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!

Remembering the Detroit Red Wings…erm, Detroit Cougars’ first hockey game

NHL.com’s Dave Stubbs tells the story of the Detroit Red Wings’ first official game, in which the then-named Detroit Cougars lost a 2-0 decision to the Boston Bruins at Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario:

The splashy advertisement in the Nov. 11, 1926, edition of the Detroit Free Press trumpeted the arrival of the city’s new NHL entry, players arriving from the Victoria Cougars of the folded Western Hockey League.

“Welcome! Detroit ‘Cougars'” it announced, putting the team’s nickname in quotation marks. “Detroit’s First Year in the National Hockey League Should be a Great Success with Your Able and Experienced Big League Playing.”

It was a momentous year in the NHL with Detroit, the New York Rangers and Chicago Black Hawks all making their debuts in the 10-team League.

The Detroit Red Wings, the Motor City’s rebranding of what were the Cougars, then the Falcons, will drop the hammer into their second century on Oct. 9, facing off at Little Caesars Arena against the visiting Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m. ET, TSN2, RDS).

One hundred years ago this Nov. 18, the Cougars took their first strides across the Detroit River at Border Cities Arena in Windsor, Ontario, the team’s first-season home with Olympia Stadium under construction in Detroit.

The third-year Boston Bruins would spoil the opening night party, grinding out a 2-0 win on early first-period goals by Duke Keats (1:45) and (2:40), getting the puck behind last-minute Detroit goalie Herb Stuart.

Only when No. 1 Harry “Hap” Holmes fell ill shortly before the opening face-off was Stuart pushed into the net. It was one of just three games he would play that season, Holmes playing the other 41.

Continued; this is a good read!

Big Elmer still believes he’s got to prove himself worthy of full-time NHL duty

Red Wings forward Elmer Soderblom is 24 now, and the 6’8,” 247-pound winger would need waivers to be sent down to the AHL at this point. I believe that Soderblom has a full-time role with the Red Wings, even if it’s a “bottom six” one, but Big Elmer told the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker that #85 still has something to prove:

During the offseason, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman saw fit to extend Soderblom for another two seasons with a $1.125 million cap hit, and he will likely skate on the team’s fourth line to begin the season with Michael Rasmussen and newcomer Mason Appleton. 

In what will be his second opportunity to cement his place in the lineup after making the team out of Training Camp, Soderblom is already envisioning not only remaining consistent in his performance but also using his notable stature to his advantage. 

“I want to show that I can play good at this level and keep improving, and just become a better player. My goal is to keep being consistent and show what I can do,” he said. I’ve learned to be more consistent and use my size to my advantage and play with my size, and still use my hands and shot,” he continued. “I feel like I’ve found a good combination and found a way to be consistent.” 

As far as knowing no player out of the nearly 1,400 men who have suited up for the Red Wings over the last 100 years has stood taller than he does, it’s not something that’s top of mind for Soderblom – but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t think it’s an interesting reality. 

“A couple times, it’s fun,” he said with a grin when asked if he’s ever considered his status as the tallest player in team history. “Not that I think too much of it, but it’s a fun fact.” 

Continued; Soderblom is never going to be a Zdeno Chara-style crash-and-bang player, but he’s got tremendous reach, he’s maneuverable, and between his wingspan, his ever-improving puck skills and skating, and the simple fact that he can stick his butt out and block opposing forwards from getting anywhere near the puck on his stick…

We’re talking about a player who is still evolving and developing into a later-blooming contributor, and at the very worst, he’ll be a gigantic asset to the Wings’ third and fourth lines.

Tweet of note: Red Wings emphasize history in a little pre-game hype Tweet; then the sunglasses come out

Emphasis on the history meets the present here…

But this one is a little more light-hearted:

In living memory

The Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker spoke with Red Wings coach Todd McLellan about the living history of the franchise, and the effects of Detroit’s alumni upon its players (and coaches):

“Any time that you get to be a part of the Red Wings organization, it’s special,” McLellan said on the eve of the Red Wings’ season opener. “It’s not just Todd McLellan or anybody else. As I said before, this is an Original Six franchise with 100 years of history. The players who have come and gone and left their mark on the franchise and on the city, it’s incredible.”

Multiple young rookies have made the Red Wings’ roster for the upcoming season, including Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and Emmitt Finnie. All three were born in 2005, meaning Detroit’s only Stanley Cup victory in their lifetime came when they were just barely or almost three years of age. 

