On Sunday, June 25, the Detroit Branch NAACP hosted their 68^th Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, billed as the largest sit-down dinner in the world. With more than 4,000 guests, the event was opened by Senior Corporate Chair Chris Ilitch, CEO of Ilitch Companies, who shared the video below highlighting the partnership between the two organizations as they work to support Detroit and its residents through employment, economic inclusion and education programs.

Ilitch Companies colleagues proudly took part in the Detroit Branch NAACP‘s 60th Commemorative Freedom Walk on Saturday, June 24—honoring the march of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Detroit 6 decades ago.

As part of an ongoing commitment to community engagement and making job opportunities available to Detroiters, Olympia Development of Michigan (ODM) and Related Companies (Related) held their first Contractor Fair on June 27 in partnership with  Detroit at Work.

Contractors large and small attended the fair to learn information about the multi-building developments planned for The District Detroit, which includes market-rate and affordable housing, hotels, education and office space, as well as public common areas.

“This was an informative session that provided the information that we as contractors need so that we can be prepared to do our best job, and show up and show out,” said Adrienne Bennett of Detroit-based Benkari Mechanical. Bennett, who worked on the Little Caesars Arena project, is North America’s first and only African-American female licensed master plumber and plumbing contractor.

The joint venture developments between Olympia and Related prioritizes prosperity for Detroiters through its core values of Engagement, Education, Environmental Justice, Economic Inclusion and Employment. By leveraging state and private investment, the developments’ economic and fiscal benefits for Detroit are expected to result in 12,000 construction jobs, 6,000 permanent jobs, 695 new residential units, with 139 affordable units, and a $751 million net benefit to the City of Detroit.

“We serve Detroiters, and we are willing to do the groundwork to build those skills for young people who are actually ready for these opportunities,” said Erika Page, Director of Youth Program Services for Detroit at Work: YouthBuild. “I’m honored to be invited here today to meet these contractors and share a little bit about our programing so that they are aware that we’re here to help them grow their talent pool. It’s a win – win.”

Detroit’s YouthBuild program provides an intensive, full-time, six-month construction pre-apprenticeship opportunity which helps young people obtain credentials and career skills that lead to permanent employment. Detroit at Work partners with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s Workforce Development Board, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporations and Detroit Work Career Centers to help Detroit find training, apprenticeships, and jobs.

“This contractor fair was a huge success. We were thrilled with the turnout and the opportunity to expand our current relationships and form new ones with local contractors – large and small,” said Yanet Garcia, Vice President of Construction at Related. “Across our projects in The District Detroit there is something for everyone – and not just those who are contractors. Through our partnership with Detroit at Work, we are proud to be an outlet for those looking for work or interested in a career change.”

Detroit City Councilmembers Fred Durhal III, Gabriela Santiago-Romero, Mary Waters and Coleman A. Young II also participated in the event, encouraging Detroit contractors and businesses to avail themselves of training, apprenticeship and job opportunities.

The Contractor Fair is one in a long chain of events aimed at engaging the community in the planning, building and activating of The District Detroit. Recently, ODM and Related hosted their first design charrette for Columbia Plaza. Additionally, The District Detroit Opportunity Center will open in July at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Montcalm and to help anyone looking for a job or housing in The District Detroit.

To register for future contractor events or complete a Contractor in-take form please visit https://www.DistrictDetroit.com/Contractors or email Contractors@DistrictDetroit.com with any questions.

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• Sydney’s Family Connection to Original Walk Inspired Her Personal, Moving Original Work

Detroit native Sydney James’ lifelong artistic talent and family history intersected in a meaningful way this summer when she was commissioned by the Ilitch Companies to create an original piece commemorating the Detroit Branch NAACP’s 60^th annual Freedom Walk. Sydney’s mother participated in the original walk on June 23, 1963, led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., so the project was incredibly personal to the artist.

The centerpiece of the Sydney’s commissioned work, titled “Remember the Time,” is an iconic and historic photo of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., marching down Woodward Avenue, held in the present-day hand of Sydney’s mother as she reflected on the event. The painting was created into posters for the Detroit Branch NAACP’s Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner, with each of the 4,000+ dinner attendees given a copy. The original artwork was donated to the Detroit Branch NAACP. Ilitch Companies CEO Chris Ilitch served as Senior Corporate Chair of this year’s event.

Honored to commemorate the historic event, Sydney appreciates that the march took place in her hometown.  “This year is the 60^th anniversary of the Freedom Walk, and Ilitch Companies wanted me to commemorate that day, really seal it in time and honor it,” said Sydney. “Dr. King found Detroit important enough to be here and do this walk. It’s legendary for him to even be in this space and activating Woodward Avenue.”

