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!

Praise for Kiiskinen, Sandin Pellikka and Augustine

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis listed his Top 20 NHL prospects to watch at the 2025 World Junior Championship in Ottawa, and he included several Red Wings prospects in his list:

Jesse Kiiskinen, RW, Finland (Detroit Red Wings)

Kiiskinen is set to make his return after a solid showing back in Sweden a year ago. The winger hasn’t slowed down in his Draft+2 campaign and is on pace to finish with just under 50 points with HPK in Liiga this year. Those are some incredible numbers for a U-20 player, and he’s almost always one of Finland’s top players whenever he hits the ice.

…

Axel Sandin Pellikka, D, Sweden (Detroit Red Wings)

Sandin Pellikka has been making Detroit Red Wings fans giddy with the prospect of seeing him in the NHL in the next few years. The skilled, puck-moving blueliner was named top defenseman at this event a year ago and has a realistic opportunity to become just the second player in tournament history to win it twice after Slava Fetisov took the title in 1977 and 1978. Sweden has a legitimate shot to challenge for gold yet again this year, and if ASP plays like he did last year, it’s very possible they’ll get revenge for the early exit last year.

…

Trey Augustine, G, USA (Detroit Red Wings)

Augustine is the top goaltender in the tournament, and is one of the best goalie prospects across the NHL, period. Augustine is putting up some outstanding numbers as a college sophomore, registering an 11-2-1 record with two shutouts and a .930 save percentage. He has a great team in front of him, sure, but Augustine has managed to be an absolute star at every level he has ever played in and has a near-perfect record at the World Juniors, too.

Continued

Video: Lagesson, Holl and coach Lalonde speak after the Wings-Blues morning skate

Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson took part in the team’s morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. St. Louis (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/FanDuel Sportsnet Midwest/97.1 FM), but coach Derek Lalonde ruled both Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot out of the game.

The Red Wings posted a video of the post-morning-skate remarks from William Lagesson, Justin Holl and coach Lalonde this morning:

Post-morning skate Tweets: No Edvinsson or Chiarot for Red Wings

The Red Wings held a morning skate ahead of tonight’s game vs. the St. Louis Blues (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/FanDuel Sportsnet Midwest/97.1 FM), and Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson took part as a regular participant in the skate–but Ben Chiarot did not skate with the team.

After the morning skate, the Red Wings’ players and coach spoke with the media:

Continue reading Post-morning skate Tweets: No Edvinsson or Chiarot for Red Wings

Red Wings-Blues morning skate Tweets: Edvinsson taking part in skate, Chiarot absent

The 13-16-and-4 Detroit Red Wings host the St. Louis Blues this evening at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/FanDuel Sportsnet Midwest/97.1 FM).

The Red Wings hope to bounce back from a pair of incredibly disappointing losses to the Montreal Canadiens on Friday and Saturday, while the 15-16-and-4 Blues have lost 3 straight games, most recently dropping a 2-1 overtime loss to Florida on Saturday.

The Red Wings lost the services of Simon Edvinsson (upper-body injury) during last Wednesday’s win vs. Philadelphia, and Ben Chiarot (upper-body injury) during Saturday’s loss to Montreal, so the Wings were quite concerned about the state of their blueline heading into tonight’s game.

At the Wings’ morning skate, MLive’s Ansar Khan was the first to report that Simon Edvinsson was at least skating…

Khan also reported that Cam Talbot was taking the morning skate “in the starter’s net,” and it’s rare that Talbot takes the skate at all…

But Ben Chiarot was absent:

The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton also weighed in…

As did DetroitRedWings.com’s Daniella Bruce…

Continue reading Red Wings-Blues morning skate Tweets: Edvinsson taking part in skate, Chiarot absent

Red Wings-Blues previews

The 13-16-and-4 Detroit Red Wings face off against the 15-16-and-4 St. Louis Blues tonight at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/FanDuel Sportsnet Midwest/97.1 FM).

Detroit will complete their pre-Christmas schedule against a team that’s lost 3 straight games, including a 2-1 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday. St. Louis has lost 3 of their past 4 games and 5 of their last 7, so the Blues are facing a similarly desperate situation in terms of needing a quick turnaround to keep their playoff hopes alive.

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a short preview of tonight’s game…

The Red Wings’ compete level was lacking Saturday in a 5-1 loss at the Bell Centre. Their goaltending hasn’t been as sharp as they’ve allowed 13 goals in the past four games. Cam Talbot likely will start tonight.

