Detroit Red Wings Clips June 17, 2016

Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Pavel Datsyuk to meet with Red Wings on Friday, agent says PAGE 3 U.S. Senate passes resolution honoring Gordie Howe PAGE 4 Holland: Trade might be best option for Howard, Wings PAGE 6 Red Wings hope Riley Sheahan grows into bigger role PAGE 8 Red Wings re-sign defenseman Brian Lashoff for depth in Grand Rapids PAGE 9 Mock draft predicts Red Wings will take Russian center German Rubtsov

in first round PAGE 11 Former players speak to Gordie Howe's influence, impact PAGE 13 Sheahan signs two-year deal for $4.15 million PAGE 15 Sportsnet.ca / Before ‘Mr. Hockey,’ Gordie Howe was ‘Mr. Elbows’

Pavel Datsyuk to meet with Red Wings on Friday, agent says

Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 8:27 p.m. EDT June 16, 2016

The first step to resolving the Pavel Datsyuk situation should happen Friday.

Datsyuk and the Detroit Red Wings are to hold a long-awaited meeting in the evening, Dan Milstein, the agent for Datsyuk, told the Free Press.

The Wings await final word from Datsyuk on his expected decision to return to his native Russia. Plans for this week were scrambled after Gordie Howe died last Friday, prompting the delay of Wednesday's originally planned meeting between the Wings and Datsyuk (the first revision had the sides not meeting until next week, but that changed today).

In the wake of Howe's death, the Wings pushed back organizational meetings scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday until today and Friday. Howe's funeral was Wednesday, and attended by everyone in the Wings' front office. Tuesday saw Howe lie in repose at Joe Louis Arena, and son Mark Howe, who is the team's director of pro scouting, was able to greet many of the estimated 15,000 fans who paid their respects.

Datsyuk told the Free Press at the end of the regular season he wants to return to his native Russia next season, but he said he would not make his final decision until after the World Championship. When that tournament ended in late May, he went on vacation, returning to the area this past Tuesday.

The sooner the Wings get an answer - and Holland has said he expects Datsyuk to leave - the sooner the team can attempt to move Datsyuk's contract, which has one year left at $7.5 million. While a team would not have to pay any actual salary, it still will not be easy to accomplish. This week, the Blackhawks had to give up 21-year-old Teuvo Teravainen in order to convince Carolina to swallow the remaining $4 million contract of Bryan Bickell. The Blackhawks netted the 50th overall pick in next week's draft and a third-round pick in 2017 in return.

Signings official: The Wings announced the signings of forward Riley Sheahan (two years with a salary cap hit of $2.075 million) and minor-league defenseman Brian Lashoff.

Lashoff, 25, hasn't played in the NHL since an 11-game appearance during 2014-15. He has been a good veteran in Grand Rapids.

The Wings need defensemen for their AHL team because three of them - Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul and Nick Jensen - are no longer able to be sent down without waivers. Ouellet already is earmarked for next season's Wings team, but the Wings aren't going to field a defense that would feature three new youngsters, along with 24-year-old Alexey Marchenko. Sproul has size and shoots right, while Jensen can really skate. Expect either or both to be considered for a trade package.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.17.2016

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U.S. Senate passes resolution honoring Gordie Howe

Todd Spangler, Detroit Free Press 5:09 p.m. EDT June 16, 2016

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate approved a resolution Thursday paying tribute to the life of Detroit Red Wings great Gordie Howe, who died last Friday at age 88.

U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters, both D-Mich., introduced the resolution honoring Howe’s life and his “significant contributions to the sport of hockey and the city of Detroit.” A copy of the resolution is to be forwarded to Howe’s family.

“Gordie Howe’s excellence on the ice inspired players and fans everywhere and was equally matched by his contribution to the sport, our state and the City of Detroit off the ice,” said Stabenow.

“Gordie Howe was an icon who changed the face of hockey and made Detroit a force to be reckoned with in the NHL,” said Peters. “While he may no longer be with us, his spirit, grit and love for the game will be forever enshrined as the core of the Detroit Red Wings.”

