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!

Kulfan: Where does Frans Nielsen fit into the lineup?

Red Wings forward Frans Nielsen had an awful 2019-2020 season, and the Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan wonders aloud where Nielsen fits into the Red Wings’ lineup–if he fits at all–as the 20-21 season looms:

The Wings’ lineup is far from cemented.

Darren Helm (unfit to play) has been out since the second day of camp, and his availability for Thursday’s regular-season opener is unknown. Evgeny Svechnikov (unfit to play) is in a similar position after suffering an apparent arm/shoulder injury during the team’s first scrimmage. Mathias Brome, an undrafted free agent, has surprised enough to the point where he appears a lock for a lineup spot.

All those ingredients might have Blashill essentially deciding between Nielsen and Adam Erne, potentially, for opening in the lineup, if Helm is unavailable.

“Frans is like the other guys on the team, he has to keep earning that ice time,” Blashill said. “He has a great attitude, he’s been a great pro. I have a lot of respect for him as a person and what he’s done in his career.

“We have a lot of camp left and the competition continues. Frans is in competition for one of the 12 spots. The competition isn’t over unless they (the competing players) let the competition be over with their play. If guys want to earn spots, they can grab a spot (with their play). We’re looking at it and we’ll see how it’s going to start on Jan. 14.”

Continued

Prospect round-up: Eliasson wins in Austria; Kotkansalo scores a rare goal

Of Red Wings prospect-related note this afternoon:

In North America, the Providence College Friars announced that Jack Adams’ transfer from Union College has been accepted, so Adams will play in this weekend’s back-to-back series vs. Boston University;

In Europe, in the ICE Hockey League, Jesper Eliasson stopped 22 of 24 shots as the Red Bulls Salzburg won 3-2 over the Bratislava Capitals;

In the Finnish Liiga, Kasper Kotkansalo scored a goal but finished at -2 with 5 shots in 21:19, and Otto Kivenmaki had an assist and took a penalty, finishing even in 15:37 as Assat Pori lost 4-2 to Ilves;

Victor Brattstrom stopped 25 of 26 shots as he back-stopped KooKoo to a 3-1 win over Tappara;

Eemil Viro didn’t play in TPS Turku’s 2-1 shootout loss to Sport;

Continue reading Prospect round-up: Eliasson wins in Austria; Kotkansalo scores a rare goal

Red Wings post second ‘Red vs. White Game’ scrimmage team rosters

FYI regarding tonight’s 7 PM scrimmage’s respective team rosters:

Update:

Red Wings, FSD announce broadcast schedule for January, February 2021

From the Red Wings:

RED WINGS, FOX SPORTS DETROIT ANNOUNCE BROADCAST SCHEDULE FOR GAMES IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY … 49 Total Regular-Season Wings Games to be Featured on FOX Sports Detroit During 2020-21 Season …  

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and FOX Sports Detroit today announced the 2020-21 Red Wings local television schedule for games in January and February.  The remainder of the broadcast schedule for regular-season games played in March, April and May will be announced at a later date.

FOX Sports Detroit (FSD) continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing a total of 49 regular-season contests.  The popular announce team of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond return to call the action, while FOX Sports Detroit’s comprehensive coverage also includes pregame and postgame editions of RED WINGS LIVE.  In addition to live reports from the state-of-the art Little Caesars Arena, studio portions of RED WINGS LIVE will originate from FOX Sports Detroit’s studios at its Southfield headquarters.

A total of seven Red Wings regular-season games will be nationally exclusive broadcasts on NBC or NBCSN. 

Wings’ ‘morning skate’ before 2nd scrimmage: scrimmage to air on DetroitRedWings.com at 6:30 PM

The Detroit Red Wings’ second scrimmage is being held this evening at 7 PM EST at the BELFOR Training Center in Little Caesars Arena, and the Red Wings will stream the event:

???