It remains to be seen whether top-four defensemen Simon Edvinsson and Ben Chiarot, both dealing with upper-body injuries, will be available. Edvinsson didn’t play the past two games. Chiarot was injured during the second period Saturday.

The power play, ranked in the top 10 most of the season, has struggled of late, going 2 for 25 (eight percent) in the past nine games.

The Blues are 6-4-3 since Jim Montgomery replaced Drew Bannister as coach on Nov. 25. The Bruins fired Montgomery six says prior.

Jordan Kyrou leads St. Louis with 14 goals and 28 points. Defenseman Cam Fowler has one assist in five games since being acquired from Anaheim. Jordan Binnington is 8-13-3 with a 3.00 goals-against average and .896 save percentage.

As did the Blues website’s Gabby Khodadad and Brett Barczewski:

Continue reading Red Wings-Blues previews

Wings’ beat writers discuss Detroit’s gloomy situation

Yesterday and overnight, the Red Wings’ beat writers dissected the Red Wings’ 5-1 loss to Montreal and back-to-back losses to the Habs as part of an incredibly disappointing first 33-game start for Detroit’s NHL team.

MLive’s Ansar Khan noted comments made by Moritz Seider after the Wings’ loss, and ahead of tonight’s clash with the St. Louis Blues (7 PM EST start on FanDuel Sportsnet Detroit/FanDuel Sportsnet Midwest/97.1 FM):

“We just got outcompeted, outworked and that’s a very frustrated feeling,” Moritz Seider told media at the game. “Just have to turn the page and regroup and find a way to win hockey games and especially find a good reason to get to the locker room in the next couple of days with a little bit of different energy.”

The Red Wings (13-16-4) are eight points out of the final playoff spot, which seems like a pipedream at this point, especially with six clubs between them and that position. They’d be in the Eastern Conference cellar had the Buffalo Sabres not apparently quit on the season, losers of 13 in a row (0-10-3).

…

Seider said intensity over 60 minutes is missing.

“It’s hard to win if you have little dips and lags in your game,” he said. “Obviously, you’re not going to be perfect every time, but we always have to aim for perfection. We’re just not good enough right now. I think we can all agree we’re not filling the expectations we’re all hoping for.”

The Free Press’s Helene St. James also noted Seider’s remarks, as well as those of Joe Veleno and Patrick Kane, as context for the importance of winning tonight’s game vs. St. Louis:

Continue reading Wings’ beat writers discuss Detroit’s gloomy situation

Recap: Grand Rapids Griffins lose in OT to Texas

The Grand Rapids Griffins suffered a 3-2 overtime loss to the Texas Stars on Sunday, and the Griffins’ website posted a recap thereof:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Despite earning a point, the Grand Rapids Griffins fell to the Texas Stars 3-2 in overtime on Sunday at Van Andel Arena courtesy of a power-play game-winner. 

Dominik Shine tallied his seventh goal of the year during the outing, good for his third point in the last four games (1-2—3). Elmer Soderblom earned his second goal of the campaign, while Brogan Rafferty and Shai Buium were credited with assists. Goaltender Sebastian Cossa turned away 27 shots, maintaining a .919 save percentage and a 2.31 goals-against average alongside a 10-5-3 record. 

Just 3:27 into the contest, Shine broke loose from the Texas defense and gave the Griffins an early lead with an unassisted goal. Grand Rapids quickly added to its lead when Soderblom sniped the puck home at 8:28. Soderblom skated into the Stars’ zone and went bar down past the netminder at the top of the right circle. Grand Rapids finished the first frame ahead 2-0, as The Griffins’ first two shots resulted in goals. 

The Stars earned their first tally of the outing with 3:34 left in the second period when Justin Hryckowian scored. Each team killed off a penalty in the frame, as the Griffins preserved a 2-1 lead entering the third.

Grand Rapids jumped out to an 8-3 shot advantage in the final period and held the lead, but with 1:24 remaining, Hryckowian tied the score at two with his second goal. A Griffins’ penalty left them short handed for the final 1:18 of regulation but they denied the Stars’ scoring efforts, extending the contest to overtime. 

Grand Rapids entered overtime short handed and turned away three shots, but Arttu Hyry snuck the puck past Cossa for the game-winning goal at 1:28, as the Griffins fell 3-2. 