About 15,000 mourners paid their respects to Howe at a public visitation on Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena with a funeral service held at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament afterward.

Detroit Free Press LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Holland: Trade might be best option for Howard, Wings

Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 4:09 a.m. EDT June 17, 2016

Detroit — The Pavel Datsyuk saga is front and center in the minds of Red Wings fans.

But what about Jimmy Howard?

As the Red Wings prepare for next week’s draft, and what is expected to a trading frenzy around the NHL, Howard’s future in the organization is a key question.

With Petr Mrazek’s emergence last season as the No.1 goaltender, Howard became expendable.

“I’ve considered it, but we’ll see what happens,” Howard said at the end of last season on the possibility he might have played his last game with the Red Wings. “(Being traded is) part of the business. A lot of people go through it. If that were to happen, it happens.

“It would be disappointing. I’ve met a lot of great people in this city. But that’s the nature of this business. Sometimes you have to pack up and move on.”

Mrazek is a restricted free agent and will get a substantial raise, likely in the $3 million-$4 million per season range.

But with Howard on the books for $5.3 million the next three seasons, finding a trade partner isn’t going to be easy for several reasons.

■There aren’t many teams looking for goaltending.

■The money and length of Howard’s contract aren’t easily digestible.

■There could be a flooded market for goaltenders — all with contract issues of their own — such as Ben Bishop (Lightning), Andrei Vasilevsky (Lightning), Marc-Andre Fleury (Penguins) and Frederik Andersen (Ducks).

■Teams with goaltenders worth trading want to get something for them rather than lose them in a possible expansion draft next offseason.

Howard finished 14-14-5 during the regular season, with a 2.80 goals-against average and .906 save percentage. He split time with Mrazek for most of the first half before Mrazek claimed the top spot with solid play in January.

Howard briefly reclaimed the starting job the final weeks of the regular season as Mrazek slumped.

Howard then started the first two games of the playoffs against the Lightning, losing both (3.59 GAA, .891 SVS), and ultimately the starting job to Mrazek — again.

“In the playoffs, you have to find a way to make more saves than the other guy at the other end (of the ice),” Howard said. “I wasn’t able to do that.”

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Another season of largely watching likely wouldn’t appeal to Howard.

And, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has said a trade might be the best option for everybody.

“I can see on the one hand that having two goaltenders, it’s a nice luxury,” Holland said. “Certainly Jimmy Howard played an important role down the stretch in our team qualifying for the playoffs.

“It (a trade) might be good for some careers and good for the organization. I’ve thought about it lots.”

As for Datsyuk, he’s expected to meet with Holland today to discuss the center’s decision on whether to return to the Red Wings or leave for Russia.

Datsyuk is in town for his skill development camp at Orchard Lake St. Mary’s today.

Detroit News LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Red Wings hope Riley Sheahan grows into bigger role

By Ansar Khan | on June 16, 2016 at 3:35 PM, updated June 16, 2016 at 3:41 PM

DETROIT – Riley Sheahan resembled a power forward the final six weeks of the regular season. He was strong on the puck, provided a net presence with his big frame and his production picked up.

This is what the Detroit Red Wings expect to see from Sheahan on a consistent basis.

"The first half of the year he didn't play quite as well as we had expected from the previous year and then I thought the last 25 games he took a real jump in his performance," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He's 24 years of age. A lot of times with younger players it's confidence and starting to understand that you can do some things that maybe you didn't know you could do when you were younger, and I'd like to think that's what's going on with Riley. He's a big man with skill."

The Red Wings officially announced Thursday that they have signed Sheahan to a two-year contract. It has a $2.075 million cap hit. His cap hit was $950,000 in 2015-16. Sheahan will be a restricted free agent when the deal expires in 2018.

"His best years are still well ahead of him," Holland said. "We're excited to get him signed to a two-year contract and we think he's going to have a bigger role on our team going forward. Our hope is he can grow into a top (two) line center."

Sheahan (6-3, 222) centered the third line most of the season, but was moved up to the second line on occasion and also played on the wing. He had seven goals and 12 points in the final 23 games, following a stretch of 17 games without a point. He finished with 14 goals and 25 points in 81 games.