Sydney’s mother, who lived in the Jeffries Projects – up the street from where the walk took place – participated in the walk when she was 14 years old. This painting, and every other piece that Sydney produces, are pieces of her that gain inspiration from her daily interactions with family, friends, and most importantly, Detroit as a whole. “Detroit is everything to me. Detroit is where Blackness and Black love resides,” said Sydney. “This is the place that taught Black people how to strut in their Blackness. No matter where we are or where we go in the world, we strut. We walk like we mean it, like we belong there, because we belong wherever we set foot.”

Sydney has always had a talent for art. When she was three years old, she drew a picture she saw in her Smurfs coloring book that looked so much like the original, her mom made her re-draw it in front of her. This interaction affirmed to both Sydney and her mother that art wouldn’t just be a hobby for her in the future. “In kindergarten, my art teacher pulled my parents aside, and said, ‘this child has abilities. When she gets of age, you need to get her some real art classes,’” explained Sydney, whose parents eventually put her into art classes at Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, where she later received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2001.

Throughout her career as a fine arts painter, muralist and Detroit creative, Sydney’s award-winning and recognized works have been featured at Detroit’s Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCAD), the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, Detroit’s Murals in the Market, and other sites both nationally and internationally.

When she was a senior at Cass Technical High School in 1997, Sydney won first place in the Detroit Branch NAACP’s ACT-SO (Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics) Competition for her artistic submission. Nearly three decades later, Ilitch Companies tapped her to create a piece of lasting history for the NAACP that’d be meaningful to the organization and its constituents.

• Four Defensemen, Three Forwards and Two Goaltenders Chosen By Detroit in Nashville

The Detroit Red Wings today selected nine players during the second day of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn.

The Red Wings used three selections in the second round, adding goaltender Trey Augustine (41st overall) and defensemen Andrew Gibson (42nd overall) and Brady Cleveland (47th overall). From there, Detroit chose left wing Noah Dower-Nilsson (73rd overall) in the third round and defenseman Larry Keenan (117th overall) in the fourth round. The Red Wings picked defenseman Jack Phelan (137th overall) and left wing Kevin Bicker (147th overall) in the fifth round before taking goaltender Rudy Guimond (169th overall) in the sixth round and center Emmitt Finnie (201st overall) in the seventh round.

Detroit’s first pick of the day was the ninth choice of the second round (41st overall), which the team used on goaltender Trey Augustine. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound netminder has spent the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Mich. Augustine posted a 29-1-2 record with a 2.13 goals-against average, a 0.926 save percentage and one shutout in 33 games with the NTDP’s under-18 squad during the 2022-23 campaign. He also finished with a 10-1-0 record with a 2.34 goals-against average, a 0.928 save percentage and one shutout in 14 games with Team USA in the United States Hockey League. On the international stage, Augustine won a bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, owning a 4-1-0 record with a 2.85 goals-against average and an 0.891 save percentage in six appearances. He backstopped Team USA to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, holding a perfect 6-0-0 record with a 1.61 goals-against average and a 0.934 save percentage in six appearances. Augustine also earned a silver medal at the 2022 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, posting a 3-1-0 record with a 2.77 goals-against average and an 0.882 save percentage in four contests. A native of South Lyon, Mich., Augustine is committed to Michigan State University for the 2023-24 season.

The Red Wings used the following pick on defenseman Andrew Gibson (42nd overall), who spent the 2022-23 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds. The 6-foot-3, 202-pound blueliner paced the team’s rookies with 21 points (7-14-21) and 30 penalty minutes in 45 games. Gibson made his major junior debut with the Greyhounds in 2021-22, tallying a plus-one rating and six penalty minutes in six games. Gibson spent the majority of the 2021-22 season with the Soo Thunderbirds of the Northern Ontario Junior Hockey League and was named the league’s top defenseman after logging 51 points (21-30-51) and 30 penalty minutes in 40 regular-season games. He helped the Thunderbirds win a NOJHL championship after posting 11 points (3-8-11) and 20 penalty minutes in 25 postseason contests. The LaSalle, Ont., native developed with the Windsor Jr. Spitfires AAA program prior to his major junior career. On the international stage, Gibson won a bronze medal with Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, finishing with three assists, a plus-five rating and 25 penalty minutes in seven games.

