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!

Red Wings vs Blackhawks rematch morning skate Tweets: Detroit’s ‘second group’ will skate vs. Chicago

The Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks face off tonight in a rematch of Wednesday’s 4-2 Red Wings win (7 PM EDT start on DetroitRedWings.com in Michigan/ChicagoBlackhawks.com in Illinois):

The Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena just before 10:30 AM:

Continue reading Red Wings vs Blackhawks rematch morning skate Tweets: Detroit’s ‘second group’ will skate vs. Chicago

On Simon Edvinsson’s attempts to earn a regular role on the Wings’ defense

EP Rinkside’s Sean Shapiro penned a profile of Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson on his Shap Shots blog, discussing Edvinsson’s attempts to establish himself as a regular NHL defenseman:

“First you have to make a name, you have to prove that, and then you can try to get a role,” Edvinsson said.

Edvinsson said it’s a shift in mentality. In the past he had to treat every shift like he was trying to prove he belonged on the NHL roster, it’s not a very calming feeling and any mistake felt amplified. Now he said gets to attack each practice with confidence that he’s got a job, and just can prove his game will lead to larger roles and opportunities.

He can make the game easier, he can be calm off the ice, ideally matching his demeanor on it.

“I feel like in general my game is just smooth now,” Edvinsson said. “Calm with the puck, my breakout passes. I think that’s my strength, is that my skating and my breakout passes. That’s also become my best addition, I can be smooth now from the defensive to the offensive zone.”

Continued (paywall); Edvinsson has always been confident in himself. Now his job is to make his game smooth on a shift-by-shift basis.

Albert Johansson, smooth defenseman

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses Albert Johansson this morning, noting that the 23-year-old defenseman may not have spectacular skills, but Johansson does possess a strong all-round game:

“Simple, heavy, hard,” is the outline Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde gives of what an effective Johansson performance looks like. “He’s been noticeable in some aspects of camp, which is a positive for him.”

With two seasons of North American pro hockey under his belt playing for the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, Johansson is still awaiting his NHL debut. It will come this season. He must clear NHL waivers to go back down to GR. That’s not going to happen.

“Now it’s a new season,” Johansson said. “Time to take the next step.”

For Johansson, that next step isn’t going to be into the limelight.

Regardless, Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson, who often played in tandem with Johansson for the Griffins, thinks Detroit fans will be delighted by what they see from his fellow Swede.

“Good hands, good vision,” Edvinsson said. “He’s a steady defenseman. I really like how he plays. We played a lot in GR. We had good chemistry there and yeah, I really like him as a player.”

Continued; Johansson is just plain old smooth out on the ice in terms of his skating, puck-handling, playmaking and the way he sorts out his defensive assignments. There’s a maturity to his game that’s intriguing, and he should fit right in with the Red Wings’ defensive corps.

HSJ in the morning: Nate Danielson earns praise from his teammates and coach

The Free Press’s Helene St. James suggests that Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson has a tremendous “hockey IQ” this morning, and noting that several of Danielson’s teammates are big believers in Danielson’s potential:

“Danielson is really impressive,” [Patrick] Kane said. “Lot of skill. Kind of reminds me a little of Bedard the way he plays and the way he stick-handles and shoots. He looks like he has a bright future.”

Andrew Copp, who saw Danielson at last year’s camp, too, is another fan.

“Hockey, as much as it is fast and skill and skating, if you’re a smart player, you can play for a long time,” Copp said. “I think the most important attribute in a hockey player is your brain, so when you see guys like that, that come in and know where to be, know how to play within the system, know when to instinctually make plays with the puck and without the puck, getting to the right areas, that’s the most important thing in hockey.”

Danielson, who turns 20 on Sept. 27, was drafted by general manager Steve Yzerman because the 6-foot-1, 191-pound forward plays a 200-foot game and can play center or wing. It’s Danielson’s defensive play that especially puts him in good standing with the coaching staff, because it imbues trust.

“It helps,” coach Derek Lalonde said. “Because a lot of times when you have young players, you’re teaching them the game a little bit — the ‘B game,’ the hockey sense, the feel, managing a game — habits, maybe. He seems to already instinctively have some of that ‘B game.’ So that’s exciting.

“Last year, in camp, he had an OK camp, and then his play started to flourish when the games came around. That doesn’t surprise me, the way he thinks the game. His hockey sense, his feel for the game. Puck support. Game management. Really nice player. Still understanding some things in the game. He seems to have a puck-play issues in camp this year than he did last year. I think that’s part of the natural development. But there’s a lot of upside. Seems to be a gamer. I’m excited about seeing him in games.”

