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!

Meet the Red Wings Canadian Hockey League-playing and alumni prospects

Today, the CHL’s website’s Matt Tidcombe offers a survey of the four Canadian Hockey League-playing and alumni players who’ve been drafted by the Red Wings over the course of the past two seasons.

You’re probably familiar with Portland Winterhawks and Brandon Wheat Kings alumnus Nate Danielson, who’s going to turn pro with the Griffins this upcoming season, but you may not be as familiar with the other three players listed in Tidcombe’s article:

Ondrej Becher (F) — Prince George Cougars
Acquired: 2024 NHL Draft (80th overall)
CHL career stats: 121G | 48G | 86A | 134PTS
Signed: No

Third time was the charm for Becher as he finally heard his name called at the NHL Draft after a breakout campaign with the Cougars. The Czech forward finished 13th in WHL scoring with 96 points in just 58 games while his 32 goals were the fourth among Prince George skaters. He won 51.9 per cent of his faceoffs while his four shorthanded goals were tied for fourth most in the WHL. His 1.66 point-per-game average was ninth best while he collected a bronze medal at the 2024 World Juniors. Becher, the 16th overall pick in the 2022 CHL Import Draft, tied for the Cougars postseason scoring lead with 19 points.

…

Emmitt Finnie (F) — Kamloops Blazers
Acquired: 2023 NHL Draft (201st overall)
CHL career stats: 174G | 28G | 72A | 100PTS
Signed: Yes

Finnie established career highs across the board in 2023-24 with 19 goals, 40 assists and 59 points as he led the Blazers in scoring. The 19-year-old won 55 per cent of his draws while he made his professional debut with the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins as he appeared in three regular season contests.

Landon Miller (G) — Soo Greyhounds
2024 NHL Draft: 2024 NHL Draft (126th overall)
CHL career stats: 35GP | 17-7-0 | 3.15 GAA | .880 save percentage
Signed: No

Miller’s first season in the OHL saw him impress between the Greyhounds pipes as he collected 17 wins. He posted the first two shutouts of his career while in his lone postseason appearance, he collected the win in relief in a come-from-behind victory against Guelph. With Jakub Vondras (CAR) having signed in Europe, the Soo net should be Miller’s in 2024-25.

Continued; so:

  1. Becher may or may not play in the WHL this upcoming season because he’s 20, and CHL teams can only play 3 “overagers.” It’s somewhat uncertain at this point as to whether the late-bloomer will remain with Prince George, whether he’s going to be traded to another WHL team, or whether he’ll end up in Toledo or Grand Rapids;
  2. The Red Wings are really high on Finnie’s potential as a two-way forward (as Tidcombe notes, he’s already signed to an NHL contract), but even though he played in a couple of games for the Griffins, he’s headed back to Kamloops for the upcoming season;
  3. And Miller’s save percentage was not sterling this past season, but the Red Wings took a flyer on him because they like his size and raw ability. He will be the Soo’s starter this year, and he’s going to have an opportunity to turn some heads as a result.

THN’s Eargood notes that Noah Dower Nilsson is back (for now?)

I was going to sit on this one until the SHL regular season begins–because I’m nervous for the young man–but the Hockey News’s Connor Eargood noted that Noah Dower Nilsson is back in preseason SHL action after undergoing surgery on both shoulders last season, so:

Dower Nilsson’s comeback started off slow Friday against Leksands IF. He didn’t record a point in a 5-3 Frölunda win, evidently getting used to live games after such a long time off. Saturday against Farjestad, Dower Nilsson factored more into the offense. Down 5-2, his blocked shot wound up finding teammate Hannes Hellberg to cut down the deficit in the third period. Frölunda lost 6-3.

This season, Dower Nilsson hopes to bounce back from such an injury-riddled campaign as last season. He didn’t start his season until December after the Red Wings recommended both he and his brother Liam Dower Nilsson (a 2021 fifth round Detroit pick) get surgery to repair torn labrums over the 2023 summer. When he came back, Noah Dower Nilsson only played a handful of games before tearing his labrum again, this time on his right shoulder. After trying to rehab the injury and salvage the season, he ended up in surgery yet again back in February.

