And then there were two.

Two Red Wings prospects will be playing in the NCAA’s Frozen Four in 10 days after their teams won regional titles over the weekend.

After four losses in a row to their rivals, Michigan scored four goals in the third period to beat Michigan State on Sunday, 5-2. Dylan Duke scored twice for the Wolverines in the third period, U-M broke a 2-2 tie on goals 12 seconds apart. The first was by Duke with 7:18  remaining, followed by Gavin Brindley scoring with 7:06 remaining.

Duke ended the scoring on a power-play goal with 2:19 remaining. Ethan Edwards and Marshall Warren also scored for Michigan.

How Red Wings Prospects Fared

Red Wings prospect Kienan Draper (drafted No. 187 in 2020) had two shots on goal and had a penalty for the Wolverines.

Michigan State got power-play goals from Gavin O’Connell and Joey Larson. Red Wings prospect Red Savage (No. 114, 2021) had a shot on goal for the Spartans.

MSU goalie Trey Augustine (No. 41, 2023) faced 35 shots and made 30 saves. It gave him 1,119  saves on the season, tops in the nation. The Spartans had won four in a row against their rivals going into Sunday. It marked the first time U-M and MSU had met in a regional final.

Michigan will play Boston College in St. Paul, Minn., in a Frozen Four semifinal on April 11.

Denver University advanced with help from the Buium brothers. Shai Buium, drafted No. 36 in 2022, had an assist on a power-play goal with 4.8 seconds left in the second period. It lifted Denver to a 2-1 win over Cornell in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday. Buium’s brother, Zeev, had the other assist on Sam Harris’ goal. Denver will play Boston University in a semifinal on April 11.

Denver is in the Frozen Four for the second time in three years. The Pioneers won the national title in 2022.

The post Two Red Wings Prospects Move On To Frozen Four appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Detroit Red Wings’ interests will be represented when the Michigan State faces off against Michigan in the NCAA Regional Final Sunday (6:30, ET, ESPN2) in Maryland Heights, Mo.

Trey Augustine (drafted 41st overall by the Red Wings in 2023) will be in net and Red Savage (drafted 114th overall in 2021) will be at forward for the Spartans, while Kienan Draper (drafted 187th overall in 2020) will be playing for Michigan. He is the son of former Red Wings player and current assistant general manager Kris Draper.

Six days ago, Michigan State and Augustine downed Michigan 5-4 in overtime to win the Big Ten championship. Augustine was the most outstanding player of the tournament. Now the two teams play again for a trip to the Frozen Four.

SPARTANS WIN

We're watching this game-winning goal from Davidson on repeat #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/KOgMC2NSbC

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) March 30, 2024

The Spartans and Wolverines both needed to come from behind to win their Friday regional semifinal games. Michigan State erased a 4-2 Western Michigan deficit to win 5-4.  Augustine, considered one of Detroit’s top prospects, made 34 saves and then delivered an outlet pass for an assist on Jeremy Davidson’s game-winning goal. It was Augustine’s first collegiate assist.

With 1,089 saves, Augustine needs just 29 saves tonight to take over the national lead in that statistical category.

Buium and Denver Advance

The Wolverines trailed North Dakota 2-1 going into the third period of their meeting, but netted three third period goals to down the Fighting Hawks, 4-3. Coming into the game, North Dakota was 20-0 when holding a lead after two periods.

Michigan’s win puts Red Wings prospect Dylan James (drafted 40th overall in 2022) out of the NCAA tournament. The Alberta-born left wing shows 10 goals this season for North Dakota.

In another regional in Springfield, Mass., Detroit prospect defenseman Shai Buium (drafted 36th overall in 2021) and his Denver team advanced to a Regional Final against Cornell on Saturday (2 p.m.). To get to the final, Denver knocked off Massachusetts (UMass) 2-1 in double overtime. Buium, coming off a strong junior season, posted four shots on goal and was plus-one on the day.  This was the longest overtime game in Denver’s history.

Buium joined with Grand Rapids Griffins players Antti Tuomisto and Carter Mazur, to help Denver win an NCAA national championship team in 2022.

The post Red Wings Prospects Advance in NCAA Tournament 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.

EAST LANSING — The Detroit Red Wings are putting an emphasis on the postseason for their minor-league prospects this winter.

They want the same for their college prospects, too, although they don’t have as much influence in that regard.

