Detroit Red Wings Clips September 16, 2016 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 6 things you need to know about the World Cup of Hockey PAGE 4 Wings prospects set for high-caliber tournament PAGE 6 How Red Wings and rest of NHL fare in latest Stanley Cup odds PAGE 8 Red Wings prospect Joe Hicketts aims high entering first full pro season PAGE 10 Ericsson battling through hip injury
6 things you need to know about the World Cup of Hockey Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 5:30 p.m. EDT September 15, 2016 Catching the newest Detroit Red Wings is just one of the reasons to tune into the World Cup of Hockey. The tournament gets competitive starting Saturday afternoon when round-robin play begins with the U.S. taking on team Europe, followed by an evening game between the Czechs and Canadians. It's a rare chance to enjoy high-quality hockey in September, and easily watchable as the majority of games will be either on ESPN or ESPN2. This is only the third go-around for the World Cup, which replaced the Canada Cup. The U.S. scored a huge title victory in 1996 when they defeated the Canadians in Montreal. In 2004, Canada beat Finland in the final. Here's what to know. Tournament low-down: Unlike the 12-team Olympic field, the World Cup of Hockey has just eight teams. The usual suspects make up six of the teams U.S.A, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Canada, Russia but there's a twist on the last two. Team North America has been culled from the NHL s best 23-and-under players, while team Europe boasts all best European players whose own country isn't represented. Teams are divided into groups of four. Who's in charge: The tournament is organized jointly by the NHL and NHL Players Association and uses NHL rules. All the games are at Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The schedule: The preliminary round runs through Thursday. Each team will play three divisions games, with the top two finishers advancing to a single-game cross-over semifinal. The finalists play a best-of-3 series scheduled for Sept. 27 and 29, and Oct. 1 if needed. The magnificent seven: It's rare to see a Swedish national hockey team sans any Wings, but that's the case after both Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall dropped out because of injuries. The Wings still have seven players at the event, including July 1 signees Frans Nielsen and Thomas Vanek. The Dane and the Austrian are with the Europeans, who also field Slovakia s Tomas Tatar. The other Wings are Dylan Larkin (North America), Justin Abdelkader (USA), Petr Mrazek (Czechs) and Alexey Marchenko (Russia). Country or continent: What with both a U.S. team and a North American team, Americans could root for both. At least two American Wings nixed that notion. I mean, give me USA, Jimmy Howard said. USA, Danny DeKeyser said, smiling. I don't want the young kids to get too cocky, because then Larkin comes in here with a big head. Other locals: Rochester s Jason Trouba is among the defensemen for North America, and Commerce s Connor Hellebuyck is among the goalies. Livonia s Ryan Kesler is playing for the U.S. The Russian squad includes former Wing Pavel Datsyuk. Wings general manager Ken Holland is an assistant GM for Canada, where he's reunited with 2
former Wings head coach and Canada coach Mike Babcock.Nicklas Lidstrom is on Sweden s advisory board. Jiri Fischer is head of scouting for the Czechs. Detroit Free Press LOADED: 09.16.2016 3
Wings prospects set for high-caliber tournament Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 5:04 a.m. EDT September 16, 2016 Detroit Most hockey fans are focused on the World Cup of Hockey, which begins this weekend in Toronto. But there s another tournament that could be interesting the eight-team prospects tournament that begins Friday in Traverse City. In terms of the competition, it s of the highest caliber these young players will face, said Ryan Martin, assistant general manager for the Red Wings. How good could this tournament be? More than 500 participants who have played in the tournament have gone on to play at least one game in the NHL, including 24 who skated for the Red Wings in the 2015-16 NHL season. The Red Wings roster is highlighted by five recent first- or second-round picks forwards Evgeny Svechnikov (2015, first), Tyler Bertuzzi (2013, second), Zach Nastasiuk (2013, second), Givani Smith (2016, second) and defenseman Filip Hronek (2016, second). The Red Wings could contend for the tournament title with a roster that also has defensemen Robbie Russo and Joe Hicketts (undrafted free agent), forward Dylan Sadowy (acquired via trade) and goaltender Jake Paterson (2012, third). The summer development camp is a development camp, educating players and giving them the resources and tools to succeed, Martin said. This camp is an evaluation camp. These players are at different points of their careers, and we re evaluating