Abel to Yzerman
I’m here, the hotel is OK, the internet works fine and the onion rings were fantastic!
by George Malik on 09/10/10 at 10:06 PM ET
Comments (68)
As the prospects taking part in the Red Wings’ eight-team prospect tournament took spins on the ice today to break in their new gear and get used to their surroundings, some random guy who members of the Kukla’s Korner and Abel to Yzerman community chose to grant the opportunity to attend the tournament as an accredited…well, an accredited Red Wings fan made his way up through mid Michigan and safely arrived in the Cherry Capital of the World, thankful that he avoided a few speed traps when his cruise control was nudged up to 82 mph and happy that his expectations for a budget-priced hotel were moderate. The internet works fantastically well here, I’ve got a nice bed and, set-in remnants of stains on the carpet aside, the room’s clean.
My mood happens to be brightened by the fact that I stopped at the Lone Pine Restaurant in Grayling, where the world’s best onion rings are served, for dinner. Basically, I made it here safely, my dress clothes are laid out for tomorrow, two alarm clocks are set, and while I’m not going to show up at Centre Ice Arena at 8:30 AM to catch the Hurricanes and Stars practicing, but you’d better believe that I’ll be there by the time the Wings take to the ice at 11:30, and I’ll probably stay through their game against Dallas at 7 PM, watching either the Minnesota-Carolina game at 3 or the Columbus-NY Rangers game at 3:30.
As to what happens after that, and how my copious note-taking, middling knowledge of my voice recorder (which can upload files to my computer) and cell phone camera translate into coverage and the level thereof, I’m not quite sure, but I’m very grateful to be here for the ride, and the plan is to at least figuratively take you along for the journey over the next eleven days.
Thus far, I know that the Sporting News, ESPN Dallas, NHL.com, the Rangers’ and Bolts’ websites, the Traverse City Record-Eagle and Grand Traverse Insider are here, and I’m sure that at least half a dozen other outlets are represented as well. It goes without saying that RedWingsCentral bears monitoring as Sarah Lindenau (follow her on Twitter) was already at this morning’s practice and has covered the Wings’ prospect tournament and training camp since its outset, so while I do the whole, “Go, see, do, and evolve” thing, she’s got this down pat, and she’s also a fantastic photographer.
RWC has the prospect tournament rosters for all eight teams listed—the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Wings, whose roster breaks down as follows:
NO. PROSPECT NAME POS HT WT DRAFTED 2009-10 TEAM
FORWARDS
62 Joakim Andersson C 6.02 205 DET-07 (2-88) Frolunda (SWE)
58 Darren Archibald * LW 6.03 195 — Barrie (OHL)
53 Louis-Marc Aubry C 6.03 186 DET-10 (3-81) Montreal (QMJHL)
65 Mitchell Callahan RW 5.11 175 DET-09 (6-180) Kelowna (WHL)
70 Willie Coetzee RW 5.10 186 — Red Deer (WHL)
57 Landon Ferraro C 6.00 171 DET-09 (2-32) Red Deer (WHL)
63 Antonin Honejsek * LW 6.00 180 — Moose Jaw (WHL)
64 Stephen Johnston * C 6.01 190 DET-08 (6-181) Windsor (OHL)
50 Brooks Macek C 5.11 180 DET-10 (6-171) Tri-City (WHL)
49 Andrej Nestrasil RW 6.02 200 DET-09 (3-75) Victoriaville (QMJHL)
60 Trevor Parkes * RW 6.01 180 — Montreal (QMJHL)
47 Brent Raedeke LW 6.00 197 — Edmonton (WHL)
21 Tomas Tatar LW 5.11 179 DET-09 (2-60) Grand Rapids (AHL)DEFENSEMEN
56 Alex Cord * D 6.02 195 — Mississauga (OHL)
27 Travis Ehrhardt D 6.00 197 — Portland (WHL)
67 Gleason Fournier D 6.00 184 DET-09 (4-90) Rimouski (QMJHL)
71 Brenden Kichton * D 5.11 175 — Spokane (WHL)
25 Brian Lashoff D 6.03 204 — Kingston (OHL)
54 Sebastien Piche D 6.00 194 — Rimouski (QMJHL)
2 Brendan Smith D 6.02 190 DET-07 (1-27) Wisconsin (NCAA)
61 Marc Zanetti * D 6.00 200 — Ottawa (OHL)
GOALTENDERS
38 Thomas McCollum G 6.02 210 DET-08 (1-30) Grand Rapids (AHL)
34 Petr Mrazek G 6.00 162 DET-10 (5-141) Ottawa (OHL)
36 Jordan Pearce G 6.01 201 — Notre Dame (NCAA)* denotes free agent tryout
