Month: April 2022

Canucks assign Podkolzin, Martin, Silovs, Lockwood to Abbotsford, waive Petan and Dries

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The Vancouver Canucks have assigned Vasily Podkolzin to the Abbotsford Canucks, the club announced on Saturday.

Podkolzin, 20, will join Abbotsford for its upcoming run in the 2022 Calder Cup playoffs. The 2019 first-round pick amassed 14 goals and 26 points in 79 National Hockey League games as a rookie with Vancouver this season.

Spencer Martin, Arturs Silovs, and Will Lockwood have also been assigned to Abbotsford for the playoffs. Nic Petan and Sheldon Dries have been placed on waivers and will join the AHL Canucks if they clear.

Earlier this week, Podkolzin spoke with CanucksArmy‘s Chris Faber about the prospect of joining Abbotsford in its pursuit of the Calder Cup.

“That’s good extra games for me,” Podkolzin told Faber. “I told Bruce about it after the deadline and he said it’s good for you, good for your experience and you will be a better player after this playoff and extra games. We will see, I don’t know yet. We will talk with Bruce after the back-to-back and we will see. I hope I can bring good hockey for Abbotsford.”

Their official matchup is still to be determined, but the Canucks will likely have home-ice advantage in the first round of the 2022 AHL playoffs. The Baby ‘Nucks currently sit in third place in the Pacific Division with a 39–22–6 record; the top seven teams in the Pacific will advance beyond the regular season.

Podkolzin has yet to play his first AHL game. He was sent down to Abbotsford in a “paper transaction” prior to the 2022 NHL trade deadline to ensure his eligibility for the Calder Cup playoffs.

Without Podkolzin, Martin, Silovs, or Lockwood in the lineup, the Canucks are currently down 4–0 to the Manitoba Moose in the second period of their season finale at Canada Life Centre.

Jeff Blashill out as Red Wings head coach after seven seasons

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Jeff Blashill will not return as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings next season.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman announced on Saturday afternoon that the team will not renew the contracts of Blashill, assistant coach Doug Houda, and goaltending coach Jeff Salajko.

Blashill, 48, had been in his position with the Red Wings since 2015–16 and was the second-longest-tenured head coach in the National Hockey League, behind only Tampa Bay Lightning bench boss Jon Cooper.

Under Blashill’s guidance, the Red Wings compiled a 204–261–72 record in seven seasons. The Red Wings have missed the playoffs every year since 2015–16, when Blashill led them to a 41–30–11 regular season before losing to the Lightning in five games in the first round.

Houda and Salajko had served on Blashill’s staff since 2016–17. The Red Wings finished sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 32–40–10 record in the 2021–22 season, Blashill’s last as head coach.

The Red Wings did not issue any comment about the status of assistant coach Alex Tanguay, video coach LJ Scarpace, and assistant video Jeff Weintraub.

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Red Wings assign Joe Veleno to Grand Rapids before AHL season finale

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The Grand Rapids Griffins will not qualify for the 2020 Calder Cup playoffs, but they will get some extra help in the form of Joe Veleno, Taro Hirose, and Kyle Criscuolo in advance of Saturday’s game against the Cleveland Monsters.

All three forwards have been assigned to the Griffins by the Detroit Red Wings, the NHL club announced on Saturday afternoon. At this time, it is unclear whether any of them will be in the lineup for the Griffins’ game in Cleveland at 7:00 p.m. ET.

Veleno, 22, is coming off his first full National Hockey League season in Detroit. The 2018 first-round pick scored eight goals and 15 points in 66 games with the Red Wings in 2021–22, most recently tallying off a Tyler Bertuzzi feed in the season finale on Friday.

Hirose, 25, logged 15 games with the Red Wings this season, scoring four points (one goal, three assists). The 5’10” winger has proven himself an effective contributor at the AHL level and currently ranks second on the Griffins with 53 points in 69 games.

Criscuolo, 29, picked up his first two NHL points (both assists) in six games with the Red Wings in 2021–22. The 5’9″ right-handed center previously appeared in nine games with the Buffalo Sabres back in 2017–18; in 57 games with the Griffins this year, Criscuolo has 15 goals and 39 points.

The Griffins (32–35–8) and Monsters (28–34–13) both rank last in their respective AHL divisions, with Cleveland head coach Mike Eaves announcing his resignation from the team earlier on Saturday. You’ll be able to catch Saturday’s Griffins game on AHL TV.

