red Wings might just be giving the fanbase something they’ve been longing to witness.

A playoff berth?

Well, that, too.

However, in this instance we’re talking about a defensive pairing of Moritz Seider with Simon Edvinsson. Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde is hinting that it could very well be happening at some point during the 2024-25 NHL campaign.

“I still think our top four, even some of our D pairs, will be fluid,” Lalonde said. “Probably like to see Simon and Mo together a little bit.”

Seider, the sixth player chosen in the 2019 NHL entry draft and Edvinson, chosen sixth overall in 2021, are going to be the cornerstones of the Detroit defense going forward. And Lalonde appears ready to cement that status sooner rather than later.

As Edvinsson prepares for his first full season in Detroit, the coach is opening up the opportunity for him to be one of the players driving the bus for the Red Wings.

“I see him in a top four (role) and we’ll kind of let it play out from there,” Lalonde said of Edvinsson. “Hopefully, he can even eat minutes. If he’s got it going one night we might be a little fluid with our top four.

“If he earns more minutes, he’ll get more minutes. We’re going to play to win and if he is the guy that earns those minutes to help us out down the stretch, he’ll get those minutes.”

Pairings Likely to Start Out The Same

To start out with, it’s likely that Detroit’s top two defensive pairings will look the same as what finished out last season. Seider will be with Ben Chiarot and Edvinsson with Jeff Petry. However, that, much like the TV listings, will be subject to change,

“Benny and Petry have had some experience together,” Lalonde said. Chiarot and Patry were a tandem during Montreal’s drive to the 2021 Stanley Cup final.

“I think that top four will be fluid, and if anyone else can play their way into that conversation, we’d be happy to see that, too,” Lalonde said.

Seider Back For Red Wings On Tuesday

The first order of business will be getting Seider back up to speed. Fresh from signing a seven-year pact that will pay him $8.55 million per season, he’ll be arriving from Germany and back on the ice with the Red Wings in time for Tuesday’s first practice in Detroit.

Even missing four days of work in Traverse City is enough to set Seider back in comparison to the rest of the group.

“You can see obviously 100% you saw the intensity of our first three days,” Lalonde said. “There’s value to that. Probably even some science to that.

“You know, you kind of get your workloads elevated a little bit that you’re probably going to work off throughout the year, so he’ll have some catch up to do. But I’m sure we’ve got a couple eager assistant coaches that would love that assignment.”

The post Simon With Mo? Red Wings May Make It Happen appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/simon-with-mo-red-wings-may-make-happen-lalonde-petry-chiarot-rasmussen/feed/ 3 15680
Red Wings Could Be Maize And Blue Down The Middle https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/red-wings-could-be-maize-and-blue-down-the-middle-motte-larkin-compher-copp/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/red-wings-could-be-maize-and-blue-down-the-middle-motte-larkin-compher-copp/#comments Mon, 23 Sep 2024 08:00:56 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15678 The post Red Wings Could Be Maize And Blue Down The Middle appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

All four Detroit centers could be former Wolverines

The post Red Wings Could Be Maize And Blue Down The Middle appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Red Wings Could Be Maize And Blue Down The Middle appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It’s entirely possible that this season, the Detroit Red Wings will be coloring their center position maize and blue. Depending upon how they opt to slot their lines, the center on each of Detroit’s four forward units could be a former Michigan Wolverines player.

If that’s not bizarre enough, all four of them were teammates on the same Michigan squad in 2014-15.

“Yeah, it’s interesting,” admitted Tyler Motte, the newest addition to this quartet of ex-Wolverines. “I mean, I’m sure it’s an option for the staff. I think we’ll let them sort that out.

“It does show what Michigan hockey’s produced over the last few years and even, I guess, decades now, but it’s a pretty unique situation.”

Captain Dylan Larkin will certainly be Detroit’s No. 1 center. Behind him, J.T. Compher is slotting in as No. 2 center, with Andrew Copp pivoting the third line. Motte, a summer addition as a UFA, is looking like he’ll be at center on the fourth line.

