The present is nothing to shout about, so the Detroit Red Wings are utilizing the final games of the 2016-17 NHL season to take a look at what the future holds for the franchise.
Monday, it was Evgeni Svechnikov’s turn in the spotlight. The 20-year-old left-winger, Detroit’s top pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft, was recalled from AHL Grand Rapids and made his NHL debut in a 5-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators a memorable one, netting the only goal of the shootout in the seventh round.
“ I was just excited,… Svechnikov said. “Coach just point at me and he said just go and the guys just start telling me do your thing.
After he beat Ottawa goalie Craig Anderson, Svechnikov admitted it was the ending to one of the wildest days of his life.
“Just so much memories, I think,… Svechnikov said. “Just so fun, be in this locker room, play at this rink. It just means so much. I appreciate to be in this moment right now and it’s just unbelievable.
“Day been crazy. It’s been fun. Just too much thinking, too much stuff going on in my head. I think this day I’ll never forget.…
The Wings who played with Svechnikov in Grand Rapids think he will do just fine in hockey’s No. 1 league.
“He’s got a hell of a shot,… forward Tomas Nosek said. “He’s not scared to do some big moves and he’s got a ton of skill, so that’s the biggest things.…
Defenseman Nick Jensen believes that the bag of tricks Svechnikov possesses, combined with his work ethic, are what will make him an NHL success.
“From watching him, he’s a really talented player,… Jensen said. “He works his bag off. I don’t think I’ve seen a harder worker than what he does. And then with his skill set, it’s a deadly combination, when you’ve got a skill guy who works hard.
“I think he does a good job in the O-zone of getting the puck and finding ways to get it on net. And he’s got a really got a good shot, so I think that’s one of his best attributes. He’s pretty shifty with his hands, so he’s able to kind of juke guys out and then get a shot on net. That’s kind of deceiving to the goalie because it’s a quick release.…
Tomorrow The Worlds Three Wings and one member of the team’s staff confirmed Monday that they would be part of the upcoming world championship in France.
Left-winger Justin Abdelkader and goaltender Jimmy Howard will suit up for the United States. Meanwhile, goalie Petr Mrazek will play for the Czech Republic. Red Wings equipment manager Paul Boyer will fill that role with the Canadian team.
“It’s gonna be fun if we play against each other,… Mrazek said. “My last worlds were like five years ago in Sweden.
“I was the third goalie there but it was a great experience and I’m looking forward to it.…
Holmstrom To GR The Wings also announced Monday that forward Axel Holmstrom was reporting to Grand Rapids for the remainder of the season.
He didn’t play a whole lot of hockey this year,… Detroit assistant GM Ryan Martin said of Holmstrom, who was selected 196th overall in the 2014 NHL entry draft. “He had a big knee injury that he was recovering from last year and then I think two games after his return he sustained another injury, so he’s had a challenging year in terms of the number of games that he has played.
“Their team, Skelleftea, was just eliminated in a seven-game series in the playoffs. I know he’s excited and we’re excited to have him come over to Grand Rapids and because of our injuries in Grand Rapids he’s going to go right into the lineup.
“So, he’s excited for the opportunity to play, because he hasn’t played a lot of hockey this year and obviously we’re excited to have the chance to evaluate him on the North American ice surface as he prepares to come over here next year.…
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