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!

Kolesar trade, Arvidson signing earn praise from Monarrez, but the Red Wings’ scoring issues hinge upon Kane re-singing, Larkin trade

The Red Wings’ trade for Vegas Golden Knights forward Keegan Kolesar was made because the Golden Knights needed to make salary cap space.

As such, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Danny Webster reports that Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon expressed regret about having to trade a long-time “misfit”…

Kolesar became a full-time NHL player during the shortened 56-game season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and has been one of the Knights’ more reliable and durable players since. He played in 439 games as a primary fourth liner, scoring 120 points in six years.

“I think we’ll have a friendship forever,” general manager Kelly McCrimmon said Wednesday. “I hope he does great. I’ll be the first guy to come shake his hand in the dressing room when we play Detroit. These are decisions that have to be made that aren’t easy.”

Kolesar was a key enforcer during the Knights’ Stanley Cup championship run in 2023. He’s played in 207 consecutive regular season games. His Knights tenure ended as a healthy scratch in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Kolesar had two years remaining on a three-year, $7.5 million contract he signed in December 2024. That season, he scored a career-high 12 goals and 30 points.

The move gives the Knights $6.175 million in cap space. This doesn’t account for winger Victor Olofsson reportedly returning to the Knights.

And this morning, the ever-opinionated Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press gives Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman rare praise for adding to “team toughness” through the Kolesar trade and the addition of free agent forward Viktor Arvidsson.

Monarrez believes that the trade an signing show an assertiveness that’s usually absent from Yzerman’s managerial moves:

Continue reading Kolesar trade, Arvidson signing earn praise from Monarrez, but the Red Wings’ scoring issues hinge upon Kane re-singing, Larkin trade

Yegor Vinogradov, an intriguing Summer Development Camp participant, can’t ‘come over’ to the NHL quite yet

Many Red Wings fans were excited about free agent forward Yegor Vinogradov’s presence at Detroit’s Summer Development Camp. The 6’3,” 203-pound KHL forward posted 54 points in 67 games this past season with Torpedo Nizhny Novgrod.

As Red Wings Prospects on Twitter noted, however, Vinogradov still has one year remaining on his contract with Torpedo, and as such, Vinogradov would have to buy out his own contract to terminate his deal…

And Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff took note of Vinogradov’s status as well:

Continue reading Yegor Vinogradov, an intriguing Summer Development Camp participant, can’t ‘come over’ to the NHL quite yet

‘Steer into the skid’

The Athletic’s Max Bultman weighs in on the state of the Red Wings after the first day of free agency, and a Magic 8-Ball can sum up his take: “Outlook not good.”

The Red Wings will, of course, get something for [Dylan] Larkin whenever they trade him, whether it’s picks, prospects or ready-made players. Even if it’s the latter, though, it’s hard to see Detroit getting back a true No. 1 center ready to give Larkin-level impact in 2026.

Without that, even factoring in the needs addressed elsewhere, the Red Wings are likely to take a step back next season. That’s especially true in a division where so much of the competition is taking steps forward.

Yes, the Red Wings still have one heck of a building block in Moritz Seider — their 25-year-old franchise defenseman who just finished top five for the Norris Trophy. Simon Edvinsson, his defense partner, continues to rise, too, forming an enviable top pair on the blue line. Add in wingers Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat, two premium offensive talents, and you have a decent core, not unlike that of the Bruins, who made the playoffs last season.

Continue reading ‘Steer into the skid’

The suckiest suck that ever sucked

We Red Wings partisans have had a mixed relationship with free agency. Under GM Steve Yzerman’s tenure, Detroit’s hockey franchise has either done too much (Andrew Copp, Ben Chiarot, J.T. Compher, etc. etc.) to try to push the Wings over the top, or it’s done too little.

There doesn’t seem to be a happy medium for Yzerman, the Wings’ pro scouts, and the rest of the management team. It’s either so much action that the roster’s too packed for younger players to earn spots, or the team does what we feel is nothing at all.