Detroit originally held another selection in the second round (43rd overall), but dealt it to the Nashville Predators in exchange for a second-round pick (47th overall) and a fifth-round pick (147th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. With their third and final selection of the second round, the Red Wings drafted defenseman Brady Cleveland (47th overall). The 6-foot-5, 210-pound blueliner has spent the last two seasons with the NTDP, recording six assists, a plus-19 rating and 106 penalty minutes in 55 games with the under-18 squad in 2022-23. He also dished out three assists, a plus-nine rating and 60 penalty minutes with Team USA in 19 USHL contests. During the 2021-22 season, Cleveland had one assist and 36 penalty minutes in 17 games with the under-18 squad, in addition to three assists and 41 penalty minutes in 26 appearances with the under-17 group. He made his USHL debut in 2021-22, logging two helpers and 75 penalty minutes in 26 matchups. A native of Wausau, Wis., Cleveland is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2023-24 season.

The following round, the Red Wings selected left wing Noah Dower-Nilsson (73rd overall), a 6-foot, 185-pound forward who spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with Frölunda’s under-20 squad. Dower-Nilsson paced Sweden’s top junior league with 54 points (26-28-54) in 37 regular-season games, in addition to two assists in two postseason appearances. He becomes the first Red Wings draft pick to lead Sweden’s under-20 circuit in scoring since Jonatan Berggren tallied 57 points (18-39-57) in 38 games with Skelleftea AIK’s junior team in 2017-18. A native of Stromstad, Sweden, Dower-Nilsson helped Sweden capture a silver medal at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, recording six points (2-4-6) and six penalty minutes in seven games. He also won a silver medal at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, notching four points (1-3-4) in five games. Additionally, Dower-Nilsson made two appearances with Sweden’s bronze-medal entry at the 2022 World Junior “A” Challenge. He is the younger brother of Red Wings prospect Liam Dower-Nilsson, who was selected by the organization in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

With their lone pick in the fourth round, the Red Wings chose Larry Keenan (117th overall), a 6-foot-3, 186-pound defenseman who has played the last two seasons at Culver Military Academy in Culver, Ind. Keenan racked up 37 points (11-26-37) and 34 penalty minutes in 49 games with Culver Military Academy Prep during the 2022-23 campaign. He previously logged 13 points (4-9-13) in 28 games with the program’s under-16 squad in 2021-22. The Midhurst, Ont., native added 28 points (13-15-28) and 18 penalty minutes in 41 games with the York Simcoe Express under-15 team during the 2019-20 season. His grandfather, also named Larry Keenan, recorded 102 points (38-64-102) and 28 penalty minutes in 233 NHL games over parts of six seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, St. Louis Blues, Buffalo Sabres and Philadelphia Flyers from 1961-62 and 1967-72. Keenan is committed to the University of Massachusetts for the 2024-25 season.

The Red Wings used their first of two fifth-round selections to pick defenseman Jack Phelan (137th overall). The 6-foot-2, 171-pound blueliner played the 2022-23 season with the USHL’s Sioux Falls Stampede, registering five points (1-4-5) and 26 penalty minutes in 59 games. Phelan spent part of the 2021-22 season with the North Iowa Bulls of the North American Hockey League, dishing out two assists and four penalty minutes in 12 games. The Hinsdale, Ill., native also competed with the Chicago Express AAA program in 2021-22, showing 14 points (2-12-14) and 36 penalty minutes in 24 games at the under-18 level. Phelan is committed to the University of Wisconsin for the 2024-25 season.

Later in the fifth round, Detroit selected left wing Kevin Bicker (147th overall), a 6-foot, 176-pound forward who spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with Jungadler Mannheim in Germany’s top junior league, recording 21 points (10-11-21) and 16 penalty minutes in 20 regular-season games before notching 16 points (10-6-16) and 37 penalty minutes in 10 postseason contests. Bicker made his professional debut with Adler Mannheim in the Deutsche Eishockey Liga during the 2022-23 campaign, making one appearance in Germany’s highest professional league. A native of Schwabach, Germany, Bicker also played with Jungadler Mannheim in 2021-22, totaling six points (2-4-6) and 37 penalty minutes in 23 games, in addition to two goals in five playoff matchups. On the international stage, Bicker represented his country at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, logging two points (1-1-2) and two penalty minutes in six games. He also competed for Germany at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, notching four points (1-3-4) in four games.

