Eight Legged Freaks - An Unofficial Detroit Red Wings Blog

Classy Through and Through

2011-11-15T10:37:00.001-05:00

When talking about the Detroit Red Wings as a franchise, it has become a universal truth that they are, without a doubt, a classy organization.

From the mom-and-pop persona of the Illitch Family, to the way the players conduct themselves on the ice, the team has carved out a well-earned reputation as one of the classiest, and most well-run franchises in the history of pro sports.

Which brings me to this weekend, my father, and a man named Dave and a woman named Kathy.

For three years now, my father and I have taken a road trip to the Joe to watch the team we have both watched since I was but a small child of four or five. The trip is one that matters more than just the team, as it serves as some much needed bonding time, as that time has dwindled since I moved away to attend school.

The first year we made the trip, we purchased our tickets through Ticketmaster. The prices were high, the seats not so great, so last year, we made the switch to StubHub. I've used the service many times, and have never had a single problem. And so, naturally, for this trip, I navigated to the site, purchased the tickets, and we were ready to go to the Joe for our third annual trip.

Only this time, there was a hitch.

After arriving late to the venue due to delays in the Windsor-Detroit tunnel, we raced up the steps to the Joe, anxious to get in. The tickets were scanned at the door and - an error message appeared.

Sensing it could have been a mistake, the man at the door scanned again.

Error. Tickets already scanned.

My heart sank. My demeanour changed. I was no longer excited. I was terrified that I had not only purchased fake tickets, but that we would be refused access to the game, and thus, sent home empty handed and dejected.

Only it wasn't like that. The man at the door summoned a customer relations man named Dave, who told us to follow him, and that surely, this was all a big misunderstanding.

His attitude was upbeat, his demeanour pleasant, and even though bad news surely awaited at the end of the investigation of the tickets, he assured us that our seven hour drive wouldn't be in vain.

Down the winding staircase into basement of the Joe, through a solid steel door that could only be opened by buzzing those who waited inside, we were taken to find out the verdict.

And there, we met Kathy.

She took our tickets and performed her investigation. She returned, a frown on her face.

The seller had sold these tickets twice, on two separate sites. My heart broke. My father's brow furrowed. And Dave, this once complete stranger, asked if there was something that could be done to rectify this situation.

Kathy said she'd take a look, and she disappeared into the office to speak with someone about what was going on.

When she returned, she had an offer that made my heart jump.

New tickets. Seventeen rows from the ice. Closer than I'd ever been to the Red Wings.

So close that you could hear the hits, the on-ice instruction.

And so, in offering us these tickets, and turning a potentially disastrous situation into an extraordinary one, she personified everything the Red Wings strive to personify on and off the ice.

She gave me her number, so I could call and verify the tickets to Saturday's game. She remembered me the next day when I called, and asked if I had enjoyed myself.

But most of all she, along with Dave, made me proud to be a Red Wings fan.

Because, she didn't have to help us out. She had no obligation to me, as I hadn't even had the decency to purchase my tickets through a site associated with the Red Wings.

But she did.

So thank you for this experience. It was exceptional, it was amazing, and it was everything that the organization strives for.

Only people like Dave and Kathy don't get enough of the respect.

So thank you, from my father, and from me.

Because of your kindness, I was able to see the Red Wings win for the first time in four trips to the Joe.

Thank you.

Desperation in the Face of Demotion

2011-09-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

For a young player, the NHL preseason is not a tune-up.

It is not a time to shake off the rust, nor is it a time to see if the legs still have it.

For young players, the NHL preseason is a job interview, from the moment their equipment bag hits the floor of the dressing room to the moment they have a meeting with the head coach behind closed doors. It's a time for young players, who fall asleep with dreams of the NHL so tantalizingly close, to be nearly 100% perfect so they don't have to spend the rest of the year shuttling between small towns on cramped Greyhound buses.

To say Brendan Smith flubbed his interview would be an understatement. However, to say he did so maliciously, would be incorrect.

It just so happened that his shoulder-to-head hit effectively ended his chance to impress the brass this year, and will undoubtedly leave him with more questions than answers.

For those unfamiliar with the subject matter, a refresher is in order.

As Chicago Blackhawks forward carried the puck into the Detroit defensive zone, Brendan Smith made a decision to play the body rather than the puck. It was an opportunity few could pass up as it offered him the chance to deliver and earth shattering, open-ice hit that would raise a few eyebrows, and earn him a few Gold Stars next to the chart hanging in Ken Holland's office.

Only it didn't quite go as planned. Ben Smith dodged to get out of the way, only his head didn't go with him. And Brendan simply had to watch as his shoulder made direct contact with Ben's head. And he watched the referee's arm go up. And he heard the crowd noise fade as he walked down the tunnel to the dressing room.

And, finally, the light at the end of the tunnel, his dream of starting the year in Detroit rather than Grand Rapids, grew a little further away.

As expected, the hit garnered excessive media attention, as our concussion-obsessed sport demands. Inquiries are being made, and Brendan Smith, the fresh-faced kid who entered camp so hopeful, will get his first taste of NHL action in the office of league Sheriff Brendan Shanahan. He will make his case. He will go home. And when his punishment is announced (and there will be a punishment), he will be forced to serve a suspension before his career can even begin.

For Brendan Smith, this moment of his job interview would rank somewhere on making a "that's what she said" joke about the boss's daughter, and admitting that the night prior to the interview he'd gone on an all-night bender.

And so it goes, not just for Brendan Smith, but for young NHL-hopefuls league-wide. If they're not perfect, then they're not ready. Which means more time on the bus, more time in the anonymous American Hockey League, and more time regretting every mistake they made during the course of the pre-season.

Ultimately, these experiences will only serve to make them stronger when they are ready, and make no mistake, Brendan Smith will be ready sooner rather than later. He will relive each defensive miscue, and will learn how to never make the same mistakes again. He will hone his skills, he will pick his spots better.

In short, he will review, fix, and then review again.

For veterans, the preseason is a means of dusting off the pads to go do what they're been doing for years. For rookies, draftees, and young players, it is a Darwinian battle to secure a spot on the opening roster, and to validate a lifelong struggle for a place alongside hockey's elite.

However, for now, Brendan Smith will sit and wait. Wait for the punishment that will surely fit the crime. Wait for his punishment to end, and his playing time to begin.