Still, the Red Wings’ draft picks in the game, Michigan State forward Red Savage (No. 114 overall, 2021)  and goalie Trey Augustine (No. 41, 2023), added to their postseason resumes in Saturday’s Big Ten tournament championship game at Munn Arena.

It was Michigan State that came out on top, winning 5-4 in overtime on a goal by freshman Patrick Geary. The shot came from the point in front of the Spartans’ bench.

“I’d just got the puck and (backup) goalie Jon Mor told me  to shoot,” Geary said. “I just put my head down, ripped it and looked up last second just to see it go in. I just turned around and (skated) to Trey because obviously he was a big reason why we won that game.”

Augustine Earns Top Player Honors

After giving up a goal on the first Michigan shot of the game, Augustine settled in and made 33 saves. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Savage didn’t figure in the scoring, but totaled four shots on goal and three blocked shots. Red Wings draft pick Kienan Draper, son of Detroit assistant GM Kris Draper, had two shots and one blocked shot for Michigan.

“I grew up here and I’ve seen this rivalry develop,” Augustine said. “It’s getting back to being super competitive. I mean, it’s great to see and to win it in front of our fans. They’ve been phenomenal all year. (I’m) very grateful for the opportunity to win it for them.”

It’s the latest honor in a season that has seen Augustine win a gold medal in the World Junior Championships.

It was the first Big Ten hockey tournament title for the Spartans, who also were the regular-season champions. Michigan had won the tournament title the last two seasons.

The game was like most playoff contests, a defensive struggle marked by so-called greasy goals, a score that came on a successful appeal and a goal within the final second of the second period.

Michigan scored first and outshot Michigan State 14-6 in the first period. The Spartans got a break when an apparent Michigan goal was waved off due to goaltender interference.

MSU scored the next two goals, taking a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. Michigan tied it on a power-play goal with Savage i the penalty box, then took a 3-2 lead.

But Michigan State tied it on a goal that was ruled good after a video review and took the lead when Matt Basgall scored with :00.7 second left in the period. It was his second goal of the season.

Michigan tied it early in the third on Chicago Blackhawks prospect Frank Nazar’s second goal of the night, and it stayed 4-4 until Geary’s goal. It capped a rise that began two years ago, when MSU finished last in the league.

It was the fourth championship match between the schools, the first in the Big Ten. They met for the CCHA title three times. Michigan won in 1997 and 2002, Michigan State in 2001.

The post Red Wings Draft Pick Top Player in Big Ten Title Tilt appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The honors just keep on coming for Detroit Red Wings draft pick Trey Augustine. The Michigan State Spartans freshman netminder is among 10 semifinalists earning nomination for the Mike Richter Award, given annually to the top goalie in men’s NCAA Division I hockey.

Michigan State has set program records for conference wins (15) and points (48) and the first-year goaltender is a big reason for those developments. Augustine, 19, the youngest netminder in the NCAA, ranks in a tie for fourth in shutouts (3) and fifth in victories (19). He’s sixth in winning percentage (.714). Augustine’s 899 saves rates fifth among NCAA goaltenders, while his 1706:20 minutes played in the MSU goal crease is 14th nationally.

Congrats to our freshman netminder Trey Augustine, one of the semifinalists for the Mike Richter Award as the nation's top goaltender!#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/nFcYYHkSAN

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) February 14, 2024

“It’s definitely been a challenge adapting to the pace of play up there but I think I’ve done a pretty good job of getting used to it now and feel like I’m getting more comfortable game by game,” Augustine said.

The 41st player chosen in the 2023 NHL entry draft when the Red Wings were calling his name, Augustine won a world junior gold medal with the USA earlier this year. He wound up leading the tournament in both goals against average (1.75) and save percentage (.936). Augustine was a perfect 4-0 – including wins in the semifinal vs. Finland and the final vs. host nation Sweden. He was playing in his second world juniors, winning silver in 2023.

Big Star In Big Ten

Augustine was also earning recognition last week as the Big Ten second star. Backstopping MSU to a pair of wins over rival Michigan, the netminder from South Lyon, Mich. would stop 66 of 69 shots he faced.

The Richter Award list will be further trimmed down to three finalists in early March. The winner will be announced at the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minn. on April 12.

Sandin Pellikka Lights The Lamp

Red Wings draftee Axel Sandin Pellikka, 18, is the hottest shooter among teenage defensemen in the SHL. Still, it had been awhile since he was illimunating a red lamp.