With their sixth-round pick, the Red Wings chose another goaltender in Rudy Guimond (169th overall). The 6-foot-2, 166-pound netminder has played the last two seasons at Taft School in Watertown, Conn., posting a 0.940 save percentage in 28 appearances during the 2022-23 campaign. Guimond also spent time with the Yale Jr. Bulldogs AAA program in 2022-23, logging a 0.939 save percentage in 17 contests with the under-18 team. A native of Pointe-Claire, Quebec, Guimond spent two seasons at Kuper Academy in his home province, posting a 5-2-0 record with a 2.25 goals-against average in eight games during the 2019-20 season and a 4-2-1 mark with a 3.14 goals-against average in seven games in 2018-19. Guimond is committed to Yale University for the 2025-26 season.

The Red Wings made their final pick by taking center Emmitt Finnie in the seventh round (201st overall). The forward spent the 2022-23 season with the Western Hockey League’s Kamloops Blazers, recording 35 points (9-26-35), a plus-11 rating and 12 penalty minutes in 64 games, in addition to seven points (4-3-7) in 14 postseason contests. Finnie also skated in four games at the 2023 Memorial Cup, which was hosted by Kamloops. He debuted with the Blazers in 2021-22, posting six assists, a plus-three rating and two penalty minutes in 48 regular-season games before making one playoff appearance. Prior to his major junior career, Finnie competed at Yale Hockey Academy of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League from 2018-21, appearing in five games at the under-18 level in 2020-21 after compiling 107 points (51-56-107) in 60 games with the under-15 squad from 2018-20.

Detroit native helped make hockey more accessible, affordable for children around city

Jason McCrimmon, a Detroit hockey and community fixture, received the Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award at the 2023 NHL Awards at Bridgestone Arena on Monday.

The 40-year-old Detroit native is also an ambassador for the Detroit Red Wings Learn, Play, Score, a program launched in 2020 that focuses on lowering systemic barriers by providing equitable access to hockey in various forms to children across the city. It includes street hockey within physical education curriculum for all schools from kindergarten through eighth grade.

O’Ree, who became the NHL’s first Black player when he debuted with the Boston Bruins against the Montreal Canadiens at the Montreal Forum on Jan. 18, 1958, presented the annual award to McCrimmon.

“Just interacting with him and to be in a situation to be able to talk to him and pick his brain and just talk to a living legend,” McCrimmon said of O’Ree. “And now to be mentioned in the same sentence as him, for me, it’s just beyond an honor.”

In 2014, McCrimmon established Detroit Ice Dreams, a nonprofit youth hockey organization that makes ice hockey more accessible and affordable for children from underrepresented communities.

He is also coach and owner of the Motor City Gamblers of the United State Premier Hockey League, where players showcase their talents for college or major junior teams.

McCrimmon said it’s all about giving back and being in a situation where he can help “more kids that look like me have access to the beautiful game of hockey and be able to play, and kind of just create something that’s different on their resume from most kids who come from the inner city of Detroit.”

“Everything I do is hockey,” he said. “I’m lucky to be able to do something that I love. To do things for myself and those around me in the community makes me feel very blessed.”

McCrimmon wasn’t in love with hockey when his mother initially enrolled him in a hockey program at Detroit’s Jack Adams Memorial Arena as a kid.

“My brothers played, I hated it,” he said. “I used to cry the whole time. It was cold. I started out as a goalie. I’m standing in one spot. My feet hurt.”

McCrimmon shifted from goalie to forward and defense. He became a good player, but still quit the sport at 16.

Then he had an epiphany.

“My father passed away when I was 18,” he said. “He was the guy that if I scored two goals would say, ‘Why didn’t you have three? I had a dream when I was 20 years old. He told me to get back into the game.”

McCrimmon went on to play for NCAA Division III Northland College, the University of Massachusetts Boston and Suffolk University from 2004-08; 10 teams in eight minor leagues from 2008-12; and 35 games in Finland from 2010-12.

McCrimmon’s reach extends beyond the rink. He helps families deal with food insecurity and provides backpacks filled with school supplies for children in need.

“Through the game of hockey, we’re able to give back to our community through food drives,” he said.

“We do a lot of stuff with the homeless, we’ve got a lot of partnerships with the schools. … The game of hockey has given me a different arm to reach out into my community and help out in different ways. I’m just beyond blessed to be able to do what we’re doing through the nonprofits to the Dreams program.”

by William Douglas @WDouglasNHL / NHL.com Staff Writer

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Olympia Development of Michigan (ODM) congratulates Leo Valentino Mendez, Vice President of Planning & Design for being appointed to the Board of Directors of Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development (LA SED) Detroit.