And ultimately, wait for next year, where he will get the chance to prove once and for all that he's ready to make the ultimate step.

You're not there yet Brendan.

But with these latest events, you've been given a chance to learn, to fine-tune, and to be better.

This time next year, you'll do just fine at the interview.

You may even pick out your own tie.

Gauging Performance Against the Backdrop of Futility

2011-09-22T10:43:00.000-04:00

To say preseason hockey and I do not get along would qualify as an understatement.

While the last four-plus months have been a never-ending wasteland in terms of hockey news, one would expect someone who chooses to blog about hockey to at least be a little excited about the return of at least some on-ice action. Sad to say, colour me unimpressed and uninterested.

By now, many Wings fans are already no doubt hand-wringing and speaking in hushed tones about the team's performance last night, as they skated to a 3-2 loss at the hands of those hated steel town man-children from Pittsburgh. And to this, I say, don't worry.

You see preseason has, and always will be, about finding out the great unknowns currently sprinkled throughout the organizational depth chart. It's an opportunity for hockey minds far brighter than ours to take a look at a promising youngster, to see if he's added that extra bit of muscle, or lateral speed, or has since developed an enlightened mind to the subtle nuances and x's and o's that make up professional hockey.

In turn, it is a time for known commodities to "find it". For superstars like Zetterberg and Datsyuk to shake off some of that summer-on-the-lake rust so they don't deliver a performance more apropos to the opening game of a house league tournament.

In short, it is the time for Mike Babcock to put on his deathiest of death stares, to scowl harder then he's ever scowled before, and to watch new blood as they desperately try to impress his cold, steely eyes. It's an unenviable task to be sure, but a necessary development to team chemistry.

So, rather than bore everyone with yet another rundown of last night's game, I'll simply keep it short, and relatively sweet.

Paging Mr. Brunnstrom, We Have a Spot for You
Yes Fabian, that statement will be true if you show the kind of heart and hustle you displayed last night. Your skills were never the question, as you have the hands to embarrass damn near anyone in this league.

It's that hustle+heart (to borrow a Toronto Blue Jays marketing term) that was, and I'm afraid will always be the question. Play like last night, and it will be asked less and less frequently.

In fact, play like last night every night, and I'd be comfortable calling you a valued member of the Detroit Red Wings. Maybe management would be too.

Jimmy's Not Here Man
Everyone remembers that familiar feeling their first day on the job following a promotion. Butterflies in the stomach. Beads of sweat on your brow. Hands trembling as you open the doors to the conference room for your first meeting in your new role, and wondering as you stand in front of your colleagues whether you really earned your fancy new paycheck, or whether or not you're just a fraud that failed upwards.

That's what I'd like to think was plaguing Jimmy last night, as he consistently looked a little slow, and just a tad unprepared. Won't last. He just needs to get back in the swing of things.

Initiate Ludicrous Speed
Far be if from me to realize that iconic scene in Spaceballs was nothing more than a pre-cursor to the youngsters currently populating the Red Wings depth chart.

In fact, if Chris Conner, Jan Mursak and Darren Helm all skated against the earth's rotation, I think they would have a good shot at turning back time, thereby justifying Richard Donner's scientific theory of time.

Watching them take flight up the open wing is a sight to behold. Only you have to watch it on half speed to fully appreciate it.

Epic Conclusion
Datsyuk is good, but we all knew that. Everyone else looked fine/good/normal/rusty/Exelby (bad).

Preseason games. A series of events in which top players risk injury in order to not win anything and where youngsters and washed up veterans alike look to prove to everyone that they (still) got it. Exciting, and mind-numbingly boring, all at once.

Still, the countdown is officially on. In just a few short weeks, these games will mean something, and hockey will begin anew.

Colour me excited.

A Place to Preserve the Memories

2011-09-12T16:28:00.000-04:00

The Lokomotiv tragedy has gripped us all in different ways.

It has caused some of us emotional anguish. It has caused some of rage and confusion. It has given birth to truly beautiful ceremonies, candlelight vigils, and equally great sportswriting from many in the hockey community.

It is, and will forever remain, one of the most catastrophic tragedies ever endured in the history of professional sports. Of that, we can all be certain.

Now before I begin the remainder of this post, I would simply like to re-iterate a point J.J. From Kansas made in his blog post surrounding the tragedy: the words that I write here are not meant to imply that certain players lives meant more than others, nor do they mean that I am only concerned with some, rather than all.

All players, coaches, team personnel and aircraft attendees alike will be mourned by everyone. That fact is assured.

My question, however, is whether or not Red Wings fans feel as though Joe Louis Arena should reserve a space somewhere in the arena for former players whose careers, or lives, were cut short due to extraneous circumstances, similar to the Toronto Maple Leafs policy regarding number retirement.

What I mean by this is an area in which the numbers and/or likenesses of Red Wings family members Ruslan Salei, Stefan Liv and Brad McCrimmon should be placed, or whether that would be disgraceful to the others that tragically lost their lives.

No life is worth more than any other.

However, these three deaths in particular touched the Red Wings family deeply.

The question is whether or not their memories should be preserved specifically forever in the home of the Detroit Red Wings, or whether the entire group should be honoured in some way.

Fabian Brunnstrom and the Road Back to Relevance

2011-09-12T12:31:00.000-04:00

For professional athletes with tremendous skill sets, being highly hyped is nothing new. However, when those skills begin to diminish, or in other cases, have been over-hyped, the athlete must begin anew.

Which is why Fabian Brunnstrom now stands firmly back at square one.

Flash back to the year 2008. The Red Wings were Stanley Cup Champions, Woodward Avenue was filled with a red and white confetti soup, and Ken Holland was busy on his cell phone, trying desperately to woo yet another Swedish talent to don the Winged Wheel alongside many of his countrymen.

The Swede in question was Fabian Brunnstrom, one of the most highly touted undrafted Swedish forwards in recent memory, who was garnering interest from just about every team who could afford to be in on the negotiations.

Flash forward to now. Brunnstrom is finally going to be donning the red and white jersey, only this time, it may only be temporary. He's in Detroit, on a try-out contract, and at this point, he'd be considered a longshot to make the NHL roster.

