The Malik Report

Niklas Kronwall is making the rounds with the Swedish media ahead of today’s English-language press conference. Here’s what Kronwall had to say to Expressen’s Gunnar Nordstrom, roughly translated from Swedish:

“I’m too restless to be able to live a Svensson-life

Los Angeles. Niklas Kronwall, 38, weighed in the pros and cons of the decision to retire.

With 953 games played for the Detroit Red Wings, he only had 47 games to play to hit the dream limit of 1,000 games played in the NHL.

“It’s definitely something I was thinking about. Having played a thousand games in the NHL gives you respect, that was what attracted me most to continue for another season. But there were other pieces in life that were more important to me,” he says in an interview with SportExpressen.

He can look back on a long and amazing hockey career, which took him into the exclusive “Triple Gold Club” after winning the World Cup, Olympic Games and Stanley Cup.

Kronwall can add two gold medals with Djurgarden as the cream on the top.

And a number of millions in the bank account.

But now it is over.

“The decision has grown for a long time. But deep down I have known for quite some time that it was time to put the skates on the shelf. I just didn’t want to make a hasty decision, so I gave myself all summer to be sure of what I’m doing right now so I don’t regret it.”

The Red Wings’ new GM, and your old teammate, Steve Yzerman, said he’d love for you to continue for another year?

“Yes, I got those signals, and it’s clearly great fun to hear. But at the same time it was nice to be able to decide for myself when it’s time to quit, and to be able to do it after a good season. And without injuries and other circumstances, which have been noted.”

Who did you speak with to come to this decision?

“The family in the first place, but it always came back to what I felt deep down and what I wanted to do myself. I am aware that I will miss the hockey life on the rink very much, but it’s time to move on in life.”

Kronwall about the future.

What are the best memories of the fifteen seasons in Detroit?

“It’s only when you get older that you really understand how big it is to win the Stanley Cup. I’m also proud to have played with such incredible players as Nicklas Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, to name a few.”

Will you stay with the Red Wings? Tell me about the new job?

“I will be advising Steve Yzerman and it will be very interesting to see and experience the other side of hockey. Exactly what I will do, we’ll let that grow out, but of course it’s a kick. Not least because I get to work with Stevie, with whom I was a teammate for a year-and-a-half before he retired. He’s a very good person.

You’ll stay in Detroit?

“Yes, for at least another year. I’m too restless to be able to live a ‘Svensson life,’ so I’m really looking forward to this new challenge.”

You’re the last of the old stars to disappear from the Red Wings. Does it feel a little bitter?

“Yes, maybe, but it’s my turn to step down now. The generational shift is in full swing.

You had a good last season; what does that mean to you?

“I showed that I can still play at this level. The seasons before, I felt that when I had the knees that were messed up and I couldn’t do myself proper justice. So it was a bit nice for the ego to step away [healthy],” says Niklas Kronwall.

From the Detroit Red Wings:

The 2019-20 #RedWings broadcast schedule is here, with 77 preseason and regular-season games to be featured on @FOXSportsDet. ??

? → https://t.co/1clX6Hjxqy pic.twitter.com/GjgeapCcT2— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) September 4, 2019

Here’s a bit more from the Wings:

Red Wings, FOX Sports Detroit announce 2019-20 broadcast schedule

77 preseason and regular-season Wings games to be featured on FOX Sports Detroit

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and FOX Sports Detroit today announced the 2019-20 Red Wings local television schedule.

FOX Sports Detroit (FSD) continues its award-winning production and carriage of Red Wings games by airing a total of 77 preseason and regular-season contests with 64 games slated for FSD and 13 on FOX Sports Detroit Plus (FSD PLUS).

Additionally, FOX Sports Detroit will carry all non-exclusive games in the first round of the Stanley Cup® Playoffs.

With the popular announce team of Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond calling the action, 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 and road venues, studio portions of RED WINGS LIVE will originate from FOX Sports Detroit’s studios at its Southfield headquarters.

A total of eight Red Wings regular-season games will be nationally exclusive broadcasts on NBC or NBCSN. Additionally, NBCSN will broadcast this year’s Kraft Hockeyville™ USA 2019 preseason game from Calumet, Mich., between the Red Wings and St. Louis Blues.

