The Hockey Writers

The history of the NHL draft, or any draft, is filled with “coulda, shoulda, wouldas.” Player development and scouting is a guessing game that determines the strength of a team’s future. No team escapes the process without a couple of misses. The Detroit Red Wings are in the midst of a rebuild and have been

Deep in the throws of a from-the-ground-up rebuild, the Detroit Red Wings continue to have holes to fill within their lineup, and it’s the usual suspects are frequently called out. Goaltending and defense lead the way, mostly because their long-term goalie outlook is bleak, while their defensive output remains near the bottom of the league.

Every year, there seems to be a prospect or two at the top of that year’s draft class whose main “thing” is scoring goals. In 2018, it was Andrei Svechnikov (second overall) and Filip Zadina (sixth). In 2019, it was Cole Caufield (15th). Last year, it was Alexander Holtz (seventh). In 2021, that prospect is

Some prospects are more polarizing than others. Sometimes it’s a matter of where a player plays. Other times, it’s about how much they play. In the case of the prospect I’m highlighting today, it’s about how the prospect conducts themselves. Fabian Lysell is a very confident young man. He is so confident, in fact, that

A pair of games were played on June 22, and both of them saw the winner move two within one win of the National Hockey League’s ultimate prize. This date has also seen a very memorable first-overall draft pick, the sale of an “Original Six” franchise, and plenty of moves off the ice. The THW

The love of hockey isn’t something inherent or happened upon for most people. Like many other sports, players spawn from those who played. Thanks to players, raising their families rinkside, many children grow to love the game and end up playing it. The sacrifice is great. The community and family found within the walls of

What’s The Grind Line? Apart from the once-famous line of Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty, The Grind Line is also The Hockey Writers’ weekly column about the Detroit Red Wings. This week Tony Wolak, Devin Little, Patrick Brown, and Kyle Knopp are the muckers who make up THW’s forechecking

On Sunday night, I realized that it had been a few years since a member of the Detroit Red Wings had won a major NHL award. Previously, it was an annual occurrence, with Nicklas Lidstrom’s Norris trophies and Pavel Datsyuk’s various awards becoming commonplace. At the very least, someone from the Red Wings was nominated

One of the biggest stories to come out of the NHL this week was that the Carolina Hurricanes have granted star defenseman and pending unrestricted free agent Dougie Hamilton permission to speak to other teams about a new contract. A veteran of 607 regular season games with the Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames and the Hurricanes,

When it comes to hockey, what is “skill”? It’s fair to conjure up memories of Pavel Datsyuk and his “Datsyukian dekes” when answering this question, but there’s more to it than that. “Everyone thinks skill is toe drags, picking it up over the net and doing one of (those) things. No, that’s parlor tricks. The

The 2018 and 2019 drafts are somewhat of a sore spot for fans of the Detroit Red Wings for two reasons: the Hughes brothers. Quinn, a defenseman, was selected in 2018 by the Vancouver Canucks at seventh overall, the next pick after the Red Wings drafted Filip Zadina. The tanking “motto” for the 2018-19 season

There was only one game played on June 16, and it brought the Stanley Cup back to Motown for the second straight year. This date in National Hockey League also saw a very memorable draft and more honors for two of the most decorated defensemen to ever play in the league. Back-to-Back Sweeps for Red

The Detroit Red Wings are set to select sixth overall in the 2021 draft, as well as 22nd by virtue of the Washington Capitals’ pick they acquired in the Anthony Mantha trade. This year’s draft has been characterized by its overall unpredictability due to seasons being shortened or cancelled due to COVID-19, as well as

What’s The Grind Line? Apart from the once-famous line of Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, and either Joe Kocur or Darren McCarty, The Grind Line is also The Hockey Writers’ weekly column about the Detroit Red Wings. This week Tony Wolak, Devin Little, Patrick Brown, and Kyle Knopp are the muckers who make up THW’s forechecking

In last year’s draft, the Detroit Red Wings ran it back to 2008 and introduced Hockeytown to a bunch of Swedish players. Their top pick (fourth overall) was winger Lucas Raymond, pick 32 was defenseman William Wallinder and pick 51 was forward Theodor Niederbach. Fast forward to today, and those three are some of the

When it comes to changing the flow of a hockey game, the presence of an agitator on the ice can make all the difference. When the chips are down, and the ice seems tilted the wrong way, an agitator can make plays that will take the opposition out of the game and focus on their

Fans in Pittsburgh were given two huge reasons to celebrate on this date over the years. Also, on June 12, two of the greatest players in National Hockey League history were bestowed big honors. Let’s hop inside the THW time machine and take a trip back through the years and relive all the best memories.

The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Championships have often been considered a consolation postseason for non-playoff players. However, coming off a shortened season, the 2021 tournament had a different feel to it. With fewer NHL players available, there were more opportunities for young players to gain valuable experience at the International level and this experience

June 10 is a memorable date for a handful of fan bases across the National Hockey League. There were champions crowned in the most dramatic of fashions as well as some franchise-altering draft picks. This was also the date when the hockey world lost one of its greatest players. Hockey World Says Goodbye to a

June 8 is mostly remembered for two things; plenty of Stanley Cup Final action and multiple coaching changes. Also, one of the most memorable Entry Drafts in National Hockey League history took place on this date. Let’s begin our daily trip back in time to remember all the top moments this day has given us.