For many athletes, this is a sign that they just don't have what it takes to stick. The weaker-minded players decide that, well shucks, they gave it their best and their best just wasn't good enough to stick.

Only Brunnstrom isn't willing to give up.

His stoicism is admirable, and his skills still sharp. Brunnstrom is, to anyone who can see, a great hockey player with loads of unrealized potential. He was rushed through the developmental system in Dallas, left to travel up and down the ranks like nothing more than a yo-yo, and through it all, he fought the urge to simply retreat back home to Sweden, where his employment, and no doubt his legacy, could flourish.

So, when Ken Holland's phone rang this summer, and Fabian Brunnstrom asked if the Red Wings were willing to give him a chance, it comes as no surprise that Holland's answer was a definitive yes.

Because as Holland has learned many times over, sometimes the best players are those who have seen their star burn out, and have been cast aside as reclamation projects looking for a home.

Take, for example, the case of Daniel Cleary who, as a fresh faced teenager was drafted in the first round by the Edmonton Oilers, only to bounce around the league before being given a try-out with these very same Red Wings.

Or Mikael Samuelsson who, after a promising start to his NHL career hit a roadblock, and was left to fend for himself before being offered a contract by, you guessed it, the Red Wings.

Or Patrick Eaves who, after scoring 20 goals in his rookie season for the Ottawa Senators, saw himself become a spare part on every team he played for before finding his niche as a hear-and-soul kind of player on the Red Wings.

Or, perhaps most famously, Todd Bertuzzi who, after nearly being forced to leave hockey entirely due to a much-publicized act of on-ice violence, started anew in Detroit, and rediscovered a passion that had seemingly long been extinguished.

And so, enter Fabian Brunnstrom, the very latest in a long line of once-promising athletes who've seen their star begin to falter. There's no guarantees that Brunnstrom will ever play in Detroit, or in Grand Rapids, or in North America for that matter.

However, he's more than willing to try his hardest. If that means playing for the Griffins this season, with spot-starts in Detroit, then it's OK by him.

And that's exactly the kind of thing a General Manager, or a Coach, or Joe Smith who sits in section 226 wants to hear.

Because it's a long road back to the top for any athlete.

As Red Wings fans, let's hope that Fabian Brunnstrom can get back there.

Credit Where Credit Is Due

2011-09-08T22:13:00.001-04:00

The Lokomotiv Tragedy has left me in a lurch, to say the very least.

In fact, this very post has been started and restarted endlessly, only to have it be replaced with empty space as the words just don't describe the magnitude of the tragedy the hockey world felt yesterday.

Luckily for hockey fans everywhere, we have J.J. From Kansas over at Winging It In Motown.

Click this link. Read it. Feel it.

And you'll understand the universal sense of overwhelming sadness and confusion felt across the global hockey community, and in separate fanbases everywhere.

Congratulations on the incredible article J.J.

And thank you for being able to express the words I couldn't quite find.

Thank you.

On Crosby, Concussions and Careers Cut Short

2011-09-07T09:54:00.003-04:00

Sidney Crosby's Press Conference is
set for 12:30 PM EST. It will be
streamed live on TSN.ca

Currently, the entire hockey community is abuzz about an event set to take place three hours from now. It is a press-conference, one in which the Anointed Saviour of the NHL is set to take the stage to address one of the dark spots that has plagued the NHL for years.

Today, we will finally see whether Sidney Crosby will come to play this season.

Usually, this blog is a sounding board for my disdain for Sidney Crosby; in fact, its no secret that many fanbases not based in Pittsburgh share this same disdain. But it was in conversation with a friend of mine yesterday that I realized that perhaps I needed to clear the air.

Why this sudden realization?

It was a simple question in which he asked me, "So, in those two Stanley Cup Finals when you were calling for Crosby's head, did you ever foresee it coming true like this?"

It was a humbling question, one in which I, however briefly, thought that somehow through my whining and frustration, I had somehow influenced the cosmic forces that make the world go, and had set the wheels in motion that would lead to David Steckel obliterating one of the NHL's most talented players.

I can assure you, the answer to my colleague's question is a resounding "no".

So, while the NHL media, fans and players wait on baited breath to hear the announcement, I find myself embarking on a retrospective journey, all the way back to a game played between the New Jersey Devils and the Philadelphia Flyers, a day in which the NHL lost their own media marketing machine forever to the awful storm cloud that is the issue of concussions.

When Scott Stevens destroyed Eric Lindros, it should have been the hit that woke the NHL up to the devastating power that brain injuries hold over the players they employ. Since then, Paul Kariya, Keith Primeau, Simon Gagne, Eric Lindros (of course) and now Marc Savard and Sidney Crosby have or are at high risk of retiring solely due to the massive brain trauma they suffered due to concussions.

Prior to last year, no amount of noise making by the press amounted to any grand plans by the NHL to stop these injuries from happening. But now, finally, the NHL is seriously trying to stop this issue, only it may be too late for yet another of the league's cream of the crop.

I have no idea what Sidney Crosby will say today as he sits in front of the media masses. I don't think it will be a retirement announcement, nor do I think he'll be sitting out the entire season. I still firmly believe that his concussion will subside sooner rather than lather, and that, perhaps rather naively, he will return to his dominant self.

However, should I be wrong about that, where does the league go from here. Eric Lindros, believe it or not, was one of the premier players in the league before his brain was scrambled more times than my eggs in the morning. But even he can't even come close to the influence that Sidney Crosby has had on the game of hockey since he burst onto the scene in 2007.

So, while fanbases everywhere continue to spit venom at the mere thought of Sidney Crosby playing against their team, there is also some intensive hand-wringing taking place behind their closed doors. Star players are always hated, but hated not because they are maliciously trying to hurt your own team, but because they are just so damn good that they victimize your heroes every chance they get. Kobe Bryant in the NBA. Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in the NFL. And, hopefully sometime soon, Sidney Crosby in the NHL.

These are the players that make the game exciting. These are the players that children and grandchildren ask about when you're telling them of old sports memories. Their legacies span decades long after they've retired.

For Crosby, should that legacy come to an end due to an injury that has run rampant for years through the NHL, it would truly be yet another dark day for the NHL.

Why Apocalypse Isn't Spelled A-M-W-A-Y

2011-09-02T20:26:00.002-04:00

Sports.