where they are. Bertuzzi, a scrappy winger, had 30 points and 133 penalty minutes last season in Grand Rapids, and already posted two impressive playoff runs (14 career goals in 23 games). The way he finished last year, he s a guy who is going to challenge for an opportunity in Detroit at some point this season, and Robbie Russo is the same, Martin said. Russo, 23, was a 2011 fourth-round pick by the Islanders who then played four years at Notre Dame. He signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Red Wings in 2015. Last season, Russo led the AHL with a plus-40 rating and was named to the all-rookie second team. Grand Rapids coach Todd Nelson and his staff will coach the Red Wings tournament team. 2016 NHL Prospects Tournament When: Friday-Tuesday, Centre Ice Arena, Traverse City Teams: Blackhawks, Blue Jackets, Blues, Hurricanes, Stars, Rangers, Red Wings, Wild 4
Format: Teams will be split into two divisions, with the first-place teams playing for the title Red Wings schedule: Friday vs. Blue Jackets, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday vs. Blackhawks, 4 p.m.; Monday vs. Blues, 7 p.m.; Tuesday crossover game to be determined Tickets: $10 Detroit News LOADED: 09.16.2016 5
How Red Wings and rest of NHL fare in latest Stanley Cup odds Ansar Khan on September 15, 2016 The Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins, teams who have won the Stanley Cup a combined five times in the past eight seasons, are co-favorites for this season's championship at 9-1, according to the latest odds from Brovado.lv. The defending champion Penguins were the favorites at 8-1 on June 13. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Washington Capitals are next at 10-1, followed by the Dallas Stars at 12-1. The Detroit Red Wings are tied for 12th with five other clubs at 25-1. They were 18-1 on June 13. The Arizona Coyotes, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets and Vancouver Canucks have the longest odds at 66-1. Here is the complete list, with odds on June 13 followed by the current odds): Chicago Blackhawks 10/1 9/1 Pittsburgh Penguins 8/1 9/1 Tampa Bay Lightning 14/1 10/1 Washington Capitals 10/1 10/1 Dallas Stars 16/1 12/1 St. Louis Blues 12/1 14/1 San Jose Sharks 14/1 14/1 Anaheim Ducks 16/1 16/1 Florida Panthers 25/1 16/1 Los Angeles Kings 14/1 16/1 Nashville Predators 18/1 16/1 Boston Bruins 25/1 25/1 Detroit Red Wings 18/1 25/1 Minnesota Wild 18/1 25/1 Montreal Canadiens 20/1 25/1 New York Islanders 20/1 25/1 New York Rangers 18/1 25/1 Edmonton Oilers 40/1 33/1 Philadelphia Flyers 25/1 33/1 6
Buffalo Sabres 66/1 50/1 Calgary Flames 40/1 50/1 Colorado Avalanche 33/1 50/1 New Jersey Devils 50/1 50/1 Ottawa Senators 40/1 50/1 Toronto Maple Leafs 66/1 50/1 Winnipeg Jets 50/1 50/1 Arizona Coyotes 50/1 66/1 Carolina Hurricanes 50/1 66/1 Columbus Blue Jackets 50/1 66/1 Vancouver Canucks 50/1 66/1 Michigan Live LOADED: 09.16.2016 7
Red Wings prospect Joe Hicketts aims high entering first full pro season Brendan Savage on September 15, 2016 DETROIT Joe Hicketts has been defying the odds for years. Hicketts wasn't blessed with great size and at 5-foot-8, 177 pounds will be one of the smallest players at both the Detroit Red Wings prospects tournament and training camp next week. But size has never stopped Hicketts, who has excelled throughout his young career. He spent the last two seasons as captain of the WHL's Victoria Royals, held the same responsibilities during international competition for Team Canada and was named the WHL's Western Conference Defenseman of the Year and Player of the Year last season. Although he was never drafted, Hicketts parlayed an invitation to the Red Wings 2014 development camp into a spot on their prospects tournament team, playing so well that he earned an entry level contract. So when Hicketts says he's reporting to training camp with this year with the goal of playing for the Red Wings, it's hard to tell him he's dreaming. Deep down, Hicketts knows as well as anyone he's going to end up playing in Grand Rapids unless the Red Wings' defensive corps is decimated by injuries or stranded out in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay for a couple of months. But he's overcome the odds so often that he's aiming high heading into his first full pro season. "That's the attitude you have to take," said Hicketts, 20. "I don't think that you can come in saying that you want to play in the American League or East Coast. You come to training camp with the mindset that you're not going to get sent down. "I probably have an idea of where I'm going to start. You always want to push yourself to play at the highest level you can. I think you got to show commitment, I think you got to show the ability to execute at a high level and be able to perform at any stage, whether you're tired, whether you're hurt, whether you've been on the ice for three hours or one hour. "I think it's something you've got to be comfortable playing the way you play and be able to execute." Hicketts is the kind of guy coaches love. For starters, he just loves playing hockey. And the enjoyment he gets from being on the ice is evident in the way he carries himself around the rink. He admitted he probably enjoys playing more than most players and hockey players are notoriously competitive and passionate about their game. 8