On that 2014-15 Michigan squad, Larkin (47), Copp (31) and Motte (31) were 2-3-4 in points. Compher was eighth in scoring with 24 points for the Wolverines. As far as goal scoring, Larkin (15) was second, Copp (14) third, Compher (12) fifth and Motte (nine) seventh.

Red Wings Brass Aren’t Michigan Men

Earlier this summer, Yzerman made it abundantly clear that he hasn’t suddenly become a Michigan man. He’s not bringing these guys to Detroit for sentimental reasons.

“We don’t care where the players are from,” Yzerman said. “That they’re from the area is nice, but most importantly, we’re trying to build a good team on the ice.”

Even since arriving in Detroit three years ago, Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde was making it equally clear that Motte was a player he covets.

“I watched a lot of him in the league,” Lalonde said. “It’s someone we’ve talked about the last few years around that free agency time.

“I like the player.”

Suiting up all four centers from the same college hockey team certainly makes for an interesting anecdote. It isn’t why they are Red Wings, though.

A much more compelling story to tell would be if these four Michigan men were playing a role in leading Michigan’s NHL team back to the promised land of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The post Red Wings Could Be Maize And Blue Down The Middle appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/23/red-wings-could-be-maize-and-blue-down-the-middle-motte-larkin-compher-copp/feed/ 2 15678
How Many Goals Will Red Wings Top Six Score? https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/21/how-many-goals-will-red-wings-top-six-score-larkin-debrincat-kane-tarasenko/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/21/how-many-goals-will-red-wings-top-six-score-larkin-debrincat-kane-tarasenko/#comments Sat, 21 Sep 2024 08:00:42 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15661 The post How Many Goals Will Red Wings Top Six Score? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Team lost 75 goals from 2023-24 roster

The post How Many Goals Will Red Wings Top Six Score? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post How Many Goals Will Red Wings Top Six Score? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It’s the No. 1 lament of the Detroit Red Wings faithful. Who’s going to make up for the lost goals?

The departure of 75 goals from the club’s lineup is well documented. Going out the door since season’s end were Daniel Sprong (18), David Perron (17), Robby Fabbri (18), Jake Walman (12) and Shayne Gostisbehere (10).

Those who will be tasked with leading the way for the team in terms of goal scoring this season don’t seem to think that they’ll be taxed too much to make up for the absent tallies.

“I don’t think that’s necessarily a concern,” said Alex DeBrincat, author of 27 goals last season. “I think we should be ready to play and hopefully ready to score a lot of goals.”

Certainly, Detroit is going to be able to put out two top lines that should prove formidable when it comes time to light the lamp. IT’s onyl training camp, but the top-six forwards set out by coach Derek Lalonde are telling.

He’s keeping DeBrincat with captain Dylan Larkin (33 goals) and Lucas Raymond (31 goals). They were a potent unit last season.

“I think all of us are looking to grow, too,” DeBrincat said. “All the guys that came back were looking to improve and be better players and obviously, hopefully score more goals.”

A two-time 41-goal scorer with Chicago, it’s interesting to note that last season was considered to be an off year in terms of output for DeBrincat.

Tarasenko, Kane Are Wild Cards For Red Wings

The second line has J.T. Compher between Patrick Kane and newcomer Vladimir Tarasenko. Kane was a 20-goal scorer in 50 games after signing with the Wings in December. If you pro rate Kane’s goal output last season over 82 games, he’d be a 30-goal man.

Tarasenko is a multiple 30+ sniper during his NHL career. He once netted 40 goals. However, last season he was good for 23.

Still, with one of the greatest passers in the history of the game in Kane to distribute the puck to him, there’s cause to believe that Tarasenko could get back to somewhere near the 34 goals he scored for St. Louis in 2021-22.

“I think he’s a great shooter and he’s similar to DeBrincat in the way where he’s able to find open areas and get his shot off quickly,” Kane said of Tarasenko. “So, hopefully if I’m controlling the puck I can find him in certain areas where he can have a good chance to score.”

Larkin is also viewing Tarasenko as an X-factor when it comes to what he can bring to the Wings.

