Kukla's Korner

The Time Eric Duhatschek Attended The Training Camp Of The Calgary Flames

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/21/18 at 03:41 PM ET | Comments (0)

from Erich Duhatschek of The Athletic,

I devoured Paper Lion as a kid, which is probably why, when the idea was first pitched to me — of mimicking the Plimpton experience and trying out for the Calgary Flames in their inaugural 1980-81 season — I didn’t dismiss it completely out of hand. I was young, new to the job and not confident enough to turn down a very intimidating editor.

Accordingly, when the formal offer came, on Flames’ letterhead, signed by general manager, Cliff Fletcher, I said yes. Fletcher was pals with Mark Mulvoy, dating back to Mulvoy’s days as Sports Illustrated’s hockey writer and Plimpton originally wrote Paper Lion as a two-part series for SI – so Cliff was familiar with the schtick. Apparently, the year before, someone in Atlanta – a novice skater – tried to do something similar. In the days before I started, everyone in the organization gleefully told me how Willie Plett had unceremoniously tripped him at every opportunity because of how out of place he looked. I figured I could do a little better than that.

much more (paid) plus other topics including the fitness of players coming to camp...

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Notes Of Interest

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 03:30 PM ET | Comments (1)

from Dana Wakiji of DetroitRedWings.com,

Green told coaches that did not have his usual energy so they held him out of practice and sent him to see the doctor.

"He's not available right now," Wings coach Jeff Blashill said after Friday's practice at the BELFOR Training Center. "He's got a virus that attacked his liver, so he's seen an infectious disease person today and we should know more here in the next little bit. I don't know how long he's going to be out. I don't know the totality of it. He's got a virus."...

"I had a good summer, the first summer that I wasn't hurt. It was a good summer in the gym and I'm excited to be back," Bertuzzi said. "I got to skate all summer, too. I feel faster, stronger on the puck. I feel really, really good out there."

In previous summers, Bertuzzi had been limited by injury or illness.

Now he has added five to six pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-frame.

"He looks excellent," Blashill said....

"I feel so good. Good start," Sulak said. "First game and I'm so glad I can play here and I will do everything to stay here, play good defense, play good offense, play good neutral zone and help team, listen to my coach and I will do that."

His defense partner, Daley, was impressed.

"I thought he was great," Daley said. "He's big, he's strong, he skates great. He's got everything that you want as a defenseman. He's really given himself a good opportunity."...

more on each of the above topics...

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Videos- After Detroit’s Practice Today

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 03:14 PM ET | Comments (1)

As is the norm, I will add to the post if more videos become available.

First up is Dylan Larkin and Niklas Kronwall is below.

 

 

added 3:51pm, Jeff Blashill below.

Continue Reading »

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From the Dub: Away We Go

Blog: Above the Glass By Samantha

09/21/18 at 02:52 PM ET | Comments (2)

Tomorrow is the start of autumn, which also means it's time to bid farewell to the off-season. Summer was a long, strange trip for me this year, but I'm back at full strength. So is the WHL and there's no shortage of news in the headlines. On the alumni front, Ty Rattie is finally getting the chance to show the NHL what local Portland fans already knew. This year, I'll be watching the lesser known names who are either new to the league or coming on strong in the latter half of their junior careers. That includes Everett Silvertips captain Connor Dewar and Seattle Thunderbirds captain Nolan Volcan. The WHL regular season opens tonight with eight games. At long last, we're officially off to the races. 

Continue Reading »

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Season Preview For The Detroit Red Wings

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 10:52 AM ET | Comments (2)

from Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com,

The 2018-19 NHL season begins Oct. 3. With training camps open, NHL.com is taking a look at the five keys, the inside scoop on roster questions and the projected lines for all 31 teams. Today, the Detroit Red Wings.

Making the cut

Rasmussen seems likely to break into the NHL on the wing, the way Larkin did in 2015-16. The big question is Zadina: Will he make the initial roster, especially now that Zetterberg is gone and Athanasiou has moved to center, opening a spot on the wing? Will he start with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League, represent the Czech Republic at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship and then come to Detroit?

Filip Hronek, 20, seems likely to be the seventh defenseman but is competing with Dennis Cholowski, 20, Joe Hicketts, 22, and Libor Sulak, 24.

more

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Mike Green Dealing With Fatigue, May Miss Start Of The Season

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 10:21 AM ET | Comments (16)

 

added 10:37am, from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Mike Green may miss the start of the season after fatigue led to blood work, and subsequently an appointment with a specialist.