Here’s the schedule for the prospect tournament, per the Red Wings:
2010 Prospects Tournament—Centre Ice Arena—Traverse City, MI
GRETZKY CONFERENCE HOWE CONFERENCE
Carolina Dallas
Columbus Detroit
Minnesota St. Louis
NY Rangers Tampa BaySATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
PRACTICES DAVID’S RINK HUNTINGTON RINK
8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Minnesota Carolina
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Columbus NY Rangers
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. St. Louis Tampa Bay
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Dallas DetroitGAMES HOME VISITOR RINK
3:00 p.m. Minnesota Carolina David’s
3:30 p.m. Columbus NY Rangers Huntington
6:30 p.m. St. Louis Tampa Bay David’s
7:00 p.m. Detroit Dallas Huntington
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12PRACTICES DAVID’S RINK HUNTINGTON RINK
8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Minnesota Columbus
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. Dallas St. Louis
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Carolina NY Rangers
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Tampa Bay DetroitGAMES HOME VISITOR RINK
2:00 p.m. Minnesota Columbus David’s
2:30 p.m. Dallas St. Louis Huntington
5:30 p.m. Carolina NY Rangers David’s
6:00 p.m. Detroit Tampa Bay Huntington
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13PRACTICES DAVID’S RINK HUNTINGTON RINK
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Minnesota Columbus
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. Dallas St. Louis
Noon - 1:00 p.m. NY Rangers Detroit
1:15 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. Carolina Tampa BayTUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
PRACTICES DAVID’S RINK HUNTINGTON RINK
8:30 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. Tampa Dallas
9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. NY Rangers Minnesota
10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. Columbus Carolina
11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. St. Louis DetroitGAMES HOME VISITOR RINK
3:00 p.m. Tampa Dallas David’s
3:30 p.m. NY Rangers Minnesota Huntington
6:30 p.m. Columbus Carolina David’s
7:00 p.m. St. Louis Detroit HuntingtonWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
PRACTICES DAVID’S RINK HUNTINGTON RINK9:45 - 10:30 a.m. 2nd Gretzky 2nd Howe
10:45 - 11:30 a.m. 1st Gretzky 1st HoweGAMES TBD TBD RINK
2:00 p.m. Seventh Place 4th Gretzky 4th Howe David’s
2:30 p.m. Fifth Place 3rd Gretzky 3rd Howe Huntington
5:30 p.m. Third Place 2nd Gretzky 2nd Howe David’s
6:00 p.m. Championship 1st Gretzky 1st Howe Huntington
So from Saturday until Wednesday, I’ll be a regular fixture at Centre Ice. While I certainly have more than a few prospects and execs on my, “To talk to” list, you’re the reason I was able to come here, so please let me know which prospects you’re interested in hearing from, which front office personnel you’d like to hear from, who you think I ought to keep an eye on, etc., and as the days pass and training camp approaches (the Wings’ main camp begins with a charity golf tournament and dinner on Friday, September 17th and the on-ice portion starts on Saturday the 18th and ends with a “Red vs. White Game” on Tuesday the 21st), I’d appreciate constructive criticism in terms of what I’m posting.
That, and at or around September 15th, the as-yet-unnamed blog will get underway, so I’d like you to vote on the following:
Possible Blog Names:
1. The Malik Report
2. Malik’s Musings
3. In a Nutshell
4. Feathers and Chrome
5. Unbiased, Unprofessional and Verbose
6. Other (post suggestion)
And if any Photoshop-apt members of the “19” (and, if you don’t mind, the “19 and a half” if my readers from my current blog and Twitter pals pass your muster) would be willing to superimpose the voted-upon blog name on a 490 pixel-wide by 75 pixel-high version of Mr. Howard’s pads…
Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images North America
Then we’ll get rockin’ and rollin.’
