The Daily: Memorial Cup Bereft of Red Wings Prospects; Florida-Vegas Final Guarantees New Stanley Cup Winner

With rebuilding teams like the Detroit Red Wings, the Memorial Cup is often a chance for their future to be put on display. That’s not the case this year, though.

For the first time since the 2016 Memorial Cup, there isn’t a single Red Wings prospect playing in the four-team tournament for the championship of the CHL, which is underway in Kamloops. B.C.

Last year, 2021 Red Wings first-round pick Sebastian Cossa was tending goal for the Edmonton Oil Kings in the Memorial Cup. The 2021 and 2020 tourneys were postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. In 2019, defenseman Jared McIsaac, currently the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, was playing for the Halifax Mooseheads.

In 2018, Detroit goalie prospect Kaden Fulcher was in the event with the OHL Hamilton Bulldogs. And in 2017, current Red Wings center Joe Veleno, a 2018 first-round draftee, was toiling for the Saint John Sea Dogs in the Memorial Cup.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Looking ahead to Joe Veleno’s future with the Red Wings
• In a behind the paywall piece, Detroit players Moritz Seider and Dominik Kubalik were named to the IIHF World Championship all-star team

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider takes home silver at the World Championships pic.twitter.com/LpHy8FM4b5

— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) May 29, 2023

• Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider helped Germany win its first World Tourney medal since 1953
• As he searches for a backup goalie, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman may find that there’s more suitors than available quality netminders

Red Wings Offseason

Speaking of goalies, a blast from Detroit’s past flashed across the transactions list in the European Leagues. Transferring from Austria’s HC Innsbruck to Eisbaren Regensburg of the German Second Division is goaltender Tom McCollum. In 2008, the Red Wings made McCollum their first-round pick, 30th overall, in the NHL entry draft. He’d only play three games in Detroit but split eight seasons between the Griffins and ECHL Toledo Walleye. McCollum has been playing in Europe since 2020.

Hockey Now Network

Florida: With a Vegas Golden Knights vs. Florida Panthers Stanley Cup final assured, it means there won’t be a coaching matchup between best friends Paul Maurice (Florida) and Peter DeBoer (Dallas).

Vegas: The players of the Vegas Golden Knights wouldn’t touch the Clarence Campbell Bowl. Is it really bad luck?

Los Angeles: A look at the top 10 prospects in the Los Angeles Kings organization.

Calgary: Canada’s MacKenzie Weegar of the Calgary Flames was named top defenseman at the IIHF World Championship.

San Jose: Now that he’s in the Stanley Cup final, did the San Jose Sharks give up too early on goalie Adin Hill?

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Chicago: How Stan Bowman’s 2017 moves helped derail the Chicago Blackhawks.

Colorado: Sampo Ranta, an RFA with the Colorado Avalanche, has signed a two-year contract to play in Sweden.

Boston: Former Red Wings forward Tomas Nosek is a UFA. Will the Boston Bruins keep him?

Montreal: These three Montreal Canadiens have the most to prove next season.

Buffalo: German forward J.J. Peterka of the Buffalo Sabres was the top forward at the world tourney.

Pittsburgh: The Pittsburgh Penguins’ general manager search could be in its final hours.

Philadelphia: It would be foolish for the Philadelphia Flyers to trade an asset such as goalie Carter Hart.