Sebastian Cossa isn’t the only Detroit Red Wings goaltending prospect turning heads in the minor pro ranks. Save some props for Jan Bednar.

The 21-year-old rookie pro with the Toledo Walleye is the ECHL goaltender of the month for March. Bednar went 6-1-0 in eight appearances during the month. He would post two shutouts, along with a 1.59 goals-against average and a save percentage of .939.

ANOTHA ONE Jan Bednar of the @ToledoWalleye has been named the @WarriorHockey #ECHL Goaltender of the Month for March pic.twitter.com/fKcN1W2CUX

— ECHL (@ECHL) April 3, 2024

He allowed two goals or less in six of his seven starts. Bednar stopped all 25 shots in a 3-0 win against Iowa on March 3 and all 25 shots in a 3-0 victory at Greenville on March 16.

Detroit’s 107th overall selection in the 2020 NHL entry draft, Bednar is under contract to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, Bednar is 18-7-2 in 32 appearances with the Walleye this season. He is tied for second in the ECHL with three shutouts while ranking 11th with a 2.74 goals-against average.

Red Wings Prospect Gibson Feted For Defensive Prowess

While it’s been a season in which Red Wings draftee Andrew Gibson (42nd overall, 2023) has been flexing his offensive muscles, it was his defensive acumen that was earning the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman recognition. He is rated among the top three Western Conference defenders in two categories of the OHL Coaches Poll.

Getting their flowers
Congrats on Owen Allard, Kirill Kudryavtsev, Arttu Karki, Jack Beck and Andrew Gibson being recognized in the OHL Coaches Poll
RESULTS : https://t.co/4Ek9GheDip#FearTheNorth | @OHLHockey

— Soo Greyhounds (@OHLHoundPower) April 3, 2024

Gibson, Thomas Budnick of the Guelph Storm and Taos Jordan of the Owen Sound Attack each garnered 16 votes to share top spot as the conference’s best shot blocker. Gibson also would finish third in the voting for the best defensive defenseman.

The 19-year-old rearguard put up career-highs in goals (12), assists (32) and points (44) this season for the Soo, while also posting a plus-36 rating. The Greyhounds are on to the second round of the OHL playoffs after sweeping the Storm.

Ice Chips

Red Wings draft pick Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) and Leksands lost 3-2 in overtime to Frolunda in Game 7 of their SHL quarterfinal series . . . Center Nate Danielson (9th, 2023) dished out four assists as the Portland Winterhawks were sweeping Victoria in the opening round of the WHL playoffs . . . The Griffins signed forward Hunter Johannes to an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2023-24 AHL campaign. He also agreed to terms on a standard player’s contract for the 2024-25 season. Johannes, 25, collected 19 points this season playing college hockey at North Dakota . . . Center Brady Gilmour, a 2017 draftee of the Red Wings (193rd overall), has joined the Walleye. He was recently named top player of the U Sports playoffs while leading New Brunswick to the national title.

The post Red Wings Prospect Report: Bednar Top ECHL Goalie; Gibson Gains OHL Recognition appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Red Wings draft pick Kirill Tyutyayev might not be able to end the debate about which came first, the chicken or the egg. However, if you want to know which came first, the chicken or the penalty, he now can speak with some expertise on that matter.

Wednesday, the ECHL Toledo Walleye were playing host to the Kalamazoo Wings in a matinee game with a 10:30 a.m. puck drop in what was billed as School Education Day at the Huntington Center.

At an ECHL school day game in Toledo, a chicken nugget was thrown onto the ice. Toledo Walleye's player Kirill Tyutyayev shot it back into the crowd and was assessed a 10-minute misconduct.

: @SportsiCohn pic.twitter.com/E0lqAbEBQT

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 7, 2023

Near the midway point of the second period, just prior to a faceoff in the Toledo zone, someone threw a chicken nugget on to the ice. Walleye forward Tyutyayev instictively flipped the nugget out of the way and it went into the crowd.?

For his actions, he was then assessed a 10-minute misconduct, the standard punishment handed any player who shoots something into the crowd. Since leagues frown on players firing objects into the fans, there’s a possibility that Tyutyayev making that chicken fly won’t fly with the ECHL brass.

He could find himself facing supplementary discipline. However, Walleye coach Pat Mikesch told Mark Monroe of The Blade that he didn’t think this scenario was likely.

