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The myth of the Calder Cup |
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The myth of winning the Calder Cup is that it somehow offers an indication of a bright future ahead for the parent club of the championship team.
Reality, and a little research, offer a completely different narrative. You have to go all the way back to 1984-85, when the Sherbrooke Canadiens won the Calder Cup, and several players from that club, including Patrick Roy, Brian Skrudland and Gaston Gingras, jumped up to the parent Montreal Canadiens the following season as the team won the Stanley Cup.
The closest case of this happening in recent seasons involved the Tampa Bay Lightning, who reached the Stanley Cup final in 2014-15, three years after their Norfolk Admirals farm captured the Calder Cup, providing Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat to the big club.
Building up the Grand Rapids wins as a signal of Detroit’s prospect depth is a real stretch. Just seven of those who were part of the playoff run were Red Wings draftees, and two of that group - forward Axel Holmstrom (four games) and defenseman Filip Hronek (two) - were bit players in the performance.
If Wings fans are waiting for Martin Frk, Matt Lorito and Eric Tangradi to ride to Detroit's rescue, they will be sadly disappointed.
Realistically, it’s difficult to picture more than a couple of the 2016-17 champion Griffins making a quick impact as Red Wings, and that would be right-winger Evgeni Svechnikov and left-winger Tyler Bertuzzi. Svechnikov was a 20-goal scorer for the Griffins last season, while Bertuzzi produced nine playoff goals, second on the team.
With Detroit’s salary cap mess, the chances of either sticking following training camp may be slim. Svechnikov will get his next chance to make an impression when he suits up Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins in an NHL preseason game.
“It’s a time you want to show off yourself and do your best,” Svechnikov said. “I want to send a message. I’m excited for it. It’s very important.
“Everybody have opportunity right now and I want to be a Red Wing. I want to give everything I have”
At the same time, he seems to understand that the numbers are against him at camp, and that Svechnikov’s best hope might be to show Wings coach Jeff Blashill that he is NHL-ready, and then if he goes down, to dominate the AHL so that like in recent seasons as was the case with Gustav Nyquist and Anthony Mantha, he would be the first forward recalled to the big club when the need arises.
“For sure I want to be that guy, the first call-up,” Svechnikov said.
To be that guy, Blashill has offered Svechnikov specific assignments that he must complete, an exam that won’t be easily passed.
“Svech, ultimately to be a really good player at this level he has to make sure he plays with pace, he has to make sure he keeps his stick on the ice so he stays away from hooking penalties and he has to slow the game down a little bit for himself,” Blashill said. “That’s a hard challenge to play with pace, meaning move your feet, but slow the game down, meaning slow your thinking down.”
Kronwall Status
Defenseman Niklas Kronwall (back spasms) still hasn’t seen the ice since the team first reported for training camp but his time could be near.
“He skated on his own here the last couple days so that’s a good sign,” Blashill said. “Like I’ve said before, there’s no reason to rush it. We’ve just got to make sure he’s ready come game one against Minnesota.
“I know he’s very eager to get back in a game, into practice-type stuff. So potentially tomorrow but I’ll get a report from the trainers today.”
Smith Down
The Wings reduced their training camp roster by another player, assigning forward Givani Smith back to Guelph (OHL).
Smith suffered a high ankle sprain that’s going to sideline him 2-4 weeks, so there was no reason to keep him around for the preseason.
Water You Kidding?
When the Chicago Blackhawks moved to the United Center, then owner Bill Wirtz had Chicago Stadium dismantled brick by brick in order to maximize its revenue potential with memorabilia collectors, and it appears the Wings are ready to likewise.
The team announced Tuesday that it was selling vials of melted ice from Joe Louis Arena for $85. And you thought bottled water was expensive.
According to a release from the Wings, “the melted ice is contained in a commemorative “Farewell Season at The Joe” vial within an officially numbered 6x8 inch shadowbox framed photo from the ‘Farewell to The Joe Ceremony,’ which followed the final game at historic Joe Louis Arena. The melted ice vials are limited to the first 3,000 purchased.”
Proceeds go to the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, so at least it’s benefitting a good cause.
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