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!

Theodor Niederbach speaks with The Hockey News’s Kennedy regarding his opportunity to center Raymond and Holtz

The Hockey News’s Ryan Kennedy spoke with Red Wings prospect and Frolunda Indians center Theodor Niederbach, who’s been given a tremendous opportunity to center Sweden’s top World Junior Championship line of Lucas Raymond and Alexander Holtz due to Karl Henriksson’s positive coronavirus test.

As Niederbach already told HockeyNews.se, he’s not fazed by having been afforded such a pressure-packed opportunity:

“Both Holtz and Raymond are really skilled players and the role of the center between them is maybe more about defensive responsibility,” Niederbach said. “I may not be a two-way center like Karl Henriksson, but if I play with Holtz and Raymond, I can take that responsibility in the ‘D’ zone and complete those two. I will do everything I can to take the opportunity – I want to be a leading player; I can take that role.”

Luckily for Niederbach, he already has some experience stepping up this season. The teen center made his SHL debut this year for Frolunda, getting into 11 games after thrashing the junior circuit for 35 points in 19 games.

“It’s a big difference, from the players to the game itself,” he said. “It’s faster, but the more I played, the more comfortable I’ve been with the puck to make good plays. I think I’ve done decent in the SHL so far.”

Continued, with insights from Red Wings director of player development Shawn Horcoff…

Filip Hronek (and Filip Zadina) won’t participate in the Channel One Cup

This comes from Mountfield HK’s website, on their homepage:

Filip Hronek do Ruska nepoletí

Filip Hronek byl nominován na prosincový Channel One Cup, kterého se však nezúčastní. „Vzhledem ke stanovisku klubu Detroit Red Wings a možnému dřívějšímu návratu do zámoří se Filip Hronek a Filip Zadina nemohou zúčastnit Channel One Cupu v Moskvě,“ informoval tiskový mluvčí Českého hokeje Zdeněk Zikmund.

Translated to English:

Filip Hronek will not fly to Russia:

Filip Hronek was nominated for December’s Channel One Cup roster, but he will not participate. “Due to the position of the Detroit Red Wings team, and a possible earlier return overseas, Filip Hronek and Filip Zadina cannot participate in the Channel One Cup in Moscow,” said Zdenek Hikmund, a spokesman for Czech hockey.

So only Jonatan Berggren (Sweden) will be taking part in the Channel One Cup this upcoming weekend.

Red Wings terminate Filip Zadina’s loan to Ocelari Trinec

According to this translated Tweet from HC Ocelari Trinec of the Czech Extraliga, Red Wings prospect Filip Zadina missed today’s game between Trinec and Vitkovice as he had an injury prior to the season which was reevaluated…and his loan to Trinec has been terminated by the Red Wings. That’s per Ocelari Trinec coach Vaclav Varada.

Update: Keep in mind that Zadina and Filip Hronek are scheduled to play in the Channel One Cup for the Czechs later this week in Moscow.

Update #2: Never mind!

FSD: Chris Osgood appears on the ‘Digging in With Tripp’ podcast, plus 14 ‘teaser’ videos

Carolina Hurricanes play-by-play announcer Tripp Tracy spoke with Red Wings alumnus Chris Osgood for an hour-and-a-half recently for Tracy’s “Digging in With Tripp” podcast…

And the podcast posted several videos teasing the larger interview:

Continue reading FSD: Chris Osgood appears on the ‘Digging in With Tripp’ podcast, plus 14 ‘teaser’ videos

Via KK on Twitter: NHL on XM Sirius radio Canada to focus on 2008 Wings today

FYI from Paul Kukla on Twitter:

Reminder: the Grand Rapids Griffins’ ‘virtual teddy bear toss’ is today

If you’re in Grand Rapids and are looking to lend a charitable hand, the Grand Rapids Griffins are holding their “Virtual teddy bear toss” today at Griff’s Icehouse:

‘The Word on Woodward’ to focus on NHL’s latest ‘return to play’ situation, plus interviews with Cotsonika and Thompson

The Word on Woodward will be fairly Red Wings-centric today (airing from 12-2 PM EST), per its YouTube description:

The Word on Woodward is all new with an update about the potential NHL season start-up date and a discussion on the seven Red Wings prospects competing in the World Juniors Championship. Plus, NHL.com’s Nick Costonika and Fox Sports Detroit’s Trevor Thompson join us for interviews.

Centre ICE arena to hold training camp merchandise and memorabilia sale

Centre ICE Arena in Traverse City is holding a memorabilia and training camp merchandise sale to attempt to raise funds for the rink this week, and it looks like what they’ve got will be worth your time:

The Athletic’s Smith addresses the ‘Zetterberg LTIR’ rumor

The Athletic’s Joe Smith addressed something of a strong undercurrent today while answering a reader’s mailbag question:

What are you hearing on the Henrik Zetterberg LTIR trade rumors? What would it take in addition to Johnson for the Red Wings to deal that LTIR contract? Hopefully not a first-round pick but who knows. — Matt C.

It’s an interesting idea, first floated on the internet in Russia, but I haven’t heard anything as far as confirmation on that. I do think that the Red Wings and Lightning are good fits for a potential deal, and whether that includes taking on Zetterberg’s LTIR, Tampa Bay would need to add an additional sweetener to make that kind of deal work. You’re talking about a draft pick or prospect there, though I don’t think the Lightning wants to give up a first-rounder.

Continued; I never put stakes in what’s coming out of the Russian hockey rumor mill.