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!

One more reminder that the Red Wings Alumni will be battling the ‘Yoopers United’ this Saturday

Here’s one more reminder that the Red Wings Alumni will be playing against the “Yoopers United” this Saturday, September 13th to raise funds for the United Way of Marquette County. Per WLUC 6’s Terese Ledy:

The Detroit Red Wings alumni will be in Marquette for a rematch this weekend.

Saturday is Marquette County Hockey Night, a fundraiser for the United Way of Marquette County. Hockey stars from around the county will don their Yoopers United jerseys to take on former Wings players.

On top of the main event, there will be tailgating, a sled hockey exhibition and an after-party.

Andrew Rickauer, United Way of Marquette County executive director, says every dollar raised stays in the area to help your friends and neighbors.

“About 40% of local residents are impacted by these dollars,” Rickauer said. “Whether it’s the youth programs, senior programs, food insecurity, transportation, and it’s all through our 26 partner agencies.”

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for youth and students. Proceeds benefit the United Way of Marquette County. Rickauer says tickets are selling quickly.

Tailgating starts at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Doors open at 5 p.m.

Cotsonika speaks with Red Wings forward Patrick Kane regarding his longevity and imminent milestones

NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika spoke with Red Wings forward Patrick Kane and his peers about the milestones which Kane might hit this upcoming season:

Patrick Kane laughed. Yeah, he needs 32 points to pass Mike Modano for the most in NHL history among players born in the United States, and that’s just one of the marks he could hit with the Detroit Red Wings this season.

“The first thing you think of is, if you play long enough, you’re going to reach some of these milestones, right?” the 36-year-old forward said at the NHL North American Player Media Tour on Tuesday.

Think about it more deeply, though, and you appreciate what Kane has put himself in position to accomplish. You can reach these milestones only if you play long enough at an elite level.

Kane might be the greatest American player of all time already. He has won the Stanley Cup three times, plus several individual awards. In 2016, he became the first player born in the United States to win the Hart Trophy when he was voted the NHL’s most valuable player.

With 1,343 points (492 goals, 851 assists) in 1,302 games, he’s within striking distance of Modano, who had 1,374 points (561 goals, 813 assists) in 1,499 games. He’s not far from Brett Hull, who played internationally for the United States and is listed as an American on NHL.com but was born in Canada. Hull had 1,391 points (741 goals, 650 assists) in 1,269 games.

…

The way Kane is playing, he could hit all three milestones this season. He had 59 points (21 goals, 38 assists) in 72 games last season, but had 45 points (16 goals, 29 assists) in 43 games after Detroit hired coach Todd McLellan on Dec. 26.

“Obviously, last year I wish I would have had more production,” he said. “I got off to a tough start. But I feel like I should be about a point-a-game guy. I always felt that way, so that’s kind of where the bar is for me. Listen, obviously the numbers are great. It’s kind of how you judge yourself as a player, especially when you’re an offensive guy. But for me, it’s just the love of the game. I love being on the ice. I love practicing. I love playing. I love being in a moment where the team needs to count on you and you need to step up, right? That’s the kind of thrill that drives me now. It’s not necessarily the numbers.”

Continued, and it’s really good stuff…

EliteProspects names Red Wings’ prospect pool NHL’s 12th-best; Carter Bear is their #1 Detroit prospect

EliteProspects has been releasing its “NHL Prospect Pool” rankings over the past couple of weeks, and today, Lassi Alanen discusses the top 24 prospects who might wear the Winged Wheel some day, while ranking the Red Wings’ pool of prospects 12th overall in the league:

After their notable drop last year, the Detroit Red Wings move back up by a few spots just to the edge of the top-10. Their pool is heavily boosted by the strength of their top talent; only the Chicago Blackhawks had more players featured when our top-100 affiliated skaters and top-20 affiliated goalies lists are combined.

