Red Wings prospect Shai Buium is a junior at the University of Denver, but has the equivalent of a master’s degree in winning college hockey.

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman played a strong game Thursday to help Denver down Boston University 2-1 in overtime at the Frozen Four to earn a spot in the NCAA championship game against Boston College. That game will be played Saturday at 6 p.m. ET (ESPN2). Michigan, with Detroit prospect Kienan Draper, lost to Boston College in the semifinal.

San Diego native Buium was a member of the Denver team that won the 2022 NCAA championship. That team also included Detroit prospects Carter Mazur and Antti Tuomisto who are currently playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins.  In Buium’s three seasons at Denver, the school’s cumulative record is 92-28-4.

This has been Buium’s best season at Denver: he posted seven goals and 28 assists for 35 points for Denver’s high powered offense.  Buium (drafted 36th overall by Detroit in 2021) was also second on the team with a plus-32 plus-minus

"We're gonna go win this thing"

After their thrilling Overtime win, Shai Buium of @DU_Hockey is as confident as can be for the NCAA title game #9sports pic.twitter.com/PDSKQgfpmg

— Scotty Gange (@Scotty_G6) April 12, 2024

Buium Impressive vs. BU

A strong skater, Buium was a force defensively for the Pioneers in the win against Boston University. He was plus-2 in the semifinal with one shot on goal.

Buium’s younger brother Zeev also plays for Denver. He is a Luke Hughes-style, puck carrying defenseman who is projected to land in the middle of the first round. Bob McKenzie ranked him 13th in his TSN mid-season rankings. Craig Button, also of TSN, has him fourth. Zeev Buium is also fourth among North American skaters in the NHL Central Scouting rankings. Sportsnet has Zeev ranked 20th.

According to tankathon.com, the Red Wings this morning have a 94.7% of picking  14th in the June draft.  The Red Wings do seem to have more prospects on defense than forward.

The post Red Wings Boast One Prospect in NCAA Championship Game appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Grand Rapids Griffins play on the road (8 p.m. ET) against the Rockford IceHogs tonight needing just one point to clinch a first-round playoff bye and a berth in the Central Division semifinals.

One reason why the Griffins are enjoying an improved season is the play of Detroit Red Wings prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa. He continued his strong play Friday night by making 24 saves to beat the IceHogs 3-0 for his second shutout of the season. Cossa extended his streak to 19 consecutive games of earning at least one point for the Griffins. He hasn’t lost a game in regulation since Jan. 12. Cossa is 19-7-9 on the season with a 2.47 goals-against average.

“This was a great bounce back game,” said Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson. “He wasn’t overly great last game. But tonight, again I have said that several times in the past, having a good bounce-back game,  seeing the puck. challenging the shooter, being big around the crease. It’s good for him.”

The Griffins now own a home streak of earning at least one point in 19 consecutive games. The Griffins are now trying to tighten up defensively and working to be harder to play against in preparation for the playoffs.

Forward Jonatan Berggren, recently sent down by the Red Wings, scored his 24th goal of the season for the Griffins on Friday. Matt Luff and Carter Mazur assisted. Berggren has a nine-game points streak (15 points).

Prospect Amadeus Lombardi also picked up two assists in the game. The 20-year-old center, drafted in the fourth round, now has 24 points on the season.  Defenseman Albert Johansson, projected to play for the Red Wings next season, also had an assist.

The post Griffins Can Improve Their Playoff Picture Tonight appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

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.

Big performances from a pair of Detroit Red Wings defensive prospects are highlighting the quarterfinals of the SHL playoffs.

Already, Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th overall, 2023) and Skelleftea are through to the semifinals. They swept aside Linkpoing, and Sandin Pellikka was a big reason why this was so.

Sandin Pellikka

TW: deception, edgework, disgusting skill pic.twitter.com/84MD6aZfAw

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) April 1, 2024

Over the four games, Sandin Pellikka would account for a goal and two assists. And what a massive goal it was. He would score in the third overtime period of Game 3, bringing to an end the sixth-longest game in SHL playoff history.

With star defenseman and team captain Jonathan Pudas missing through injury, Sandin Pellikka, 19, is stepping up to help fill that void. He would log average ice time of 27:40 over Skelleftea’s four quarterfinal games.

He’s also making it a habit to net huge tallies. It was Sandin Pellikka’s OT marker against Switzerland in the quarterfinals at the world junior championship that was moving Sweden into the gold-medal match.

Red Wings Johansson Making Most Of Chances

While Sandin Pellikka’s elite offensive skills are what have the Red Wings excited about his potential, don’t sleep on fellow defensive prospect Anton Johansson (105th overall, 2022). Skating in the third pairing and garnering just 11:47 of ice time per game for Leksands IF, Johansson is certainly making the most of his opportunities when he’s taking his shifts.

Anton Johansson helped force a Game 7 in Leksand's quarterfinal matchup against Frölunda.

With a goal + assist he's up to 4 points in 6 playoff games. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/2f8auLdDXj

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) April 1, 2024

Leksands was facing elimination in Game 6 of their quarterfinal series against Frolunda. Johansson would pot a goal and dish out an assist in a 5-2 victory. Over the six games, he’s been good for two goals and two assists. That ties Johansson for the team scoring lead.

Leksands is using 2016 Red Wings draftee Filip Larsson in goal. He’s gone 3-0-1 with a shutout, a 1.68 GAA and .936 save percentage.

Game 7 between Leksands and Frolunda is set for Wednesday, with a 1 p.m. ET start. The winner of the contest will be opening the best-of-seven semifinal series against Sandin Pellikka and Skelleftea on Friday.

The post Red Wings Prospects Starring in Swedish Playoffs 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.

The Detroit Red Wings couldn’t find an overtime winner on Tuesday when they desperately needed it. They could’ve used Axel Sandin Pellikka.

The defenseman chosen 17th overall by the Red Wings in the 2023 NHL entry draft was an OT hero on Tuesday in the Swedish playoffs. While Detroit was falling 4-3 in OT at Washington in a game with massive implications on the Stanley Cup playoffs, Sandin Pellikka was scoring to push Skelleftea to within a win of advancing in the SHL quarterfinals.

Axel Sandin Pellikka(1st round’23 for Skellefteå) GWG in 3x OT #LGRW pic.twitter.com/gmpDlTPk1t

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) March 26, 2024

Sandin Pellikka’s tally would end the third-longest playoff game in Swedish history. He netted a power-play goal after 116 minutes and 23 seconds of elapsed time to give Skelleftea a triple-OT win over Linkoping, also by a 4-3 count.

“Extreme relief,” Swedish website Aftonbladet reported Sandin Pellikka telling Sweden’s TV4 following the game. “We had some pizza left after the third period, so we wanted to go home and eat it. So it was extremely nice that it went in.”

Red Wings Pick Scores On Power Play

The game came up just three minutes shy of becoming the longest-ever SHL game. In 1997, Leksand and Färjestad played a record 119:16.

“The worst thing is that the skates weigh 50 kilos more,” Sandin Pellikka said. “But we go through ‘hell week’ every summer training. So we have good fitness in the team.”

Sandin Pellikka, who just turned 19 on March 11, wound up skating a team-high 42:15 during the six-period contest. His winning goal was registered while Skelleftea was enjoying a power play. He also would collect an assist, five shots on goal and a plus-one rating for the game.

2⃣ season among Europe’s best for rising star Axel Sandin-Pellikka!

With 3⃣ goals, 2⃣ assists and a trip to #chlfinal2024 this season, the Detroit Red Wings draftee is definitely on an upward trajectory!

Here are some of his best moments #ChampionsGoBeyond pic.twitter.com/s11l9KE9J6

— Champions Hockey League (@championshockey) March 22, 2024

The talented rearguard finshed the SHL regular season with 10 goals and eight assists. By comparison, Tampa Bay Lightning defensive superstar Victor Hedman accounted for seven goals as an 18-year-old playing in the SHL.

In three playoff games, Sandin Pellikka is showing 1-2-3 totals.

The post This Red Wings Prospect Was OT Hero appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

It’s been a spectacular season for Detroit Red Wings netminding prospect Trey Augustine. The honors and accolades keep piling up for the Michigan State Spartans freshman goalie.

The latest recognition to come Augustine’s way is that he’s one of three finalists for Big Ten Goaltender of the Year. Augustine, Notre Dame’s Ryan Bischel and Wisconsin’s Kyle McClellan are the three goaltenders contending for the honor.

