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!

Via Red Wings Prospects: Rudy Guimond joins the Moncton Wildcats

Via Red Wings Prospects on Twitter:

Tweet of note: Red Wings hold ‘Black Friday sale’

FYI:

Tuesday fundraising

Okay, it’s time for the daily fundraising post. Aunt Annie and I are in tough due to my flu-induced absence (I finally got better after a week’s worth of heavy antibiotics), so if you can lend a hand, we’d be grateful.

The Malik Report needs your support to function. You receive quite a bit of information “for free,” but providing that information is not done for free. As such, we would like to ask that you kindly contribute to our monthly expenses.

If you’re willing to lend a hand, we have a PayPal option at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport; there’s Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2; if you’re into the, “I don’t want to use any of those pages” option, here’s always the Giftly option by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com…

And in the banking options, you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check, or “Zelle” me via my email, rtxg@yahoo.com.

It’s my pleasure to provide you with as much information as I can give, but this is also a job, and it requires money, time, energy and effort (a.k.a. work). If you are willing or able to support this endeavor, it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your time.

Bultman on Axel Sandin Pellikka (and 9 more Red Wings prospects)

The Athletic’s Max Bultman checks in with 10 of the Red Wings’ top prospects at American Thanksgiving, and we’ll start at the top:

Axel Sandin-Pellikka, RHD, SkellefteĂĄ (SHL)

Since the moment the Red Wings drafted Sandin-Pellikka, the hope has been that he could grow into their top offensive blueliner of the future. After a season and a half, that possibility looks like more than just hope as Sandin-Pellikka scores his way into uncharted territory for a junior-aged defenseman in the SHL.

Through 22 games, he’s up to seven goals and 19 points, a production rate (0.86 per game) that has him on pace to shatter the SHL’s all-time U20 defense scoring record. The current mark is 31 points in 45 games, held by Dallas’ Nils Lundkvist in 2019-20 and narrowly trailed by the Red Wings’ own Moritz Seider, who had 28 in 41 a year later. It’s an extremely impressive production for the 19-year-old.

“He’s so smart,” Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary said. “He’s positionally smart, he’s got a real feel for time and space. Very deceptive, he can manipulate players and situations.”

Lundkvist does serve as a bit of a cautionary tale, though, that SHL production does not always translate to North America: the former Rangers first-round pick ended up being traded to the Stars shortly after coming overseas and has struggled to carve out an impactful role since, playing less than 14 minutes a night (with just one point) so far this season. I don’t point that out to rain on anyone’s Sandin-Pellikka parade, but rather to temper expectations, especially with regard to his timeline.

I would expect him to come over to North America next season, but likely to spend the whole season in Grand Rapids adjusting to the ice, speed and physicality of the North American game. From there, the key will be how many other dimensions Sandin-Pellikka can bring beyond his obvious aptitude on the power play. His ability to defend, in spite of his 5-foot-11 stature, could be what determines whether he can slot in as a consistent top-four blueliner in the future.

Continued (paywall)

Duff: Buchelnikov to take part in Russian hockey tournament

According to Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff, Red Wings prospect and Vityaz Moscow Region forward Dmitri Buchelnikov has been selected to play for the Russian team which will participate in the Channel One Cup:

It will be featuring the national teams of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, as well as a team made up of international players skating in Russia’s KHL. NHL coaching legend Mike Keenan will coach this latter team.

On Tuesday, Russia was revealing a preliminary roster for that event consisting of five goalies, 17 defensemen and 29 forwards. Among those 29 forwards is Red Wings draftee Buchelnikov (52nd overall, 2022 NHL entry draft).

Buchelnikov is currently in a tie for second in KHL scoring with 8-20-28 totals. A recent story in Russia’s Sport-Express was citing the Vityaz forward unit of Buchelnikov, Derek Barach and Ivan Chekhovich as the best line in the KHL. All three are among the league’s top-10 scorers.

Continued

NHL.com’s Stan Fischler engages in a Q and A with former Wing Doug Barkley

NHL.com’s Stan Fischler engaged in a Q and A with Red Wings alumnus Doug Barkley, and among the questions and answers are the following:

When did [your NHL] break come? “I almost quit hockey to take a job with a Calgary oil company, but my Calgary coach, Alf Pike, gave me all the confidence I needed. He played me between 50 and 55 minutes a game and just let me go out there and do my thing. I was only 25 at the time. You could say that I had become a minor league star with 74 points in 70 games and MVP in the All-Star Game, but my real break came when Chicago traded me to Detroit for Len Lunde and John McKenzie (on June 5, 1962), and I wound up at the Red Wings’ training camp.”

What was it like? “Wonderful. I was with very friendly players like Gordie Howe, Alex Delvecchio and Marcel Pronovost. Right off the bat, they asked me to golf with them, but I didn’t have any clubs, shoes or anything. Gordie, who had been hurt, made me feel right at home and gave me all his golf stuff. On top of that Sid Abel was a wonderful coach, easy to talk to and he gave me plenty of ice time. I finally felt I had made the NHL. I played 70 games and scored three goals and 24 assists for 27 points. Despite all the previous hardships, at last I felt I belonged.”

