The Malik Report

Yesterday, Hockeysverige.se reported that Gustav Lindstrom had extended his loan with Almtuna IS of the Swedish Allsvenskan, and today, Hockeysverige.se’s Robin Olausson reports that Red Wings goaltending prospect Filip Larsson and Chicago Blackhawks prospect Tim Soderlund have extended their stays with Almtuna as well.

Both players’ contracts with Almtuna expired on November 15th, but with the AHL starting in February and the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye starting their 2020-2021 season in early January, it makes sense for Larsson to continue playing in the Allsvenskan.

DobberProspects’ Tomas Zahorak posted an “SHL Report” for November of this year, and he mentions Moritz Seider, Joe Veleno, Albert Johansson and Lucas Raymond in his SHL prospect update. Among his observations are the following:

Moritz Seider, RHD, Rögle BK (Detroit Red Wings): What a debut month for Seider! Two goals and seven points in his first eight games in the SHL speak for itself. The 19-year-old Red Wings prospect has quickly become one of the most important players on the team. Since his arrival, he has been paired with former Devils and Avalanche defenseman Éric Gélinas, who has taken the german youngster under his wing. 

Seider has been given a lot of trust from the coaching staff as well. He has been a vital part of the team’s second power play unit and penalty kill, which has been strongly reflected in his average ice time (19:38). He has been steady, reliable, very efficient in all situations, and I think he is going to be even better down the line. 

…

Albert Johansson, LHD, Färjestad BK (Detroit Red Wings): A complete, fearless player. Johansson has done a lot of good work since the season began. He has been one of the most exciting prospects to watch, mainly because of his offensive boldness and great confidence. He likes to take the puck on his stick, rush up the ice, and create some stir in the offensive zone with a smart shot or a very well executed pass to his teammates. 

Sometimes he does not even look like a defenseman out there, but more like a fourth forward with a responsible defensive game. It is just great to see that he has been having a lot of fun out there. As every month passes by, he seems to be closer and closer to being ready for the NHL. 

Continued with observations on Veleno and Raymond…

Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri spoke with last year’s Hockey Fights Cancer Night honoree Blake Beers during this Thursday’s “The Word on Woodward” episode, and the Wings posted a video of Fabbri making the young man’s day:

It’s time for my least-favorite part of running my own blog–the very necessary attempt to raise funds in order for this blog to survive. The “NPR Model”

I’m trying to make due with means that you don’t have to deal with inline ads, commercials or pop-ups; that also means that if, as Thanksgiving is around the corner, I’ve got to ask the same folks who helped me to purchase the laptop from which I’m typing (and what a Moonshot that was!) to please help support the Moonbase blog.

If you can possibly lend a hand so that I can pay my bills this month, I’ve got a Paypal account at https://paypal.me/TheMalikReport, I accept payments to rtxg@yahoo.com through Giftly, and I take payments via Venmo as well.

After consciously not fundraising for the first three weeks of the month, I’m in a tight place, and I do hope that you can afford to lend a small hand so that this blog can continue to flourish as we slowly move toward the 2020-2021 season.

Thank you for your time and your readership.

I posted this in the form of an inline update, so let’s review: The NHL Network posted a 2-minute clip of an interview with Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman on Twitter, and later in the day on NHL.com, the NHL Network posted the full 11-minute interview. The NHL Network re-posted the interview on YouTube this morning, and it’s worth another post.

If you missed it, this really is “Must-See TV” as Darren Pang’s presence seems to put Yzerman at more ease than usual:

The SHL suspended Jonatan Berggren for 3 games (click for the video) for a cross-check to the face of Djurgarden’s Tobias Ekberg. He won’t play again until December 1st, and he’s been fined 3,125 Swedish Krona, or approximately $365.00.

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler wrote a massive article discussing the respective statuses of 5 NHL prospects who are playing in Europe at present, and one of the prospects he profiles is Red Wings center Joe Veleno, who’s currently playing for the Malmo Redhawks of the SHL:

Sweden’s loose approach to COVID also contrasts starkly against the lockdown he experienced in Montreal. On his visits downtown during his days off, everything is open.

“Masks are not really obligatory here. It’s different but it’s more like normal. Some people wear masks but some people choose not to and you go inside a store and not really anyone is wearing masks,” Veleno said. “(But) the city’s really nice. There’s a lot to do here. It’s not really a dead or quiet city. Everything’s pretty busy and everyone’s always outside. I’m soaking everything in learning a different culture and seeing the lifestyle that they live and how different it is from North America.”

The hockey itself has had its own highs and lows as well. Though he has just three points through seven games, he’s playing a prominent role, averaging more than 17 minutes per game. He thinks the results are coming, but it’s not easy.

“It’s a lot different,” he said. “You have to skate twice as much and you can’t really overextend your shifts or you’ll be pretty gassed.”

Continued (paywall)

MLive’s Ansar Khan posted a profile of Red Wings 2020 draft pick and Tri-City Storm defenseman Kyle Aucoin this morning:

“He’s an elite skater, he’s got a great stride, he doesn’t break down, he’s got really good wind and he’s able to maintain his skating over the course of a game and a weekend,” Tri-City coach Anthony Noreen said. “I would say he’s a really good two-way defenseman. He moves the puck well, can join in the rush, can help in the offensive zone, really good at breaking pucks out, also responsible defensively, good on the kill.”

Adrian Aucoin — who played for seven NHL teams, including the Canucks, Islanders and Coyotes – was 6-2 and played at 213 pounds. Kyle is listed at 5-11 and 164. But even at age 18 he might not be done growing.

“It’s funny when you hear that his dad had a growth spurt when he was 18, 19, so we hope Kyle gets that as well,” Red Wings director or amateur scouting Kris Draper said.

Aucoin said gaining strength is his primary focus.

“I’m a pretty elite skater,” he said. “I think the game well, I’m pretty smart on the ice. I think I play on both sides. I defend quick, which will let me join the rush offensively and create things from there.”

Continued

This isn’t good, per the SHL (video included):

The [SHL] situation room has reviewed the games that were played in the SHL yesterday. The following players have reported to the Swedish Ice Hockey Association’s disciplinary committee, which will consider the matter during the day.

Jonatan Berggren, Skellefteå AIK

With 12:24 remaining in period 2, Skelleftea player no. 48, Jonatan Berggren, skates with the puck through the entire neutral zone and is checked when he enters the attack zone. The puck goes down to the goaltender. Djurgarden player no. 50, Tobias Ekberg, sticks out his stick against Berggren to protect the goal. Berggren then cross-checks Ekberg in the face with force. Ekberg cannot protect himself against cross-checking.

Berggren’s going to get a game or two for this one.

The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan posted a profile of Kitchener Rangers defenseman and Red Wings 2020 draft pick Donovan Sebrango, who’s attending Hockey Canada’s World Junior Selection Camp this week:

“I’m a little bit of an old-school defenseman with a little bit of the new school,” Sebrango said during a media Zoom call after the draft. “I’m a pretty tough, gritty kind of guy. But I add offense, so I have a little bit of the old-age hockey in me, and kind of the new-era of offensive defenseman.”

Sebrango, 18, is listed as 6-foot-1, 189 pounds, and on some mock drafts was projected as a possible second-round pick.

The Wings drafted Sebrango 63rd overall, so it’s not like he was a reach, by any means. If anything, maybe the Wings got lucky adding a sturdy, versatile defenseman who doesn’t generate a ton of headlines, but can play a steady, no-nonsense game.

“He’s a good skating defenseman who plays with an edge,” said Kris Draper, the Red Wings’ director of amateur scouting.

Continued