DONOVAN SEBRANGO

Last week, the Grand Rapids Griffins wrapped up their nearly months-long road trip, and were excited to finally return to Van Andel Arena over the week for a pair of games with the Toronto Marlies. Stream Griffins hockey live: AHL.TVNOT THIS TIMEThe Griffins and Marlies had another tough battle on Saturday, with Grand Rapids striking first as Givani Smith scored moments into the game. Grand Rapids will quickly hop on a plane and head to California for a pair of games against the San Diego Gulls, affiliates of the Anaheim Ducks. The Gulls came to Van Andel Arena in the season’s opening weekend, splitting a pair of games with the Griffins. Check out more Grand Rapids Griffins’ articles on MLiveUPCOMING SCHEDULE (Home games in BOLD)You can watch and listen to the Griffins all season long on AHL.TVBuy Griffins tickets: Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeekFind AHL standings and results here

Buy Griffins gear: AmazonLOOKING BACKThe Griffins were victim to playing in arguably the toughest division in the AHL last season. Buy Griffins tickets: Ticketmaster, StubHub, SeatGeekRETURNING TALENTGrand Rapids Griffins' captain Brian Lashoff battles in front of the net against the Bakersfield CondorsMark NewmanSimon will have a lot of familiar faces in the lineup to start the season. Along with Berggren, Taro Hirose returns some of the offensive punch to Grand Rapids. The lone returning netminder to Grand Rapids is Victor Brattstrom. UPCOMING SCHEDULE (Home games in BOLD)You can watch and listen to the Griffins all season long on AHL.TVFind AHL standings and results here

It was an unusually short summer for Detroit Red Wings prospects who played in the World Junior Championship in Edmonton last month. Many will be back on the ice this week at the NHL Prospects Tournament in Traverse City. Arena, when the Red Wings face Columbus at 3 p.m. Detroit’s prospects play Dallas on Saturday (6 p.m.) and wrap up the event against Toronto on Monday (11 a.m.). Here are seven prospects to watch for the Red Wings:Sebastian Cossa: The 6-6 goaltender selected 15th overall in 2021 hopes to show the Red Wings he is ready to turn pro and play in Grand Rapids this season. But the Red Wings believe Johansson can be a solid NHL defenseman one day.

Michigan’s Kent Johnson scored at 3:20 of overtime Saturday to lift Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland in the gold medal game at the World Junior Championship at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Red Wings defense prospect Donovan Sebrango, an alternate captain for Canada, logged 18:41. But Finland, on goals from Aleksi Heimosalmi (4:09) and Joakim Kemell (10:46) tied it in the third to force overtime. Detroit defense prospect Eemil Viro assisted on the first goal and logged 23:19 in ice time. Dylan Garland made 28 saves for Canada, starting for the sixth game in a row after Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa won the opener for Canada.

Donovan Sebrango and Eemil Viro will be teammates this season for the Grand Rapids Griffins. But on Saturday, the Detroit Red Wings defense prospects will be competing against each other for the gold medal at the World Junior Championship. Canada, with Sebrango, will face Finland, with Viro, Saturday for the gold medal (8 p.m., NHL Network). Czechia scored twice in the third to cut the deficit to 4-2 before Joshua Roy scored with 5:34 remaining to seal the victory. Red Wings prospects Simon Edvinsson, William Walliner and Theodor Niederbach play for Sweden.

Seven prospects from the Detroit Red Wings, representing all four nations, advanced to Friday’s semifinals of the World Junior Championship at Rogers Place in Edmonton. Jan Bednar, a fringe goalie prospect for the Red Wings, has struggled for Czechia, posting a 4.00 goals-against average and .851 save percentage in three games. The Red Wings selected Bednar in the fourth round in 2020 (107th overall). Sweden vs. Finland, 8 p.m. (NHL Network)Three Red Wings prospects are playing for Sweden, seeking its first gold medal since 2012. Wallinder, the Red Wings’ second pick (32nd overall in 2020) has two assists and a plus-1 rating in five games, averaging 15:52 of ice time.

Donovan Sebrango has been a kid amongst men the past two seasons with the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins. Sebrango, a gritty defenseman the Detroit Red Wings selected in the third round in 2020 (63rd overall), was named an alternate captain for Canada in the rescheduled event that runs from Aug. 9-20 in Edmonton. “In the room you try to be a leader and just lead by example and take it day by day,” Sebrango said at Red Wings development camp last month. They’ll be joined by Red Wings top goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa. It keeps you on your toes.”Sebrango has worked extensively with former Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall in Grand Rapids and at development camp.

Detroit Red Wings defense prospect Donovan Sebrango would have just completed his fourth and final junior season under ordinary circumstances. Sebrango took another step this past season, playing in 65 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins (one goal, six assists). “Donovan’s best characteristics are his competitiveness and his work ethic,” Griffins coach Ben Simon said after the season. You’re competing, whether you’re 19 or 20 or you’re 30 or 31, you’re playing on the same sheet. He’s going to be better served for being in these situations.”The Red Wings drafted Sebrango (6-1, 194) in the third round in 2020 (63rd overall).