Before free agency, I was blunt: I felt that the team would, due to the mediocre nature of the free agent marketplace, and Detroit’s lack of status as a “destination,” do simpler things:

I expected the Wings to address their bottom-six depth and toughness, to add some depth on defense, and to determine whether Michal Postava should back up John Gibson.

I was not expecting a quick solution to the Dylan Larkin situation (and I’m not expecting a tearful reunion), either, so I’m willing to hold vigil on “X”/Twitter as necessary for the Wings to hold out for a real trade return.

Today, the Red Wings re-signed Carter Mazur; they added depth for Grand Rapids in Cameron Butler, Jacob Bryson and Wilmer Skoog; the team chose to bring in big goaltender Daniil Tarasov as Gibson’s back-up; they made a trade to snag the hard-hitting Keegan Kolesar (a favorite of mine), and, as a bonus (or at least insurance, should Patrick Kane leave the fold), Detroit signed 25-goal-scorer Viktor Arvidsson.

While Sergei Bobrovsky went to Toronto, the San Jose Sharks absorbed the salaries of Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba, and two-way center Vincent Trocheck cost the Utah Mammoth a pretty penny, the Wings did what they could–they took care of their depth, they added some scoring insurance and goaltending insurance, and they brought in a legitimate tough guy.

There are still some big (or at least consequential) names out there, too, as noted in a Tweet retweeted by The Athletic’s Max Bultman…

Continue reading The suckiest suck that ever sucked

Seider and Stuetzle take part in a Pro-Am in Munich

This is usually the kind of thing I post in the middle of August, but for a little relief from the intensity of free agency (I told you that the Wings would focus on defensive depth, improving their bottom-six forwards and decide whether to pursue a back-up goaltender, and that’s what they did!)…

Moritz Seider and Tim Stuetzle (who might very well be the NHL’s 1st and 2nd German-born team captains this fall) took part in a “Pro-Am” ahead of the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany today. BMW’s press arm posted both German and English-language press releases about the event…

Despite changeable weather conditions, anticipation for the 37th BMW International Open (July 1–5, 2026) was already palpable at Golfclub München Eichenried on Wednesday. In high spirits, numerous celebrities from the worlds of sports and entertainment joined the professionals for the traditional Pro-Am tournament. Due to poor weather, play could only begin around midday and was therefore shortened to nine holes.

Football legends Philipp Lahm and Oliver Bierhoff (both GER), FC Bayern Munich Basketball players Andreas Obst and Johannes Voigtmann, as well as NHL stars Moritz Seider and Tim Stützle (all GER) all demonstrated that they are just as capable with a golf ball as they are with their respective sports. Alongside BMW M Motorsport works driver Jordan Pepper (RSA), seven-time Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (luge), as well as two-time Olympic bobsleigh champion Johannes Lochner (all GER), also teed it up. They were joined by television and film stars including Kai Wiesinger and Kostja Ullmann (both GER).

So here are Seider and Stuetzle playing golf!

Continue reading Seider and Stuetzle take part in a Pro-Am in Munich

Truth and reconciliation?

The Free Press’s Helene St. James read the statements made by Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell and his captain, Zach Werenski, who has apparently rescinded his trade demands…

And, well…

Meanwhile in Detroit, more than two months have passsed since Larkin’s agent, Pat Brisson, informed general manager Steve Yzerman shortly after the season ended (on April 15) that Larkin wants to be traded. Larkin, who has five years left on a contract with an $8.7 million yearl salary cap hit, has a no-trade clause, and to that end submitted a list of where he wants to go: The Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, and Vegas Golden Knights.

The Wings haven’t received any offers they consider worthy of moving their top-line center and captain, who they drafted at No. 15 in 2014.