They are a source of memories, a source of community and a source of pride for fans everywhere. They are a rallying cause, a collection of extraordinary athletes uniting as one to fight the good fight for the city on their chest.

But, underneath all those great and noble reasons for a fan to become interested in sports, there is one underlying truth that drives the machine.

Business. Sports are nothing more than a business.

Why am I talking about it?

Because the poor soul (know only as "Gordon") from Hockey Independent just had his mind absolutely blown by this fact, and I don't want any other fans, Red Wings or otherwise, to be sheltered from this fact like a child who still believes in Santa Claus.

News broke a few days ago that this season, the Detroit Red Wings would be not just the Detroit Red Wings, but the Detroit Red Wings as presented by Amway. It's a move that's gaining traction in the NHL, as teams are looking to maximize revenue possibilities, and in doing so are getting creative with what they can sell.

Florida sold their ice pad to Lexus, along with the naming rights to the arena, and are constantly looking to maximize the potential for revenue in an area that hockey-based revenue is hard to come by. It was a move that garnered some praise, some outrage, but more apathy then anything else. More importantly, it didn't cause a single Florida Panthers fan to run out back, crack open the old, overgrown padlock on the shed, and begin passing out their pitchforks and torches to raid the front office of the Panthers.

But our friend Gordon is not like any sensible fan we've come to know.

In a gargantuan article that spans two times my attention span, Gordon attacks many things, but chief among them, he is humiliated that the Red Wings have turned their back on their "integrity" by selling out worse than Flava Flav after he made that reality show.

Sorry you feel that way Gordon, but instead of pouring gasoline all over yourself and running around screaming that you're the world's biggest Red Wings fan, and that Mike Illitch and Co. are out to destroy all clout they have as a franchise, maybe you should step back and look at the real driving force behind the decision: the economics of owning a hockey team.

It's no secret that, unless the owner of an NHL team is a billionaire, their team is destined for financial trouble. Phoenix, Florida, Buffalo, Ottawa, Pittsburgh and, most famously, Atlanta all had owners or ownership groups that didn't have the capabilities to keep their team financially stable. Bankruptcies were filed. Fanbases were divided. And, eventually a season was lost entirely to avoid these kinds of fiascos that proved once and for all that an economic system that was entirely gate-driven was not a viable way to run a multi-billion dollar sports business.

And so, here we are. In the midst of a recession that could very quickly turn worse. With industrial cities hit harder than any other. Where Detroit continues to feel the strangling grip of continuously tightening economic conditions, and where those results were seen not just at the box office of Joe Louis Arena, but in the final attendance figures of the league.

And so the Red Wings, a team so fiercely Michigan that their owner is one of a collective few hell-bent on saving a city that any other self-respecting business man would have long abandoned, made a decision that allows them to earn money that will only help to benefit the team in the long wrong. Because Gordon, very rarely does more money lead to more problems, despite what our friend Mr. Notorious B.I.G says.

With this deal with the devil, Mr. Illitch can stockpile some cash for a new arena, and therefore limit the hit the Metro Detroit area will have to absorb. Or he can reinvest in more scouts to gain a leg up on the competition. Or he can buy every single fan in Joe Louis Arena a custom made bobble head made of solid gold.

The fact is, it doesn't matter. To you, to me, to anyone.

So yes, the Red Wings are a borderline religion to many of us. They are a team that we've grown up with. They were always there for us, no matter what was going on in our personal lives. But, just by signing this deal with Amway, they haven't all of the sudden abandoned a loyal fanbase. They're the same team with some extra ads around the arena. Something the Red Wings have been behind the curve on for years (take a walk through the Air Canada Centre someday Gordon, your head may very well explode).

Yes, the idea of athletes as noble warriors is a warm and fuzzy thought. But they also need to be paid, and paid well. And if the Red Wings are to continue to produce the best possible product on the ice, then they may need to fill their coffers off of it.

Yes, memories are a beautiful thing, but unfortunately, it's not a form of currency.

Now presenting Detroit Red Wings hockey,
and divisiveness of fanbases
everywhere!

The Off-Season: A Retrospective

2011-09-01T08:58:00.000-04:00

The ultimate goal for any player when the market opens
for business on July 1st.

When I was but a wee lad lying on the floor on my living room and watching Raiders of the Lost Ark with my father, the scene that always interested me the most (besides the awesome boulder chase) was the strangeness of the Egyptian marketplace.

It was a bustling centre of commerce, where anything you desired could be had for the right price, and where bad guys awaited around every corner to snatch you up and put you in a basket. And I think about this scene every July 1st when, just as I did almost 15 years ago, I lie back down on my living room floor and watch as TSN endlessly covers the first day of Free Agency, aptly dubbed "Free Agent Frenzy".

When you put aside your fanaticism for the sport, and take a look at the business of sports, its really quite staggering what exactly happens come the opening bell on that first day of the open market. Players, that is to say real people with lives, are talked about as if they are cars.

"No, I wouldn't touch him with a ten foot pole, the guy blew out his knee last year!"

"The guy can skate, but not much else."

"Get him a new transmission and a tune-up and I think he'll be raring to go!"

That last one may or may not have been my own spin trying to re-enforce a metaphor, but you get the idea.

As a kid, I was oblivious to that fact. I just assumed that it was like a videogame, where the players in the game don't have little pixelated lives with little pixelated kids, and little pixelated mortgages and little pixelated SUV's parked in little pixelated driveways. Like they do in real life. Which is something that never gets enough attention.

When a team goes out and signs a free-agent, the fan base is happy. When the team tries, and fails, the fan base is irate. Blame him for wanting more money! Blame him for not liking the colour of the carpets in the dressing room! Blame him for not liking the selection of candy bars in the vending machine behind section 102B! Blame him, really, for anything, except never consider the fact that he may or may not have been making the decision with not just himself in mind.

The most striking thing for me about athletes is just how little time they have to make money. For all of their lives, they've devoted their entire life towards becoming the peak of human physicality, and for 10-15 years, if they're extremely lucky, they will be paid for it. After that, they are talked about negatively, as in, "Ugh, he sucks! What happened to him?"

