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: Red Wings forward Alex Debrincat and coach Derek Lalonde speak with the media after Monday’s practice

The Detroit Red Wings practiced with Justin Holl in the mix on defense today, and without Austin Watson, who signed a 1-year, 2-way contract this morning.

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde stated to the media that the team is going to start the season with 12 forwards, that Austin Watson, who was waived today, may spend some time in Grand Rapids, that the situation with Justin Holl, who cleared waivers, is “fluid,” and coach Lalonde stated that the Wings will stick with their 3-goaltender rotation for now.

Alex DeBrincat also speaks with the media in this clip:

There’s a shorter clip of DeBrincat speaking with the media as well:

Also of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

Continue reading Video: Red Wings forward Alex Debrincat and coach Derek Lalonde speak with the media after Monday’s practice

HSJ: Wings demoted Kasper and Danielson, but the pair left good impressions upon Lalonde and Larkin

The Free Press’s Helene St. James discusses the messages sent to the Red Wings organization’s promising young forwards by coach Derek Lalonde after the team signed but also waived Auston Watson for assignment to Grand Rapids:

[Marco] Kasper, the team’s first-round pick (at No. 8 overall) in 2022, left an especially strong impression during exhibition season — one Lalonde admitted was good enough to stick if there was room for him in the lineup.

“They had a really good camp,” Lalonde said. “Probably more Marco, out of all those young guys, and they all had good camps, but Marco really stood out. Some scenarios where he could have found himself in the Day 1 lineup, but we’re trying other maximize our roster, and it’s not a bad thing for him to go straight down and be playing 22 minutes in every situation and be a simple call at any time.

“He made a really good impression on the organization, did really well.”

Kasper looked like he could fit in the top six, at center or wing. Danielson, the No. 9 pick in 2023, showed well when he had a chance to center the second line in a game last week.

“They would probably wish to be here, but credit to them how they worked, how they presented themselves, on an every day basis,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “Professionalism at a young age; maturity — it was there. It’s really exciting for our organization going forward — a lot of the young guys looked really good and promising. Those two especially.”

Continued; St. James also posted a video of Larkin and Lalonde speaking with the media:

Justin Holl clears waivers

Red Wings defenseman Justin Holl has cleared waivers, and as such, he may be assigned to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins.

There were a couple of alumni claimed today, including James Reimer and Zach Aston-Reese…

But Justin Holl officially cleared waivers, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman:

If the Wings assign Holl to Grand Rapids, they’ll receive $1.15 million in salary cap relief.

Red Wings waive Auston Watson

For assignment to Grand Rapids, presumably:

Tweets of note: It’s the ‘first day of school’ for the Grand Rapids Griffins

I’m sharing these because they’re cute. Grand Rapids begins its training camp today at 2:30 PM at the Griff’s IceHouse at Bellknap Park:

More fundraising to pay the bills

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Post-Monday’s-practice Tweets: Wings will go with 12F to start, situation with Justin Holl is ‘fluid’

The Detroit Red Wings practiced on Monday at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center, and they did so employing the lines which they’ve utilized throughout training camp and the exhibition season.

Austin Watson was absent despite signing a 1-year, $775K contract today, Justin Holl remained with the team as he prepares to head to Grand Rapids when he clears waivers today at 2 PM, and early indications are that Ville Husso may start on Thursday vs. Pittsburgh.

After practice, the Red Wings spoke with the media, and coach Lalonde threw a wrench into the plans that Austin Watson would start with the big club:

Meanwhile, in Toledo, the Walleye hit the ice for their first team practice, ahead of back-to-back exhibition games vs. the Kalamazoo K-Wings this upcoming weekend…

Continue reading Post-Monday’s-practice Tweets: Wings will go with 12F to start, situation with Justin Holl is ‘fluid’

Press release: Red Wings sign Austin Watson to 1-year, 2-way contract

Per the Detroit Red Wings comes confirmation of their earlier Tweet:

Red Wings sign Austin Watson to one-year contract

Forward has skated in 515 NHL games with Nashville, Ottawa and Tampa Bay since 2012-13

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed forward Austin Watson to a one-year, two-way contract.

Watson, 32, spent training camp with the Red Wings on a professional tryout, recording one assist, a plus-one rating and 27 penalty minutes in four preseason games. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound forward played the entire 2023-24 season with the Tampa Bay Lightning, tallying four points (2-2-4), a plus-two rating and 93 penalty minutes in 33 games. Watson spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Ottawa Senators, logging 11 points (9-2-11) and 123 penalty minutes in 75 games. Originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the first round (18th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Watson has compiled 118 points (60-58-118) and 705 penalty minutes in 515 games with the Predators, Senators and Lightning since 2012-13. He has also tallied 19 points (10-9-19) and 48 penalty minutes in 45 postseason contests, helping the Predators reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Additionally, Watson played in parts of six seasons with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, racking up 132 points (73-59-132), a plus-10 rating and 89 penalty minutes in 234 games.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings sign Austin Watson to 1-year, 2-way contract

Gustafsson’s the PP QB, right?

DobberHockey’s Brennan Des asks a fantasy hockey question for each NHL team, and his question for the Red Wings is apt:

Detroit Red Wings

Who’s the top power-play quarterback? Offseason acquisition Erik Gustafsson seemed likely to fill this role since his playstyle is similar to Shayne Gostisbehere – who held the top PP QB role last year. While we’ve seen Gustafsson skate with the top group at times during training camp, latest configurations feature Moritz Seider on PP1. That’ll be an interesting battle to monitor as the season progresses.

Continued; at this point, the first power play unit’s defenseman’s job is Gustafsson’s to lose, but Seider will be utilized on the power play to some extent.