The Wings are not obligated to trade Larkin and are determined to only do so for players who can contribute at the NHL level now. If a trade does not happen, Larkin will have to decide either to report to camp, or sit out (in which case he would be in violation of his contract). If he reports, the expectation would be that he turn in his captaincy.

Another possibility is to pave a path to reconciliation, as Waddell and Werenski (a Grosse Pointe native and a close friend of Larkin’s) just demonstrated.

Continued; I just don’t see it happening. At some point this summer or fall, Dylan Larkin will no longer be a Detroit Red Wing.

Dreger: Red Wings trade draft picks to Vegas Golden Knights for winger Keegan Kolesar

Updated 7x at 7:20 PM: It’s official:

Per TSN’s Darren Dreger:

Kolesar, 29, stands at 6’2″ and 214 pounds, and he’s in year 2 of a 3-year contract that pays him $2.5 million per season.

Update: From the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker:

Continue reading Dreger: Red Wings trade draft picks to Vegas Golden Knights for winger Keegan Kolesar

Another depth signing in Wilmer Skoog

The Red Wings signed 26-year-old center Wilmer Skoog to a 1-year, 2-way contract. The 6’2,” 196-pound forward posted 18 goals and 37 points in 61 games with the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers this past season, and he posted a pair of assists in his first 3 NHL games with Florida.

Update: Here’s the team’s press release:

RED WINGS SIGN CAMERON BUTLER, WILMER SKOOG TO ONE-YEAR, TWO-WAY CONTRACTS

  … Butler Made NHL Debut with Columbus in 2023-24; Skoog Recorded Two Assists in Three Games with Florida in 2025-26 …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings today signed forwards Cameron Butler and Wilmer Skoog to one-year, two-way contracts.

Continue reading Another depth signing in Wilmer Skoog

Depth signings…Detroit signs Cameron Butler and Jacob Bryson

Updated 3x at 5:19 PM: The Red Wings signed two “depth players” on Wednesday, adding Cameron Butler, a 24-year-old 6’4,” 209-pound winger who’s bounced around the AHL and ECHL…

And the Red Wings have signed defenseman Jacob Bryson to a 1-year, $850,000 contract. Bryson is 5’9″ and 176 pounds, and the 28-year-old has been a #6/7 NHL defenseman:

Update: The Wings confirmed the Bryson signing at 4:44 PM:

Update #2: The Wings posted a Bryson press release first:

Continue reading Depth signings…Detroit signs Cameron Butler and Jacob Bryson

Red Wings sign Daniil Tarasov to 1-year, $2 million contract

Updated 4x at 4:06 PM: Per the Detroit Red Wings:

Update: In an ironic sense, from the Edmonton Journal’s Jim Matheson comes an article suggesting that the Edmonton Oilers should have signed Tarasov instead of trying to trade for Sebastian Cossa, who ended up in Utah:

“For me, the best UFA goalies to sign would be Ingram or Tarasov,” said Kevin Woodley, InGoal magazine’s managing editor, pointing out that they were the top 2 in terms of adjusted save percentage in their trying environments last season, with Tarasov (33 games) one tick below the overall league average .896 save percentage, and .835 in high danger saves when average was .811.

True, Tarasov’s play was better in the first half than the second when he played more, but the Panthers were decimated by injuries, playing a lot of call-ups.

Do we ever totally know about goalies, who to sign, who to trade for?

“I’m looking at Bob’s (Bobrovsky) numbers and he’s been a below average league goalie for five of his last seven years in regular-season but he has the ability to turn it up in the playoffs,” said Woodley.

…

“The injuries kept Tarasov from getting a chance in Columbus. He missed so much time early in his career, then he had to clear waivers later and didn’t have enough reps,” said Woodley. So Florida traded him to get a draft pick back, rather than lose him for nothing. They were scared to send him down (minors) because they need how much people valued the talent.”

Update #1:

Update #2:

Continue reading Red Wings sign Daniil Tarasov to 1-year, $2 million contract