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!

Allen offers an astute suggestion for the Wings’ shopping list regarding defensive depth

While there’s been a significant amount of virtual ink spilled about the Red Wings’ potential interest in Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Erik Karlsson…

As I said earlier this afternoon, however, surrendering significant assets for a 35-year-old defenseman who sometimes doesn’t play all that much defense, especially at a $11.5 million cap hit for two more seasons (none of which, the well-connected say, that the Penguins wish to absorb), well, all of that leaves me jittery and less than enthusiastic by an unappealing equation.

If the Red Wings don’t make any further changes to their blueline, however, EliteProspects’ depth chart sums up the fact that the Wings would have to lean heavily on William Lagesson, Griffins signee Ian Mitchell, and, most likely, 23-year-old prospect William Wallinder if the Wings suffer injuries on defense.

Even presuming that Axel Sandin Pellikka is nearly good to go at the NHL level, or that Antti Tuomisto or Shai Buium could be called up safely, the Wings’ blueline is definitely a little thin at this point.

Given that situation, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen believes that the Red Wings may very well need to sign another depth defenseman or two, and he offers a very specific suggestion this evening in 6’7,” 235-pound defenseman Jani Hakanpaa:

Continue reading Allen offers an astute suggestion for the Wings’ shopping list regarding defensive depth

Afternoon meander: Khan on Axel Sandin Pellikka’s career path

MLive’s Ansar Khan wonders what path Axel Sandin Pellikka might take in terms of his almost inevitable journey to the NHL today:

General manager Steve Yzerman, as you’d expect, didn’t shut the door on the possibility of Sandin Pellikka, the skilled, right-shooting D-man drafted 17th overall in 2023, surprising at training camp.

“I’m not going to rule out any player coming in and being so good in camp that we’re going to keep him and see how he does in the NHL,” Yzerman said last month. “The preseason games are tricky in that like a lot of the veterans are playing (the games) because they know they need to play them, but it’s not the intensity and the pace of a regular-season game. And sometimes depending on who’s in the lineup, you’re not necessarily playing against NHL players. So, it can be misleading, both good and bad. I can answer that question better at the end of training camp.”

Sandin Pellikka (5-11, 185) joined the Griffins late last season after his Swedish club, Skelleftea AIK, was eliminated from the playoffs. He played two regular season games (one assist) and three playoff games (no points).

“It was great that Axel got a feel mostly for playing more games at the pro level on the North American ice surface,” Yzerman said. “I think it was enlightening for him, maybe eye-opening a little bit. It’s a little smaller ice, faster game, albeit it’s only the American League, not the NHL. And he’s got some work to do.

“If he works, and we’re expecting him to, has a good summer, gets a little bit stronger, a little bit quicker, that’ll help him prepare for a good training camp and preseason. But he’s really going to have to just force his way into the lineup. Do I rule it out? No. So we’ll wait and answer that in September. But generally, all the kids come with the mentality that ‘I’m going to show these guys, I’m going to make it hard on them to send me back to junior, to send me to GR, to release me from the ATO or PTO.’ Just the mindset of the athlete.”

Continued with comments from Wings director of player development Dan Cleary…

As Khan suggests, ASP would have to supplant one of the Red Wings’ seven regular defensemen–and probably a “top four guy”–to make the roster out of training camp and the exhibition season, and given his 5’11,” 185-pound size and stature and relative unfamiliarity with North American-sized 85-foot-wide ice rinks, those things suggest that he’s going to have to take some time to adjust in Grand Rapids, especially in terms of his tendency to loop back like a soccer player on those 100-foot-wide international rinks…

But ASP is truly extremely talented offensively, and there are times that talent and moxie make up for relative inexperience.

