Detroit Red Wings

Valtteri Filppula has signed a two-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
Filppula started his NHL career with the Red Wings and he collected 100 goals and 251 points in 483 games from 2006 to 2013. He notched 17 goals and 31 points in 72 contests for the New York Islanders last campaign.

 

Joe Veleno is eyeing a roster spot with Detroit out of training camp.
"Coming from juniors, it’s managing how to create time and space for yourself and how to make plays at a higher pace," Veleno said. "That's one thing I'm definitely going to have to work on this summer and get used to for next year. For any guy here, it's a big opportunity. Detroit's in a big rebuild and there are a lot of open spots. I'm definitely taking that into consideration and giving it my best to play on the team next year." He amassed 104 points in 59 games for Drummondville of the QMJHL last season.

 

Red Wings turn to Yzerman to help team in transition
New GM in place, Detroit using veterans to fill roles while young players develop

After the NHL Draft, free agency and other offseason moves, NHL.com is taking a look at where each team stands. Today, the Detroit Red Wings:

Steve Yzerman played 22 seasons for the Detroit Red Wings, so you can understand why as their new general manager he is taking a patient, long-term approach.

Despite missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for a third straight season after qualifying for 25 straight, the Red Wings this offseason added three free agents -- center Valtteri Filppula, defenseman Patrik Nemeth and goalie Calvin Pickard -- each on a two-year contract.

The short terms were by design.

"Obviously, being new to the organization, I want to proceed somewhat slowly and kind of get to know really what we have within the organization," said Yzerman, who was hired April 19. "I think I have a good handle on the NHL team, but the prospects we have coming, the players we have in Grand Rapids (in the American Hockey League), I wanted to give us the flexibility of providing opportunity for our young players but also trying to help the Detroit Red Wings immediately as much as possible."

Yzerman said the Red Wings could add a right wing or defenseman if the right player and contract comes along.

Forward Michael Rasmussen, 20, the No. 9 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft, who played last season in the NHL because the Red Wings felt it was better for his development than the junior level, and defenseman Dennis Cholowski, 21, a first-round pick (No. 20) in 2016, who played 52 games in the NHL before going to the AHL last season, will have to win jobs. The Red Wings want them playing meaningful minutes, if not in the NHL, then in the AHL.

Here is what the Red Wings look like today:



Key arrivals
Steve Yzerman, GM: The Hall of Fame center and three-time Stanley Cup champion for the Red Wings was the general manager of the Tampa Bay Lighting from May 25, 2010 until Sept. 11, 2018, when he became an adviser to Tampa Bay GM Julien BriseBois. Yzerman replaced Ken Holland, who was promoted to senior vice president when Yzerman was hired but then left to become the GM of the Edmonton Oilers on May 7. ... Valtteri Filppula, F: The 35-year-old center will allow Andreas Athanasiou to play wing, his natural position. Though Filppula's production has declined, he scored 17 goals last season for the New York Islanders and can play in all situations. The Red Wings selected him in the third round (No. 95) in the 2002 NHL Draft and he played for Detroit from 2005-13. … Patrik Nemeth, D: The 27-year-old gives the Red Wings a big body (6-foot-3, 219 pounds) who defends well and kills penalties. He is slated to play on the left side with a right-handed offensive defenseman, either Mike Green or Filip Hronek. … Calvin Pickard, G: The 27-year-old gives the Red Wings insurance in case of injury to Jimmy Howard or Jonathan Bernier. Pickard also can mentor Filip Larsson, their top goalie prospect, who is expected to start the season in the AHL.

Key departures
Niklas Kronwall, D: The 38-year-old has not decided on retirement, but the Red Wings are proceeding as if he won't return. He averaged 19:57 of ice time last season, but if he retires, he will leave a larger void in the locker room at this stage. He has played his entire 15-season NHL career for Detroit and, as a mentor and vocal leader, shown younger players what it means to be a member of the Red Wings. … Thomas Vanek, F: The 35-year-old had 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 64 games last season. He is an unrestricted free agent. … Martin Frk, F: The 25-year-old had six points (one goal, five assists) in 30 games last season. He agreed to a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent July 1. ... Ken Holland, GM: Left the Red Wings after 22 seasons as general manager and is in that role with Oilers.



On the cusp
Taro Hirose, F: Pencil the 23-year-old onto the opening roster. After tying for the NCAA Division I scoring lead with 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) for Michigan State last season, he signed with the Red Wings as a free agent March 12 and had seven points (one goal, six assists) in 10 NHL games. … Oliwer Kaski D: The 23-year-old will compete for a roster spot after signing as a free agent May 28. He has size (6-3, 190) and ranked sixth in scoring in Finland's top professional league with 51 points (19 goals, 32 assists) in 59 games for Lahti. He had two assists in 10 games to help Finland win the 2019 IIHF World Championship. … Filip Zadina, F: The Red Wings have high hopes for Zadina, the No. 6 pick of the 2018 NHL Draft, but he likely will start in the AHL for a second straight season. He had 35 points (16 goals, 19 assists) in 59 games for Grand Rapids and three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games for Detroit.