“I didn’t watch much of the first part of the playoffs, but obviously watched a lot of the finals and later rounds,” Larkin said. “And I watched Florida play and Vladi stuck out to me,” Larkin said. “I think him and Kaner can really click with Kaner’s playmaking ability and Vlad’s finishing and also Vlad’s forecheck. He can get on pucks and be very hard to play against.

“So I’m very excited to watch that line and how it goes throughout the season.”

Last season, this group of six was good for a combined 153 goals. It doesn’t seem like too much of a stretch for them to up that total to at least 165 goals this season.

The post How Many Goals Will Red Wings Top Six Score? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/21/how-many-goals-will-red-wings-top-six-score-larkin-debrincat-kane-tarasenko/feed/ 1 15661
Red Wings Looking to Add Bite https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/red-wings-looking-to-add-bite-ratcliffe-watson-debrincat-lalonde/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/red-wings-looking-to-add-bite-ratcliffe-watson-debrincat-lalonde/#comments Fri, 20 Sep 2024 21:30:09 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15658 The post Red Wings Looking to Add Bite appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit seeking to be more nasty

The post Red Wings Looking to Add Bite appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Red Wings Looking to Add Bite appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Derek Lalonde would rather that his Detroit Red Wings had some more bite. So he’s considering a switch.

Two forwards in Red Wings training camp are players who would bring that element to the lineup. Austin Watson and Isaac Ratcliffe are in Traverse City on Professional Tryout Offers (PTO). They are promised nothing beyond a chance to show what they’ve got.

If you’ve ever watched the hockey cult classic Slap Shot, a chance to show what they’ve got was all it took for the Hanson brothers to make their mark with the Charlestown Chiefs.

Lalonde isn’t looking for anyone to bring that level of mayhem to the ice. But he does believe there’s a place for controlled mayhem.

“I think when done correctly, every team could use that and that type of player,” the Red Wings coach said.

Both Watson and Ratcliffe are certainly that type of player.

Watson Won’t Back Down

Last season, Watson was dropping the gloves seven times. He would tangle with 2023-24 NHL fight leader Nicolas Deslauriers, Zack MacEwen and Pat Maroon among his combatants.

“I don’t think he backs down from anyone,” said Red Wings forward Alex DeBrincat, Watson’s teammate with the 2022-23 Ottawa Senators.

Watson collected 93 penalty minutes in 33 games last season with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Twice, he’s accumulated 123 PIM in a single NHL season.

With the 2018-19 OHL champion Guelph Storm, Ratcliffe was turning the unique double of leading the team in goals (50) and penalty minutes (105).

His NHL resume is limited in comparison to Watson. Ratcliffe saw action in 10 games for the 2021-22 Philadelphia Flyers, collecting 10 PIM.

Red Wings May Enter Protection Racket

Detroit is a team loaded with high-end skill. The Red Wings run deep in players with silky mitts. They are short-staffed when it comes to players willing to drop the mitts. As a team, the Wings only fought 11 times all season.

That’s why they might be considering enrollment into the NHL protection racket.

“Obviously, we have some skill,” Lalonde said. “We would like that skill to be comfortable in the way they play, and that can look different at times.

“So, of course, I think we would love that element if it’s the right fit.”

Along with bringing an element of toughness, in today’s game, rugged players must deliver more that just fistic punches. They need to add something else to the lineup.

Watson has certainly proven to be a player of that ilk during his 10 NHL seasons.

“I think he brings that nasty element,” DeBrincat said. “He’s so hard on the forecheck. He plays maybe not too many minutes, but he’s playing those minutes hard, and he’s crushing their D and getting them tired for the rest of the game.

“So, he’d be a great addition to this team.”

