Red Wings Rumblings
While the Wings are enjoying a day off following their fourth win in a row, the World Juniors wrapped up Sunday with a gold medal for Trey Augustine, Max Plante and Team USA. Augustine did an interview with NHL Network following the big win:
Speaking of Trey Augustine, who now heads back to East Lansing to join the nation-leading Michigan State Spartans, he became the most-winningest US-born goaltender in World Juniors history. Another incredible accolade for a very exciting and talented young player.
Also need to give Jesse Kiiskinen his flowers for how he performed at the World Juniors for Team Finland. Six goals and an assist in seven games for the 19-year-old. He’s got more developing to do before he makes a move to North America, but this looks like a sneaky-good pickup for Steve Yzerman.
It wasn’t the way Team Sweden wanted to end their WJC — Team Czechia took down the Swedes and clinched bronze. Team captain and Wings top prospect Axel Sandin-Pellikka finished his WJC campaign with 10 points in seven games. ASP’s four goals and six assists had him in a five-way tie for second-most points scored in the tournament. Cole Hutson finished in first with 11 points scored. Still a very impressive showing for ASP, who now heads back to the SHL to continue his road to pro hockey in North America.
Meanwhile, Dmitri Buchelnikov is garnering more praise from around the hockey world. The 21-year-old budding star has 35 points (12-23–35) in 39 KHL games this season and has emerged as one of the league’s most gifted scorers. The timeline for his arrival to Detroit or Grand Rapids is still unclear, but with numbers like this you have to imagine there are conversations happening to get him here sooner rather than later. Could he be the next Kirill Kapizov?
Wrapping things up, yesterday I put out an article about five games of improvement under Todd McLellan. The Wings are headed into a big game against Ottawa with a win streak under their belt.. Is what we have been seeing from Detroit sustainable? That’s a question that may be on the minds of some Wings fans. I personally think it’s mores sustainable than one would think. Nevertheless, it’s nice to be excited about Red Wings hockey again.
Oh, and big shoutout to the Detroit Lions for beating the piss out of the Minnesota Vikings and clinching a first-week bye in the NFL playoffs. Sorry to the people who hate the Jared Goff chants, but they’re not going anywhere. Better LGRW a little louder if you go to a game. 🙂
