His first season as a pro in North America was delayed by injury. But Antti Tuomisto has made up for lost time.

The 6-4 Finnish defenseman, taken with the No. 35 pick in the 2019 NHL draft, spent last season in Finland (TPS Turku) after playing the previous two years at the University of Denver. A shoulder injury sustained in practice early in this season sidelined him until mid-December.

Since then, he has played in 45 games, with five goals and 12 assists and a plus-minus of +7, gaining the admiration of his teammates, and attention from the highest levels of the Red Wings organization.

The post Tuomisto GR Development Drawing Attention in Detroit (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Axel Sandin Pellikka was recently awarded the Borje Salming Trophy as the best Swedish-born defenseman in the Swedish Hockey League. With Simon Edvinsson now playing as a Detroit regular, Sandin Pellikka is unofficially the Red Wings’ top prospect. Meanwhile, Sandin Pellikka has played a key role in helping his Skelleftea team take a 3-1 lead in their SHL semifinal series against Frolunda.  If Skelleftea wins Game 5 today, Sandin Pellikka will be the SHL Final playing against Rogle.

It’s clear this player, called “ASP” by some fans, has the potential for a bright future in this sport. That is impressive considering when Sandin Pellikka was younger, hockey was not on his radar.

He was a cross-country skier, like his dad, until one Christmas when his grandfather gifted him hockey equipment.

“It quickly became hockey that mattered,’ Sandin Pellikka said in a recent conversation highlighted on Reddit.

The post 2023 Red Wings Draft Prospects: Thumbs Way Up For High Draft Pick (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

For some, even some of the most ardent members of the Detroit Red Wings fanbase, there is resignation that the team’s playoff chances have come and gone.

Then there’s a smattering of loyalists who are absolutely anrefusing to give up faith that the team will find a way to get it done.

As far as the players themselves, they recognize the most prudent of movements for them is to distance themselves from the emotional roller coaster that the chase for the NHL’s second Eastern Conference wild card spot is creating.

The only choice they have is to be living in the moment.

The post Red Wings Must Remain Divorced From Emotion of Race (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

With the Grand Rapids Griffins firmly in the AHL playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings and their affiliate have made some moves with the future in mind.

The Griffins signed North Dakota forward Hunter Johannes to an amateur tryout contract for 2024 and standard American Hockey League player contract beginning next season on Wednesday. He joins forward Emmitt Finnie (No. 201, 2023) and goalie Carter Gylander (No. 191, 2019), who signed similar contracts with the Red Wings last month.

Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson says adding the trio now should give them a head start on next season.

“We want to make sure (they) come in and and sees what the American League is all about,” he said. “You can get these kids a head start into what’s expected, so they’re prepared for pro hockey. I think it’s a great step in the right direction for their development.”

Additions To Contribute Immediately

Finnie has already played in two games for the Griffins after a standout season at Kamloops of the WHL. He’s the second of the Red Wings’ 2023 draft picks to sign with Detroit. It’s not a given that an NHL team would sign a seventh-round pick, but the Red Wings liked the growth in Finnie’s game this season enough to give him a contract.

Gylander, 22, joins fellow 2019 draftees Antti Tuomisto, Albert Johansson and Elmer Soderblom on the Griffins roster. The 6-4, 165-pound goalie recently finished his college career at Colgate. He backstopped the Raiders to their first ECAC championship in more than 30 years in 2022-23. He was 14-14-4 with a 2.93 GAA and a .901 save percentage this season.

“Carter Gylander helped make Colgate a solid NCAA team,” said NHL draft analyst and NHLdraftbuzz.com owner Russ Cohen. “He stays on his knees a lot since he’s 6’5″. He has a very effective blocker and his leg saves are quick and he’s good at directing the puck to the corners to keep the play going. His glove is ok, it could be better. He has quick covers and he is rarely out of position. Gylander hugs the post well. Sometimes gives up the low goal when he has to move from post to post. I think he may be a future NHL backup.”

Johannes, 25, played in 31 games for North Dakota.This despite a lower-body injury that sidelined him for much of the second half of the season. The 6-3, 210-pound forward scored 12 goals with seven assists for North Dakota.

Watson said Johannes will add a size element to the Griffins.

“Our expectations are he’s going to come in, get some minutes, get some games and see how he does,” Watson said. “So we’re excited about it. We’re excited to have fresh faces in that locker room in the lineup. It does create some energy.”

For now, Johannes’ contract is owned by the Griffins. But the Red Wings will obviously be able to watch him, especially next season.

The post Griffins Bring in Prospects to Get A Taste of the AHL appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

One subplot of the Grand Rapid Griffins’ strong season has been the pleasing development of defensemen Antti Tuomisto and William Wallinder.

While Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson receive most of the attention in the assessment of the Grand Rapids’ defensive prospects, Tuomisto and Wallinder are demonstrating their NHL potential. The 6-foot-5 Finn Tuomisto has five goals and owns a plus-7 plus-minus. The 6-foot-4 Swede Wallinder shows three goals and is plus-1.

“They’ve progressed really well,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said earlier this month. “Both of them are really good. Antti’s a right shot, William is a left shot. Different players but they’re both big. Antti’s big and strong, physical, great shot, passes the puck really well. William probably a little bit lighter. Tall, lanky guy, really good skater, moves the puck really well. Probably a little bit more active in the rush offensively.”

The post What the Red Wings Really Think About Tuomisto and Wallinder (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

NCAA tournament, junior playoffs begin this week

The post Where to Watch Red Wings Prospects in Playoffs (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It’s been a whirlwind 10 months for Andrew Gibson.

Since the end of last season, the 6-3 ,205-pound defenseman has earned a bronze medal for Team Canada in the IIHF World Under-18 Championship, gotten drafted by his hometown Detroit Red Wings, and had a breakout season in Sault Ste. Marie.

Not a bad year for the 19-year-old defenseman.

The post 2023 Red Wings Prospect: Among Best OHL Defensive D Men (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin went through his first full practice on Wednesday since suffering a lower-body injury on March 2. While Detroit coach Derek Lalonde would later suggest there was a chance Larkin could be back in the lineup for Thursday’s home game against the New York Islanders, he wasn’t ready to make a commitment to that possbility becoming a reality.

Dylan Larkin is going through all drills during today’s Red Wings practice.

Detroit’s captain has not played since the March 2 loss to the Panthers due to a lower-body injury. pic.twitter.com/657HZlp0Og

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) March 20, 2024

“Potentially,” Lalonde said of the chance Larkin plays on Thursday. “We’ll see how he feels. He’s progressively getting better. I’ll get a better feel when I talk to the training staff.

The post Red Wings Captain Larkin a Possibility vs Islanders (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde frequently pronounces that there are no easy games in the NHL. Really, though, there’s no need to make this point of emphasis.

All season long, his team has been proving their coach’s point.

So far this season, Detroit has already droppped 23 points to NHL teams that won’t be part of the playoff picture.

As they arrive in Pittsburgh for a Sunday showdown with the Penguins, the Red Wings are yet again facing a game in which they can’t allow the two points to escape their grasp. Seven points out of a playoff spot, Pittsburgh is almost done like dinner in terms of playoff participation.

Pittsburgh, PA. #LGRW

6:00 P.M.
@BallySportsDET
@971theticketxyt pic.twitter.com/5LNce1UU72

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) March 17, 2024

The Penguins will be dead in the water if they lose this game, so the Red Wings should be anticipating that they’ll be getting the best that Pittsburgh has to offer.

“No game at this time of the year is easy,” Detroit forward Alex DeBrincat said. “Everyone is working for something, whether it’s to get in the playoffs or feel good for playoffs. Some teams that are out of it, they still work hard. Everyone’s working for their jobs.”

Red Wings Own Favorable Schedule

With 15 games left in the regular season, on paper Detroit owns one of the softer remaining slates. Of those games, nine are against teams that currently wouldn’t be playoff participants. There’s another game against the Penguins, as well as a meeting with Columbus and a pair against Montreal among that schedule. But don’t go putting those points in the win column before the Red Wings are earning them.

Jesse Compher from @PWHL_Toronto ahead of game vs. @PWHL_Montreal in Pittsburgh repping her brother JT’s jersey – @DetroitRedWings play @penguins right after the women. What a cool moment for their parents. #PWHL #TakeoverWeekend pic.twitter.com/7jcf8Mbr4Y

— Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_TV) March 17, 2024

During the 2023-24 campaign, Detroit has lost in overtime to the Canadiens, as well as San Jose and Seattle. They’ve dropped four points each to Arizona, Ottawa and New Jersey. There’s also been losses suffered against Anaheim, Buffalo, Minnesota and the Islanders.

That’s whay they can’t be taking the Penguins lightly today.

“There’s not an easy game in this league,” DeBrincat said. “We gotta come ready to play.”

The post Red Wings Facing Must Win Scenario In Pittsburgh (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Brady Cleveland isn’t hard to miss, not for a 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman who gives no quarter to opponents.

Cleveland is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin. He moved there after playing for two years for the National Team Development Program in Plymouth.

The native of Wausau, Wis., was drafted with the Red Wings’ third pick in the second round (No. 47 overall) in last summer’s NHL draft.

The post 2023 Red Wings Draft Update: Cleveland Battles For His Place on Improving Badgers (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.