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 gives the Red Wings a ‘B’ grade for draft, free agency performance

ESPN’s Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton have issued draft and/or free agency grades for the NHL’s 32 teams, and they’re surprisingly bullish on the state of the Red Wings:

Detroit Red Wings

Key players added: G John Gibson, F Mason Appleton
Key players lost: G Petr Mrazek
Remaining cap space: $12,086,628

Overall grade: B

Credit to GM Steve Yzerman for finally finding a new home for Gibson. That pre-free agency trade felt like a long time coming and not only gives Gibson a fresh start but also upgrades Detroit’s goaltending situation (which was a clear priority heading into the offseason).

But Yzerman seemed content to let that be the only serious changes to the Red Wings’ roster. He filled in the edges a bit with bottom-six wingers Appleton and James van Riemsdyk, and has another third-pairing defense option in Jacob Bernard-Docker, but beyond that Detroit will (barring any other movement) enter this season much the way it exited the last.

Depth is a good thing to have. But the Red Wings needed a bigger name to boost their back end, and would have also have benefitted from improved top-six scoring potential. Those areas might still need to be addressed.

Continued; I’d argue that Yzerman isn’t exactly content with the way free agency turned out.

There’s no doubt that the Red Wings need a top-four defenseman and/or top-six scoring forward, but I wonder whether those trades might not take place until the regular season, given the circumstances.

In the interim, the Wings’ young players will have to take steps forward, and the veterans will have to exceed expectations as well.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard’s ready to play AHL hockey

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a subscriber-only article about Red Wings prospect and prospective Grand Rapids Griffins forward Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, who’s looking forward to taking part in his first North American pro season:

Brandsegg-Nygard, who joined the Griffins in April with Skelleftea AIK teammate Axel Sandin Pellikka, had no points in two regular season games and three points (two goals, an assist) in three games in their playoff series loss vs. Texas.

“It was a great experience,” Brandsegg-Nygard said last week during Red Wings development camp at Little Caesars Arena. “It just feels like it’s a fun hockey to play.”

“I feel like you have to keep your speed all the way and not, like, stop. That was a big difference for me. And you’re so much closer to the net, too, so you feel like you could just shoot all over the place. That’s how I like that. I feel like the longer I was there, I got more comfortable and learned. So hopefully I’m having a good season and learn more and more when I’m there this season.”

He added: “I’m young, so I got to develop everything, but a few things I focus more on is my speed, to have a lot of speed. Have quick turns and stuff like that.”

Continued; Brandsegg-Nygard isn’t huge at 6’1,” but Khan reports that MBN already weighs 206 pounds, and I’d imagine that the budding power sniper could put on another 10 pounds of muscle and remain a mobile hockey player.

Selling Savage on an AHL deal

I was very surprised when I read that the Red Wings weren’t speaking with 22-year-old Michigan State captain and plucky center Red Savage, who the team drafted in 2021. The 5’11,” 185-pound center isn’t a big man by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s extraordinarily competitive and gritty in a 3rd/4th line role.

I felt that his professionalism and compete level would at least fit in well in Grand Rapids, if not Detroit, down the line.

When Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman told the Wings’ media corps that Savage’s situation was a question for Shawn Horcoff, who is both the Wings’ assistant GM and the Grand Rapids Griffins’ GM, I hoped that the Wings would at least sign Savage to an AHL contract before his rights expire on August 15th.

This morning, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff suggests that the Wings could very well Savage to an AHL deal, with the possibility of earning an NHL contract down the line:

“His rights expire Aug. 15,” Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of the player they drafted 114th overall in 2021. “I think we’ve had some discussions. I haven’t got an update on it, but potentially looking at Red remaining in the fold on some type of contract.”

Yzerman admitted that this was more of a question for assistant GM Shawn Horcoff. Since one of the main duties fulfilled by Horcoff is serving as GM of the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins, putting two and two together, it would seem likely that Detroit is trying to get Savage to agree to terms on an AHL contract.

A dislocated shoulder was cutting Savage’s senior season short. He suffered the season-ending injury on January 17, limiting him to 20 games. There was some speculation that Savage might seek a fifth season as an NCAA hardship case, but that never materialized.