Very long-winded story short, I’m here, I’m safe, I’m headed to the rink tomorrow, and THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping to get me here. The next eleven days will be an adventure, and I can only hope that it’s less bumpy than I-75 north of the Zilwaukee Bridge and as fun as those near-carsickness-inducing hills between Grayling and Kalkaska.
Which, being in Michigan, have State cops sitting at the bottom. Thankfully, I stick to 5 over whenever possible.
See you in the morning—and one last thing, I will be “tweeting” from the event on Twitter at @georgemalik. FYI.
Filed in: | Abel to Yzerman | Permalink
Comments
(above: Sully being drunk/high)
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 09/10/10 at 10:13 PM ET
Good stuff, George. Excited to read the reports. Make sure to take a little time to wander among the pines in the evening, or dip your toes in Lake Michigan.
My vote? Feathers & Chrome, baby….all the way.
Be well.
Posted by VikingDoc on 09/10/10 at 10:34 PM ET
1) I vote for Malik Report;
2) obvious prospects to talk to: Ferraro, Smith, McCollum;
3) my darkhorse prospect to talk to: Gleason Fournier (and how he improved his defensive game);
4) “better lock you door” possible highlight: talk to The Captain;
5) have fun.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/10/10 at 11:16 PM ET
Glad you got there safe!
On an earlier thread I supported The Malik Report, but I hadn’t heard of Feathers and Chrome then. I really like Feathers and Chrome.
Posted by Forlorn in VA on 09/10/10 at 11:21 PM ET
Break a leg, Malik(!)
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 09/10/10 at 11:28 PM ET
Awesome George, looking forward to the reports. Are the practices open to the public? I’m lookin’ at rolling into town just about when the Wings practice on Saturday. I’d be great to get a chance to catch that too.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 09/10/10 at 11:50 PM ET
Have a great time, can’t wait for the reportage.
Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 09/11/10 at 12:02 AM ET
Malik in the promised land! Good to hear you escaped the multiple speed traps on the interstate. Should have known they would be after you. The Diggers prolly tipped em off. No worries…a defense fund can be set up tout’ suite. (That’s French, right Andrew?) The Emperor has teams of lawyers, coast to coast, at his disposal.
Have fun and keep the info flowing!
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, preparing on 09/11/10 at 12:33 AM ET
Man, you must be pumped. Enjoy some fine local wine while you are at it.
Posted by wedge56 on 09/11/10 at 01:33 AM ET
If Fournier’s English permits…He’s still…iffy sometimes, and mostly he’s incredibly shy from what I’ve seen of him.
OBVIOUS early statement: the summer strength and conditioning camp is all about NCAA prospects.
This is about the CHL.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 09/11/10 at 01:39 AM ET
Feathers and Chrome jumped out at me right away…pretty cool name for a blog about the greatest team in professional sports ever
Posted by yzer19man from Chicago, IL on 09/11/10 at 01:54 AM ET
Glad you made it George. Ask Ferraro if he’s excited about his move to Everett and if he’s been weirded out by some random guy with a thick beard and a Zetterberg jersey yelling at him.
Feathers and Chrome, FTW.
Have a blast dude. Don’t forget to write!
Posted by chollis from Seattle. Seriously. on 09/11/10 at 01:58 AM ET
Nice post, George…
I am still all for ‘The Malik Report’
If you get a chance to pick Joey MacDonald’s brain….do it. I have a feeling he will be the back-up this year if there are injuries (or other failures) in the crease.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 09/11/10 at 04:22 AM ET
Foreign alert: the name Feathers and Chrome sounds awesome, but I have no idea what it means. Help?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/11/10 at 07:50 AM ET
Feathers and Chrome is awesome. My vote goes there.
I’d love to hear from Tatar. I remember reading a translated interview from him last year in which he stated that he did pretty well understanding English, but sometimes had trouble finding the right words. No worse than Homer, I’m sure.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 09/11/10 at 07:52 AM ET
Malik Report, always use your name when possible is a business rule, it shows credibility.
Posted by Rdwings28 on 09/11/10 at 07:52 AM ET
Whooaaa sorry about the size.
-Mark, I deleted the post, just because you know…
Now we can get people talking about your comment. -Paul
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 09/11/10 at 07:54 AM ET
Guilherme, feather = pena and i don’t know the word for chrome in portuguese. Mas e typo do metal usado muito no carros e referencia do pneus e asa do Redwings.
Hope i could help.
Posted by Dahrken from Grand Rapids, MI on 09/11/10 at 08:24 AM ET
Incredibly detailed report (as usual), George, thanks. But please quit mentioning those damn onion rings. I’m jealous.
Posted by Cwix from Grand Rapids, now Roanoke, VA on 09/11/10 at 08:36 AM ET
Herm, feathers & chrome refers to the Wings’ logo.
That’s my vote.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/11/10 at 08:36 AM ET
Guilherme, feather = pena and i don’t know the word for chrome in portuguese. Mas e typo do metal usado muito no carros e referencia do pneus e asa do Redwings.
Hope i could help.
Oh, yes you helped. I figured the “feathers” could be for the wing, but the chrome got me confused (thanks for the pic, Markk [saw before Paul deleted it]).
By the way, I change my vote to Feathers and Chrome.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/11/10 at 08:50 AM ET
Herm -
The Feathers part refers to the wing on the logo, and the Chrome is the bright sliver metal that fancy cars have, especially on wheels. If you ever see a really fancy car with shiny spokes on the wheels reflecting sunlight all over the place, that is the chrome.
Feathers and Chrome is another way of describing the logo as a Winged Wheel. It’s different and unusual, but once you think about it the reference is clear as to what team is being discussed. Useful because Detroit has kept the same logo, so it is very tightly bound to team identity, unlike some teams who keep switching (which is so stupid - just pick a logo and color scheme that don’t suck and KEEP IT).
(Basically what J.J. just said, but more rambling.) 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/11/10 at 08:52 AM ET
just pick a logo and color scheme that don’t suck and KEEP IT
BUFFASLUG FO’ LIFE!
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/11/10 at 08:54 AM ET
And I see you figured it out already, so I came too late. Whoops. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/11/10 at 08:54 AM ET
BUFFASLUG FO’ LIFE!
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/11/10 at 08:54 AM ET
//reaching for salt shaker//
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/11/10 at 08:55 AM ET
Thanks for the save, Paul. Herm, glad you got to see it before it was smited. Smitten. Whatever.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 09/11/10 at 09:18 AM ET
Hey, Ms B, we have chrome down here. hmmm
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/11/10 at 09:09 AM ET
I know you do, I just didn’t know how different the word was in Portuguese.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 09/11/10 at 09:31 AM ET
The practices are open to the public and admission is $8.
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 09/11/10 at 10:02 AM ET
Great stuff so far george, lookin forward to more. Good call on the onion rings as well, also have you spotted any fans wearing the fake sleeve tattoos they are selling on nhl.com (barf)
Posted by FranzensMouthguard from Chicago, IL on 09/11/10 at 10:08 AM ET
Keep it coming George.
BTW, don’t forget to spend the beer money I sentcha since VooX isn’t there to pour for ya.
Sept 15 is the bow hunting opener here in MO for me, so I’ve got 2 things to look forward to that day.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 09/11/10 at 10:32 AM ET
1a) Feathers and Chrome
1b) The Malik Report
If you get a chance to pick Joey MacDonald’s brain….do it. I have a feeling he will be the back-up this year if there are injuries (or other failures) in the crease.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd
Jeebus Gramps, you sure know how to make people shit their pants in the morning. But yea, good call. I know you will George, but I’d love it if you talked to all the goalies and what they’re being asked to work on.
If language permits, I’d like to hear from “Ironhook” too.
I hope you have a great time George. And if a puck bunny wants to feather your chrome, don’t turn it down. Unless she looks like Sully.
Posted by Osrt on 09/11/10 at 11:52 AM ET
Feathers and Chrome gets my vote, if it counted, but you I’m not gonna push my politics on you just because I’m an adult molester…
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 09/11/10 at 11:56 AM ET
I vote for Feathers and Chrome too.
I’m glad you’re safely there and I’ll be following your reports here and on Twitter.
Posted by jennyquarx on 09/11/10 at 12:01 PM ET
“Feathers and Chrome ... in a nutshell” 
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 09/11/10 at 12:05 PM ET
George - If you missed it, an FYI, from the previous thread:
And here’s an offer to you, George. Once you come up with a name for your blog, I’ll be happy to create a banner for you with Howie’s pads as the background. Just post your final name, and I’ll email you the JPEG.
Posted by OlderThanChelios on 09/09/10 at 11:45 PM ET
... and this:
I just want our
bearded typing monkey
to know we didn’t pick him just for work.
[Ref: Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 09/08/10 at 08:40 PM ET]
Well, there’s the Blog name. “Bearded Typing Monkey”. 
Posted by Jennemy of the Skate from putting the b*tches in the box on 09/09/10 at 01:39 PM ET
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 09/11/10 at 12:28 PM ET
holy cow, i was just in Michigan and I was under the impression that there weren’t any speed limits, and obtw people must be getting enough $$ in their unemployment checks not to worry about gas mileage.
glad u made it up in fine shape, i’d like to kick in more $$ but 1 daughter moving to Cali, and flying to Michigan twice for weddings has got me curtailed a bit right now.
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 09/11/10 at 12:42 PM ET
a hot, sexy, slender, gorgeous 14 year old boy.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 09/10/10 at 02:09 PM ET
Why did I just get a little firm?
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 09/11/10 at 12:47 PM ET
I just read where Sonny Eliot is retiring as of today.
Posted by calquake on 09/10/10 at 06:21 PM ET
Sonny Eliot is still alive?
Fantastic, the summer weather pattern broke this week and the nighttime temp the last 2 nights has dropped into the “cool” 60s, it feels awesome out there today. Can hockey be far behind?
Well of course, not, this thread says GM is already in TC, what a stupid question.
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 09/11/10 at 12:50 PM ET
And I am changing my vote to “Feathers and Chrome”.
The Malik Report is good and reeks of personal accountability, but if you are going to concentrate on Red Wings news as you did on mlive, then something unique like Feathers and Chrome stands out….. now that someone explained it to me in Portuguese.
Posted by RWBill from the Capital of the Confederacy. on 09/11/10 at 12:53 PM ET
Heres one more vote for Feathers & Chrome . . . .
Fantastic, the summer weather pattern broke this week and the nighttime temp the last 2 nights has dropped into the “cool” 60s
Geez, I’m still praying for a break from the heat. Have fun in TC George. If I remember correctly, the weather there should be great aboot now.
Posted by Trish from PalmBeachCntyFL on 09/11/10 at 01:04 PM ET
I like Malik Report.
I also like—and give it some thought here: Malikatopia Funtime Boobie Hour. Sleep on it.
Posted by Triple Deke Tyler from Lansing on 09/11/10 at 01:14 PM ET
Add one more vote for…Feathers and Chrome!!!—totally unsurpassed in terms of sheer Awesome-Ness (and yes, Awesome Ness is pronounced just like that—like Eliott Ness, only way awesomer)
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 09/11/10 at 01:20 PM ET
I thought Malik Report was the best but that’s because I didn’t get “Feathers and Chrome” and didn’t get around to asking what the name meant. But now?
It HAS to be Feathers and Chrome. That’s just awesome.
Malik, please ask Tuzzikamen if he feels like he’ll be playing the simple game he played in the playoffs or will he still be trying to pass like #13.
Posted by Brooklyn Deuce from Fauborg Marigny on 09/11/10 at 01:36 PM ET
Just as an FYI, since I offered to add the blog’s name to Jimmah’s pads, I don’t think that’s going to work. I tried it with Feathers & Chrome because it looks like that’s the odds-on favorite and (1) the type has to be pretty small to fit, (2) the image itself is awfully tall for a header and then (3) there’s that pesky issue of copyright where the image is concerned.
The offer still goes to do something for you, George, but I think you may need to re-think your original concept.
Posted by OlderThanChelios on 09/11/10 at 01:42 PM ET
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Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 09/10/10 at 10:12 PM ET