The Malik Report

The Detroit Red Wings' summer development campers engaged in a 4-on-4 scrimmage today in Traverse City, playing a pair of 25-minute periods followed by shootouts as the vast majority of the players found themselves in a game situation for the first time since March or April of this year.

As a result, as Jeff Blashill suggested, the game was "summer hockey," and it was a game in which some players who've been quiet during the skill drills shone--and vice versa--but it was a fun-to-watch game, and I'd like to think that it was not only entertaining for the fully-packed Centre ICE Arena crowd, but that it was also a good way to break up the drills for the prospects attending camp.

Michael Rasmussen (wrist), Lane Zablocki, Luke Esposito and Chase Pearson didn't take part in the game, but the rest of the field is otherwise healthy, and "Team Zetterberg" defeated "Team Kronwall" 3-1:

The game was preceded by the usual half-hour's worth of goalie drills, in which Jeff Salajko, Brian Mahoney-Wilson and the Wings' Swedish and Czech goalie consultants put Keith Petruzzelli, Joren van Pottelberghe, Kaden Fulcher, Matej Machovsky, Filip Larsson and Chase Perry through a set of drills that focused on edge work and positional recovery...

While at center ice, Ben Simon and Shawn Horcoff worked with Michael Rasmussen, Brady Gilmour, Christoffer Ehn, Graham Slaggert, Zach Gallant and Brett Supinski on faceoffs, teaching the players some "dirty tricks" like kicking a leg forward or dropping to one knee to grind the faceoff back to one's teammate. Coach Simon even taught the centers to pay attention to linesmen to see if they're afraid of getting their hand slapped by a stick while dropping the puck.

Warm-ups were a little late, but the game got underway at 11 AM, and the 4-on-4 system allowed the teams to rotate through 18 total defensemen--9 per team--and to focus on speed and engagement instead of getting bogged down in 5-on-5 play.

The Major Junior guys still tried to dump and chase in many instances, and neutral zone drives went up the wall instead of through the middle of the ice far too regularly, but the players slowly and surely got used to playing at a higher pace and skill level than the first-timers were accustomed to, "the kids" did a good job of picking up the pace, embracing the tempo and grinding upon each other a little harder (led by Givani Smith, who's slowly but surely evolving into a Tyler Bertuzzi-like ball of energy).

I tend to do assessments over discussion of the game itself, but it's worth noting that the game got more and more physical and more and more skilled as it went along. The older players led the way in terms of pushing their compatriots to pick it up, but some of the younger players just couldn't help but drive at 85, as it were.

In terms of player assessments on an individual level, keeping in mind that this was one scrimmage in the middle of the summer

FORWARDS:

#11 David Pope: David has done an excellent job of growing into a very lanky body, and now, at 6'3" and 198 pounds, the 2013 draft pick (who was once more like 155-160) is going into his senior season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha looking to sustain a nearly point-per-game pace. Pope scored an elegant goal today and he looked to be quite the offensive threat as he lugged the puck up ice in a hurry. A few years ago, I didn't think there was much pro potential in a one-dimensional sniper, and now I'm looking at a 2013 draft pick who, more and more, looks to possess more than "one tool."

#17 Tommy Marchin*: Marchin's enthusiasm was noticeable, as was his ability to "March In" to the offensive zone, but that was about the extent of what I've seen from the 6'3," 215-pound Brown University senior and free agent invite. His size allows him to manhandle his opponents, however.

#26 Chase Pearson: Pearson, a 2016 draft pick, hasn't skated since the first day, and that's disappointing as he's a very exciting prospect. Pearson's a 6'2," 200-pound center who scored 14 goals as a freshman with Maine, and he's a natural sniper who possesses a thick body and a tendency to grind up the gut offers promise.

#32 Graham Slaggert*: Slaggert was able to muck and grind a few levels above his 5'11," 183-pound size as the Notre Dame Freshman and free agent invite hustled his ass into corners to grind out the puck. Grit and jam were the extent of his contributions.