General manager Ken Holland told the Free Press Green “hasn’t had a lot of energy. He’s trying to see a doctor today or Monday.”

Early thinking is Green may have a virus, but “we don’t really know the extent of exactly what he has got,” Holland said. “But we are shutting him down pending what information we get from a specialist.” 

continued

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The Edmonton Oilers Looking Good In Early Preseason Games

Blog: KK Hockey By Paul

09/21/18 at 08:22 AM ET | Comments (1)

from Terry Jones of the Edmonton Sun,

It’s taken forever for Edmonton Oilers expectations to begin to rise again following the large letdown from the big buildup the year before. But it seems to finally be happening now.

While the degree of difficulty has been minimal in their first three pre-season games, they’ve all been wins and the players the organization and the fan base have been looking to impress have done so.

It’s the seeing that’s the believing and some fans are beginning to think they’re seeing why GM Peter Chiarelli decided to bet on bounce back seasons and go with the developing young players.

The cry all off-season was to find a right-winger.

Thursday Ty Rattie scored two goal and three assists and now has four goals and three assists in two pre-season games. He’s definitely going to open the season with Connor McDavid and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins in Sweden.

Meanwhile, Jesse Puljujarvi, who scored the Oilers’ first goal last night, his second of the pre-season, looks like he’s matured by a bunch.

continued

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Remembering The 1953-54 Stanley Cup Champions Detroit Red Wings

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 08:03 AM ET | Comments (1)

from Dave Stubbs of NHL.com,

Every 13 years when the bottom band of the Stanley Cup is filled with names of champions, the top band is removed and retired to be displayed in the vault of the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. The current top band, featuring NHL championship teams from 1953-54 to 1964-65, is coming off, and four bands below it are sliding up one place to make room for a fresh fifth band at the bottom that will begin with the 2017-18 Washington Capitals. Each day through Oct. 2, NHL.com will look at one of the 12 Cup-winning teams leaving hockey's most coveted trophy.

1953-54 DETROIT RED WINGS

Regular-season record: 37-19-14 (88 points), first in NHL
Coach: Tommy Ivan
Captain: Ted Lindsay
Names on the Cup: 28
Players on the Cup: 20

Future Hall of Fame players on the Cup: Alex Delvecchio, Gordie Howe, Red Kelly, Ted Lindsay, Marcel Pronovost, Terry Sawchuk

Stanley Cup engraving anomalies: Coach Tommy Ivan (full name Thomas N. Ivan) appears as Thomas Nivan; Alex Delvecchio appears as Alex Belvecchio; Tony Leswick appears as Tony Leswich.

A name on the Cup: Stickboy Walter Crossman appears as W CROSSMAN ST BOY. He was promoted to assistant trainer in 1954-55 and was on the staff for that Red Wings championship, but his name doesn't appear that year.

continued

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Videos- Libor Sulak Impresses In Detroit’s Win Over Chicago

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/21/18 at 07:32 AM ET | Comments (8)

from Ansar Khan of Mlive,

The four-way battle for what appears to be just one available spot on the Detroit Red Wings defense has just begun.

Libor Sulak made a favorable first impression Thursday, picking up a pair of assists and using his skating ability to create scoring opportunities in a 4-2 preseason victory over the Chicago Blackhawks at Little Caesars Arena.

"I like him a lot," Red Wings forward Thomas Vanek said. "I didn't know much about him. He's really good, the way he skates, the way he battles. He's not afraid to take shots, he's not afraid to jump up in the play. I thought he was one of our best players.

"If you can skate like that, you better join (the rush). I wish I had a quarter of his speed. He was great. Hopefully he can keep this up. It definitely helps our team."

continued

Below, watch Jeff Blashill and select players doing their post-game interviews.

Continue Reading »

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Another Live Preseason Blog- Detroit Red Wings vs. Chicago Blackhawks

Blog: Abel to Yzerman By Paul

09/20/18 at 06:45 PM ET | Comments (62)

The game starts around 7:37pm and is on FSD+ and the NHL Network.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are expected to be in the Chicago lineup.

Comment away and game rosters are below.

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