Category: Pro
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Red Wings announce four signings on July 1
By Michael Caples – The Red Wings are in the hunt for the biggest free-agent prizes during this off-season. But the first move they made was to sign a back-up goaltender. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported that the Wings have signed Jonas Gustavsson to a two-year deal less than an hour into the first day of…
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Special DElivery: At the NHL Draft, teams look to the future, but keep an eye on the present
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By Darren Eliot – As evidenced in the preceding pages, the draft is all about looking ahead. There is so much hope and optimism attached to the event for all in involved. The smiling faces of the players tell their story. They are the focal point and even though the reality is that the draft…
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NHL Draft: Red Wings looked to add size to their depth chart
By Dave Waddell – The Detroit Red Wings have followed the same blueprint in drafting for a couple of decades, but fans saw in 2012 NHL draft a continuation of the reality the salary cap has forced upon the club. Long a proponent of always taking the most skilled player, Wings’ assistant general manager Jim…
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NHL Draft: Sieloff’s dream comes true
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By Michael Caples – PITTSBURGH – Patrick Sieloff said he couldn’t stop smiling. And really, who could blame him? The Ann Arbor native had just been selected by the Calgary Flames in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft. “It’s an awesome feeling,” Sieloff said. “I’m still kind of in shock. It’s a dream…
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Luke Glendening: From the stands to the ice
By Kyle Kujawa – Muskegon’s Justin Abdelkader was close, but he was about 45 minutes too far to the north. Portage’s Scott Parse was just over an hour south. Dozens of other Michiganders have suited up for the Grand Rapids Griffins, but no truly local product has ever skated for the team in its 16-year…
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NHL Draft: Worth the wait for Matt DeBlouw
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By Michael Caples – PITTSBURGH – Matt DeBlouw admitted that the nerves were kicking in a little bit. The Chesterfield native and Muskegon Lumberjacks alum was ranked 51st overall by NHL Central Scouting leading up to the Draft. Yet he ended up being selected by the Calgary Flames in the seventh and final round on…
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Jeff Blashill named new coach of the Griffins
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By Michael Caples – Sault Ste. Marie native Jeff Blashill is sprinting through the coaching ranks once again. The Red Wings announced via their official Twitter account today that Blashill, an assistant coach for Detroit, will be the new coach of their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids. “I’m thrilled for the opportunity to be the…
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NHL Draft: From “Mr. Hockey” to the Devils, Johnson comes full circle
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By Matt Mackinder – PITTSBURGH – This time last year, Ben Johnson was enjoying summer vacation after winning the state’s “Mr. Hockey” honors as a junior at Calumet High School and had just signed a free-agent deal with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League. One year later, Johnson is an NHL draft pick,…
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NHL Draft: Surprise of a lifetime for Mackenzie MacEachern
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By Michael Caples – PITTSBURGH – A breakout season for Mackenzie MacEachern has continued into the summer. The 90 points he posted in 29 games drew national attention for the Brother Rice standout, making him both a top draft choice of the USHL’s Chicago Steel and a future Michigan State Spartan. And now, he’s also…
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NHL Draft: Di Giuseppe proud to become part of the Hurricanes
By Michael Caples – PITTSBURGH – During his post-draft interviews, Phil Di Giuseppe compared the NHL Draft to something you don’t normally hear associated with hockey. “It’s like a beauty contest,” the Wolverines forward said. “Obviously you want to go as high as possible, but I couldn’t be more happy with where I am now…