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The Daily: Bowman’s Theory – Red Wings Couldn’t Afford Hronek; Tough Go For Detroit Prospects

All Detroit prospects bounced from NCAA Tournament

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Filip Hronek, Red Wings
Did the potentisl for s big raise on his next contract play a role in the Red Wings dealing Filip Hronek?

Did money play a role in the decision made by the Detroit Red Wings to deal veteran defenseman Filip Hronek to the Vancouver Canucks? Someone with impeccable hockey credentials is of the opinion that it did.

Speaking on the Donnie And Dhali podcast on Vancouver’s CHEK, Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman, who guided the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups, felt that perhaps Detroit GM Steve Yzerman was looking ahead to a near future that will see him paying big bucks to both Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson.

“I guess Detroit, they were looking to the future,” Bowman reasoned. “Maybe they can’t afford to pay him what he’s gonna end up getting. They’ve got some young defensemen. They’ve got Moritz Seider, who’s there now, and they got a really good young guy, Simon Edvinsson.”

Hronek will be paid $5.5 million next season. He’ll be an RFA in 2024. That’s when 2021-22 Calder Trophy winner Seider will be up for his second contract. Two years later, it’ll be Edvinsson’s turn to get paid.

Tough Present For Detroit’s Future

Giving it the old college try didn’t work out for the vasy majority of Red Wings prospects playing in the NCAA Tournament. Forward Carter Mazur (70th, 2021) and defenseman Shai Buium (36th, 2021) and defending champion Denver were bounced 2-0 by Cornell. Harvard and defenseman Kyle Aucoin (156th, 2020) lost 8-1 to Ohio State. Goalie Carter Gylander (191st, 2019) was chased after eight goals in Colgate’s 11-1 loss to Michigan. Wolverines forward Kienan Draper (187th, 2020) didn’t play in the game.

Forward Ethan Phillips (97th, 2019) and the Boston Terriers also advanced. Phillips accounted for a goal and two assists in a 5-1 win over Western Michigan. Boston plays Cornell Saturday at 4 p.m. ET. Michigan takes on Penn State in an all-Big Ten matchup on Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, in Sweden, both Marcus Kasper (8th, 2022) and William Wallinder (32nd, 2020) were failing to get on the scoresheet as Rogle was blowing a 2-0 third-period lead and losing 3-2 to Skelleftea. Down 3-2 in the best-of-seven set, Rogle must win at home Sunday or be facing elimination from the SHL playoffs.

Amadeus Composing A Record

Well, at least the Red Wings can still be counting on Amadeus Lombardi. The 113th player chosen in the 2022 NHL entry draft, Lombardi was setting a Flint Firebirds single-season scoring mark on Friday, surpassing Brendan Othmann’s standard of 97 points.

In Flint’s 6-5 overtime win over Kitchener, Lombardi wound up with two goals and three assists, giving him 45-57-102 totals. He’s now the first Firebirds player to record a 100-point campaign.

Griffins Within Eight Points Of AHL Playoffs

Rallying from a two-goal deficit, the Grand Rapids Griffins edged the Iowa Wild 4-3 in a shootout to climb to within eight points of an AHL playoff spot.

Taro Hirose tied Nathan Paetsch for sixth on the franchise’s all-time assist leaderboard with 122. John Lethemon made 21 saves, posting his first victory for Grand Rapids.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

  • Alex Nedeljkovic will be making his first start in the Detroit net since Dec. 8 on Saturday at Philadelphia
  • Both Red Wings draftee Sebastian Cossa and the ECHL Toledo Walleye are riding impressive win streaks
  • The new goalie for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Dylan St. Cyr, is the son of a hockey netminding icon

Red Wings Next Game

Detroit travels to Philadelphia to face the Flyers on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m. ET). Since Dec. 2, 1971, the Red Wings are 9-42-9 at Philadelphia during regular-season play.

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Philadelphia: Could Philadelphia Flyers goalie prospect Nolan Maier prove to be a late bloomer?

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Colorado: Injury news from the Colorado Avalanche on Pavel Francouz and Josh Manson.

Calgary: Veteran forward Milan Lucic believes the Calgary Flames have been lacking accountability this season.

Vegas: Forward Reilly Smith, defenseman Alec Martinez and goalie Logan Thompson are all out for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Los Angeles: Latest injury updates for the Los Angeles Kings.

San Jose: Just 10 more games left for the San Jose Sharks following Thursday’s 7-2 loss to Vancouver.