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!

Roughly translated: Lucas Raymond weighs in on facing Dylan Larkin tonight

Expressen’s Adam Johansson spoke with Lucas Raymond ahead of tonight’s match-up between Raymond’s Swedes and Dylan Larkin’s Team USA (8 PM EST start on TNT/TruTV/Max/Sportsnet). First, they discuss a cultural faux pas committed by Larkin during the 2023 Global Series, and then Johansson and Raymond get down to business:

Detroit teammates Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond come together for the first time in their careers facing each other on Tuesday night. The Tre Kronor and the United States are on opposite sides of the ice.

“It’s special. Dylan and I are close to each other and we’ve never met each other [on the ice] before. We’ve been playing on the same line for years, so it will be special to meet now. But once we’re out on the ice, we probably won’t think about it.”

Both are mainstays of the Detroit Red Wings, the team for which Raymond signed an 8-year contract last fall.

“When I signed the contract, I was clear that I wanted to be in Detroit, I want to be there for a long time.”

At the Four Nations Face-Off, however, all his focus is on the Tre Kronor.

“It’s fun to be here. Always special to play for Sweden in this kind of context,” Raymond concludes.

Dominik Shine speaks with ‘the North Wind’ regarding his NHL debut

Grand Rapids Griffins forward and Northern Michigan University alumnus Dominik Shine spoke with NMU’s student newspaper, “The North Wind,” regarding making his NHL debut with the Red Wings earlier this season. Here’s what Shine had to say to Lily Gouin:

“I absolutely loved being a student at Northern and living up there in the U.P. …It can humble you, living through those hard winters. It’s not easy and not for everyone. It makes you a better person, makes you appreciate the little things,” Shine said.

After graduation, Shine signed with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the minor league team for the Red Wings. This is Shine’s ninth season with the Griffins.

“You have to play a role, just like on any level…it’s a matter of getting in there, playing your game and playing with confidence,” Shine said.

On Jan. 27, Shine got the call that he would be making his NHL debut at age 31 against the Los Angeles Kings. He is the oldest player to make his NHL debut in over 10 years.

Shine has played his whole career here in the State of Michigan, from his time at NMU all the way to the NHL.

“There was a point where I thought I was done completely. You think about your next steps—I was almost ready to take that leap, and I felt proud of what I did. It’s not often you see a guy play eight seasons with the same team. I never felt I would get a chance to play in the NHL, even just for a game, but to get that call that day—it meant the world to me.”

Continued

Tweet of note: Emily Kaplan interviews Dylan Larkin on Saturday night

This was Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin after the 2nd period on Saturday’s 3-1 Team USA victory over Team Canada at the Four Nations Face-Off:

The underrated Antti Tuomisto

Of prospect-related note from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

The Grand Rapids Griffins, the loser in five of their last six games, don’t play again until Wednesday when they are home against Lehigh Valley. Defenseman Antti Tuomisto continues to perform well for the Griffins. He leads all defenseman with 20 points in 43 games. Even with the team struggling, the 6-foot-5 Finn also plus-6 over the past 14 games. He has only had two minus games in his past 14.

Tuomisto’s big and heavy at 6’5″ and 205 pounds, and at 24 years of age, I’m curious as to whether the Wings will give him a shot to make the team at training camp next season as he’s a right-shooting D with size and some snarl.

Tweet of note: Detroit’s ‘mini camp’ begins tomorrow

Just a reminder from Chris Johnston:

The Red Wings and coach Todd McLellan will hold a “mini camp” between Tuesday and Friday, before the team resumes its schedule with back-to-back games against Minnesota on Saturday and Anaheim on Sunday.