Continued (paywall); Danielson’s level of self-confidence has always impressed me, and he just knows where the puck is going to be, and that’s where he goes. He’s a cerebral player for sure, and his potential may not be superstar-sized, but he appears to be on the way to fulfilling that potential.

THN’s Proteau predicts a 6th-in-the-Atlantic finish for the Red Wings

The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau attempts to predict the order of finish in the Atlantic Division today, and he suggests that the Red Wings will finish in 6th place, behind the Ottawa Senators:

6. Detroit Red Wings

The Hockey News Yearbook Division Rank: 6th

Why I’ve Ranked Them Sixth: The Red Wings had an exodus of talent this summer, particularly on offense. The few additions they did make – including Tarasenko, defenseman Erik Gustafsson and goalie Cam Talbot – are underwhelming, to put it mildly. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman’s blueprint for success isn’t off track since there is still a wave of young talent on the way. But more questions could be asked if the Wings fail to make the playoffs this year. That’s a very real possibility.

There’s a lot to like about the Red Wings, but quality depth is a concern, and goaltending could continue to be a question mark for this franchise. 

If Detroit doesn’t make the post-season, it will be intriguing to see how Yzerman and ownership react. They don’t appear to be an elite team at the moment, and even if they do make the playoffs, they’ll be underdogs. We’re pessimistic about their playoff chances this year, and we’ll be happy to be surprised otherwise, but this writer and The Hockey News Yearbook aren’t seeing enough to pick them as a playoff team.

Why I Could Be Wrong: If Talbot comes in, makes the starter’s job his own and helps Detroit cut down on their goals-against totals – they allowed the ninth-most goals in the NHL last season – there is a chance the Red Wings sneak into the playoffs as a wild-card squad. 

They also must stay healthy, as injuries last season were partially why they missed out on the playoffs. They don’t have enough depth to help them overcome many injuries.

The longer the Red Wings’ playoff drought continues – without getting a high draft pick – the more it looks like they will continue to be fighting for a playoff spot but coming up short. Don’t count them out completely, but definitely don’t count them in.

Continued; as I’ve been saying, the Red Wings are going to have to prove the media wrong. And out-play those damn Senators.

More praise for Nate Danielson’s ‘hockey smarts’ and overall game

About half an hour ago, both MLive’s Ansar Khan and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted articles in which Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat and coach Derek Lalonde all praised Nate Danielson’s potential and performance thus far. Now, the Hockey News’s Connor Eargood adds more notable quotes to the mix:

“Even from last year, he’s just a really smart player,” alternate captain Andrew Copp said Thursday. “A guy that knows where to be, knows how to move the puck. I think you can tell that he’s put on a little bit of muscle, a little bit of mass since the last time I saw him this time last year. I’m looking forward to seeing how he plays in the preseason games, because you definitely see it’s there. It’s just a matter of time for him.”

No single thing makes Danielson’s game ready for the NHL. Rather, he puts so many details together. He plays with the hockey sense of a wise vet, using that to play exceptional defense and create scoring chances for his team. He also bulked bulked up a bit this offseason, adding about four pounds while already understanding how to maximize his leverage to make use of it. Most of all, Danielson has a “B” game — the good habits players use to consistently make winning plays — that few players his age possess. And that’s where the NHL-ready separate themselves from the NHL-hopeful.

“His hockey sense, his feel for the game, puck support, game management — really nice player,” Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde praised Thursday. “I think (he’s) still understanding some things in the game, he seems to have a little more puck play issues in camp this year than he did last year, and I just think that’s part of the natural development. But obviously there’s a lot of upside.”

Lalonde is quick to point out that Danielson is the kind of player who heats up as a camp progresses, especially once he gets into games. “It doesn’t surprise me, the way he thinks the game,” Lalonde said to explain the phenomenon. And  in Detroit’s seven remaining games this preseason, Danielson will get plenty of opportunities to show his game at full temperature, which will give a much better glimpse into what he’ll be bringing to the NHL someday soon.

Continued

McKeen’s hockey deems the Red Wings’ prospect pool to be the 3rd-best in the NHL

McKeen’s Hockey has ranked the Red Wings as having the 3rd-best prospect pool in the NHL this season. While I can’t share the entirety of their top-15 prospect profiles, the introduction, written by McKeen’s Dave Hall, is important to read:

The Detroit Red Wings find themselves at a critical juncture in their rebuild under GM Steve Yzerman. Over the past five years, the team has been meticulously collecting top-end talent, with hopes of positioning themselves to become a future playoff contender. Since Yzerman’s hiring in 2019, the Red Wings have amassed 21 picks in the first two rounds of the draft, including four top 10 selections. Out of those first round picks, Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider have already cemented themselves as vital pieces of the team’s current core. Both Simon Edvinsson (ranked 18th) and Marco Kasper (44th) sit on the cusp of making an impact, while Sebastian Cossa (60th), Axel Sandin-Pellikka (41st), Nate Danielson (43rd), and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (70th) continue to develop and perform strongly in their respective leagues.

