Detroit Red Wings
The Daily: Kirton Fight is His Legacy; Red Wings Have Cap Space
Mark Kirton tributes have poured in since he lost his life to Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) after a lengthy public battle with the disease.
His family issued a statement on his social media account:
— Mark Kirton (@KirtSpeaksALS) August 18, 2025
Former Red Wings forward Mark Kirton died on Sunday at the age of 67 after a seven-year battle with progress nervous system disease.
Bob Duff’s stor pointed out that Kirton never wanted sympathy, and spent his last years raising millions of dollars to for victims to help fight the disease.
ALS affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing the loss of muscle control and eventually leading also to the loss of mobility, the ability to eat and speak, paralysis and respiratory failure.
“I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me,” Kirton said in a 2021 interview with the CHL website. Right until the end, even as his body steadily betrayed him, he never allowed his bleak prognosis to impact his outlook on life.
I have known Mark Kirton since his days with the Peterborough Petes. A former @MapleLeafs draft pick went on to a wonderful NHL career. But in 2018 the devastating disease ALS started its hideous attack on this young man’s body that finally took his life this weekend. Marks work… pic.twitter.com/ItNbHA4DkA
— Joe Bowen (@Bonsie1951) August 18, 2025
Red Wings In Case You Missed It
Former Red Wings player David Booth was held off the scoresheet for the first time this season in the Australian league.
The Grand Rapids Griffins roster may suggest that the 2026-27 NHL season may be Detroit’s time to shine. By then, the Red Wings should have a quality collection of first rounders on the roster. This is a paywall story. To read this you must be a DHN+ subscribe. Click here to sign up.
Paval Datsyuk made the NHL Network All-Quarter Century team but Henrik Zetterberg didn’t.
Red Wings Extra
After the Travis Hamonic signing, the Red Wings have $11.99 million in cap space. According to PuckPedia, only the Pittsburgh Penguins ($13.05 million), Calgary Flames ($15.41 million), Columbus Blue Jackets ($15.57 million), Chicago Blackhawks ($18.66 million), San Jose Sharks ($19.74 million) and Anaheim Ducks ($20.54 million) have more heading into the 2025-26 NHL season.
Red Wings Network
Colorado: The Avs signed 6-foot-5, 225-pound University of New Hampshire free agent defenseman Alex Gagne. Colorado Avalanche.
Pittsburgh: There’s a new potential buyer for the Penguins. It’s the Chicago-based Hoffman family. David Hoffman is the founder of the company that has holdings in many areas, including agriculture to aviation and transportation, to manufacturing and media (largely small newspapers). Hoffman’s son, Geoff, is the co-CEO. They also own the Florida Everglades of ECHL. Pittsburgh Penguins.
San Jose: Sheng Peng explains in a paywall story how Macklin Celebrini was elite last season and what he needs to do to improve this season. If you subscribe to DNH+ stories, you can also read paywall stories on all Hockey Now sites. San Jose Sharks.
