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!

Video: in which I appear on The Flying Octopus podcast

Evan Sabourin was kind enough to have me as a guest on The Flying Octopus podcast this afternoon:

Prospect round-up: Buchelnikov plays 19:32 in Vityaz loss; Guimond pitches shutout in USHL opener

Of Red Wings prospect-related note:

In the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov finished even with 2 shots in `19:32 played as Vityaz Moscow Region lost 3-2 to CSKA Moscow;

In the Finnish Liiga, Jesse Kiiskinen took 3 shots in only 11:53 played as HPK Hameenlinna lost 4-0 to Ilves Tampere;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Liam Dower Nilsson finished at -1 with 3 shots in

IF Bjorkloven’s 5-3 win over Vasteras IK;

Maximilian Kilpinen didn’t play in Osterlunds IK’s 3-1 win over Mora IK;

In the Swedish J20 league, Charlie Forslund didn’t register a point in Mora IK’s 5-2 win over Skelleftea AIK;

In the DEL, Kevin Bicker finished at -1 in 11:53 as the Lowen Frankfurt won 3-2 over the Nurnberg Ice Tigers;

And in the USHL, Rudy Guimond was named the first star of the game by posting a 25-save shutout in the Cedar Rapids Roughriders’ 4-0 win over the Omaha Lancers.

Also: in the OHL, Landon Miller’s Soo Greyhounds lost 9-4 to the Sudbury Wolves;

And in the WHL, Emmitt Finnie’s Kamloops Blazers lost 5-3 to the Portland Winterhawks.

Update: Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino, Jason Bukala and Emily Sadler named Axel Sandin Pellikka the 20th-best prospect under 23 years of age:

#20. Axel Sandin-Pellika

19 | 5-foot-11, 185 pounds | Drafted 17th overall in 2023

Death, taxes, and teams coveting right-shot defencemen. Life has its inevitabilities. Lucky for the Red Wings, they’ve got themselves a future keeper in Sandin-Pellikka, whose elite skating makes him just as reliable under pressure as he is dangerous in transition. While his mobility is his biggest strength, speed and skill factoring in as key elements of his game — think puck-moving, power-play quarterback — he could stand to put on more muscle to withstand the heavy demands in the trenches.

Evening news: On goaltending battles, Edvinsson and Petry, the ‘young trio’ of Kasper, Mazur and Danielson, and ‘the protection racket’

Of Red Wings-related note this evening:

  1. Among the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan’s expansive evening notes:

Is there going to be enough playing time this exhibition season for goaltenders Ville Husso, Alex Lyon, Cam Talbot and Jack Campbell, along with prospect Sebastian Cossa?

[Red Wings coach Derek] Lalonde insists there will be, with eight exhibition games and numerous practices in the next two weeks.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” Lalonde said. “We have a lot of goalies in camp here. Even in practice it’s going to be hard to get reps. (But) all the goalies should get some looks in the exhibitions. There will be a purpose with those looks with who and when. In today’s age in the NHL, with specialized goalie coaches, we’ll get those reps within and before and after practice.

“It’s definitely a challenge but I do think there will be enough reps to go around.”

Heading into the preseason, Lalonde doesn’t have a depth chart in his mind.

“It’s a clean slate, a true clean slate,” Lalonde said. “Over the last two years all three of those goalies (Husso, Lyon and Talbot) have really had nice stretches in this league and proven they can win in this league. Jack has done that also. It’s a healthy competition and wide open.”

2. The Detroit News’s David Guralnick posted a 68-image photo gallery from today’s training camp practices;

3. The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s Brendan Quealy discussed the Red Wings’ takes on their particularly long summer…

Continue reading Evening news: On goaltending battles, Edvinsson and Petry, the ‘young trio’ of Kasper, Mazur and Danielson, and ‘the protection racket’

Simon Edvinsson will be a ‘top four’ defenseman this season

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan reports that Red Wings defenseman Simon Edvinsson is going to take a bigger role on the Wings’ blueline this upcoming season:

“I foresee him being in our top four to start the season,” [coach Derek] Lalonde said of Edvinsson, the Wings’ 2021 first-round pick. “His overall play from Grand Rapids last year to what he gave us down the stretch, where he slotted with our push at the end of the year, we foresee him in a similar role and kind of let it play out from there.”

