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!

A bit more about Vladimir Tarasenko’s signing with the Red Wings

This morning, 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield discusses free agent signing Vladimir Tarasenko’s “fit” with the Red Wings (after Tarasenko spoke with the media yesterday afternoon), noting that Tarasenko grew up a fan of the Russian 5:

“No offense to other teams,” he said, “but growing up in Russia, a lot of people followed Detroit because of the Russian Five. When I had my first PlayStation, I was playing for Detroit with my friends. This was a team, in my neighborhood, that we grew up talking about. It’s pretty exciting to join the team and wear the jersey and try to help the team win.”

Tarasenko was a tot when the Russian Five took the NHL by storm. He’s 32 now and closer to the end of his career than the start. He just captured his second Cup and is closing in on 300 goals; he still wants more of both. The latter should come easily to him in his first season with the Red Wings, who gave Tarasenko a two-year, $9.5 million deal that lends his life some stability after he played for four teams the past two seasons. The former is no sure thing these days in Detroit.

The Red Wings are still playing the long game under Steve Yzerman, adding vets to the roster while waiting for a core on the come. They’re trying to get better without going for broke, an especially difficult task in the deep and talented Atlantic Division. The Wings came closer to the playoffs last season than they have in eight years with 91 points, and it will likely take more than that next season to end the drought.

“I feel like last year was very close, and I’m not a person who just comes in and hangs out and enjoys my time and doesn’t try to win,” Tarasenko said. “I really like winning. We just won the second Cup, but I will do everything I can to help the organization take the next step, help the guys with my experience and just do my best to be able to make the playoffs. That’s the reason I came, because I like the way the team played and I believe this team can make the playoffs and do some special things.”

Continued

Griffins review Simon Edvinsson’s 23-24 season

The Grand Rapids Griffins have been posting “2023-2024 Player in Review” articles regarding the players who took part in the Griffins’ 23-24 season, and today, Andrew Streitel discusses Simon Edvinsson’s performance:

Defenseman Simon Edvinsson skated in his second season with the Griffins and logged a career-high 30 points (8-22—30), 51 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating in 54 regular-season games. He then posted two points (0-2—2) and six penalty minutes in six postseason outings. For his efforts, the 21-year-old was named to the 2023-24 AHL Top Prospects Team, becoming the first Griffin to be honored on the list that began in the 2022-23 campaign. 

Edvinsson also suited up for a career-best 16 games with the Detroit Red Wings and notched two points (1-1—2), four penalty minutes and an even plus-minus rating. 

Regular Season Stat Line

54 GP, 8 goals, 22 assists, 30 points, +5 rating, 51 PIM with GRG
16 GP, 1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points, +0 rating, 4 PIM with DET

Postseason Stat Line

6 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, -1 rating, 6 PIM with GRG

Contract Status 

Under contract with Detroit through 2025-26 season

Continued; it’s highly probable that Edvinsson’s AHL career has ended.

Bultman on the shape of the Wings’ roster

Yesterday afternoon, Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko spoke about potentially playing on the same line as members of the Red Wings, and this morning (to his credit), The Athletic’s Max Bultman attempts to project the Red Wings’ entire 2024-2025 opening-night roster.

Bultman discusses what the Wings’ top two lines might look like, whether we’ll see Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper or Carter Mazur in the lineup, how Erik Gustafsson will fit in, and how the goaltending situation will get sorted out:

The Red Wings made sure not to leave a spot open that would have defaulted to one of the rookies, but that doesn’t mean one can’t surprise in training camp and win a job (although Simon Edvinsson’s performance from last preseason, which still ended in an assignment to Grand Rapids, poses some real questions over just how high a bar they’ll have to clear).

To me, Mazur is the one to watch, as the oldest of the bunch and with a fearless game that looks naturally suited to succeed on this type of third line. He’ll need to gain some muscle this summer, which is really the last remaining question for him, but if he can then it’s not hard to picture him slotting in next to Rasmussen and Copp — and bringing a nice scoring threat — with Fischer dropping down to the fourth line.