While it was beyond their control not to have been around for the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup victories in 1997, 1998, and 2002, McLellan believes that a bit of an old-school history lesson could help them and other young players in the organization better appreciate Detroit’s rich hockey tradition and the countless legendary players who have worn the Winged Wheel over the years.

“Maybe one day we should sit down with the players who are here now and take them through a history class, because I’m not sure everybody knows exactly what’s happened here prior,” McLellan said. “And the individuals who have been walking around – like, we see (Nicklas) Lidstrom and (Niklas) Kronwall, these types of players come back through the locker room now. But my first go-around, it was Mr. (Gordie) Howe, Mr. (Alex) Delvecchio. It was these kind of individuals walking through the locker room, and that was for me really special.” 

“Anybody that understood the history, to have them walk through, Gordie would walk by and throw his elbow out. Even seeing Vladdy (Konstantinov) the other night on the big screen, I remember that would happen at our games all the time. They bring him and he’d watch and be cheering, and now to see him 20 years later, it’s incredible. 

That’s just how I feel about being a Red Wing. It’s special.” 

Continued; there’s nothing like having the legends of the franchise readily available to speak with the Red Wings’ younger players, even if it’s only in passing.

Khan ponders whether the Toddfather is the Red Wings’ x-factor

MLive’s Ansar Khan wonders aloud whether the Red Wings’ decision to hire coach Todd McLellan is in fact the x-factor or “difference-maker” who will power the team to a playoff berth over the course of a full season in Detroit:

“When he came in, he challenged us a lot,” Dylan Larkin said. “And every time he challenged us, we seem to rise to the challenge and do what we talked about when he came in, He’s already challenged us in camp and I hope we’re going to hit the ground running. We have important games right off the bat.”

The Red Wings open the season Thursday at home against the Montreal Canadiens (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network), who earned the second wild card spot last season. Their first five games are against Atlantic Division opponents.

Players noted the difference in camp this year.

“A lot of walk-throughs, a lot of details, and very demanding,” Moritz Seider said. “But I think that’s exactly what we need right now. We need structure. We need people to tell us where to be in certain spots. And I thought the coaching staff is doing a great job of providing that. There’s always a purpose behind it, and it kind of translates into the game.”

McLellan puts faith in younger players. Marco Kasper and Albert Johansson were struggling as rookies before he arrived. They flourished in the second half.

Patrick Kane was also rejuvenated.

“Playing aggressive I think is one of the things that really changed under him,” Kane said. “Kind of getting our D up in the play on the forecheck, making sure we have a third guy high, backing each other up all over the ice, and also having that shoot-first mentality.”

Continued (paywall)

Roughly translated: Axel Sandin Pellikka is ‘a bit nervous’ about his NHL debut

Red Wings defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka spoke with NHL.com/sv’s Peter Ekholm yesterday regarding his imminent NHL debut:

Debut approaching for Sandin-Pellikka: ‘I’m a bit nervous’

Swedish defensive talent took a spot for himself in Detroit – may be featured on the NHL team against Montreal

Axel Sandin-Pellikka heads toward his NHL debut for the Detroit Red Wings. The 20-year-old defenseman has performed a good preseason and remains in the Red Wings team with only days left until the premiere against the Montreal Canadiens.

“It’s a little nervous. It’s a dream to be here. I’m still here, so it must be a good sign,” Sandin-Pellikka told NHL.com/sv.

Sandin-Pellikka is embarking upon his first season in North America after a successful year in SHL and Skellefteå. Last season, the defenseman played 49 games in the SHL and accounted for 29 points (12 goals and 17 assists). He was named junior of the year in SHL and Swedish ice hockey. He also became the World Junior Championship’s best defenseman after posting ten points (7 goals and 6 assists) in seven games.

He finished by playing in two games for the AHL team Grand Rapids, and this season he is gearing up to settle onto the Red Wings, who drafted him 17th overall in 2023.

In seven preseason games, Sandin-Pellikka accounted for four assists, impressing the team’s coach, Todd McLellan.

“He’s got a good look, he can read the game. He can ‘play chess’ from time to time on the ice, and it’s valuable to have. We think he’s just going to get better, too. We’ve seen him develop before our eyes, but we think he’s going to get better all the time,” McLellan said.

Veteran Dylan Larkin is also impressed by the Swede, who, among other things, has had playing time on the power play.

