The Malik Report

EliteProspects’ Kareem Elshafey compiled a list of 10 1st-round draft picks who face pressure to perform well and/or “break out” this upcoming season, and it’s no surprise that Red Wings forwards Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson are on Elshafey’s list:

Marco Kasper & Nate Danielson, Cs, Detroit Red Wings

Coming out of the 2023 NHL Draft, Detroit had to have felt good about their future at the centre position with captain Dylan Larkin and a pair of highly drafted pivots in Marco Kasper and Nate Danielson. 

Fast forward three years, and that future has become much murkier. Two seasons ago, Kasper (who graduated prospect status a while ago but remains just 22 years old) looked the part with a rookie year that nearly finished with 20 goals. Last season was a considerable step back, though, and having back-to-back regressive years would be a real gut punch for Detroit. 

For Danielson, the question has never been about his ability to defend or stick as a centre; it’s about the offensive upside. He’s produced at a respectable rate in his AHL time, but the offence isn’t coming in inspiring ways. Lots of the plays he makes are successful when in structure or in straight lines, which only works up to a certain point. Any spontaneous action that requires him to deceive, manipulate, or create space in a non-predictable fashion is not easy for Danielson. A centre who is constantly conscious of the defensive side is still valuable. Still, if that comes with a clear trade-off of the creative aspect of his offence, it will lead to limitations in his game that may prevent him from justifying his top-ten selection. 

To top it all off, the Larkin trade request only elevates the pressure on the two young centres to potentially fill that void. But it’s too early to disregard either of them as foundational pieces, which is why they’re on this list going into the season. 

Continued; as the Red Wings attempt to build depth at center in what will presumably, eventually, be a post-Dylan Larkin world, Danielson’s got to at least step up and play like the player J.T. Compher was advertised to be in a dependable two-way center…

Kasper definitely has to step up regardless of where he plays on the ice. Kasper was very physically engaged during last season, but he struggled with the puck on his stick, and he struggled to win puck battles, and I’m hoping that his sophomore slump was due in no small part to an undisclosed knee injury…

We’ll find out when the puck drops on the upcoming season come October 2nd.

Updated at 12:00 PM: This morning, the Hockey Writers’ Tony Wolak discusses the Red Wings’ need to re-sign restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson, arguing that this summer’s shorter-term signings of restricted free agents has cost Detroit the ability to ink Edvinsson to an 8-year contract extension:

Chicago’s Bowen Byram topped the market with a six-year, $12.5 million AAV deal. Contracts signed by Pavel Mintyukov (five years, $7.4 million AAV) and Simon Nemec (five years, $7.25 million AAV) were also noteworthy.

For Mintyukov, Nemec, and others, five-year contracts are becoming an increasingly attractive option because they allow them to reach unrestricted free agency while they are still in their prime. Rather than giving up their entire 20s to one contract, players can maximize their earning potential by taking a shorter deal and negotiating another massive contract when the salary cap is considerably higher.

That creates a difficult decision for teams. They can pay a premium for long-term security now—provided the player is open to a max-term deal—or they can save money in the short term and potentially face a much more expensive negotiation later.

For Detroit, an eight-year contract would have bought the Red Wings cost certainty through Edvinsson’s prime years while potentially becoming increasingly valuable as the salary cap rises. But instead, Detroit has allowed the market to move.

And there is another complication: time is running out on the ability to offer Edvinsson an eight-year deal. Under the NHL’s new collective bargaining agreement, the maximum contract length is being reduced – Sept. 15 is effectively the final day for teams to secure an eight-year agreement before the seven-year maximum takes effect.

That makes the next month particularly important for the Red Wings. Unfortunately, though, Detroit doesn’t currently have a general manager.

Wolak continues, suggesting that the Wings would have to pay Edvinsson more than an estimated $8.5 million per season if they want to lock him up for 8 years–presuming that the team has a general manager to re-sign #77 before September 15th…

And, if you recall, I translated an article in which Edvinsson’s agent, Peter Werner, told Expressen’s Gunnar Nordstrom that “We don’t speculate about anything, we’re patiently waiting for the new general manager,” so the Edvinsson camp is in a holding pattern, too.

