Diet is an important part of a modern athlete's training program, to the point the Detroit Red Wings have a dietician on their staff. But that doesn't stop a player from having cravings.
Free Press sports writer Helene St. James checked in this month with the Wings to see what they would indulge in if there were no consequences — no weight gain, no cholesterol issues, just the ability to eat something they thoroughly enjoy.
Several players choose sweets, some chose steak — and one player broke the mold and chose something from the sea.
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"I love swordfish," goalie Alex Lyon said. "I have a nostalgic spot for it. I ate it at my grandparents — they lived in Newport, Rhode Island, so I would go there once a year as a kid and they would serve it. I love it."
F Jonatan Berggren
Age: 24.
Salary cap hit: $825,000.
2023-24 stats: 2 goals, 4 assists, minus-1 rating in 12 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Swedish kebob pizza."
D Ben Chiarot
Age: 33.
Salary cap hit: $4.75 million.
2023-24 stats: 5 goals, 15 assists, minus-4 rating in 77 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Chocolate chip cookies."
F J.T. Compher
Age: 29.
Salary cap hit: $5.1 million.
2023-24 stats: 19 goals, 29 assists, minus-5 rating in 77 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: (Not available).
F Andrew Copp
Age: 30.
Salary cap hit: $5.63 million.
2023-24 stats: 13 goals, 20 assists, minus-2 rating in 79 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "S'mores."
F Alex DeBrincat
Age: 26.
Salary cap hit: $7.88 million.
2023-24 stats: 27 goals, 40 assists, plus-1 in 82 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Chocolate ice cream."
D Simon Edvinsson
Age: 21.
Salary cap hit: $894,167.
2023-24 stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, even rating in 16 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Swedish chocolate cake. With whipped cream."
F Christian Fischer
Age: 27.
Salary cap hit: $1.13 million.
2023-24 stats: 5 goals, 14 assists, even rating in 79 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: ''I'm a huge Oreos fan."
D Erik Gustafsson
Age: 32.
Salary cap hit: $2 million.
2023-24 stats: 6 goals, 25 assists, plus-3 rating in 76 games (with New York Rangers).
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Ice cream sorbet."
G Ville Husso
Age: 29.
Salary cap hit: $4.75 million.
2023-24 stats: 9-5-2 with a 3.55 goals-against average and .892 save percentage in 19 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Steak."
D Albert Johansson
Age: 23.
Salary cap hit: $775,000.
2023-24 stats: Played in minors.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Smashburger."
F Patrick Kane
Age: 35.
Salary cap hit: $4 million.
2023-24 stats: 20 goals, 27 assists, minus-5 rating in 50 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: (Not available).
F Dylan Larkin
Age: 28.
Salary cap hit: $8.7 million.
2023-24 stats: 33 goals, 36 assists, plus-5 rating in 68 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "A cheeseburger."
G Alex Lyon
Age: 31.
Salary cap hit: $900,000.
2023-24 stats: 21-18-5 with a 3.05 goals-against average and .904 save percentage.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Swordfish."
D Olli Määttä
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Age: 30.
Salary cap hit: $3 million.
2023-24 stats: 4 goals, 14 assists, plus-14 rating in 72 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Finnish candy."
F Tyler Motte
Age: 29.
Salary cap hit: $800,000.
2023-24 stats: 6 goals, 3 assists, minus-8 rating in 69 games (with Tampa Bay Lightning).
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Ice cream sandwich."
D Jeff Petry
Age: 36.
Salary cap hit: $2.34 million (Wings' share of $6.25 million).
2023-24 stats: 3 goals, 21 assists, minus-7 rating in 73 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Something sweet."
F Michael Rasmussen
Age: 25.
Salary cap hit: $3.2 million.
2023-24 stats: 13 goals, 20 assists, plus-8 rating in 75 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Vanilla ice cream."
F Lucas Raymond
Age: 22.
Salary cap hit: $8.1 million.
2023-24 stats: 31 goals, 41 assists, minus-12 rating in 82 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Swedish kebob pizza."
D Moritz Seider
Age: 23.
Salary cap hit: $8.55 million.
2023-24 stats: 9 goals, 33 assists, minus-7 rating in 82 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "I would have a cookie every day. Chocolate chip."
G Cam Talbot
Age: 37.
Salary cap hit: $2.5 million.
2023-24 stats: 27-20-6 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 54 games (with Los Angeles Kings).
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Pizza — pepperoni, bacon, jalapeños and banana peppers."
F Vladimir Tarasenko
Age: 32.
Salary cap hit: $4.75 million.
2023-24 stats: 23 goals, 32 assists, plus-13 rating in 76 games (with Ottawa Senators and Florida Panthers).
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Pasta with parmesan."
F Joe Veleno
Age: 24.
Salary cap hit: $2.28 million.
2023-24 stats: 12 goals, 16 assists, minus-16 rating in 80 games.
What I'd eat daily if there were no consequences: "Nutella."
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com . Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames .
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter .
Her latest book, “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings , A Curated History of the Red Wings,” will be available October 2024. Her books, “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon , Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Nutella, sorbet and swordfish: Meet your (hungry) 2024-25 Detroit Red Wings
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