Full 2019-20 Broadcast Schedule

Update: Here’s more from FSD:

Continue reading Red Wings release broadcast schedule: 77 game to air on FSD

Here are a couple of Tweets of note from WXYZ’s Brad Galli ahead of Niklas Kronwall’s 3 PM presser today. Galli posted a video report about Kronwall retiring…

Niklas Kronwall is retiring from the Red Wings after 15 years on the ice, and is joining Steve Yzerman’s front office staff. pic.twitter.com/346EJ6z5xR— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 4, 2019

And this is rather ironic in the classical sense of the term:

Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Niklas Kronwall, and Johan Franzen

I took this photo on Red Wings Opening Night in 2015. All are done playing hockey. pic.twitter.com/0MvbDdaHuH— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) September 3, 2019

Niklas Kronwall spoke with Aftonbladet’s Per Bjurman this morning, and here’s a rough translation of their conversation:

“On the inside I’ve known it for a while”

Niklas Kronwall’s message that he is leaving

BORLANGE, Sweden: His active career is over.

But Niklas Kronwall isn’t leaving hockey.

He will continue as an adviser to the Detroit Red Wings team this upcoming season.

“It will be really exciting to be part of it and learn more about how that part of the business works,” says the newly-retired defenseman to Sportbladet.

“He has to take however long he wants to make a decision,” said Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman when he was questioned this summer as to whether he thought veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall would sign a new contract or not.

So now, he’s made his decision:

“Kronner,” one of only four Swedes to win both the Stanley Cup, the Olympics, the World Championship and the Swedish Championship–ends his glorious career.

“Hard to believe? Well, both. Hockey is still tremendously fun and I will definitely miss playing a lot. But deep down I’ve known for a while that it’s time to make a stop,” he says by phone from Detroit before Wednesday’s official 3 PM press conference.

“Everything has its time and now it’s time for a new chapter in life. My sons are getting older, I want to spend more time with my family.”

“The Peak of Everything”

The 38-year-old stalwart defenseman from Jarfalla is, as I’ve said, one of the most successful players in the entire history of the blue-and-yellow hockey, after a career that included 15 seasons, 953 games in the NHL, plus 109 in the playoffs–many highlights to look back on.

“The Stanley Cup in 2008 stands out, of course. It was the like the ‘peak’ of everything,” he continues.

“But winning the World Championship and the Olympics was also incredible, as was taking the gold with Djugarden. I really must emphasize that my years with Djurgarden were important–I still get goosebumps when I think of the crowded Globe Arena during big games. We have very special fans, that’s for sure.”

Niklas Kronwall will not leave hockey now. On the contrary, he will remain in Detroit for the time being, where both sons attend school, and will work in an advisory role for Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Red Wings’ leadership.

“There are several older players who’ve jumped on that swing, among others, Stevie started so well himself. It will be exceedingly exciting to be involved and learn more about how that part of the business works,” he explains.

I’ve got great news and not-so-great news regarding fundraising this morning.

To the good, we’re only $60 away from hitting the $1,000 mark, which is necessary for me to actually get up to Traverse City.

In the “progress needed” area, there’s another $1,000 to raise, some $900 of it just to cover the hotel bill (which is about $180 more than expected due to those lovely tourist tax surcharges).

I will continue to request assistance via either Paypal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport or via snail mail if you prefer to email me at rtxg@yahoo.com for my address.

We’re two weeks into the fundraising drive, and it’s going great! It just has a long way to go before it’s finished.

The Athletic’s Corey Pronman posted a list of the “most interesting players” to attend each and every one of the NHL’s 31 training camps this fall, and his pick for the Red Wings is spot-on:

Detroit: Moritz Seider, D

The Wings made noise early at the draft by selecting Seider sixth overall. They weren’t alone in the NHL world in thinking he was that good, but it was a minority opinion. It’s expected Seider won’t make the team and will spend a year in the AHL or Germany, but he still is clearly the most interesting player going to camp. As someone who didn’t get much ice time last season, a lot of scouts and fans want to see what exactly Seider can bring at an NHL camp. His skating is clearly at NHL level, but his puck-game will be closely monitored.

Continued (paywall); Seider looked great at the summer development camp, but playing against similarly-aged prospects at the Wings’ prospect tournament will reveal how Seider plays with much less time and space to be demonstrative on the 85-foot-wide NHL rink.

If Seider struggles, I’m not going to worry too much–he is all of 18, with 33 professional games to his credit–but I’m pretty sure he knows that he’s going to have to adjust to the smaller ice and faster pace very quickly if he is to step up and lead at the prospect tournament.

MLive’s Ansar Khan bids us “good morning” with a column discussing the state of the Red Wings’ Niklas Kronwall-less defense:

Green, Danny DeKeyser, Patrik Nemeth and Filip Hronek are expected to form the top two pairs, providing the team with two lefty-righty combinations, an offensive-minded player with a stay-at-home type.

Green, who missed the start and the end of the season due to a virus, and DeKeyser likely will form the top pairing, having played some together.

Nemeth, signed to a two-year, $6 million contract on July 1, figures to join young Hronek on the second pair. Nemeth (6-3, 219) was described by general manager Steve Yzerman as “a big, strong, solid, defensive defenseman,” shoots left and could complement the more offensive-minded right-shooting Hronek, who struggled defensively at the start of his rookie season, getting sent back to the Grand Rapids Griffins, but improved significantly after being recalled in February.

Ericsson and Daley, who played together last season, likely will comprise the third pairing. Young Madison Bowey, acquired in the Nick Jensen trade, could be the seventh defenseman and will compete for a lineup spot.

Rookie free agent Oliwer Kaski, 23, will be pushing for a job. The 6-3, 190-pound right-handed shooter was the MVP of the Finnish League (SM-liiga), leading the Pelicans in goals (19) and points (51) in 59 games.

Continued; I agree with Khan that Dennis Cholowski is most likely to start the season in Grand Rapids, and I just don’t see Moritz Seider cracking a crowded Griffins blueline unless he blows away the competition at the prospect tournament.

SVT Sport asked Nicklas Lidstrom to weigh in regarding Niklas Kronwall’s retirement, and Lidstrom sent a text message to SVT. Here’s a rough translation of what he had to say:

“He had a fantastic career with the Red Wings, and has been a leader and role model for many years. He was a tough player to meet, and opponents always had to keep track of when he was on the ice,” writes “Lidas” in a text message to SVT Sport.

Lidstrom and Kronwall played together in Detroit for 13 seasons, several of them on the same defensive pair. In 2008, they won the Stanley Cup together.

“He had a professional attitude and strong character. He struggled with bad knees for several years, but he never complained,” Lidstrom recalled.

Kronwall will remain in Detroit as an advisor to the team’s general manager, Steve Yzerman.

“It’s cool that he’ll stay in the organization as an advisor.”

Russian Machine Never Breaks’ Brendin Weiswerda posted a clip of Red Wings defenseman Mike Green giving his son, Axel, a skating lesson, per Green’s wife on Instagram:

View this post on Instagram

Former Capitals defenseman Mike Green took his son Axel out on the ice for a skating session. Axel even got to ride on the zambo! So adorable. (? @cparrie)

A post shared by RMNB (@rmnb_blog) on Sep 3, 2019 at 7:22am PDT

There are more clips on RMNB…Consider me a CParrie follower on Instagram now!

While I was grocery shopping in preparation for being gone from the mom and aunt for two weeks and/or preparing for the Traverse City trip, the Red Wings’ media corps–and a few others–paid tribute to Niklas Kronwall.

Here’s a summary thereof:

1. The Hockey News’s Jared Clinton did a really good job of framing Kronwall’s career in both team-based and history-based contexts:

By his fourth season in Detroit in 2007-08, under the guidance of defenders such as Niklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski, Kronwall had grown into a legitimate top-pairing defenseman in the league, one that any number of teams throughout the NHL would have fallen over themselves to add to their own blueline. Offensively, he could contribute. He averaged upwards of half a point per game from 2007-08 on through to 2015-16, and often overlooked was his ability to patrol the blueline on the power play. Across the aforementioned nine-season span, only 18 defensemen registered more power play goals than Kronwall’s 29 and only 15 defensemen compiled more points than his 143 with the man advantage.

Across those same nine seasons, and particularly after Lidstrom’s departure in 2011-12, Kronwall became the cornerstone of the blueline. By 2007-08, he had graduated into a role in which he played upwards of 21 minutes per game for nine consecutive campaigns, and during that time he ranked 20th among all NHL rearguards in time on the penalty kill. This is to say nothing of his 5-on-5 efforts, either. Among the 151 defensemen who played at least 5,000 minutes throughout that nine-season span, Kronwall ranked 16th in Corsi percentage (53.4).

But be it in Detroit or on a league-wide scale, Kronwall was often overshadowed. Skating on a Red Wings blueline led by Lidstrom meant Kronwall spent the first half of his career playing behind one of the greatest defensemen to ever play the game. And even once Lidstrom departed, Kronwall still played something of a second fiddle to the likes of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and even a young Dylan Larkin. Kronwall didn’t win a single major award, never once played in an All-Star Game, nor did he earn entry onto an end-of-season all-star team.

Clinton continues…

2. MLive’s Ansar Khan took note of the comments made by Steve Yzerman in the official press release declaring Kronwall’s retirement…

Continue reading Rounding up today’s Niklas Kronwall articles