In the scenario where a surprise rookie makes the team, one of Veleno and Berggren could find themselves on the outside looking in when everyone is healthy. Veleno’s game is more tailored to a classic bottom-six feel, and a line with him, Fischer and Motte would have legit tough-matchup potential, while Berggren has more natural scoring and power-play utility.

Historically, the Red Wings coaches have trusted Veleno more, but Detroit does have a lot of goals to make up for, and Berggren has the most obvious special teams fit on the power play. If both are playing well, perhaps Detroit has enough penalty killers to bump Motte out on occasion, though the reliability he should bring — especially in difficult assignments — should not be underestimated.

Bultman continues at length (paywall). It’s always a fun experiment to try to sort out the Red Wings’ personnel machinations in July, but come September, injuries and preseason performances always yield surprises in terms of the composition and order of the team’s roster.

Ultimately, the Red Wings are approximately as “deep” as they were last season, though they could use an upgrade on their “right D” (and is Aaron Ekblad “that guy?”), so we should witness some really excellent battles for roster spots on the big club–and some good battles in Grand Rapids as well.

What does your Red Wings roster projection look like?

Update: Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen weighs in on the Wings’ third and fourth lines:

Continue reading Bultman on the shape of the Wings’ roster

HSJ, Khan in the morning: on Tarasenko and Kane’s desire to join the Red Wings

The vast majority of the Red Wings’ media corps posted articles regarding Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane’s press conferences on Monday afternoon, well…on Monday afternoon.

The Free Press’s Helene St. James joins the fray this morning with an article which notes that Patrick Kane played a part in recruiting Tarasenko to come to Detroit:

“I talked to a lot of guys who used to play there, who are playing there right now,” Tarasenko said Monday. “Lot of family guys. They are all happy there. I like the way the team played last year and we decided with the family, this is the best decision for us moving forward. We are really excited about it. It’s a new chapter for us and we can’t wait to get to Detroit and get settled and start training camp. Lately I talk to Kaner. I talk to him. There’s a lot of guys that used to play in St. Louis, so familiar faces. They all say only good things about Detroit, the city and the team and that’s why we decide to come.”

Kane – who didn’t appear upset at all about having to wait a few minutes for his Zoom call – explained that his life partner, Amanda, was the one who fielded the first call from the Tarasenko camp – and then he got a call from general manager Steve Yzerman, who needed to add an offensive player after losing several goal scorers in free agency.

Tarasenko is a former 40-goal scorer and two-time Stanley Cup champion.

“His wife reached out to Amanda and said that Detroit seemed interested,” Kane said. “You get excited about that. Steve called me as well, just asking about him as a player.  I think he is going to be so good for the group. He’s a proven winner. The way he plays, how hard he plays – I think a lot of players in general, not just young guys, will see how hard he works and how much effort he gives every shift, and that’s why he has a couple Stanley Cups to his name, too. So adding that winning presence is going to be huge for the group.”

St. James continues (paywall), and MLive’s Ansar Khan specifically addresses Kane’s decision to re-sign with Detroit:

Continue reading HSJ, Khan in the morning: on Tarasenko and Kane’s desire to join the Red Wings

Christian Fischer hopes to contribute to the Wings’ attack

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses Christian Fischer’s press conference with the media on Monday, with Duff discussing the expectations for Fischer’s offensive output:

During the 2022-23 season, his last with the Arizona Coyotes, Fischer was accounting for 13 goals and 27 points. He was good for career highs in goals (15) and points (33) during the 2017-18 season with the Coyotes. He would pot 11 goals during the 2018-19 campaign.

Then again, in between those good years, he only scored five goals in 2021-22, three in 2020-21 and six in 2019-20. But in each of those three years of downturn, circumstances were limiting him to less than 60 games. In three of the past four seasons in which he suited up for at least 70 games, Fischer did score more than 10 goals.

