Detroit Red Wings

THE Joe Kocur, liked my tweet on twitter, that made my day!

 

Kronwall retires from NHL, remains with Red Wings as adviser to GM
Defenseman played 15 seasons with Detroit, won Stanley Cup in 2008

 

Nemeth is an option to assume Niklas Kronwall's workload now that Kronwall has decided to retire, Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News reports.


It had been a bit unclear where Nemeth would fit in Detroit's system after he signed a two-year deal with the Original Six club in July, but given that Kronwall averaged close to 20 minutes per game last season, the potential is there for Nemeth to seize a substantial role. On the downside, he's a true stay-at-home defenseman, so the projected uptick in playing time might not be enough to deem Nemeth relevant in most fantasy formats. The 27-year-old has compiled only 39 points (four goals, 35 assists) through 250 career contests between the Stars and Avalanche.

 

Red Wings release 2019 NHL Prospect Tournament roster
Recent first-rounders Seider, Zadina and Veleno set for tournament play

 

Detroit's roster is highlighted by its three most-recent first-round picks in forwards Filip Zadina (sixth overall, 2018) and Joe Veleno (30th overall, 2018) and defenseman Moritz Seider (sixth overall, 2019). In 2018-19, Zadina finished sixth overall in points for the Grand Rapids Griffins as the second-youngest player in the American Hockey League, also tallying one goal and two assists in nine games in his first NHL stint with the Red Wings. Veleno starred in his final season of major-junior hockey, racking up 104 points (42-62-104) in 59 games with the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Drummondville Voltigeurs, posting the second-best points-per-game average (1.72) in the league and finishing as a finalist for QMJHL MVP, as well as a spot on the QMJHL First All-Star Team. Seider, who is one of three 2019 Red Wings draft picks attending the NHL Prospect Tournament, was the Deutsch Eishockey Liga Rookie of the Year and helped his club capture a league championship, while representing his country at the IIHF World Junior Championship Division 1 and the IIHF World Championship, becoming the first defenseman aged 18-or-younger to record a point during the tournament since 1982.

Also highlighting Detroit's roster are a number of collegiate players entering their first full professional seasons after starring at the NCAA level. Taro Hirose tied for the NCAA scoring lead with Michigan State and made an immediate NHL impact for Detroit, picking up seven points (1-6-7) in 10 games. Ryan Kuffner also debuted with the Red Wings after finishing his career at Princeton University as the school's all-time leading goalscorer. Chase Pearson, a 2015 fifth-round pick of Detroit, had a taste of professional hockey after signing with the Red Wings following his junior season at Maine, where he served as a captain for back-to-back seasons.

Other roster highlights include right wing Givani Smith, a second-round pick (46th overall) in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft who joins Zadina in returning to the NHL Prospect Tournament after spending a full season in Grand Rapids; defenseman Gustav Lindstrom, who is slated to play in North America this season after capturing a championship in the Swedish Hockey League with Frolunda in 2018-19; a pair of 2019 Swedish sixth-round picks in 6-foot-7 forward Elmer Soderblom and defenseman Gustav Berglund; and Kaden Fulcher, a former free agent invitee who earned a contract with the Red Wings prior to the 2017-18 season after a strong showing at the team's development camp and training camp and made his NHL debut in a relief appearance in Detroit's 2018-19 regular-season finale.

Twenty-three players who skated for the Red Wings during the 2018-19 season previously participated in the tournament, while 639 total players have played in the tournament and moved on to skate in at least one NHL game during its 20-year history. Prospects from the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues and Toronto Maple Leafs will also be competing in this year's tournament.

 

TRAVERSE CITY -- The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks are no longer Western Conference and Central Division rivals but that doesn't mean the animosity is gone.

Even with the two teams playing in the NHL Prospect Tournament at Centre Ice Arena in Traverse City, there was some rough play and some real physical battles.

The Wings spotted the Blackhawks a 4-1 lead before storming back to tie the game in the second period.

Although the Wings carried more of the play in the third, neither team scored, sending it to overtime.

The extra time did not last long as Brandon Hagel scored 43 seconds into overtime for the 5-4 victory.

Ryan Kuffner (power play), Jarid Lukosevicius (power play) and Joe Veleno (unassisted breakaway, power play) scored for the Wings.

Mikael Hakkarainen, Kirby Dach, MacKenzie Entwistle and Jack Ramsey were the other Blackhawks scorers.

Detroit goaltender Kaden Fulcher, starting in place of the injured Filip Larsson, had 19 saves.

Chicago goalkeeper Alexis Gravel had 27 saves.

The Wings play the St. Louis Blues Saturday at 3:30 p.m. while the Blackhawks take on Toronto at 3 p.m.

1. Joe Veleno: it is quite clear that Veleno's confidence has skyrocketed in a year's time. He had a successful first prospect tournament last year after being drafted in the first round, 30th overall, in the 2018 draft. Then he went on to have a truly elite season in his final year in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, posting 42 goals and 62 assists in 59 games for the Drummondville Voltigeurs. All the while, he remained in contact with Shawn Horcoff, the Wings director of player development (and now also assistant director of player personnel), and Dan Cleary, assistant director of player development, who guided him toward his goal of becoming a more complete player. Veleno helped the Wings rally from their 4-1 deficit, scoring twice in the second period. His first goal came unassisted on a steal and breakaway and his second came on the power play. The power-play goal was assisted by Filip Zadina and Taro Hirose, his linemates throughout the game and with the man-advantage.

Quotable: "It was a good shift by the other guys. I just happened to come off the bench. They were pretty exhausted and I was forechecking and he coughed up the puck and I was able to put that in the net. It was a good overall effort by the other guys on the shift before that started. It felt really good. They're two unbelievable players who are going to be superstars eventually. They see the ice really well. Obviously, Z can shoot the puck and make plays and got good speed. Taro is just super-skilled smooth out there and is able to make plays not too many guys can make. Just a real good opportunity to play with those guys. It's a lot of fun." -- Veleno

 

I just got a like from Brooks Laich

 

Veleno has 4 goals in 2 games... not too shabby.

 

Maple Leafs 3, Red Wings 2... 2nd

 

4-2 Leafs

 

Red Wings win Prospect Tournament...

 

Holy Cow, its just 6 days until the preseason opens with the Red Wings taking on the Blackhawks... coolness!

 

there are as many suits on the ice as players in that victory pic

 

Detroit in Pittsburgh tonight. Abdelkader finally going to see some ice time.

I looked out the window and the Leafs were falling...

 

Mathews with a 3 point night and the Leafs defeat the Red Wings, 5-0.

Preseason is finally over... let the games begin!