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!

Detroit News’s Falkner checks in with Justin Abdelkader’s attempts to find a new NHL employer

The Detroit News’s Mark Falkner spoke with Justin Abdelkader’s agent regarding his client’s desire to find a new NHL employer after being bought out by the Red Wings:

The agent for former Detroit Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader said Abdelkader is still looking for “the right fit” with the National Hockey League season scheduled to start next week with five games on Wednesday.

The Red Wings open the 2020-21 season the following night at Little Caesars Arena against the Carolina Hurricanes.

“Justin is eager to join a new NHL team,” said Newport Sports Management agent Wade Arnott, who also represents Red Wings defenseman Danny DeKeyser. “We’re continuing to monitor NHL training camps.”

Continued

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