Author: George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

Datsyuk, Lidstrom named to Daily Faceoff’s ‘Top 25 players of the last 25 years’ list

Daily Faceoff’s writers named their “Top 25 players of the last 25 years” today, and two Red Wings made the list:

20. Pavel Datsyuk, C

The Magic Man could do everything. He had some of the most dizzyingly beautiful stickhandling the game has ever seen, regularly producing did-you-see-that highlights. He’s one of the best defensive forwards of all-time, having won three consecutive Selke Trophies at one point. He was also one of the sport’s classiest players, winning four consecutive Lady Byng Trophies. It’s particularly impressive to play such a gentlemanly game when you’re a premier shutdown center.

…

4. Nicklas Lidstrom, D

Try and picture Lidstrom making a mistake. Good luck with that. He was about as close as you’ll ever find to a perfect hockey player, almost robotic in his poise and precision. He set the standard for a modern style of defending, outsmarting his opponents with positioning and anticipation rather than bludgeoning them. He took home an incredible seven Norris Trophies, bested only by Bobby Orr’s eight, and if you had to craft one starting lineup featuring every player in the NHL’s 108-year history, you’re probably putting Lidstrom out there with Orr.

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Buchelnikov remains dominant for Vityaz Moscow Region

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff spotlights several Red Wings prospects this morning, leading off with one Dmitri Buchelnikov’s stand-out performances for a middling Vityaz team:

Dmitri Buchelnikov’s team may be sinking, but the Detroit Red Wings prospect just keeps on trucking. Riding a four-game point streak, Buchelnikov was dishing out an assist Monday as Vityaz fell 4-2 to Dinamo Minsk in KHL action.

On this day, the future Red Wings player – Buchelnikov was Detroit’s 52nd overall selection in the 2022 NHL entry draft – was being outshone by a former Wings defenseman. Xavier Ouellet collected a goal and two assists in leading Dinamo Minsk to victory.

Vityaz is 1-6-2 over the past nine games. The club has fallen 15 points out of a KHL playoff spot. Buchelnikov, though, is leading the team in scoring with 13-31-44 totals through 54 games.

Bultman’s Red Wings player poll: GM Showtime

The Athletic’s Max Bultman conducted an informal and lighthearted “player poll” with the Red Wings’ players recently, and Patrick Kane earned 11 of 18 votes as to which player might become an NHL general manager one day:

This one was a runaway. Copp got a couple of votes here, too, likely for the same reasons as the coaching answer, but Kane is the player most Red Wings players feel could have a future in a front office.

“He’s been around the league for long enough to know good players and bad players, I’d say,” one teammate said.

“He’s probably one of the smartest players of all time, at least like offensively, IQ wise,” another added. “Hard to argue. I feel like he loves the game and is always watching, paying attention.”

One teammate said something similar about Kane in explaining his vote for “Showtime” as the best coach — but since he also picked him for best GM, we’ll use the answer here: “Just his hockey knowledge. He’s been around, he’s seen every aspect of the game. He thinks the game on a different level. All those reasons. Knows how to win.”

Another added a perhaps underrated component beyond Kane’s knowledge of the game: “I feel like he has a lot of connections.”

But one voter wanted to take the question in a different direction: “Not Benny Chiarot,” they said, “I’ll tell you that.”

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Justin Abdelkader’s become a ‘hockey dad’

Former Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader told the Local Sports Journal’s Tom Kendra that he’s readjusting to post-hockey life some two years after playing in his last professional hockey game:

Justin Abdelkader now spends a large percentage of his time in an “Uber Dad” role, driving and also coaching his two young sons at hockey tournaments around the state.

And when he’s home? This time of year, he’s usually in the backyard of the family’s suburban Detroit home with a hose in his hand, working on the outdoor skating rink.

“Oh absolutely, I have come full circle,” Justin said with a laugh.

…

Abdelkader played his last competitive hockey game in Switzerland in March of 2023, and since that time has dealt with the often difficult transition for professional athletes back to normal life by going in “100 percent” to his new job as a father.

Abdelkader and his wife, Julie, are expecting their third child in February (a girl).

 His role as dad hasn’t left a whole lot of time for him to reflect on his hockey career but, when he does, he will look back on a journey which featured championships at almost every stop.

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Twitter video: TNT interviews Dylan Larkin

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin spoke with TNT’s hockey panel after Team USA’s 2-1 loss to Sweden at the Four Nations Face-Off, looking forward to Thursday’s final between the U.S. and Canada:

Red Wings’ Raymond, Larkin’s ‘Four Nations Face-Off’ was an anticlimactic one

Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond’s meeting in the Four Nations Face-Off was a bit anticlimactic.

Team USA rested several players after Canada’s win over Finland ensured that there would be a USA-Canada final on Thursday, and Sweden earned a measure of redemption going into their last game of the tournament by winning a 2-1 decision on Monday night.