What they still need
Difference-makers. Now that Yzerman is back in Detroit as the GM, he needs to find the next … well, Yzerman. The Red Wings kept their window open for so long because they replaced Yzerman and Sergei Fedorov with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg at center while they still had defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, and they built around them. They have to draft and develop the next generation of stars.



Fantasy focus
The status of veteran defenseman Green (virus) remains uncertain, but Hronek is poised to build upon his strong finish to the season. Hronek had seven points (two goals, five assists) in his final six NHL games and then led the defensemen at the 2019 IIHF World Championship with 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 10 games for the Czech Republic. If Hronek gets first power-play exposure to Red Wings center Dylan Larkin for anything close to a full season, he could be one of the biggest fantasy steals among defensemen. -- Pete Jensen



Projected lineup
Tyler Bertuzzi -- Dylan Larkin -- Anthony Mantha

Andreas Athanasiou -- Valtteri Filppula -- Taro Hirose

Justin Abdelkader -- Luke Glendening -- Darren Helm

Jacob de La Rose -- Frans Nielsen -- Christoffer Ehn

Danny DeKeyser -- Filip Hronek

Patrik Nemeth -- Mike Green

Jonathan Ericsson -- Madison Bowey

Jimmy Howard

Jonathan Bernier

source; NHL.com

 

Hicketts inked a two-year contract with the Red Wings on Wednesday.


Hicketts was a restricted free agent this offseason, and was able to land back with Detroit. He wasn't impressive in limited action with Detroit last season, going scoreless while posting a minus-9 rating in 11 games, but he showed some potential while skating in the minors, notching three goals and 27 points in 64 appearances. The 23-year-old blueliner will try to secure a spot on the Red Wing's Opening Night roster during training camp in September.

 

Tuomisto fits profile of what Red Wings want on defense
18-year-old has size, physical presence that attracted Detroit in second round of 2019 Draft



DETROIT -- Antti Tuomisto expected to hear his name called at some point during the 2019 NHL Draft.

The 18-year-old Finland-born defenseman was prepared to wait for as long as it took, but to his pleasant surprise his hopes were answered early on the second day of the draft. The Detroit Red Wings took Tuomisto in the second round (No. 35), higher than he was rated on most prospect lists.

"That was a great feeling," Tuomisto said at Red Wings development camp in June. "I thought I'd get drafted but I didn't have big expectations, so I was maybe a little surprised."

The pick was almost a duplicate of when the Red Wings chose Germany-born defenseman Moritz Seider at No. 6. The picks gave them a pair of 6-foot-4, right-handed, European-trained defensemen who can also move the puck.

That wasn't an accident. Former Red Wings director of amateur scouting Tyler Wright watched the St. Louis Blues defeat the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final and it solidified his conviction Detroit needed to get bigger on defense.

"You see the size of the guys on Boston and St. Louis, and we talked about that at length," Wright said. "They aren't just big, though. [Tuomisto] is a kid I liked all year because he's 6-foot-4 (190 pounds) and plays with a real bite to his game, but he's also a player.

"He's got good sense and he can play in the middle of the ice."

Unlike Seider, who played in the top German league last season and represented his country at the 2019 IIHF World Championship, Tuomisto has been playing in age-group competitions. At 17, he played 45 games for Assat in the Finnish U-20 league, where he had 35 points (nine goals, 26 assists).

"He's a big guy who can certainly fill out and he's a very good skater who plays with a natural bite," Red Wings director of European scouting Hakan Andersson said. "He's physical and he has a real good shot."

(NHL.com)

 

Larkin taking leadership role with Red Wings
Center coming off NHL career highs in goals, points wants to be better two-way player

MOUNT CLEMENS, Mich. -- It's July, but Dylan Larkin is thinking ahead.

"I believe I'm working as hard as I possibly can, and also resting, which is a huge part of the summer, and taking care of my body," the Detroit Red Wings center said on Tuesday. "It's just stuff you learn. After four years, your body, you feel things, and you understand if you want to play big minutes in the NHL, the big minutes matter in February, March, April and May. That's what you have to prepare for."

The Red Wings haven't made the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2015-16, Larkin's rookie season, when they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the Eastern Conference First Round. They finished 28th in the NHL last season.

But they have a new general manager, Steve Yzerman, the Red Wings icon who was GM of the Lightning from 2010-18. They signed forward Valtteri Filppula and defenseman Patrik Nemeth as unrestricted free agents July 1. And led by Larkin, who turns 23 on Tuesday, they have young talent on the roster and in the system.