As we've seen in the last few off-seasons, thirty five is the new forty. Players who reach thirty five are not considered "veterans" but "roster blockers". They are blocking a promising young kid from joining the line-up, and therefore, should be avoided at all costs. Because no matter what, young kids are better than old guys. It's science!

With all that being said, and with this being a Red Wings blog, Ken Holland and Co. have done a quietly understated, but no less masterful job this off-season at the Egyptian bazaar that is the off-season.

Their big acquisitions? Not sexy selections like a James Wisniewski or a Shea Weber, but good, solid workers who are the kind of guys that would bring their lunchbox to work every day. Guys who don't mind going into the corners to grind, whose greatest value isn't the skill that they bring, but their dedication to doing a good job at all costs.

So, to Ian White, Mike Commodore and Ty Conklin, I'd like to welcome you and whoever else in your life who was affected by the move to Detroit. You survived the off-season, and you made it to your new destination. So while Mike Illitch has no doubt already gone about making sure you're absolutely comfortable (including fluffing up your pillows and leaving a mint on it no doubt), I just want to assure you that you are in great hands in this fan base.

For other athletes out there still looking, I wish we could take you all in. Sort of a "Shelter for Veteran Athletes on Hard Times" type of team, where you can work out all day and play scrimmages outdoors until the sun came up the next morning, that would be what I would do for you.

Because, for every James Wisniewski, who makes bank, and for every Ian White, who gets just enough, and for every Mike Commodore, who gets a second chance, there's a handful of Bryan McCabes. Men who used to highly sought after commodities, who saw their value depreciate more rapidly than they were ready to admit, and who now, at the age of only 36, have to ask themselves if they should keep trying to make it, or if they should simply accept the reality, retire, and move on.

Yes, July 1st brings with it an excitement rarely seen amongst fan bases. But while we lambast GM's for not signing who we want, and we trumpet how awesome a signing other players are, somewhere, there is a player waiting by his phone, hoping to hear some news. Any news.

Only to find that there's no place for them in the only thing they've known for their entire life.

The Tragedy of the Modern NHL Enforcer

2011-08-31T19:12:00.001-04:00

Wade Belak has been found dead in a Toronto
hotel room. He was 35.

Since its inception in the late 1800's, hockey has embraced physicality like few other sports.

Full body contact at high speeds is not only encouraged, but expected. Stick work sometimes leads to bloodshed. But few demonstrations of physicality have brought fan bases to their feet as consistently as a fight between two willing combatants.

Only now, fighting is quickly becoming a cautionary tale.

Today, Wade Belak, noted NHL enforcer for a handful of teams over his NHL career, was found dead in a Toronto hotel room. He was 35. He also unfortunately joins Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien as three young enforcers who have met an untimely end this off-season, an quickly becoming one of tragedy.

While it will be a few days before Belak's cause of death is revealed, it is now more evident than ever that there is a current problem with the way the NHL is handling its enforcers, and how the role itself is affecting the minds of the players accepting the role of the tough guy.

A few years ago, Don Sanderson died when he hit his head on the ice in the aftermath of a fight. It was highly publicized as it was the first on-ice death directly related to a game of hockey. It sparked hours of media attention both in Canada in the United States, and two sides quickly emerged: the pro-fighters, and the anti-fighters.

The debate, like all hot button issues, was quickly replaced by the concussion debate, and for a while, fighting was celebrated again as a form of retribution, a means of on-ice vigilante justice. Or sometimes, just as a sideshow that garnered fan interest. Only now, it's a different kind of interest.

Dating back to last summer when Bob Probert died, four enforcers have now died in just over one calendar year. While each one's situation is different than the other, it's still a disturbing development in the already tumultuous role of the fighter in the modern NHL. While fans love to see two players drop 'em, what are the effects on the players, not just physically, but also mentally?

Is it really worth encouraging for the sake of a few more conversation topics? Or is it time for the NHL and NHL Owners to be held accountable for putting young kids with bright futures in danger, so they can be sure to protect the investments they've made in their star players?

While the deaths of Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien and now Wade Belak have been highly publicized, and have sparked much debate over whether or not (and the answer is, most resoundingly, a "not) the NHL has adequate mental health programs in place, real question that needs to be asked is whether or not any of this is necessary.

While many teams employ a handful of enforcers, teams like the Detroit Red Wings are attempting to build teams that don't require fighters to survive. And with the tragic summer that's just unfolded, doesn't anyone think that this should be something that's looked at, at the very least?

Much will be made of the importance of intimidation, of gaining a physical edge, and while that's all well and good, how much of a physical beating can the same individuals endure before it permanently affects their not just their brain, but also their mind?

Boogaard, Rypien and Belak are tragically going to be portrayed as martyrs. They will be remembered for their deaths more so than for their life. Their stories will serve as cautionary tales for parents everywhere, and will serve as lightning rods in the anti-fighting community.

But all of that is secondary when you remember that these people were exactly that: people who put their profession ahead of their livelihood, and who paid the ultimate price due to negligence by the league as a whole, and by those who ask them to fight on a regular basis.

So while Joe Smith is hollering in the upper decks of the next hockey game for two players to drop the gloves and fight like men, perhaps it would be wise to curtail the violence on the ice.

I don't have a solution, nor will I pretend to. But I think that someone out there, at the very least, must try to find a solution.

System Reboot: Tearing It All Down, Only to Build It Back Up

2011-08-31T14:16:00.000-04:00

I suppose some sort of apology is in order.

This once-proud blog has, since last October, been reduced to a mere shell of itself. No new content. No new stories. Not much of anything, really, in almost a full calendar year. Like a long neglected child, it has crumbled and eroded, to the point where it has laid, dejected, amongst the scrap heaps of long forgotten, once great sports blogs of years passed.

Well, no more. I've spent this last year reflecting on this site. More specifically, I've been thinking about what kind of site I want it to be, what kind of writer I am. And I think, finally, I've decided.

My biggest hurdle in writing for myself was always a concern for what people wanted to read. As a result, I was constantly trying to tread a line between "Funny Sports Writer"and "Serious Writer", and it's a battle I feel I lost. As a result, very little of what I wrote for those two years are columns that I am proud of.