…and Pellikka is back as a goalscorer!

10th goal of the season

(that's one goal behind the all-time U19D record from 1978-79)#LGRW pic.twitter.com/rh4gfGLpPk

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) February 22, 2024

During a 5-3 victory over MoDo, the player Detroit chose 17th overall in the 2023 draft would tally a goal and two assists. It was Sandin Pellikka’s 1oth goal of the SHL season, but his first since Dec. 7.

Red Wings Pick Gibson Is Rolling

It’s been a productive second half of Feburary for Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenseman Andrew Gibson. Over his past five games the player Detroit tabbed with the 42nd selection of the 2023 draft is good for four goals and seven points.

The 6-foot-4, 206-pound rearguard has nine multi-point games this season. They include four three-point games and a four-point outing. He’s showing 11-29-40 totals from 56 games. Gibson, who turned 19 on Feb. 13, is sitting with a plus-36 rating, tying him for fifth in the OHL.

The post Red Wings Prospect Report: Augustine up For Honors; Sandin Pellikka Off Schneid appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

There’s one facet of his transfer from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan State that Detroit Red Wings prospect Red Savage is finding particularly enjoyable. It’s brought him much closer to what he hopes will one day be his NHL home.

“It’s pretty cool, especially being only an hour and a half away from here,” Savage said. “Being able to come in and do things like this, come see games throughout the year, it’s something I wasn’t able to do in the past.”

Things like this will soon be including his first game on the main ice surface at Little Caesars Arena. On Saturday, Michigan takes on Savage, fellow Red Wings draftee Trey Augustine (41st, 2023) and the Spartans there in the annual Duel In The D.

The post Red Wings Pick Savage Excited for Detroit Debut (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Last Thursday, the entire roster of the USA Hockey squad for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championship took in the action at Little Caesars Arena between the Detroit Red Wings and Carolina Hurricanes.

Assuredly, all were dreaming of the day they could someday be skating in the NHL. For one of them, goaltender Trey Augustine, his dreamscape was a bit more specific. He can envision what it might be like to one day wear the winged wheel on that very same ice surface.

“It was cool,” admitted Augustine, who was Detroit’s 41st overall selection in the 2023 NHL entry draft. “We went a couple of weeks ago with some of my (Michigan State) teammates from East Lansing. Feels good to be around the rink and see some of the guys.”

Backstopping MSU to a sweep of Notre Dame, Trey Augustine is your @B1GHockey First Star of the Week!

The freshman earns the First Star honors for the second time inside of a month! #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/1tpdZ31ql0

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 12, 2023

The life of an NHL prospect, in contrast to that of an NHL draft prospect, is much different in its daily grind. Potential draftees are like actors persistently auditioning for a role over a 12-month period. Every day they have to be on, concerned about taking a misstep, perhaps being pigeonholed as something that in reality, they are not.

“A little less stress going on with all of the family, too,” Augustine admitted. “Now I can kind of focus on my daily process to get better.”

Augustine Working Toward Red Wings Future

He’s working every bit as hard to hone his craft as he did before, but for Augustine, now there is a specific purpose, a direction for his future that’s been outlined.

Already, in his first NCAA season with the Spartans, he’s seeing improvement coming in his game. Augustine is 11-3-2 with one shutout, a 2.97 GAA and .916 save percentage as a freshman at Michigan State.

Trey Augustine, man. #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/LCLGncI4G5

— Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) December 9, 2023

“I think my rebound control has gotten a lot better,” Augustine said. “At the end of the day it’s kind of adapting to the taller guys and how wide they are in college hockey. So I feel like I’m ready for that, the traffic and stuff.

“I think my whole game has improved kind of slightly this year.”

Working toward building a future in pro hockey is Augustine’s long-term objective. Whenever there’s down time around campus, he and Michigan State teammate Red Savage, a 2021 Red Wings draftee (114th overall) do occasionally talk about being teammates for a long time into the future.

“Me and Red do a little bit,” Augustine acknowledged. “Obviously it would be pretty cool if we could reunite down the road.”

Four Red Wings Picks To World Juniors

Augustine will be playing in his second world junior tourney. He won a bronze medal last season, along with a gold medal at the world U18 championship.

“This is my fourth IIHF event in just over a year and a half,” Augustine said. “I feel I kind of know what to expect, so I’m ready to go. Obviously it’s a big honor to start for the US in the world juniors.”

Slated for Gothenburg, Sweden from Dec. 26-Jan. 5, the Red Wings will be well represented in the event. Defensemen Axel Sandin Pellikka (17th, 2023) and Anton Johansson (105th, 2022) are playing for the host nation. Center Nate Danielson (9th, 2023) will be skating with Canada.

The post Augustine Ready for Worlds, Working Toward Red Wings Future appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The 2023-24 seas0n is nearly two months along, and beginning this week we’ll be keeping tabs on Red Wings prospects in the minors, or juniors, or in college in what we’re calling the Prospect Watch.

It’s not a ranking or assessment of talent, (For now, we’ll leave that to the guys Chris Ilitch is paying to do that) but it will be a snapshot of how prospects fared in the previous week. So the fact that players move up and down on this list is purely our perception, not where we think they rank in the organization.

Sandin Pellikka Off to Fast Start

Axel Sandin Pellikka is off to a blazing start in Sweden, recording his seventh goal in 18 games this season. That’s good for a forward. It’s amazing f0r a defenseman. Sandin Pellikka. the 17th overall pick last summer,  is off to the best start for a teenage defenseman in Sweden in 40 years. Ulf Samuelsson, who was very briefly a Red Wing at the end of his NHL career, had nine goals in 33 games in 1982-83.

Axel Sandin Pellikka (#LGRW) had the first three-point game of his SHL career on Nov 16th.

It was also a transition masterclass, showcasing why he's quickly becoming one of the best defensive prospects in the sport.

Highlights: pic.twitter.com/jdOI84wFsn

— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) November 18, 2023

Trey Augustine had a big weekend for the red-hot Michigan State hockey team. He was in net for both games as the Spartans (10-3-1) swept top-ranked Wisconsin. Augustine has a GAA of 2.99, a save percentage of . 913 and is 9-3-1 with a shutout while playing in 13 of MSU’s 14 games this season.

Simon Edvinsson has had a solid start even as the Grand Rapids Griffins stumble. The Griffins were swept by the Texas Stars last weekend. Edvinsson had a pair of assists in a 7-4 loss on Saturday. He has three goals in 13 games this season, well ahead of last year’s pace.

Mazur Hot After Return From Injury

Carter Mazur, who missed training camp with an injury suffered in Traverse City two months ago, has five points in seven games so far this season. He has two goals and three assists. That’s the same as Cross Hanas and Amadeus Lombardi, who have played in 13 and 12 games, respectively.

Red Savage is off to a good start at Michigan State after transferring from Miami (Ohio). He has four goals and 14 points in as many games for the Spartans.

Nate Danielson makes scoring goals look soooooo easy!@bdnwheatkings | @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/M9Rc4vq6DA

— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 18, 2023

Nate Danielson and Emmitt Finnie represented the Western Hockey League at each end of last summer’s draft. Danielson, the No. 9 overall selection, was impressive in training camp before beginning the season with Brandon. He has five goals and 13 points. Finnie, taken in the seventh round at No. 201, has four goals and 13 points for Kamloops.

Red Wings 2023 draftee Jack Phelan (137th overall) was among the 22 players named to the 2023 U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete at the 2023 World Junior A Challenge from December 10-17 in Truro, Nova Scotia. The 19-year-old defenseman is showing 1-4-5 totals with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede.

The post Red Wings Prospect Watch: Trey Augustine Posts Big Wins appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and Michigan State hockey coach Adam Nightingale have one thing in common going into the 2023-24 season:

They both will be scrutinizing the progress of Red Wings draftees Trey Augustine and Red Savage this winter.

Augustine, a second-round selection in June’s NHL Draft, and Savage, a fourth-rounder in 2021, are going into their first seasons in East Lansing.

Competition awaits

But, Nightingale says, both will have to earn playing time.

“I think competition is the greatest driver in development,” Nightingale says. “I told Trey, if you’re looking for a place that’s going to tell you you’re the starter, this isn’t the place. You’ve got to earn it.”

Augustine, a South Lyon native, will compete with another freshman, Livonia native Luca DiPasquo, and senior Jon Mor for the starting goalie job this fall.

“I think between the three of them, we’ll have really good goalies,” Nightingale said.

