The Malik Report

The re-staged 2022 World Junior Championship will take place between Tuesday, August 9th and Saturday, August 20th in Edmonton, and IIHF.com and NHL.com will be two very good places to glean news from during that time.

Prior to the tournament, IIHF.com’s Chapin Landvogt posted a set of players who he expects to step up as World Junior Championship “rookies,” and one of the lesser-known Swedish Red Wings prospects earned a nod:

William Wallinder – D – The goaltending is the big story for Team Sweden, seeing as how all three nominees would be the likely starter for a handful of teams in this tournament, but the gigantic 193 cm Wallinder is a shot-blocking machine who’ll help his last line of defence see fewer pucks. He’ll also have little problem being one of the tourney’s better breakout defenders. Already the beneficiary of a ton of professional experience, the 20-year-old Detroit Red Wings prospect shot up the prospect chart during the 21/22 season, not only seeing action in 60 games for contender Rogle Angelholm, but also contributing 20 points along the way.

Continued; Wallinder is going to be fun to watch because the Rogle BK defenseman, who is a lanky 6’4″ and 190 pounds, has really stepped up over the past season (his first full SHL campaign), and player development surprises are definitely in store throughout the tournament.

In case you forgot the 9 Wings prospects taking part in the tournament, let’s go through the list. I’m going to put an asterisk next to the names of players who will be able to take part in the Red Wings’ prospect tournament and main camp this fall:

Continue reading Praise for William Wallinder’s development into a ‘shot-blocking machine,’ and a ‘pre-scout’ of the Wings’ 9 WJC participants

With the 2022 World Junior Championship’s “second take” upon us on Tuesday, MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings prospect and Team USA forward Carter Mazur, whose competitiveness and work ethic should shine for the Americans in Edmonton:

Mazur, the Red Wings’ fourth pick in 2021 (70th overall), had a strong freshman season [at the University of Denver], scoring 14 goals and tying for fifth on the team with 38 points. It was capped with an NCAA championship, when the Jackson native picked up a pair of assists in a 5-1 victory over Minnesota State in the title game.

“You don’t expect to come in and make such a big difference on a team,” Mazur said. “And then I went in and was expecting a lot of myself. I felt I grew a lot physically, I felt I grew mentally, especially doing school with hockey.”

Mazur, 20, is eying another big title this month as a key part of the U.S. World Junior Championship team. The event, which was postponed shortly after it began in December due to COVID-19, starts Tuesday in Edmonton. Red Savage, the Red Wings’ fourth round pick in 2021 (114th overall), who is coming off his freshman season at Miami University, also made the team.

Mazur, in addition to his offense, also displayed a gritty element at Denver.

“I was always playing two years up, so I felt like having an edge to my game … you kind of have to,” Mazur said. “You’re going against bigger people. You might as well try to get under their skin. Doing that is more fun for me. Having them come after me gets them off their game. I’m drawing penalties and having fun in hockey.”

The edgier he plays, the more scoring opportunities he gets.

“I usually find myself scoring net-front and that’s where everyone is to start scrums and all that,” Mazur said. “And then I would say playing edgier really does bring a different element to my game. It makes me become more open in some spots where other people might not want to come.”

Continued; Mazur’s one of those players you love to have on your team, and absolutely despise playing against. Every NHL team needs one of those kinds of players on their roster at some point.

The Detroit Red Wings will have five former members of the St. Louis Blues on their roster this season in Robby Fabbri, Ville Husso, David Perron, Oskar Sundqvist and Jake Walman.

The Red Wings have added four of those players over this calendar year, and, as a result, the Wings’ home-and-home series with the St. Louis Blues is going to be something of a reunion for Detroit’s St. Louis alums.

In an article for NHL.com, David Satriano happens to take note of his most significant offseason roster moves in the NHL (both trades and free agent signings), and Satriano names both additions and the times where the significant players will hold informal reunions with their former employers. In the Wings’ case, Satriano picked David Perron and the Wings-Blues series as the most significant set thereof:

David Perron, Detroit Red Wings at St. Louis Blues, March 21, 2023: Perron signed a two-year contract with Detroit on July 13 after four seasons with St. Louis, his third stint with the Blues. The 34-year-old forward had 465 points (196 goals, 269 assists) in 673 games over 11 seasons with the Blues and helped them win their first Stanley Cup championship in 2019. He’ll return to Enterprise Center in St. Louis late in the season as part of a home-and-home set, with the Red Wings playing host two nights earlier.

Continued; the Wings-Blues games will hopefully matter for playoff standings for both teams, despite taking place on March 21st and 23rd. Let’s cross our fingers there.

Talking about Vladimir Konstantinov is sacred ground for me. The fact that Vladdie’s care has not been permanently paid for by the Red Wings aggravates me to no end, and I believe that the former stalwart defenseman’s legacy for both the player he was and the person that he’s become need to be protected.