It wasn't until I started writing FanPosts on the Mother Ship of Red Wings blogs, Winging It In Motown, this off-season, that I truly embraced my own writing style. Starting with my column on The Metamorphosis of Darren Helm, and followed up by my tribute to Kris Draper (When The Everyman Becomes a Hero: A tribute to Kris Draper), I realized the one truth that I hadn't embraced up to that point:

My blog was never meant to garner fame, it was simply for me to write about my own musings regarding the team and their importance in my life.

And for too long I strayed from that truth.

So, beginning today and continuing for the rest of the season, I will be writing in a style that is more in tune with my own stylistic decisions as a writer.

Hopefully, you will all be back for the ride, and hopefully, you will enjoy reading just as much as I love writing.

And as we count down these final few weeks on our Word-of-the-Day calendars, and as the wind becomes just a little crisper, and as the leaves try desperately to fight the inevitable advances of fall, I just want to say that I look forward to watching and living the upcoming Red Wings season with you all.

I'm sorry for leaving any fans that this blog may have had in a lurch. Hopefully, you'll be here with me for the ride of the new season.

GameFace: Finally Edition

2010-10-21T10:07:00.001-04:00

Look, I know I'm in your way Kipper, but I'm still goal-less. So shut up, look at this phenomenal ass, and deal with it.

Thank Yzerman the Wings are playing tonight, because there's only so much I can do to pass the time between games.

The last time the Wings took the ice was Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes. It was an ugly game, as they usually are in Phoenix, but the Wings were able to grind out a 2-1 victory in overtime, which means they are off to a 3-1-1 start to the season. Not bad, but we still have yet to see the real Red Wings show up.

That's what tonight is for.

What's going on tonight: Horribly lackluster Calgary Flames roll into Detroit to try to win their third straight game after starting the season 0-3.

They've been anything but dominant in their past few wins too, barely squeaking out a win an extremely young and energized Oilers team, and winning a 1-0 game in overtime against the Preds. Of specific interest is how freaking awful their defense in, particularly the most overrated defenseman currently not named Dion Phaneuf in Jay Bouwmeester.

Look for the Wings to run wild once they cross the blueline into enemy territory.

Who's Hot?: My gut says Bertuzzi. But my gut is also very hungry...

So we'll go with the less popular but equally correct choice of Nicklas Kronwall. He was the only Wing to score in the colossal disaster that was last week's Dallas game (assisted by the Tuze no less) and he scored the game winner in overtime against them pesky Coyotes on Saturday night.

Goals in back to back games? Not too shabby, and his defensive play has been getting better as of late. If Kronner can get that shot from the point going, look for him to be yet another absolutely lethal weapon from the point, and to help fill the void while the team waits for Rafalski to come back.

Have You Heard About?: How unhappy Babs is about this team right now?

Not that he's beat read, rip-roaring angry, but he hasn't really liked what he's seen thus far from the team. And I think this "lack of effort thing" is something we've all noticed and had a tantrum or two over.

After calling them out to the media the other day, it's going to be interesting to see how the Red Wings respond. Fingers crossed they come out of the gate flying and shoot the lights out tonight.

In Other News: FRANZEN'S BACK! FRANZEN'S BACK! FRANZEN'S BACK!

Which is fantastic, tell-your-parents news in my book. After taking an elbow from Mark Fistric in the Debacle in Dallas, Franzen is ready to go tonight and will no doubt be reunited with his buddies Val and Todd. They've really become quite the trio, and look to continue to make other teams look completely and utterly overmatched.

Also wanting to return, but not being confirmed yet is Justin Abdelkader, who's missed some time with some sore ribs. No word on who he'd replace in the line-up as there's not really anyone Babcock feels has been playing poorly (always a nice problem to have).

If it was going to be anyone, look for it to be one of either Mike Modano or Jiri Hudler, who just haven't played all that well as of late.

Gameface Time:

Nothing says scary like a cartoon psychotic Fire Extinguisher.

Final Thought: I really think the Red Wings bounce back tonight.

They're too good to keep playing this way. Chicago's playing good hockey, so that should be motivation enough to show how good deep teams can be. I predict they answer Babcock's message, and play a smart, responsible game of hockey, with the defense having their first good game in a while.

FOR VICTORY! LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!

Time to Make a Waiver Claim: Wings Should Look at Valabik

2010-10-15T14:00:00.001-04:00

It was announced earlier today that the Atlanta Thrashers have placed defenseman Boris Valabik on waivers on Bob McKenzie's Twitter account. And this has me playing armchair GM again.

For me, Boris Valabik is an absolute must pick-up, or at the very least, he gets a long, hard look if I'm in Ken Holland's shoes. And there are two reasons:

The first reason is, as an avid fan of the EA Sports NHL franchise, Boris Valabik has been a guy I've traded for numerous times in the game. Why? Why this random, bottom pairing defenseman? Because, in the game, his potential was A-, a rarity in any prospect, let alone a defenseman. And sure enough, he never failed to disappoint. However, this isn't reason enough, and if I were to bring this up in a conversation with Kenny, he'd laugh, point at the door and say "get out forever".

So, let's take a closer look at Valabik.

Valabik is a 6' 7", 245 pound behemoth. Think Zdeno Chara sized. Absolutely, 100% massive beast. A native of the Czech Republic, Valabik has been one of the Thrashers hottest prospects for years, however he's failed to live up to his potential in Atlanta, and this waiver move seems to be an indication of the Thrashers' further frustrations in developing the kid.

So, why should the Red Wings look at him?

For starters, the guy is a monster. How often does a young behemoth become available on the waiver wire for a paltry sum of $800,000? Not very often. And with defensemen typically taking a while to mature into form, with Tyler Myers and company being a rarity, snatching this young guy up now is a hearty investment in the team's future blueline.

But, Valabik has been less than sensational thus far, to say the least. Cumulatively, he has a career -14 rating at the NHL level, but I chalk alot of that up to playing for the Thrashers, and for being young. He's also a resident of the penalty box, with 210 PIM in 80 games played, so again, a little undisciplined. And there's no point in even mentioning his offensive stats, they're Lilja level.

This is purely a fantasy thing with me. I realize the Red Wings already have Jonathan Ericsson and Jakub Kindl as the numbers 6 and 7 defensemen, and Derek Meech waiting in Grand Rapids should he need to be called up, but Valabik gives us that size and physicality that is lacking, even with the addition of Ruslan Salei.