The left-shot center finished with 5-6-11 totals in 20 games. Were he to turn down the Detroit offer, Savage could become a UFA on Aug. 15, as Yzerman noted.

Continued; Savage may be holding out for two-way NHL/AHL contract offers when he becomes a free agent this August, but I really do hope that the Wings manage to sign him.

He’s a mini Tomas Nosek in terms of his faceoff prowess, determination and desire to win every puck battle, and I believe that he will be an asset to one of the NHL’s 32 teams.

Tweet of note: Dmitri Buchelnikov to take place in charity game vs. NHL’ers on July 13th

From Red Wings prospects on Twitter:

Reviewing Yzerman’s free agency remarks

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills looks back toward Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman’s post-free agency press conference, noting Yzerman’s blunt remarks regarding the team’s offseason outlook:

“Going into free agency, we all recognized that it was going to be difficult all around the League,” Yzerman said. “For whatever reason, there weren’t as many what we would all consider high-end free agents available this year. So, it wasn’t really a shock to us that we weren’t able to get anything done with any of the bigger-name guys.”

But that didn’t prevent Detroit from complementing its already-talented core.

“Jacob Bernard-Docker gives us a little bit of depth on defense,” Yzerman said. “Not a big-name signing but has been an effective player in his time in Ottawa in particular. He plays hard and competes…Up front with JVR, on the left wing, bigger body…Mason Appleton as well, a right winger that plays on the penalty kill and chips in a little bit of offense.”

And the offseason isn’t over yet. So, even with these new faces being added to the mix, Yzerman said the Red Wings will continue exploring opportunities to improve the roster.

“It’s just been my experience over the years that things kind of work themselves out,” Yzerman said. “Opportunities arise. You try to force it or chase it, there’s too many years, too many dollars or you give up too much in a trade…Trying to be diligent, maybe patient, just wait for the right player, the right opportunity, whether it is in a trade or in free agency, to add to our lineup and use our assets wisely if we can.”

Continued; Yzerman may or may not have done enough to improve his team’s roster through the free agent marketplace alone, but he was completely honest about how things worked out.

The Red Wings’ goaltending is better, but it still needs help

Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin offers a set of “Goalie musical chairs” rankings for the 2025 offseason, and he suggests that the Red Wings’ goaltending stock has improved…sort of…

Detroit Red Wings (Stock up)

John Gibson (acquired from Ana)
Cam Talbot

(Out: Alex Lyon)

Among the clearly available netminders this offseason, Gibson was the top option, fresh off his best season in six years. He slides in as Detroit’s No. 1 and forms what looks like a pretty strong duo alongside Talbot, keeping the seat warm until Sebastian Cossa gets a larger opportunity. But after Gibson has spent so many seasons of his career bailing out bad defensive teams, it would’ve been fun to see him flourish in a stingy system. Instead, he’s set up to be shelled once again. The Red Wings iced the worst penalty kill of any NHL team in the past 42 years, and the fourth-worst of all-time, this past season. The Ducks had the most expected goals against in the league at 5-on-5, but the Wings were bottom-third, too, so Gibson will continue getting major workouts, especially when Detroit has barely done anything to improve its D-corps this offseason. Detroit already had above-average goaltending this past season, so Gibson isn’t a savior. He’ll help, but it won’t be enough if the Wings keep bleeding scoring chances.

Continued; man, it’s “Bag on the Wings” season…

Duff confirms that Wings-Stars prospect games will take place in Frisco, Texas this year

The multi-talented Sean Shapiro Tweeted out that the Red Wings’ Prospect Games against the Dallas Stars would not take place in Traverse City, MI this year, and Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff confirms the news:

This fall, that won’t be happening. A tournament that dates back to 1998 isn’t taking place this fall. The Red Wings are heading to Frisco, Texas to partake in a pair of games against the Dallas Stars rookies.

Last year, you will recall that the Stars were the only team other than the Wings in Traverse City for rookie games.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the plan is for the two teams to continue to alternate hosting rookie games. That would mean the Stars will be again visiting Traverse City in the fall of 2026.

