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!

Power rankings: Taking care of business as Edvinsson blossoms

Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon posted a set of power rankings which include “one reason for optimism” for the NHL’s 32 respective teams, and here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings:

16. Detroit Red Wings Ultimately, the Red Wings took care of business and got both Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider signed and back in the fold well before the start of the season. Now Motor City fans can focus on watching the rise of defenceman Simon Edvinsson. 

Continued; Edvinsson isn’t going to dazzle out of nowhere, but he’s likely going to learn from his mistakes as he makes a steady ascent.

Fundraising to pay the bills

As I said yesterday, we are where we are. This is my least favorite part of the blogging business, but it needs to be done to continue providing you with content, and it is what it is.

So:

The Malik Report needs your support to function. You receive quite a bit of information “for free,” but providing that information is not accomplished 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.

Prospect round-up: Kiiskinen 1G+1A in HPK win; LDN 1+2 in Bjorkloven win

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen had another goal-and-an-assist performance, though he finished at -2 in 13:55 played, with 2 shots taken, in HPK Hameenlinna’s 4-3 win over KooKoo;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Liam Dower Nilsson had a goal and 2 assists, finishing at +3 with 1 shot in 15:21 as IF Bjorkloven won 7-1 over BIK Karlskoga;

Maximilian Kilpinen finished at -3 in 5:07 played as Ostersunds IK lost 5-3 to IK Oskarshamn;

And in the DEL, Kevin Bicker played 17:14 in the Frankfurt Lowen’s 4-3 win over Iserlohn Roosters.

A bit more about Albert Johansson from the coach’s point of view

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of Albert Johansson today, and it’s heavy on comments from coach Derek Lalonde which merit noting this afternoon:

“He’s shown some things that we had hoped and expected from him and that’s being a puck-mover,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “That’s him being an intelligent player around the ice. The physicality part of it he needs to keep growing. You can see he’s got himself in some trouble by just losing battles where he’s giving up 40-50 pounds, 2-3 inches, so that comes with a little more experience, a little more detail in his game, defend through hands, defend quick. But I would say a positive (camp, preseason).”

As the preseason ends, it’ll be up to the Wings and Johansson to make sure the young defenseman’s development isn’t stalled. It doesn’t appear Johansson has done enough to earn a regular spot in the lineup. That’s where practices become increasingly important, so Johansson can reach his full potential.

“Practice reps are important, these exhibition games are extremely important,” Lalonde said. “Being ready. This will be new territory for him. You walk into the morning skate anticipating he’s No. 7 (a healthy scratch, most likely) and then he’s playing, so there are some challenges there. He needs to keep growing and building his game. There are a ton of positives, and his play and development path over the last couple of years has put him in and us in a situation that is positive.”

Johansson was in the lineup Friday as the Wings ended the home portion of their preseason schedule against Ottawa. He has felt better as the preseason schedule has gone on.

“It’s been good,” Johansson said. “The first couple of games, it’s always tough after a long summer. But overall I’ve been taking steps in the right direction after every game.”

Johansson has tried to stay within himself during this preseason.

“I’m just trying to play my game, I know what they want to see,” he said. “That’s something I’m trying to show them, and just play solid and be great defending and moving pucks. That’s the biggest keys for me right now.”

Continued with a slate of notes (paywall)

Tweet of note: Danny DeKeyser as Cameron Frye

This is cute. Danny DeKeyser is Cameron Frye, Daniella Bruce is Sloane Peterson and Darren McCarty is Ferris Bueller in this clip:

Press release: Red Wings goaltender Jack Campbell enters NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

From the NHL:

Red Wings’ Campbell to Receive Care from NHL/NHLPA Player Assistance Program

TORONTO/NEW YORK (Oct. 4, 2024) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League announced today that goaltender Jack Campbell of the Detroit Red Wings will be unavailable to his Club for an indefinite period while he receives care from the player assistance program of the NHL and NHLPA.

Under the terms of the joint program, he will return to the Club when cleared for on-ice competition by the program administrators.

All the best for Jack and his family during his difficult time, and kudos to Mr. Campbell for seeking out help when he needed it.

