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!

ESPN’s Wyshynski posts a list of the best representatives of 8 hockey nations for all NHL teams, including the Red Wings

ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski posted a list of the best representatives from 8 hockey nations for each and every one of the NHL’s 31 teams today, and here are his picks for the Red Wings:

Continue reading ESPN’s Wyshynski posts a list of the best representatives of 8 hockey nations for all NHL teams, including the Red Wings

Two brief The Athletic things: DGB’s trade quiz and ‘alternate’ jersey rankings

Of very brief note this morning from The Athletic:

1. Down Goes Brown, a.k.a. Sean McIndoe, posted a set of 20 trade-related questions, and several of them involve Red Wings players or alumni;

2. And Chris Burke and Max Bultman posted a pair of lists encompassing their top 5 best and bottom 5 worst “alternate” jerseys worn by Detroit sports teams, and their lists mysteriously omit this jersey:

Khan: No possible divisional realignment for 20-21 would help the Wings make the playoffs

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses possible divisional realignments for the 2020-2021 season as they might affect the Red Wings this morning, and Khan’s bottom line as to what the divisional scenarios might involve is blunt:

One proposed playoff format would see the top four teams in each division qualify and play each other in the first two rounds, which would reduce travel and result in no border crossing until the conference finals.

But reality for the Red Wings is it doesn’t matter what the divisions look like, they are not going to compete for a playoff spot in 2021. They figure to be better, following a slew of offseason changes that should improve them in all areas and some internal growth. But they were 42 points out of the final playoff spot when the season paused on March 11 and that margin probably would have widened had the schedule been completed.

They can’t possibly erase that deficit in one season, regardless of the format that is implemented.

The hope for the Red Wings is they show significant progress from their 17-49-5 record and are competitive in more games. Most of all, it is vital for their young players to continue showing progress. That would be a big boost for the rebuild.

Continued

Roughly Translated: Filip Zadina discusses winning the ‘Battle of the Filips’

In the “Battle of the Filips,” Filip Zadina out-dueled Filip Hronek literally and figuratively, scoring the game-winning goal as the two players battled for the puck in HC Ocelari Trinec’s 2-1 victory over Hronek’s HK Mountfield:

After the game, Zadina’s post-game comments were noted by no less than six Czech websites, and I’m going to stick with attempting to translate the Q and A that Zadina gave to HC Ocelari Trinec’s David Jezek as it’s the most faithful to his commentary:

Continue reading Roughly Translated: Filip Zadina discusses winning the ‘Battle of the Filips’

Prospect Round-up: Zadina wins battle of the Filips; Lindstrom’s ice time increases

Of prospect-related note on Sunday, November 30th:

In the ICE Hockey League, Jesper Eliasson served as the back-up in the Red Bulls Salzburg’s 10-2 win over the Graz99ers. Michael Rasmussen finished at -2 with 4 shots and 3 penalties taken;

In the Swedish Allsvenskan, Gustav Lindstrom played a massive 28:23, finishing at +1 with 3 shots in Almtuna IS’s 4-3 loss to BIK Karlskoga. Filip Larsson served as the back-up for Almtuna;

William Wallinder played 17:13, finishing at +1 with 1 shot in MODO Hockey’s 4-1 win over Vasteras IK. Gustav Berglund finished at -2 with 1 shot in 16:42 for Vasteras;

In the Belarusian League, Kirill Tyutyayev had an assist and finished at +1 in Yunost Minsk’s 4-2 win over Gomel;

In the Czech Extraliga, Jan Bednar served as the back-up in HC Energie Karlovy Vary’s 5-4 win over PSG Berani Zlin;

Filip Zadina scored a goal in 16:57 played, finishing at +1 with 5 shots in HC Ocelari Trinec’s 2-1 win over Filip Hronek and Mountfield HK. Hronek played 25:25, finishing at -1 with 5 shots for Mountfield HK.

Here’s Zadina’s goal, scored as Zadina beat Hronek to the net:

Hokej.cz posted a 1-minute clip of Zadina beating Hronek to the puck;

In NCAA Hockey, Sam Stange scored the University of Wisconsin Badgers’ only goal on their 3-1 loss to the University of Arizona Sun Devils. Stange finished even with 6 shots, going 8-for-14 on faceoffs and taking 2 penalties; Ryan O’Reilly finished even with 5 shots for Arizona.

Stange got some help on his goal:

‘The Big 50: Detroit Red Wings’ excerpt: 1997

The Free Press posted an excerpt from Helene St. James’ book, “Big 50: Detroit Red Wings” this morning, chronicling the Red Wings’ journey toward their first Stanley Cup in 1997:

Yzerman hoisted the Cup above his head, his gap-toothed smile a mix of relief and joy. He skated to the Wings bench so that owners Mike and Marian Ilitch could touch the Cup, then took his victory lap around the ice.

“I would have preferred to go with everybody in the beginning,” Yzerman said. “I wanted to go as one big group.”

Yzerman passed the Cup to Slava Fetisov, who held it up with Larionov. It was a very conscious, very telling choice on Yzerman’s part. It revealed the respect he felt was due to the two men who had done so much to liberate Russian hockey players from Soviet red tape.

“The last couple of days I thought who I wanted to give the Cup to,” Yzerman said. “I thought about Slava. He and Igor, what they stand for, are good examples for younger players…. All five Russian players were significant players and great guys.” Players took turns taking laps with the Cup. Bowman put on skates and took a lap too. “That was great,” Yzerman said. “I’ve seen it all. He doesn’t show emotion. He doesn’t let us get too close to him. For a few minutes there, he was one of us.”

