Winging It In Motown: FanShots

Zetterberg NHL's First Star of the Week

2009-11-16T19:09:06Z

Zetterberg NHL's First Star of the Week

Zetterberg capped his best week of the season with the best night of his career Saturday -- he had his fourth career hat trick and added two assists for a five-point night in the Wings' 7-4 win against Anaheim. For the week, he had 4 goals [MPetrella noticed it said 3] and 5 assists [another Petrella catch, listed as 6], was plus-5 and scored the winning goal in back-to-back games.

Not coincidentally, the Red Wings won all three of their games last week. The Wings and their star center are both on their best streaks of the season; he has 5 goals and 11 points in Detroit's last six games, and the Wings are 5-1-0 in that span.

The Wings pre-game ceremony for Nick Lidstrom for achieving 1000 career points in the NHL.

2009-11-15T05:53:59Z

The Wings pre-game ceremony for Nick Lidstrom for achieving 1000 career points in the NHL.

Forbes.com's Most Valuable NHL Franchises

2009-11-13T13:55:09Z

Forbes.com's Most Valuable NHL Franchises

Detroit ranks 4th at $337 million, $2 million behind 3rd place Montreal and $64 million ahead of Philadelphia. In contrast, Phoenix is worth $138 million. Detroit is tied with Montreal for 3rd in revenue at $130 million.

The NHL shot a commercial during the 1st period of the Wings/Bruins game tonight. Everyone was...

2009-11-04T06:02:27Z

The NHL shot a commercial during the 1st period of the Wings/Bruins game tonight. Everyone was given these green Hockeytown posters and asked to flash them.

Great game.

Lidstrom Post Game Audio of 1000th NHL Point

2009-10-16T19:42:54Z

Lidstrom Post Game Audio of 1000th NHL Point

Post game audio with Ozzie, Babs and Lidstrom from Oct 15, 5-2 win over LA.

LIDSTROM NAMED NHL PLAYER OF THE DECADE BY SPORTING NEWS

2009-09-24T18:27:50Z

LIDSTROM NAMED NHL PLAYER OF THE DECADE BY SPORTING NEWS

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom is Sporting News‘ NHL player of the decade. Wings are SN’s NHL team of the decade. Wings Head Coach Babcock named NHL coach of the decade and Executive Vice President and GM Ken Holland named NHL executive of the decade.

The Wizard of Oz, meanwhile, had a few months at his Vernon summer home to digest last season. "It...

2009-08-31T00:08:10Z

The Wizard of Oz, meanwhile, had a few months at his Vernon summer home to digest last season.

"It was good," said Osgood, who heads back to Detroit this week. "The regular season wasn’t great, especially the first half which was terrible. The second half and the playoffs was great. Obviously, it was disappointing we didn’t win, but saying that, we fought through a lot of things, a lot of injuries and we played a tough, tough series every series and it didn’t happen for us. It was definitely exciting, a lot of fun to play in. At the moment, it’s real disappointing when you lose, but when you look at it, we achieved a lot." ...

"I like playing in the playoffs. I think the older you get, the more forward you look to playoffs. In the regular season, you need to play well, but it’s long and it draws out so when the playoffs start, especially in Detroit, that’s when it’s fun and you wanna play.

"For us, you look back, it’s disappointing when you’re up 3-2 and you lose, even 2-0 and you lose, but at the same time, we got beat by a team that played real well."

-- Kevin Mitchell of the Vernon Morning Star

"I just think I have earned the right to be here based on my play the last few years in the...

2009-08-28T04:26:19Z

"I just think I have earned the right to be here based on my play the last few years in the playoffs and the regular season," Cleary told NHL.com. "I think I'm good at both ends of the ice. I have played on top lines and I think I had a good playoff this year, a good run. I have good experience of being in critical situations. With our team in Detroit I play in every situation. I play in the last minute of the power play and penalty kill. I feel I deserve to be here."

He's right.