The boys are getting ready for tonight’s Red & White scrimmage. You can catch all the action on https://t.co/jLX5LxapNh starting at 6:30PM. #LGRW @Huntington_Bank x #DRWTC pic.twitter.com/AzdlpChueb— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 8, 2021

Four Wings crack The Athletic’s Pronman’s Top 154 prospect list

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman posted a list of his top NHL prospects and players under 23 years of age, and four Red Wings made his list. You’ll have to read the article to understand his ratings system, however:

24. Lucas Raymond, RW, Detroit

March 28, 2002 | 5-foot-10 | 170 pounds

Previous ranking: No. 17

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Elite
Hockey Sense: Above-average
Compete: Above-average

…

27. Moritz Seider, D, Detroit

April 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 207 pounds

Previous ranking: No. 38

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average

…

58. Filip Hronek, D, Detroit

Nov. 2, 1997 | six-foot | 170 pounds

Previous ranking: No. 61

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average

…

66. Filip Zadina, RW, Detroit

Nov. 27, 1999 | six-foot | 196 pounds

Previous ranking: No. 71

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: High-end
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Average
Shot: Above-average

Continued (paywall)

With the weekend looming, Wings’ focus shifts toward pair of scrimmages on Friday, Sunday

The Detroit Red Wings will hold a pair of scrimmages on Friday and Sunday evening at Little Caesars Arena, and the scrimmages will effectively serve as exhibition games in an exhibition-less lead-up to the 2020-2021 regular season.

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan spoke with coach Jeff Blashill and Jon Merrill regarding the importance of these internal competitions:

The Wings’ have their second scheduled scrimmage Friday, this one at the practice rink, and Blashill is hoping for his players to take another step toward the regular season opener on Jan. 14.

“The intensity has to be high,” said Blashill, who felt the intensity was lacking somewhat Tuesday. “We want to lose the bad summer habits and create good, winning habits. Make it as real hockey as we can.”

Blashill said there will be specific work on specialty teams, with lineups set to fill those possible power plays and penalty kills.

Players recognize the importance of putting together a consistent, high-level effort scrimmage, with no exhibition games this season.

“There’s always a next level to raise the intensity in order to prepare for NHL games,” defenseman Jon Merrill said. “You can’t emulate the battle level in practice. We do our best in practice and give everything we have, but we have to ramp it up and get ready for Carolina (for the season opener).”

Continued

HSJ: Wings’ revised power play hopes to snap its streak of futility

The Red Wings’ power play stank on ice last season, but the Free Press’s Helene St. James asked Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill about the team’s belief that this year’s special teams units–and the power play in particular–will improve thanks to an influx of new personnel and a re-dedication to “finishing” their job of scoring key goals:

Even with the Red Wings often putting their best players on one power play unit last season, their conversion rate, 14.9%, ranked 29th out of 31 teams.

Now a new season beckons — the opener is Jan. 14 against the Carolina Hurricanes —and with an influx of new players — thanks to general manager Steve Yzerman — the Wings look like they can field two functional power play units.

“Our power play hasn’t been good enough nor has any player been productive enough on the power play,” coach Jeff Blashill said Thursday. “I want to create two units and I hope they’re super competitive and I hope they both play great.”

While five-on-five play was the focus of the first scrimmage, special teams are on the menu for Friday’s and Sunday’s scrimmages. One unit features Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha on the flanks, Tyler Bertuzzi in the bumper role, Bobby Ryan in front of the net and Danny DeKeyser on the point. The other has Filip Zadina and Sam Gagner on the flanks, Robby Fabbri in front of the net and Filip Hronek and Jon Merrill on the points.

Both units have at least one player (Ryan, Gagner, Hronek) who shoots right, a balance that should allow for multiple looks, once it’s set up.

Continued

Khan: Fabbri excited to become the Wings’ #2 center

According to MLive’s Ansar Khan, the Red Wings are feeling good about the fact that Robby Fabbri seems set to start the 2020-2021 season as Detroit’s second-line center:

He is happy to return to his natural position, where he played before being moved to wing when he broke into the NHL with St. Louis.

“I really enjoy it,” Fabbri said. “It was nice to get some games in last year before the pause. I feel comfortable there and I feel effective.”

Fabbri, who turns 25 on Jan. 22, proved to be a good acquisition in a trade with the Blues a month into 2019-20. After two seasons plagued by knee injuries, Fabbri collected 14 goals and 31 points in 51 games, the final few played at center.

Coach Jeff Blashill liked what he saw and kept him there in training camp, even discussing the move with general manager Steve Yzerman.

“He really gives us a chance to have a No. 2 center, a guy that can play in the top six at the center position, and I think he’s excited about it,” Blashill said. “If he plays really well at center, he’ll stay at center. If he doesn’t, then we’ll try to make him a great winger. But right now, our focus is helping him get super-comfortable at center before the year starts and then going out and playing.”

Continued