The NHL Prospects Tournament returns to Traverse City’s Centre I.C.E. The Red Wings open the five-team tourney Thursday against Dallas (7 p.m., live streamed on DetroitRedWings.com). Tyutyayev is a small (5-9, 146) but highly skilled forward the Red Wings took a flier on in the seventh round in 2019 (190th overall). Red Wings’ Prospects Tournament rosterForwards: Jonatan Berggren, Cameron Butler, Davis “T-Bone” Codd, Patrick Curry, Cross Hanas, Chase Pearson, Lucas Raymond, Luke Toporowski, Kirill Tyutyayev, Joe Veleno, Hayden Verbeek, Cooper Walker, Pasquale Zito. Red Wings Prospects Tournament scheduleThursday vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.Saturday vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.Sunday vs. Columbus, 6 p.m.(All games live streamed on DetroitRedWings.com)More: Five to watch for Red Wings at Prospects Tournament

Donovan Sebrango is a Steve Yzerman draft pick, first and foremost. That means quite a lot considering the GM’s drafting track record: Nikita Kucherov (2nd round), Brayden Point (3rd round), Anthony Cirelli (3rd round), Mathieu Joseph (4th round), dare I say Moritz Seider? Entry-level contractThe Yzerman regime selected Sebrango in the 3rd round, 63rd overall, in the 2020 draft. The Red Wings now have signed the 19-year-old defenseman to a three-year entry-level contract this week. You can understand why Yzerman would grab him in the 3rd round.

Donovan Sebrango was the fifth player the Detroit Red Wings selected in the 2020 draft but the first one they signed, agreeing to terms Sunday on a three-year entry level deal that begins with the 2021-22 season. Detroit selected the 6-1, 189-pound Sebrango 63rd overall (third round) out of OHL Kitchener. With the Ontario Hockey League season on hold, Sebrango began the 2020-21 campaign with HK Levice in second-tier Slovakia, appearing in five games. “I think I’m a bit of an old-school defenseman with a little bit of new school,” Sebrango said when Detroit drafted him. #lgrw pic.twitter.com/3FpQiHck81 — Donovan S (@D_sebrango3) March 15, 2021More: Kris Draper breaks down Red Wings’ 2020 draft class

Grand Rapids Griffins coach Ben Simon likes what he has seen so far from defenseman Donovan Sebrango. Sebrango had an assist on Tyler Spezia’s second-period goal, helping the Griffins post a 9-4 victory. Grand Rapids will return to action Thursday when the Griffins visit Rockford at 7 p.m. Grand Rapids has won five of its past six games after starting the season 0-2. Donovan Sebrango, Grand Rapids Griffins (Courtesy Photo)Detroit loaned Sebrango to HK Levice, a Slovakian club, in January, and he played in five games, posting one goal and two assists. “We played 8 games and only two home games, so other teams have the last change,” Simon said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins signed defenseman Donovan Sebrango to an amateur tryout Wednesday. Sebrango, 19, was a third-round selection (63rd overall) of the Detroit Red Wings in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. Sebrango, the son of former Cuban soccer pro Eduardo Sebrango, has played four games this season with HK Levice in Slovakia, totaling two points (1-1—2). The Griffins will begin their training camp on Jan. 31 at Van Andel Arena in advance of the start of the 2020-21 American Hockey League season on Feb. 5. MORESmooth-skating, gritty Red Wings’ pick Donovan Sebrango to vie for World Junior spot

The two prospects the Detroit Red Wings have slated to play in the Ontario Hockey League this season both play a physical style. They might need to alter that style for the short term because the OHL supposedly will not have bodychecking in 2020-21. Grewe is playing for Djurgardens in the Swedish Hockey League but will join the Saginaw Spirt once the OHL season starts. MacLeod said the decision was influenced by the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, which has had several COVID-19 outbreaks. More: Red Wings' third-round pick Donovan Sebrango eyes Canadian World Junior spot

Donovan Sebrango, with his combination of skating and physicality, considers himself a throwback and a new-age defenseman rolled into one. Sebrango (6-1, 184) was among 46 players named Thursday to Canada’s World Junior Championship evaluation camp, which runs from Nov. 16 to Dec. 13 in Red Deer, Alberta. “If you see clips of me, I think the skating is the one thing that really pops out,” Sebrango said. I think at our level he’s able to provide some offense and jump into the rush. pic.twitter.com/GcRuSBAqTx — Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 29, 2020More: Tyler Bertuzzi looks forward to ‘proving himself’ with new one-year deal

The Detroit Red Wings hope to look back on their 2020 draft and say quantity translated into quality. Their success will be determined over time, but after selecting winger Lucas Raymond fourth overall on Tuesday, a player they believe has elite potential, the Red Wings feel they addressed several needs by adding five forwards, five defensemen and a goaltender. I can’t tell you how many, but hopefully a few of them become NHL players one day.”Kris Draper, in his first draft as amateur scouting director, said, “We feel we touched on a lot of needs. The Red Wings drafted Draper’s son, Kienan, with the first pick in the seventh round. Their final pick was left wing Chase Bradley from Sioux City (USHL).

(Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Here are the 2020 NHL Entry Draft picks by the Detroit Red Wings:Detroit GM Steve Yzerman was able to add picks through in-draft trades -- he also traded for a future pick:Read more: Red Wings' Kris Draper drafts his son, Kienan Draper, in 7th roundView: 2020 NHL Entry Draft first round selectionsRead back: Here’s who Red Wings selected in 2019 NHL DraftSign up for my Red Wings newsletterSign up here for the latest news on the team and from around the league, and some jokes (good ones).