The Daily: Two former Red Wings named Olympic Flag Bearers

Former Detroit Red Wings Frans Nielsen (Denmark) and Valtteri Filppula (Finland) were chosen to carry the flag for their country at the Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing.

Frans Nielsen, 37, was the first player from Denmark to play in the NHL. He has represented Denmark several times in international competition. He is playing for the Berlin Polar Bears this season after playing five seasons for the Detroit Red Wings.

Filppula, 37, is playing in his second Olympic games for Finland. Filppula won a bronze medal playing for the Finns at the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. He is enjoying an exceptional season (13 goals, 36 points in 39 games) for Geneve Servette  in the Swiss League. Fillppula played 10 seasons for the Red Wings.

“This is an honorable task and wonderful thing,” Filppula told a Swiss organization.

We spy #AHLGrad Frans Nielsen as one of Denmark’s flag bearers! 🇩🇰 #OpeningCeremony

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) February 4, 2022

NHL Trade Rumors

Vancouver: Hockey Now’s Rob Simpson, weighs in on the Canucks-Bruins NHL trade rumors. JT Miller, Conor Garland and Bruins 2021 pick Fabian Lysell. He’s playing for the Vancouver Giants.

Around the NHL

Detroit: Shawn Horcoff named the Detroit Red Wings’ new assistant general manager Thursday.

Also: Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin reminisces about his 2016 Fastest Skater win at the NHL Skills Contest.

Boston: Hockey Now’s Joe Haggerty, gives his take on the state of the Boston Bruins at the midseason point. The turning point came when head coach Bruce Cassidy changed the Boston Bruins lines.

Colorado: Can Cale Makar win the NHL’s Fastest Skater Competition in Las Vegas tonight?

Florida:  Jonathan Huberdeau is heading to the NHL All-Star game as the league’s points leader.

Philadelphia: Flyers are asking their fans to give their opinion on how to make the Philadelphia game experience better.

San Jose: It’s San Jose Hockey Now’s subscriber mailbag time. Answer is provided for the question about whether Brent Burns is ruining Mario Ferraro.