11/07 Quick Hits

Some quick hits from around the internet about the Wings and NHL:

• Power forward Johan Franzen is expected to play on Tuesday night's game against Pittsburgh, which means he will not play tomorrow against New Jersey but he will have only missed five games. That's not bad considering the injury.
• For those fans going to Saturday's game, the Wings ask that you bring in a new smoke detector with batteries for their seventh annual Smoke Detector Collection. They will be collected and given to low-income families.
• The NJ Devils come to Joe Louis Arena for the first time this year, but they will be without goaltender Martin Brodeur. He suffered an elbow tendon injury and will be out for three to four months. As a result, Kevin Weekes will be in net against Detroit tomorrow.
• Online NHL.com sales of merchandise increased for 16 teams during October. The Chicago Blackhawks led the pack with a year-over-year sales increase of 234 percent. Detroit had the second most significant year-over-year sales with a 140% increase.
• Pierre LeBrun at ESPN.com wrote a profile piece on former Wing Igor Larionov, who will be inducted into the HHOF this weekend.
• A recent Canadian Press article talked about Steve Yzerman's progression from player to executive director of Team Canada.
  
• Defenseman Brett Lebda, who has a team worse minus nine rating in 11 games, will not play on Saturday.

"Minus-9," said Babcock. "Let's make this clear ... Lebs has been outstanding for us for three years. Hasn't gone as good (this year). (He) gets a little reminder here. He's a real good player, a very important part of our team. It's important that his confidence doesn't suffer any from this. He just gets reminded how hard it is and how much fun it is to play. Sometimes we all need to be reminded. That's why I got married. My wife reminds me every day."