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ARTICLE SPONSORED BY DAILY FACEOFF BRACKET CHALLENGE

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Random Thoughts An Amazing Night with the Nation Crew, Playoff Parties, and getting excited

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We’ve finally arrived at the NHL playoffs and I thought this gameless Saturday would be the perfect time for another dose of Random Thoughts to offer up some fresh takes on what’s been happening.

I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE PLAYOFFS

Now that the regular season is done, I find myself buzzing around my house in eager anticipation of what’s to come. I keep running scenarios through my head about what it will take for the boys to run through the Kings like one of those banners at a high school football game, and the thought of it makes me as happy as I’ve been in quite some time. I know the Oilers made the playoffs the last couple of seasons — yes, I’m counting the bubble appearance as playoffs — but it hasn’t been the same without fans in the building. Now that we’ll have Rogers Place packed with 18,000 noise machines, I’ve got very high hopes for how this is going to play out and the anticipation is ramping up with each passing hour. Only two more sleeps to go and I am fired up about it.

PLAYOFF PARTIES ARE BACK!

If you remember back to the 2017 playoffs, one of the best things we did was throw viewing parties as a means of getting the Nation together to cheer on our boys. The result was some of the best nights of my life and foggy memories that I cherish to this day, and I am so pumped to get these going again starting on Monday. So if you want to hang out with the Nation crew and surround yourself with like-minded friends that you never knew you needed in your life. I mean, we tried our best to create a vibe the last couple of years, but nothing can compare to the times when we can all get together. So if you’re in the mood to party during the playoffs, we’ll have you covered and the festivities kick off on Monday.

YOU COULD ALSO COME WITH US TO LA

Playoff parties not enough for you? Why not join us in LA for games three and four? A few of us from Nation HQ will be heading down and we’d love to have you join us. Sign up here.

LAST NIGHT WAS AWESOME

Last night, the entire crew from Nation HQ made our way to Rogers Place for the season finale against the Vancouver Canucks and I cannot even begin to describe how much fun we had. From the amazing dinner at Campio before the game to the playoff-ready atmosphere in the barn to wrapping up the night at The Pint post-game, I can’t even begin to express how happy I was to get back to an Oilers game. For me, this was the first time since “the thing” started that I’ve been to a game at Rogers Place and I missed it so much it’s ridiculous. Even though McDavid and Draisaitl weren’t playing, it didn’t even matter because it was so much fun to be back in the building and hang out with the amazing group that makes this website and network hum along. Add in the fact that the Oilers won and you’ve got the makings of a fine little Friday.

BETTER LAIT THAN NEVER

How can you not be excited about what’s going on with the Edmonton Oilers right now? With the playoffs upon us, I dove into what’s working, what I’m excited about, and how Jay Woodcroft has turned this team around in a way I didn’t think was possible. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts. 

ARTICLE SPONSORED BY DAILY FACEOFF BRACKET CHALLENGE

Do you think you know who will take home hockey’s ultimate prize? Do you think you can put together the ultimate playoff bracket? Sign up for a FREE ACCOUNT for the Daily Faceoff Playoff Bracket Challenge presented by PointsBet Canada to secure your spot for a chance at prizes and glory! Sign up here.

Red Wings fire head coach Blashill after 6th straight missed playoffs

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The Detroit Red Wings commemorated the return of Steve Yzerman three years back, expecting one of their all-time greats to reverse the franchise as general manager.

It hasn’t occurred yet.

Wanting to shake up the restore, Yzerman fired coach Jeff Blashill after on Saturday. Blashill had a. 447 winning percentage, second-worst in the league over his seven seasons, not counting the debut season of the growth Seattle Kraken.

The Red Wings closed their 3rd season under Yzerman on Friday night with a 5-3 win at New Jersey, stopping working to reveal much progress in the standings with the Hall of Fame gamer in charge.

Detroit was 32-40-10 and won 39 percent of its video games, barely faring much better than last year’s rate after bottoming out in Yzerman’s very first season by winning fewer than one-fourth of its video games.

The Red Wings weren’t the worst team in the league this season, completing about 20 points ahead of the NHL’s worst groups. They were nearly 30 points away from making a wild-card berth in the playoffs.

