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!

Tweet of note: Lucas Raymond weighs in on the playoff race

Per WXYZ’s Brad Galli:

Tweet of note: Maatta holds no ill will toward the Wings

Per EliteProspects’ Sean Shapiro:

Video: Carter Mazur, coach Todd McLellan speak with the media ahead of Red Wings-Utah HC

The Detroit Red Wings held an optional morning skate ahead of tonight’s game against Utah HC (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/Utah16/97.1 FM), but the morning skate revealed that Alex Lyon will start for Detroit, and that Carter Mazur was in attendance.

Mazur was a very popular figure with the Wings’ media corps after the morning skate, and coach Todd McLellan confirmed both that Mazur will make his NHL debut this evening, and that Michael Rasmussen will return from his “upper-body injury.”

So Mazur and coach McLellan were the subjects of the Red Wings’ morning skate video:

Update: The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted a shorter clip of Mazur and McLellan’s comments, too:

Meanwhile…

There’s also this from Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen:

Coach Todd McLellan’s group understands that they desperately need to take down the Utah Hockey Club in their game tonight at Little Caesars Arena (7 p.m., FanDuel Sports Network). After tonight’s game, the Red Wings only have 20 games remaining and only seven of them are home contests.

Tweet of note: A dream come true

From 97.1 the Ticket’s Will Burchfield comes this reminder that Carter Mazur, who will make his NHL debut tonight, has always wished that he might play for the Red Wings one day:

Red Wings-Utah HC post-morning skate Tweets: Mazur-mania

The Detroit Red Wings host Utah HC for the first time this evening (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/Utah16/97.1 FM), and Detroit held an optional morning skate today, with Alex Lyon occupying the starter’s net.

After the morning skate, the Red Wings’ players and coach spoke with the media, and it was a throng this morning:

Continue reading Red Wings-Utah HC post-morning skate Tweets: Mazur-mania

Press release: Grand Rapids Griffins to host Red & White Game next fall

Per the Grand Rapids Griffins:

‘RED & WHITE GAME’ RETURNS TO GRAND RAPIDS

Red Wings to Conclude 2025 Training Camp With Sept. 21 Event at Van Andel Arena

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins’ 30th anniversary season will kick off in style on Sunday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m., when they’ll host the Detroit Red Wings’ annual Red & White Game at Van Andel Arena.

The event will conclude the Red Wings’ 2025 training camp and serve as a showcase for West Michigan fans to cheer both the stars of Hockeytown and the prospects who will play in Grand Rapids next season. All healthy players on Detroit’s training camp roster are expected to play in the game, which bridges the team’s camp in Traverse City and the start of its preseason schedule.

This marks the fifth time that the Griffins will host a Red & White Game, following events in 2000, 2002, 2003 and 2011. Detroit also visited Van Andel Arena for a “Wings for Lunch” midday event with local fans in 2007.

“We are very excited to welcome the Red Wings back to Grand Rapids this fall, and I know our fans’ anticipation to witness this game again will be off the charts,” said Griffins president Tim Gortsema. “Outside of our Calder Cup championship in 2017, I don’t think that the arena has ever been louder than when Steve Yzerman was introduced to a packed house before our first Red & White Game 25 years ago. Our fans’ passion for the Red Wings still runs as deep, and this game will be a fitting ‘thank you’ to them as our affiliation with Detroit enters its 24th season.”

The format of the game is still to be determined, but per tradition it could be composed of scheduled segments of 5-on-5 and 4-on-4 play, power play/penalty kill, and a shootout competition.

Fans can secure their Red & White Game seats now exclusively through a Griffins’ full or partial season ticket membership for the 2025–26 season. To order, call the Griffins’ office at (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/tickets. Information about group tickets, premium hospitality options, and single-game tickets will be announced this summer, along with news about charitable tie-ins and exclusive experiential opportunities for fans.

Tweet of note: Don’t be surprised if the Wings demote Carter Mazur tomorrow as a ‘paper transaction’

FYI, per the AHL’s PR department:

As such, the Red Wings may demote Carter Mazur as a “paper transaction” to ensure that he can continue to play for Grand Rapids for the balance of the AHL’s regular season. The Wings may demote several other players as well–again, on paper.

Red Wings-Utah HC morning skate Tweets: Wings ‘take an optional’ with Lyon starting, Mazur present

The Detroit Red Wings host Utah HC this evening at Little Caesars Arena (7 PM EST start on FanDuel SportsNet Detroit/Utah16/97.1 FM), with the Red Wings looking to snap a 3-game losing streak against a team that hasn’t played since Sunday.

The Red Wings hit the ice at Little Caesars Arena’s main ice rink just before 10:30 AM, per MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Mazur hype machine? Engines on…

Continue reading Red Wings-Utah HC morning skate Tweets: Wings ‘take an optional’ with Lyon starting, Mazur present

Sportsnet discusses the Red Wings’ possible trade deadline outlook

Sportsnet’s Rory Boylen posted an article discussing every team’s trade deadline plans, and here’s what he sees the Red Wings doing (or not doing) by tomorrow at 3 PM EST:

Detroit Red Wings

Status: Fringe buyer with plenty of cap space but unclear aggressiveness

Deadline Day Cap Space: $13.024 million

Team Needs: Defencemen, centre, depth toughness

Potentially Available: Vladimir Tarasenko, Marco Kasper

From the 32 Thoughts Podcast: “I think (GM Steve Yzerman) has been looking for a defenceman. I think he was looking at (Ryan) Lindgren, and I think he also had some interest in other guys who’ve been out there, like Will Borgen kind of guys. So I think it’s safe to say that’s been on his mind. He definitely looked at Cozens earlier this year, that didn’t happen.”

“They lost (Andrew) Copp, he’s out for the year. They lost (Michael) Rasmussen in that game where (Trevor) Zegras got suspended, he’s a big loss for them, so I think people are wondering, does Yzerman go out and get someone who can fill those kinds of roles?”

Outlook: Detroit took a bigger step than most of the East’s rebuilders last season, missing the playoffs only by the regulation-wins tiebreaker. The Wings are back in the thick of it this season though, in a much more crowded field.

Not much leaks out of Yzerman’s front office, which is why past big trades involving Filip Hronek and Anthony Mantha were so shocking. That kind of surprise is always on the table and the Wings have been attached to Cozens rumours earlier this season, which tells you they’re sniffing around on big moves. The recent injury losses, especially to Copp, are big setbacks. Will that spur the front office into action, or have it thinking about being more reserved?

Continued; again, I’m not certain that the Red Wings will do anything, but one never knows with the Wings’ managerial brain trust.