"He's a big body, we're looking for big bodies," Holland said. "He's not a player who's going to run around and hit people but I thought he got a little more aggressive, a little more confidence. There's no doubt he's a legitimate top-nine forward and we're hoping in the next couple of years he can grow into a bigger role."

Datsyuk deadline approaching: Pavel Datsyuk is back in town for his hockey camp, which starts Friday at Orchard Lake St. Mary's. Holland said he's had some brief conversations with Datsyuk about his future but nothing formal yet.

"I'm anticipating at the very latest he'll have his decision announced by Monday (if not before)," Holland said.

Holland leaves for the entry draft in Buffalo on Tuesday and said he needs to know what Datsyuk is doing before that.

It is widely expected that Datsyuk will play in Russia next season.

UFA updates: Holland said he'll resume talks with Drew Miller's agent next week as they work on getting a one-year deal done.

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Darren Helm won't decide on his future until after he's had a chance to speak with other clubs during the free-agent interview period prior to July 1.

"He's obviously earned that right," Holland said. "I'll stay in contact with his agent and see where it goes."

Detroit News LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Red Wings re-sign defenseman Brian Lashoff for depth in Grand Rapids

By Ansar Khan | on June 16, 2016 at 1:40 PM, updated June 16, 2016 at 1:41 PM

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Brian Lashoff to a one-year contract. He will continue providing depth with the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Lashoff, 25, appeared to have established himself as an NHL player in 2013, when the Red Wings signed him to a three-year, one-way deal. But others bypassed him on the depth chart and he was sent to Grand Rapids midway through the 2014-15 season.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland called Lashoff a solid AHL defenseman who can play in the NHL if needed. He has appeared in 117 games for the Red Wings (two goals, 11 assists), plus eight playoff games (no points).

"We like him for depth, but we also like him for being a leader, a role model in Grand Rapids, to kind of help some of our younger people understand what you got to do to be a pro," Holland said. "We think he can play in the NHL if we needed him. He's a good penalty killer, he's a good shot blocker and he's 25 years old."

Lashoff, a 6-foot-3, 221-pound stay-at-home defender, played in 74 regular season games for the Griffins in 2015-16 (one goals, 15 assists) and nine playoff games (two goals, one assist).

Lashoff, a restricted free agent, inked a two-way deal with an NHL salary of $650,000 and AHL salary of $250,000.

Three Grand Rapids defensemen lose their waiver-exemption status next season – Xavier Ouellet, Ryan Sproul and Nick Jensen. Robbie Russo had a tremendous first season as a pro. The Griffins also have college free agent Daniel Renouf and Joe Hicketts, who'll be starting his pro career.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Mock draft predicts Red Wings will take Russian center German Rubtsov in first round

By Brendan Savage | on June 16, 2016 at 12:12 PM, updated June 16, 2016 at 12:13 PM

Red Line Report, an independent scouting service that provides information on top prospects, has put together a pair of NHL mock drafts.

One has the Detroit Red Wings selecting Mississauga Steelheads center Michael McLeod with the 16th overall pick in the first round.

The other predicts the Red Wings will draft German Rubtsov, a 6-foot-2, 178-pound center from Russia's U18 team.

"With Pavel Datsyuk expected to return to mother Russia to play his hockey, why not replace him with another fine two-way Russian center?" Red Line Report asked. "He's not another Datsyuk offensively, but he's sturdy, aggressive, and intelligent."

In 28 games last season, Rubtsov had 12 goals, 14 assists and a plus-12 rating. In two international tournaments, he had a total of three goals and seven assists in nine games.

Red Line Report ranked Rubtsov 26th among all draft eligible players and has him 11th when it comes to natural hockey sense, calling him the "best forward at playing away from the puck."

He was named to the World Junior Challenge All-Star team after helping Russia win the silver medal.

NHL Central Scouting has Rubtsov ranked No. 5 among European skaters, up from No. 6 in its mid-season rankings.