#37 Michael Rasmussen: Rasmussen was able to take part in the faceoff drills in the morning, but his still-healing left wrist prevented him from skating in the scrimmage, and his still-healing left wrist explains why he hasn't shown much of a shot over the first three days of camp. Rasmussen's skating is fine--he just looks slow because he's got Mantha Disease in that he doesn't chug his legs hard en route to the net because he's 6'6." His strength is fine at 221 pounds, and the 9th overall draft pick is SUPER SERIOUS about himself, displaying oodles of professionalism in his curt interviews. The Tri-City Americans captain is no dud.

#44 Dylan Sadowy: Guess who had a great game? The 6,' 205-pound trade acquisition from San Jose, who had a terrible rookie year between Grand Rapids and Toledo and was a "Black Ace" during the Griffins' playoff run. It's hard to figure out what Sadowy IS, because he possesses a sniper's shot, a gorgeous backhand, strong passing skills, the ability to head-man offense and superb skating--when he's skating among his peers--but he's produced so very little playing among men that it's concerning. I am trying to be optimistic, hoping that at 21, he'll start maturing into a player who brings it no matter what the circumstances are, but we'll have to wait until fall to see what happens.

#47 Brett Supinski*: Another hard worker, the 6,' 170-pound Union College junior just hasn't been able to display the kind of point-per-game form that he does in college. He was a good skater on the rush and he banged and crashed, but he bobbled along with the rest of the free agent try-outs.

#56 Mattias Elfstrom: Elfstrom had "big rink syndrome" today. It was very evident that the 2016 pick, a 6'3," 200-pound winger who's played in both Sweden's J20 league and in the SHL, wasn't used to a rink that was only 85 feet wide, and as such, his execution was off. Elfstrom is superbly fast and has a big, heavy shot that he used to nearly score several times, but he was unable to adapt to smaller surroundings.

#63 Dominik Shine+: FAST. Shine is 5'11" and 175 pounds, and the 24-year-old Northern Michigan graduate looked like he should in a game against a younger player--damn mature, strong as can be in terms of puck pursuit and puck transport, and dangerous in scoring areas. He is ready to turn pro with Grand Rapids.

#67 Lane Zablocki: Zablocki spent his morning first helping the goalies during their drills and then riding a stationary bike under the watchful eye of Griffins strength and conditioning coach Marcus Kinney. He's a hard-worker and really reminds me of Zach Nastasiuk at 6' and 190 pounds. The 2017 draft pick has to grow into his body, however, as that 190 pounds isn't nearly enough weight on a big frame.

#70 Luke Esposito+: He hasn't played yet, so I don't know much about him. The Griffins-signed 5'10," 183-pound graduate of Harvard hasn't made an impression because he's been hurt.

#73 Zach Gallant: Good. Gallant, 6'2" and 198 pounds, out of Peterborough of the OHL, Gallant has been visible in positive ways, but he's also vanished at times. He displayed poise during the scrimmage, but sometimes he bobbed along with the free agent try-outs, and he's a 2017 pick. First-time-camper.

#74 Jack Adams: My goodness, how big a boy he is. 6'5," 204 pounds, headed to Union College, the 2017 draft pick may be all lanky arms and legs right now, but he can still lug the puck up ice and get off a sneaky, heavy shot that can put the fear of God into goalies. He's got a lot of natural potential.

#76 Brady Gilmour: For 5'10" and 170 pounds, Gilmour made himself noticeable during the scrimmage, and the 2017 draft pick from Saginaw of the OHL looked slightly Joe Hicketts-like as he managed to crash and bang and grind and jam pucks out down low, bump and shove at center ice, and he generally looked to be a good puck-mover in traffic. That's very encouraging for the Wings' last pick in the draft.

#78 Sean Josling*: Josling continues to look fast and gritty but not much else. There are stick skills that need to be polished, and the 5'11," 166-pound Sarnia Sting forward and free agent invite will probably get another chance to strut his stuff during the prospect tournament. And he had an assist, but I'm still saying this stuff about him!

#79 Oliver Castleman*: Castleman had a really, really good scrimmage. At 5'10" and 180 pounds, Castleman was still noticeable on and off the puck as a good skater and stocky, smart forward. The Niagara Ice Dogs free agent invitee took a step forward today.

#80 Luke Kutkevicius*: Up and down. There are times that the 6'1," 162-pound winger makes very skilled plays in very tight quarters, and he intrigues and intrigues some more, and there are times that he disappears beneath those big-ass shoulder pads ("Kutkevicius" does not hang off his shoulders). I like what I've seen from him, but I can't say that there's an overwhelming case for a contract here as much as there is promise that will take a prospect tournament to shake out.

#81 Givani Smith: Givani finally found his form during the scrimmage, unleashing his crash-and-bang game upon opponents that he really hasn't been able to hit yet. The 6'2," 206-pound Guelph Storm forward and 2016 draft pick reminds me of another Guelph Storm grad in Tyler Bertuzzi, whose enthusiasm and energy levels grind the snot out of his opponents. Smith looks to come from the same mold, and he's also able to move the puck and get shots off in tight and when things get physical. He's got to show more during the skill drills--and by "more," I mean more engagement. He can't wait until scrimmages to dominate. There's some maturity to go there, just like Bertuzzi at his age.

#82 Isaac Johnson*: Isaac Johnson has a good wrist shot and skates well. But that's all three days' worth of observation have gotten me, and the 6'2," 174-pound free agent out of Des Moines of the USHL should be showing me why he's looking for an NCAA scholarship.

#96 Michal Pastujov*: *sighs.* A 6,' 192-pound graduate of the U.S. NTDP and incoming Michigan freshman works hard, he displays very good skating skills and he lugs the puck up ice fairly decently, but that's all thus far.

DEFENSEMEN:

#2 Dennis Cholowski: I would describe the entirety of Cholowski's development camp in one word: "reassuring." Cholowski looked great during the scrimmage, using his fantastic skating ability and smart stick to glide up ice and very smoothly transition from defense (which he is surprisingly good at despite his 6'1," 180-pound lanky, wiry frame--he closes on his opponents superbly well) to offense, where Cholowski can dominate. He earned more than a couple of "most impressive scrimmage player" votes, and the turning-somewhat-pro 2016 draft pick looked calm, comfortable and ready for at least what the WHL can offer him.

#4 Alfons Malmstrom: Third day, same observation: 6'2," 190-pound 2016 draft pick, played with Orebro's J20 team, looks really solid, just smart out there, spare and steady.

#24 Patrick Holway: From a development camp perspective, Holway has taken a step back. A year ago at this time, he looked lanky but in charge, ready to use his 6'4," 204-pound arms-and-legs frame to lug the puck up ice and generate offense--and he does that in college--but during the skill drills, and even during the scrimmage, I had to shake my head and wonder where all that promise went.

#27 Mitch Eliot*: Mitch's dad was in attendance today, and I don't know if that gave him a case of jitters, but Eliot, a 6,' 188-pound defenseman from Michigan State looked a little less comfortable today. He's very intelligent, able to position himself nearly perfectly on the ice, but he's not overly big or overly strong, and the smart puck movement skills that were evident in drills didn't make themselves evident during the scrimmage.

#28 Vili Saarijarvi: Fun to watch, exciting to project, even if it's "summer hockey." Saarijarvi, a 2015 pick, is never going to be more than 5'10" and maybe 185 pounds, but the currently-172-pound defenseman blazes up and down the ice with superior skating skills, head-manning the rush by getting up into it. Saarijarvi can make plays and use his stick to defend, he has a very hard shot, he's surprisingly gritty in terms of refusing to be knocked off the puck or rammed into the glass (he's a little slinky there), and he's very enthusiastic and confident. He's probably turning pro with Grand Rapids, and that's gonna be a big challenge for him, but he's ready for it.

#48 Gustav Lindstrom: You don't want to hear this, but he's got a great stick. Makes excellent defensive plays, blocks passes, then makes passes and takes sneaky shots of his own. Smart, smart, not Nicklas Lidstrom smart, but intriguing. He was a 2017 draft pick and he's going back to Almtuna of the Swedish second division at 6'2" and an optimistic 187 pounds.

#53 Alex Peters*: The big confusing conundrum, 6'4," 220-pound Peters is 22, he was the Flint Firebirds' captain last year and he was drafted but un-signed by Dallas, and his defensive partner raved about a player who "knows what to do" and was rock-solid as a defensive defenseman during the scrimmage (and his partner is WHL try-out Evan Fiala). I'm afraid that Peters' Canadian University commitment will mean that he's at Saint Mary's in the fall instead of the prospect tournament.

#58 Patrick McCarron+: Big, heavy, 6'3" and 201 pounds, very physical, very simple and spare, the Griffins signee and Cornell University graduate is ready to turn pro with Grand Rapids.

#75 Evan Fiala*: I really like his enthusiasm and I really like his ability to keep up despite being a very lanky 6'4" and 205 pounds. Again, as someone who put up 139 penalty minutes for Spokane and Saskatoon of the WHL last season, he's got a physical bite, but he held off smashing and mashing his teammates during the scrimmage.

#84 Reilly Webb: Webb looked a little rustier than Fiala, again, displaying a "basic" game as he skated up and down the ice to play without too much flash or flourish. The 2017 draft pick and 6'3," 201-pound defenseman has enthusiasm galore but is still very young.

#85 Cole Fraser: Big and steady, the 6'2," 191-pound Peterborough Petes defender and 2017 draft pick has people intrigued. Fraser's big shot broke a pane of glass during Saturday's drills and ground and ground some more as a patient, poised defender during the scrimmage. He's turning heads by being ultra-reliable.

#86 Malte Setkov: Setkov had a very good scrimmage. At a massive 6'6" and 192 pounds, the Dane who carpools to Malmo skated up and down the ice with nothing less than excellent speed and tremendous mobility/maneuverability. Setkov moved the puck well, he didn't get ran over, and while he had a little bit of "small rink syndrome," he was impressive as all of 18 and blazingly fast.

#87 Filip Hronek: Arrogant in a good way, Hronek may be 6' and 170-ish pounds, but he charges up into the rush with downright reckless abandon, even more so than Saarijarvi, and he's at least as smooth as Cholowski when he wants to be smooth. Hronek will make dangerous/high risk plays at times, and he has to haul ass back to cover up for himself (or occasionally get a teammate to cover him), but most of the time, his offense is worth it. He just doesn't believe he's going to fail, and that's good, but as I've said before, going pro full-time with Grand Rapids, he needs to crank up his strength.

#88 Libor Sulak: Sulak had a bit of "small rink syndrome," too, but he had a tremendous scrimmage, nothing less than an excellent showing--after a very quiet set of Friday/Saturday skill development drills. The 6'2," 207-pound Czech defender skates like Setkov, he battles hard to get the puck and hold onto it, he transports the puck well and makes strong passes. He's an efficient defender as well, and he's got a good shot. Again, it's "summer hockey" and he's older and coming from the Austrian pro league, but Sulak looked like he belonged for the first time on Sunday.

#92 Tomas Dvorak*: Big boy, big shot, big goal. Dvorak is a 6'4," 203-pound free agent from Karlovy Vary of the Czech league, and his goal was glorious, but that's about all of what he displayed save size, strength and steadiness that doesn't necessarily stand out.

#94 Kasper Kotkansalo: Kotkansalo looked efficient. At 6'2" and 196 pounds, the defenseman coming out of Sioux Falls to play for Boston College looked very, very good as spare and steady in all the good ways of the terms during Sunday's scrimmage. Kotkansalo is a puck-transporter and just a very headsy player, and with a steady, sturdy frame, the 2017 draft pick looks like he's got a ton of potential as 2-way defenseman.

#95 Jordan Sambrook: Sambrook wasn't as impressive during the scrimmage as I expected him to be. The Erie Otters defenseman stands at 6'2" and 193 pounds, with a few more pounds left to go, and Sambrook can look like a right-shooting Brad Stuart, but there are also times that his game is left wanting. He exemplifies the term "Meat and Potatoes defenseman" in the best senses of the term.

#97 Adam Larkin*: Larkin looked safe, very safe, during the scrimmage. He wasn't overly physical at 6' and 190 pounds, but he wasn't overpowered in any way, shape or form, he wasn't overly offensively adept despite displaying superb skills in terms of puck transportation, stick strength and passing during the skill drills, but I'll say it again: the Yale senior is incredibly intelligent as a still-developing player, and his potential for self-development is very high.

GOALTENDERS:

#30 Chase Perry: For at least a game's worth of time, Perry looked like his rebounds were going to the right place, his stick was present and accounted for, his lanky 6'3," 195-pound frame was being utilized conservatively to block pucks with multiple layers of "Perry," and he looked damn solid despite the fact that he's a goalie who's still finding his game going into his senior year at Rensselaer.

#31 Matej Machovsky: There were times that Machovsky was nothing less than dominant during the scrimmage, but he also gave up two goals for "Team Kronwall," and one of them was of the squeaky variety. Machovsky has a pro pedigree in coming from both Plzen of the Czech elite league and out of the OHL and LA Kings' system, but there are times that the 6'2," 187-pound netminder looks destined for ECHL and not AHL duty because he's just got enough technical sloppiness that it bites him in the butt. He's also the kind of scrambler that stops pucks and makes it look easy. He's signed to a two-way NHL contract.

#36 Kaden Fulcher*: Arms, legs, 6'3" and an optimistically-listed 182 pounds, the free agent invite from Hamilton of the OHL looks a little crazy at times and utterly stable and steady at others. He's got a strong glove and a slick set of toe-dragging leg moves, but where he goes from here is up to both him and an organization that's stacked in goal.

#38 Joren van Pottelberghe: It's arguable that JvP has almost totally reinvented himself from a "Swiss Butterfly" to a modern butterfly goaltender, and in doing so, he brings the best of both worlds to the fore technically. Again, he's already a pro with Davos, and the 6'2," 201-pound draft pick was superbly steady during the scrimmage under a hard workload. He's finding himself.

#68 Filip Larsson: Larsson has taken a page out of JvP's book, steadying an incredibly raw game with fundamentals, fundamentals and more fundamentals, and he was utterly solid during the scrimmage. The 6'2," 187-pound graduate of Djurgardens IF's J20 team will head to the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, looking for a college scholarship, and by taking the "long route" to the NHL, he's got a better chance of eventually making the Wings.

#90 Keith Petruzzelli:

1. It's early.

2. Petruzzelli won't be able to take part in the prospect tournament, so the real evaluation period will elude him.

3. But Petruzzelli, 6'5" and 185 pounds of gigantic Quinnipiac freshman, has looked like a "natural" in the net. He even got his glove together during the scrimmage, and man, he's looked damn good. But he's 18 and he's playing in a summer development camp, so let's see what chops he's got in college competition.

Lest I forget, I came up to development camp about $500 short of my goal, and I'm still $400 short of that. I simply want to be able to "break even" if at all possible, and if you're willing to drop a few bucks at https://www.paypal.me/TheMalikReport that ,would be fantastic. Thanks for reading and thank you for allowing me to get up here. It's hard, hard work but it's also a lot of fun.

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