The Griffins’ website posted a photo gallery, a highlight clip and an interview clip…

Continue reading Recap: Grand Rapids Griffins lose in OT to Texas

Proteau sees a ‘fit’ for John Klingberg with the Red Wings

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported in his Saturday Headlines that former NHL defenseman John Klingberg is still looking to play hockey this season.

As such, the Hockey News’s Adam Proteau believes that the Red Wings and two other teams may benefit from signing the offense-only defenseman:

Detroit Red Wings: The Red Wings haven’t been afraid to sign an older, former star player to come in and help them try to get into the post-season – see Patrick Kane for proof – and Klingberg might see Detroit as his best shot to play playoff hockey without being traded after he signs with a team.

The Wings are on the periphery of the playoff race at the moment. But if Klingberg is fully healthy, he might be able to produce enough offense – at a very low price that fits in with Detroit’s cap situation – to put the Red Wings over the top in their race for a post-season spot.

Finding an experienced hand on the back end isn’t easy, but if Klingberg chooses the Wings as the team he wants to play for on his redemption tour, Detroit could wind up benefiting in terms of a subsequent trade – or Klingberg may help them get a playoff spot.

Continued; with the signing of Erik Gustafsson not working out, the Red Wings could use some offense from their blueline, and while Klingberg is not very good at actually defending, I could see the Wings finding a fit here.

A Wings-Habs post-mortem from Kulfan

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan discusses the Red Wings’ 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens this morning, offering something of a “post-mortem” of last night’s loss:

“We just got out-competed and out-worked,” defenseman Moritz Seider told reporters after Saturday’s loss. “That’s a very frustrating feeling. Coming in here, obviously we had a gameplan but couldn’t really emphasize on that. Now, we just have to turn the page and regroup. Find a way to win hockey games, especially find a good reason to get to the locker room the next couple of days with a little bit different energy.”

Brief lulls in the Wings’ overall game cost them dearly in both losses to the Canadiens. And when their game dipped, it erased any chance of a victory. What’s missing in the Wings’ game right now?

“The intensity over 60 minutes,” Seider said. “It’s hard to win when you have little dips and lags in your game. Obviously you’re not going to be perfect every time, but we always have to aim for perfection. We’re just not good enough right now.”

It’s deep enough in the NHL season where it’s fine to talk about jockeying for playoff spots. Being eight points away from a potential playoff spot with six teams to pass is hardly a good position, no matter how relatively close the standings look.

“It definitely hurts us standings-wise,” forward Joe Veleno told reporters of the defeats. “Bigger picture, obviously it’s a long year. But we got to realize how crucial these division points are and how you can really get a leap on teams by winning in your division. It’s a four-point weekend that we just let slip away.”

Continued; things are tough all over right now.

At least Patrick Kane’s got ‘er going

Sportsnet’s Luke Fox accentuates the positive with the following Wings-related story among his “Quick Shifts“:

Following last Thursday’s ugly 4-1 loss to the rebuilding Flyers, Patrick Kane sat in his stall and called for a momentum-shifting homestand in Detroit.

“Whether it’s being hard on each other, keeping each other accountable, looking yourself in the mirror, make sure you’re playing better yourself — all those things come into account when the team is struggling,” Kane said.

The future Hall of Famer insists his health is in good shape following hip surgery, but he isn’t happy with his own performance since re-signing with the Red Wings as a free agent for $4 million.

At the time of his honest, hard self-evaluation, Kane ranked ninth among Wings in points (10) and eighth in goals (three). He was a minus-8. A reporter asked the 36-year-old where the “pop” in his game had gone.

“It’s definitely been missing, right?” Kane conceded. “I gotta be more demanding with the puck. I gotta find ways to get it on my stick and do what I can when I get it. But I don’t think I’ve had the puck enough this year. That’s on me to demand it, to get it back.”

I was struck by Kane’s candour and his resolve fielding some pointed questions. He didn’t duck the criticism, yet he stressed a belief that he could get his game back on the rails.

“The production hasn’t been there, so it’s been disappointing and probably a big reason for where we are as a team,” Kane said. “At this point, it’s like maybe you’re hoping for things to happen. It’s not a good thing. When things are going like that, you gotta go make it happen. So, let’s make tomorrow the night to do that.”

Continued; the better Kane goes, the better the Wings go.