The Malik Report

DetroitRedWings.com’s Josh Berenter penned an article discussing Michael Rasmussen’s maturation over the past season. Rasmussen may not turn out to be the #1 center he was drafted to become, but he’s likely to mature into both a strong two-way forward and a net-front specialist:

Rasmussen suited up in eight games for the Red Wings to start the 2020-21 campaign before being sent to Detroit’s AHL-affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins on Feb. 1. However, after tallying six points in his first seven games for the Griffins, he was recalled to the Red Wings on March 2 and finished the season in Detroit.

The center continued earning his spot on the ice each game, impressing the coaching staff with his poise and control as he compiled three goals and nine assists in 40 games for the Wings.

But perhaps the biggest accomplishment for Rasmussen was the trust he garnered from the coaching staff, earning a much bigger role last season, averaging almost three minutes more ice time per game than in 2019-20 and ranking second on the club with 72 hits and fourth with 134 face-off wins.

He continued gaining trust throughout the season, jumping from 12:50 of average ice time in his first 20 games of the season to 16:46 per game in the final 20 contests.

“I was pleased for sure. I think it was a big year for me,” Rasmussen said about his performance last season. “I started in GR, I had good people around me to support me, and once I got to Detroit, I just tried my best to contribute and play my game and play with confidence, play hard. So I think it was definitely positive for me and I think it’s just a good stepping stone.”

Continued

As first reported by Crain’s Detroit Business, Ilitch Holdings CEO Chris Granger will leave Ilitch Holdings to join the Oak View Group as CEO of facilities for the Los Angeles-based company. Ilitch Holdings is going to hold a search for a new CEO, per the Detroit News’s Tony Paul:

Chris Granger, a home-run hire when he was tapped by the Ilitches to oversee business operations for the Tigers, Red Wings and Little Caesars Arena, is poised to leave the organization, representatives from Ilitch Holdings announced Wednesday.

Granger will become CEO of facilities, media and conferences for the Pennsylvania-based Oak View Group, which specializes in venue management and event programming.

Granger will work his new job from the Metro Detroit area, telling The News, “We love it here.”

…

According to a spokesperson for the Ilitches, Granger will remain in his role until a successor is in place.

Continued

This comes from the Grand Rapids Griffins:

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins on Wednesday announced the promotional schedule for the celebration of their 25th anniversary season, featuring a number of giveaways and the return of many popular season-long promotions. Single-game tickets for each of the team’s 38 regular season home games at Van Andel Arena during the 2021-22 season will go on sale to the general public on Friday, Sept. 10 at 10 a.m. at griffinshockey.com/buytickets.

The Griffins will launch the home portion of their 76-game slate on Friday, Oct. 15 against the Rockford IceHogs with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank, marking the first time since 2017 that they’ll open the season at Van Andel Arena. Promotions for the home opener include a magnet schedule and glow stick giveaways and $2 beers/hot dogs.

Grand Rapids’ other giveaways include a Chris Terry bobblehead (Oct. 30), 2021-22 calendar (Nov. 12), Mitch Callahan champion series bobblehead (Nov. 13), kids 25th anniversary jersey (Dec. 18), Tyler Bertuzzi champion series bobblehead (Jan. 15), poster (Jan. 22), Van Andel Arena replica (Feb. 19), Tomas Tatar champion series bobblehead (Feb. 26), and a beach hat (April 2).

Continue reading Press release: Griffins release promotional schedule

The blog is up and operational today, September 1st, which equates to good news on the fundraising front.

We’ve been able to raise enough money to ensure that Bluehost will continue to host the Malik Report for another year, and there’s an extra $100 left over to transfer to the prospect tournament/training camp pool.

I want to thank everybody involved for being so very kind in helping out!

Now the focus shifts toward the 14 days between now and me leaving for Traverse City for 2 weeks and 1 day. We need to raise about $2,500 to get the trip done (thanks to increases in the hotel rate and the prices of gas and groceries).

While we don’t need to be 100% there for September 14th, the goal is to get as much fundraising done between now and two weeks from now, so:

If you’re willing to help me raise the $600 for my server bill, and/or what’s getting closer and closer to $3,000 for the Traverse City trip, 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 yes, you can contact me via email if you want to send me a paper check.

Thank you again for your readership and your time!

According to the Detroit News’s Tony Paul, sports fans in Detroit have new choices in terms of sports-based talk radio:

Two local radio stations are getting into the sports-talk radio game.

Beasley Media Group-owned 93.5 and 99.1 FM have launched “The ROAR,” unveiling syndicated but Detroit-centric programming that will air from 3 to 6 p.m. on weekdays. It gives sports-talk powerhouse 97.1 The Ticket its first lick of perceived competition since Detroit Sports 105.1’s four-year run ended in 2016.

As part of the deal, the stations will simulcast programming from the previously all-digital network Woodward Sports Network, funded in large part by Lady Jane’s founder Chad Johnson.

…

Airing from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. will be Woodward Sports Network’s two signature shows — a show with former Lions running back Joique Bell and Red Wings legend Darren McCarty, and occasionally featuring former Detroit News columnist and 97.1 The Ticket host Terry Foster, hosted by Neal Ruhl; as well as a show featuring former Michigan receiver Braylon Edwards, hosted by Ryan Ermanni.