"I think it's all excitement," Larkin said. "I think a long summer like we've had, you can't forget the young guys that we have."

Larkin plays in the Eastside Elite summer league in suburban Detroit with forward Taro Hirose, who tied for the NCAA Division I scoring lead with 50 points (15 goals, 35 assists) for Michigan State last season, signed with the Red Wings as a free agent March 12 and had seven points (one goal, six assists) in 10 NHL games.

"You see a guy out here like Taro Hirose and how much skill he has and how dynamic he is," Larkin said at the Eastside Elite All-Star Challenge at Mount Clemens Ice Arena.

Larkin mentioned the end of forward Tyler Bertuzzi's season (five goals and eight assists in seven games), forward Anthony Mantha's performance for Canada at the IIHF World Championship (seven goals and seven assists in nine games), forward Andreas Athanasiou's breakout season (30 goals and 24 assists) and defenseman Filip Hronek, who made his NHL debut (five goals and 18 assists in 46 games).

"The list goes on," said Larkin, likely referring to players like forward Michael Rasmussen (the No. 9 pick of the 2017 NHL Draft) and forward Filip Zadina (the No. 6 pick in 2018). "There's excitement, and there's opportunity for these guys to come in and be impact players and be impact players for a long time. That fires me up because I'm pumped to get to play with them."

A year ago at this time, Larkin said he wanted to be "the guy," counted on in all situations like centers Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg had been for so long in Detroit.

"It's that next step where superstars are, and that's where I want to be," he said then.

Well, he took a huge step last season. He scored 32 goals, twice as many as he did the season before. He had 73 points, 10 more than the NHL career high he had set the season before. He also set NHL career highs in several other categories, including shots (287), shooting percentage (11.1), average ice time (21:51) and face-off winning percentage (54.5).

 

Im not so sure about ending the playoff drought, but that would be nice.

The Wings are improved, but I think the competition is even better, especially in the improvement department.

 

I think this year will be brutal for you Will. Aelxis Lafreniere should be a name to get to know.
Maybe Im wrong, happens all the time. I just see that Detroit roster and the way Yzerman seems to be approaching it.........2019/20 isnt the year. I will say that I think the slow methodical approach is ultimately the best if the elite FA or draft opportunities arent there. I think something similar to what Hextall was doing mopping up the mess in Philly is the best strategy for the Wings.

 

I think your right. I have zero in the hope column as far as a playoff appearance, or even a winning season as far as that goes. Development of the youth will be interesting to watch... im looking forward to that.

The Red Wings are more than just a player or two away and this will take some time and smart moves... that's why I'm pleased Yzerman will be calling the shots. Just hope success comes in my lifetime.

 

Wings happy with their prospects at World Junior Summer Showcase
Front office members also got a look at some draft-eligible players
by Dana Wakiji @Dwakiji / DetroitRedWings.com



DETROIT -- When Detroit Red Wings prospects Joe Veleno, Jonatan Berggren, Jesper Eliasson and Otto Kivenmaki played at the World Junior Summer Showcase last week at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Mich., several members of the front office were there to observe.

Among them were general manager Steve Yzerman, assistant general manager Pat Verbeek, assistant general manager Ryan Martin, director of player development Shawn Horcoff, player development assistant Dan Cleary, director of player evaluation Jiri Fischer, director of statistical analysis and hockey administration Bryan Campbell, coach Jeff Blashill and assistant to the general manager Kris Draper.

Joe Veleno, the Wings' first-round pick, 30th overall in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, had remained in metro Detroit after development camp to train with some of the other prospects, so he did not have far to go.

Veleno, 19, played for Team Canada, recording two goals and an assist in just two games.

"Joe played great," Horcoff said. "I think he only played two games. He played the first one, sat out the next two, played in the last one, scored in both games. He played a little bit of center, a little bit of wing in both, which I like. I like his versatility, he's starting to be able to learn to do that. We'd love for him to learn all those positions and turn into a guy that you could play anywhere in the lineup, up and down, both center and both wings, even though we view him as a center. It never hurts to learn to play every position.

"He looked good. He came into Detroit, stayed after development camp, knows that there's some work to be done there in terms of physical conditioning and strength and explosiveness but he's putting the work in and we're looking forward to see how he looks in prospect tournament."

Jonatan Berggren, the Wings' second-round pick, 33rd overall in the 2018 draft, suited up for Team Sweden and had one assist in three games.

Although Berggren is fully recovered from a back injury that limited him to 16 games in the 2018-19 season, Team Sweden coach Tomas Montén held him out of the last game against rival Finland just to play it safe.

Berggren, who just turned 19 on July 16, is still expected to have a very good chance to make Sweden's World Junior Championship team.