Duff wonders aloud whether the Wings should follow the Tigers’ blueprint

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff wonders aloud whether the Red Wings can learn from the Detroit Tigers’ playoff run–by waiving players and making trades to clear cap and roster space for younger players:

There is some speculation that the Red Wings might be considering placing veteran defenseman Justin Holl on waivers to create an opening for a 13th forward on the roster. If this is indeed the case, the question reamins would that be to create a place for a young prospect, or for veteran forward Austin Watson? He’s in camp on a PTO.

Another opting the team could choose might be to place goalie Ville Husso on waivers. They still have two NHL goalies in Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon and again this would open a spot to keep an extra forward in the NHL.

If they were really looking to do something bold, the Red Wings might dangle center J.T. Compher in front of the Carolina Hurricanes. A legitimate Stanley Cup contender, it’s known that the Canes are in the market for a No. 2 center.

Well it’s easy to draw up this blueprint, it’s much more difficult to implement. Were they to clear waivers, sending Husso ($4.75 million AAV) and Holl ($3.4 million AAV) to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins would require the Red Wings to eat a bunch of salary. It would also be suggesting, especially in Holl’s case, that Yzerman made a major mistake signing him to a three-year deal.

As for the proposed Compher trade, are the Hurricanes likely to be willing to take him on, knowing he has four more years left on his pact at $5.1 million per season? Not likely.

Finally – and this is the real kicker here – have any of Danielson, Kasper, or Mazur really shown enough in this training camp to warrant an NHL roster spot?

Again, that answer looks to be leaning toward no.

Continued

Game previews: Red Wings attempt to ‘get reps’; Gustafsson talks adjusting to Detroit

Both the Hockey News’s Connor Eargood and DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted Red Wings-Senators game previews ahead of tonight’s exhibition game between the teams (7 PM EDT on Bally Sports Detroit/TSN5).

Here’s Eargood’s take…

Detroit’s optional morning skate was sparsely attended, although a few notables took the ice. Defenseman Simon Edvinsson was there, which means he’s playing the second game of a back-to-back today. So were prospects Nate Danielson and Carter Mazur, who didn’t play in Thursday’s game against the Maple Leafs. And one face that hasn’t been on the ice much due to maintenance days — J.T. Compher — also made his return to the ice.

“Tonight is important for him to get those quality reps,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde explained. “This is a unique exhibition schedule. We play six games in six days, but this is the last opportunity to get some reps until we played in a week, which is obviously when you want to be peaked out.”

Detroit will have to catch Compher up to the rest of the group. In a similar way, it’s also an opportunity to get goaltender Alex Lyon up to speed, too, in what is likely to be his one full start of the preseason. Lalonde’s plan remains to give his NHL starters full games to get acclimated. Lyon is due for his, after Talbot played a full 60 against the Maple Leafs and Husso did so on the road in Pittsburgh.

In the case of Lyon, he is in an odd position where he’s the incumbent starter for Detroit, but that situation came from circumstance more than any real planning. He has to prove himself all over again this preseason, with Talbot and Husso also looking strong in their respective performances. It’s likely that the goaltending battle lasts into the season, so long as Lyon proves his confidence in that equation.

For the Senators, this is the final road game of the preseason slate, followed by a home game Saturday against Montreal. That game will be Ottawa’s dress rehearsal for the season, so to speak, so the lineup it will send to Detroit is prospect heavy. That means no David Perron homecoming, for now. You’ll have to wait until the regular season.

And here are Mills’ remarks:

Continue reading Game previews: Red Wings attempt to ‘get reps’; Gustafsson talks adjusting to Detroit

Khan profiles Albert Johansson

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings defenseman Albert Johansson today. Johansson will make his NHL debut this upcoming season:

“I think he’s shown some things that we had hoped and expected from him and that’s being a puck-mover,” [Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde said. “That’s him being an intelligent player around the ice. The physicality part of it he needs to keep growing. You can see he’s got himself in some trouble by losing some battles where he’s giving up 40-50 pounds, 2-3 inches, so I think that comes with a little more experience, a little more detail in his game, defend through hands, defend quick.”

Johansson said his defensive game and physical play grew in the AHL.

“I think the most important is just to play a simple game,” Johansson said. “They want to see me as a great defender and moving pucks and set up my teammates. My skating and my first pass is my strongest side of the game. My two years in Grand Rapids helped me a lot with my physical game. That (AHL playoffs) helped a lot. It’s a little bit different game, more physical when it gets to playoffs, but I think I handled that pretty good last year.”

Continued