The Malik Report

Ahead of today’s Champions Hockey League game in which Frolunda HC will battle the Adler Mannheim, Rakapuckar.com’s Henrik Lehman penned an article discussing the ascent of Red Wings prospect Theodor Niederbach. What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Rakapuckar’s Henrik Lehman expects more from Theodor Niederbach. So does Theodor.

The Athletic’s Max Bultman lays into the “fancy stats” this morning, using Dom Luszczyszyn’s Game Score Value Added model to predict when Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider become star players:

Again, it’s early — with incredible starts by both players playing a large role in the underlying calculations above — but Dom Luszczyszyn’s GSVA model projects that, as early as next season, both Seider and Raymond could be turning in star-level impact for the Red Wings. Seider is already on track for it this season.

And even while significant caveats are needed this early into their careers, that is a substantial development for Detroit’s big-picture trajectory. Because for all the Red Wings’ many needs during this rebuild, finding players of that “star” caliber has been by far the biggest.

Sure, Seider’s play over the past two seasons made clear that he was on track to be a key piece for Detroit, entering this season with a clear path toward becoming a top-pair blueliner. And Raymond’s skill, smarts and competitiveness have been evident since long before he was even drafted. But the difference between having high picks turn into good players and having them turn into great ones is significant for a rebuilding team.

The great ones are just so hard to obtain — and doing so is perhaps the most difficult variable in determining just how long the process might take.

We won’t know for some time yet, of course, whether Seider and Raymond are truly stars. They have a lot of proving yet to do, both this season and beyond.

But for the sake of projecting their potential importance to the Red Wings’ rebuild, let’s say for now that they do turn out approximately as Luszczyszyn’s model thinks they could. What would that mean for Detroit’s timeline?

Continued (paywall)

Former Red Wings director of pro scouting Mark Howe spoke with the Detroit News’s Mark Falkner in a subscriber-only article, discussing Howe’s decision to retire from his scouting position:

In typical Mark Howe fashion, his recent retirement announcement was almost an afterthought and done as quietly and under the radar as the way the 66-year-old former defenseman with the Detroit Red Wings conducted himself during a 48-year career in professional hockey.

This past summer, Howe walked into Steve Yzerman’s office and told the Red Wings’ general manager that he was stepping down as the team’s director of pro scouting after 16 seasons.

“I think Stevie was set back a little bit when I told him,” Howe said. “Then I brought up the same thing to him that I used to ask my dad about retirement. I said, ‘Steve, you were a player. Why did you retire?’ And, in his words to me, he said, ‘I get it.'”

Howe’s last day on the job was June 30, 2021. And with that, the son of Red Wings legend Gordie Howe ended his own Hockey Hall of Fame career without much fanfare or even a press release. Just a handshake and recognition of a job well done.

“I can remember asking dad, ‘How do you know when it’s time to retire?'” Howe said. “His answer would always be, ‘Well, you’ll know.’ I would say, ‘Dad, that’s a stupid answer and you’re not helping me one iota.’ He said, ‘Don’t worry. You’ll know.’

“In 1995, I was headed home from a game that we won convincingly. I did my job as a fifth or sixth defenseman. I played my 16 minutes but then I said, ‘Wow.’ It just hit me. I said I know it’s time to give this game up. I just didn’t have the same feeling anymore. So I called dad and said, ‘Well, thanks. I get it. Thanks for the advice.'”

Continued (paywall)

Enjoy the 90-minute episode courtesy of the Jamie Daniels Foundation and Bally Sports Detroit:

I missed being able to do my usual weekend routine this past weekend, which is to say that I was unable to keep up with the Red Wings’ prospects, who took part in their usual contingent of heavily weekend-scheduled games throughout North America’s developmental leagues.

In the case of Red Wings goaltending prospect and 2021 first-round draft pick Sebastian Cossa, it’s more of the same–Cossa has posted a 2.21 goals-against average, a .929 save percentage, and 11 wins over the course of 17 games played thus far.

Tonight, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff checks in on Cossa’s Edmonton Oil Kings and their coach, Brad Lauer, for a progress report:

“He is a very confident individual,” Lauer said. “He has some swagger to his game. It’s not like he is arrogant about it. (Cossa) is a team-first guy. He is one of our leaders in our room. He has a great attitude.”

Lauer has overflowing credibility when it comes to assessing a player’s inner-drive. He had a pro career that lasted 19 years, including parts of nine seasons in the NHL with the New York Islanders, Chicago Blackhawks, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. He worked for every game he played in the NHL. Lauer has been an assistant coach in the American League and with the Anaheim Ducks.

Lauer sees Cossa as a very technical goalie, efficient in his movements. “He conserves his energy,” Lauer said.

He doesn’t conserve his words. Cossa is a talker, and is skilled in the fine art of chirping, although he doesn’t do it as much in games as he did when he was younger.

“In practice, I’m still on the guys,” he said. “But that’s just for fun, just to keep the compete (level) up. But I might have dialed it back a little bit. I’ve always been a little bit chirpy and a little bit chippy. But at the end of the day my job is stop the puck. So I can’t let anyone get me off my game.”

Lauer likes that Cossa works at his game, refines all aspects of his game. (Lauer) says, for example, Cossa works regularly on his puck-handling and he “improves daily.”

“He fights for the ice he wants, but he is not as physically involved as he was when he was younger,” Lauer said. “He is more in control, more focused on his game.”

Continued

The Red Wings posted a pair of videos to their NHL.com page noting that they’re hosting their “Hockey Fights Cancer” night this Saturday, November 27th, when the Wings host the Buffalo Sabres…

And they’ve got the, “I fight for…” video up:

Update: From DetroitRedWings.com’s Kevin Brown:

This Saturday, November 27, the Detroit Red Wings are once again joining the fight against cancer as the organization teams up with Comerica Bank and the American Cancer Society to host the annual Hockey Fights Cancer Night at Little Caesars Arena.

