Month: February 2018

On fundraising as TMR ‘starts up’

I’ve done my best to avoid talking about funding the blog over the past two weeks, trying to let content do the talking for me, but today, I need to discuss monetary issues.

As I try to build an audience on this blog, I hope that those of you who are new to the blog have noticed that there are no ads here. I’m attempting to keep things that way, asking readers to contribute to my Patreon account via subscriptions instead. It’s sort of an NPR-style model–there are no paywalls, and no ads, but I need to ask for contributions to survive.

[edit: for those of you who are not comfortable with recurring payments, you can go to https://www.paypal.me/TheMalikReport to donate /end edit]

You can pledge any amount to join the TMR community, and in all honesty, even pledging a dollar or two a month goes a long way toward my goal of making this blog self-sustaining. I appreciate all the support I’ve received thus far, and if you are willing to join the community, that would be fantastic.

The goal here is to both make the blog self-sustaining and to reinvest a substantial portion of what I make into the blog and its members (see: trips to take in hockey games, Traverse City trips, a computer so that I can do a faster and better job of covering news, and, of course, ways by which I can reward community members for their contributions. There are no more individual fund drives–it’s about selling blog subscriptions now).

I would also appreciate it if you tell one person that there’s a new Red Wings blog with a seasoned Red Wings blogger producing content on a daily basis.

I understand that The Malik Report is a start-up right now, and as such, we’re building a new audience with a couple of kind old friends leading the way.

Whether you’re considering contributing a couple of bucks a month or letting someone know that this place exists, or whether you’re just here to read and comment, I thank you very, very much for your valuable time and readership.

 

Morning news: Talkin’ about Ken Holland and Tweets of note

Of Red Wings-related note this morning:

1. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski penned a list of general managers organized into “tiers“:

The Votes Of No Confidence

GMs that are feeling the heat because their teams were incredible for like a decade, got old and entered inevitable decline.

Stan Bowman, Chicago Blackhawks
Ken Holland, Detroit Red Wings

Bowman’s handled down cycles for the Hawks before, in between Cup wins, but this one seems like a bit of a steeper climb due to the age of the core (and the fact that there are so many no-trade clauses). Holland has somehow crafted a roster that’s kissing the cap ceiling but is a complete also-ran. Does he return next season?

I have a sinking feeling that Holland will return to see the “rebuild on the fly” through–and I have a sinking feeling that Holland is able to write his own ticket.

We don’t know what Chris Ilitch wants from his teams because Ilitch hasn’t spoken with the media. Rumors suggest that as Ilitch has taken over, the “family” atmosphere fostered by Mr. I has given way to a more businesslike approach, but at this point, the Red Wings, Tigers, Olympia Entertainment and Little Caesars are all private enterprises, and the new boss will speak when he wants to, and not before.

Holland is 62. He spends his off-seasons in Vernon, British Columbia, and he’s stated that Vernon is where he’ll retire to. But 62 is fairly young in hockey executive terms.

I don’t believe that Steve Yzerman is a logical successor. For one, Yzerman wants to win a Stanley Cup with the Tampa Bay Lightning; second and perhaps more importantly, if Yzerman came back “home,” the media and fans would micro-analyze every move he made, and I don’t imagine that Yzerman wants to suffer a managerial death by a thousand cuts. I believe that he will stay with the Bolts.

If Holland goes, it’s most likely that either Kris Draper or Ryan Martin will succeed him. I do not expect the Wings to go outside the organization to replace Holland with a “new voice.”

Coach Blashill has a year left on his contract, and it’s up to Holland to determine Blash’s future. There are some who suggest that Todd Nelson, the Grand Rapids Griffins’ coach, would do a fine job in Blashill’s stead, and others want the Wings to go outside the organization to bring a fresh outlook behind the bench. If Blashill is fired, my money is on Nelson replacing him.

Mostly, we need to find out what Chris Ilitch is thinking regarding the team, and I don’t believe that we’ll hear from him prior to locker room clean-out day, if we hear from him at all.

2. On Twitter…

Prospect round-up: Griffins shut out the Moose

In the AHL, the Grand Rapids Griffins scored a single goal against the Western Conference-leading Manitoba Moose, and Jared Coreau made Matt Lorito’s second-period marker stand up. Coreau stopped 28 shots as the Griffins defeated Manitoba 1-0.

The Griffins’ website posted a recap:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Griffins shut out the Moose

Red Wings-Lightning wrap-up: out-classed

The Detroit Red Wings’ losing streak against Tampa Bay extended to 11 games via a 4-1 loss to the Bolts on Thursday night.

Detroit simply got out-classed by a Lightning team motivated to snap a 2-game losing streak amidst a fierce battle for Atlantic Division supremacy.

The Red Wings…the Wings tried hard, out-shooting the Lightning, but Detroit’s defense couldn’t get a handle on the Bolts’ tremendous lateral passes, and when Nikita Kucherov has 4 points, Victor Hedman has 3 assists, Steven Stamkos scores 2 goals and Andrei Vasilevskiy makes stopping 38 of 39 shots look easy, you’re going to struggle.

As the Lightning discussed their win with the media, Steven Stamkos issued something of an understatement regarding himself, Kucherov and Hedman to TampaBayLightning.com’s Jacob Lynn:

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning wrap-up: out-classed

Red Wings-Lightning quick take: this losing streak goes up to 11

The Detroit Red Wings attempted to snap a 10-game losing streak against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night.