Noah also apparently suffered an undisclosed injury in the one game where Frolunda lent the sniping forward to IF Bjorkloven of the HockeyAllsvenskan (the Swedish second division), where brother and play-maker Liam Dower Nilsson plays. They started the game on the same line, but Noah didn’t finish the game (I’m fairly certain he got a concussion, but I can’t confirm that). Off to surgery he went.

The stress of such bad injury luck forced him to take a step back and stay patient during his recovery process.

“You get drafted and want to play hockey and show more of me for the team, for the (draft) choice,” Dower Nilsson told The Hockey News back in May. “So it was tough, but the important thing is to be patient and staying in the right mindset.”

Continued; there’s a lot on the line for both Liam and Noah this upcoming season. If I’m correct, this is the last year that the Red Wings have Noah’s rights, so he’s got to play very well in the HockeyAllsvenskan and earn a contract, while Noah wants to break into Frolunda’s men’s team lineup full-time and become a regular player.

That’s not going to be easy for either player, and I hope that both Liam and Noah have good seasons ahead.

Yes, it’s time for the Wings to get consistent

The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau examines “Top Issues” which face the Detroit Red Wings this afternoon, and the only one that hasn’t been over-talked by Red Wings fans (no offense, fellow partisans) is #2:

2. Can they stop the skids, play with more consistency and move the needle enough into a playoff spot?

Consistency was a gigantic issue for the Red Wings in 2023-24, and the fact they missed out on a Stanley Cup playoff berth by just one point in the Atlantic Division has to haunt Yzerman and the team.

The problem for Detroit – and fellow Atlantic teams in Ottawa and Buffalo – is that the division is arguably the strongest in the NHL. And the teams that finished ahead of the Wings – Florida, Tampa Bay, Toronto and Boston – all are almost assuredly going to be playoff teams again this coming year. That means Detroit is either going to have to squeeze out a Metropolitan Division team from a post-season spot, or miss the playoffs altogether for the ninth straight season. 

For a team that once was the gold standard for the NHL, that would be especially devastating. But unless Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde can get his team winning on a more regular basis, that potential ending is very real.

Continued; the Red Wings are probably going to battle for another Wild Card spot, which is fine at this point in the organization’s growth among the “Division From Hell” (as Dylan Larkin calls it), but it will depend on “everybody rowing the boat in the same direction all year long.”

If there’s anything desperately needed from the Wings that isn’t goaltending or re-signing Raymond and Seider, it’s consistency in all aspects of the team’s game, from defense to offense to special teams.

The Wings can’t push that Miraculous Comeback Button so very regularly while facing a multi-goal deficit in the 3rd period this year, because it will yield similar results to last season, which was almost heartbreaking for a fan base that wants so badly to finally see playoff hockey again.

It’s gonna come down to everybody rowing the boat and everybody rowing in the same direction” to get ‘er done, and that’s about building cohesion and consistency over the course of training camp and the exhibition season, before rolling into the regular season with some momentum for the first 10-15 games.

A discussion of RFA contracts (including Raymond and Seider’s probable deals)

The Score’s Josh Wegman estimates the dollar amounts of contracts that will be signed by the NHL’s remaining restricted free agents today. He discusses both Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider’s likely contracts. Here’s what he has to say about Raymond’s probable deal…

LUCAS RAYMOND, Red Wings

Age: 22
Position: LW
Projection: 8 years, $8M AAV 💰

The Red Wings might’ve gotten a bargain out of Raymond had they signed him to an extension before he exploded for a career-high 31 goals and 41 assists in 82 games in 2023-24. If nothing materialized because Raymond wasn’t interested in signing before the season, it turned out to be a wise move on his part.

As the No. 4 pick in 2020, this type of top-line production was expected of Raymond, and he delivered. His season was boosted slightly by a robust 19% shooting percentage, though.

Still, Raymond is undoubtedly one of the Red Wings’ core players. With plenty of current cap space, and more money opening up over the next few years, getting Raymond signed to a long-term deal should be a top priority. This cap hit may seem a bit steep in the short term, but it could age well as the cap rises and Raymond continues to blossom through his prime.

