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!

AP previews the Red Wings’ 2023-2024 outlook

The Associated Press posted a capsule preview of the 2023-2024 Red Wings’ outlook for the upcoming season:

LAST SEASON: Finished just under .500 in best season since 2016, the last year the once-proud franchise was in the playoffs, but still ended up in seventh place in the eight-team Atlantic Division. Captain Dylan Larkin had a career-high 79 points and matched a career high with 32 goals. Defenseman Moritz Seider and forward Lucas Raymond were solid in their second seasons. Husso emerged as a No. 1 goaltender.

STRENGTHS: Depth. Hall of Famer and team general manager Steve Yzerman made moves in free agency and via trades to add desperately needed talent at forward, on defense and in goal. The Red Wings potentially have more players with NHL experience than roster spots up front, on the back end and between the pipes. That has not been the case in recent years with the rebuilding team.

WEAKNESSES: Lack of a superstar. Detroit has many solid players and some standouts, but it lacks a dynamic player who can change a game and the chances the franchise can finally make the playoffs. The Red Wings haven’t had a 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2009. Larkin and winger Alex DeBrincat could potentially pass the benchmark.

WHAT TO EXPECT: The Red Wings might have enough talent to end a seven-year postseason drought, which matches the longest in franchise history (1971-77). Yzerman provided a desperately needed dose of hope by acquiring DeBrincat from Ottawa in July and signed him to a four-year extension worth about $7.8 million annually. While Detroit may have a better record than it did a year ago, the Motor City might have to wait at least another year to experience playoff hockey again.

Continued

Tweets of note: Detroit and Chicago’s rosters for tonight’s preseason game (8:30 PM on NBCSCH, ESPN+, 97.1 FM)

Here are the rosters for tonight’s game between the hometown Chicago Blackhawks and the Red Wings (8:30 PM EDT on NBC Sports Chicago, ESPN+ and 97.1 FM):

Tweet of note: Fabbri to return to play Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh

Per the Detroit Red Wings and Carley Johnston:

Duff on a Buchelnikov trade rumor

Earlier this morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a rumor regarding Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov being moved from SKA St. Petersburg to Admiral Vladivostok. I never quite know how to take these rumors from the rumor-happy Russian press, so let’s see what Bob has to say about the trade which would send Buchelnkov from Russia’s west coast to Russia’s easternmost KHL team:

Russian website SportExpress.ru is reporting that a major deal is on the brink of going down that would see Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov back playing in the KHL.

SportExpress is reporting that SKA St. Petersburg is close to completing a trade that would see the club land goaltender Nikita Serebryakov from Admiral. Considered among the top goalies in the KHL, the proposed price to acquire Serebryakov will be Red Wings 2022 second-round draft pick Buchelnikov, goaltender Sergei Ivanov and a significant sum of cash.

Witb Admiral since 2021, Serebryakov is showing a .920 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average so far this season. He’s known in these parts because as a junior he was working with Michigan-based goaltending instructor Stan Matwijiw.

SKA was the top seed entering the KHL playoffs as the top seed a year ago. However, delivering their ouster in the Gagarin Cup semifinals was eventual champions CSKA, the team coached by former Red Wings star Sergei Fedorov. SKA is off to a terrible start to the 2023-24 campaign. With a 6-6 record through 12 games, the club sits in the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot.

Continued; as Duff notes, Buchelnikov has been playing for SKA’s farm team, SKA Neva St. Petersburg, and doing quite well in the VHL.

Getting back to where they belong

NHL.com’s Adam Kimelman has posted an article in which he discusses the ways by which the 8 Eastern Conference Teams that didn’t make the playoffs last season can rectify that particular issue:

DETROIT RED WINGS

Last season: 35-37-10, 12 points out of second wild card

How it ended: The Red Wings were third in the Atlantic Division as late as Dec. 6, but they lost six of eight (2-4-2) heading into the Christmas break to drop out of a playoff spot. They never were able to climb back and missed the postseason for the seventh straight season.

Biggest offseason change: The Red Wings hope Alex DeBrincat can be their first 40-goal scorer since Marian Hossa in 2008-09. The 25-year-old has scored at least 40 twice in six NHL seasons and had 27 in 82 games with the Ottawa Senators last season. Detroit traded forward Dominik Kubalik, defenseman prospect Donovan Sebrango and two draft picks, including a conditional first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, to the Senators to acquire him July 9 and then signed him to a four-year, $31.5 million contract ($7.875 million average annual value).

