High Hopes For Red Wings Prospect Buchelnikov

Will this be a breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov? The start of the KHL season is nearing and in team previews on the league’s official website, there was high praise being afforded to the young Russian forward.

Buchelnikov will be suiting up for Vityaz following an offseason trade from SKA St. Petersburg. His opportunity to gain a regular place for an entire KHL season is available to him for the first time.

Dmitry Buchelnikov ends this OT with a quick wrister.#KHLPreseason pic.twitter.com/9MrKW21xBO

— KHL (@khl_eng) August 21, 2024

“The transfer of one of the most promising players in the League is an excellent job by the management of Vityaz, who managed to agree with SKA on the exchange of Buchelnikov,” writes Alexey Anisimov. “Dmitri spent last season on loan at Admiral and really sparkled: 29 (13+16) points in 55 games and a nomination for the award for the best rookie of the season.

“It is likely that Buchelnikov will have good playing time at Vityaz, which can help him take on key roles.”

The Red Wings made Buchelnikov, 20, the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft. He was in Detroit briefly this summer, working out with other Red Wings prospects. However, Buchelnikov didn’t attend the club’s July development camp.

Red Wings Prospect Brandsegg-Nygard Out Of Olympics

The Olympic dreams of Red Wings 2024 top draft pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard came a disappointing conclusion. Norway grabbed an early 1-0 lead but utlimately fell 4-1 to Denmark in the battle for the one available spot in the 2026 Winter Games from Group D qualifying.

Brandsegg-Nygard was held off the scoresheet. He was asseseed a pair of minor penalties, had two shots and was minus-one.

Marco Kasper with a good net front screen and battle in front and Austria ties the game late after being down 3-0. Not sure if he gets a touch on the puck for the assist but crucial to the goal regardless. #LGRW pic.twitter.com/178MKW7zb5

— Red Wings Prospects (@LGRWProspects) September 1, 2024

Detroit 2022 first-round pick Marco Kasper (eighth 0verall) was without a point as Austria beat Hungary 4-3 in a shootout. Kasper won 13 of 19 faceoffs, put three shots on goal and was plus-two. His was foiled by the goalkeeper on his shootout attempt.

Austria was already eliminated from contention for a spot in the Olympics.

Larionov Offers Condolences To Gaudreau Family

Former Red Wings star Igor Larionov is now coach of Torpedo in the KHL. Still, he took time to extend his condolences to the family of NHL star Johnny Gaudreau, who was killed on Thursday.

Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were out for a bicycle ride. Both were struck and killed by an alleged drunk driver. When he heard of the tragedy, Larionov indicated that his mind immediately went to the June 13, 1997 Detroit limousine crash. That tragedy would end the careers of Red Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov.

“When you hear about someone passing away prematurely, especially in our hockey world, it always takes you back to the moment when our Detroit guys — Viacheslav Fetisov, Vladimir Konstantinov, Sergei Mnatsakanov — were in an accident,” Larionov told Russian news agency Tass. “I sent a message to John Davidson, the senior adviser to Columbus, on behalf of the team and on my own behalf.

“This is a tragedy that is hard to describe in words. It is grief for their families, for all of hockey.”