The cap hit comes in slightly above those of long-term pacts signed this offseason for young forwards Juraj Slafkovsky ($7.6-million AAV) and Matty Beniers ($7.14-million AAV), but less than an older, more established winger like Travis Konecny ($8.75-million AAV).

And Moritz Seider:

Continue reading A discussion of RFA contracts (including Raymond and Seider’s probable deals)

Tweets of note: Brandsegg-Nygard sniping away in an exhibition game vs. France

Team Norway is playing a warm-up game against France ahead of the Olympic Qualifying tournament from August 29th-31st. [Update: and Norway won 9-0!]

While it’s an exhibition game, Red Wings Prospects on Twitter shows Michael Brandsegg-Nygard flexing his shooting muscles (twice) and displaying the same sniper’s shot he’s been displaying over the course of the SHL preseason:

Again, whether it’s MBN or Kasper (who’s going to play for Austria in the Olympic Qualifying tournament) doing great things, we have to remember that it’s hockey in August, so I’m not exactly penciling in Brandsegg-Nygard for a spot on the Wings’ second line yet…But it’s good to see him displaying his potential on a consistent basis, exhibition games or no exhibition games.

Brandsegg-Nygard wants to head back to Skelleftea AIK for the upcoming season, and that’s where I think he’ll be, but that may be his only year overseas if he can keep up this kind of scoring punch as an 18-and-19-year-old breaking into the SHL.

So I’ll preach patience and taking these highlights with some salt as opposed to going ga-ga about a young man who has yet to play in an SHL regular season game. Let’s see how the Olympic qualifiers go, whether he gets into the Champions Hockey League games that are upcoming for Skelleftea, and ultimately, how he performs in the prospect tournament and training camp.

It’s really easy–and understandable–to get excited about a player’s potential when he’s having a dominant preseason. But it’s also a little premature to sign up to get your #28 Red Wings jerseys already.

Tweet of note: Red Wings pay tribute to Sergei Mnatsakanov

The Detroit Red Wings have confirmed what Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff reported earlier today–that former Red Wings team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov has passed away:

Press release via NOVA Caps: Nate Danielson to attend the NHLPA Rookie Showcase

NOVA Caps’ Harrison Brown reports that the roster for the annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase is out, and Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson will represent Detroit at the annual photo shoot and media event held by Upper Deck at the Washington Capitals’ practice facility:

The National Hockey League Players’ Association and Upper Deck will host its 14th annual NHLPA Rookie Showcase on Wednesday, Sept. 4 at MedStar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Virginia, with 33 NHL® prospects and rookies scheduled to attend.

This unique event provides Upper Deck – the official trading card partner of the NHLPA and the NHL – with an opportunity to capture photographs and videos of many of the game’s top young prospects and rookies in their official NHL team uniforms. The content collected will be used by Upper Deck to create the players’ first NHL and NHLPA licensed rookie trading cards, as well as additional promotional materials throughout the season and beyond. 

2024 NHLPA Rookie Showcase Scheduled Attendees:

The following NHL prospects and rookies are scheduled to be in attendance for the 2024 NHLPA Rookie Showcase:

Marek Alscher (Panthers), Lian Bichsel (Stars), Gavin Brindley (Blue Jackets), Seamus Casey (Devils), Macklin Celebrini (Sharks), Nikita Chibrikov (Jets), Easton Cowan (Maple Leafs), Nate Danielson (Red Wings), Josh Doan (Utah Hockey Club), Dalibor Dvorsky (Blues), Ivan Fedotov (Flyers), Cutter Gauthier (Ducks), Gage Goncalves (Lightning), Lane Hutson (Canadiens), Nikolai Kovalenko (Avalanche), Jonathan Lekkerimaki (Canucks), Artyom Levshunov (Blackhawks), Logan Mailloux (Canadiens), Matvei Michkov (Flyers), Ivan Miroshnichenko (Capitals), Logan Morrison (Kraken), Shakir Mukhamadullin (Sharks), Bradly Nadeau (Hurricanes), Frank Nazar (Blackhawks), Liam Ohgren (Wild), Zack Ostapchuk (Senators), Noah Ostlund (Sabres), Vasily Ponomarev (Penguins), Matt Rempe (Rangers), Olivier Rodrigue (Oilers), Will Smith (Sharks), Fedor Svechkov (Predators) and Akil Thomas (Kings).