More specifically, the Red Wings are stacked on few player archetypes. First, they have multiple higher-end forwards prospects who profile as physical and gritty two-way forces. Second, they have two of the three best goalie prospects on the planet. There are also some undersized yet highly skilled forwards and defencemen in the mix, too.

As such, even if they can’t match the depth of some of the top-end pools, it’s arguable the Red Wings have the talent to be a few spots higher in this ranking.

Let’s start from the top.

The theme of the Red Wings’ pool is really checking skills and intensity above all else. There’s no one who better matches that description than Carter Bear – and he has plenty of skill, too. While his production slowed in the second half, he still finished third in the WHL in even-strength primary points per 60, according to InStat Hockey.

A fierce competitor, Bear leaves nothing to chance. He sprints hard for every puck, engages in every battle, and goes all-out no matter the score or situation. With a nuanced physical game, he wins inside position every chance he gets, throws tons of hits, and creates most of his offence from the walls, net front, and goal line.

Bear is a skilled finisher, but an even better playmaker. He makes one-touch passes off the wall on the breakout, slips and hooks pucks through traffic, draws pressure before passing, and uses every option – even the trailer and weak side. While it’s not always pretty, he’s a manipulator – a player who stacks the deck in his favour.

With some work improving his skating posture and handling skill, Bear could become a top-six forward, a fan favourite and playoff performer. Even if he doesn’t hit that lofty projection, he’ll still find a way to the NHL. – Mitchell Brown

Continued at extended length (paywall)

Prospect round-up: Kiiskinen scores shootout goal, leads HPK in ice time in shootout loss

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen‘s HPK Hameenlinna lost 3-2 to TPS Turku in a shootout, though Red Wings Prospects captured a video of Kiiskinen scoring a shootout goal:

Kiiskinen played 20:43, leading the team, and he had 4 shots, but he could only beat TPS goaltender Eetu Makiniemi in the shootout.

Press release: Grand Rapids Griffins hire Brad Krakowitz as video coach

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

BRAD KRAKOWITZ NAMED VIDEO COACH FOR GRIFFINS

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced Brad Krakowitz as the new Grand Rapids Griffins video coach, helping the staff prepare, evaluate and assess their game both as a team and as individuals. Krakowitz replaces Erich Junge who is now the assistant video coordinator for the Red Wings.

Krakowitz most recently served as the assistant video coordinator for the AHL’s Tucson Roadrunners from 2022-25. In addition to his role with the Roadrunners, Krakowitz served as the assistant coach for the Tucson Jr. Roadrunners from 2019-2023, working primarily with their high school teams. He also worked for Recruit Scouting from 2020-22, scouting draft eligible prospects. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Krakowitz played on the inaugural Tucson Jr. Roadrunners high school team that finished as state runners-up in 2019.

Tickets for the Detroit Red Wings’ Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. remain available to the general public through griffinshockey.com. 

Tweet of note: Griffins video coordinator Erich Junge hired by Red Wings as assistant video coordinator

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

Three Wings alums among the ’20 greatest nicknames in hockey history,’ but the Perfect Human misses the cut

Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz compiled a list of his “20 greatest nicknames in hockey history,” and four notable Red Wings made his list–but the Perfect Human did not:

Mr. Hockey

There was nothing on the ice that Gordie Howe could not do. Score, defend, fight, play physical … it was all there. His all-around abilities helped earn him the moniker “Mr. Hockey,” a nickname that was actually trademarked by him and his wife, who was nicknamed “Mrs. Hockey.”

The Dominator

It is perhaps one of the most fitting nicknames because it was so representative of the way Dominik Hasek played. He was, simply, one of the most dominant players in NHL history and could change the fortunes of a team in a way few other players could. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Hasek played at a level that was pretty much unmatched by any goalie in any era. He was the reason some of those Buffalo Sabres teams went as far as they did in the playoffs, including the 1998 Stanley Cup Final team. 