He thinks he’s capable of getting to those kinds of totals again this season.

“Oviously that’s not not my biggest concern,” Fischer, a bottom-six role-playing forward, said of driving the offense. “That’s never going to be how I’m really measured in performance. But with that being said, I definitely have way higher expectations for myself. I’ve done it before. That year previous to coming here I had 13 goals. I’ve been right around that mark and 30 to 40 points. That’s kind of my bread and butter.”

Duff continues, and while it would be nice if Fischer added more offense to the Red Wings’ attack, his main goal is deterring opponents from scoring goals against the Wings.

Video link: NHL Tonight’s Luftman, Grimson issue a Red Wings outlook for 2024-2025

Of brief Red Wings-related note this evening: On the NHL Tonight this evening, the NHL Network’s Tony Luftman and Stu Grimson weighed in as to the Red Wings’ season outlook for 2024-2025, at least based upon the Red Wings’ early free agency moves–mostly discussing the Wings’ retention of Patrick Kane and addition of Vladimir Tarasenko.

I can’t embed the video as NHL.com’s videos no longer embed, but you can watch their 3:21 worth of comments here.

Remembering Marty Pavelich through the eyes of his nephew, Burnie Thorpe

Red Wings legend Marty Pavelich passed away in Texas at the age of 96 last month, due to complications from ALS. Today, the Sault Star’s Gordon Anderson shares stories about the hard-working Pavelich via his nephew, Burnie Thorpe:

Pavelich won four Stanley Cups between 1950 and 1955. Pavelich was drafted by Detroit at 15 and debuted with the Wings in 1947. He played junior hockey for the Galt Red Wings.

“He was not the most talented player, but you weren’t going to outwork him,” Thorpe said. “He knew what his job was, and he did it. The Wings decided they wanted to have a checking line so that is what they assigned, and he said “OK, if this is what keeps me here this is what I am going to do.” “The glass was always half full approach is what he did.”

The checking forward scored 93 goals and added 159 assists in 633 regular-season games with Detroit. He also added 13 goals and 19 assists in 91 playoff games.

Thorpe said his uncle’s best friend was Wings forward and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Ted Lindsay.

“My uncle said, ‘if in your lifetime you have one good friend you will have succeeded,’” Thorpe said. “And in his life that guy was Ted Lindsay. They were very close and very tight.”

Continued

Putting a bow on the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills puts something of a bow on the Red Wings’ 2024 Summer Development Camp with an article discussing the final conclusions made by Red Wings assistant director of player development Dan Cleary, GM Steve Yzerman, and some of the Wings’ player participants as well:

“It’s always beneficial, especially to bring in the new draft picks, being able to get these kids over,” Cleary said. “It’s awesome, for me personally and for everyone involved, just to get to know each other.”

Development Camp is a beneficial experience for Detroit’s newest draft picks and younger prospects, who get to train at a state-of-the-art NHL facility and see what life is like as a professional hockey player. The players also learn how to take care of themselves off the ice.

“Things have evolved and changed so much, from nutrition to the skills and skating instructors, the performance science part of sports,” Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman said. “The kids have so much more information and education available to them. We’re hoping they soak it in.”

…

“I thought Nate Danielson was great every day,” Cleary said. “Came in, terrific shape. I know we speak a lot about Nate, but he talks the talk and he walks it. He does everything right and he really showed the way in his testing, preparations and professionalism. The way he handles himself, his maturity and the way he talks (to the media). He’s a really great young kid.”

But Cleary made it clear that Development Camp isn’t about judging the Red Wings prospects. It’s about helping build a foundation for their professional careers.

“At the end of the day, you tell them to take it serious,” Cleary said. “Train serious. These kids are young, I get it. Once they leave here, don’t forget about everything we just worked on. The idea would be for them to take one or two things and hopefully, it sticks with them.”