“I wouldn’t want to spend too much time against him now. I expect him to be a player on our team. I expect everyone who makes the roster is important. Hopefully he’s playing in his first game in the NHL on Thursday, it looks like that right now. He will have a nice future,” Larkin said.

If he has his debut on Thursday against Montreal–it means a dream comes true.

“Ever since I learned what the NHL it’s where I wanted to be. It’s the best of the best. It would be a dream come true.”

Roughly translated: Moritz Seider tells NHL.com/de that he’s ready for his new leadership role

Red Wings defenseman Moritz Seider spoke with NHL.com/de’s Oliver Jensen regarding being named an alternate captain by Red Wings coach Todd McLellan yesterday. Here’s a rough translation of the German-language article:

“A Great Honor” – Seider talks about his new role

The German defender has risen in the team hierarchy

Moritz Seider and the Detroit Red Wings have a big goal: they want to finally reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The franchise hasn’t been able to do this for nine seasons. But [Moritz] Seider does not want to look too far into the future.

“The focus is just on a good first shift. I think that’s all that matters. There was so much preparation for the first game. Everyone can talk all year round, but I think if we master our first shift and build our game on it, we’ve already won a little victory,” said the German defenseman.

When coach Todd McLellan was asked what must work well in the upcoming season, he had a simple response. “The simple answer is that we win more than we lose. But it’s never that simple. We talked about it. About our identity. We have to play with pace. We need a hunting mentality. I’m not sure everyone knows what that means, but our boys know it.”

This refers, among other things, to the man-advantage and penalty-kill game: “Our special teams have to improve again. The power play must maintain the level of last year, or at least try to keep it and have the same impact on the games. The penalty killing needs to get better.”

The goal is to “preserve the good and eliminate the bad.”

New role for Seider

McLellan has already given Seider (24) and Lucas Raymond (23) a lot of leadership despite their young age. The two are now the deputy captains to Captain Dylan Larkin.

“That’s a great honor,” Seider said. “Of course, this also entails a certain responsibility. We have great leaders in the locker room.” Seider emphasized once again that the leadership must be distributed on several shoulders.

“We have a great team behind us. I am just happy that we have so much leadership in the locker room and can bear this shared responsibility,” said the defender.

The Red Wings play their first game of the season on Thursday (7:00 pm ET, CET 1:00 a.m.) against the Montreal Canadiens.

“We’re all looking forward to it,” Seider said. “I think we did everything we needed to be well-prepared. And that’s exactly what we are now. We feel good. The preparation is over and tomorrow it can finally start.”

Finnie, Brandsegg-Nygard and Sandin Pellikka won’t be alone as they go off to the races tomorrow night

As it appears that Emmitt Finnie, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard and Axel Sandin Pellikka are going to make their NHL debuts tomorrow evening, MLive’s Ansar Khan asked both the rookies’ Red Wings teammates (in Andrew Copp, Patrick Kane and Moritz Seider) and coach Todd McLellan what they might say to the young players:

“They will make mistakes, but we have 15 other guys to kind of help them and make them comfortable,” Seider said. “And it’s just about how fast they can kind of adjust to the NHL speed. Obviously, exhibition season is a little different than the regular season and now it’s up to us to kind of push him into the games and try to just establish a culture where they feel very comfortable and ready to go.”

The message to the kids from coach Todd McLellan is to be prepared for a significant upgrade in intensity.

“There’ll be some casual conversations, but I won’t bring all three of them in and say, ‘Hey, guys, it’s going to get really fast and intense. But I know that the players around them have reminded them or prepared them for that,” McLellan said. “I don’t want them wound up. They’re going to have enough nerves and I want them to play a little loose, a little free. Their palms will be sweaty. They should be. Mine will be. But I want them to play free and not overburden them.”

Said Seider: “If you say you’re not nervous, then maybe something’s wrong with you. I was at least (in his NHL debut), and that’s a good thing. Try to build it into adrenaline and hopefully your legs will take you a little bit further.”

The players themselves are more nervous about their surroundings than their debuts right now:

“When they just come up and talk to me, it makes me more comfortable with being here,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “Just to be around here can be a little nervous sometimes. And every time they just come up to you and just talk to you, it’s nice.”

Said Sandin-Pellikka: “Since Day One of camp, I feel like everyone’s talkative, everyone’s getting into the group in some sort of way. It’s comforting as a young guy coming in here. I wasn’t that nervous, but you know, there’s still some nerves coming into a whole new team, whole new locker room, new guys.”

Continued (paywall)