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 pair of columns from Burchfield regarding the Red Wings’ rebuilding process

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde spoke with 97.1 the Ticket’s Stoney and Jansen show this morning…

And 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield posted two columns about the interview, first noting Lalonde’s more quotable remarks…

When the Red Wings open the season Thursday night in New Jersey, they won’t have a single first- or second-year player on the roster — which feels counterintuitive for a rebuilding team. Derek Lalonde says it’s a reflection of a deeper roster with higher ambitions.

After the Wings added several veterans this summer, key prospects like Simon Edvinsson, Marco Kasper and Jonatan Berggren will start the season in Grand Rapids.

“I do think you’re going to see plenty of those guys, but they’re not fitting what we’re trying to do right now,” Lalonde said Wednesday on 97.1 The Ticket. “Our goal is to win now, of course with the vision of improving in the future. When you say is it important for them to play? I would agree with you. Absolutely, it’s important for them to play 23 minutes in a significant game (in the AHL rather) than seven, eight minutes with us and growing on the fly with mistakes or sitting up in the press box.”

The Red Wings have leaned toward the latter the last few years, said Lalonde, without gaining much ground. He pointed to Berggren, a 2018 second-round pick who debuted in Detroit last season and scored 16 goals in 67 games, and said, “No disrespect to Jonatan Berggren, but he was forced to play for us last year where with we were at.”

And then questioning the Red Wings’ identity as a rebuilding team:

Continue reading A pair of columns from Burchfield regarding the Red Wings’ rebuilding process

Caputo wonders whether the Red Wings can make the playoff cut

97.1 the Ticket’s Pat Caputo ponders whether the improved Detroit Red Wings can make the playoff cut in the incredibly competitive Atlantic Division this upcoming season:

Yes, Alex DeBrincat is a fabulous addition for the Red Wings. This could be the year that Mo Seider establishes himself as a top defensemen in the NHL. Dylan Larkin is in his prime, and this will likely be his most productive season. Yzerman added nine veterans to his roster. The Red Wings figure to be bigger, stronger, tougher, deeper and more balanced.

Thing is, the same can be said for the Sabres and Senators. Those are the teams the Red Wings are most compared to as up-and-comers in the Eastern Conference. In truth, those teams are more advanced in the rebuild phase.

The Red Wings had 80 points last season. They could be distinctly better and not make the playoffs. Grand Rapids is loaded with prospects, and Yzerman clearly is building the organization the right way. It does include trying to reach the playoffs now. Otherwise, he would not have added this much veteran talent in the offseason.

Yzerman inherited a disaster. He had to endure a difficult teardown before he could start rebuilding in earnest. The Red Wings essentially missed half a season because they were not in the NHL’s version of the NBA bubble during the pandemic. The Red Wings have a very strong prospect pipeline, and are being assembled to last once they emerge.

Even if these are legitimate reasons, not excuses, it won’t fly with many of the Red Wings’ faithful if they don’t reach the postseason.

Continued

Tweet of bemusement: Griffins answer a twist on the ‘How often do you think of the Roman Empire’ question

This is a cute way of doing “Media Day” differently:

Belated Tweets from Wednesday’s practice: no line changes

The Detroit Red Wings practiced earlier today at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center ahead of tomorrow night’s season-opener in New Jersey (7:30 PM EDT on ESPN+/hulu), and here are the Tweets from said practice:

Continue reading Belated Tweets from Wednesday’s practice: no line changes

Prospect round-up LDN scores his 7th of the season in Bjorkloven loss

Of Red Wings prospect-related note in Europe:

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Liam Dower Nilsson scored again, scoring his 7th goal of the season on 5 shots, finishing at +1 in 15:16 of ice time as IF Bjorkloven lost 4-3 to Tingsryds IF:

Tweets of note: off to Newark!

The Detroit Red Wings open their regular season tomorrow night against the New Jersey Devils (7:30 PM EDT on ESPN+/hulu), and the Wings headed to New Jersey this afternoon on Red Bird III:

THN’s power rankings: On goaltending

The Hockey News’s Jason Chen filed a set of power rankings this afternoon, and he focuses on the Red Wings’ goaltending depth (or the lack thereof) as a season-opening story line:

22. Detroit Red Wings (35-37-10, -39. CF%: 26, xGF%: 26)

So many players, so little space. The Wings can configure their lineup in all sorts of ways, but they are going nowhere fast if Ville Husso struggles again. They’ve got two insurance policies in James Reimer and Alex Lyon, and Sebastian Cossa looks like he’s still at least a few seasons away.

Continued; Husso can’t do it all without a competent defense!

Press release: Red Wings announce details of ‘Red Carpet Walk,’ home opener festivities

Here’s a very lengthy press release from the Red Wings:

HOCKEYTOWN RED CARPET WALK LAUNCHES RED WINGS OPENING NIGHT THIS SATURDAY, PRESENTED BY COKE ZERO SUGAR AND MEIJER 

  • The Chevrolet Plaza opens at 3:00 p.m., with players expected to walk the Red Carpet between 3:45 and 4:45 p.m.
  • Ticketed and non-ticketed fans at the Hockeytown Red Carpet Walk can interact with current Red Wings players, including brief autograph and selfie opportunities
  • Ticketed fans encouraged to be in their seats by 6:20 p.m. to enjoy the Opening Show 

DETROIT – The fan-favorite “Hockeytown Red Carpet Walk,” presented by Coke Zero Sugar and Meijer, will return to the Chevrolet Plaza outside Little Caesars Arena prior to the Detroit Red Wings’ home opener on Saturday, Oct. 14 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, with puck drop at 7:00 p.m. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. The Red Wings today announced special events surrounding Opening Night, in addition to new features at Little Caesars Arena for the 2023-24 season.

HOCKEYTOWN RED CARPET WALK AND EXPERIENCE

The Hockeytown Red Carpet Walk will begin at 3:45 p.m. at the Trinity Health Garage (165 Sproat St.) and pass through the Chevrolet Plaza.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings announce details of ‘Red Carpet Walk,’ home opener festivities