How sure were you? “I missed rookie of the year by a point to Toronto’s Kent Douglas. A year later I had 115 penalty minutes and 32 points and became the best scorer of Detroit’s defenders. I really was going strong well into the 1965-66 season with 20 points in 43 games and a ton of ice time. There were moments when I’d be dead-tired, but Sid would say, OK, Alex, Gordie, (Bill) Gadsby and Doug get on the ice.’ I’d go out there — and I pushed myself — mostly because I figured if Gordie could make it, I could do it.”

Continued

Kuehl, Duff: Griffins’ Lagesson suspended for three games

According to MLive’s Tyler Kuehl and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff, Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson has been suspended for a “UFC move” made during last weekend’s win over the Iowa Wild.

Here’s Kuehl’s report…

On Tuesday, the American Hockey League announced they have suspended Grand Rapids Griffins defenseman William Lagesson for three games after a roughing incident against Iowa Wild forward Adam Raska.

The incident happened during Sunday’s matchup between the Central Division rivals. Late in the second period, after Griffins goaltender Ville Husso covered a loose puck, Lagesson and Raska started a scuffle, which led to Lagesson taking down the smaller Raska. The two continued to wrestle on the ice, with Lagesson getting the upper hand, eventually putting Raska in a rear-naked choke. It led to Raska visibly tapping out.

Lagesson received a minor penalty for roughing on the play. The Griffins went on to win the game 5-2, earning a weekend split with the Wild.

And Duff’s report:

Continue reading Kuehl, Duff: Griffins’ Lagesson suspended for three games

Kasper gives back

The Red Wings didn’t practice on Tuesday afternoon, but DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills reports that Red Wings forward Marco Kasper spent his afternoon giving back to the Metro Detroit community:

For Ms. Gaynor’s first-grade class at Madison Elementary School in Madison Heights, Mich., a Tuesday afternoon turned into a memory the students won’t soon forget.

As a benefit of participating in the 2024-25 Red Wings for Reading program, Marco Kasper surprised the first graders and read “Dino-Hockey” — a book by Michigan-based author Lisa Wheeler — to the class.

“It’s awesome being here,” Marco Kasper told DetroitRedWings.com on Tuesday. “Obviously it’s awesome for the kids, and just to see how happy they are to learn about the Red Wings and hockey in general. Giving back to the community is awesome, and I really like doing it.”

Presented by the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, Red Wings for Reading is a free program designed to support existing reading curriculum in K-5 classrooms across the state of Michigan by encouraging students to strengthen their literacy skills.

Kasper said reading a book like “Dino-Hockey,” which incorporates hockey terms in a fun and creative way, helps introduce kids to the sport.

“A lot of the best players became familiar with hockey when they were young,” Kasper said. “To get young kids familiar with hockey and get them to really like the game is important, then hopefully some of them will get out there on the ice.”

Continued

TSN’s Dreger confirms that Lalonde’s job may hinge on the Wings’ home stand

TSN’s Insider Trading video isn’t embeddable tonight, but TSN has posted a transcript of Darren Dreger’s take on Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde’s future. As we already know, it hinges upon how well the Red Wings play over the course of the remainder of their home stand:

Thanksgiving is often a catalyst for change in the NHL. Jim Montgomery out in Boston. Then he’s hired in St. Louis when Drew Bannister gets fired. Could the Wings be next to make a change behind the bench, Dregs?

Dreger: Yeah, they sure could. We know it’s a tough business, but Detroit needs to, wants to, and is counting on staying in the playoff mix. They are only three points out of a wild card spot, but they’ve got a crucial three-game homestand happening this week. What happens if they go 1-for-3 or 0-for-3? Now, the upside is they could go 3-for-3 or win 2-of-3 and Derek Lalonde, who’s in the final year of his contract with the Detroit Red Wings, stays on the Red Wings’ bench. We know that Steve Yzerman is loyal to his coaches, but again, they have to remain competitive. So, if they have a good homestand, everything should be fine. If they don’t, that might force Yzerman to make a decision. The sense is that they would go with an interim internal candidate and then hope that a top coach eventually becomes available.

Continued with the aforementioned video; we’ve been talking about the concept that December 2nd is more or less the turn-the-ship-around deadline for the Wings for almost a month now. It’s just the truth.

Prospect round-up: Johansson, Sandin Pellikka score goals in the SHL

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe today:

In the DEL, Kevin Bicker had an assist, finishing at +1 with 1 blocked shot in 11:13 played as the Frankfurt Lowen won 4-3 over the Augsburger Panther;

In the SHL, Anton Johansson scored a goal on 3 shots, finishing at -1 in 16:07 as Leksands IF lost 3-2 to MoDo Hockey:

Noah Dower Nilsson missed Frolunda HC’s 3-1 loss to Malmo with an injury;

And Michael Brandsegg-Nygard had 3 shots on goal, finishing at -1 in 16:37 played, and Axel Sandin Pellikka scored a goal on 2 shots, but finished at -2 in 19:28 played as Skelleftea AIK lost 3-1 to Lulea Hockey:

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Johansson, Sandin Pellikka score goals in the SHL