Tyutyayev A Red Wings 2019 Draft Selection

Though he’s not currently under contract to the Red Wings, Detroit was selecting Tyutyayev 190th overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft. That’s the same draft class that brought Moritz Seider and Elmer Soderblom into the Red Wings fold.

Left-winger Tyutyayev is undersized at 5-foot-10 and 176 pounds, but he was a junior scoring sensation in Russia. During the 2017-18 season with Spartakovets Yekaterinburg of the Russian U18 league, he was accounting for 47 goals and 114 points in 31 games.

Follow by up on the little “nugget nugget” that was part of today’s morning game. Tyutyayev ended up receiving a 10 minute misconduct penalty. Not a game misconduct. No follow up action expected by the ECHL. No power play was awarded, really didn’t have any bearing on the game. https://t.co/0wPZ2uIDfV

— Mark Monroe (@MonroeBlade) December 6, 2023

Tyutyayev was signing an AHL contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2021. He wound up splitting last season between the Griffins and Walleye. With Toledo, he was collecting 8-39-47 totals in 31 games. He would add additional 4-9-13 numbers through 13 Kelly Cup playoff games.

In August, the Walleye were opting to sign Tyutyayev to an ECHL contract. Unfortunately, the 2023-24 campaign has so far been a struggle for him offensively. His ledger is showing 1-6-7 digits and a minus-10 rating over 18 games.

The post Red Wings Draftee Tyutyayev Punished For Flipping Bird appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Larry Murphy won multiple Stanley Cups skating on the defense of the Detroit Red Wings. While he thinks that moment is still far off for the current editon of the club, if we’re talking about the 2023-24 Red Wings and the playoffs, Murphy’s advice is to go right ahead and have that conversation.

It’s no different from the discussions currently going on among members of the franchise.

An analyst for Red Wings broadcasts on Bally Sports Detroit, Murphy said as much during a recent interview with the NHL Network.

“I think they’re legitimate in the playoff discussion,” Murphy said. However, he was quick to add a caveat that it won’t be an easy mission to achieve.

“Unfortunately, the East is very competitive, so they could have an even better season next year and still come up short,” Murphy explained, while nodding in approval regarding the work of Detroit GM Steve Yzerman.

“Yzerman has done a tremendous job,” Murphy said. “This is the second year in a row where he’s made impact. We’re gonna see five or six new guys in the lineup, and definite upgrades to this team.

“He’s opened the bank vault and they’ve taken on more salary, but having said that, the contracts have all been structured smartly. There’s no contract that’s gonna back and bite him down the road.

“The team is progressing. This year, I know if they don’t make the playoffs, they’re gonna be very disappointed.”

Murphy A Champion Again

A Cup winner with the Red Wings in 1996-97 and 1997-98, as well as with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1990-91 and 1991-92, Murphy is again a champion. He coached the title-winning team in the 3Ice three-on-three hockey league.

“We’ve taken the best part of the NHL, three-on-three overtime, and expanded it into a league,” Murphy said of the two-year old 3Ice loop.

“I love it because it’s fast paced. It’s basically puck control. That’s the way I loved playing the game. I always wanted puck control.

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“It’s relentless in terms of the tempo. Yeah it’s exciting. It’s run and gun hockey. But still you rely on good, strong fundamentals in order to win.”

A couple of names on the 3Ice rosters who’d be familiar to Red Wings fans are Brandon Hawkins and former NHLer T.J. Hensick. Both were playing last season with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.

The post Hall of Fame D Murphy: Red Wings Expectation is to Make Playoffs appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings, like many NHL teams, are investing heavily into the development of netminders. In Detroit, the man heading this pursuit is Phil Osaer. A 2019 hiring, his title is head of goaltending scouting and development.

In short, Osaer is the Red Wings goalie guru.

Grading and developing puckstoppers is not an exact science. Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman willingly acknowledges this is an area of the game that remains in flux for his team. This is both in terms of the direction they’ll be taking and investment they’ll be making in goaltender development.

“The majority of the league is kind of creating these department of goaltending, so to speak, and Phil is our department of goaltending,” Yzerman said. “It’s debatable. We’re all trying to figure out how many guys we need on the staff.