"I've learned to kind of enjoy hockey more than anything," Hicketts said. "I think it helps coming to the rink every day. Some days can be a grind, some days you don't want to get up. But I've kind of made it to when I come to the rink, I can enjoy being here, seeing all the guys." Despite his size, he plays a physically game is a surprisingly big hitter. He threw some of the biggest hits during the two scrimmages at the Red Wings development camp in July and that didn't go unnoticed by Todd Nelson, who ran the camp and will be coaching Hicketts in Grand Rapids this season. "That's the way Joe plays," Nelson said. "He's not a very big guy but he plays bigger than how tall he is. That's what he's done here in the past and that's what earned him a contract. "It's not as intense (in the development camp) as it will be in the prospect tournament. That's where we'll see more of the physicality." Hicketts ended his career with two big seasons for Victoria. In 2014-15, Hicketts has 12 goals, 52 assists and a plus-17 rating in 62 games. Last season, he had eight goals, 53 assists, 44 penalty minutes and a plus-38 rating in 59 games. In the playoffs, he had a goal and six assists in six games. He ended the season in Grand Rapids, practicing with the Griffins. "It was good, learned a lot of things," he said. "Obviously met Nellie last year. To see how Nellie runs practices at the American League level was another thing that I can kind of put in the memory bank and use to learn from moving forward." Hicketts doesn't anticipate feeling any pressure now that he's going to be turning pro rather than returning to junior hockey. "I think if anything it could be exciting," he said. "I think it's going to be something where the last couple years I figured I was going back to juniors so now it's excitement to trying to push for jobs at the next level, whether that's the National League or the American League. "It's something that you look forward to, getting up there every day and competing with the best players in the world." Michigan Live LOADED: 09.16.2016 9
Ericsson battling through hip injury By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily DETROIT >> Jonathan Ericsson has been dealing with a painful hip injury for the past four seasons. I think it s going to be there till the surgery, Ericsson said this week at Joe Louis Arena. Right now I can keep it up. It s going to have its ups and downs. That s been the biggest issue with me the last few years, but the (surgery) rehab is at least four months so it s something I want to do in the future. I want to have that as the last out so I m trying to rehab as much as I can. Ericsson s injury is called a hip impingement, which is caused by abnormal wearing between the ball and socket of the hip joint. It results in increased friction during hip movements that may damage the joint. It s not a natural movement to skate, like for the body to really open up the hips like that all the time, Ericsson said. A lot of hockey players have to deal with it and I ve got some arthritis in there too which isn t helping out. Along with the four-month recovery period after surgery that s keep Ericsson, 32, from having it, it s not guaranteed to work. They carve it out, Ericsson said. There s supposed to be a round socket that goes into the hip. It s not round right now, it s like square. Those edges are hitting and everything. I m just trying to deal with it as good as possible, Ericsson added. Before I really knew what it was, it was like after some games I had a hard time walking and stuff. Once we figured out what it was, and I was able to treat it the right way, I didn t have those high ups and downs where it was really painful one day and feeling a little bit better the next day. Now it s not as bad. My worse days aren t as bad as they used to be. Ericsson hasn t played well the last two seasons. He s led the team in turnovers two years in a row. It s hard to pinpoint one thing, but in the end I didn t feel real confident, Ericsson said. What the factors are I m not sure. I didn t feel real confident with the puck. It s something I want to start feeling better. Ericsson has been a combined plus-minus rating of minus-1 over the last three seasons. I felt better going into last year with confidence and stuff, Ericsson said. Just over the years you lose it sometimes and it s hard to get it back. You have to get into a good roll with playing and feeling good about everything and that s a big part in how everyone is playing I think. Macomb Daily LOADED: 09.16.2016 10