In 1993, after the Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated the Wings in the first round, Yzerman cried in a back room at the Joe until 4:00 am. The next spring, when his season ended with a stunning first-round upset by the San Jose Sharks, Yzerman cried until 3:00 am. Finally, the Joe was a place for celebration. “He tried to get it for 14 years, and now he gets it,” teammate Tomas Holmstrom said. “I almost started crying.”

Continued

Mountfield HK extends its contract with Filip Hronek

According to Hokej.cz’s Marek Hedbavny, Mountfield Hradec Kralove has extended its contract agreement with Filip Hronek for another month, citing the uncertainty surrounding the start of the NHL season as the reason for its decision to retain Hronek’s services.

All-time goals pitted against each other as Datsyuk and Ovechkin face off in ‘The Greatest: Goal of the 21st Century’ competition

Sportsnet’s latest “The Greatest: Goal of the 21st Century” match-up is a no-win situation, because it pits two all-time great goals against each other.

Pavel Datsyuk’s flip shot vs. Antti Niemi faces off against Alex Ovechkin’s scoring-from-his-back goal, so vote for your favorite. One way or another, a great goal gets chopped from the competition:

Prospect round-up: Veleno’s Redhawks lose again; Kotkansalo scores for Assat; NCAA action on tap

Of prospect-related note today:

In the SHL, Jonatan Berggren did not play in Skelleftea AIK’s 3-2 win over HV71 today. Skelleftea’s website reminds us that Berggren is serving a suspension;

Joe Veleno had an assist and 3 shots on goal, finishing at -2 in 17:17 played as the Malmo Redhawks lost 3-1 to Leksands IF. Veleno is playing pretty well for Malmo, but the Redhawks are a struggling team. Here’s his assist:

Theodor Niederbach made his debut as a second-line center for the Frolunda Indians on Saturday, taking 2 shots and finishing even, winning 33% of his faceoffs in 17:34 played as Frolunda lost 3-2 to Djurgardens IF.

Lucas Raymond took 2 minor penalties in 14:55 played; on the other side, Albin Grewe played 9:52 for Djurgarden, serving as a fourth-line winger;

And Albert Johansson had an assist and 1 shot, finishing at +2 in 11:26 played during Farjestad BK’s 6-4 win over Brynas IF;

In the Finnish Liiga, Victor Brattstrom served as the back-up goaltender during KooKoo’s 3-1 loss to SaiPa;

Eemil Viro had an assist and finished at +2 with 1 shot in 19:12 played as TPS Turku won 4-1 over Assat Pori;

Otto Kivenmaki had a rough night for Assat, taking 2 minor penalties and finishing at -1 with 1 shot in only 13:32 played, but Kasper Kotkansalo scored Assat’s only goal, finishing even with 5 shots in 24:09 played;

Later today, in NCAA Division I Hockey, Patrick Holway and the University of Maine will battle Connecticut at 3 PM EST;

Jack Adams’ Providence College Friars will take on Seth Barton and UMass-Lowell at 4 PM;

And Ryan O’Reilly’s Arizona State University Sun Devils will battle Sam Stange and the University of Wisconsin at 7 PM.

Update: Ryan O’Reilly had an assist and finished with 5 shots, taking 2 penalties in the University of Arizona Sun Devils’ 8-5 win over the University of Wisconsin Badgers. Sam Stange had 4 shots, finished at -3 and took 3 penalties;

The University of Maine Black Bears’ game vs. Connecticut was postponed;

And the University of Massachusetts-Lowell’s game against Providence was also postponed.

[Roughly Translated] from Hokej.cz: Filip Hronek and Mountfield HK still negotiating a contract extension

Hokej.cz’s Marek Hedbavny reports that Filip Hronek and his current Czech Extraliga team, Mountfield HK, are dealing with a contractual deadline. Hedbavny suggests that, should Hronek and Mountfield not reach a contract, rumors are swirling that Filip Zadina’s team, Ocelari Trinec, may reach out to Hronek. What follows is roughly translated from Czech:

Hronek’s contract will end after the weekend. Will he stay with Hradec Králové?

Filip Hronek, currently the biggest name in the Tipsport Extraliga, and at the same time the most productive defender of this season, is still negotiating his extension with Hradec Králové.

His contract will end on the last day of November [Monday November 30th]. He will definitely play for Hradec Králové against Třinec on Sunday, but what then?

“The amendment to the contract has not been signed, we are still negotiating,” General Manager Aleš Kmoníček wrote on Hradec Králové’s website on Friday.

Rumors are already appearing on social networks that [Ocelari] Třinec is circling around Hronek–just like [they were] in summer. O2 TV Sport expert Jakub Koreis came up with this speculation on Twitter.

As the situation regarding the NHL remains confusing, the management of the [organization] officially still looks forward to January 1. However, unofficial news speaks of another [delay], or even the [suspension] of the entire season.

So Hronek could last for some time in the extraleague.

But will it be at home in Hradec Králové?

So far, he is by far the most useful player on Mountfield: in fourteen games, he has helped them with fourteen points. He is not only the most productive defender of Tipsport Extraliga, but also the best scorer among the defensemen (with 5 goals). In addition, he is the second-best defender in the statistics of +/- (+12) and in the number of shots per goal (36).