Several Red Wings set to play in world championships: ‘It’s a huge honor’

DETROIT Theyd much rather be competing for the Red Wings in the NHL playoffs.Of that, theres little doubt.But with the Wings not in the playoffs, the next best option is competing for your country in the mens IIHF world championships.Related ArticlesRed Wings Andrew Copp already looking ahead after sudden, painful end to seasonNew York Islanders win the NHL draft lottery, securing the No.

1 selection; Wings to pick 13thRed Wings once again hoping for some luck at NHL Draft LotteryRed Wings crowded crease likely to make free agent Alex Lyon odd man outRed Wings hope a Griffins playoff run can pay dividends for prospectsAnd some Wings will be doing that for the next couple weeks, in the host cities of Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, Denmark.Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson and Lucas Raymond will be representing Sweden, Moritz Seider is the captain of Germany, and Marco Kasper is playing for Austria.For a player like Seider, getting an opportunity to represent his country is an honor that he doesnt take lightly.

He wasnt able to play last year, when as a restricted free agent at the time, he wasnt able to secure proper insurance.I take a lot of pride in representing my country and its a lot of fun during those times, too, said Seider, who is competing in his fifth world championships.

You want to still play hockey at that time of the year.

You kind of want to prepare yourself, hopefully, for an eventual (NHL playoff) run.One of Seiders career highlights is helping Germany to its silver medal in 2023.

It was the countrys first medal in the tournament since 1953.Raymond was part of the Swedish roster that competed in Februarys 4 Nations Face-Off tournament.This will be Raymonds third consecutive appearance at the world championships.

Raymond was a key part of Swedens bronze medal victory last year, earning nine points (four goals) in 10 games.Its a huge honor, said Raymond, who has also represented Sweden at the world juniors.

You grow up playing for the junior national team and now a couple of world championships and you see how much it means to the fans, the Swedish hockey fans at home.

Its just fun in a lot of aspects of it.An interesting player to watch, from the Wings perspective, will be Kasper.Promoted the first month of the season, Kasper had 19 goals and 37 points in 77 games and was one of the best rookies in the NHL the second half of the schedule.Itll be intriguing to see whether Kasper, 21, can star in a tournament heavily dotted with elite NHL players.Kasper has played in one other world championships, in 2022, where he earned two points (both assists).Other Wings players are likely to have received invitations to play from their hockey federations.

But because of contract considerations, health or family reasons, or simply resting after the long, grueling NHL regular season, players often find it difficult to commit to a nearly three-week tournament in Europe.Former Wings assistant coach Adam Nightingale, now head coach at Michigan State, will be an assistant coach on Team USAs staff.

The head coach is the San Jose Sharks Ryan Warsofsky.The USA roster is a younger lineup and doesnt have the star power of the 4 Nations Face-Off roster, but its a team still capable of earning a medal, reflecting the growing depth of USA hockey talent.Canada, having added Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon to its roster in the last week, is seen as the favorite heading into the tournament.There are 16 teams in the tournament, divided into two groups for the round-robin preliminary round.

Sweden, Canada and Finland highlight Group A, while Team USA, Germany and Czechia are expected to lead the way in Group B.The top four teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals.

IIHF world championshipsWhen: Friday-May 25Where: Stockholm, Sweden and Herning, DenmarkTV: NHL Network will televise all of Team USAs games, beginning 2:20 p.m.

Friday against Denmark.Red Wings: Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson, Lucas Raymond (Sweden); Moritz Seider (Germany); Marco Kasper (Austria)Local players/staff: Michael McCarron (Macomb/Nashville Predators/Team USA), Zach Werenski (Grosse Pointe/Columbus Blue Jackets/Team USA), assistant coach Mike Vellucci (Northville/Team USA), assistant coach Adam Nightingale (Cheboygan/Michigan State/Team USA), Isaac Howard (MSU/Team USA), Frank Nazar (Mt.

Clemens/Team USA)..

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