Update: Brian La Rose from Pro Hockey Rumors has weighed in as well:

Continue reading THW’s Wolak discusses Simon Edvinsson’s contractual situation

Detroit Hockey Now’s Max Smith argues that the Red Wings might want to trade one of their prominent unrestricted free agents-to-be in Justin Faulk.

Smith suggests that, unlike Alex DeBrincat or John Gibson, the Wings have enough depth on defense to jettison Faulk and substitute a prospect into the lineup:

Acquired at the trade deadline, Faulk would’ve been one of Detroit’s top five goal-scorers last year if his totals came solely from his time in a Red Wings uniform, which would mean another hit to the team’s offense.

Faulk’s time in Detroit would be a blip on the radar after being acquired, which did cost the Red Wings their first round pick in the 2026 draft, but his acquisition was under a far different set of circumstances than the team finds itself in even now. However, with Axel Sandin-Pellikka waiting in the wings, the team could afford to move off his contract for a return more suited to the team’s future roster needs.

Right now the Red Wings roster is at the very least abundant with defenseman, including Jacob Bernard-Docker and William Wallinder. Not enough of them are clear, impact making right shots, but the Red Wings could move Faulk out of the room and move someone else up the lineup if another team is willing to provide a decent package to acquire him.

Continued; if anyone is truly expendable on the roster, to me, it’s Jacob Bernard-Docker, who’s played fairly well on the Wings’ third defensive pair.

Despite Faulk being 34 years of age, I don’t see the Wings trading his skills and leadership ability unless the team’s truly scuttled its 26-27 season and Faulk’s had a good season in Detroit.

If the Wings are struggling at the trade deadline, I could see Faulk being moved. Early or in the middle of the season, it’s much more likely that a prospect could replace JBD in the lineup.

Swisshabs.ch posted a French-language article about Red Wings free agent signing Theo Rochette, a 24-year-old Swiss/Canadian center who posted 43 points (22 goals and 21 assists) in 43 games played for Lausanne HC of the Swiss National League last season.

The article is uncredited, but its author does include one encouraging quote from Rochette, whose 5’11,” 172-pound frame may or may not take some readjusting to the North American game (as Rochette captained the Quebec Remparts for two of his four QMJHL seasons).

Here’s a rough translation thereof:

Continue reading Roughly translated: Swisshabs.ch speaks with Red Wings free agent signing Theo Rochette

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff suggests that disgruntled Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin will attending training camp and play for his current team if Larkin is not traded by mid-September:

He has 8.7 million reasons not to pursue this tack. That’s what the Red Wings will be paying Larkin this season – $8.7 million.

He’s not going to give the team a reason not to pay him that money. And a holdout seeking to force the team’s hand into trading him more quickly would only play into the team’s hands.

If Larkin were to withhold his services, it would allow management not to pay Larkin all that money. The Red Wings could simply suspend Larkin for refusing to honor his contract.

Continue reading Duff expects Dylan Larkin to attend training camp, play for Detroit until/unless the Red Wings trade #71

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff profiles Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson this morning, discussing Danielson’s pluses and minuses ahead of a likely first full NHL season for the 21-year-old center:

Three Reasons Why Danielson Will Play in the NHL

1. He plays a 200-foot-game. The NHL loves players to be responsible all over the ice in today’s game. Danielson was already that type of player in junior.
2. His hockey sense. Danielson thinks the game well. He can be counted on to do the right thing in any situation on the ice.
3. He’s a strong skater. Danielson can get around the ice quickly. That plays a major role in his ability to check and to create in attack.

What May Hold Him Back

The same issue evident in Danielson’s first NHL stint remains a concern with his game. Can he generate enough offense to be a productive NHLer? The answer to this question will determine whether Danielson can be a top-nine forward or a fourth-line checker.

Injuries are also an ongoing worry with Danielson. It was a preseason injury that prevented him from making the Red Wings out of training camp. And he missed most of the second half of the season and all of the AHL Calder Cup playoffs with an undisclosed injury that was believed to be a hip ailment.

Continued; this is quite good.

Red Wings prospects Max and Victor Plante are set to play together at the University of Minnesota-Duluth this season, perhaps even skating on a line with their older brother, Zam. Fox 21’s Neil Vierzba reports that the boys’ father, former NHL’er Derek Plante, discussed his sons’ collective decision to skate for the same college team:

Bulldog fans are anxiously waiting to see Max, Zam, and Victor Plante take to the ice this season as teammates. But they aren’t the only ones having a hard time containing their excitement.

The trio’s dad, Derek is a former Bulldog player and assistant coach. He was one of 100 alums that were in attendance this past weekend at the 26th annual UMD men’s hockey alumni golf tournament.

Plante shared with our own Isaiah Wiita what it will feel like once the three compete together.

“It’s been a blessing for them to have the opportunity to come play at Duluth. It gave me goosebumps when they first put on the jerseys, so I’m assuming that when this year when Victor gets a chance to go out there and play too it will be pretty touching. It’s pretty cool that those guys grew up Bulldogs and they absolutely always dreamed of playing for the Bulldogs. And now they’ll maybe get their chance to all play together, which they’ve never played together before so that in itself will be pretty fun,” said Plante.

A short video accompanies the story, but I can’t embed it.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff provides a timely profile of Len Perna, the CEO of the company in charge of Detroit’s general manager/president of hockey operations search. As it turns out, the TurnkeyZRG boss has significant ties to the Ilitch sports and business empire:

From 1988-94, Perna worked as an executive vice president/executive director for the Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, and Olympia Entertainment. Among his roles were leading all marketing partnerships, licensing, media, and new business development for the Tigers, Red Wings, Fox Theater, MeadowBrook Music Theater, and 10 other sports and entertainment properties.

He also served as an executive with the Dallas Stars, and it was during this time that he created Turnkey. Perna was asked by Stars owner Tom Hicks to help with a major project involving the University of Texas.

Hicks was informed by the Stars that one of their employees couldn’t be involved in such a project. Hicks’ suggestion to Perna was that he form his own company and then the university could hire him as a consultant.

Continue reading Meet the CEO of ‘TurnkeyZRG,’ who used to work for the Ilitch sports and entertainment empire

The term “make-or-break” is a little overused at times, but the Hockey News’s Jake Tye uses it correctly in suggesting that this season will be a pivotal one for Red Wings center Michael Rasmussen.

The big man is 27 now, but he’s coming off a difficult, injury-marred campaign, and while the Wings’ current lack of depth at center effectively earns Rasmussen a spot on the team, he’s got to rebound from last year, big time:

If Rasmussen is given one last runway at third- or fourth-line center this season, he may finally get the chance to show his upside. The problem is that Detroit’s bottom six is far from open. Marco Kasper has yet to take the leap many expected, and J.T. Compher has been a disappointment relative to his contract, yet both remain fixtures in the middle of the lineup, leaving little clarity on where, or whether, Rasmussen fits.

That logjam means Rasmussen’s leash may be shorter than he’d like. If he struggles again, his roster spot could be in real jeopardy, particularly with several prospects knocking on the door for NHL opportunities. A step backward this season could mean Rasmussen is dealt out of Detroit in a trade similar to the one that sent Elmer Söderblom out of Hockeytown last season.

Tye also suggests that Rasmussen could still develop into a useful contributor:

Continue reading It’s a pivotal year for Michael Rasmussen

RG.org’s Marco D’Amico profiles Red Wings prospect and incoming University of Michigan freshman JP Hurlbert today, noting that the Allen, Texas native grew up as a big Red Wings fan. This fall, he’ll be playing in Detroit’s backyard:

There is still a considerable gap between being a Red Wings draft pick and becoming a Red Wing, and what Hurlbert does at Michigan will help determine how quickly he can close it.

For now, the setup is hard to miss.

His first hockey jersey was a Red Wings jersey. His dad raised him watching Detroit in Texas. One of the players he looked up to in the greater Dallas region was drafted by the same organization. Now Hurlbert’s own name is hanging on the wall back home, and he is about to play at the school represented by another jersey his family already had in the house.

Detroit will be just down the road.

“I realize that it’s not very common to go to school 30 minutes from your NHL team,” Hurlbert said. “For it to be both teams that I absolutely love and would do anything for to help win, you just want to give it everything you have. At the same time, you almost feel like a fan, but you’re on the ice playing.”

That last part might explain Hurlbert’s summer better than anything else.

Now he heads to Michigan with a chance to chase one championship while developing toward another, all within a short drive of the NHL team he once watched from Texas.

Continued; this is a very good read.