Konstantinov did a public appearance to further benefit his long-term care and the mess that’s been made of the State of Michigan’s no-fault insurance law’s legacy to long-term survivors of car accidents by the State Legislature.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen posted the news, and I was hesitant to post it earlier today because seeing one of my “favorite players” and people growing up is very difficult for me:

Several groups, including the Detroit Red Wings, are stepping up to help pay some of his living expenses. A GoFundMe page is set-up.  As of this morning, more than $42,000 has been raised. The goal is $250,000. Konstantinov’s daughter Anastasia manages the fund. Nine hundred and twenty-eight people have donated money.

Konstantinov is also signing memorabilia items to raise money

Konstantinov, 55, has also been making a few more appearances, like the one he made Sunday. Former Detroit Free Press hockey writer Keith Game posted some photos on Twitter. Konstantinov’s caregivers believe the signings and appearances are good therapy for him.

Alan Moore, through his company SportsGraphing.com, has raised thousands of dollars for the cause through the sale of autographed Konstantinov memorabilia. All funds raised from these sales go directly to Konstantinov’s Special Needs Fund.

Classy former Red Wings coach Dave Lewis stopped by to see Vladdie Sunday. Konstantinov always remembers his former teammates and coaches.

Continued; here’s one of the pictures that my friend Chris posted on Twitter:

It was great to meet Vladdy today. All the proceeds are going to the fund set up for his care. He shook my hand and said hi. After the pic I told him to have a good day and he said yes and gave me a head nod. Truly one if the biggest “what if” tragedies in all of sports #LGRW pic.twitter.com/Lr2Xo58ePb

— 4th_Line_All_Star (@Chris_Boudrie) August 6, 2022

I know that it’s not easy to talk about the accident and its aftermath, but the person that Vladimir Konstantinov is today is a frickin’ miracle, as is Sergei Mnatsakanov. I believe that the Red Wings need to do much more to ensure that Vladdie’s team of representatives doesn’t have to lift a finger to ensure that he is cared for for the rest of his life. The same should be true for Mnatsakanov.

I’m a little late to the party, but here’s an interesting press release from the University of Michigan’s men’s hockey team:

Warde Manuel, the University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, announced Sunday (Aug. 7) that Brandon Naurato will serve as Michigan’s interim ice hockey head coach for the 2022-23 season.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Brandon Naurato’s caliber to lead our ice hockey team for the upcoming year,” said Manuel. “I had conversations with many individuals who care greatly about this program and appreciate the insight they shared. Brandon will do a great job leading the program, and I look forward to our student-athletes and staff benefiting from his leadership.”

“I am honored to lead my alma mater and will give everything I have to what is the most storied program in college hockey,” said Naurato. “I want to thank Warde Manuel and our student-athletes for their trust and look forward to working positively with our talented coaching and support staff.”

A native of Livonia, Mich., Naurato recently completed his first season on the U-M bench following three years with the Detroit Red Wings organization, where he served as a player development consultant. In that role, he worked with the Red Wings and Grand Rapids Griffins coaching staffs to incorporate individual player skills into the organizational structure.

Continued; Michigan recently fired Mel Pearson due to reported irregularities reported by The Athletic in a whistleblower report from former Michigan assistant coach Steve Shields.

I’m very cautious regarding posting preseason or pre-tournament prospect results. Red Wings prospect Red Savage scored 3 goals in 2 exhibition games for Team USA prior to the Tuesday start of the 2022 World Junior Championship, Carter Mazur scored a goal, and I just didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.

I’m even more hesitant to post the following because it’s the Sochi Open, where HK Sochi and a couple other KHL teams are basically set up to showcase the Russian national “Under-25 team,” which is a not-so-subtle reminder that the Russians consider every KHL player under 25 property of their rights-holders, regardless of whether they’re signed to contracts for their upcoming seasons.

Anyway, Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff duly noted that Red Wings 2022 draft pick Dmitri Buchelnikov is starring at the tournament, and I’m hesitant to post the 5’10,” 163-pound forward’s exploits because it’s taking place at a tournament designed to showcase the Russian National Team, but hey, it’s out there:

More than a few eyebrows were raising suspiciously when the Detroit Red Wings were claiming Russian forward Dmitri Buchelnikov with the 52nd overall selection of the 2022 NHL entry draft.

Many of those same eyebrows were probably arching upward again on Sunday. Watching highlights from Sunday’s action at the Sochi Open KHL preseason tournamment, Buchelnikov was on fire.

Playing for the Russian Under-25 national team, Buchelnikov delivered a pair of goals and was dishing out an equal number of assists in a 6-1 rout of the host team from Sochi.

At midseason, Buchelnikov was sitting with a rating of No. 47 among European draft-eligible players according to NHL Central Scouting. However, by the end of the season, there was uncertainty regarding Russian players due to the country’s war with Ukraine. Subsequently, the outcome saw Buchelnikov dropping right out of the rankings.

That didn’t stop the Red Wings from calling Buchelnikov’s name early on draft day.

“These are 17, 18, 19 year old kids that love to play hockey,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper explained. “That’s something we have to keep in mind. In the end, they just want to play hockey like any kid in North America or Sweden or Finland or wherever it might be. That’s how we evaluated the Russian players this year.”