The Professor

Part of the Detroit Red Wings‘ famed Russian Five, an awesome nickname in its own right, Igor Larionov was dubbed “The Professor” for his cerebral approach to the game. Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman called him a “real brainy player,” and Sergei Fedorov said he was one of the smartest players he played with. Larionov was also one of the players who was instrumental in Russian stars defecting to the NHL. 

Continued (does “Cujo” count as a legendary Red Wing? Methinks not); I’m not sure how Nicklas Lidstrom misses out on the list, but that’s just me.

Roughly tranlsated: Anton Johansson’s ready to be an underdog on Leksands IF’s SHL team

Anton Johansson‘s Leksands IF had a rough season last year, finishing in 11th place in the 14-team SHL, but Johansson and Leksands’ coach, Johan Hedberg, told Hockeynews.se’s Andreas Hanson that the team still believes that it’s going to improve beginning this Saturday, when the SHL season begins:

At the SHL’s media season-start meeting in Stockholm, it was clear that many have low expectations for Leksand for the 2025-2026 season. In the annual experts’ vote, in which about a hundred media representatives responded to questions, among other things, which team will be relegated from the SHL, Leksand received as much as 38% of the votes–the most of any team.

But both coaches and players choose to turn the talk into motivation.

“We in our team believe more than you believe in us. And it’s going to be a good start,” said head coach Johan Hedberg.

Hedberg describes how the team uses the tip-offs as a driving force, and he believes that it can even be an advantage to start as an underdog.

“It’s easier to create a “us versus the world” feeling. If you go in with expectations and can’t live up to them, the height of the fall is worse. That’s when it comes starts to haunt you,” he told Hockeynews.

Defenseman Anton Johansson is on the same track.

“I’ve said it before that I like to be a bit of an underdog. I think we on the team are pretty confident with that as well. We aren’t favorites. We have a team that can develop throughout the season. I really think we will do it, and take big steps,” Johansson said.

Both coaches and players agree that there is great potential in the team – and that the season will be about building, growing and sharpening the performances game after game.

“We know we might not earn four straight wins, but we’re going to be in every game. So our panic is not as great as if Färjestad would lose four straight games. Now, of course, we don’t want to start with four losses – but you have to take it where we are and try to build something for the long run,” says Hedberg.

“It’s more than a fan than favorite. The team looks promising. I think it’s going to be a damn fun season,” said Anton Johansson.

Red Wings’ Sergei ‘Fedorov 5-game plan’ now includes a ‘rinkside chat’ with Fedorov

The Detroit Red Wings are attempting to sell their 5-game ticket plans which include access to Sergei Fedorov’s jersey retirement game on January 12th via a novel approach:

We just had to share this incredible news! Scoring a Fedorov 5-Game Plan today not only guarantees you get the best seats at the best price when No. 91 goes up into the rafters, but a plan now includes a Rink Side Chat with the legend himself, Sergei Fedorov!

The Red Wings are asking interested parties to share their phone number and email for further information regarding the 5-game packs.

Does Dustin Wolf’s 7 x $7.5 mil contract portend a similar future deal for Simon Edvinsson?

I’m not usually one to deal in speculation, but the Calgary Flames signed sophomore goaltender Dustin Wolf to a massive 7-year contract with a $7.5 million cap hit today…

And, after Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson posted 7 goals and 24 assists for 31 points in 78 games during his first full NHL season in 2024-2025, the Wolf contract and Frank Nazar’s similarly-structured 7-year, $6.59 million cap hit deal with the Blackhawks got me thinking.

Given that Edvinsson is 22, and given that the salary cap is going to skyrocket over the course of the next couple of summers, should the Red Wings lock up their 6’5,” 209-pound defenseman before he becomes a restricted free agent next summer? And, if so, how much is reasonable for a player who appears to be a 30-50-point producer?

I’d guess that Edvinsson could earn somewhere in the neighborhood of $7.5 million. How much do you think the Red Wings might pay Edvinsson to buy some of his future earning years?