Savage, a junior transfer from Miami (Ohio) who has two years of eligibility, is one of 15 newcomers to East Lansing this fall. He will play forward and is expected to provide a veteran’s savvy as well.

“We’re excited about the group we have coming in,” Nightingale said.

The Spartans won 18 games last year, their most since 2011-12, and just missed qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.

“We took a good step last year,” Nightingale said. “But we want to be in that tournament every year. When you talk about the foundation we’re trying to lay for a program, we want it to be a sustaining one, not a fleeting one. We’re taking it one day at a time. It’s as simple as it sounds. Just focus on today, and tomorrow will take care of itself.”

Augustine had a stellar season with the National Team Development Program last year. He also starred in the IIHF Under-18 World Championships, leading Team USA to a gold medal. Augustine is considered a strong NHL prospect.

Savage, whose father played 12 seasons in the NHL, had seven goals for Miami last season but had three goals for Team USA in the IIHF Junior Championships. He had an assist on the game-winning goal in the bronze-medal game for Team USA.

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A Recruiting Boost

The Red Wings draftees are among four incoming players who have been drafted by NHL teams. Nightingale says that helps both on the ice and in recruiting.

“When you talk about Michigan State, it historically has been one of the top programs,” he said. “When you’re recruiting, you want to be a place where kids look and see that we have (NHL) draft picks. We want to go after the best players.”

The pickings have been pretty slim for Michigan State in recent seasons. But the Spartans are hoping incoming players like Trey Augustine and Red Savage can change all that.

The post Red Wings Now Have Vested Interest in MSU Success appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron was announcing his retirement from the NHL on Tuesday, not that it was offering much hope to the Detroit Red Wings. While not entirely unexpected, Bergeron’s decision certainly sent shockwaves through Boston and the Atlantic Division in general.

37

Patrice Bergeron is an incredible and inspiring leader known around the League. pic.twitter.com/37fNQsagVf

— NHL (@NHL) July 26, 2023

What it didn’t do was offer much of a boost to the playoff odds of the Red Wings. According to DraftKings Sportsbook, Detroit is still set at a betting line of +250 to qualify for the 2023-24 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Wings are being given -320 odds to miss the playoffs for an eighth succesive season.

In the Atlantic Division, the Montreal Canadiens (+1700) are the only team oddsmakers are saddling with a longer betting line to be postseason participants next season.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Michigan State is counting on big things from Detroit draft pick Red Savage
• Former Red Wings defenseman Slava Fetisov doesn’t see himself returning to the coaching profession
• Detroit will have plenty of cap space if the club is going to go after UFAs in the summer of 2024
• Red Wings 2022 draftee Dmitri Buchelnikov wll play playing for Russia’s U23 team

Red Wings Offseason

The AHL Chicago Wolves were announcing on Wednesday the hiring of Dave Barr as an assistant coach. A longtime NHL forward, Barr played for the Red Wings from 1987-91. He would tally a career-high 27 goals with Detroit during the 1988-89 season.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Freshly retired from the NHL, former Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron is ready to become an uber driver for his children.

Buffalo: Long a problem for the club, goaltending continues to be an area of concern fof the Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal: Projected NHL standings for the 2023-24 Montreal Canadiens.

Pittsburgh: These three Pittsburgh Penguins players have the most to prove next season.

Philadelphia: Here’s why the Philadelphia Flyers will be improving as a team next season.

Islanders: The New York Islanders are awaiting a decision from Zach Parise on whether he’ll be retiring from the NHL.

Carolina: Locking up Sebastian Aho to a long-term pact is a done deal for the Carolina Hurricanes.

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Chicago: Rockey Wirtz, chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks, is dead at the age of 70.

Colorado: Locking in center Ben Meyers to a one-year contract, the Colorado Avalanche now have their entire roster signed up for the 2023-24 NHL season.

Nashville: Are the Nashville Predators in on UFA forward Vladimir Tarasenko?

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Kings will be taking part in the rookie showcase tournament being conducted by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Vegas: After coach Bruce Cassidy was shutting down the country club atmosphere, the Vegas Golden Knights were winning the Stanley Cup.

San Jose: Which players are locks to be making the San Jose Sharks roster for the 2023-24 NHL season?

The post The Daily: Bergeron Retirement Isn’t Boosting Red Wings Playoff Chances; Hurricanes Lock up Aho Long Term appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.