Leading up to Hockey Fights Cancer Night, the Red Wings are shining a light on four exceptional people in the metro Detroit community who embody what the fight against cancer is all about with their courage, resilience, advocation and warrior spirit.

“Each season, the hockey community unites to elevate awareness and support for those affected by cancer,” Red Wings and Tigers director of community impact Kevin Brown said. “The stories of Rachel Hurst, Vara Gordon, Ava Csutoras and Harper Mathis are reflective of so many individuals in our community who have been affected by childhood cancer. These stories are why we work alongside the American Cancer Society for Hockey Fights Cancer Night.”

Take a look at the stories of the four inspirational people below in our Hockey Fights Cancer Survivor Spotlight:

Continued

Red Wings play-by-play announcer Ken Daniels’ “Celebrity Roast of Brett Hull” takes place tonight at 8 PM EST, benefiting the Jamie Daniels Foundation, and Daniels spoke bluntly with MLive’s Ansar Khan about the serious reasons behind the roast:

Daniels cited statistics revealing more than 100,000 people in the U.S. have died from overdose in a 12-month period that ended in April of this year, and 90 percent who are addicted started from prescription drugs before age 18.

“That’s why the message has to be there – get it out of the homes, get rid of the prescription pills, you can become addicted in five days,” Daniels said. “End the shame and stigma. We have to continue the conversation. That’s what we talk about tonight. You’ll see a family who also lost their son, who are in the same position we are.”

Daniels said it’s not a moral failing, it’s a disease.

“The more people that talk about it and aren’t ashamed of it, if it’s out there, maybe we can stop it before someone dies or goes into hiding like we did as a family,” Daniels said. “We hid it. We didn’t know then what we know now. We don’t want people to follow the path we did. We had that shame and stigma.”

Daniels realizes he is fortunate to have a large platform to spread the message.

“My job gets it front and center. Not everyone can do that,” he said. “If my job helps convey that message in an easier fashion, then great, that’s what we’re meant to do. That will be (Jamie’s) legacy. These are ways to get people to keep thinking about what they can do to help in their own home, whether it be keep an eye on the kids, see how they are, see if their behavior has changed. It reminds people to get pills out of their homes. That’s continuing the conversation.”

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a notebook article about Dylan Larkin, who’s posted 16 points in the 16 games he’s played for Detroit this season;

Larkin had 23 points (14 assists) in 44 games last season. He has seven assists this season, for 16 points in 16 games, a point-per-game average. Larkin’s best offensive season was 2018-19, when he totaled 32 goals and 41 assists, for 73 points — career-highs in both goals and points.

The way Larkin has clicked with linemates Tyler Bertuzzi and Lucas Raymond, and as long as Larkin and his linemates can stay healthy, Larkin appears capable of closing in on those statistics.

“We all can think the game,” Larkin said of the trio. “Having Lucas’ great shot, him being a righty, that’s really sparking us. He can really see the ice. He can move the puck. He’s someone for Tyler and me to look for when we’re on our forehand. We all look to make plays. We all want to get right on the puck.”

When Larkin returned to the lineup last week after the COVID scare, Larkin talked about how the disappointment of last season somewhat has helped his approach to the game.

“The highs and lows of this league, they’re pretty dramatic at times especially if you let them,” Larkin said. “At times, I’ve really let them get to me. This year, I’ve really worked on not letting that happen and whether it’s going well or not, or other things have come into your life and take you out of the lineup for a week, or you can’t play in the third period, I’m just trying not to let it get to me and be grateful I’m here.

“I was really hoping when I came back after the time away (for the family emergency), I was really hoping to have all that in the past and try to move forward. I’m looking forward to doing that and continue to play and be there for the guys and play real hard and that’s what I’ve been trying to do. Not worry about whether pucks are going in, worried most about the team, and playing a good game.”

Continued

The Grand Rapids Griffins host the Chicago Wolves this Friday at 7 PM EST, and Friday’s game is the annual “Teddy Bear Toss” game:

What is your favorite part about Teddy Bear Toss?

Experience the magic this Friday!

Tickets >> https://t.co/YjJxKktFsa pic.twitter.com/Tiuo9l11ee— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) November 22, 2021

The Red Wings’ rookie duo of Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider appear to be a hot topic this morning. NBC Sports’ Pro Hockey Talk’s James O’Brien discussed the performances of the Wings’ rookie duo as they apply to the pair’s respective Calder Trophy candidacies:

Lucas Raymond: At just 19 years old, and a rebuilding Red Wings team, Lucas Raymond was far from a lock to even remain at the NHL level this season. Uh, you can go further than penciling Raymond into the Red Wings’ lineup. Might as well use a permanent marker.

Through 20 games, Lucas Raymond’s just a hair under a point-per-contest (seven goals, 12 assists for 19 points). Raymond’s 19 points leads all rookies, making him a Calder favorite. Heading into Sunday’s games, only three other rookies were even above double-digits in points.

Even if you didn’t account for a better-than-expected Red Wings team, it’s impressive that Raymond tops his squad in scoring. But when you factor hot starts for Tyler Bertuzzi (17 points in 17 games) and Dylan Larkin (16 in 16), Raymond topping Red Wings scorers is that much more impressive.

Perhaps his shooting percentage is a little high (14.6%), yet it’s not totally out of the question that he’s just that skilled. Even Raymond’s possession stats are good, and not just for a rookie.

When the Red Wings selected Lucas Raymond fourth overall in 2020,  many prospect-watchers raved. So far, that excitement looks justified — and sooner than expected.

Continued with praise for Seider of the Fancy Stats variety…