An Erik Karlsson trade with the Penguins is extremely unlikely, but ‘never say never’

Yardbarker’s Natalie Vaitas discusses the “best fits for fringe NHL Teams to complete their roster(s)” today, and I disagree with her, but I think that we need to read what she has to say:

Detroit Red Wings (39-35-8, sixth in Atlantic Division)

Missing piece: Top-four defenseman | Best fit: Erik Karlsson, Pittsburgh Penguins

The Red Wings, who missed the playoffs last season, have been quiet this offseason. GM Steve Yzerman’s biggest deals were the additions of goalie John Gibson and depth winger James Van Riemsdyk.

Unfortunately for Yzerman, many players he may have targeted were quickly off the market.

That leaves Detroit with few options to fill its top four on defense. With young stars Mo Seider and Simon Edvinsson playing heavy minutes, the addition of a puck-moving defenseman to take the load off them would greatly improve Detroit’s playoff chances.

The Pittsburgh Penguins are in the sellers’ market and would likely love to move on from Karlsson’s $10M cap hit. Luckily for Detroit, the rebuilding Penguins will want prospects and draft picks, something the Red Wings have aplenty.

If Pittsburgh is willing to pay some of Karlsson’s salary, and Detroit is willing to part with some of its future assets, this may be a perfect match.

Continued; I’m still not a fan of a slowing-down Karlsson at 35 years of age, especially given that he sometimes forgets how to play defense, but his puck-movement would certainly be an upgrade on Jeff Petry, for example, and his offensive wizardry is still there.

He’s got 2 years left on that $11.5 million cap hit contract (per PuckPedia), and that’s not ideal, even with the salary cap increasing, and the “rumors” and “insiders” alike have suggested that the Pens have no desire to eat any of that salary…

But if the Pens were willing to eat some of it, I cannot deny that Karlsson would be a tempting target, especially if the price were right in terms of compensation. The biggest problem is that he has a No-Move Clause, so he’d have to approve any trade to any team, and the Red Wings might not be the most attractive destination right now.

I think that the realities of his cap hit not being partially eaten by the Pens (if they can get away with it) and the NMC make things too difficult for a 35-year-old Karlsson to come to a rebuilding Red Wings team. But you can’t ever say “never” in the league I’ve been watching for 35 years now.

Tweet of note: It’s Archie vs. ‘Trick’

Via CBS Detroit’s Rachel Hopmayer:

For context, per Ms. Ruch:

Meanwhile, in Chicago…It’s officially ‘Patrick Kane Day’

Updated at 2:47 PM: 8/8, a.k.a. August 8th, is now officially “Patrick Kane Day”:

Per WGN’s Charlie Roumeliotis:

Continue reading Meanwhile, in Chicago…It’s officially ‘Patrick Kane Day’

Tweet of note: Red Wings add ‘Hockeytown’ to centennial center ice logo at LCA

From the Detroit Red Wings:

Per the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan and DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills:

“The center ice fan vote, launched in partnership with Meijer, was a great way to get fans involved in Red Wings Centennial right from the start,” said Asia Gholston, senior vice president of brand marketing for Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, in a statement. “Through an incredible response to this vote, fans have made it clear they’re fired up for what’s to come in celebrating 100 years of Hockeytown, which is only possible due to their unwavering support for the Winged Wheel.”

The design of the “Hey Hey Hockeytown” center ice logo pays homage to a century of hockey tradition in Detroit, while also representing the team’s present and future.

The logo merges a redrawn version of the 1934 Winged Wheel with a modernized “100” design. The ‘1’ and ‘0’ also echo the curves of the original markm rendered in the club’s red and vintage white color scheme. Combined with the classic Hockeytown wordmark, introduced in 1996, the special logo creatively honors the city and culture of one of the NHL’s most iconic franchises.

“We saw over 20,000 votes in the first 72 hours alone after opening the poll to fans,” Gholston said. “That response is proof of how passionate and engaged they are, and know this is a meaningful step in their eyes towards honoring our legacy.”