Cleary is here because he represents the vision Steve Yzerman and Mike Babcock have for their role players on Team Canada at the 2010 Olympics. Whether that means he makes the final cut remains to be seen, but this much we do know: Cleary is not here because Yzerman and Babcock wanted a familiar face in Calgary. ...

Cleary, who believes he's "the most comfortable guy in camp," has an advantage over every other Canadian skater because he knows Babcock's coaching style and his systems. The coach is also comfortable in putting Cleary in all situations.

-- Dan Rosen of NHL.com

It will be up to Babcock to ensure that those playing smaller roles are with the program, or things...

2009-08-26T21:29:14Z

It will be up to Babcock to ensure that those playing smaller roles are with the program, or things will unravel in a hurry.

"Obviously, to be able to walk into that locker room, a big part of being successful as a coach is a presence, and Mike's got a presence, and when Mike walks into a locker room, he's not in awe. He's going to take charge," Holland said. "It's easy to say, oh, you've got all these players. Well, there's probably a pretty good chance we're going to face some adversity, whether it's in-game adversity, whether a game is over, and your ability to adjust on the fly to the adversity is going to determine if you're going to have success or not.

"He's dealt with the media, he's dealt with in-game adjustments, he's had all that experience," Holland added. "You get into a game and you're down 2-1 in the second period and nothing's going, you've got to make some adjustments on the fly. You've got to try some different things. You've got to have the confidence to know when, how long to sit tight and when it is time to move."

-- Scott Burnside of ESPN.com

Through it all, Heatley dodged all media requests for interviews to tell his side of the story. He...

2009-08-21T04:23:45Z

Through it all, Heatley dodged all media requests for interviews to tell his side of the story. He also chose not to attend linemate Jason Spezza’s wedding in Ottawa and backed out of a speaking engagement in Toronto.

His silence is set to break. Finally.

On the urging of Hockey Canada, the 28-year-old is expected to hold a news conference and teleconference Friday in Kelowna.

"I believe Dany will address the media on the issue prior to the camp," Yzerman said. "In fairness to the Senators’ fans and the media, it needs to be addressed. It has to be addressed."

-- Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald

Fangraphs equivalent for hockey?

2009-08-18T18:01:11Z

Fangraphs equivalent for hockey?

Hey all,

Does an equivalent of fangraphs (probably the most advanced stat site for baseball) exist for hockey?

Hockey itself doesn't really lend well to heavy statistical analysis, but I thought maybe I would be caught by surprise.

Tim

July and early August were an idyllic interval between Abdelkader's first NHL highlights and the...

2009-08-12T05:21:34Z

July and early August were an idyllic interval between Abdelkader's first NHL highlights and the grand expectations held for him by the denizens of Hockeytown. The two goals he scored against the Pittsburgh Penguins the first two games of the Stanley Cup Finals, the first time a rookie did that in 28 years, announced his potential to the league.

But whether he's now poised to help replace the 88 goals the Red Wings lost to free agency this summer -- let alone to become the defensive, body-checking, high-scoring forward for whom the Wings brass hopes -- awaits his performance in training camp, which begins in about four weeks.

Four weeks. That's why summer vacation pretty much ended last week for Abdelkader.

"With the Olympics, everything seems like it's starting early this year," he said as he sat in the locker room at Munn Ice Arena, last week. He was considering whether to forestall throbbing groins with an ice bath after his first skate since last season -- a 90-minute grind, complete with passing and defensive drills and scrimmaging.

"Oh, yeah, I'll be sore. But it's good. I am excited for the opportunity, this year."

-- Gregg Krupa of The Detroit News

I don't have the salary number for Jason Williams yet, but it certainly sounds like his signing...

2009-08-07T03:49:19Z

I don't have the salary number for Jason Williams yet, but it certainly sounds like his signing means that the Red Wings are going to carry 22 players again this season ... and that's a number that vice president and general manager Ken Holland thinks is ideal.

"We'll be a little over the cap heading into training camp," said Holland. "We have the flexibility of a couple of kids who can go up and down to Grand Rapids." ...