Continued

Todd Bertuzzi’s mounting a comeback to play in the Allan Cup

As Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff notes, former Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi is coming out of retirement to help the Senior AAA Cambridge Hornets in Cambridge, Ontario win the biggest trophy in senior hockey, the Allan Cup:

“I think it’s a little like riding a bike,” Bertuzzi said at a press conference announcing his comeback. “There’s going to be a lot of younger guys, fast guys. I respect the league and I respect what they’re doing. I feel healthy enough to play, and I would love to help them win a championship. It’s going to be a fun process.”

Bertuzzi thinks he can provide a veteran presence to his younger teammates.

“I think with me it’s about sharing what I know about hockey, what I’ve been through,” Bertuzzi said.  I’ve been on a lot of teams and in a lot of dressing rooms on great teams with great players.”

Bertuzzi hasn’t played pro hockey since 2015. That season, he was suiting up for the AHL Belleville Senators. He was hoping to convince their parent club, the NHL Ottawa Senators, to give him a shot. However, after two pointless games, Bertuzzi was given his release from a pro tryout.

Continued (with a video of Bertuzzi’s press conference)

Press release: Red Wings hire Michael Leighton as goaltending coach

Per the Detroit Red Wings:

RED WINGS HIRE MICHAEL LEIGHTON AS GOALTENDING COACH

  … 2025 AHL Hall of Fame Inductee Spent Parts of Three Seasons as Goaltending Coach with OHL’s Windsor Spitfires …

DETROIT – Detroit Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Steve Yzerman today announced that the team has hired Michael Leighton as Goaltending Coach.

Leighton, 44, joins the organization after spending parts of three seasons as Goaltending Coach of the Ontario Hockey League’s Windsor Spitfires from 2021-24. During his tenure with the Spitfires, Leighton helped the team win back-to-back Western Conference regular-season titles in 2021-22 and 2022-23. The Spitfires also clinched a berth in the 2022 OHL Championship Series, falling to the Hamilton Bulldogs in seven games. Leighton began his coaching career after playing 18 seasons of professional hockey from 2001-19.

Originally selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round (165th overall) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft, Leighton posted a 37-43-10-4 record with a 2.98 goals-against average, a 0.900 save percentage and four shutouts in 110 regular-season appearances with the Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Philadelphia Flyers and Carolina Hurricanes. Leighton became the first goaltender in Blackhawks history to earn a shutout in his NHL debut, stopping all 31 shots he faced in a goalless tie on Jan. 8, 2003 vs. Phoenix. He also logged an 8-4 record with a 2.54 goals-against average, a 0.913 save percentage and three shutouts in 16 postseason contests, helping the Flyers reach the 2010 Stanley Cup Final. Leighton tied an NHL record for most shutouts in a single Stanley Cup Playoff series, collecting three shutouts in five starts during the 2010 Eastern Conference Final vs. Montréal.

Continue reading Press release: Red Wings hire Michael Leighton as goaltending coach

James van Riemsdyk tries to emulate Tomas Holmstrom

As the Hockey News’s Michael Whitaker notes, new Red Wings forward James van Riemsdyk is a big fan of a former Detroit mainstay:

A veteran of 1,082 career NHL games, van Riemsdyk has made a living by being an effective net-front presence, a role that he’s not only accustomed to but has grown into over the years.

“I feel like the more I’ve done it, the more natural it seems to become,” he said. “And like I mentioned before, especially down the stretch and into the playoffs, it seems like that’s where you need to go to have the success and score the goals. So I think that’s ultimately why it’s for me, just an attractive place to be on the ice.”

Perhaps the most effective net-front presence in recent NHL history was former Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom, who made life a living nightmare for opposition goaltenders by routinely taking up residency at the edge of the crease. 

van Riemsdyk, who scored 16 goals as a member of the Columbus Blue Jackets last season, acknowledged that he used to pay close attention to how Holmstrom parked himself at the front of the net. 

“That was a guy over the years I watched and kind of how he went about his craft and pulled different things from him,” van Riemsdyk said.

Continued