Detroit’s string of seasons without appearing in the playoffs extended to 6 years after remaining in 25 straight post-seasons and winning 4 Stanley Cups.

“We’ve remained in the playoff race longer than we have the last couple of years” Blashill said prior to he was fired. “Since we started the reconstruct, we had as much hope as we’ve had.”

Yzerman’s first significant relocation of the off-season was to decide what to do with Blashill, whose tenure coincided with a rebuilding task that would’ve most likely doomed anybody behind the bench.

Blashill, who was 204-261-72, has said in current days that he’s not stressed over his future with the franchise and is happy of the enhancements made this season.

Novice Moritz Seider said the team has a long way to go to merely contend in its own department versus Florida, Toronto, Tampa Bay and Boston.

“We’re far away from that,” Seider said. “But we’re adding pieces and we took big strides. We were contending for a wild card for nearly half the season. After the all-star break, we just couldn’t find a method to complete.”

Calder prospect

Yzerman’s first draft pick in Detroit was Seider, who was taken earlier than anticipated in 2019 at No. 6 in general, and he worked out in a huge way. The German ended up being the fifth novice considering that 1990 to have 50 points.

“I had expectations of making the group, and that had to do with it,” Seider stated.

Blashill baffled for him to be called the NHL’s leading novice.

“Seider, to me, hands down, is the Calder winner with the minutes he’s had with the offensive and protective responsibilities he’s had,” Blashill stated.

Simply 5 Red Wings have been named novice of the year, and none since Roger Crozier in 1965.

Another building block

Lucas Raymond might not have been the finest first-year gamers on the group, however he was among the finest in the league with 23 goals and 57 points to rank amongst the NHL rookies.

Raymond had the most objectives by a Detroit novice given that Sergei Fedorov scored 31 during the 1990-91 season. The 20-year-old forward became the fourth gamer in group history, and the very first because Yzerman in 1985, to have 50 points.

Blashill said Seider and Raymond, drafted No. 4 overall in 2020, will not enter into the off-season pleased with their individual success.

“They wish to be excellent players on a great team,” Blashill said.

Breakout Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi had his finest season, scoring a career-high 30 goals and reaching 62 points, in spite of being restricted to 68 video games because the 27-year-old forward was unvaccinated.

Banged-up veterans

Captain Dylan Larkin bounced back from a severe neck injury with a strong season, falling simply short of career highs with 31 goals and 69 points. Larkin’s seventh season ended earlier this month due to the fact that he needed core muscle surgical treatment.

Jakub Vrana was harmed in training school and had shoulder surgical treatment, keeping him out of the lineup for months. Vrana, a forward obtained last year from Washington in the Anthony Mantha trade, was efficient when he was on the ice with 13 goals and 19 points in 26 video games.

Potential move

Danny DeKeyser’s 10th season with the Red Wings might have been his last. DeKeyser’s six-year, $30-million United States contract ended, and Detroit may wish to reshape its defence without the former Warren De La Salle and Western Michigan star.

“It’s been a dream become a reality to play here, growing up idolizing this team,” DeKeyser stated. “I concern the rink every day, understanding I’m quite lucky to not only play in the NHL, but for my hometown group.”

The Red Wings weren’t the worst team in the league this season, finishing about 20 points ahead of the NHL’s worst teams. We were completing for a wild card for nearly half the season. Raymond had the most goals by a Detroit rookie given that Sergei Fedorov scored 31 during the 1990-91 season. Captain Dylan Larkin bounced back from a severe neck injury with a strong season, falling simply short of profession highs with 31 objectives and 69 points. Danny DeKeyser’s 10th season with the Red Wings may have been his last.

The rebuild is done: Promising Senators with work to do heading into off-season

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“The reconstruct is done,” general supervisor Pierre Dorion said prior to the season after signing a contract extension.”For us to take the next action next season it’s going to require all of us as a group to enhance and make sure we’re prepared right from the start of the season,” Chabot said. Stutzle said he definitely wants a better start to next season.

“The restore is done,” general supervisor Pierre Dorion stated before the season after signing an agreement extension.”For us to take the next step next season it’s going to require all of us as a group to enhance and make sure we’re prepared right from the start of the season,” Chabot said. He plans to lean on Tkachuk, who went through the experience last season.”I certainly have to still earn my area next year and continue to work,” said Pinto. Stutzle said he certainly wants a much better start to next season.