The post Red Wings Looking to Add Bite appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/red-wings-looking-to-add-bite-ratcliffe-watson-debrincat-lalonde/feed/ 8 15658
Mazur Could Be Red Wings October Surprise https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/mazur-could-red-wings-october-surprise-danielson-kasper-brandsegg-nygard/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/mazur-could-red-wings-october-surprise-danielson-kasper-brandsegg-nygard/#comments Fri, 20 Sep 2024 08:00:51 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15651 The post Mazur Could Be Red Wings October Surprise appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Mazur netted 17 goals last season for Grand Rapids

The post Mazur Could Be Red Wings October Surprise appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Mazur Could Be Red Wings October Surprise appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There will be plenty of eyes on the future of the Detroit Red Wings during training camp and the NHL preseason.

From Nate Danielson to Marco Kasper to Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, there are a number of first-round draft picks to eyeball and assess their NHL readiness.

However, it could be that the Red Wings prospect who’s the closest to being NHL ready isn’t any of them.

It just might be Carter Mazur.

Certainly, Mazur’s work is leaving an impression on Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman. He’s truly excited about the determination Mazur is displaying to do the things he needs to do in order to get better.

“You’ll see if you get a chance to see Carter in training camp,” Yzerman said. “He’s worked very hard physically getting stronger, and that was really an important thing for him.”

Detroit forward Patrick Kane is another whose head has been turned by Mazur’s performance on the ice.

“I was actually on the same team as Mazur in our little three on three tournament, and he was pretty impressive,” Kane said. “Just the way he shoots the puck in, the way he’s able to get his release off so quickly. I think he surprised some goaltenders with his shot.”

Injury Deprived Mazur Of Rookie Red Wings Camp

Last season, his first full one in the pro ranks, got off to an inauspicious beginning for Mazur. A leg injury right off the bat during the club’s rookie tournament put him on the shelf for quite some time.

“Maze gets hurt right away,” Red Wings player development director Dan Cleary recalled. “He looked good. Disappointing. It took a little while to come back.”

When he did come back, Mazur did so with a vengeance. He’d score 17 goals in 60 regular-season games with the Griffins. During the Calder Cup playoffs, he was good for 3-5-8 totals over nine games.

In the six-foot, 170-pound Mazur, hockey people draw parallels with Boston Bruins star Brad Marchand. Like Marchand, Mazur is an agitating type with a knack for scoring big goals.

“Mazur is a phenomenal player,” said Red Wings defense prospect Shai Buium, who won an NCAA title alongside Mazur at the Univeraty of Denver. “He does everything right.”

Draper Knows Mazur Well

Perhaps no one in the Red Wings organization is as fluent in Mazur’s charge to the top of the hockey world as Kris Draper. Detroit’s assistant GM and director of amateur scouting was Mazur’s youth hockey coach.

“Carter is an incredible kid,” Draper said. “The one thing I knew about Maze was that this kid was always low maintenance. It was just go out and play. You could see at 15, 16 years old he had a good feel for the game. He had the smarts, he had the competitiveness.

“He’s a wiry, strong player. You look at him and everyone says he’s gotta get stronger. But the thing you realize when he goes out and plays the game is No. 1, he has the puck. No. 2, he’s always hard to knock off the puck and that’s something that you don’t teach. It’s just something that’s there.

“He’s got that inner drive. He’s got that competitiveness. Carter was a kid that always wanted to get better. He was always asking the right questions. At practice time, a lot of the little things. The puck protection, the wall play. Understanding PK stick placement.”

That overall package might not get Mazur to the Red Wings out of this camp, but it will get him to the Red Wings. And it will be sooner rather than later.

The post Mazur Could Be Red Wings October Surprise appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/20/mazur-could-red-wings-october-surprise-danielson-kasper-brandsegg-nygard/feed/ 7 15651
Breaking: Red Wings Sign Seider https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/19/breaking-red-wings-sign-seider/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/19/breaking-red-wings-sign-seider/#comments Thu, 19 Sep 2024 18:30:29 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15647 The post Breaking: Red Wings Sign Seider appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Defenseman signs seven-year pact

The post Breaking: Red Wings Sign Seider appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Breaking: Red Wings Sign Seider appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

On the first day of training camp, the Detroit Red Wings put the last piece of the puzzle in place. They have reached agreement with restricted free agent Moritz Seider on a new contract.