DobberProspects’ ’32 in 32′ series examines the Red Wings’ crop of prospects

DobberProspects’ Emmanuel Alforque examines the Red Wings’ prospect pool today, discussing the Red Wings’ draft class of 2025, some of the Wings’ top prospects, those on the rise, and those who have fallen in terms of their overall value. He offers a top 20 list of prospects as well, and there are glimmers of NHL team moves and an NHL team prediction, too.

Here’s one of his three in-the-system prospect profiles…

Dmitri Buchelnikov, RW (52nd overall in 2022) 

Buchelnikov put up 54 points (15 goals, 39 assists) in 65 games on a very bad Vityaz team in the KHL. Despite that, he finished top-20 in points in the league. This season, he’ll get the opportunity to play on a prestigious CSKA team in Russia so it’ll be interesting to track his progress. 

He seems to fly under the radar when it comes to Red Wings prospects because he plays in Russia but he is a heck of a player. I see a lot of Mathew Barzal when I look at his skating, his maneuverability and his playmaking. Being 5-10, he’s smaller than him but he still plays that smart, heads-up hockey. What Buchelnikov lacks in size, he makes up for in speed. He explodes off the rush and has the escapability to find himself 1-on-1 against a goalie. He also won the fastest skater challenge during the KHL All-Star Competition, skating a 13.7 seconds lap. For reference, Larkin owns the NHL record at 13.1 seconds. Not only is he fast, but his brain keeps up with his feet. He sees the ice extremely well and has killer offensive instincts. Buchelnikov has the unique ability to skate his way out of trouble and serve the puck on a platter to his linemates. If given the right opportunity, I could see him excelling at the NHL level in a top-six role. 

And he gives a thumbs-up to the Red Wings’ 2025 first-round pick, too:

Round 1, 13th Overall: Carter Bear, LW 

The biggest concern heading into the draft for Bear was the injury he suffered this year in early March where he partially tore his achilles from a skate laceration. Despite that, he resumed skating ahead of schedule which quickly silenced any doubts surrounding his health on draft day. Since then, he’s signed his entry level contract with the Wings but is expected to return to the WHL for his D+1 season. 

Finishing with 82 points (40 goals, 42 assists) in 56 games, Bear exploded offensively last season for the Everett Silvertips. There’s a lot to like about his game but his compete level is what stands out the most. In his own end, he’s positionally sound and rarely gets caught out of coverage. He transitions up the ice with speed and intent to create scoring chances off the rush. He has great vision to find teammates and has a knack to score goals around the net. Bear dominates in all three zones and there is a reason why he led his team in every offensive category. He is impressive along the boards, winning the majority of his battles. Bear gets involved physically using his body during puck pursuit and uses his motor to overwhelm opponents. Trusted in all situations, Bear has top-six forward written all over him. I have no doubt he’ll have a long NHL career. 

Continued; this is a very good prospect-centric read.

Duff wonders whether Brandsegg-Nygard can crack the Red Wings’ roster this fall

Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard turns 20 on October 5th, just before the Wings’ home opener, and MBN will probably begin his North American sojourn in Grand Rapids of the AHL.

That being said, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted a subscriber-only article in which he questions whether Brandsegg-Nygard could use strong training camp and exhibition performances to propel Brandsegg-Nygard on to the Red Wings’ roster:

He decided to summer in North America, partially at the urging of Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman.

“He said it will be an important summer and that anything can happen,” Brandsegg-Nygard told Norwegian website Nitten.no. “If I continue, train hard, and do what I have to do, it is not impossible (he could make the NHL roster). I will do everything I can. Of course it’s the dream. This is what I’ve worked for my whole life. It would be incredibly cool.”

At 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, the right-shot right-winger is built for the NHL. Or is it the NHL style that was built to suit him?

“It’s a game I like to play,” Brandsegg-Nygard said. “Tight hockey and physical hockey with a lot of power. So, I mean, that’s a game I want to play.”

He’s also the big body, physical presence that the Red Wings are desperately seeking to add more of to their equation.

Certainly, Brandsegg-Nygard wants to crack the Red Wings roster out of training camp in the fall, so he allows himself to engage in that vision quest.

“Of course,” Brandsegg-Nygard admitted. “I mean, that’s my dream and my goal, to make the team. So we see what happens. But I mean, I’m happy with GR, too. So I’m just seeing what happens. I’m just gonna do my best to hopefully make the team one day.”

Continued (paywall); anything can happen over the course of training camp and the exhibition season, but it’s going to take an exceptional performance and the supplanting of a top-nine forward for Brandsegg-Nygard to make the Wings’ roster.

He and Axel Sandin Pellikka will be given every opportunity to impress, but they’re headed to Grand Rapids unless they are truly extraordinary come late September.

Three things: Today is Patrick Kane Day in Chicago; Wings single-game tix go on sale at 10 AM; Seider, Raymond to take part in ASG in Zurich

Just a quick reminder as to what’s happening today:

  1. Today is Patrick Kane Day (8/8) in Chicago, which will involve several autograph-signings, a sold-out dinner event, and likely media appearances where Kane will regale the audiences with tales of his Stanley Cup wins with Chicago;
  2. Red Wings single-game tickets go on sale to the general public today at 10 AM EDT;
  3. And in Zurich, Switzerland, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond will take part in an All-Star Game called “Fiala’s Friends” to benefit Zurich-area charities.

Update:

Have the Red Wings delivered a middling ‘Summer Splash,’ or are they a cannonball not yet taken?

Perhaps in a sign that the NHL’s summertime free agency period and post-draft trades haven’t been exactly scintillating, the Hockey News’s Adam Proteau affords the Red Wings the 11th-best “Summer Splash” ranking of the NHL’s 32 teams.

Proteau makes sure to state that the middle-of-the-pack “summer splash” teams have not necessarily improved, nor have they necessarily gotten worse, and, after analyzing the Red Wings’ additions and subtractions, he issues the following “Bottom Line“:

The Bottom Line

Let’s be clear – the Red Wings are where they are in our summer splash rankings primarily because of the Gibson move. Goaltending had been an issue in Detroit for a long time, and Yzerman finally found the big fish in net that he and Wings fans have been aching for.

However, when you look at the big picture in the Atlantic, the Red Wings are still going to face a hellacious battle just to land a wild card playoff berth, let alone contend for a top-three spot in the division. Yzerman didn’t do much to address his team’s defense corps, and at forward, Yzerman is still banking on a group of young players rising and justifying Yzerman’s belief in them. 

The Wings are still in the mid-tier of our summer splash ranks because, even with Gibson in town, they’re not quite a top-10 team in terms of summer improvements. Yes, they’re technically better, and that’s why they’re not 15th or 20th in these ratings. But looking at Detroit as a powerhouse in the Eastern Conference is a major-league stretch. 

By season’s end, it would surprise no one if the Red Wings were on the outside of the playoff picture looking in for the 10th consecutive season. Gibson will have to steal a lot of games just to keep them fighting for a playoff spot, and of course, that’s not guaranteed. And if the Wings falter yet again, Yzerman’s job security will be in jeopardy.

Continued; Gibson, Cam Talbot and Sebastian Cossa will all earn time in the Wings’ crease…

But there’s no doubt that “everybody’s got to give a little bit more” if the Red Wings don’t make any further improvements over the remainder of the summer or start of fall.

“Improvement from within” will mean better consistency from both veterans and young players alike, pushes from the Wings’ prospects to “steal jobs” from veterans, and perhaps some in-season trades for a top-six forward with a scorer’s touch and/or a top-four defenseman with some two-way capabilities.

But you also know my bottom line: the Red Wings’ success or failure during its “Centennial Season” will not determine the course of Steve Yzerman’s managerial career. As long as Mrs. Ilitch is still running the show alongside Christopher Ilitch, Steve Yzerman is the executive vice-president and general manager for as long as he wishes to be the EVP and GM.

Continue reading Have the Red Wings delivered a middling ‘Summer Splash,’ or are they a cannonball not yet taken?