The Red Wings’ affiliates are stacked with young talent, eagerly awaiting their NHL opportunities. Prospects such as William Wallinder (148th), Amadeus Lombardi (274th), Cross Hanas, Shai Buium (176th), Carter Mazur (120th), Elmer Söderblom and Albert Johansson are all part of the team’s impressive pool of U23 players that will likely compete for NHL roster spots over the next couple of seasons.

One of the most promising areas of Detroit’s system is goaltending. Sebastian Cossa recently completed his first season in the AHL, posting a solid 22-9-9 record. Meanwhile, Trey Augustine (113th) has emerged as one of the top collegiate goaltenders, winning both a Big Ten Championship with Michigan State University and a Gold Medal with Team USA at the World Juniors. Cossa will likely need at least another year of development, while Augustine is on a similar path to reach the NHL in the next two-to-three years.

The Red Wings’ prospect pool strikes a perfect balance between quality and quantity, with numerous players nearly guaranteed to see NHL action and several others with the potential to develop into future contributors. It may not be long before Detroit makes a serious push for postseason contention, bringing their rebuild to fruition.

Continued (paywall) with 15 prospect profiles penned by Josh Bell…

Marco Kasper, self-improver

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills wrote an article which discusses the confidence with which Marco Kasper is armed as he approaches the Red Wings’ exhibition season, attempting to make a push for a roster spot on the NHL team:

This summer, Kasper had the opportunity to represent Team Austria during its Olympic qualifiers. He believes playing those competitive games – along with the muscle added during his offseason training – will help him be even more effective this season.

“I’m always trying to get stronger in the gym,” Kasper said. “Doing some heavy lifting, obviously some conditioning as well. Just trying to become a man, if you want to say it like that, and gain some pounds.”

A firm believer that hard work pays off, Kasper was often one of the last players off the ice after the Red Wings’ daily practices had concluded at Traverse City’s Centre ICE Arena.

“It’s just us, all of the players, pushing each other,” Kasper said. “We all want to get better and really strive to be a hard-working team, and I think we’re doing that really well. Just working with the skill guys out there between plays and trying to get better between every practice – it’s our mentality. That makes us get better.”

Kasper, who was selected by Detroit with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, is fueled by the belief he has what it takes to be an NHL player. His latest performance -– an assist and plus-1 rating in 16:40 of ice time in Wednesday’s 4-2 exhibition win over the Chicago Blackhawks at United Center – certainly showed Kasper is ready to battle for that opportunity.

“Comfortable with the puck,” Lalonde said postgame about Kasper’s play against the Blackhawks. “Obviously some opportunity in every situation, and I thought he handled it well.”

Continued; Kasper was smooth, tenacious and speedy last night, looking confident and smart both offensively and defensively as he slinked through the Blackhawks’ defenders and occasionally bumped and ground for pucks. Very impressive debut.

Focus on ‘D’ for Detroit

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen argues that the Red Wings will have to perform like a team with a top-10 defense to succeed this upcoming season, and the Red Wings’ players don’t disagree with Allen’s assessment:

To understand how important GAA is in the NHL, know that the top 10 teams in that category all qualified for the playoffs last season. The Edmonton Oilers ranked 10th at 236 goals goals against. That’s 2.88 goals per game. ( The Red Wings gave up 219 goals the last time they made playoffs in 2016. But that ranked them in the middle of the pack).

That means that the Red Wings probably need to give up 40 fewer goals — roughly a half of a goal per game — to have confidence in their ability about earning a postseason berth.

“I just like the two way approach a little bit, be a little more conscious,” Lalonde said. “Appreciated the goals last year. We’ll need those goals again this year. You need goals to be successful in this league. But again, I just think an emphasis, we want to keep pushing this forward. We need to do a better job, obviously finishing the bottom half of the league with goals against is not a recipe for success.”

…

“That’s obviously been a focus (since Day 1)of camp — the defensive side and some key adjustments, minor adjustments,” captain Dylan Larkin said. “But I think they’re going to be really key.”

It’s the small things that matter. Coaches always preach that, but it’s particularly true when you are trying to improve defensively.

“We can be better boxing out in front of our net and make quicker stops and exit quicker so then we can play more offense,” Larkin said. “I think that’s what all the best teams, best defensive teams in the league, the hard nights, they’re big, strong defensemen in the corner that cross check and make it hard on the forwards and I think we’re trying to adopt that and trying to build that into our game throughout camp is something I’m really excited for.”

Continued; as Larkin suggests, it’s the little things that stack up.