Quick Hits: The Back to the Grind Edition

J.J. FromKansas

• 1 min read Front Page

In Red Wings Land

Red Wings draft pick Kienan Draper commits to Michigan hockey - MLive

The 2020 seventh-round pick of the Wings is playing this season with the Chilliwack Chiefs in the British Columbia Hockey League and will join the Wolverines next fall. The 6-foot-1, 198-pound forward played youth hockey in metro Detroit for the Little Caesars organization.

I don’t have any expectations that this is going to turn to be anything other than a nepotism pick but it’s free to hope the kid develops into something amazing.

There was somebody at the LCA on Friday wearing an Edvinsson Red Wings jersey.

Around the League

Komarov leaves Islanders, signs with KHL team - NHL

“Toughest decision I ever made in my career..to leave all my teammates and trainers who have been like a family to me for the last 3 years,” Komarov wrote in his post. “It hurts me more than anyone could think. Let’s put all the rumors away, I made this decision myself. Nobody else did it for me.

“… Big thank you to the fans who supported and cheered for me. It means a lot. I hope you guys are gonna win the cup.”

All I can think of Komarov is him slamming Pavel Datsyuk’s head on the ice while Datsyuk was down.  Good riddance.