Why they could get in: DeBrincat becomes the centerpiece of an offense that got deeper with the offseason additions of forwards J.T. Compher, Kailer Yamamoto and Klim Kostin and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. Detroit certainly played like an improved team in coach Derek Lalonde’s first season, scoring more (2.89 goals per game last season, up from 2.77 in 2021-22) and allowing less (3.35 goals allowed per game, down from 3.78). DeBrincat should excel on a line with center Dylan Larkin, who set NHL bests last season last season in goals (32) and points (79). Combined with improvements from young players like forward Lucas Raymond, and defensemen Moritz Seider, 22, and Simon Edvinsson, 20, the Red Wings could end their postseason drought.

Continued; in my opinion, it’s going to take everything improving for the Red Wings to make the playoffs, from special teams play to scoring, defense, goaltending and of course luck with injuries.

Tweet of note: Red Wings Alums to play veterans’ benefit game on November 10th

The Detroit Red Wings Alumni Tweeted that they will play their annual game to benefit veterans on Friday, November 10th at 7:30 PM in St. Clair Shores:

Patrick Kane rumors persist

The Hockey News’s Lyle Richardson reports that there are still rumors linking Patrick Kane to the Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, and yes, the Detroit Red Wings:

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen cited hockey analyst Pierre McGuire suggesting the Detroit Red Wings as a destination. Talking with Montreal’s TSN 690 last Thursday, McGuire thinks Kane could make “a massive difference” this season in Detroit, pointing out they also acquired his former teammate Alex DeBrincat.

This isn’t the first time someone has linked Kane to the Red Wings. John Dietz of the Chicago Daily Herald last month cited a source close to the winger claiming he wanted to be reunited with DeBrincat.

With PuckPedia showing more than $5 million in cap space, the Wings have the room to add Kane if he’s willing to accept a big pay cut from the $10.5-million average annual value of his previous contract. However, Sam Stockton doesn’t see Kane as a fit in Detroit, citing concerns over his health and production.

Continued; I don’t see a fit here, but you never know.

Red Wings-Blackhawks morning skate stuff: TV/radio info, morning skate Tweets and the Hawks’ lineup

Updated 7x at 12:01 PM: The Detroit Red Wings open up a stretch of 3 games to be played over the course of 3 nights tonight in Chicago vs. the Blackhawks (8:30 PM EDT on NBC Sports Chicago/ESPN+/97.1 the Ticket). Detroit will then play in Pittsburgh on Wednesday, and in Toronto on Thursday.

The Wings will likely cut down the roster either Friday, ahead of Saturday’s home exhibition finale vs. Toronto (7 PM EDT on Saturday, on Bally Sports Detroit), or they’ll make their cuts shortly afterward.

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a preview of tonight’s game…

After using the summer months to rest and recover, jumping back into hockey’s daily grind can be an adjustment for players young and old. But when reflecting on the first half of the preseason, Red Wings head coach Derek Lalonde said prospects like Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson don’t appear overwhelmed.

“Playing and getting a lot of minutes in a lot of situations gets you more comfortable,” Lalonde said after Sunday’s 6-1 win against Chicago. “That’s why you do it. (Kasper and Danielson) are probably playing beyond what we had slated, which they’ve earned. I think these types of minutes and experiences are extremely important for those young players.”

J.T. Compher, who had a goal and two assists on Sunday, also praised the young talent in the Red Wings’ lineup this preseason.

“Some of the young guys have played really well,” Compher said. “They’re also good kids who work hard. They’re out there after practice asking questions and are willing to learn, which as a young guy is super important. This is an important time for them. Even if it’s a couple of games and they go back to wherever they play for the year, it’s good to get reps in and build a little bit of trust for Newsy.”

Mills continues;

In terms of morning skate Tweets: MLive’s Ansar Khan led us off…

Continue reading Red Wings-Blackhawks morning skate stuff: TV/radio info, morning skate Tweets and the Hawks’ lineup

Wings ranked low in ESPN’s ‘NHL Goalie Tandems’ rankings

I can’t even be made at ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski’s low ranking of the Red Wings’ goaltenders this morning. The Wings are going to have to prove a lot of people wrong, and Wyshynski’s rankings of the NHL’s goaltending “tandems” are representative of the Wings’ status in the eyes of their critics:

27. Detroit Red Wings
Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, James Reimer, Sebastian Cossa

GM Steve Yzerman made significant changes to the Red Wings’ goaltending after last season, which saw them finish 25th in team save percentage (.890).

Gone are Alex Nedeljkovic and Magnus Hellberg, both of whom ended up with the Penguins. Arriving are Reimer, who posted his first sub-.900 save percentage of his 13-year NHL career (.890) with the Sharks last season; and Lyon, whose 15 games with the Panthers (.912) practically saved their season when Sergei Bobrovsky was out down the stretch.

Cossa was taken 15th overall in the 2021 draft, but is only just getting on the path for his pro career.

Continued (paywall)