The Malik Report

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Mike Green’s 2018-19 season outlook this morning:

2018-19 outlook: The Red Wings re-signed Green due to their need for offense from the back end and his right-handed shot. It was a thin free-agent market on defense and, in all likelihood, only one defenseman from Grand Rapids (Filip Hronek) will be ready to start the season in Detroit. The Red Wings are rebuilding but want to dress a competitive lineup and believe Green will help in that regard.

In addition to his offense, Green is a good skater who moves the puck well but has been prone to turnovers.

He should be the point man on the top power-play unit under new assistant coach Dan Bylsma, whose primary task is improving a man-advantage that ranks last in the NHL over the past two seasons combined (16.3 percent).

Green is expected to be ready for the regular season opener but might be limited in training camp and the preseason following neck surgery in April.

Khan continues; coach Jeff Blashill suggested that Green won’t be cleared for contact until the preseason begins when Blashill spoke at the “Stars and Stripes Showdown.”

Green may have some defensive hiccups, but the Red Wings need his offensive abilities, so I would anticipate that Green will be used as the Wings’ default #1 offensive defenseman.

MLive’s Ansar Khan examines the 2018-19 season outlook for Dylan Larkin this morning:

2018-19 outlook: The franchise cornerstone signed a five-year, $30.5 million contract last month and is driven to improve as a player and a leader, likely the next team captain.

He improved significantly following a disappointing second season, adjusting well in his first full season at center. With Henrik Zetterberg not likely to play again due to back issues, Larkin will assume first-line center duty. The challenge is to continue improving offensively (scoring more goals, produce more on power play) while becoming a better defensive player. He needs to be more on the inside instead of using his speed to carry the puck around the perimeter in the offensive zone.

His drive and desire can’t be questioned. His motor is always on high and he is highly motivated to maximize his potential.

It remains to be seen who his wingers at the start of the season will be, but Anthony Mantha and 2018 top pick Filip Zadina are possibilities.

Khan continues, and I’m wondering whether Larkin will in fact be utilized as the Wings’ #1 center in all situations. I still see the coaching staff choosing to tab Frans Nielsen as the Wings’ shut-down center in defensive situations.

Henrik Zetterberg’s broke his silence regarding his back issues while I was away from the blog, and while time has passed, I’d like to review what Zetterberg had to say in Swedish and English, if only to try and sort things out for myself.

Zetterberg first spoke with Aftonbladet’s Pet Bjurman, the New York-based correspondent for Sportbladet, and here’s a rough translation of what Zetterberg had to say:

Continue reading Trying to sort out Henrik Zetterberg’s situation

DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner examines Joe Hicketts’ 2018-19 season outlook as based upon his 2017-18 “numbers” and comments, and Regner notes that Hicketts has spent his summer trying to improve his skating and conditioning–two things he needed to address.

Hicketts says this about year two of his AHL career…

Quotable: “It was exciting. I knew a little bit more about the league (AHL) and in that regard the league knew a little bit more about me. I wasn’t that small defenseman that people take for granted. I had some big hits last year and kind of put a number on my back, especially the amount of times we play each other in our division. Maybe a slump (last season), but I thought it was good, I progressed nicely. Getting that chance in Detroit was really exciting. I thought I played really well considering the time of year it was and how the team was doing, but it was very exciting for me.

And this about his summertime to-do list, which involved utilizing a skating coach and working out with NHL’ers in his hometown of Kamloops, British Columbia:

“Everything I did this summer was going towards making Detroit as a full-time roster member. Last year I wanted to make the team but knew in the back of my head, it was going to be another year in Grand Rapids with the reputation Detroit has of developing players. With that being said, they’re definitely in a rebuild. Coming into this summer I knew there was going to be a really good opportunity to open the door and get my foot in. It started last year when I got my five games, but again everything about this summer was getting myself in the best possible shape and mindset to play a full 82-game schedule in the National Hockey League. I’m going to get my work done in the summer and I’m going to make sure that I am coming to training camp ready to earn a job.” – Hicketts

My apologies for the interruption in service. I’ve been battling a really nasty sinus infection for the past three days, and I’ve been flat on my back as a result.

I know I missed the big Zetterberg news, and I’ll try to recap it in English and Swedish when I return.

Again, I’m sorry things got screwy…I’ve got some errands that have to be taken care of before the trip, and I’m hoping that I’ll still have some energy when I get home. I’ve just been really sick.

MLive’s Ansar Khan discusses Darren Helm’s outlook for the 2018-19 season this morning:

2018-19 outlook: In a league that has been increasingly reliant on speed, the Red Wings continue to value Helm’s skating ability, mainly for checking, but also for some offense.

They also like his versatility. He’ll start the season on wing but can move to center in case of injuries. He’ll continue to be one of their leading penalty killers and their biggest shorthanded threat. He’s not likely to see power-play time but has played the net-front role on the second unit.

Many have difficulty accepting Helm’s contract and large cap hit, but he has been an important role player for 10 years and will continue to fill that role as long as he can remain healthy.

Continued

There’s also an article from Sundsvalls Tidning this morning in which Hakan Andersson talks about Henrik Zetterberg, who he calls, “Mr. Detroit,” but the article is behind a paywall.

Of assorted Red Wings-related note this afternoon:

1. ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski penned a day-after recap of the “Stars and Stripes Showdown, which honored the memory of Jim Johannsson:

The idea was born at the 2018 IIHF World Championships in Denmark, the first international tournament with NHL players participating since Johansson’s passing. The U.S. won the bronze medal at the event, and Johansson’s spirit loomed over the tournament.

“We really did rally around JJ at worlds. We wanted to bring a medal home for him,” said Larkin.

The team would hand out a hard hat to different players inside the locker room. “It wasn’t supposed to be this way, but every guy shared his story about JJ, and how they met him. Something he’s done for them. Everyone has a different story. How much he did for everyone,” Larkin said.

The Red Wings forward decided he wanted to help organize something in Johannson’s honor. Initially, it was going to be a game that featured Detroit players past and present. But when his national team peers caught wind of the idea, they all vowed they’d take part. Soon, the late August event started to resemble a USA Hockey All-Star Game.

Some wondered if these players would be willing to sacrifice the time to travel to Michigan for the game.

From Kane to Matthews to Seth Jones to James van Riemsdyk to Zach Parise, that’s what they did.

“You know, it’s easy for guys to say they’ve going to play in a game like this, and it was a nice thought, you know? But they’re here. And I’d tell everyone in that room that, as good as they are at hockey, they just proved they’re even better people,” John Johannson said.

Wyshynski continues…

2. DetroitRedWings.com’s Arthur J. Regner examines the 2017-18 season “numbers” of Niklas Kronwall this afternoon…

Continue reading Afternoon news: Mostly multimedia from the Stars and Stripes Showdown & Joe Kocur Foundation’s charity softball game

The Toledo Walleye have posted a 4-minute video Q and A session with Red Wings assistant GM Ryan Martin, who announced the Red Wings’ renewal of their affiliation with the Toledo Walleye today:

 

From the Red Wings and Fox Sports Detroit:

RED WINGS, FOX SPORTS DETROIT ANNOUNCE 2018-19 BROADCAST SCHEDULE

… 79 Wings Games to be Featured on FOX Sports Detroit …

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings and FOX Sports Detroit today announced the 2018-19 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 79 preseason and regular-season contests with 70 games slated for FSD and nine 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 six Red Wings games will be nationally exclusive broadcasts on NBCSN.

Continue reading Fox Sports Detroit to air 79 Red Wings games this season (including preseason)

There’s a week-and-a-half until I head up to Traverse City for the prospect tournament and main training camp.

The good news is that I’ve raised about $900 over the course of a week, which is awesome.

The bad news is that I’ve still got about $1,000 to raise over the course of the next week-and-a-half.

If you’re able to lend a hand, I would greatly appreciate your assistance. Any amount helps pave the road up to Traverse City, and the little donations add up just as much as the larger ones do.

If you’re willing to aid the cause, https://www.paypal.me/TheMalikReport and https://www.patreon.com/themalikreport are excellent ways to get involved, and you can also email me if you’re more inclined to write a check.

Thank you for your time, your readership and your support!