Qualified praise for Trey Augustine and Max Plante (sort of)

DobberProspects’ JP Gambatese offers a slate of observations regarding NCAA prospects who’ve impressed over the course of the college hockey season thus far, and he includes Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine on his list…

With an honorable mention to fellow Wings prospect Max Plante:

Detroit Red Wings – Trey Augustine (G)

The Red Wings have a two-headed monster between Augustine and Sebastian Cossa in their goalie pipeline. He’s undersized for a current NHL goaltender at 6-1, but he is as composed as any goalie you will ever watch. He rarely gets frazzled and is more content sitting back in his crease and letting the play come to him than becoming aggressive and having to recover. Augustine is particularly strong when seeing pucks through screens and hugging the posts when called upon. He isn’t as athletic as perhaps you’d like to see from a smaller goalie, but he is more controlled than most and can keep play to the outside rather than allowing rebounds to hit the center of the ice for another grade-A chance against. 

23 Games Played: 15-5-3 | .926 SV% | 2.07 GAA | 2 SO

Honorable Mention: Max Plante (LW) – Plante is an excellent playmaker and a hard worker, but some concerns may limit his ceiling as an NHLer, predominantly his skating. His top speed is below average, his acceleration is subpar, and his edgework is ordinary for a player under six feet tall. His shot, while not a detriment to his game, isn’t a huge threat, but his passing work and hockey sense make up for it. Plante often finds himself in the right place at the right time and has an outstanding balance of understanding of the game and the ability to get into open space. I could see him becoming an offensively oriented third-line complementary winger in the big leagues, but I don’t think his skating ability allows for much more growth than that. 

13 Games Played: 6 G / 10 A / 16 TP / 4 PIM / 46 SOG / 13.0 SH%

Continued; players can always learn to skate better, if they really work on it…

Praise for Emmitt Finnie’s strong season in the WHL

Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis discusses 10 NHL prospects who are impressing in the WHL this season, and Kamloops Blazers captain Emmitt Finnie makes Ellis’ list:

Emmitt Finnie, C (Detroit Red Wings)

Team: Kamloops Blazers

The Red Wings built a reputation in the 90s and early 00s for finding talent in the later rounds of the NHL Draft. Is Finnie – a seventh-rounder in 2023 – next on the list? The 6-foot-1 forward had a solid 59-point season a year ago, but he’s on pace for just under 100 in his fourth season with Kamloops. When he was drafted, he was more of a depth player who just got lost in the shuffle. Now, he’s an energetic forward who has dominated Kamloops’ scoring race and he rarely makes a bad mistake while in a battle. Many scouts think his scoring won’t translate to the NHL – he’s not overly deceptive or anything – but he’s got the work ethic you’d want from someone who can be a nice depth producer, and that’s great from a player taken 201st overall.

Continued; I don’t know whether Finnie’s going to be an NHL scorer, or more of a middle-of-the-lineup player, but the young man’s speed and work ethic are particularly impressive.

He’s dominated on a middling Kamloops team, and there is at least potential there for a second-line player who can “blaze” up the middle of the ice at full speed, even when he has the puck on his stick. He just doesn’t slow down for any thing or any one.

On Sweden’s stakes and Larkin vs. Raymond

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses the situation for Sweden going into tonight’s game between the Swedes and Team USA (8 PM EST start on TNT/Max/TruTV/Sportsnet)…

The 2-0 Americans are locked into Thursday’s final of this NHL best-on-best tournament. Canada, Sweden and Finland are all deadlocked with two points. Each has a chance to be the other finalist.

However, if either Canada or Finland win their 1 p.m. game in regulation time, then that country will earn the other spot in the final. Sweden would be eliminated.

The Swedes need the Canada-Finland game to go to overtime. Then if they beat the USA in regulation, it would be a Sweden vs USA final.

As well as the match-up between Dylan Larkin and Lucas Raymond:

“Proceed with caution with him,” Larkin said. “We want to win and you want to play well, but he’s my buddy and you look out for him and smile.”

Raymond admitted he’s pondered the notion of what might be if he and Larkin end up in a board battle for the puck.

“I don’t know what I’ll do if I see him in the corner next to me,” Raymond said. “But it’ll be a good time.”