“Phil works hard. He does a lot of scouting for us. He’s really dialed into the goalie world, the goalie fraternity, I guess.”

Phil Osaer

In the past year, Osaer has held a big say in a couple of major aspects of Detroit’s goalie future. He’s taken a very hands-on approach with 2021 first-round pick Sebastian Cossa, supervising his training and development while Cossa was playing last season with the ECHL Toledo Walleye.

“Particularly him living in the Detroit area and Toledo just down the road, he was able to spend a lot of time in Toledo with Sebastian, working on his development, working on his technique,” Yzerman said. “Kind of being his de facto goaltender coach.

“He’s had a really positive impact on it. I know Phil really enjoys that part of the job as well. It was a very beneficial year for our organization and for Sebastian and we’re very fortunate to have Phil here. It was a positive year both for Phil and the organization and for Sebastian most importantly.”

Osaer Developing Goalies For Red Wings

Livonia, Michigan-born, Osaer, 43, was a college hockey goalie at Ferris State prior to playing nine pro seasons in the AHL, ECHL and Europe. His coaching resume includes junior and college stints.

“Phil does a tremendous job with our goalies, in particular with Coss,” Detroit assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He was down there (in Toledo) quite a bit working with him individually on the ice.”

Trey Augustine backstopped @usahockey to bronze at the 2023 World Juniors and was on the winning team in the BioSteel All-American Game.@jonmorosi spoke with him about his love for the game and committing to play for @MSU_Hockey. pic.twitter.com/Vn0FUp7s5s

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) January 17, 2023

Osaer was also the go-to guy in the decision to make the selection of USNTDP netminder Trey Augustine with the 41st pick of the 2023 NHL entry draft.

“Phil Osaer, who runs our goaltending department, we had a lot of conversation about the goalies in this year’s draft,” Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said. “Phil kept coming back to Trey.”

Since Augustine will be playing this season at nearby Michigan State, Osaer will have easy access to monitor his progress.

“He enjoys the development side of his job as well,” Yzerman said. Cossa is spending the summer in Detroit, training regularly with Osaer.

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The only former netminder on the Detroit hockey operations staff other than head coach Derek Lalonde, those in the Red Wings brass admit that they defer to Osaer when it comes to puckstopping decisions.

I don’t know much about goalies, to be honest,” admits Cleary. “I just know they stop the puck or they don’t.”

The post Osaer is Red Wings Goalie Guru appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Drafting talented players is critical for a rebuilding NHL team. But a quality plan to develop those players is equally important. Sebastian Cossa is a good example.

Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman decided first-round draft pick Cossa would start with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye. That decision is being rewarded today with Cossa playing a significant role in the Walleye’s 7-0 start in the playoffs.

Cossa, 20, made 43 saves Wednesday night to power the Walleye to a 2-1 win against the Cincinnati Cyclones in Game 3 of their Divisional Final series. The Walleye own a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series, which resumes with Game 4 Friday in Toledo.

Sharing the net with fellow Red Wings prospect John Lethemon, Cossa has given up five goals in four playoff games. He is 4-0 with a 1.25 goals-against average and .954 save percentage.

In the 2-1 win that secured the 3-0 series lead over Cincinnati, Sebastian Cossa delivered an outstanding 43-save performance in the Toledo net, setting a new personal best.

Game recap https://t.co/xYf0Q5oXNt pic.twitter.com/n4UDP3UvW8

— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) May 11, 2023

If Coach Dan Watson continues the rotation, then former Michigan State goalie Lethemon, 26, would play Friday’s game. Lethemon is 3-0 with a 2.24 goals-against average and .926 save percentage. The Red Wings signed Lethemon late in the season. He will become a restricted free agent this summer.

The Red Wings had goaltending issues in Grand Rapids this season until Alex Nedeljkovic was sent there. But goaltending has been a plus for the Walleye this season.

Won’t Rush Cossa

“I think we are all very pleased with Sebastian’s season to date,” Yzerman said at the end of the Red Wings’ season. “He struggled early in the season. We decided to leave him in Toledo, because we knew he was going to get a lot of starts and it was going to be a challenge for him. What I could really say is his attitude’s been unreal. Like he’s a worker. He relished the opportunity to go to Toledo and play a lot.”