"Actually I liked him," Horcoff said. "I liked him in development camp, especially for a guy that missed so much time in the second half of the season, which limited his training. I think he's getting some of his quickness back, he's on a better strength program, conditioning program and all that's coming together. So he's continuing to work hard. I look for him to have what is hopefully a good, healthy first half of the season and obviously to make that team would be a big part of it."

Horcoff thought it was probably a good idea for Berggren to take it a bit easy during a midsummer tournament.

"He feels good, he's healthy again for the first time in a long time," Horcoff said. "But he's been off for a long time, especially coming off an injury like that, you never kind of want to really rush yourself back into it. Having not played any competitive games in essentially, four or five months, it's probably the right and smart approach."

 

Dylan Larkin said Tuesday he would welcome becoming captain of the Detroit Red Wings.

"I feel ready for it," the center told TSN. "I think it's something that I can't focus on, I can't lose sleep about it, can't control it, I just try and be myself and play the game that I love and play with a lot of passion.

"Everyone in the NHL has been a leader at some point in their careers. I'm lucky that we have great veteran leadership and it's taken a lot of pressure off me, but a letter's a letter, but being a captain of a franchise like the Detroit Red Wings would mean a lot to me."

Larkin, who grew up in Michigan, turned 23 on July 30 and is entering his fifth NHL season. Last season, he set NHL career highs with 73 points, 32 goals, 287 shots on goal and 21:51 time on ice per game.

"I think last year was a big stepping year for me," Larkin said. "I took a big step in my game, my 200-foot game, and I think I got a lot of confidence after that season. I need to take another step and become even better in my own zone, and score more, or contribute in different ways offensively. ... I'm excited to get back at it."

Detroit did not have a captain last season after Henrik Zetterberg said he could no longer play because of back problems. The forward was Red Wings captain since 2012-13.

"He was the best captain I ever played for in my young career," Larkin said. "You see a lot of guys that played in other places and played for pretty good captains, they speak very highly of what kind of leader he was. I think just his extra gear that he had, he always found a way to push harder, and when the team seemed to have nothing, he had that extra oomph and he found a way to get it done.

"He was always reliable, he always did the right things in the locker room, he always showed up to the rink working as hard as he could and set a good example for the young guys. I think he's someone I still to this day am in contact with, and I still text him if I ever stumble upon things or have problems. He's been one of the greatest mentors I ever had."

Larkin was an alternate captain last season with defenseman Niklas Kronwall and forwards Justin Abdelkader and Frans Nielsen.

"It's something if it happens, it happens," Larkin said. "If it doesn't, I still get to play for the Detroit Red Wings and I get to play in the NHL, and I'm going to try and play my best."

 

Red Wings Acquire Forward Adam Erne from Tampa Bay for a 4th Round Pick

Detroit sent a fourth round pick in the 2020 entry draft to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Adam Erne.

The 6’1” left wing played 65 games from the Lightning last season, finishing with 7 goals and 13 assists.

 

I like the potential of, Erne. He's big and tough to play against.

Might be a good 3rd line power forward and he's still young.

 

Gotta like it; Stevie Y with his TB connections. I think this was done for one reason - by TB - to gain a little cap relief. Detroit gave up an asset with a statistical probability of only 20% chance to ever skate in the league for a reliable bottom-six F.

 

There's continuous chatter about Rasmus Ristolainen being traded out of Buffalo. It's hardly worth commenting on this. I personally think there's about a 50% chance that he's moved.

If he is, it's an interesting question to wonder where he might land. Winnipeg and Vancouver have the need - and, those teams would seem to have the assets that would satisfy the Sabres.

I think that Detroit might fit the bill as well. It's rare for a high profile player to be traded within his division, but it's not unheard of. And, there's not a lot of animus about the Red Wings in Buffalo.

So, why am I posting this? I'm curious if anyone has heard anything about DET's possible interest in Risto. If a trade were put together, what might go to BUF?

(I think it's worth noting that TB is known to have a long term interest in Risto. Of course, SY is now running the show for the Wings. He presumably has a good idea for Botterill's demands.)

 

Its an interesting idea, but with the signing of Nemeth, a large, stay at home kinda guy, I don't think they would invest further in a D-man like Risto, but what do I know.

I looked around the www and found no rumors of a Risto to Detroit scenario. I like the idea, I just am nearly trained to think of the Wings as being ultra-conservative right now.

 

I stand corrected, there are rumors of an interest in Detroit for Risto… im going to do some more reading and get back to you.

 

Damn, Dan... the more I read the more i like the idea of a top 4, RHD, in the likes of Risto in Detroit. He's only 24 also and the Wings are looking to get younger. I wonder what the Sabres would want in return. Stevie Y should at least kick the tires.