Continued

Rounding up the Wings media’s takes on Tarasenko and Kane’s availabilities

Updated 4x at 7:28 PM: Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane and Christian Fischer spoke with the Red Wings’ media corps today, and this afternoon, the Wings’ press corps is reacting to said comments.

We’re actually going to start our little survey with NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti, who also sat in on the conference calls. Gulitti reports that Tarasenko spoke with Kane regarding a potential move to Detroit:

Tarasenko and Kane briefly were teammates after being acquired by the New York Rangers before the 2023 NHL Trade Deadline, so there was some familiarity there. And Tarasenko’s wife, Yana, reached out to Kane’s girlfriend, Amanda Grahovec. Kane signed a one-year contract to remain with the Red Wings on June 30 after playing for them last season, so he and Grahovec were able to tell the Tarasenkos about living in the Detroit suburbs as well as what it’s like to play for the Red Wings.

It worked, with Tarasenko signing a two-year, $9.5 million contract ($4.75 million average annual value) with Detroit on July 3.

“I liked the way the team played last year,” Tarasenko said Monday. “We decided with the family this is the best decision for us moving forward, and we are really excited about it.”

Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup winner with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015), liked the idea of adding a proven veteran forward such as Tarasenko, who won the Stanley Cup last season with the Florida Panthers after winning it with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. The 32-year-old had 55 points (23 goals, 32 assists) in 76 regular-season games for the Panthers and Ottawa Senators last season including 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 19 games after he was acquired by the Panthers in a trade with the Senators on March 6.

“Obviously you get excited about that and then [Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman] called me as well, just asking about him as a player,” Kane said. “I think he’s going to be so good for the group. Obviously he’s a proven winner, but just the way he plays, how hard he plays, I think a lot of players in general, not just young guys but the whole team will see how hard he works and how much effort he gives every shift and that’s why he has a couple Stanley Cups to his name too.”

MLive’s Ansar Khan also took note of Tarasenko and Kane’s remarks…

“I’m not a person who just comes and hangs out, enjoy my time. I try to win,” Tarasenko said. “I really like winning. I will do everything I can to help the organization to take the next step, help the guys, share my experience, just do my best to make the playoffs. And once you make the playoffs, you never know what’s going to happen. I like the way the (Red Wings) played, and I believe this team can make the playoffs and do some special things.”

He’ll be reunited with Patrick Kane, his teammate with the New York Rangers for a couple of months at the end of 2022-23.

“He’s a proven winner, but I think just the way he plays, how hard he plays, I think a lot of players, not just young guys, but the whole team, will see how hard he works and how much effort he gives every shift,” Kane said. “That’s why he has a couple Stanley Cups to his name. Just adding that winning presence is going to be huge for the group.”

Tarasenko tallied 23 goals and 55 points in 76 games between Ottawa and Florida. He wasn’t as productive in the postseason (five goals, nine points in 24 games). He’s not far removed from a 34-goal, 82-point season with St. Louis in 2021-22.

…

“I still like to score goals, and I still have some, not only team, but personal goals, too,” Tarasenko said. “I know a lot of people say when you get older, it’s harder to get, but I believe it’s possible. And I think the way it was, I never wanted to not play defense. Sometimes I just don’t understand what to do. But when the years come by and the more I play, I just realized you have to do this in order for you and your team to win the championships.”

The Hockey News’s Connor Eargood focused on Kane’s remarks…

“For me, my heart was set on coming to Detroit and being back in Detroit,” Kane said Monday. “I thought it was a good fit last year. I love the team. We were really comfortable living there. I love the fans. I thought the fans really embraced me too. … And it’s not only just about me, right. I feel like it was a good fit for me, but I also feel like it was a good fit for the team and I feel like I fit in well with the lineup and with the players and the guys. So I was looking forward to just building on what we went through last year.”

Kane felt love in Detroit last season, his first coming back from a hip resurfacing surgery that had derailed so many other careers. He felt the appreciate of fans, and he felt it from announcers like Ken Daniels, whose play calls Kane shouted out. So, he decided he wants to expand the highlight reel, signing a team-friendly contract. Because Kane is 35, those bonuses are structured so that they can be paid on the remainder of this season’s cap space, then whatever is left is rolled over to next season.

“I think it works both ways,” Kane said. “I can sign a one year deal, take advantage of bonuses, not only for myself, but it kind of helps the team too, right, to have the lower AAV. So that’s something that we just talked about with my agent, Pat Brisson, thought that maybe that was a good road to go and kind of take advantage of being able to use those bonuses for a year.”

…

Last season wasn’t just a comeback for Kane, but also one for Detroit. For the first time since 2016, Detroit came within a point of the playoffs. For a team that has been stuck in a rebuild for eight years, such proximity to the postseason was a revelation. But if Detroit truly wants to be great, if it wants to be a contender, then last season must be a stepping stone and not laurels to rest on. Just like Kane wants to build on his performance last season, the Red Wings have to build on theirs, too.

“We all want to build on last year, so that was the message I got as well. And I think there’s definitely expectations going into this season, so that’s always a good thing,” Kane said. “You want those expectations, whether it’s the fans or the media or just players in general to expect the team and the organization to take the next step. So I’m excited about being a part of that and hopefully getting the chance to have a good regular season, play playoff hockey again.”

TV 20/WXYZ’s Max White also took note of Kane’s remarks…

“For me personally, having a full training camp, coming in healthy and feeling good will be big for me and for the team. Just looking forward to building on what we accomplished last year,” Kane said.

Kane said that he’s feeling really good and happy with his body coming into the new season and after last season.

“Just kind of feeling like it’s all one is something I’ve kind of been searching for throughout the first year of the process and after surgery. Feeling good, feeling fresh. My goal is to take it to another level,” he said.

He said he’s ready for the Red Wings to get back to the playoffs, especially after coming so close last season.

“I think Little Caesars Arena is an amazing place to play. I can’t even imagine what it would be like in the playoffs. I’m really looking forward to that,” Kane said.

And, as you might imagine, the Red Wings posted some Tweets noting popular comments made during the conference calls:

Update: Here’s a bit more from Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff, who notes that Patrick Kane helped bring Tarasenko to Detroit:

“We just kind of relayed the message that it was similar to New York in a way, kind of like the Greenwich, Connecticut area,” Kane said. “I think the suburbs in Detroit are unbelievable. I lived there when I was 14 (playing youth hockey), but when I came back, I didn’t realize how nice they were, what a great spot it is to live, raise a family. You have a lot of options, whether it’s playing hockey or the schools at your disposal.

“And then I really like how the (Little Caesars Arena) rink is set up with having the practice rink and the game rink all in one venue. If you’re a free agent, or if you’re a player and you want to come to the Red Wings, there’s a lot of positives.”

Tarasenko was sold. After word came that he was in agreement on terms of two-year pact with the Red Wings, Kane couldn’t have been happier.

“Obviously, he’s a proven winner,” Kane said. “But I think just the way he plays, how hard he plays, I think a lot of players in general, not just young guys, but the whole team, will see how hard he works and how much effort he gives every shift. And that’s why he has a couple of Stanley Cups to his name, too. So I think just adding that winning credit and presence is going to be huge for the group.”

Update #2: Here’s a bit more from the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

[Christian] Fischer: Fischer re-signed with the Wings on a one-year deal worth $1.125 million last week and was unabashedly happy to do so.

“This is where I want to be,” said Fischer, although talking from the coast of Italy, he also could have meant where he was presently. “I told my agent after the season I really enjoyed my time with the guys, everyone included on and off the ice, and my heart was 100% set on Detroit. You can’t say that when you’re a free agent, but the internal discussions were to come back here and having a chance to build something here with this group.”

Seeing stars like Kane and Tarasenko decide on the Wings, Fischer said, is a sign of how the team is thought of around the league.

