In Red Wings Land
Detroit Red Wings use draft combine, steak dinner to size up prospects – Freep
Helene has video and quotes from the combine with stuff from Boqvist, Bouchard, Kotkaniemi, and Wahlstrom, including their own estimations about when they think they’ll be NHL ready and also what kind of stuff they feel they need to work on still. She also has word from Holland with a bit on draft plans, indicating they’re leaning more towards defense and center than winger, are considering moving back while staying top-10 and that he’ll be talking to fellow GMs about trades coming soon.
Detroit Red Wings trying to move up in draft | MLive.com
Meanwhile, Khan(!) is focusing on “a league source” saying the opposite of Helene and that the Wings are interested in making a move up to target the winger Zadina or Bouchard. Smoke coming from everywhere lately, I suppose. ’tis the season….
How selection process for next Griffins coach will be different | MLive.com
Pete Wallner caught up with Ryan Martin on the next steps for the Griffins in replacing Todd Nelson and there’s some good information on this in regards to the process they’ll follow, but in true Red Wings front office personnel fashion, there’s not really much substantive to it.
Around the League
Ekman-Larsson, Coyotes discussing long-term contract – NHL.com
The good news is you can use this story to fuel the idea that the OEL trade idea is off the table OR you can use it to fuel the idea that the Coyotes are trying to solidify his trade value with a long-term deal before he can get the no-trade clause that GMs hate giving but feel powerless to stop offering.
SIMMONS SAYS: The futures of Trotz, Colangelo, Happ and Donaldson all in question | Toronto Sun
Steve Simmons is guessing here, but I really don’t like this idea:
Mark Hunter will have at least two options available when mid-July hits and he’s available to join another NHL team. Lamoriello has interest in him with the Islanders. But word around now is that Detroit GM Ken Holland would be able to offer Hunter the same job he had in Toronto with a promise of being the next GM of the Red Wings. Holland, apparently, has serious interest in being involved with the Seattle expansion team, which would open the door for Hunter
