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!

Video: Eddie Genborg speaks with the media after being drafted by the Red Wings

Red Wings draft pick Eddie Genborg spoke with the Red Wings’ media corps after Detroit drafted the big Swede 44th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft:

Burchfield on the Wings’ UFA priorities

97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield suggests that the Red Wings have some priorities to address when free agency begins on July 1st:

With their goaltending situation resolved, the Red Wings can shift their focus to bolstering their blueline and forward corps as they try to snap a nine-year playoff drought. They are in need of another top-six winger and another top-four defenseman if they intend to take a step forward in the East. They could use more toughness and tenacity throughout their lineup, something [Red Wings GM] Yzerman has acknowledged himself.

Asked what might be next this offseason, Yzerman said [to the NHL Network], “We’ll continue to explore the trade options. The free agency market at a lot of positions is pretty thin, but there are players that we would have some interest in if they’re still free on July 1.”

“Again, we’ve got some spots we’d like to upgrade on our roster, or open roster spots,” he added. “We’ll see if we can address it in free agency. I’m not that optimistic, to be honest with you, because there’s more teams than there are players for what we’re looking for. And we’ll continue to see if we can’t do something through trade, and once the draft settles down and once the initial July 1 free agency rush subsides, see what teams are looking to do after that.”

Red Wings draft Michal Pradel 75th overall, trade 76th pick to Columbus

The Detroit Red Wings selected X with the 75th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft…

And then…

From EliteProspects:

Continue reading Red Wings draft Michal Pradel 75th overall, trade 76th pick to Columbus

Red Wings select Eddie Genborg 44th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft

The Detroit Red Wigs have selected forward Eddie Genborg with the 44th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Update: Daily Faceoff’s Anthony Trudeau:

Continue reading Red Wings select Eddie Genborg 44th overall in the 2025 NHL Draft

Red Wings acquire John Gibson from Anaheim for Petr Mrazek, draft picks

Per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman…

Continue reading Red Wings acquire John Gibson from Anaheim for Petr Mrazek, draft picks

Even young players have injury histories

MLive’s Ansar Khan spoke with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman about Wings draft pick Carter Bear’s recovery from a partially torn Achilles tendon, and Yzerman offered a surprising comment regarding the injury histories of draft-eligible players:

“You find something wrong with everybody,” Yzerman said. “They’ve been playing for a long time and most of them have (had) something.

“Some things will scare you more than others. I’ll just use a torn ACL as an example. Thirty years ago, most of us would have been really hesitant to take a player. Now, the techniques that doctors have and the training, physiotherapy … the time they’re out isn’t really a concern.

“So, injuries are a part of it and there is some risk involved with drafting any player. Even the healthy ones could get hurt. So, you cross your fingers and there’s a little bit of luck involved in staying healthy. But for the most part, everybody’s dealing with something now, it seems.”

Continued; it’s true, everybody’s somewhat “banged-up” long-term at 18 years of age. Hockey is a punishing sport, so it’s to be expected.

Roughly translated: Anton Johansson will stay with Leksands IF for one more season

Hockeysverige.se’s Martin Jansson reports that Red Wings prospect Anton Johansson will remain in the SHL with Leksands IF for this upcoming season. Here’s a rough translation of his report:

The Dream Message–stays with Leksand: “Incredibly good for me”

Anton Johansson will remain with Leksands IF for the upcoming season. The Dala team confirms that the talented player will be loaned out by the Detroit Red Wings.

“Anno made a strong impression in Grand Rapids in the last part of their season, and we’ve had very open and honest discussion with Detroit and Steve Yzerman,” said Leksands GM Thomas Johansson.

It’s been unclear for a long time whether Anton Johansson will play with Leksands IF of the SHL next season. The defenseman signed an NHL contract with Detroit, and also finished the season in North America. Since then, discussions have been going on about where he will play next season.

Now, Leksands IF GM Thomas Johansson confirms that Anton will play his game in Dalarna this coming season.

“Anton is undergoing strong development and has his strengths in his physical game, his mobility and game sense. He can play all the forms of play and is a bit mean out on the ice. We see that his development lies in building muscle, and it feels extremely good that we get to keep Anton for another year. Anton made a strong impression in Grand Rapids during the last part of their season, and we’ve had very open and honest discussions with Detroit and Steve Yzerman, who’s shown great confidence with us in Leksands IF to continue to develop Anton, said “Tjomme” in a press release.

Anton Johansson stays with Leksands IF

Since Anton Johansson took the step up to the A-team in Leksand, he’s developed rapidly. Two seasons ago, he starred on the World Junior Championship team. In the past season, he also established himself as one of the team’s best defensemen.

Therefore, of course, there’s something of a dream message for Leksand. Last season he posted 10 points in 46 SHL games.

“It was an incredibly fun and educational experience for me to finish away in the United States. Being able to carry all the experience I got there with me will be of great use for the upcoming season. I think it will be incredibly fun and educational to develop even more with Leksand, this is where my journey took off, and I know that it will be incredibly good for me next season to continue to develop in Leksand and build even more experience in the SHL.

Morning news: On the process and the product which led the Red Wings to draft Carter Bear

Of Red Wings and mostly Carter Bear-related note this morning:

Bear spoke in a composed manner while discussing the “getting to know you” process that was the NHL Draft Combine in Buffalo, as Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff noted…

“Just very down to earth,” [Red Wings GM Steve] Yzerman said. “Just very nice young man committed to playing hockey. We go to the (NHL scouting) combine in Buffalo, we get to spend a half hour or so with them, but we pretty much kind of know what to expect going in. And you can imagine being 17, 18 years old going into an interview with a bunch of older guys that for these kids, it can be intimidating. As we spent time, he opened up a little bit with us.”

From Bear’s point of view, that’s the only person he knows how to be.

“This whole draft process, kind of probably being myself,” Bear said of the perspective he’s put into the past year of being poked, probed and prodded by hockey people. “Just being myself in those meetings.

“At the start of the year, you get a little nervous, for sure. But I gotta learn to just be myself. Just be yourself, because that’s what teams want when they interview you, for sure. And I guess that’s what you guys want me in these interviews, just to be myself. So I think that’s what I learned for myself.”

The Athletic’s Max Bultman also spoke with both Bear, Yzerman, and Red Wings assistant GM/director of amateur scouting Kris Draper about Bear’s positives…

Continue reading Morning news: On the process and the product which led the Red Wings to draft Carter Bear