The fact is, it's doubtful, if even remotely possible, that Valabik gets picked up by anyone, save for maybe the Ducks (those PIMs just look too delicious to our fowl friends). The Wings have a full barn, have a physical presence in Kolosov in Grand Rapids, and are pretty much stocked to the brim.

Still, demoting Doug Janik and sliding Valabik into his slot while Ericsson and Rafalski nurse their injuries would be a big upgrade.

And who knows, the kid might even be able to stick.

Is It Worth Having Osgood At All?

2010-10-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

Last night marked a low point in this already young season.

The Wings got pumped by the Dallas Stars, losing 4-1. Franzen may or may not have been concussed on what looked like a clean hit. Zetterberg continues to look listless, useless, or, in a word average. So too does Nick Lidstrom. Team effort wasn't there, and then some. And the only reason we got on the scoresheet at all was thanks to Todd Bertuzzi's pass to Nick Kronwall.

That's scary.

But, while I'm confident all of those issues will resolve themselves at some point this season, I am now one hundred percent sure that the issue of Chris Osgood being a terrible goaltender will never, ever fix itself.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I didn't get to see last night's game. Once again, I was at work, which brings my total of Wings games watched to the end of the second period and the third period of the Chicago-Detroit game last Saturday. Terrible.

But, thanks to that game, and the write ups I read last night and this morning, I have something to base this question on, and my ultimate conclusion.

First, let's look at Osgood's game against Chicago.

Many Wings fans out there were praising him, saying he had a good game and his stat line doesn't read too badly:

2 GA 28 SA 26 SV 928 SV%

Most importantly, he got the win. However, at no point in that game was I convinced he was playing well. He looked like he was battling the puck all night. He let in a garbage goal to Bickell that tied the game at two. He misplayed the puck with startling frequency. And were it not for the defense in front of him collapsing and collecting every Grade-A, juicy fat rebound (and there were plenty) in front of him, I have no doubt in my mind that the game would have been way worse than it was.

But it wasn't, and suddenly, people started thinking that Detroit potentially could have two valuable starting goaltenders.

Then came last night.

Now, I already know that Osgood made some key stops. J.J. From Kansas says Osgood played perfect positional hockey. In fact, most of the onus is on the defense for last night, which I'm cool with. But there's a disturbing trend emerging when Osgood starts, and that's the team in front of him refusing to play with the same kind of conviction they use when they play in front of Howard.

First, Osgood's stat line from last night:

4 GA 15 SA 11 SV 733 SV%

Are you kidding me?

Again, the defense played poorly, I understand that, but four goals on a paltry FIFTEEN shots? It's not like Dallas was shooting the lights out, making him work for anything. At one point, his save percentage was below 70. How does that possibly happen?

And that goes back to my original thought: I think this team just quits on him because they have no faith in the guy. I remember watching a game against Minnesota last year, where the Wild went up 1-0 early, the Wings answered, then Osgood gave up a weak goal to give the Wild the lead again. The Wings answered again, right off the bat, and what does Chris Osgood do? Gives the lead right back.

Now, I'm not going to suggest that the reason the Wings lost was his fault. That's too easy. But what I am saying is this: with the way Osgood has been playing, going all the way back to the start of the 2008-2009 season (playoffs excluded), and the amount of times he's lost, especially last year (7-9-4), is it worth even having him on this team?

If the chances are better that it's going to be a loss than a win, wouldn't it be better to put the guy on waivers and sign a competent back-up goaltender instead? I love Chris Osgood, and I will never forget his 2008 playoff run. He was simply a monster. He's given his all for this organization, but at the end of the day, going off of how last year went and this year seems to be going, can the Red Wings really afford to lose 75% of his starts?

And how long will the team have his back in the event Chris can't bounce back?

It's a troubling scenario, but one that I think will inevitably be looked at as the year goes on.

Swag Bag Fridays: The Luc Robitaille

2010-10-15T10:27:00.001-04:00

Every Friday, Eight Legged Freaks will be posting a piece of phenomenal Red Wings swag that we've amassed over the years. Some of these have been gifts, others trinkets collected randomly when I had some extra cash, or when I absolutely had to have it because it was too awesome to not. So, onto the bag, for this week's entry:

The Luc Robitaille

Growing up in Kingston, Ontario, you really have the choice of supporting two teams: the Ottawa Senators or the Toronto Maple Leafs. As we all know, thankfully, I chose neither, and have become a lifelong fan of the Detroit Red Wings.

However, not being a fan of these two aforementioned Leastern Conference teams leads a kid with quite a predicament: tracking down some cool Red Wings memorabilia when all the shelves are stocked with Maple Leafs and Sens stuff.

Thankfully, there was S&R Department Store's Basement Level Sports Shop.

When I first ventured down there, I didn't expect to find anything beyond more Leafs crap, and maybe like, a Wings license plate cover or something in the discount bin. Because that's how it usually went.

Boy, was I wrong.

It was there that I bought my first NHL jersey, got a few hats, and, up until it closed last year, dropped by from time to time just to see what was up.

Anyways, the first time I showed up there, I was eight years old. The woman working behind the desk asked me who my team was, and I proudly said the Red Wings. And she didn't scoff and ask why I liked the Leafs, she said, "That's awesome, here, I've got some cool stuff over here."

Every time I dropped in, over the next few years, she remembered who I was, and constantly was telling me about the cool memorabilia that was coming in soon, even setting stuff aside for me, just to see if it might be something I would want.

Flash forward to the winter of 2003. The Red Wings had just hoisted the Cup that June, for the third time in my life, and I had already bought a Championship hat in celebration. But on my birthday, my parents gave me an envelope, and said that it was a present from the woman who worked at S&R.

And when I opened it, I found this:

A Luc Robitaille autographed picture, of him hoisting Lord Stanley's Mug, while wearing the Red and White. To this day, it remains the one autograph of a Red Wing that I have, and the fact that its a Hall of Famer is a bonus.

So, thanks to the woman who worked behind the S&R counter, I have this picture to frame on my wall for my entire life.

And damn, it's some pretty cool Swag.

Homecoming Gameface: Modano Returns West

2010-10-14T14:13:00.001-04:00

The Flying Circus heads west for Modano's homecoming. Yosemite Sam included.