“We are thrilled to have Leo join our Board of Directors. His commitment to community and his professional accomplishments complement our board’s skills and strengthen our ability to serve the senior citizens and families of Southwest Detroit and beyond,” said Ago Benavides, Chairman of LA SED.

LA SED was established 60 years ago with a mission to advance the social, education and economic development of Hispanics and all residents of Southwest Detroit. A 501c3 non-profit agency, LA SED assists people of all ages with a variety of bilingual services through the development of programs that address the area’s diverse ethnic groups.

“Connecting with the people in the communities where I live and work has always been a core principle of mine,” Mendez said. “Architecture and design impacts everyone and lending my skills to make those experiences inspirational and positive, while helping communities move forward means everything. It is an honor to join the board of LA SED and share my passion and talent with the Latino community of Southwest Detroit.”

As Vice President of Planning and Design for Olympia Development of Michigan, Mendez is responsible for the oversight and implementation of the high-level design plans for The District Detroit as well as guiding design direction for multiple ongoing projects including a variety of ground-up, preservation, adaptive re-use, residential, commercial, retail and mixed-use projects within the heart of the sports and entertainment district in Detroit.

Leo joined Olympia Development in March of 2019 and has worked across a multitude of projects. When asked what his three favorite projects are to date, he quickly answered with his first two: 2715 Woodward Avenue – a five-story, state of the art building located in between Little Caesars Arena and Wayne State University’s Mike Ilitch School of Business, that is home to Boston Consulting Group and Warner, Norcross + Judd  —  and The Eddystone & Basan  the revitalized historic building with 92 thoughtfully designed apartments featuring a highly anticipated restaurant and lounge. For his third, there are so many he is working on as part of The District Detroit that are yet to be revealed, he only offered a coy smile.

A graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy, with a Bachelor’s in Architecture and Business Administration, Leo is a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB).

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The Detroit Red Wings today signed right wing Christian Fischer to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $1.125 million.

Fischer, 26, spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Arizona Coyotes, recording 27 points (13-14-27) and 20 penalty minutes in 80 games. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound forward tallied his most points in a single season since achieving career highs in goals (15), assists (18) and points (33) as a rookie in 2017-18. Originally selected by Arizona in the second round (32nd overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Fischer has accumulated 111 points (56-55-111) and 97 penalty minutes in 398 games with the Coyotes since 2016-17. Additionally, Fischer logged 50 points (22-28-50) and 28 penalty minutes in 63 American Hockey League games with the Springfield Falcons and Tucson Roadrunners from 2015-17, competing at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic.

Prior to turning professional, Fischer played the 2015-16 season with the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires, registering 90 points (40-50-90), a plus-35 rating and 34 penalty minutes in 66 games, in addition to three points (1-2-3) in five postseason appearances. The Chicago native skated with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2013-15, scoring 106 points (50-56-106) and 45 penalty minutes in 120 games. On the international stage, Fischer won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championship, collecting eight points and a plus-two rating in seven games. He also earned a gold medal at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, notching six points (2-4-6) in six appearances.

Christian Fischer, Right Wing

Born Apr 15 1997 — Chicago, IL

Height 6.02 — Weight 212 — Shoots R

Selected by Arizona Coyotes round 2 #32 overall 2015 NHL Entry Draft

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• Kostin signs two-year deal; Luff and Lindstrom return on one-year contracts

The Detroit Red Wings today signed center Klim Kostin to a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2 million. Additionally, the Red Wings re-signed right wing Matt Luff to a one-year, two-way contract and re-signed defenseman Gustav Lindstrom to a one-year contract with an average annual value of $950,000.

Kostin, 24, spent the majority of the 2022-23 season with the Edmonton Oilers, recording 21 points (11-10-21), a plus-12 rating and 66 penalty minutes in 57 regular-season games. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound forward also collected five points (3-2-5) and nine penalty minutes in 12 postseason contests. Additionally, Kostin logged four points (2-2-4) and 15 penalty minutes in nine games with the American Hockey League’s Bakersfield Condors during the 2022-23 campaign. Kostin helped Avangard Omsk of the Kontinental Hockey League win a Gagarin Cup championship in 2020-21, accumulating 18 points (7-11-18), a plus-six rating and 50 penalty minutes in 43 games before adding nine points (5-4-9) and 44 penalty minutes in 24 playoff matchups. Originally selected by the St. Louis Blues in the first round (31st overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Kostin has registered 32 points (16-16-32) and 89 penalty minutes in 103 NHL games with the Blues and Oilers since 2019-20. He has also compiled 92 points (34-58-92) and 263 penalty minutes in 207 AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage and Condors.