In the mornings, from 6 to 9, the stations will air “X’s & BrO’s” with Anthony Bellino, and in the afternoon from 3 to 6 they will air the west Michigan-based “Huge Show” with Bill Simonson. Both shows are part of the Michigan Sports Network.

National programming from SportsMap Radio, founded in 2020, will be simulcast overnights.

Continued

The Athletic is listing their top prospect pipelines in the NHL, defined as the teams with the best crops of players under 23 years of age, and the Red Wings have finished 9th in Corey Pronman’s rankings. Here are Pronman’s top 2 Wings prospects:

1. Moritz Seider, RHD, Rogle-SHL

Apr. 6, 2001 | 6-foot-4 | 183 pounds

Drafted: No. 6 in 2019

Tier: Projected bubble all-star and top of lineup player

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: Below-average
Hockey Sense: Average
Compete: Above-average

Seider had as good a season as you could have hoped for, as the best defenseman in the SHL last season and at the world championships. He’s so tough to deal with for opposing forwards. He’s a 6-foot-4, highly mobile, highly physical defender who projects to match up versus top NHL players. His skating helps him transition pucks very well to go with a strong first pass. The offense might never be elite, but it will be good to go with elite defending. Seider projects as a true top-pair defenseman with a chance to be a star No. 1 in the NHL.

2. Lucas Raymond, LW, Frolunda-SHL

Mar. 28, 2002 | 5-foot-10 | 170 pounds

Drafted: No. 4 in 2020

Tier: Projected top of the lineup player

Skating: Average
Puck Skills: High-end
Hockey Sense: Above-average
Compete: Average
Shot: Above-average

Raymond is an offensive weapon. He’s an extremely skilled and creative player with the puck who can make dazzling displays of puck handling and passing, and improvise like few forwards out there. Raymond also is a dangerous mid-distance shooter, making him a projected PP1 player in the NHL. He had a good but not amazing season in the SHL for Frolunda. He has the puck talent. The question after watching him versus men the past two seasons at his frame without amazing quickness is how does that play in the NHL. He has great edges and balance but struggles to pull away from checks. It may keep him from ever becoming a star, but I still project him as a top-line forward.

Continued (paywall)

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff posted an article in which he discusses the players most likely to inherit alternate captain’s “A’s” from the outgoing Luke Glendening and Frans Nielsen. At this point, Duff believes that Tyler Bertuzzi and Marc Staal will wear letters on their jerseys this upcoming season:

Tyler Bertuzzi: Locked in to a two-year deal and rebounding from a season-ending back surgery, Bertuzzi is the ideal type of the player to be a leader. He’s willing to do whatever is necessary to help the team.

Issuing an A to Bertuzzi would also be another step toward handing the team over to the future. As longtime Wings like Niklas Kronwall, Glendening, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm have departed in recent seasons, it’s clearly been a case of a changing of the guard.

It’s no secret that the Detroit brass thinks highly of Bertuzzi and the qualities he brings to the team. Bertuzzi is the ideal lead by example type of player.

Continued, with Staal’s case for an “A”…

From the Toledo Walleye:

(Toledo, OH) – Forward Brett Boeing has agreed to terms with the Toledo Walleye for the 2021-2022 season.

Boeing spent the 2019-20 campaign in Toledo, appearing in 40 games with nine goals, 11 assists, 20 penalty minutes, and was a plus-11. The Barrington, IL, native had a stretch of four straight games with a goal from December 8 through December 14, 2019. He also finished his season with six points (2G, 4A) over the last nine games of the season, his first as a professional.

“He can play multiple forward positions which is a bonus. He creates energy with the way he plays and also contributed secondary scoring when needed. We are excited to continue Brett’s development this season after a very good rookie season.” Head Coach Dan Watson

Boeing finished his college career at UMass-Amherst that included career-highs with 41 games played in the 2018-19 season, ten goals and nine assists while playing as a plus-12. His efforts helped the Minutemen to the Hockey East Regular Season Championships. The 5’8”, 187-pound forward started his college days playing one season at Michigan Tech in 2015-16. In total, he appeared in 101 college games with 37 points (14G, 23A) and 52 penalty minutes.

In a video just posted to YouTube, Grand Rapids Griffins play-by-play announcer Bob Kaser recaps the Griffins Youth Foundation’s golf outing at the American Dunes Golf Club:

From the Grand Rapids Griffins:

DEMARTINO NAMED GRIFFINS VIDEO COACH

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday announced the addition of Justin DeMartino as the new video coach for the Grand Rapids Griffins.

A native of Macomb, Mich., DeMartino most recently served as the assistant coach and video coordinator for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League during the 2020-21 campaign.

“We are looking forward to Justin joining our staff. He has a great knowledge of the game and will bring a unique perspective based on his background and experiences,” head coach Ben Simon said. “His role is very important both in helping the team prepare for games and in the continued individual development of our players in Grand Rapids.” 

Prior to joining the Phantoms, DeMartino spent three years primarily as the associate head coach with the Topeka Pilots of the North American Hockey League. DeMartino was the team’s interim head coach for most of 2017-18 and added director of scouting duties in 2019-20.

He also has experience in the college ranks with Ferris State University, where he served as an assistant coach and video coordinator during the 2016-17 season.

DeMartino graduated from Ferris State in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in communications with a focus on sports communication. During his four-year playing career as a Bulldog, DeMartino racked up 12 goals, 25 assists and 37 points. The right winger helped the Bulldogs capture the Central Collegiate Hockey Association’s regular-season championship in 2011-12.