Author: George Malik

It appears that the NHL and NHLPA will participate in the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, for better or worse…

Players are going to the Olympics. Memo was sent to NHL players… pic.twitter.com/OGqVsEKK1O

— John Hoven | The Mayor (@mayorNHL) September 3, 2021

Goal is to announce this today. Great news for all. One thing to watch…

NHL & NHLPA will still be able to pull out of Olympics, should COVID conditions worsen, or if NHL schedule has been disrupted by cancelations.

Deadline for the opt out is believed to be in early January. https://t.co/Qw0czhpFYK— Emily Kaplan (@emilymkaplan) September 3, 2021

Official announcement coming shortly, but NHL/NHLPA have the ability to withdraw if circumstances change for the worse. Also, if NHL games are cancelled during the season due to outbreaks and there is not room to reschedule, league has option to cancel participation. https://t.co/Bd1AZ51Zla— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 3, 2021

There is no insurance for COVID-related illnesses. Players were aware of this, but wanted to go anyways. Olympic participation is very important to them.— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 3, 2021

The NHL is going back to the Olympics. League, NHLPA, IIHF and IOC have a deal to send players to Beijing.— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) September 3, 2021

It’s official! The IIHF and @NHLPA have reached an agreement that will allow @NHL players to participate in #Beijing2022!

FULL STORY ? https://t.co/xwkR0DyZvk pic.twitter.com/lIspEun3fK— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) September 3, 2021

NHL and NHLPA announce agreement with IIHF. https://t.co/unstqT4UWn pic.twitter.com/bphwLzu86v— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) September 3, 2021

Two days ago, the fundraising news was good, very good–we hit the server goal, and I was thrilled that we were turning the page toward September’s BIG LIFT on a positive note.

Then we raised $50 over the course of two days, which isn’t great when, by the end of training camp, I need to raise about $2,500.

Keeping in mind that the last two days have been very quiet (unless signing Carter Rowney is “big news” to you), we’re hitting the re-set button with an earnest plea:

Put bluntly, the folks who give $100 or $200 have already given to the cause. From here on out, it’s those $25 donations that pave the road to Traverse City–hell, it’s the $5 and $10 donations that help pave the road, too…

So, if you’ve got what is equivalent to “extra change” in 2021, and you’re willing to lend a hand to send up a representative set of eyeballs to the prospect tournament and training camp, things start in two weeks.

I can’t do any of the pre-trip things I have to do, never mind drive up to Traverse City with a backseat full of groceries and a trunk full of dry cleaning, without you.

Let’s get ‘er done.

If you wish to donate, you can use Paypal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com, and yes, you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check.

Ansar Khan posted a mailbag article as a subscriber-only feature on MLive. Among his mailbag questions are the following:

Q: I think the biggest problem this team has faced has been the inability to land or develop a No. 1 defenseman since (Nicklas) Lidstrom retired. That’s why I’m excited to see (Moritz) Seider. I imagine they won’t give him too much responsibility too soon and want to gradually acclimate him to the NHL. How long before he’s the unquestioned leader of this defense and logging big minutes against the best players in the league? — Gerry

A: That’s difficult to say, but probably sooner than later based on how well he played for Rogle BK last season (he was named the Swedish Hockey League’s defenseman of the year at age 19 (turned 20 on April 6). He also was named the top defenseman at the World Championship, leading Germany to the semifinals.

They figure to ease his transition to the NHL by not overloading him at the start with big ice time and tough matchups. They will want to pair him with a veteran left-shooter and have three options in Marc Staal, Nick Leddy and Danny DeKeyser. He likely will be on the penalty kill right away but probably not on the power play.

Continued (paywall)

If you can’t convince players who depend on their breathing for a living to take a vaccine that prevents them from drowning in their lungs with science, logic, reason, or with arguments for collective good…Hit ’em in the wallet.

Story coming shortly, but the NHL’s COVID protocols for 2021-22 were sent out today. A key detail is a mechanism for suspensions to unvaccinated players who cannot participate in team activities — on a per-day basis for as long as they are out. (There are some exceptions.)— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) September 2, 2021

Reading the NHL COVID-19 protocols, let’s just say vaccinated and unvaccinated players will be treated very differently this season.

Different protocols, no pay if unvaccinated player gets sick, 50% of costs associated will be charged to players’ share of HRR, etc.— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 2, 2021

NHL media that are fully vaccinated and masked will have access to players this season in the locker room, the NHL protocols say— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) September 2, 2021

Update: Here’s Friedman in article form:

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen claims that the Red Wings have “lost their social media trolls” because there isn’t as much Red Wings talk on social media as there once was:

The Red Wings’ lack of social media relevancy is exposed in a recent Action Network poll of the NHL’s most negatively trolled franchises. The Red Wings ranked 25th out of 32 NHL teams. Hockey fans simply don’t care enough about the Red Wings to throw shade their way.

Also, Detroit fans don’t have much negative to say about the Red Wings because they like the job Steve Yzerman is doing.

Oddly, the NHL franchise with the most negativity is the Dallas Stars. They are No. 1 among NHL franchises for being trolled and No. 2 overall among all sports franchise.

With all due respect to Allen, a Hockey Hall of Fame-enshrined journalist, I can dig up some trolls pretty bloody easily on Twitter and Facebook–and I can also find some damn passionate Wings fans who will talk your ear off about the rebuilding Wings. Are there as many as there used to be? No, not right now, but there are more than enough to get a conversation started.

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

The #RedWings today agreed to terms with center Carter Rowney on a one-year contract.

Details » https://t.co/n2GmdQyGqh pic.twitter.com/ZGQcrOMDyk— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 2, 2021

It sounds like this is a Grand Rapids Griffins signing, per the Wings’ press release:

While doling out advice for fantasy hockey “dynasty league” players, RotoWire’s Shawn Hutchinson handicaps his top 12 prospects in an article published for Yahoo Sports. Two of the top twelve consist of the Red Wings’ two 2021 first-round picks:

Simon Edvinsson, D, Red Wings: Edvinsson brings a well-rounded game on the blue line, although that could lead to a longer developmental path. The 18-year-old Swede had 12 points in 38 games across three leagues in his native Sweden last year — his offense is not NHL ready, but he’s got size (6-foot-4) and skating skills in spades. He’s still going to need multiple years to make the jump, but the Red Wings should be able to make room for him when he’s ready.

…

Sebastian Cossa, Red Wings: Taken 15th overall in the NHL draft, Cossa clearly has the skill to be a factor in the NHL within three years. He’s a big goalie, but he also has good movement in the crease. Whether he takes the reins as a true No. 1 goalie or starts in a tandem situation, Cossa will likely establish himself as an effective NHL netminder in the not-too-distant future.

Continued; in what little I’ve seen of Edvinsson, his skating is absolutely effortless, which serves as a fine foundation for his excellent skill set; as for Cossa, he’s both blessed and cursed by his immense 6’6″ size, meaning that he does a fantastic job of covering net, but has some holes in his technique that still need to be addressed.

If you wished to know some of Alex Nedeljkovic’s preferences…

Get to know Ned! ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/VUusmdvaXm— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 2, 2021

Of numerically-related note from DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen:

The Wings’ website has been updated to include some camp invitees/prospects and there are some interesting jersey numbers. Raymond at No 23, Cossa gets No 33, which hasn’t been assigned since Draper. Berggren at No 52. Not sure how many of these will stick.— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) September 2, 2021

The most interesting number on the Wings’ roster page, for me, is #34, Victor Brattstrom. This more or less confirms my informal reports over the summer that Brattstrom was coming over to North America from the Finnish Liiga to battle for the Griffins’ starting job with Pat Nagle;

Eemil Viro is also listed on the Wings’ page despite the fact that he’s slated to spend the season with TPS Turku, too.

As Clark suggested, it’s highly likely that we’re trending toward seeing prospect tournament and main training camp rosters sooner than later.

The full list is as follows:

Berggren – 52
Criscuolo – 42
Raymond – 23
Barton – 49
Murphy – 87
Newpower – 47
Sebrango – 44
Seider – 53
Viro (no number)
Brattstrom – 34
Cossa – 33

Some of those numbers (Criscuolo/Seider/Brattstrom, off the top of my head) aren’t new.— DetroitHockey.Net (@detroithockey96) September 2, 2021

Red Wings prospect and Rogle BK defenseman William Wallinder spoke with SHL.se’s Sixen Funqvist as Wallinder attempts to stick with his SHL employer after spending last season with MODO Hockey of the Allsvenskan, the second-highest-level league in Sweden. Here’s a rough translation of Funqvist’s article:

“I will probably play more on instinct”

In the series of articles, “Welcome to the SHL,” we get to know a player or coach from each team in the SHL who’s making their SHL Debut. In this edition, we meet Rogle BK defenseman William Wallinder.

In North America, he’s beginning to attract more and more attention. But those who want him can now contact the Detroit Red Wings, who drafted William Wallinder in the second round (52nd overall) during the 2020 draft. The NHL and a North American adventure seem to belon in his future. But the SHL and Rogle are his present. The native of Solleftea, Sweden has come here after some great seasons with MODO Ornskoldsvik in the Allsvenskan.

“I followed Rogle last season, and they looked very good. They played good and exciting hockey. And I only heard good things about the Abbott brothers down here,” says the 19-year-old when SHL.se calls. “They were very welcoming and welcomed me with open arms, so to speak. It was hard to say ‘no.'”