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!

Allen: Sabres wanted a ‘hockey deal’ for Cozens

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders aloud whether the Ottawa Senators’ trade for Buffalo Sabres center Dylan Cozens will “come back to haunt” the Red Wings, but Allen also notes that the Red Wings weren’t willing to pay the Sabres’ asking price for Cozens:

The Ottawa Senators, one of Detroit’s chief rivals for an Eastern Conference wildcard spot, traded for the player that the Red Wings wanted.

The Senators acquired center-wing Dylan Cozens, a second-round pick and defenseman Dennis Gilbert for center Josh Norris and defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker.

This is considered a “hockey trade”, a deal that is mostly about how it impacts the two teams today. That’s important because hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported that the Red Wings had also pursued a deal for Cozens. The Red Wings liked him as a No. 2 center

Sources told Detroit Hockey Now that Detroit’s offer involved a first-round pick and prospects. Sabres’ general manager Kevin Adams informed the Red Wings that if he traded Cozens it would only be in a “hockey deal.”The Sabres have one of the league’s better collections of prospects. What they wanted was more proven skill.

To get Norris, who already has 20 goals this season, the Sabres sweetened the deal with a second-round pick. Norris, 25, previously scored 35 goals in a season.

The Red Wings simply didn’t have a player like Norris to offer. Norris is in his prime and he has a track record of success.

Detroit fans were hoping Detroit could package someone like J.T. Compher, Joe Veleno and perhaps a first-round pick to get Cozens. But that was never going to happen. Cozens is 24 and has a 31-goal season on his resume.

Press release: PWHL Takeover to be held at Little Caesars Arena on March 16th

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Little Caesars Arena hosts PWHL Takeover Tour game on Sunday, March 16

  • First 8,000 fans receive PWHL Rally Towel
  • Fans can watch Michigan natives Elle Hartje, Abby Roque, Taylor Girard and Mellissa Channell-Watkins, along with 2023 first overall draft pick Taylor Heise and Kendall Coyne Schofield in action
  • Practices open to public on Saturday

DETROIT – After a successful inaugural season Takeover Tour, the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is returning to Detroit for another game between the New York Sirens and the Minnesota Frost at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 16.

Little Caesars Arena set the U.S. professional women’s hockey attendance record at the time with 13,736 fans at last year’s PWHL game in Detroit.

Fans can enjoy a hockey doubleheader on Sunday by attending the Detroit Red Wings game at 1 p.m. and the PWHL game at 7:30 p.m. PWHL tickets can be purchased here, starting at just $26. Arena doors for the PWHL game will open at 6:15 p.m.

Game parking throughout The District Detroit will be available, and purchasing ahead of time on ParkWhiz is recommended. Rates will switch at 2 p.m. and Temple West and Trinity Health Garages may be the best options for PWHL fans.

Fans can access their parking structures and entry gates at Little Caesars Arena easily, using what3words and can find all information necessary before attending the game here.

PUBLIC PRACTICES ON SATURDAY

The PWHL team practices on Saturday will be open to the public, free of charge. 300 fans can watch New York and Minnesota practicing on the BELFOR ice at Little Caesars Arena. The first 50 fans will be selected for a meet-and-greet and autograph signing opportunity with New York players following their practice, and the next 50 will get to do the same with Minnesota. The BELFOR Entrance at Little Caesars Arena will open to the public for practices at 11 a.m.

Tweet of note: Caputo on Mrazek

Per 97.1 the Ticket’s Pat Caputo:

Press release: Red Wings confirm Mrazek-and-Smith for Veleno trade

From the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS ACQUIRE CRAIG SMITH AND PETR MRÁZEK FROM CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS IN EXCHANGE FOR JOE VELENO

  … Smith Has Recorded 450 Points in 968 Games with Nashville, Boston, Washington, Dallas and Chicago Since 2011-12; Mrázek Has Posted 178-174-40 Record in 423 Appearances with Detroit, Philadelphia, Carolina, Toronto and Chicago Since 2012-13 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today acquired forward Craig Smith and goaltender Petr Mrázek from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Joe Veleno.

Smith, 35, has skated in 40 games with the Blackhawks during the 2024-25 season, recording 16 points (9-7-16) and 28 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound forward spent the entire 2023-24 campaign with the Dallas Stars, logging 20 points (11-9-20), a plus-two rating and 33 penalty minutes in 75 regular-season games, in addition to two assists in 14 postseason contests. Originally selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (98th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, Smith has racked up 450 points (220-230-450), a plus-90 rating and 389 penalty minutes in 968 games with the Predators, Boston Bruins, Washington Capitals, Stars and Blackhawks since 2011-12. He has also totaled 23 points (9-14-23) and 20 penalty minutes in 83 playoff matchups, helping the Predators reach the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Smith also tallied five points (1-4-5) in four games with the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, along with eight points (4-4-8) in eight games with KalPa Kuopio in Finland’s top professional league during the 2012-13 season.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings confirm Mrazek-and-Smith for Veleno trade

Red Wings recall Dominik Shine

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Red Wings reacquire Petr Mrazek and acquire Craig Smith for Joe Veleno

Per Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff:

Continue reading Red Wings reacquire Petr Mrazek and acquire Craig Smith for Joe Veleno

The harsh reality of the NHL business

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan filed an afternoon notebook article which discusses the realities of the trade deadline for every team, including the Red Wings, who lost Christian Fischer on waivers yesterday:

Fischer’s role gradually diminished this season, and being put on waivers Wednesday wasn’t a total shock. But for Fischer’s teammates, it stung to see him go, and particularly to a rival like Columbus.

“It’s hard,” Larkin said. “I think so highly of him as a guy, a locker room guy, someone that just did anything for the team. You guys had a good sense of what he meant to all of us. It’s hard when he goes to a team, especially that we’re battling with for the playoffs. I’ve seen it a lot. It’s part of the business, but it’s not fun when he goes away for free.”

McLellan has seen the scene play out numerous times on his teams and understands why it’s difficult. But coaches and players all come back to the reality that it’s a fact of life in professional sports.

“It’s a business,” McLellan said. “It’s a cruel business sometimes. When it comes to losing a popular teammate, and we’re obviously talking about Fish, but he’ll get an opportunity. Somebody wanted him there, wanted to play him, and that’s great. But I’m sure every player in the locker room, (even though) we’re battling with that team, are happy for him and sad to see him leave.”

Continued