The finalists for the Big Ten major postseason awards have been announced – and MSU is the only school with a finalist for every award!
Artyom Levshunov is a finalist for Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, and Defensive Player of the Year honors, Trey Augustine is a… pic.twitter.com/Xx2OvOZj0V

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 13, 2024

Augustine is the Big Ten leader with 31.75 saves per game. He’s second in the conference with 1016 saves. He’s also third overall with three shutouts. As well, Augustine rates in the top five in minutes played (5-1886.08) goals-against average (5-2.86) and save percentage (4-.919).

Already this season, the goalie who was Detroit’s 41st overall selection in the 2023 NHL entry draft has won a world junior gold medal with the USA and is a semifinalist for the Mike Richter Award as the top NCAA goaltender. Augustine backstpped the Spartans to the Big Ten regular-season title. The top-seeded Spartans will be facing No. 4 Michigan in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday.

Former Red Wings Pick Canadian University Postseason MVP

Brady Gilmour didn’t make the grade with the Red Wings. However, he’s scoring all A’s in Canadian university hockey.

Brady Gilmour is named the 2024 U SPORTS Men’s Hockey Championship MVP!

Brady Gilmour est nommé joueur par excellence du Championnat de hockey masculin U SPORTS 2024 !#ChaseTheGlory | #ViserHaut pic.twitter.com/zJuv9gtrrD

— U SPORTS Hockey (@USPORTS_Hockey) March 18, 2024

The fourth-year center was earning selection as MVP of the U Sports men’s hockey tournament after leading New Brunswick to an unbeaten season and a national title. Gilmour scored one of the goals in a 3-0 victory over Trois Rivieries that gave the Reds their second straight national crown.

He would finish the season with 12 goals and 41 points in 30 games. Gilmour was also recognized as the most sportsmanlike player in U Sports men’s hockey.

In 2017, the second-last draft of the Ken Holland era, the Red Wings would choose Gilmour 193rd overall from the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit. However, Detroit didn’t offer him a contract.

Larinov Getting Paid

Even though he’s being touted as the most likely person to be the NHL’s first Russian head coach. late in the KHL season former Red Wings star Igor Larionov was agreeing to a three-year contract extension to coach Torpedo.

Now, Russia website Sport Express is revaling just how much Larionov is getting paid. Next season, he’ll be earning 40 million roubles. That’s over $430,000. He was earning just 17 million roubles a season on his previous pact.

Larionov will get 50 million roubles in each of the second and third years of his contract.

The post Red Wings Prospect Augustine Finalist for Big Ten Goalie of Year appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Certainly, the Detroit Red Wings weren’t tabbing Tnias Mathurin with the 137th pick of the 2022 NHL entry draft due to his dynamic offensive skills.

Every so often, though, the 6-foot-3, 195-pound shutdown defender does something to lift the fans out of their seats.

Over 90 Ontario Hockey League games, the North Bay Battalion defenseman has accounted for 30 points. Among those 30 points are a scant six goals.

Oh my, though, he’ll never forget tallying number six. No one who sees it will.

Every once in awhile, big 6'3", 195Ib. shutdown guy Tnias Mathurin really turns on the charm @OHLBattalion | @DetroitRedWings | #LGRW pic.twitter.com/6A3ig7HRdf

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) March 8, 2024

His given name is Saint spelled backwards and saints preserve us, Mathurin’s breakaway goal against the Windsor Spitfires looks as though it was taken right out of the Connor McDavid bag of tricks. It was the kind of stuff, as the Canadian Hockey League was pointing out in declaring it their play of the week “that not many d-men can do.”

Red Wings Pick Goes Between The Legs

Jumping up to join the rush and slipping behind the Windsor defense, Mathurin accepted a pass from teammate Justin Ertel. Bearing down on Spitfires goalie Joey Costnazo, Mathurin was making a shift to the netminder’s glove side.

This was so nasty, @TniasMathurin pic.twitter.com/jiCFtNDkmB

— North Bay Battalion (@OHLBattalion) March 8, 2024

Skating away from the net, Mathurin passed the puck through legs. Next, slipping his stick back through his skates, the hulking defender whipped a between-the-legs shot past Costanzo.

The shorthanded marker would prove to be the game winner as North Bay was dumping Windsor 7-2.

Mathurin Known For His Defense

A plus-20 on the Battalion blueline this season, Mathurin’s game without the puck is the aspect that could potentially turn him into an NHLer.

“He’s a good-sized defender, he’s got a good stick, and he’s pretty mobile defender,” Red Wings assistant GM and director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said.

That being the case, the Red Wings have also taken notice of Mathurin’s ability to come out with the sensational on occasion.

“He moves well for a big man and is a pretty athletic defenseman,” Draper said.

The post Gotta See It: Red Wings Prospect Scoring Highlight Reel Goal appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

When they were moving to acquire forward Klim Kostin from the Edmonton Oilers at last year’s NHL entry draft, it seemed like a worthwhile roll of the dice by the Detroit Red Wings. The 6-foot-4, 232-pound Kostin was a big body who scored 11 goals for the Oilers last season.

Ultimately, though, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman came to the opinion that there was no accounting for what Klim was Kostin his club. That’s what Yzerman’s only move at Friday’s NHL trade deadline was shipping Kostin to the San Jose Sharks for a seventh-round draft pick and minor-league defenseman Radim Simek.

UPDATE: The Red Wings assigned defenseman Radim Šimek to the Griffins. Šimek and a seventh-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft were acquired today by the Red Wings in a trade with San Jose that sent left wing Klim Kostin to the Sharks #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/yJ3pa2fNo0

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) March 8, 2024

“We couldn’t afford to have a $2 million forward not in the lineup next year,” Yzerman said. “If in the role he was used in, it doesn’t make sense to have a $2 million player (sitting out).”

Playing mostly this season on the fourth line when he played at all, Kostin was a healthy scratch for eight of his last nine games with the Red Wings.

After Detroit made the acquistion of Kostin last summer, they would sign him to a two-year, $4 million pact. While he did supply somewhat of a physical presence, including a memorable early-season fight in Columbus with Erik Gudbranson, Kostin would score just three goals in 33 games.

“I have mixed emotions about trading him,” Yzerman admitted. “We brought him in last year, big guy, physical, but has some ability, too. It didn’t work here for whatever reason.

“He’s a young player that wants to play and just wasn’t getting that. It’s best for the player, it’s best for us.  We were able to move him, give him an opportunity.”

Red Wings Recalling Berggren

Kostin’s departure, coupled with captain Dylan Larkin’s injury, leaves Detroit with only 11 forwards. That dynamic is changing, though. Forward Jonatan Berggren is getting a recall from the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins.

Jonatan Berggren is joining the Red Wings in Vegas and will play on Saturday, Steve Yzerman told @iamtrevort on Bally Sports Detroit.

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) March 9, 2024

He’ll be suiting up for Saturday’s game in Las Vegas against the reigning Stanley Cup champion Vegas Golden Knights. From nine games earlier this season with Detroit, Berggren is showing 2-3-5 totals. That’s more than Kostin (3-1-4) was able to accumulate in his 33 games.

Should Berggren play four more NHL games and get to 80 for his career, he be required to clear NHL waivers in order to return to the Griffins.

The post Kostin Was Never a Fit With Red Wings appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Grand Rapids Griffins extended their points streak to 18 games Saturday and yet came away with mixed feelings after squandering a third-period lead in falling 5-4 in overtime to the Rockford IceHogs.

Coach Dan Watson’s team led 3-1 midway through the third when the IceHogs struck for three goals in a span of one minute and 28 seconds to grab the lead. Grand Rapids was able to force overtime on a goal by Joel L’Esperance with 2:41 left in regulation.

“It’s a good learning experience — you can’t go into the third and get comfortable,” said Griffins player Matt Luff who had a goal and an assist.

The messiness of the Griffins’ game started in the second period with a parade of players going to the penalty box.

“The second period was a bit of a gong show,” Luff said. “Getting away from our game with all of the penalty kills.”

Got 1⃣ point.
Griffins – 4 IceHogs – 5 /OT
Highlights #GoGRG pic.twitter.com/mMXbasH5Jh

— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) March 3, 2024

The Griffins did feel good about pushing for the tying goal against the skillful and fast IceHogs squad. Grand Rapids can tie the franchise record of 19 consecutive games with a win or point on Monday at Cleveland. The Griffins’ last 19-game run with at least one point was last accomplished in 2015.

Jonatan Berggren picked up a pair of assists to extend his points streak to five games (2-5-7). Carter Mazur scored his 14th goal and Marco Kasper his 10th. Luff, recently recovered from injury, scored his first goal of the season.

Goalie Sebastian Cossa played for Grand Rapids against the IceHogs, who are the Chicago Blackhawks’ farm team. Cossa made 21 saves to extend his personal points streak to 10 games (7-0-3).

The post Griffins Have Points in 18 Consecutive Games; Can Tie Record Monday appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.