(At least) One more year of Bally Sports Detroit for Wings fans

The Detroit News’s Tony Paul reports that we’re stuck with Bally Sports Detroit for at least another season’s worth of Red Wings hockey:

Diamond Sports Group, the parent company of the Bally Sports stable of regional sports networks, has reached an agreement to continue broadcasting more than 20 NHL and NBA teams on linear television through the 2024-25 seasons in a move that is considered a critical development as the company looks to emerge from bankruptcy court.

The agreement includes the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Pistons, which will continue to have their games air on Bally Sports Detroit and through the Bally Sports-Plus app.

The agreement was announced Friday and confirmed by Bally Sports Detroit.

“We are appreciative of the ongoing collaboration and long-term partnerships with the NBA and NHL,” David Preschlack, CEO of the Diamond Sports Group, said in a statement. “These new agreements that cover NBA and NHL linear and DTC (direct-to-consumer) rights are another major milestone and continue Diamond’s momentum toward emergence (from bankruptcy), which will enable us to provide value for our NBA and NHL partners and continue to serve dedicated local NBA, NHL and MLB fans.

“Having completed negotiations with key partners that provide certainty around our content and distribution, Diamond is well positioned for the future.

“We appreciate the support of our creditors, we are focused on finalizing our reorganization plan to support our emergence and presenting that plan to the Court in due course.”

Continued; as Mr. Paul reports, Bally is supposed to start streaming games with Amazon in the future, but I’ve still got doubts as to the network’s long-term viability.

Duff: Sergei Mnatsakanov has passed away

Very sad news from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff:

Sergei Mnatsakanov might not have drawn the same level of public outpouring of emotion that Detroit Red Wings defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov has over the years, but he endured the same challenges.

Red Wings team masseur Mnatsakanov, like Konstantinov, was suffering debilitating brain injuries from a limousine crash that happened less than a week following Detroit’s 1997 Stanley Cup win. Mnatsakanov was also left paralyzed from the waist down.

The players were returning from a team golf outing, their last get together following the Cup triumph before heading their separate ways for the offseason. Red Wings defenseman Vyacheslav Fetisov was also suffering lesser injuries in the crash.

Former Red Wings forward Slava Kozlov told rg.com that Mnatsakanov died on Friday in Boca Raton, Florida of cancer. He was 71 years old. He’d been living in Florida in recent years after relocating from the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe.

Also from Duff: a Tweet from former Red Wings trainer John Wharton:

THN on LCA’s playoff drought

The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood discusses the fact that Little Caesars Arena has yet to host an NHL playoff game some eight years into its existence, and the truth of the matter is that LCA has yet to host any playoff game eight years in thanks to the Pistons’ playoff drought as well.

Anyway, Eargood’s bloody thorough in terms of going through the NHL buildings struggling with playoff droughts over the years, Detroit’s various arenas included. At present:

Right now, the Red Wings are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets with seven seasons without hosting a playoff game in Nationwide Arena. The Blue Jackets technically went eight years without hosting a playoff game, but 2004-05 was the NHL lockout and no games were played that season.

In greater NHL history, Detroit could tie the Washington Capitals for the longest ever NHL playoff drought after opening a new arena. When the Caps joined the league in 1974-75, they went eight seasons without hosting a playoff game at the Capital Centre. The difference is, Washington was an expansion team, not one of the league’s most historic franchises.

Since Little Caesars Arena opened, three new arenas have joined the NHL circuit. The New York Islanders opened UBS Arena in 2021-22, while the Seattle Kraken joined the NHL while playing in their current Climate Pledge Arena in the same season. Both those teams went one season without playoff hockey to usher in their new homes. The Utah Hockey Club will add the third new arena this season when it plays its first season in Salt Lake City at the Delta Center.

Excluding newcomer Utah that has yet to play a game, Little Caesars Arena is the only current NHL arena to never host a playoff game.

Continued with some very thorough historical analysis; again, no playoff games at all for LCA. It won’t really get a reputation as a pumping Pizzarena or a Dough Joe until the Wings and/or Pistons get their stuff together.