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!

Coach Lalonde endorses the Wings’ 8-game exhibition schedule

The Red Wings will play 2 games in 2 nights this weekend, and then 5 games over the course of 7 nights next week, completing a total of 8 exhibition games played over the course of 12 nights. I tend to think that it’s “too much hockey” and too many opportunities for players to suffer injuries, but Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde told the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan that he feels that the Wings’ exhibition schedule works well:

The Wings host Chicago and Pittsburgh in exhibition games Friday and Saturday. It’s unclear how many NHL players from those two teams will dress, but the Wings will be ready.

“People are at different points of their situation,” Lalonde said. “Who knows where people are in their process. I foresee us fielding some pretty deep teams throughout the camp. (But) you pull guy out of (a lineup), and it’s unbelievable how it trickles down through the whole thing. There’s a lot that goes into it.”

The Wings have eight exhibition games, something Lalonde wasn’t used to when he arrived in Detroit but has grown to appreciate.

“I’ve found it to be extremely beneficial with the young guys in our system,” Lalonde said.

FYI:

Lalonde liked what he saw in the Wings’ victory Wednesday in Chicago.

“It’s our first of eight exhibition games and we’re here diving and blocking shots to win a game; I appreciated that of the group,” Lalonde said. “There were a lot of positives but certainly a work in progress.”

Continued (paywall)

Nate Danielson’s earning praise from Patrick Kane

MLive’s Ansar Khan reports that Red Wings prospect center Nate Danielson is earning hefty praise from Patrick Kane as the young center begins his professional hockey career:

“Danielson’s really impressive,” [Patrick] Kane said. “Skated with him a little bit when I first came into Detroit (this summer). A lot of skill, kind of reminds me a little bit of (Connor) Bedard, the way he plays and the way he stickhandles and shoots. I know he’s a high-end prospect as well, but he looks like he’s got a bright future.”

Danielson, the Detroit Red Wings’ top pick in 2023 (ninth overall), practically blushed when told of Kane’s comparison to a generational talent.

“I don’t know about that,” Danielson said. “Connor is a pretty special player. It’s cool to hear a compliment from Patrick Kane. He’s obviously someone I look up to. Just having him here, he’s someone I try to pick his brain, see what he thinks, what he likes to do. He’s kind of like Sidney Crosby to me. He’s someone I grew up watching and idolizing. I think I’ve watched his shootouts thousands of times. It definitely gives you a bit of a confidence boost hearing him say something like that about you.”

Danielson turns 20 on Friday and turns full-time pro this season. He’s competing for a spot with the Red Wings but their roster is crowded with veterans. He might need some develop time in Grand Rapids, where he played two playoff games last spring after completing his junior career.

…

Coach Derek Lalonde is impressed by how far along Danielson seems to be.

“Hockey sense, feel for the game, puck support, game management,” Lalonde said. “Really nice player. I think still understanding some things in the game. He seems to have a little more puck-play issues in camp than he did last year. I think that’s part of the natural development. But obviously there’s a lot of upside. Seems to be a gamer. I’m excited about seeing him in games. Last year in camp he had an OK camp, and they really started to flourish when the games came around. It doesn’t surprise me, the way he thinks the game.”

Continued (paywall);

Update: Here’s more from the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan:

Continue reading Nate Danielson’s earning praise from Patrick Kane

Tweets from Thursday’s practice: coach Lalonde will start Lyon for 2 periods vs. Chicago Friday; Talbot will play 3rd period

Sorry these are late; I got sick today and needed to rest a bit:

Tweet of note: Red Wings will hold ‘red carpet walk’ on Saturday, October 12th vs. Nashville

FYI:

Prospect round-up: Sandin Pellikka registers assist on an SHL Thursday

Of Red Wings prospect-related note today:

In the SHL, Noah Dower Nilsson finished even with 1 shot in 7:23 played in Frolunda HC’s 3-1 win over HV71;

Anton Johansson finished even with a shot on goal, a penalty taken and 10:36 played in Leksands IF’s 4-1 win over Rogle BK;

And Axel Sandin Pellikka had an assist, took a penalty and finished at +3 in 19:26 as Skelleftea AIK won 4-0 over the Vaxjo Lakers:

Praise for Simon Edvinsson as a potential break-out star

Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli lists 10 players who he believes are ready to break out as star players this upcoming season, and he lists Simon Edvinsson among their number:

SIMON EDVINSSON
Left Defense, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 21
Last Year: 16 GP, 1 G, 1 A, 2 Pts
Seravalli Sees: 70 GP, 3 G, 15 A, 18 Pts
Scoop: Without making too bold of a prediction, Edvinsson is already the Wings’ second-best defenseman behind only Moritz Seider. It’s been a methodical development from Grands Rapids to Motown, with a taste of the NHL each of the last two seasons. But it’s only been a taste. Edvinsson is ready for more. He might not be a significant point producer at the NHL level, but the 6-foot-6, No. 6 overall pick from 2021 has a strong shot and moves really well for a mountain of a man. He should be chewing up 20 minutes a night this season.

Continued

Tweets from Thursday’s practice: Red Wings work on special teams as ‘second group’ prepares for Hawks rematch

Updated at 11:43 AM: The Detroit Red Wings’ probable “game day” group for Friday’s rematch with the Chicago Blackhawks practiced early this morning at Little Caesars Arena’s BELFOR Training Center:

Continue reading Tweets from Thursday’s practice: Red Wings work on special teams as ‘second group’ prepares for Hawks rematch

A positively middling goaltending ranking for the Wings

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin ranked the goaltending tandems/trios of the NHL’s 32 teams, and I’m surprised how highly the Red Wings rank, all things considered:

19. DETROIT RED WINGS: Cam Talbot, Alex Lyon & Ville Husso

Talbot was one of the NHL’s best goalies for much of last season. He also played with a stingy Kings defense in front of him. It will be interesting to see how he fares with the leaky Red Wings. He’s the presumed 1A, but Lyon had his moments in spurts last season and, weathering a storm of opposing chances, graded out above average in goal saved above expected. Husso, on the other hand, did not. He’s clearly the tertiary option right now.

Continued; I’m gonna be honest and suggest that Lyon was so inconsistent down the stretch that he is probably the Wings’ second option right now, if not the third. Detroit needs to see what Ville Husso can do as well…

But the honest truth is that it’s not up to us. It’s going to be up to the goaltenders themselves to sort their respective situations out over the course of the exhibition season and the first 10-15 games of the regular season.

‘Just win, baby’

Bleacher Reports’ estimable Joe Yerdon pondered “1 problem to solve for each NHL team” as the 2024-2025 season approacheth, and here’s what he suggested the Red Wings need to do:

Detroit Red Wings

Win…Or else

Is it a cop-out to say that the one problem the Detroit Red Wings have to address is just winning? Perhaps, but that’s what all of it boils down to for GM Steve Yzerman now.

The team he’s put together is his project and this is the vision he’s set forth and they’ve got a lot of excellent players to make it work. Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane, Lucas Raymond, Moritz Seider…they’re all outstanding. Their depth of veterans has all been there, seen and done it elsewhere to varying levels of success, and their younger players have grown into this setting.

We could highlight how their possession numbers or scoring chance quality has to be better and the goaltending in general must improve. But they showed for a good part of last season that they can perform at a playoff-caliber level and get back to the postseason for the first time since 2016, but their inconsistency later in the year crushed them and despite a valiant attempt to get back into it late in the year, they fell short again.

The Red Wings have to adopt the old Al Davis saying: Just win, baby. Because if they don’t, the offseason could get really uncomfortable.

Continued; I don’t think that making the playoffs will be the success-or-failure metric for Yzerman and the Red Wings’ management team this upcoming season, but it will factor into the overall assessment as to whether the Wings made forward progress.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 25: Dylan Larkin #71 of the Detroit Red Wings talks with Lucas Raymond #23, Alex DeBrincat #93 and Olli Maatta #2 against the Chicago Blackhawks during the second period of a preseason game at the United Center on September 25, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Between the salary cap’s likely substantial rise next summer and the fact that the roster begins to open up in terms of free agent slots (if you check out PuckPedia), there is potential for substantial change should the Wings not perform up to their fan base’s expectations.