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!

Toledo Walleye sign Lukas and Sam Craiggs

The Toledo Walleye signed a pair of brothers this morning:

🚨 PLAYER ANNOUNCEMENT(S) 🚨

Forwards (and brothers) Lukas and Sam Craggs are joining the Fish for the upcoming season.

👉 https://t.co/3AdYN4VrfD pic.twitter.com/yyiZP6zxLb— Toledo Walleye (@ToledoWalleye) August 5, 2022

Here’s the story from the Walleye’s website:

Continue reading Toledo Walleye sign Lukas and Sam Craiggs

Mills’ notebook: A bit more about Donovan Sebrango’s leadership role with Team Canada

Among DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills’ morning notes:

When Red Wings prospect Donovan Sebrango represents Team Canada at the 2022 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship from Aug. 9 – 20 in Edmonton, he’ll do so with an “A” on his chest.

On Tuesday, Team Canada announced that Sebrango, who was Detroit’s 63rd overall pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, was named an alternate captain for his native country.

“In the room, you try to be a leader, lead by example and take it day by day,” Sebrango said on July 11. “They’re still (Team Canada teammates) the same age as me, so you don’t want to come in like you’re better than them.”

Last season, the 20-year-old defenseman had one goal and six assists in 65 games for the Red Wings’ American Hockey League-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins. According to the Ottawa native, he’s ready to show his fellow countrymen “what pro hockey is like and what it takes to get there.”

“I just try to bring my leadership and experience playing against men,” Sebrango said. “And hopefully, that takes us to gold.”

Continued

An interesting theoretical trade from The Athletic

The Athletic’s Shayna Goldman posted a set of theoretical trades submitted by hockey fans this morning, using Prashanth Iyer’s “Trade Machine” to determine who “wins” the deal, and one of those theoretical trades involves a Red Wings player going to Calgary for an offensive defenseman:

Continue reading An interesting theoretical trade from The Athletic

Morning Khan: On Simon Edvinsson, Theodor Niederbach and William Wallinder

The 2022 World Junior Championship resets and restarts on Tuesday, August 9th, and the Red Wings’ organization should have as many as 9 prospects taking part in the event.

Three of the nine prospects will be playing for Team Sweden, and MLive’s Ansar Khan posted an early-morning story which discusses Simon Edvinsson, Theodor Niederbach and William Wallinder:

A trio of Detroit Red Wings prospects will impact Sweden’s fortunes at next week’s World Junior Championship in Edmonton.

The tournament will serve as a warmup for Simon Edvinsson prior to training camp, where the sixth overall pick in 2021 will compete for a spot on the Red Wings’ blue line.

Defenseman William Wallinder and forward Theodor Niederbach, second-round selections in 2020 (32nd and 51st), will return to Sweden for another season of development with Rogle BK.

The event was rescheduled from December, when it was canceled four days after it began due to COVID-19. Sweden, seeking its first gold medal since 2012, opens Wednesday against Switzerland.

“When I was a little kid, I always wanted to play in the World Junior Championship,” Edvinsson, 19, said. “I just played two games. That hunger goes a little bit more. I think that’s a good run-up to be prepared for training camp.”

Khan continues…

Press release: Great Lakes Invitational tickets go on sale Friday–at Van Andel Arena

The Great Lakes Invitational isn’t held at Little Caesars Arena any more, but there was apparently more demand for tickets than last year’s co-hosts, the University of Michigan and Michigan State University, could provide at Yost and Munn Arenas, so the tournament has moved west to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena.

Per this press release from Michigan Technological University, Michigan Tech will serve as the official host of the tournament, and tickets for said four-team tournament go on sale tomorrow:

Continue reading Press release: Great Lakes Invitational tickets go on sale Friday–at Van Andel Arena

Brief note: Wings prospect Gustav Berglund to play for HockeyEttan team Karlskrona HK this upcoming season

The Swedish HockeyEttan club Karlskrona HK announced today that Red Wings prospect Gustav Berglund has inked a full-year contract with the team after being loaned from Farjestads BK of the SHL.

This is a bit of a step back for Berglund, a 21-year-old defenseman who stands at 6’2″ and 201 pounds. The right-shooting defender was the Wings’ 177th overall pick in 2019, all per EliteProspects.

Kulfan audits the Wings’ forwards

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted an audit of the Red Wings’ defensive players last night, and today, he looks at the Red Wings’ forwards:

► Tyler Bertuzzi: Bertuzzi had back surgery the season before, but showed no signs of it hampering him, with a career-high 30 goals on the first line. This is a big season for Bertuzzi, 27, who can be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

► Andrew Copp: The former Ann Arbor Skyline/Michigan standout had a career-best 21-goal, 53-point season, and brings the type of two-way game that anchors a potentially formidable second line. 

► Dylan Larkin: The Wings’ captain is coming off a big rebound season (31 goals, 69 points) and ignites what should continue to be a dangerous first line. Larkin, 26, can be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but a deal is expected done long before then. 

► David Perron: Perron is 34, but has shown no signs of slowing down, scoring 27 goals last season and continuing to play an agitating, gritty style. Perron should be a huge benefit on and off the ice.

► Lucas Raymond: Raymond and eventual Calder Trophy-winning teammate defenseman Moritz Seider sparked the Wings with tremendous debuts. Raymond (23 goals, 57 points) found instant chemistry with Bertuzzi and Larkin and there’s no reason to think Raymond’s output will slip given his instincts on the ice.

Continued (paywall)