As for the draft and free agency, here's what Red Line Reports says about the Red Wings' needs.

"General manager Ken Holland has already said he plans to add some size to his roster. That could mean a trade or perhaps the pursuit of a free agent, such as Troy Brouwer. They want someone who can help Justin Abdelkader with the heavy lifting. Don't look for the Red Wings to draft a smallish player in the first round. Ties will go to the bigger player. With Pavel Datsyuk expected to retire, the Red Wings will need scoring help.

"They also need a top pairing defenseman, but they aren't likely to find one. Steady rearguard Kyle Quincey will leave through free agency. Alexey Marchenko should have a full-time job next season. Tyler Wright has been the Red Wings' director of amateur scouting since 2013, and he's done a good job of landing desirable prospects. As always, Euro scouting chief Hakan Andersson has considerable input."

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Other mock drafts have the Red Wings choosing defenseman Jake Beam of the WHL's Calgary Hitmen and Wisconsin center Luke Kunin

The draft is June 24-25 in Buffalo.

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Former players speak to Gordie Howe's influence, impact

By Ansar Khan | on June 16, 2016 at 6:04 AM, updated June 16, 2016 at 9:32 AM

DETROIT – A who's who of the hockey world gathered at The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Wednesday to pay their final respects to Gordie Howe, one of the sporting world's all-time greats, who died Friday at age 88.

Luminaries such as Wayne Gretzky, Ted Lindsay, Steve Yzerman and Scotty Bowman shared their memories of Mr. Hockey over the past several days.

Here is what some others said before and after Wednesday's funeral service:

Chris Chelios: "Very fortunate to get to know him over the past 17 years (since Chelios arrived in Detroit), his family. Sad day for everybody in Detroit and all the hockey world but all the best goes to the family. What a great man he was. I can't think of any athlete in any sport who represented our game as well as Gordie did. We were very fortunate to have him."

Frank Mahovlich: "I saw him at Bill Gadsby's funeral and I wasn't sure if he knew who I was but then he gave me an elbow, so I knew he knew me. I was 8 years old when I started to listen about him on radio and I've looked up to him ever since. It was tough to play against him. The elbows came up and he was tough in the corners, but when I played with him, it was harmony. It was beautiful. He'll be missed."

Guy Lafleur: "It was always special to talk to him. With all the experiences that he had, playing with his two sons (Marty and Mark) he was something special. I don't think we're going to see that again. I remember we had this NHL old-timers game in Saskatoon. It was a fundraiser against the (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) and one of our guys got hit pretty badly. Gordie jumped on the ice and said 'Watch this guys.' At the faceoff he elbowed the guy and he knocked him over. The guy was down on the ice and he didn't realize what happened to him. And Gordie turned to him and said, 'Well guys, that's what the fans are here for.' "

Yvan Cournoyer (played his first game against Howe at age 19: "He tried to give me the elbow, but I was too short and he went over my head. That's why I'm here today."

Darren McCarty: "What a great tribute by Murray (Howe's son), just to epitomize what Gordie was all about. It really made you see just how larger than life this man was, how God had his hand on his shoulder and how he influenced all of us. For my generation, the guys like (Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Chris Osgood) that came up, what he taught us, because we obviously didn't get to see him play other than on tape, was what it meant to represent the Red Wings and that it was all about the crest on the front and not the name on the back. How to represent yourself in public, how to interact with fans, how to get involved in the community and in charity work and I think that's what being a Detroit Red Wing is all about. Gordie, Ted (Lindsay) and Alex (Delvecchio) led the way and we're just proud to follow."

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Dave Lewis: "He was an unbelievable man and an unbelievable hockey player. The game of hockey, and not just the NHL, the people he has touched, he has met, the events he has gone to. I mean, one of the events was in Saskatoon at the Memorial Cup a few years ago and he was there dropping the puck for one of the games that I was there. It was just great to see him back in his hometown. There's a statute of him there in Saskatoon, but he is bigger than the game, bigger than the game will ever be."