It’s a seven-year deal with an AAV of $8.55 million.

The deal comes just two days after the Red Wings were locking up another key piece of the club’s future. Left-winger Lucas Raymond was agreeing to an eight-year contract with an AAV of $8.075 million.

“Obviously some great news the past few days with Ray signing and then Mo signing, so I think everyone’s kind of relieved that that’s done and over with,” Detroit forward Patrick Kane. “Both those guys are tremendous players. Some of the best players on our team, so obviously huge to have them on our side.

“And both of them, I think, are so deserving as well of their new contracts. Both of them work so hard. They want to be Red Wings. They want to do well for the city here and for the organization. So happy for both those guys and for the team as well.”

With captain Dylan Larkin under contract for another seven seasons at $8.75 million per year, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is now assured of having all the key elements of his team’s core in the fold for many years to come.

“Of course it’s fun for us and fun for him,” was the reaction of Red Wings forward Jonatan Berggren when he heard the news. “It’s well deserved and it’s a big, big piece of this organization’s future.

“So yeah, he’s a leader and yeah, I’m really happy for him.”

Seider Currently In Germany

Seider has been working out in his native Germany with his old club Adler Mannheim while contract negotiations were continuing. It’s not clear how quickly he’ll be getting to Traverse City. Training camp there runs through Sunday.

The 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner was the first player ever chosen by Yzerman in an NHL entry draft when he took over as Detroit GM in 2019. He was selecting the German defenseman sixth overall.

At the time, hockey people – and even Seider for that matter – were left in shock by the pick. However, time has proven Yzerman to be a shrewd selector. Seider has never missed a game during three NHL seasons. He’s averaged seven goals and 38 assists over those three NHL campaigns.

Larkin was admitting that it felt odd to be in camp without Seider’s presence.

“We’ll be ready to embrace Mo whenever he does arrive,” Larkin said.

The post Breaking: Red Wings Sign Seider appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/19/breaking-red-wings-sign-seider/feed/ 6 15647
Five Things to Like About Red Wings Rookie Brandsegg-Nygard (+) https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/19/five-things-like-about-red-wings-rookie-brandsegg-nygard/ Thu, 19 Sep 2024 08:00:20 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15637 The post Five Things to Like About Red Wings Rookie Brandsegg-Nygard (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

As the Detroit Red Wings open training camp on Thursday, watching 2024 first-round draft pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard in action will be a delightful treat. Originally, the plan for the big Norwegian winger was that he’d be sequestered in Sweden with Skelleftea of the SHL for the 2024-25 season. Instead, the Detroit brass was making the […]

The post Five Things to Like About Red Wings Rookie Brandsegg-Nygard (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Five Things to Like About Red Wings Rookie Brandsegg-Nygard (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

This content is for members only. Visit the site and log in/register to read.

The post Five Things to Like About Red Wings Rookie Brandsegg-Nygard (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
15637
Former Red Wings Player Coming to Camp on PTO https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/former-red-wings-player-coming-camp-pto-chiasson/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/former-red-wings-player-coming-camp-pto-chiasson/#respond Wed, 18 Sep 2024 21:51:43 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15635 The post Former Red Wings Player Coming to Camp on PTO appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Alex Chiasson’s first fling with the Detroit Red Wings was brief. It was also very effective. Adding Chiasson to the roster following the NHL trade deadline in 2022-23, he would go on to score six goals in 20 games for Detroit. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is apparently willing to find out if lightning can […]

The post Former Red Wings Player Coming to Camp on PTO appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Former Red Wings Player Coming to Camp on PTO appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Alex Chiasson’s first fling with the Detroit Red Wings was brief. It was also very effective.

Adding Chiasson to the roster following the NHL trade deadline in 2022-23, he would go on to score six goals in 20 games for Detroit.

Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman is apparently willing to find out if lightning can strike twice. Chiasson, 33, will be on the ice Tuesday as the Red Wings open training camp in Traverse City. He will be there on a PTO.

The 6-foot-3, 208-pound left winger was out of pro hockey last season. He attended training camp with the Boston Bruins on a PTO, but didn’t make the cut.