That said, Holland's ideal roster is this ... 13 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies."

-- Bruce MacLeod of Red Wings Corner (and The Macomb Daily)

Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the acquisition...

2009-08-04T20:48:16Z

Plymouth Whalers President, General Manager and Head Coach Mike Vellucci announced the acquisition of Import forward Tomas Tatar and several future draft choices from the Kitchener Rangers in exchange for Import forward Gabriel Landeskog and the Whalers second round choice in the 2010 CHL Import Draft.

"Tatar's an obvious talent and we hope he reports," Vellucci said. "But what makes the deal attractive is the draft choices included as part of the package. Our scouting staff can use those assets, or we can utilize them to make other trades."

-- Pete Krupsky of Whales Tales Blog

During the Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit defenceman Andreas Lilja expressed fears for his career...

2009-08-01T19:25:56Z

During the Stanley Cup Finals, Detroit defenceman Andreas Lilja expressed fears for his career after suffering a concussion Feb. 28 that ended his season.

Those fears appear to be well-founded as Lilja is still suffering headaches.

"We don't know where Andreas Lilja is going to be at when camp opens," Wings general manager Ken Holland said.

"(Athletic trainer) Piet Van Zant spoke to him (Wednesday) and he still has symptoms. I'm really not sure about him."

Holland said he's thought about possibly trading a defenceman to free up more cap space, but he said with Lilja's uncertain future he'd hesitate to do that now.

With Lilja sidelined, Detroit could achieve the same goal by placing him on the long-term injured reserve list and have his salary come off the cap. Last season, Lilja earned $1.25 million."

-- Dave Waddell of the Windsor Star

KHL approves Hudler's contract

2009-07-31T14:05:44Z

KHL approves Hudler's contract

Bye Bye Jiri Hudler. The KHL has approved his 2 year contract with Moscow, so no matter what comes of yesterday's meeting, Hudler is gone...atleast for 2 years.

Delmore had an offer to return to Europe, but decided to have his agent give the Red Wings a...

2009-07-30T03:37:03Z

Delmore had an offer to return to Europe, but decided to have his agent give the Red Wings a call.

"We just became aware he wanted to play in North American," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We have a relationship with (Delmore’s agent) Tom Laidlaw (who also represented former Red Wings Dallas Drake and Greg Johnson).

"Tom informed us Andy was interested in remaining in North America." ...

"I was always a fan of Detroit and I know they’re a great organization," the six-foot-one, 200-pound Delmore said. "I’ll go to Grand Rapids and be part of a first-class organization and whatever happens is going to happen."

-- Windsor Star

A source close to the situation confirmed new Hawks winger Marian Hossa has a shoulder or rotator...

2009-07-22T14:59:18Z

A source close to the situation confirmed new Hawks winger Marian Hossa has a shoulder or rotator cuff injury.

The severity of the injury is not known, although it is possible Hossa might need surgery, which could put him out of the Hawks lineup until December.

The Hawks are monitoring Hossa while he rehabs the injury, believed to have been suffered during the playoffs. There are no further details at the moment how the injury might have occurred, or specifically when it happened."

-- Tim Sassone of The Daily Herald

(Pittsburgh doesn't have a chance of a dynasty) because their two star players are making $8.7...

2009-07-17T01:29:01Z

(Pittsburgh doesn't have a chance of a dynasty) because their two star players are making $8.7 million apiece while Detroit's tandem of Zetterberg and Datsyuk rake in at least two million less, per player. Is it just a fiscal issue? No. It's character," said Houlihan. "Detroit has character up and down the roster. Pittsburgh is 'led' by a captain and sidekick who are eating up huge amounts of a cap number that's only going to get smaller. Only 46 Tuesdays left until the Cup comes home to Hockeytown."

-- Bill at Abel to Yzerman debates with Derek Rocco of The Pensblog in a great piece at The Good Point.

Gotta have a Lidstrom one

2009-07-16T11:07:08Z

Gotta have a Lidstrom one