Red Wings Rumblings
A New Cook in the Kitchen… sorta
The Red Wings have apparently added an assistant general manager — internally. Aaron Kahn has been serving as director of hockey operations, and will continue to do so under his new title. Doesn’t sound like much will change. Shawn Horcoff will continue to focus on the minor league system and GM of the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Helene St James has a column about former first-round pick Axel Sandin-Pellikka and his decision to stay in Sweden for another season. A lot of quotes from Dan Cleary in this article, and it sounds like the Wings aren’t trying to rush the budding star through his development:
“Axel was one of Sweden’s most important players on defense,” assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He’s going to play quite a bit in Skellefteå, they’re going to have a good team. He’s going to run the power play, going to play quite a bit with the puck. Axel is a really smart player, moves well… We just don’t see the harm in it. No sense rushing him.”
NHL News
Philadelphia Flyers forward Travis Konecny just got his payday, and it’s a big one. The Flyers handed TK an eight-year deal worth some $70 million dollars ($8.75 million AAV) — the highest-paid player on the Flyers.
This is relevant because, well, Lucas Raymond’s deal that still has yet to be signed. It’s not clear what will happen — a long-term deal or something like a bridge deal. If I were the Red Wings, I would want to get Raymond signed long-term, but if I were Raymond, I think a bridge deal would ensure a bigger payday eventually — especially with the rising salary cap.
