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!

Griffins sign forward Jon Martin

The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed a depth forward to an AHL-only deal in one Jon Martin, a 6’2,” 215-pound grinder…

UPDATE: The Griffins have signed Jon Martin to a one-year AHL contract. Martin has played in 200 AHL games with Tucson and San Jose. #GoGRG

More info >> https://t.co/Yf9vosQSvI pic.twitter.com/8XjjwwiK3R— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) July 29, 2021

Darren Helm heads to Colorado

Bummer:

Darren Helm signs 1 year, $1 million in Colorado.— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 29, 2021

Helm has been in Detroit for 14 years and won a Stanley Cup with the Red Wings. He can play center or wing and had eight points in 47 games last year. https://t.co/VWPoBmS9JV— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) July 29, 2021

I can confirm the reports that Darren Helm is coming to the #Avs on a one-year deal worth $1 million.— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) July 29, 2021

Darren Helm, signed 1x$1M by COL, is a bottom six defensive forward. #GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/fTkyKS5D8p— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 29, 2021

I really thought Darren Helm would be a Red Wing for eternity— Joe Yerdon (@JoeYerdon) July 29, 2021

Longest-tenured #RedWing moving on. https://t.co/F2OMYSfMcu— Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) July 29, 2021

Update: Here’s Khan in text form:

Continue reading Darren Helm heads to Colorado

Allen: Suter’s looking out for #2

Updated 3x at 2:51 PM: Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen reports that new Red Wings center Pius Suter hopes to slide into the Wings’ #2 center slot behind Dylan Larkin:

The Detroit Red Wings haven’t said specifically that they intend to play Pius Suter as their No. 2 center. But that’s his plan.

“That should be my goal and is my goal,” the Swiss forward said Thursday in his introductory press conference with the media. “I have to, in the training camp and games, perform.  I have to make sure the coach gives me a chance and then I have to prove myself.”

The Red Wings have Dylan Larkin coming off injury, and there has no information of where he is at in his recovery. Michael Rasmussen is penciled in as the No. 3 center. Before the Red Wings persuaded Suter to sign a two-year deal for $3.250 million per season, the plan for the No. 2 center was either Joe Veleno stepping up, or perhaps Robbie Fabbri, Vladislav Namestnikov or a combination of all three.

But now they have added a center who netted 13 even-strength goals last season for the Blackhawks. His 14 total goals makes him the Red Wings top returning scorer. His goal-scoring total over the abbreviated 56-game season projects to 21 goals over an 82-game schedule. Suter is comfortable at both center and wing.

Continued (paywall);

Update: Here’s more from MLive’s Ansar Khan:

Continue reading Allen: Suter’s looking out for #2

NHLPA.com praises Ted Lindsay on his 96th birthday

This is really cool:

Today, on what would have been Ted Lindsay’s 96th birthday, we remember the trailblazing Hockey Hall of Famer’s impact and legacy.https://t.co/YQPHf1NGSw revisits the stories of No. 7, as told by Ted himself: https://t.co/ueX3Ey1Dza pic.twitter.com/qqslWu6efZ— NHLPA (@NHLPA) July 29, 2021

Red Wings post a ‘thank you’ video for Luke Glendening

Here’s the Red Wings’ video paying tribute to Luke Glendening, who signed with the Dallas Stars yesterday:

Larkin on Glendening. #LGRW

?: https://t.co/fhHaTSKOVe pic.twitter.com/h5PvY8kF0I— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) July 29, 2021

Red Wings post Pius Suter’s Zoom call

Red Wings free agent signing Pius Suter held a Zoom call with the Wings’ beat writers this morning:

HSJ in the morning: on free agency so far, and the Wings’ rebuild

The Free Press’s Helene St. James wrote an article discussing the Red Wings’ offseason moves this morning, suggesting that the Wings’ trades for Nick Leddy and Alex Nedeljkovic, the re-signings of Marc Staal, Sam Gagner and signings of Pius Suter and Jordan Oesterle all suggest that Detroit will ice a more competitive team this upcoming season.

She focuses on the comments made by Sam Gagner, who spoke with the media yesterday afternoon, comparing and contrasting Gagner’s remarks with those of Luke Glendening, who left the Wings to pursue a Stanley Cup with the Dallas Stars:

There will be one noticeable loss in the dressing room, as Luke Glendening’s decade-long tenure with the franchise ended when he signed a two-year, $3 million deal with the Dallas Stars. Glendening, an alternate captain since 2019, called it one of the toughest decisions of his life, “leaving what I’ve known, what’s been comfortable to me. But you never know if you don’t try.”

Gagner didn’t want to try free agency.

“I really enjoyed my time last year,” he said. “Right from the end of the season until now, my thought process was to hopefully be back with the Wings. I’m looking forward to getting back there and getting to work.”

Gagner had seven goals and eight assists in 42 games last season, despite missing two weeks in January after testing positive for COVID-19. He’s a right-handed shot with high-end smarts, and a calming presence. He has been a great resource for first-round picks such as Filip Zadina, as Gagner was the No. 6 overall pick in 2007. Gagner’s career has gone through some turbulence, and that’s part of what makes him so valuable as a mentor.

“I was a high pick in Edmonton and one of the guys who was expected to help turn things around,” Gagner said. “Handling that adversity has made me a better persona and it helps in the situation I’m in now, being able to impart some of that on our young group. You want to be a good hockey player. That’s the best way to help the group. If I can bring my best every night, my voice, it travels a little farther in the room. That’s what I’m focused on, making sure I come to camp ready.”

Continued; I don’t know whether the 2021-2022 Red Wings will make the playoffs in a stacked Atlantic Division, but my hope is that the Wings will be more bearable to watch–and more competitive–as the rebuild kicks into high gear.

Bultman discusses the Wings’ roster, including Pius Suter’s probable role

The Athletic’s Max Bultman posted an estimation as to where the Red Wings’ 2021-2022 season roster stands as of July 29th, and he offers this take on where Pius Suter fits into the Wings’ “top six”:

How exactly [his] role shakes out remains to be seen, and will likely come down to training camp, but as things stand now, Suter may very well project as Detroit’s second-line center. Michael Rasmussen may yet give him a run, but Suter showed an ability to bring offense last season, and that’s something the Red Wings badly need high in the lineup.

With that said, there may be a bit of a transition shock in terms of the supporting cast. Suter’s most frequent linemates with the Blackhawks were Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat, and Detroit simply cannot match that. It’s also impossible to know how well Suter’s strong debut season will translate to a full 82-game schedule.

But it’s easy enough to envision a world in which Suter plays with scorers Filip Zadina and Robby Fabbri on a true scoring line that could earn favorable offensive-zone deployments, which could help maximize his productivity. And for the short term and relatively low cost the Red Wings paid, he looks like a really strong bet to place.

Continued (paywall)