This one wasn’t even close. Tampa Bay defeated Detroit 4-1, extending their winning streak to 11 games, and Nikita Kucherov (1+3) had a 4-point game, Victor Hedman had 3 assists, Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 38 of 39 Wings shots, and the Wings plain old got out-classed.

Jimmy Howard was very good despite giving up 4 goals on 32 shots against–because the Bolts worked lateral passes to perfection, scoring mostly empty-net markers–and Tomas Tatar scored the Wings’ goal on a good night for Tatar, Larkin and Bertuzzi…

But Anthony Mantha’s blind drop pass that yielded the Bolts’ 4-1 insurance goal typified the Wings’ attention to detail, or the lack thereof, as well as the Lightning’s aplomb in scoring on the counter-attack. The Wings just aren’t as good as the Bolts, by a fair margin, and they lost because of it.

Continue reading Red Wings-Lightning quick take: this losing streak goes up to 11

Tampa Bay Times’ Smith talks about Mike Green’s possible ‘fit’ with the Bolts

The Tampa Bay Times’ Joe Smith discussed whether Mike Green might be a fit for the Tampa Bay Lightning:

A lot of this depends on the price. Red Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press he’s looking for assets and to open roster spot for younger players, so a package involving a draft pick and prospect could work.

“I look at every player, whether it’s a rental or has term on their contract, what does it cost?” Yzerman said. “Does it make sense for us?”

In some ways, Green makes sense. He’s a veteran, right-shot defenseman with playoff experience. He’s a very good puck-mover and creator, which would fit into the Lightning’s system. He’d be an upgrade on the right side over Jake Dotchin, whose play has dropped off.

And Green has got a fan in the Lightning coach.

“He’s very cerebral,” Cooper said. “You watched in the All-Star Game, the way he’s scoring, the way he can move the puck, it’s just effortless. He’s somebody that’s been doing it for a long time in this league. He seems to be able to create everywhere he goes. He’s been in the league for a while, but he’s sure a hell of a player still.”

The Lightning doesn’t need much help on the power play, which ranks second in the league at 23.7 percent. That’s been a strength for Green, who has quarterbacked units in Washington and Detroit.

“It’s just the way he sees the ice,” said Lightning wing Ryan Callahan. “You see what he did in Washington. I remember playing against them in the playoffs and he’d tear us apart pretty good when I was in New York. That was his biggest asset, the way he sees the ice and his speed, what he can do with the puck.”

Continued

Evening news: A Game-Day Preview, Blashill on the Bolts and Nielsen the scorer

Of Red Wings-related note this evening:

  1. Here’s the Wings’ Game Day Preview video:

2. Hockeybuzz’s Bob Duff spoke with coach Jeff Blashill regarding the challenges that the Lightning present:

Continue reading Evening news: A Game-Day Preview, Blashill on the Bolts and Nielsen the scorer

The Athletic’s Custance talks about ‘non-rental players’

The Athletic’s Craig Custance penned a list of solid non-rental players on the trade market, and four of the players–Gustav Nyquist/Tomas Tatar, Jimmy Howard and Danny DeKeyser were listed from the Red Wings:

13. Danny DeKeyser, D, Red Wings – Teams have expressed interest in DeKeyser, although those who like him, like him at $4 million per season (through 2021-22) much better than they do at his full-rate of $5 million. Like most of their players not named Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings are listening here but not looking at a DeKeyser deal as a salary dump or even a player they’re eager to retain salary on. The most likely scenario for the Red Wings at the deadline is a Mike Green trade and potentially a trade involving a winger. But DeKeyser could be lured away and teams like him at the right number. “It’s just managing him,” said an NHL scout. “I think he’s a good player. He can provide value. He’s a little overpaid but with the cap rising, it’s probably fine.”

Continued (paywall)…

Griffins Game-Day Preview video: Getting ready for a pair against the West-leading Moose

Grand Rapids Griffins announcer Bob Kaser sets up the Griffins’ 2-game series against the AHL’s Western Conference-leading Manitoba Moose (tonight and Saturday in Winnipeg) via a 3:33 Game-Day Preview video:

 

HSJ on Olympic Wings

From the Free Press’s Helene St. James:

Darren Helm was watching Olympic skeleton when he, a man once nicknamed ‘Danger’ because of his speed on ice, found himself curious.

“I just want to know how they get into a sport like that,” Helm said Thursday. “Like, what makes them join that event.”

As the Detroit Red Wings prepared for the evening game against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena, the television in the visitors locker room was tuned to coverage of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. As highly trained athletes themselves, players are fascinated by a variety of the events. It is bittersweet for some that the NHL decided to forgo participating, but that doesn’t affect enthusiasm for watching, dreaming about trying out an event, and picking teammates to participate.

“Whenever there is a chance to watch I turn it on,” Helm said. “I think there are a lot of really interesting events – bobsled, luge, skeleton, that’s all pretty interesting to me. It’s pretty exciting. The skiing stuff, snowboarding, the half pipes. I think almost every event has that certain element that’s exciting to watch.”

Continued, and St. James spent 9-and-a-half minutes speaking with the Wings about Olympic events: