The Malik Report

DobberHockey’s Tom Collins posted a top 10 list of “Fantasy Hockey Sleepers,” and he’s picking Jakub Vrana as a potential 60-point scorer:

9. Jakub Vrana: The 26-year-old Red Wing was limited to 26 games last season, which means he could be off the radar for many fantasy GMs. A classic case of out-of-sight, out-of-mind. However, he was excellent in those 26 games, finishing with 13 goals and 19 points. It was his third straight season of around a 60-point pace, but with injuries and Covid-shortened seasons, he’s only cracked the 50-point plateau once. Vrana should be a shoo-in for a top-six role, and if he can stay healthy, he should finally be able to reach at least the 60-point mark.

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Here’s a quick blurb regarding one Marco Kasper from IceHockeyGifs on Twitter, though the article’s pictures depict Sam Hallam and William Wallinder:

Some praise for Marco Kasper from new Tre Kronor head coach Sam Hallam:

”-I think Kasper looks both stronger and faster this year. He was good last year but looks a step better already. He’s a player who will definitely be very important for Rögle.”https://t.co/7BicHR7Jof— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 19, 2022

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff penned a profile of Red Wings prospect Cross Hanas, who’s attempting to convert a 60-assist season in the WHL toward a professional career as a set-up man:

Detroit Red Wings propsect Cross Hanas isn’t as much about fitting into a box as he is about checking off boxes. Playmaker? Yes, that would be his forte.

“I think of myself as a playmaker,” Hanas said. “I like making plays. Setting guys up is kind of what I find myself enjoying. I’ve been that way my whole life.”

Goal scorer? Sure, when the opportunity arises, he’ll be happy to finish them off.

“I love to score, obviously but I think setting guys up is a big part of my game,” he said.

Power-play performer? He certainly possesses all the requisite skills.

“I think just sticking to what I’m best at, making smart plays and being a good offensive guy, but also keep growing my defensive area of the game,” Hanas said. “I’m just trying to show them that my two way game is getting a lot better. Just trying to prove that, too.”

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On Saturday night, the Red Wings Alumni raised funds for the United Way of Marquette County by playing against a “Yoopers United” team, and the Marquette Mining Journal’s Travis Nelson reports that all went well:

Local hockey fans filled up the Berry Events Center in droves on Saturday evening for the much-anticipated Marquette Hockey Night.

The night’s headliners were the local Yoopers United and the Detroit Red Wings Alumni as they squared off in an exhibition contest. In an entertaining game for a great cause — the United Way of Marquette County — the teams tied 7-7.

Former Red Wings player and long-time Bally Sports Detroit color commentator Mickey Redmond highlighted the Wings Alumni squad. At 74 years old, Redmond took to the ice without a helmet just the way players did during his days in the National Hockey League.

Yoopers United was made up of local hockey players, which included Marquette native and former Wildcat and NHL player Justin Florek. In 10 career NHL games for the Boston Bruins, Florek netted two goals, including a postseason goal against the Red Wings in the 2014 Stanley Cup playoffs.

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During the prospect tournament, I’ve looked up to the executives watching the Red Wings’ prospect tournament from the “owners’ suite,” where Shawn Horcoff, Dan Cleary, GM Steve Yzerman, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Niklas Kronwall and other Wings personnel take in prospect tournament games.

I kept having a feeling that the slightly-built, now slightly-balding Swedish guy with a tan was one Nicklas Lidstrom, and this evening, Expressen’s Gunnar Nordstrom confirms as much, while discussing Elmer Soderblom’s performance thus far with the Red Wings great.

What follows is roughly translated from Swedish:

Lidas pays tribute to Soderblom’s effort last night

LOS ANGELES. The Detroit Red Wings’ prospects had a three-goal lead in last night’s rookie tournament game against the Dallas Stars in Traverse City, Michigan.

But they lost in the end, 5-4.

Elmer Soderblom, 21, was one of the bright spots with his 1-0 goal and impressive play.

“Elmer was good tonight. He created a lot on his own and showed how good he is at protecting the puck and using his size,” says Nicklas Lidstrom to SportExpressen.

Continue reading Roughly Translated: Soderblom Sunday continues with a conversation between Expressen’s Gunnar Nordstrom and Nicklas Lidstrom

Earlier today, DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills filed an article regarding one Elmer Soderblom’s figurative growth into a turning-North-American-pro player, and this evening, MLive’s Ansar Khan also filed an article which discusses the 6’8,” 249-pound winger from his coach’s perspective:

“His skating has gotten so much better [since his last prospect tournament two years ago],” Simon said. “Just growing into his body he’s become a lot stronger. You don’t teach size. So, when you’ve got that body and that strength on your skates, and he protects the puck so well, if he can play below the tops of the circles and take pucks to the net and make a living at the net front, he’s going to be exciting for Wings fans to watch.

“It’ll be curious to see how that projection happens and how that development continues and what kind of path he goes down. I’m sure Detroit’s extremely happy with where he’s at right now.”

Soderblom made a couple of nice plays in Saturday’s 5-4 loss to Dallas. He scored a goal by driving to the net and converting a pass from 2022 fourth-round pick Amadeus Lombardi. Soderblom also made a terrific stretch pass to spring Cross Hanas free for a breakaway goal.

Simon said Soderblom is one of the players who “really stands out,” not only due to his size, but also his skills.

“He’s moving his feet extremely well,” Simon said. “He’s going to have an interesting time in the pro game in terms of moving the puck quicker. You’ve got a little less time, less space to move around. That could be beneficial to him, but I also think it’s going to be a little bit of an acclimation period where he has to learn to use that to his benefit.”

Continued; Soderblom will definitely need some time in the AHL to acclimate to the North American pro game, but he’s not going to need a ton of time to be NHL-ready.

Soderblom spoke with DetroitRedWings.com’s Carley Johnson as well…

9-and-a-half minutes of Elmer Soderblom speaking with DetroitRedWings.com’s Carley Johnston.

The Detroit Red Wings prospects’ coaching staff chose to eschew the “rest over rust” theory on Sunday, putting their teams through a spirited 45-minute practice ahead of Monday’s 2022 Prospect Tournament finale vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs (11 AM EDT on the Red Wings’ social media channels).

Toronto plays today vs. Columbus at 2 PM, so the Wings will likely hope to pounce upon one of the few teams who’ve chosen to play 4 games over the course of 5 days and nights.

The Wings need a bounce-back game very badly after dropping to 1-and-1 via a 5-4 loss to the Dallas Stars on Saturday night, so the Wings have little wiggle room, and can’t take things for granted here.

I guess the “big question” to be answered on Monday is whether three prospect tournament games (instead of four) are a representative sample of, “Where the prospects are at,” or just a moment in time that needs to continually be reevaluated over the course of training camp and the exhibition season.

Continue reading Impressions from Sunday’s practice at the Red Wings’ prospect tournament

DetroitRedWings.com’s Jonathan Mills posted a notebook article in which he discussed the impressive prospect tournament performance by one Elmer Soderblom, a 6’8,” 249-pound forward who’s finding his way at the tournament:

Soderblom, who was Detroit’s 159th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, knows his large frame gives him an edge.

“I think I’m pretty much the tallest guy on the ice often,” Soderblom said. “I’m gonna use that to my advantage and do the best I can.”

Soderblom had a breakout 2021-22 season with Frolunda HC in the Swedish Hockey League, tallying 21 goals and 12 assists in 52 games.

“Everything went well,” said Soderblom, who was named the European Hockey Club’s Young Player of the Year at the 2022 Fenix Outdoor Hockey Awards Gala in June. “I had a high confidence, played my game and was just focusing on the things I did well.”

The 21-year-old said he’s made strides since being drafted by the Red Wings.

“Three years ago, I was not that smooth or comfortable with my body and big size,” Soderblom said. “I’m still working on it, but I’m getting used to my size and it’s getting better.”

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Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen took note of Red Wings prospect and Rogle BK defenseman William Wallinder’s opening-of-the-SHL-season performance on Saturday:

Defenseman Moritz Seider is the talk of the NHL. Blueliner Simon Edvinsson could end up following that pattern. Defenseman William Wallinder undoubtedly wants to make sure he gets his fair share of attention from the Detroit Red Wings.

The 32nd overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft opened his SHL season by scoring a goal in Rogle’s 5-4 overtime win against Brynas. Marco Kasper also picked up an assist for Rogle in that contest.  Wallinder took a major step in his development last season when he registered four goals and 19 points in 47 games for Rogle.

The hope for this season: he takes his game to another level and is ready to play in North America next season. Like 6-foot-4 Seider and 6-foot-6 Edvinsson, Wallinder is a huge defenseman. He is somewhere between 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-4. He showed some flair on his goal in Rogle’s first game of the season.

Continued; I wouldn’t put Wallinder in the same class as Edvinsson or Seider skill-wise, but he does project as a minute-munching, two-way defenseman on the second defensive pairing.