A native of Penza, Russia, Kostin made his professional debut with Dynamo Moscow in the KHL during the 2016-17 season, finishing with a plus-one rating and 27 penalty minutes in eight games. Kostin also netted one goal and four penalty minutes in nine appearances with Dynamo Balashikha of the Supreme Hockey League (VHL) in 2016-17. On the international stage, Kostin captained Russia to a bronze medal at the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, notching six points (3-3-6) and 10 penalty minutes in seven games. He also competed at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, showing eight points (5-3-8) and a plus-seven rating in five appearances. Kostin recorded seven points (4-3-7) and 29 penalty minutes in five games at the 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, along with four assists and four penalty minutes in five games captaining Russia at the 2016 IIHF World Under-18 Championship.

Luff, 26, split the 2022-23 season between the Red Wings and the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins. The 6-foot-3, 212-pound forward recorded four points (2-2-4) in 19 games with the Red Wings, in addition to 25 points (8-17-25) and six penalty minutes in 28 games with the Griffins. In 2021-22, Luff notched six points (3-3-6), a plus-three rating and four penalty minutes in 23 games with the Nashville Predators while averaging over a point-per-game in the AHL, tallying 31 points (14-17-31), a plus-one rating and 16 penalty minutes in 30 appearances for the Milwaukee Admirals. Luff has played parts of five NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Predators and Red Wings, logging 27 points (15-12-27) and 20 penalty minutes in 106 games since 2018-19. He has also compiled 145 points (57-88-145), a plus-10 rating and 116 penalty minutes in 197 AHL games over parts of seven seasons with the Ontario Reign, Admirals and Griffins.

A native of Oakville, Ont., Luff was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kings on Sept. 22, 2016 and made his professional debut with the Reign at the end of the 2016-17 season. Prior to turning professional, Luff played three seasons in the Ontario Hockey League with the Belleville Bulls and Hamilton Bulldogs from 2014-17, accumulating 137 points (61-76-137), a plus-two rating and 96 penalty minutes in 170 games. He also registered 11 points (5-6-11) in 11 postseason contests during his major junior career.

Lindstrom, 24, spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Red Wings, tallying eight points (1-7-8) and 20 penalty minutes in 36 games. The 6-foot-2, 186-pound defenseman also played the entire 2021-22 season in Detroit, setting career highs in games played (63), assists (12), points (13), penalty minutes (22), shots (41), blocks (77) and hits (59). In all, Lindstrom has recorded 25 points (2-23-25) and 56 penalty minutes in 128 games with the Red Wings since making his NHL debut in 2019-20. He also dished out eight assists and 34 penalty minutes in 58 AHL games with the Griffins from 2019-21. Prior to the start of the 2020-21 NHL season, Lindstrom notched 11 assists and 20 penalty minutes in 20 appearances with Almtuna IS in Sweden’s second-highest professional league.

Originally selected by the Red Wings in the second round (38th overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Lindstrom played three full seasons professionally in Sweden before moving to North America. In 2018-19, Lindstrom helped Frölunda HC earn a Swedish Hockey League championship, posting six points (3-3-6) and 50 penalty minutes in 40 regular-season games, in addition to six points (2-4-6) in 11 games as Frölunda won the Champions Hockey League tournament. The Ostervala, Sweden, native also appeared in 107 games with Almtuna IS over two stints, tallying 34 points (8-26-34) and 80 penalty minutes from 2016-18 and 2020-21. On the international stage, Lindstrom captured a silver medal for Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, finishing with one assist and eight penalty minutes in seven games. Prior to turning professional, Lindstrom totaled 14 points (6-8-14), a plus-10 rating and 12 penalty minutes in nine games with Almtuna IS in Sweden’s top junior league and 51 points (20-31-51), a plus-18 rating and 68 penalty minutes in 59 games at the under-18 level.

Klim Kostin, Center

Born May 5 1999 — Penza, Russia

Height 6.03 — Weight 215 — Shoots L

Selected by St. Louis Blues round 1 #31 overall 2017 NHL Entry Draft

Matt Luff, Right Wing

Born May 5 1997 — Oakville, ONT

Height 6.03 — Weight 212 — Shoots R

Gustav Lindstrom, Defense

Born Oct 20 1998 — Ostervala, Sweden

Height 6.02 — Weight 183 — Shoots R

Selected by Detroit Red Wings round 2 #38 overall 2017 NHL Entry Draft

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