Quick Hits - June 10th

Red Wings/Griffins News

Grand Rapids Griffins take Game 2 of Calder Cup Finals…I think…Unless they re-play it…Perhaps? - The Malik Report
Malik captures what we experienced watching the Griffins' 6-4 win over the Syracuse Crunch to put Grand Rapids up 2-0 in the Calder Cup Final. What a weird game this was.

Petr Mrazek's Calder Cup run aided by Red Wings call up | Detroit Free Press | freep.com
'I got there and tried to play the best I could, waiting for a chance to get (to Grand Rapids),' Mrazek said. 'The chance came after a couple weeks so that was a big step in the season.'

6-9 Calder Cup Finals: Grand Rapids Griffins at Syracuse Crunch - YouTube
Highlights of the Griffins' game with some audio from Blashill and Pare.

Red Wings grades: Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk at head of class, but some key players disappointed | MLive.com
Ansar Khan's player grades for the Red Wings this season.

Report: Mike Babcock returns as Team Canada coach in Sochi | ProHockeyTalk
Babs will coach Team Canada in Sochi, despite having never won a Jack Adams Trophy. I hope they know what they're doing.

Around the League

Breaking News: Ralph Krueger Fired - The Copper & Blue
Ralph Krueger fired as coach of the Edmonton Oilers. Dallas Eakins expected to be named as new Head Coach.

Report: Dallas Stars Sign Sergei Gonchar to 2-Year, $10 Million Contract - Defending Big D
Some weird shit this weekend, as Dallas gave up a 6th rounder to get the rights to the 39-year old Gonchar and then gave him two years at $5M per season. They're going to hope his veteran skill helps bring along Alex Goligoski, but that's a hell of a gamble for a guy this age.

The Great Kopitar Injury Mystery: Did the banged up knee hurt him or not? - Jewels From The Crown
Lombardi said Kopitar was banged up, but Kopitar says he's fine beyond some bumps and bruises. So what happened? The stats suggest this was very unusual.

Ilya Bryzgalov buyout coming this summer? - Broad Street Hockey
I don't see how the Flyers don't use a buyout on Bryzgalov, but they're gong to have to nab a real goalie if they do that.

Bylsma, Penguins Need Culture Shock - PensBurgh
Penguins fans study what went wrong for a team so talented to look so awful in the conference finals. The Pens have had excuses previous years, but not this time; this time, Pittsburgh has to take a very serious look into what's wrong with their team.

Second City Hockey, a Chicago Blackhawks community
Your Chicago Coverage for the Stanley Cup Final.

Stanley Cup of Chowder, a Boston Bruins community
Bruins coverage for the SCF.