Raymond finished at -1 in 18:37 played, with 2 shot attempts, for Sweden; Larkin finished even in 16:27 played, taking 2 shots, 4 total shot attempts, with 2 hits, 2 giveaways and a 3-and-4 (43%) faceoff record.

The Swedes will disperse to their NHL teams now; the Americans will prepare for the Four Nations Face-Off final vs. Canada on Thursday.

From MassLive’s Lauren Campbell:

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin, who logged 16:27 of ice time in USA’s loss, is excited about the potential of winning a championship game.

“I was saying to my wife, ‘it’s been a long time since I’ve won something,‘” Larkin said. “I know there’s other guys in here in the same boat. There’s a lot on the line.”

Also from Larkin, from the AP:

Canada watched its four-goal lead cut to one in the final minutes but pulled out a victory over Finland earlier Monday to grab the other spot in the title game. That clinched the rematch of the fight-filled round-robin matchup from Saturday.

“They’re gonna be extremely hungry. They don’t want to lose two to us,” American forward Dylan Larkin said. “I think there’ll be some nerves, but I hope it’s that level that it was in Montreal.”

More from Lucas Raymond about the Four Nations Face-Off, battling Dylan Larkin tonight

Lucas Raymond spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills regarding playing for Team Sweden at the Four Nations Face-Off…

“The competitiveness has been really high in all of the games, but it’s been really fun and a great atmosphere,” Raymond told DetroitRedWings.com after Sweden’s morning skate at Agganis Arena on Monday. “It’s a really fast game. There’s a lot of skilled players out there, a lot of offense.”

Raymond is fitting right in among the sport’s best on the international stage, especially offensively. Through two tournament games, Raymond leads Sweden with three points (all assists) and a plus-3 rating.

“I feel good body-wise and mind-wise,” Raymond said. “I feel like I’m in a good spot. I obviously feel like I have a lot more not only against the U.S. tonight but continuing with the season back home in Detroit.”

As well as facing off against teammate and friend Dylan Larkin tonight:

“I’m very excited,” Raymond said about facing Larkin. “It’ll be a lot of fun. Obviously, we play with each other a bunch but maybe not as much against each other. I know the type of player he is. You have to be cautious with him and his speed.”

And naturally, Raymond has learned a lot from Larkin during their time together in Detroit.

“Not only on the ice, I think everyone sees the way he battles and competes, but off the ice as well,” Raymond said. “Just being around him, and we’re obviously very close friends. I see how he takes care of himself, which is impressive. His leadership skills are unreal as well.”

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Roughly translated: Lucas Raymond weighs in on facing Dylan Larkin tonight

Expressen’s Adam Johansson spoke with Lucas Raymond ahead of tonight’s match-up between Raymond’s Swedes and Dylan Larkin’s Team USA (8 PM EST start on TNT/TruTV/Max/Sportsnet). First, they discuss a cultural faux pas committed by Larkin during the 2023 Global Series, and then Johansson and Raymond get down to business:

Detroit teammates Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond come together for the first time in their careers facing each other on Tuesday night. The Tre Kronor and the United States are on opposite sides of the ice.

“It’s special. Dylan and I are close to each other and we’ve never met each other [on the ice] before. We’ve been playing on the same line for years, so it will be special to meet now. But once we’re out on the ice, we probably won’t think about it.”

Both are mainstays of the Detroit Red Wings, the team for which Raymond signed an 8-year contract last fall.

“When I signed the contract, I was clear that I wanted to be in Detroit, I want to be there for a long time.”

At the Four Nations Face-Off, however, all his focus is on the Tre Kronor.

“It’s fun to be here. Always special to play for Sweden in this kind of context,” Raymond concludes.

Dominik Shine speaks with ‘the North Wind’ regarding his NHL debut

Grand Rapids Griffins forward and Northern Michigan University alumnus Dominik Shine spoke with NMU’s student newspaper, “The North Wind,” regarding making his NHL debut with the Red Wings earlier this season. Here’s what Shine had to say to Lily Gouin:

“I absolutely loved being a student at Northern and living up there in the U.P. …It can humble you, living through those hard winters. It’s not easy and not for everyone. It makes you a better person, makes you appreciate the little things,” Shine said.

After graduation, Shine signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the minor league team for the Red Wings. This is Shine’s ninth season with the Griffins.

“You have to play a role, just like on any level…it’s a matter of getting in there, playing your game and playing with confidence,” Shine said.

On Jan. 27, Shine got the call that he would be making his NHL debut at age 31 against the Los Angeles Kings. He is the oldest player to make his NHL debut in over 10 years.

Shine has played his whole career here in the State of Michigan, from his time at NMU all the way to the NHL.

“There was a point where I thought I was done completely. You think about your next steps—I was almost ready to take that leap, and I felt proud of what I did. It’s not often you see a guy play eight seasons with the same team. I never felt I would get a chance to play in the NHL, even just for a game, but to get that call that day—it meant the world to me.”

Continued