Edvinsson, 21, played in 16 games with the Wings and tallied a goal, an assist, and an even plus-minus rating while averaging 18 minutes, 15 seconds of ice time. The numbers were impressive, but it was the poise and confidence he was playing with when the Wings were charging toward a possible playoff spot that stood out.

The level of play certainly put Edvinsson into a possible prime role this training camp and heading into this season. But Edvinsson isn’t taking anything for granted and doesn’t see it that way.

“I don’t think like that,” he said. “It’s training camp and we didn’t reach the playoffs. My main focus has been to be as good as possible and be as ready as possible for the start of the season. Nothing has changed with my focus from there.”

There has been little question about Edvinsson’s ability with the puck, his fluid skating, and his physical play. If there were growing pains, it was because of his defensive inconsistencies and learning to make the correct decisions with the puck on a more consistent basis.

That became more prevalent last season in Grand Rapids, where he had 30 points in 54 games, with a plus-five rating, while becoming the clear No. 1 defenseman with the Griffins.

“He created some offense with just his long stick and kept plays alive on the forecheck,” Lalonde said. “A few seconds later the puck was in the opponent’s net. Hopefully he can even get more minutes if he has it going one night. We might be a little fluid with our top four. If he earns more minutes, he’ll get more minutes.”

Continued (paywall)

Red Wings post 15-image Instagram gallery from Friday’s training camp sessions

The Red Wings posted a 15-image gallery on Instagram today, and what you will see equipment-wise includes:

  1. Patrick Kane using a “Bauer Twitch” stick;
  2. Dylan Larkin using a blue CCM Jetspeed stick;
  3. Cam Talbot’s new helmet;
  4. The golden lettering on Vladimir Tarasenko’s gloves, which include the names of his wife and children on the cuff.

Press release: Red Wings announce Bally Sports Detroit and Audacy broadcast schedules

From the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS, BALLY SPORTS DETROIT AND AUDACY ANNOUNCE BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR 2024-25 SEASON

  … Bally Sports Detroit to Air 69 Regular-Season Games; 97.1 The Ticket Continues as Radio Home of Red Wings …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, in conjunction with Bally Sports Detroit and Audacy, today announced the Red Wings local television and radio schedules for the 2024-25 season. This schedule is subject to change.

Bally Sports Detroit (BSD) continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing a total of 69 regular-season contests with 59 slated for BSD, nine on Bally Sports Detroit Extra (BSD EXTRA) and one (Friday, April 11 at Tampa Bay) to be determined.

Ranked as the NHL’s top local broadcast team in a poll conducted by The Athletic, the popular announcing duo of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond return to call the action. In addition to live reports from Little Caesars Arena, studio portions of RED WINGS LIVE will originate from Bally Sports Detroit’s studios at its Southfield headquarters.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings announce Bally Sports Detroit and Audacy broadcast schedules

Tweet of note: Trey Augustine named to preseason All-Big 10 first hockey team

Via Red Wings Prospects on Twitter, Detroit prospect and Michigan State University goaltender Trey Augustine was named to the preseason All-Big 10 first hockey team via a poll of the NCAA league’s coaches–and Augustine was selected by every coach:

Free advertising: Check out these ‘bomber jackets’ from FE Apparel

Just as an FYI: I’m fairly certain that these “bomber jackets” will be insanely expensive, but FE Apparel is launching a line of varsity-style jackets which include really cool artwork of Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and Gordie Howe, among other NHL teams’ legends:

Tweets of note: Bally Sports Detroit asks Larkin, Raymond and Petry about their offseason activities

Per Bally Sports Detroit:

Update: Also: