While we’re digging…Fundraising hopes are hanging by a thread

Put bluntly:

Over the last week, fundraising for the Traverse City trip has gone very poorly. I’ve raised enough money to get my vehicle’s headlights fixed and do the pre-trip grocery shopping so that I can live in my hotel room like a good correspondent…

But I’ve not raised nearly enough funds to pay for even the half of the hotel room price that will be due when I arrive in Traverse City next Wednesday.

So it’s entirely possible, and becoming more probable every day, that I may not be able to attend the prospect tournament and/or training camp at all.

I stated on Thursday that I was trying to break even and nothing more, and that’s accurate, so here’s the bottom line:

I need to raise about $1,200 before Tuesday afternoon, or I need to cancel my hotel reservation, and if we can make that goal, I’ll need to raise another $1,300 to pay for the rest of the hotel bill and get home.

Over the past week, we’ve raised about $500, which has had to go to legitimate expenses, and I’ve got about $120.00 saved up. The rest is going to fix the car and stock it with stuff in this inflationary period, which is frustrating as hell, but the way of the world.

If you can’t find a way to lend a hand, or at least spread the word that a blogger in need is trying to get up to Traverse City to be your eyes and ears, I’m not going to be able to go at all. That’s just reality for this lower-income caregiver to an 80-year-old and full-time blogger on a blog with no ads.

If you’re are willing to assist, you can use PayPal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com. And you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check.

This is a first…So let’s get it over with.

Okay, so we’re going to get this out in the open and then we’re going to shut up about it, because I really don’t care about a player’s personal life unless what he does in his personal life is affecting his own well-being or the well-being of the team.

The charming Finnish gossip magazine Seiska.fi (“Stop!”) has an article in which “adult entertainment star” Sandra Bay says that Ville Husso was her boyfriend this past summer. All is apparently revealed in the online edition of the magazine, which one has to purchase to read.

Now I don’t give a flying flurk about who’s dating whom, but it’s out there, it’s apparently over, and now you can Google whatever the hell you want.

Edit: I’m aware that this is gossip garbage, but you were gonna hear it somewhere. You might as well hear it from someone who believes that we should leave the damn thing alone and move on.

Prospect round-up: Kasper 1+1, Wallinder 1A, Tuomisto 20:53 played in Champions Hockey League play

Of Red Wings prospect-related note from Thursday:

In the Champions Hockey League, Antti Tuomisto finished even with 2 shots in 20:53 played as TPS Turku won 4-2 over Olimpija Ljubjana:

Liam Dower Nilsson finished at +1 with 2 shots in 11:00 played as Frolunda HC won 3-2 over Eisbaren Berlin:

And, in Rogle BK’s 7-1 win over Fehervahr AV19:

Marco Kasper scored a goal and added an assist, finishing at +3 with 2 shots in 14:12 played:

Theodor Niederbach finished even with 3 shots in 15:37 played;

And William Wallinder had an assist, finishing at +1 with 1 shot in 18:23 played.

Fundraising where the rubber meets the road

Things are not great in the fundraising department. Despite a tremendous start to the drive to get up to Traverse City, the last week has taken a hard turn for the worse, and while some of you have continued to donate generously…

I’m in a rough patch right now. We’re at the point where almost all of the pre-trip expenses are paid (fixing the Pacifica’s headlights, dry cleaning, an Amazon run for necessary supplies and a grocery run), but the hotel bill (which is $2K, with $1,000 due on the first day) is not, nor is the gas-and-groceries bill to get up and get back from Traverse City.

So the reality of the situation is that I need to somehow try and raise about $200 a day for the next 6 days if I am to get up to TC. I don’t have a fall-back plan, so I’m admittedly a bit scared right now.

As I said yesterday, we were about $1,500 into a $4,000 trip, which is great, but it ain’t enough, so if you can check your couch cushions for change, that’s where we’re at.

I wish the expenses weren’t so damn high, but I’m not trying to make a profit here–I’m trying to eke out a break-even scenario–and we’re just not close to that by any means. I can go up to TC with half the hotel bill paid, but if we fall short, I don’t know what will happen.

If you’re are willing to help, you can use PayPal at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, Venmo at https://venmo.com/george-malik-2, Giftly by using my email, rtxg@yahoo.com, at https://www.giftly.com. And you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check.

Press release: Red Wings to honor 1997, 1998 Stanley Cup teams on November 3rd and 5th

Per the Red Wings:

Red Wings to Honor 1997 and 1998 Stanley Cup Champions for 25th Anniversary Celebration, November 3 and November 5; Tickets On-Sale Now 

1997 team’s 25-year anniversary to be celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 3 vs. Washington Capitals

1998 team that went back-to-back will be honored on Saturday, Nov. 5 vs. New York Islanders

Photo opportunities with Stanley Cup will be available for ticketed fans; special merchandise to be sold in Team Store

Tickets expected to be in high demand; fans encouraged to visit DetroitRedWings.com/tickets to secure their seats today

DETROIT – Two of the most iconic teams in Detroit Red Wings history – the 1997 group that won the club’s first Stanley Cup in 42 years and the 1998 team that went back-to-back – will be welcomed back to Detroit for the 25th Anniversary Celebration, Nov. 3 and Nov. 5, 2022. With tickets expected to be in high demand, fans are encouraged to visit DetroitRedWings.com/tickets to secure their seats today.

The 1997 team will be honored on Thursday, Nov. 3 when the Red Wings host the Washington Capitals. The 1998 Red Wings will be celebrated when Detroit entertains the New York Islanders on Saturday, Nov. 5. For additional information, fans can visit DetroitRedWings.com/Anniversary.

“The 1997 and 1998 teams will always be special to my teammates and me, because they are a reminder of the hard work and perseverance it required over many years to reach that championship level,” said Steve Yzerman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings. “It’s going to be great to see so many familiar faces back in Detroit for this special weekend, and I know our fans will be excited to look back on those memories with us.”

Dozens of former players, coaches and front office executives from the 1997 and 1998 championship teams are scheduled to be in attendance at Little Caesars Arena for the pregame ceremonies. The Stanley Cup will be available for photo opportunities on the Via concourse. Commemorative items celebrating the accomplishments of both teams will also be available for fans to view and remember. Exclusive celebration and replica Stanley Cup championship merchandise will also be sold in the Team Store.

The full list of attendees and the fan programming schedule surrounding the 25th Anniversary Celebration weekend will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We’re looking forward to honoring two of the most memorable teams in Red Wings history for the 25th Anniversary Celebration in early November,” said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment. “We are expecting a great turnout of former players, coaches and staff members, and our fans will be able to pay tribute to a special group that brought two straight Stanley Cups to Hockeytown. We encourage fans to secure their tickets soon to join in the celebration.”

Single-game tickets for the Red Wings’ 2022-23 preseason and regular season are currently on-sale at DetroitRedWings.com/tickets. 

The Wings Tweeted this out as well:

Bultman posts training camp expectations for the Wings’ defense and goalies

The Athletic’s Max Bultman has followed up his list of training camp expectations for the Red Wings’ forwards with a list of training camp questions about Detroit’s defense and goaltenders. Among his comments are the following:

Moritz Seider: How much better can he be?

There’s not much more that can be said about Seider’s stellar rookie season. He took the league by storm, delivering punishing hits and posting 50 points en route to the Calder Trophy. And now, all eyes turn toward his encore.

It’s going to be hard to top his debut, but expectations are rightly high for Seider, with many — including myself — believing he can join the league’s elite defensemen in the Norris Trophy conversation. Cale Makar and Adam Fox have shown in the past two seasons that voters have no issue honoring young defenders among the league’s very best. Of course, both Fox and Makar, among others, still stand as major obstacles to Seider actually winning the award any time soon, and it’s a high bar with four of the top five finishers for the award scoring more than 70 points last season.

But Seider still has a path to joining the periphery of that conversation thanks to his two-way ability. If he can add 10 or so points while continuing to improve on his natural defensive ability, he could be considered a top-10-to-15 blueliner by season’s end.

Continue reading Bultman posts training camp expectations for the Wings’ defense and goalies

Simon Edvinsson listed as something of a long shot to win the Calder Trophy

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler posted a list of potential Calder Trophy candidates as the NHL’s best rookie for the 2022-2023 season, and the most honest comment I can issue about his Red Wings pick is that Simon Edvinsson’s in the mix at all.

With Edvinsson’s participation on the Red Wings’ NHL roster in question due to the Wings’ defensive depth, it’s just good to read somebody compliment the promising young defenseman.

That doesn’t mean that Edvinsson isn’t highly-regarded; it means that it’s entirely possible, if not probable, that Edvinsson begins the season in the AHL:

17. Simon Edvinsson, LHD, 19 (Detroit Red Wings — No. 6, 2021)

Edvinsson is an excellent prospect and he’s going to be a huge piece of the Red Wings’ future. But as is the case with [Juraj] Slafkovsky, his eligibility for the AHL could play against him. He also didn’t sell the hockey world on his immediate readiness to take a job on Detroit’s improved blue line with his play at the world juniors (though his illness there was also obviously a factor). I think he’s absolutely capable of playing in the NHL for the full season, and he may well play his way into doing just that. I won’t be surprised if he progresses from third-pairing usage to second-pairing usage as the season progresses if he makes the team out of camp, either. But the Red Wings, and Steve Yzerman, are all about the long game with their prospects and that will make Grand Rapids a big part of the conversation.

Continued (paywall)

Live streams for Thursday’s Champions Hockey League games (Rogle, TPS Turku, Frolunda HC)

The Red Wings’ prospects will be busy on Thursday as three Champions Hockey League games will be taking place, and all three games will be streamed online, with no U.S. or Canada Geoblocking.

Rogle BK (Marco Kasper, Theodor Niederbach and William Wallinder) will battle Fehervahr AV19 at 12:05 PM EDT…

Continue reading Live streams for Thursday’s Champions Hockey League games (Rogle, TPS Turku, Frolunda HC)

Prospect round-up: Buchelnikov plays 3:38 in SKA St. Petersburg win

In the KHL, Dmitri Buchelnikov did technically play in the KHL’s game between SKA St. Petersburg and Avangard Omsk, but he only played 3:38 on the fourth line as SKA won 4-1 over Avangard, finishing even with no shots.

SKA plays against Dynamo Moscow on Friday, and SKA-1946, their MHL team, plays on Friday vs. Dynamo Moscow’s MHL team, so we’ll see whether the coaching staff at SKA continues to break in Buchelnikov gently at the KHL level, or whether they want him to dominate at the MHL level.

Quite frankly, his utilization is likely to be willy-nilly, bouncing from team to team at the whims of the coaching staff.