Bill Jamieson, former Red Wings director of media relations: "Gordie was so special, not only to me but to my family. Just a wonderful person. I just enjoyed spending time with him. I always remember sitting in the press box and all of a sudden I'd feel this elbow in the back. I didn't have to turn; I knew who it was. That's how Gordie always said hello. When they say he was a better person than a hockey player, as great of a hockey player as he was -- and he was the greatest -- he was just a wonderful person. I mean, he treated everybody the same. That's a cliché so often, but in his case, it's true."

Michigan Live LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Sheahan signs two-year deal for $4.15 million

By Chuck Pleiness, POSTED: 06/16/16, 3:49 PM EDT | UPDATED: 8 HRS AGO

DETROIT >> Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland feels Riley Sheahan’s confidence level will just continue to rise.

And that’s why the team signed the restricted free agent to a two-year deal worth $4.15 million.

“His best years are still well ahead of him,” Holland said. “We’re excited to get him signed. We think he’s going to have a bigger role on our team going forward.”

In 81 games last season, Sheahan, 24, scored a career-high 14 goals and had 11 assists. Three of his goals came on the power play.

“Two years ago he had 13 goals and 37 points and then this year I thought the first half of the year he didn’t play quite as well as we had hoped or as well as we had expected from the previous year and then I thought the last 25 games he took a real jump in his performance,” Holland said. “A lot of times with younger players it’s confidence and starting to understand that you can do some things that maybe you didn’t know you could do when you were younger. I’d like to think that’s what’s going on with Riley. He’s gaining some confidence.”

The Wings like his frame – 6-foot-2, 215 pounds – and how heavy he is on the puck down low.

“I thought the last 20-25 games he started to take the puck to the net more,” Holland said. “He did more with the puck and as you do things, you gain confidence, your game grows and I thought that’s what happened with Riley. (He had a) real good playoff series against Tampa Bay.”

In five games in the playoffs against the Lightning, Sheahan, who was the Wings’ first-round pick (21st overall) in the 2010 draft, had one assist.

“You’re never really sure where they’re going to top out,” Holland said. “That’s sometimes got to play itself out. Certainly our hope is he can grow into a top (two) line center.

“He’s a big body, we’re looking for big bodies,” Holland added. “He’s not a player who’s going to run around and hit people, but I thought he got a little more aggressive, a little more confidence. There’s no doubt he’s a legitimate top nine forward and we’re hoping in the next couple of years he can grow into a bigger role than that.”

DATSYUK, HELM, MILLER UPDATE

Pavel Datsyuk’s agent, Dan Milstein, said in a text message that there has not yet been a meeting date or time scheduled to discuss what his client will do next season.

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“He’s starting a hockey school (Friday),” Holland said. “We’ve had some brief conversations. I’m anticipating, at the very latest, he’ll have his decision announced by Monday. That would be on the long end.”

Holland is travelling to the draft on Tuesday. He wants to know what’s going on before he gets there.”

Datsyuk has one year left on his contract and if he walks away from it it’ll count towards the Wings’ salary cap unless they’re able to move it.

The team has made an offer to unrestricted free agent Darren Helm, but he wants to get into the free agent interview period.

Holland added that they’ve also talked to unrestricted free agent Drew Miller’s representatives. They’re trying to work out a one-year deal.

Macomb Daily LOADED: 06.17.2016

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Sportsnet.ca / Before ‘Mr. Hockey,’ Gordie Howe was ‘Mr. Elbows’

LUKE FOX JUNE 16, 2016, 3:52 PM

This story appears in “Remembering Mr. Hockey,” a special edition of Sportsnet magazine on newsstands this week.

Unlike “Mr. Hockey,” which rings of idealism, sportsmanship and dedication to the craft, Gordie Howe’s first nickname is not trademarked, nor is it nice.

“Mr. Elbows,” as his opponents called him, could have earned a moniker for any of several tell-tale attributes. But the redwood-thick neck, the titanium wrists, the straight stick blade and the brawler’s build all ran runner-up to Howe’s most intimidating properties: windshield wipers he’d switch on and whip about should an enemy be foolish enough to try to steal his puck or ram his shoulder.