“We have Hall of Famers signing contracts with us and guys that caliber, he (Kane) could go anywhere and any team would love to have him, so that says a lot about our organization,” Fischer said. “A guy like Tarasenko, he has two Stanley Cups. He’s not coming to just play hockey. He sees something in the Red Wings.”

Update #3: 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield notes Kane’s remarks:

“We all want to build on last year,” Kane said Monday after returning to the Wings on a one-year, bonus-laden deal a day before he would have reached unrestricted free agency. “That was the message I got as well (from Steve Yzerman).”

Kane, 35, played a big part in the Red Wings nearly snapping their franchise-worst eight-year playoff drought last season. He finished fourth on the team in goals and sixth in points, despite playing in just 50 games after joining the team in late November following a resurfacing procedure on his hip. Kane is keen on playing an even bigger role this year, on a team trying to continue a slow and steady ascent in the East.

“There’s definitely expectations going into this season, and that’s always a good thing,” he said. “You want those expectations. Whether it’s the fans, the media or just the players in general, you want to expect the team and the organization to take the next step. Excited about being a part of that and hopefully getting a chance to have a good regular season and play playoff hockey again. I think the LCA is just an amazing place to play. I can’t even imagine what it would be like in the playoffs.”

Kane had several suitors as a free agent last fall. He ultimately chose the Red Wings because of his belief in Yzerman, his friendship with Alex DeBrincat and his longtime desire to play in Detroit, where he had moved at the age of 14 to play top-tier youth hockey for Honeybaked while living with Hall of Famer Pat Verbeek. He chose them again because the experience was everything he thought it would be. Maybe even more after spending the first 16 seasons of his career with the Blackhawks.

“For me, my heart was set on coming to Detroit and being back in Detroit,” said Kane. “I thought it was a good fit last year, loved the team, we were really comfortable living there, loved the fans. I thought the fans really embraced me. You never really know what to expect, especially being in Chicago for so long and coming to Detroit, I know that’s a huge rivalry, but the embrace of the fans was incredible.”

Update at 7:25 PM: The Hockey News’s Sam Stockton adds a bit more from Vladimir Tarasenko:

In Detroit, Tarasenko sees the chance to add to his collection of hardware.  “That’s the reason I came because I like the way the team played,” he said.  “I believe this team can make the playoffs and do some special things.”  Between his 2019 champion Blues and this year’s Panthers, Tarasenko has a good idea of what a winner looks like.  “What was similar is the way the team played hard,” he explains, when asked by The Hockey News about the resemblance between his two championship teams.  

“One of the biggest similarities was the group itself, the locker room, was very tight,” he continues, citing the example of the Cats rallying from three straight losses to clinch the Cup on home ice.  “And when the group is tight and there is good relationships inside and a high level of trust, you can raise your confidence.  What happened in Game Seven in the finals [was] because the group we had, when we lost three games in a row, we were able to come close together and think, ‘it’s one game.  We can win it.  Let’s go.’  And work for each other and trust and give us the result.”

…

Tarasenko’s reputation has always been as a sniper, but he’s also spent the bulk of his career—whether at his long-time home in St. Louis or his most recent with the Panthers—on team’s that prided defense.  Those environments, as well as the success he’s achieved in them, appear to have rubbed off.

“I still like to score goals,” Tarasenko says with a wry-smile, when asked whether his two-way game has improved with age. “Don’t get me wrong. I still have some not only team but personal goals too…I never wanted to not play defense. Sometimes I just don’t understand what to do. But when the years come by, the more I played, I just realized you have to this in order for your team to win the championship, I think this is the way to go.”

Tweet of note: ‘Selling’ Tarasenko on Detroit

From CBS Detroit’s Rachel Hopmayer comes this clip from Patrick Kane’s media availability today, in which Kane discusses a discussion he had with Vladimir Tarasenko regarding Metro Detroit’s pluses: