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DobberHockey’s Brennan Des discusses “internal battles for power play opportunities” this morning, and Des suggests that the Red Wings might struggle to determine whether Erik Gustafsson runs the power play, or Moritz Seider does:

Detroit Red Wings – Gustafsson vs. Seider vs. Edvinsson

Given their similar offensively focused skillsets, it’s hard to see Erik Gustafsson as anything other than a Shayne Gostisbehere replacement. Considering Gostisbehere’s main role with Detroit last year was quarterbacking the top power play, it’s only logical that Gustafsson fills that role this year. Some will rightfully question Gus’ competence in such a role considering he’s only really had one standout season and that was roughly five years ago. However, I’m encouraged by the fact that two players who were part of that 60-point campaign in Chicago – Patrick Kane and Alex DeBrincat – are now with Gustafsson in Detroit. Moritz Seider is certainly capable of stepping up to the top unit if Gustafsson falters, but given Seider’s all-round excellence, it would be nice if someone else could manage power-play minutes so he’s fresh for other situations. It’s worth noting that when comparing career numbers, despite having 300 more power-play minutes under his belt, Gustafsson only has 11 more PPPs than Seider. Simon Edvinsson has offensive upside and could see top unit power-play time at some point in his career, but he’s only 25 games into his NHL career and has just four points to his name. He’ll need some more time to settle in before taking on such a high-profile role.

I don’t see Edvinsson getting a whole lot of power play time unless someone suffers an injury; Seider usually works the 2nd power play unit, so there’s that, but the theory is that it’s going to be Gustafsson’s blueline on the man advantage.

NHL.com has shared another hour-long, condensed video of the fan-voted 5th favorite NHL game of the 2023-2024 season.

This game happens to be the Detroit Red Wings’ 82nd game of 23-24, a shootout win against Montreal which was another multi-goal comeback spoiled by the Washington Capitals’ tiebreaker-winning playoff-earning victory over Philadelphia.

This was also the day that my Aunt Annie had her double hip replacement surgery, so I remember the day very, very well:

If you missed it, the Red Wings had three games picked by the NHL as the “Best Games of the 2023-2024 Season” last Sunday night, and one of them is game 81.

Of Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. Pro Hockey Rumors has posted three articles about the Red Wings in the past 24 hours, and PHR’s Brennan McClain offers a fourth article which discusses “training camp battles” that may take place later this month:

The Red Wings are headed into year six of the ’Yzerplan’ and have yet to return to the Stanley Cup playoffs. The organization came close last year as they tied with the Washington Capitals in points for the last wild card spot in the Eastern Conference only to miss out due to the first tiebreaker. Poised to make headlines this summer in the hopes of icing a playoff-caliber roster in a tough Atlantic Division — the Red Wings fell flat. Their biggest moves of the summer were retaining forward Patrick Kane on a one-year deal, signing Vladimir Tarasenko to a two-year pact, and signing goaltender Cam Talbot to complete their goaltending trio.

Detroit seemingly already has a full roster heading into training camp in a few weeks. Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson, Carter Mazur, and Nate Danielson are poised to challenge for a full-time spot in the lineup which could lead the Red Wings to some difficult choices in October. The team will eventually have to begin graduating their glut of prospects to the NHL level but most of them are blocked by the numerous acquisitions general manager Steve Yzerman has made over the last few years. Don’t be surprised if Detroit becomes an active trade candidate before the season opens to make room for some of their prospects.

Yzerman himself has stated that the Red Wings’ younger players are not going to be handed spots on the roster, so McClain is partially correct in suggesting that the Red Wings may trade veterans if their young players step up and take veterans’ jobs.

That being said, the Red Wings, as they are presently constructed, tend not to “make room” for prospects–they want prospects to take that room and force management’s hand instead. It works the other way around, and for now, at least, that’s okay.

2. And Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses a specific prospect who the Red Wings would definitely make room for in Grand Rapids, should he wish to exit the KHL for North America:

Will this be a breakout campaign for Detroit Red Wings prospect Dmitri Buchelnikov? The start of the KHL season is nearing and in team previews on the league’s official website, there was high praise being afforded to the young Russian forward.

Buchelnikov will be suiting up for Vityaz following an offseason trade from SKA St. Petersburg. His opportunity to gain a regular place for an entire KHL season is available to him for the first time.

“The transfer of one of the most promising players in the League is an excellent job by the management of Vityaz, who managed to agree with SKA on the exchange of Buchelnikov,” writes Alexey Anisimov. “Dmitri spent last season on loan at Admiral and really sparkled: 29 (13+16) points in 55 games and a nomination for the award for the best rookie of the season.

“It is likely that Buchelnikov will have good playing time at Vityaz, which can help him take on key roles.”

The Red Wings made Buchelnikov, 20, the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft. He was in Detroit briefly this summer, working out with other Red Wings prospects. However, Buchelnikov didn’t attend the club’s July development camp.

I’ve been scratching my head a bit as to why Buchelnikov wasn’t released to take part in the Red Wings’ Summer Development Camp, but I can tell you that KHL teams essentially train year-round, so it may have been due to obligations to Vityaz in early July.

As for Buchelnikov’s status as a key player on his new team, Buchelnikov, who turns 21 on September 6th, seems to have received a fair chunk of time and a prominent role on Vityaz during the KHL’s month-long preseason, so there is at least hope that he’ll be a top-six player when Vityaz begins its regular season on Wednesday.

In a winner-earns-the-Olympic-spot game in Aaborg, Denmark: team Norway took a 1-0 lead over the home Danes on a Mats Zuccarello goal, but the Danes stormed back with consecutive 2nd period goals by the Danish Nick Jensen, Fredrik Andersen was superb in the Danes’ crease, and Norway just never seemed to overcome home-ice advantage, despite out-shooting and out-skating Denmark at times.

The Norwegians were jittery and tried to force plays far too often en route to a 4-1 loss to the 2026 Olympic-bound Denmark.

While Norway opened things up in the third period, that resulted in Patrick Russell’s salt-it-away goal with 4:29 left in the 3rd, Russell got an empty-netter with 1:27 left, and that was that.

Michael Brandsegg-Nygard looked very much so like and 18-year-old with little experience in these kinds of winner-take-all games. He took two dumb penalties for interfering with Danish players unnecessarily (in a game where the refereeing was fast and loose), though the Danes couldn’t score on said penalties…

Continue reading Olympic Qualifying: Brandsegg-Nygard takes 2 penalties as Norwegians fail to qualify for 2026 Olympics

The Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Aaborg, Denmark is wrapping up with a final day’s worth of games, and Norway and Denmark are battling it out in a winner-take-all 3rd game today.

The game started at 10:30 AM EDT, but it’s worth watching now, because the atmosphere is electric in a full rink for an intense game on September 1st:

Team Austria looked as gloomy as the Red Wings after they found out that the Washington Capitals had won the playoff tiebreaker in Montreal–because Austria’s 0-and-2 record at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bratislava ensured that their team would not earn a spot in the 2026 Olympic games in Milan.

That being said, the Austrians rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take a 4-3 shootout win against a surprisingly good Hungary team, and Marco Kasper had an assist on the Austrians’ 3-3 goal. Kasper was also on the ice for the Austrians’ 3-2 marker, finishing at +2.

You notice Kasper because he’s got a unique combination of being a speedy, defensively responsible center who also has a knack for offense. He’s stocky, he’s got great bursts of speed over short distances, and his shooting and passing are strong, but that low center of gravity and his tenacious nature mean that he’s going to be a great match-up center no matter where he fits in the lineup. The fact that he likes to go to the net, and has a plucky mean streak, are just bonuses.

Per Red Wings Prospects on Twitter/X:

Continue reading Olympic Qualifying: Kasper gets assist as Austrians earn only win

It’s September 1st, and I’m not certain how exactly Aunt Annie and I are going to make it up to Traverse City to attend the Red Wings’ prospect tournament and main training camp, so that I may provide you with in-person coverage while making sure that my 82-year-old aunt is taken care of.

We’ve raised enough money to pay for all the various web-hosting fees that ensure TMR remains operational, with about $200 left over. That’s where we are now. In theory, we’re supposed to raise $4,500 to $5,000 to pay for the hotel and rental car, and I really don’t know if that’s possible.

I just know that our departure date is Thursday, September 12th, and I know that we’ve done this before.

So I’m hoping that, despite the long odds, you’ll donate, or at least share the fundraiser with those who might be interested in lending a hand.

Every dollar helps pave the road up to Traverse City, and all I can do is ask for your help and cross my fingers. The server was paid for, and I didn’t think that would happen. Let’s try to make the impossible happen again.

If you’re willing to lend a hand, have an official GoFundMe fundraiser page at https://gofund.me/c08de120; we have a PayPal option at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport; there’s Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2; if you’re into the, “I don’t want to use any of those pages” option, here’s always the Giftly option by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com…

And in the banking options, you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check, or “Zelle” me via my email, rtxg@yahoo.com. I’m also on Cash App under “georgeums.”

As always, thank you for your readership and your time.

The Olympic Qualification tournament concludes today in Bratislava, Slovakia and Aaborg, Denmark.

Marco Kasper’s Austrian team has already lost two games, so they’re going to be playing for pride against Hungary at 8 AM EDT (and the YouTube link below will stream the game, but not archive it)…

But there’s some drama in Aaborg at 10:30 AM EDT as Michael Brandsegg-Nygard’s Norwegians will battle Denmark, with the winner of today’s game earning Olympic qualification for the 2026 games in Milan (and again, the YouTube embed/link will stream the game, but not archive it):

For the Red Wings, which will have both Kasper and Brandsegg-Nygard in training camp, the most important thing for both players is that this tournament gives them some playing time with which to earn a bit of momentum heading into training camp and the exhibition season.

Playing two games over the course of three nights does that, and as MBN is scheduled to play two Champions Hockey League games on September 6th and 8th, respectively, before heading overseas, so he’s going to be raring to go come September 19th.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff discusses the biggest question regarding one Ville Husso going into the 2024-2025 season–the netminder’s health.

Husso suffered two separate “lower-body injuries” (read: groin injuries) last season, and the Red Wings are evidently concerned enough about Husso’s durability that the team re-signed Alex Lyon and inked free agent Cam Talbot to a two-year contract (and the Wings also brought in Jack Campbell to push Sebastian Cossa in Grand Rapids).

As Duff notes, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman was blunt about the team’s concerns for Husso’s health:

The reason for acquiring such goaltending depth, quite frankly, is because they simply don’t know whether they can count on Husso. Yzerman frankly admits this to be a legitimate concern.

“Yeah, significantly, honestly,” Yzerman said. “You go into a season with your two goaltenders, and a guy you’re projecting to play a lot is unhealthy. It’s a huge hole to fill at the start of the season.

“So we decided we’re gonna go get another goaltender. And we’ll let training camp go through we’ll see how Ville’s health is and and then make a decision at some point.”

Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde insists that the team believes in Husso, caveats about his health included:

“It’s too bad last year on the injuries because he had a really good offseason,” Lalonde recalled of the team’s 2023 training camp. “He came in leaner, probably had his best summer he’s had off the ice. So I think it’s something he can build on.

“The good thing about Ville is he’s also excited about the competition. Credit to our management group. With three goalies last year it’s very unique to the league. It’s certainly not ideal in some situations, when you talk about practice time, obviously game time. But it literally saved our season last year. I think we’re going to start with that same mentality this year.”

Having a “three-headed goalie monster” is definitely “not ideal” in terms of practicing and keeping three goaltenders game-ready, but it definitely appears that the Wings would rather hedge their bets about their goaltenders, and let the regular season’s grind determine their net-minding hierarchy.

To be honest, the Red Wings’ exhibition schedule is such a beast of 8 games over the course of 12 nights that I’ll be surprised if the Wings don’t suffer some sort of injury in goal, even if/when the coaches spread out the starts between Husso, Lyon, Talbot, Campbell and Cossa (with Jan Bednar and Gage Alexander possibly getting half-a-game as well).

Somebody will get bumped or fallen onto “accidentally on purpose,” and while I’m not certain whether the Wings will carry three goaltenders all season long, the exhibition game is all about survival, and redundancy in goal is part of that equation.

Of Red Wings-related note from the slightly inelegantly named “Pro Hockey Rumors”:

1. Gabriel Foley posted a “summer synopsis” which summarizes the Red Wings’ summertime moves, from the draft to free agency entrances and exits, and Foley suggests that the following questions are most important going into training camp and the exhibition season:

Is Cam Talbot The Starter? Cam Talbot has taken on the role of traveling nurse in his later career, bouncing around goalie-needy teams and always finding strong results. He’s posted a .911 save percentage in 198 games over the last five seasons, as part of four different clubs. It’s not much of a secret that the tandem of Ville Husso and Alex Lyon wasn’t going to get Detroit to the playoffs, but to see them bid for Talbot’s traveling support is a certain surprise. That’s emphasized by the red-hot emergence of Sebastian Cossa in the minor-leagues. One of the two star goalie prospects in Detroit’s system, Cossa managed a .913 save percentage in 40 AHL games last year – and could challenge the NHL roster sooner rather than later. That’s a lot of competition for one spot, and all four options carry their own right to ice time. Who wins out the Red Wings’ crease – and the extent of role give to Ville Husso and his $4.75MM cap hit – could go a long way towards determining whether this season will be the year that Detroit breaks their playoff drought.
 
Which Prospects Will Emerge? The Red Wings are entering September down a winger and a defender, and aren’t in much of a position to buy any more free agents. That should spell a great opportunity for top prospects like Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygård, Simon Edvinsson, and Shai Buium. All four are expected to attend Detroit’s training camp and each boast the talent to warrant NHL games, though there’s no guessing how comfortable they look once they’re in the lineup. If not with one of their prospects, Detroit will need to fill their fringe with the lackluster-but-consistent impacts of vets like Tyler Motte and Erik Gustafsson. The quartet of top prospects would be much, much more exciting options – but they’ll first need to win a spot out of camp.

I am curious as to see whether Talbot pans out. He’s going to be dealing with a defense that isn’t as suffocating as the Los Angeles Kings’ anti-hockey machine, but he’s looking to settle down a bit with a team that does have a lot of wiggle room in the crease;

And I’m not expecting Brandsegg-Nygard to “make the jump” to North America this season, but Edvinsson is definitely going to earn a chance to play regularly, as might Albert Johansson;

2. I’m going to continue to raise my eyebrow at this report from Brian La Rose until proved otherwise:

The Red Wings still have three restricted free agents to re-sign, defenseman Moritz Seider along with wingers Lucas Raymond and Jonatan Berggren.  In a recent appearance on the NHL Network (video link), David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period relayed that while there’s no concern on either side yet, talks don’t appear to be progressing between Detroit and Raymond’s camp.  The 22-year-old is coming off his entry-level deal and had a breakout showing last season, recording 31 points and 41 assists in 82 games, leading some to suggest that a long-term agreement between the two sides is likely to push past the $7MM mark per season.

Berggren, meanwhile, was largely a regular for the Red Wings in 2022-23 but spent most of last season with AHL Grand Rapids, tallying 24 goals and 32 assists in 53 games.  The 24-year-old also collected six points in 13 games with Detroit.  Pagnotta reports that a deal between the two sides is expected before training camp and it’s likely to be a short-term agreement.  With a little over $17MM in cap space per PuckPedia, it’s possible that the eventual contracts with Seider and Raymond could dictate how short of a deal Berggren ultimately receives.

I think that Raymond’s likely looking at over $7.5 million now, as is Seider, but whether the team has traction with the two players is pretty close to pure speculation unless J.P. Barry can be attributed directly from Pagnotta.

The Fourth Period’s chief scribe is usually particularly plugged-in when it comes to free agency and contractual rumors, but I just defer to the airtight nature of the Red Wings’ organizational submarine when it comes to rumors leaking out.

As far as Berggren is concerned, I’m expecting him to earn a one-year contract of the “show-me” variety, like Joe Veleno did a season ago;

3. And this rumor, per La Rose, snuck under my radar:

Earlier this week, it was reported that Toronto was one of the teams showing interest in unrestricted free agent winger Max Pacioretty.  Evidently, they’re not the only Atlantic Division squad that has some interest in the veteran as Arthur Staple of The Athletic adds (subscription link) that the Red Wings are believed to be interested in adding the veteran as well.

The 35-year-old spent last season with Washington after inking a one-year, $2MM contract which also carried another $2MM in performance bonuses which were reached once he played in 20 games.  While Pacioretty was able to play in that many games, last season was still an injury-riddled campaign as he worked his way back from his second torn Achilles tendon sustained in the 2022-23 season while playing for Carolina.

As a result, Pacioretty was limited to just 47 games last season.  A six-time 30-goal scorer, he struggled considerably in that department, scoring just four times although he was able to add 19 assists to stay near the half-point-per-game rate.  Nevertheless, that wasn’t the type of performance that gave him some bargaining power heading into free agency.

If we milk the “Michigan connection” spiel a bit, we could point out that Pacioretty played for U of M for one season, and yes, he’d be a no-frills option to fill out the “bottom six” with some scoring prowess, even at 35 years of age, but I’d have to think that, given the Wings’ cap situation and given Pacioretty’s injury history, he’d be playing for a job somewhere as much as he’d be playing for a job with the Red Wings if they were to sign him to a PTO (given his injury history).

It’s all very iffy at this point, but stranger things have happened.