The previous season, Chiasson began the 2022-23 campaign on an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit’s top farm club. He would score nine goals and account for 20 points in 29 games with the Griffins.

After a series of deadline deals left the Red Wings short-staffed at the NHL level, the decision was made to sign Chiasson to an NHL contract and promote him to Detroit.

Chiasson Effective With Red Wings

He would prove to be an effective power-play performer in his short stint with the Red Wings. Five of Chiasson’s six goals and seven of his nine points came while Detroit was enjoying the man advantage.

To be sure, this is a longshot opportunity again for the veteran NHL forward. About 20% of players who attend NHL training camps on PTOs wind up signing a contract with that team.

On the other hand, Chiasson is better off playing somewhere than sitting at home. Even if the Red Wings decide they don’t want him, it gives other NHL teams the opportunity to see what he’s got left in the tank.

From the point of view of the Wings, they are going to need goal scoring. They saw 75 goals depart from last season’s lineup.

Six times in 11 NHL seasons Chiasson has hit for double digits in goals. He scored a career-high 22 goals for the Edmonton Oilers in 2018-19.

The post Former Red Wings Player Coming to Camp on PTO appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/former-red-wings-player-coming-camp-pto-chiasson/feed/ 0 15635
Can Doucet Deliver Goals For Griffins? https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/can-doucet-deliver-goals-for-griffins-red-wings-watson-yzerman/ https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/can-doucet-deliver-goals-for-griffins-red-wings-watson-yzerman/#comments Wed, 18 Sep 2024 08:00:42 +0000 https://detroithockeynow.com/?p=15626 The post Can Doucet Deliver Goals For Griffins? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Rookie scored 19 goals last season for ECHL Toledo

The post Can Doucet Deliver Goals For Griffins? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
The post Can Doucet Deliver Goals For Griffins? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Both the Detroit Red Wings and their top farm club, the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, are asking the same question entering training camp.

Who’s gonna score the goals this season?

In Detroit, the Red Wings said goodbye to Daniel Sprong (18), David Perron (17), Robby Fabbri (18), Jake Walman (12) and Shayne Gostisbehere (10). That’s 75 goals.

“We’d like to think (free agent addition) Vlad Tarasenko offsets one of those losses,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said. “We think Jonatan Berggren can offset another of those losses.”

Berggren (24 goals) is among those who will be gone from the Grand Rapids offense. Other key contributors who won’t be returning are Joel L’Esperance (16), Taro Hirose (nine), Zach Aston-Reese (12), Matt Luff (10) and Austin Czarnik (10). That’s 81 goals.

Who replaces those goals? One of the candidates could be left-winger Alexandre Doucet. He was an 19-goal scorer last season as a pro rookie with the ECHL Toledo Walleye. He’s anxious to prove that he can bring that touch to the AHL. During Detroit’s rookie series with the Dallas Stars, Doucet would tally three times in two games.

Doucet Ready To Step Up To Griffins

He believes he’s learned his lessons well and is prepared to make that next step up the hockey ladder.

“I’m working on my strength, getting faster,” the six-foot, 192-pound Doucet said. “I think I’ve got smarter playing the coast last year, so I’m just trying to show that I’ve improved a lot.

“I don’t want to go back in the coast, so I’ve tried to work hard this summer to prove that I belong in Grand Rapids.”

Griffins coach Dan Watson was behind the bench for those rookie games. He was liking what he was seeing from Doucet.

“What he put in the summertime, I think he’s in better shape,” Watson said. “We know he could score. We know he’s got that energy now.

“It’s being consistent with it, and I think we saw that consistency. He was able to follow up shift after shift with his skating, with his compete level.

“What he did with the puck, that’s what we need to see all the time with him, is just that high energy, but at a consistent level.”

The post Can Doucet Deliver Goals For Griffins? appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

]]>
https://detroithockeynow.com/2024/09/18/can-doucet-deliver-goals-for-griffins-red-wings-watson-yzerman/feed/ 2 15626