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!

For Further Reading: Troy Stecher’s departure from Vancouver leaving a bad taste for Canucks fans, scribes

This isn’t “big Red Wings news,” but if you’re interested in another team’s take on why a valued player (even if he’s not their MVP) left town, this “futher reading” is for you:

Vancouver Canucks fans and scribes aren’t thrilled that Richmond, British Columbia native Troy Stecher ended up signing with the Detroit Red Wings after the cap-strapped Canucks chose not to qualify Stecher. The 26-year-old spoke positively about joining the Red Wings, but it’s hard to imagine that he’s not a little bummed about not remaining with his hometown team.

The Vancouver Sun’s Steve Ewen reports that the Canucks’ pursuit of free agent defenseman (and, ultimately, Edmonton Oiler) Tyson Barrie and trading for Oliver Ekman-Larsson from Arizona (who remains a Coyote) lost them both Chris Tanev and Stecher’s services:

Continue reading For Further Reading: Troy Stecher’s departure from Vancouver leaving a bad taste for Canucks fans, scribes

Bultman on Thomas Greiss’s adjustment to the Red Wings’ crease

The Athletic’s Max Bultman penned an intriguing article discussing the Red Wings’ Saturday signings of Thomas Greiss and Troy Stetcher, in which Bultman speaks with Greiss’s goalie coach, Adam Francilia, regarding Greiss’s adaptation to a new situation in Detroit:

One of the main questions following his arrival will be how Greiss will adapt in transitioning from one of the soundest defensive teams in the league with the Islanders to a Detroit group that struggled defensively last season.

Greiss on Saturday acknowledged the different outlooks in the two situations but said he’s looking forward to a new challenge and new environment.

Francilia pointed to Greiss’ age and experience as being helpful in that regard, in terms of not getting easily bothered, and highlighted the importance of goaltenders creating their own smaller world, focusing on mastering their craft.

“That sort of helps insulate goaltenders from becoming too overly affected from some of the external things that happen,” he said. “The team in front of you, where they are, is it a transitionary team, a rebuild, a young team. … I think that’s important for a goaltender, to have a little bit of that mental, emotional separation.”

Francilia said that’s something he worked on with another client, Connor Hellebuyck, before last season, with the Winnipeg Jets defense undergoing a significant overhaul as well. The Jets lost Jacob Trouba, Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers, but Hellebuyck went on to win the Vezina Trophy.

Bernier actually benefitted from a similar mindset last season, too, en route to his strong second half.

Continued (paywall)

Tyler Bertuzzi files for salary arbitration

Updated at 5:48 PM: Per the NHLPA:

TORONTO (Oct. 10, 2020) The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced that 26 players have elected Salary Arbitration.

Detroit Red Wings

Tyler Bertuzzi

This precludes Bertuzzi from being subject to an offer sheet. He and his agent can also negotiate with the Wings up to the arbitration hearing, which will take place on or after October 20th in Toronto.

Anthony Mantha also had arbitration rights, but he did not file.

Continue reading Tyler Bertuzzi files for salary arbitration

Troy Stecher speaks with TSN 1040 in Vancouver

Red Wings defenseman Troy Stecher, who’s a native of Richmond, British Columbia, spoke with TSN 1040 in Vancouver regarding leaving his hometown team for Detroit:

You can listen to the entire interview here.

St. James on a very motivated Bobby Ryan

The Free Press’s Helene St. James penned a Red Wings free agency round-up, and she focused on Bobby Ryan’s motivation to turn both his career and his new employer’s on-ice fortunes around:

In addition to being a good fit as a mentor, Ryan has the skill set to help an offense that averaged a league-worst 2.00 goals per game last season. A former 30-goal scorer, he tallied 15 goals as recently as 2018-19. He comes in deeply motivated to prove to critics he still belongs in the NHL. 

“It’s the No. 1 factor for me this year,” Ryan said. “Ultimately I’d like to prove to myself that I have more in me and two, everybody else behind that. There’s going to be naysayers because of my age and my speed. I can’t address age but I’m trying to address speed and go from there and show the hockey world I have something left in me.”

Ryan has lost about 10 pounds over the past year, noting that “I cut out about 750 calories a day in a bottle of wine, so that certainly helps.” He is working with a skating coach for the first time in his career. When the NHL shut down in mid-March because of COVID-19, Ryan went to his offseason home in Idaho, where he was able to increase his training. 

“I missed so much time last year from mid-November to mid-February,” Ryan said. “That time gave me a new work ethic. I embraced not drinking and turned to fitness. … I’m trying to get out of my element, my comfort zone, as much as I can to be a better player. 

“I’ve said this before and I hate saying it, but COVID, because of the way it happened, has been a blessing for me. It allowed my body to really heal, it allowed me to get set in my new lifestyle. It gave me a chance to really get into recovery and learn about myself. When the season does start up, whenever that may be, I think I’m way better equipped to handle things now.”

Continued

Detroit News’s latest Octopulse podcast talks free agency, draft, Manon Rheaume

From the Detroit News comes the latest “Octopulse” podcast:

Per the Detroit News:

►1:00: Thomas Greiss signs two-year deal

►2:45: New free agents Bobby Ryan, Jon Merrill 

►4:20: Twelve UFAs on roster this year

►6:50: Livonia’s Torey Krug signs with the Blues

►10:00: Manon Rheaume interview

►41:00 Steve Yzerman on the eight-hour draft on Day 2

►44:20: Kris Draper on key attributes of draft picks

Red Wings sign Troy Stecher for two years

Good depth signing here:

UPDATE: The #RedWings today agreed to terms with defenseman Troy Stecher on a two-year contract. pic.twitter.com/XesHsfmlBu— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) October 10, 2020

Troy Stecher – D
Detroit #RedWings
2 years – $1.7M AAV

Confirmed Breakdown:
2020-21: $1.2M
2021-22: $2.2Mhttps://t.co/Ncvxxdu62e— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 11, 2020

Stecher is 26 and plays right defense. Per Sports Forecaster:

Scouting Report

Owns excellent puck-moving skills and passing ability. Is also mobile, so he can join the rush with aplomb. Can produce quality offensive numbers at lower levels. Needs to add more bulk to his 5-10 frame, since he is somewhat undersized for the National Hockey League level. Must prove himself as a capable defender in the pros.

Long Range Potential: Solid puck-moving defenseman with some upside.

Red Wings have signed D Troy Stecher to a two-year, $3.4M contract.— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) October 10, 2020

It’s a $3.4 million contract for Troy Stecher with Red Wings – a $1.7M AAV.— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) October 10, 2020

The #LGRW #RedWings signed 26 y/o RD Troy Stecher to 2 year $1.7M Cap Hit Deal per @FriedgeHNIC

-5G 17P in 69GP
-58% 5v5 GF, 47.3% DFF (-1.3% rel team), 48.1% Corsi (-0.6% rel team)
-Scored 1.02 5v5 Points/60
-Rep’d by Eustace King O2Khttps://t.co/E8E43nQBa0— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) October 10, 2020

Continue reading Red Wings sign Troy Stecher for two years

Smile like you mean it

The Free Press posted a short excerpt from Helene St. James’ book, “Big 50: Detroit Red Wings,” which is available on Amazon this Tuesday. She discusses Steve Yzerman’s gap-toothed smile when he lifted the Stanley Cup in 1997:

Steve Yzerman was one of the most photographed men in the NHL in June 1997, when the Red Wings finally ended a 42-year drought and won the Stanley Cup, dispatching the Blues, Ducks, Avalanche, and Flyers en route. Yzerman had lost one of his front teeth two years earlier, and it had been replaced with a crown by team dentist Chet Regula. When a toothache became gradually more unbearable during the spring of 1997, Yzerman ended up in the dentist’s chair the day after Game 1 against the Ducks. “I was feeling lousy all the time and the doctor said I had a bone infection and should have it removed,” Yzerman said at the time.

The tooth was taken out May 17. Before a new one could be put in, the Wings were Stanley Cup champions. The image of Yzerman hoisting the Stanley Cup while grinning a gap-toothed smile became an iconic image. “Here I am looking like a hillbilly,” Yzerman said of the photo. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”

Continued