I’ll let you head over to Detroit Hockey Now for the rest, but I will say that the fact that Buchelnikov’s posted 5 points in 4 games is impressive, even if it’s a pre-preseason set of exhibition games.

Also in the FYI Department, the aforementioned Carter Mazur and Red Savage made Team USA’s final World Junior roster.

Per the Red Wings:

Kris Draper breaks down the 2022 Red Wings Draft and Craig Button analyses Detroit’s free agent acquisitions in a special edition of The Red and White Authority, co-hosted by Daniella Bruce and Art Regner.

This is a week old, but I think that you might be interested in it, so: new Red Wings goaltender Ville Husso spoke with Ilta-Sanomat’s Tommi Koivunen on August 1st, and here’s a rough translation of the article from Finnish:

Ville Husso signed a huge NHL contract–and he has difficult goals with a legendary team

Ville Husso signed a contract with the Detroit Red Wings, who finally want to return to the top.

The Detroit Red Wings. Their name is one of the most legendary in the NHL. The classic team was a perennial success of the NHL during the childhood and youth of many children of the 90’s, like Ville Husso.

Detroit played in the playoffs for a whopping 25 straight seasons between 1991 and 2016, went to the finals 6 times and won 4 Stanley Cups.

Since then, the Red Wings have not made the playoffs, but this summer, the GM, former captain Steve Yzerman, has made some big moves. The team should now credibly fight for a playoff spot. One of the new acquisitions is Ville Husso, 27.

He also knows his history.

“It’s a really historic team, and 11 Stanley Cups says a lot about the team’s success. Now when I go there, I just have to strive for more of them. That’s the biggest thing. I want to win,” says Husso.

Continue reading Roughly translated: Ville Husso speaks with Ilta-Sanomat

The Free Press’s Helene St. James posted an early-morning article which discusses the Red Wings’ 9 World Junior Championship-participating prospects.

As St. James notes, the Wings’ prospects are taking part in a high-stakes tournament in Edmonton over the next two weeks, and Carter Mazur, Red Savage, Sebastian Cossa, Donovan Sebrango, Eemil Viro, Simon Edvinsson, Theodor Niederbach, William Wallinder and Jan Bednar will all benefit from high-level competition…

The Wings have players on the rosters of half of the participating nations. For some of them, it will be an opportunity to make an impression ahead of challenging for an NHL job next month in Traverse City.

“It’s fantastic for players to go into these world junior tournaments,” general manager Steve Yzerman said July 14. “They’re great experiences individually for them, but also in their development as hockey players playing in big games, do-or-die games and under the pressure, I think is great.”

And St. James breaks down the Wings’ prospects on a roster-by-roster basis, saying this about Team Sweden:

As can be expected with a Swedish national team, there are Wings in the mix: defensemen Simon Edvinsson and William Wallinder, and forward Theodor Niederbach. Edvinsson — the No. 6 overall pick in 2021 — is 6 feet 6, 205 pounds and stayed in Detroit to prepare for the event after turning heads in early July at the Wings’ [summer development camp].

He projects to play a major role for the Swedes, and that should help his cause when he auditions for a role with the Wings. Yzerman signed left-side defensemen Ben Chiarot and Olli Määttä in free agency, but Edvinsson is expected to challenge for the third spot. He has one full season in the Swedish Hockey League, so he’s not coming to camp with the same experience Moritz Seider had last year, but Edvinsson is as confident as he is big, and starring for his country at such a big event will further boost his cause. 

Wallinder, drafted at No. 32 in 2020, had 19 points in 47 games in the SHL last season; he’s in a good spot with Rögle, the same team where Seider thrived in 2021 and also home to the Wings’ 2022 first-round pick, forward Marco Kasper. (Kasper, from Austria, opted out of the tournament to prepare for the SHL season). Niederbach (No. 51, 2020) is a right-shot center/wing coming off his first full SHL season (16 points, 51 games with Frölunda) and is also slated to play next season at Rögle.

St. James continues (paywall)

Red Wings prospect Marco Kasper engaged in a wide-ranging conversation with HD.se’s Daniel Roth this morning, but the article is regrettably stuck behind a paywall, so I can only give you the very start of the Helsingborgs Dagblad interview:

The NHL will have to wait: Kasper has Rogle and his student status in focus

Marco Kasper chose to not participate in the World Junior championship, but he’s agreed to finish both high school and play one more season for Rogle. “I try to enjoy everything,” says the super talent.

Have you had a good summer? Well, perhaps, better than most, Marco Kasper would be able to say. But he’s a soft-spoken 18-year-old and wouldn’t speak like that.

The article continues, but what lies beyond the paywall is a mystery for North American readers.

For what it’s worth, Expressen’s Svanta Storlinge and Adam Johansson let readers know that there’s a possibility that Rogle’s starting goaltender, Calle Clang, might be brought to Anaheim this upcoming season. It sounds like the Ducks aren’t quite as patient as the Red Wings, though Rogle GM Chris Abbott is pretty confident that his team will have their starting goalie this year.