Cossa and Lethemon both could end up in Grand Rapids next season.  Walleye coach Dan Watson should probably be a candidate for the vacant Griffins coaching job, although no one is talking about that because the Walleye’s focus is on the playoffs.

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Yzerman’s track record for developing players is strong, going back to Tampa Bay. In Detroit, he has clearly made quality decisions on Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. Simon Edvinsson‘s play late in the season seems to show he’s on the right track with him.

Tampa Bay goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy developed on Yzerman’s watch. His situation is different because he grew up in the Russian system. But Yzerman didn’t put him in the AHL until he was 20. He didn’t become the Lightning full-time goalie he was 22.

Yzerman has said repeatedly that he won’t rush Cossa.

“Next year is he ready to play in the American League? I hope he is. Maybe he will be. Maybe he won’t.,” Yzerman said in April. “As long as he’s going in the right direction, that’s all I’m worried about.”

The post Cossa Delivering For Toledo Walleye in ECHL Playoffs appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Toledo Walleye, led by two Detroit Red Wings’ prospects in net, are now 6-0 in ECHL playoff action this season

After sweeping the Indy Fuel in the opening round, the Walleye have grabbed a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Central Division Final against the Cincinnati Cyclones.  Sebastian Cossa, a Red Wings 2021 first-round pick, made 15 saves Friday to beat the Cyclones 6-2.

On Saturday, John Lethemon, signed by the Red Wings late in the season, made 36 saves for the Walleye to down the Cyclones, 5-2.

Cossa gets the win stopping 15 of 17
This is 3rd straight playoff win.#lgrw pic.twitter.com/SQJtMsNnue

— Zack (@ZackR1999) May 6, 2023

Cossa, 20, is 3-0 in these playoffs with a 1.33 goals-against average and .938 save percentage. Lethemon is also 3-0 with a 2.33 GAA and .926 save percentage for the the Walleye. Red Wings prospect defenseman Seth Barton leads Walleye defensemen with seven points in six games.

Red Wings’ Offseason

In looking at various mock draft, one in particular inspires further review. The Hockey Writers’ 2.0 Mock Draft has Detroit taking Zach Benson. That’s interesting by itself. He’s a smaller forward with a higher degree of offensive skill. But the more intriguing projections is Detroit taking Swedish defenseman Axil Sandin Pellikka of Skelleftea AIK with their second first-round pick. He’s a right-shot defenseman who played 22 games in the SHL. The Red Wings historically like Swedish players and they need right-shot defenders.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Defenseman Simon Edvinsson’s shoulder surgery was for “preventative”  reasons. That report came from a Swedish news outlet.
•  The Red Wings‘ next step is to find a higher degree of consistency in the 2023-24 seasons.
• Defenseman Jake Walman is now considered part of the core group that is charged with pushing the Red Wings out of rebuild mode.
• Mock draft predicts Red Wings will take Team USA center Oliver Moore.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: This could be the end of Connor Clifton’s time with the Bruins. Boston Bruins. 

Buffalo: Goalie Devon Levi is among three Buffalo Sabres named to Canada’s roster or the World Championships. If Levi gets an opportunity to play, this could add another layer to his development. Buffalo Sabres.

Chicago: Writer Nate Brown points out that the top of the NHL draft still has some mystery after Connor Bedard is picked at No. 1. Chicago Blackhawks.

Colorado: Logan O’Connor had career-high scoring numbers, but Evan Rawal looks at whether he did enough this season to hel the Avs. Colorado Avalanche.

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Florida: Coach Paul Maurice provides the ugly truth about why he doesn’t honor the NHL playoff tradition of growing a beard. Florida Panthers.

New York: Welcome Hockey Now’s new Islanders writer Andrew Fantucchio. New York Islanders.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski writes that the new Penguins GM, whoever it is, must focus on bring more speed to the Penguins’ lineup. Pittsburgh Penguins.

San Jose: SJHN offers a look at who the Sharks might take in the first round, no matter where they sit after Monday’s Draft Lottery. San Jose Sharks.

Washington: Former Capitals player Jeff Halpern, now a Tampa Bay assistant coach, will be interviewed for the Capitals head coaching gig. Washington Capitals. 

Vegas:  The Golden Knights were off their game in a 5-1 Game 2 loss. Leon Draisaitl scored two more. So did Connor McDavid. Vegas Golden Knights

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