“If a guy slashed me,” Howe once explained, “I’d grab his stick, pull him up alongside me and elbow him in the head.”

When you ask anyone who shared the ice with Howe or watched him play, the elbows never fail to warrant a mention. In fact, they only seem to grow in size and status the more people you talk to.

REMEMBERING MR. HOCKEY: A SPECIAL EDITION OF SPORTSNET MAGAZINE, ON NEWSSTANDS THIS WEEK. PIC.TWITTER.COM/8UGMURIRKI

— SPORTSNET (@SPORTSNET) JUNE 15, 2016

“He’s got more elbows than an octopus. If an octopus has elbows.” —Frank Selke

“You don’t hook him around the ribs from behind or he will most likely take the elbow and knock you out. It’s an elbow that goes from the waist and comes up. It’s pretty scientific.” —Marty Howe

PHIL ESPOSITO'S FIRST MEETING WITH GORDIE HOWE BEGAN WITH AN ELBOW TO PHIL'S CHOPS THAT REQUIRED SIX STITCHES. WELCOME TO THE NHL, ROOKIE

— IRA KAUFMAN (@IKAUFMAN76) JUNE 10, 2016

“How vicious he was with his elbows… it was almost anything to win. If you got him good, or you embarrassed him in any way, he was gonna get you. It was only a matter of time before he hurt you. It’s interesting to see that the best player in the world at that time was also one of the meanest. That doesn’t usually happen.” —Curtis Joseph

“I didn’t play against Gordie when he was throwing elbows, and I never got close enough to feel the wrath, either.” —Bryan Trottier

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Hockey Hall of Fame great Gordie Howe, left, receives a playful elbow from a fan while taking part in the Pro AM for Alzheimer's charity event fundraiser in Toronto on Thursday, May 5, 2011. Gordie Howe's wife Colleen died in 2009 from Pick's disease, a form of dementia. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

“He’d put his elbows up on purpose just to show people he was rough and tough, but he wasn’t mean or dirty. He was the exact opposite: He cared.” —Walter Gretzky

“One night we were playin’ Detroit in the playoffs, and the puck went into Gordie’s corner in our end. I’m the closest Leaf, so I head for the corner, and I get there the same time as Howe. He runs me into the fence, and I turn around and I whack him across the shins, and he gives me a push back in the shoulders, just misses my head, and I give him another crack. He turns with his elbow and catches me right in the mouth. I say, ‘Uh-oh, I’m in trouble here.’ I got blood runnin’ down, and I stick my tongue up and the tooth is gone, see. So [referee] Leo Gravelle blows the whistle. And I said, ‘Leo, for God’s sake, that’s a penalty.’ ‘No, no. I didn’t see it.’ I’m bleedin’, eh? I say, ‘Well, look, I gotta try to find that tooth. So Leo says OK. He stopped the game, and for about three or four minutes everybody on both teams is lookin’ for the goddamn tooth. And we never did find it.

“Two or three years later we’re in Detroit. It’s in my corner this time, and Howe comes in behind me, and I touch the puck and pass it over to Jimmy Thomson, and just as I pass the puck Howe plasters me against the boards. So I come out and I give him an elbow right in the middle of the chest, and he gives me an elbow back and there goes another tooth. His elbow came even with my mouth, my elbow went even with his belly button. Over the years I’ve met him once or twice somewhere along the lines. It’s always, ‘Hi, Howie, how are your teeth?’ He’s a great guy.” —Howie Meeker

“My dad would never do that [hit us with his elbows]. I watched them in action a few times, but thank God it wasn’t me. I’ve been quoted many times: ‘He’s the nastiest player on ice I’ve ever seen. But he might be the most gentlemanly person I’ve met in my entire life.’ ” —Mark Howe

“I hope he doesn’t elbow too many angels.” —the celebrant priest at Howe’s funeral

THE TOWN OF ELBOW, SK SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AND CHANGE THEIR NAME TO HOWE AFTER MR HOCKEY'S PASSING

— ADAM KRIESER (@WGANGCLAMSMASHR) JUNE 15, 2016

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