Well folks, these last few days have been a bit of a roller coaster. Losing Rafalski for four weeks qualifies as a low. Surrendering three separate leads to the Avalanche is also a low point. But Todd Bertuzzi being tied for third in the league in points is not only a massive upside, but also a hugely welcome surprise.

So, after sporting a 2-0-1 record after the first three games (which clearly means they're destined for the Finals, right Maple Leafs fans?), the Red Wings and the Flying Circus(es) pack up the caravan and head west to Texas, back to the former home of one Michael Modano, and a reunion for the ages.

What's going on tonight: Mike Modano goes back to Dallas for the first time since his signing with Detroit.

Could be huge. Expect the usual cheers upon the opening face-off, boos forever after. He is now, afterall, a member of the Stars' nemesis team, so expect there to be tough love everywhere, and Modano responding with a pretty good night.

Ironically, Modano's return to Dallas also happens to be Dallas' home opener. I can only imagine the anguish many of them must be going through in seeing a twenty year member of the team come back in our jersey.

But I know how sweet it feels for me.

Who's Hot?: How about the entire second line?

After three games, Todd Bertuzzi has a goal and four assists, Valterri Filppula has two goals and two assists, and Johan Franzen has three goals and one assist.

And I thought the first line was supposed to be the flying circus.

In all honesty, our second line has looked downright lethal, with Bertuzzi continuing his backchecking ways from last season and creating space all over the ice for Filppula to work, and have dirty give-and-go's with Franzen. And of course, the Mule is kicking, and he's kicking hard.

Look for them to give Dallas fits tonight, and put a ton of pucks on Kari Lehtonen.

Have You Heard About?: Henrik Zetterberg? No? Me neither!

And that's kind of starting to worry me. He hasn't really been buzzing to the same degree Datsyuk has, he has zero goals in the first three games, and doesn't look like his dominant self...yet. It's still early, and he may still just be getting his feet wet, but look for Zetterberg to make some noise sooner rather than later.

In Other News: Datsyuk finally started a season on time.

In a career that has constantly suffered slow stars, this year has been drastically different. Datsyuk is flying out there. He fought Corey Perry in the first game. He scored in that game. He scored again against Colorado. Somewhere in there he had an assist. He's shooting more, he's getting physical, basically he's doing everything we need from him, right now.

Let's hope this energized, no holds barred Datsyuk helps spark Zetterberg and Holmstrom, and then we'd have two Flying Circus lines. Might as well call us Cirque du Soleil on Ice at that point.

Game Face Time:

Geez Modano, with a look like that, how could Dallas possibly boo you?

We'll recycle an oldie-but-goodie for our gameface tonight. Modano plays the role of Clint Eastwood tonight as the wagons head west. I expect big things out you tonight Mikey Mo. Especially after your minus three performance out there against the Avs on Tuesday.

Final Thought: I can see tonight being a big night for the third line.

They've been good, all right and terrible over three games. Look for this bizarre pattern to continue, with tonight being a good performance. Also, I expect Modano to absolutely electric out there, feeding off the home crowd love.

It's going to be a difficult night for the guy.

Here's hoping to the Wings coming out on top!

LGRW!

.

And then there was D...

2010-10-14T10:54:00.000-04:00

It was late May in 2002.

I was twelve years old, sitting at the dining room table, eating a bowl of Cheerios as was my daily custom, and flipped open the sports section of the Kingston Whig Standard to read up on Red Wings news, as they had just started the Stanley Cup Final against the Carolina Hurricanes. Expecting to find something on Yzerman's heroics, or Lidstrom's impossible perfection, I was instead greeted with something far more surprising:

A full page spread on Detroit's "MDM" line. The hard nosed, blue collar grinders of the Detroit Red Wings, represented by Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper and Darren McCarty.

That was eight years ago, and following Tuesday's press conference, in which Kirk Maltby fought back tears, thanked team personnel, team mates and of course, his family, that MDM line is almost gone.

Well, gone but not forgotten.

That article from the Whig still sits in a box in my parents' house, somewhere in the crawl space. It's yellowed a fair bit, it's corners getting so frayed that I laminated it one day while visiting my dad's school. And, for years, that article sat pinned to my wall, beside a picture of Steve Yzerman, Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov. Because, in my mind, the MDM line was essential to what has made the Red Wings so great for so many years.

You see, the grinder is a special role in hockey. He skates into the corners to dig out loose pucks, with reckless abandon and no fear. He blocks shots, with any part of his body if necessary. He fights, he chirps, he gets in people's faces, under their skin and sometimes, even onto the score sheet.

But the grinders rarely make it to the All-Star team. They rarely make it five years with one team. They rarely have their numbers raised to the rafters. And they rarely eclipse superstars as fan favourites.

Kirk Maltby did all of those things, and then some.

For a blue collar city like Detroit Maltby, Draper and McCarty personified the hard working people of the Motor City. The "never-say-die" attitude helped propel the team to four Stanley Cups, of which Malts was a part of each and every one. He was tenacious, tough, and though he never scored more than 15 goals in an NHL campaign, or more than 40 points in a single year, it wasn't his offensive output that mattered.

It was his heart, which he proudly wore on his sleeve, that made this man a legend. A folk hero. A vital piece to the incredibly complex puzzle that is building championship team.

So on Tuesday, as Maltby fought back tears, as he thanked his wife, as he thanked his team mates who had been there for him since he came to Detroit in 1996, a mainstay of the Detroit Red Wings' heart factor faded away into retirement, so that new agitators and muck men like Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader, Patrick Eaves, could swoop in and take over his awfully full mantle.

Which brings me back to that day in 2002, the day that I finally understood what made these men so valuable, these grinders who gave without thinking, who sacrificed for the logo on the front of their jersey, and not for the name on the back. It was these three men, the ultimate team players, who finished games without the same amount of teeth they had when the game started, whose eyes were often black and blue and yellow, whose vocal cords were hoarse from chirping and yelling and mixing it up, it was these men who made the Red Wings great.

And it was Kirk Maltby who helped the Big Red Machine go.

Farewell Kirk Maltby. For sixteen years, you were part of a trio that gave this team the beating heart it needed to win. And your fistful of rings proves that you are a champion of your craft. And a master of the difficult task of being a grinder, a winner, and a folk hero.

And folk heroes never fade away.

Nothing Says Thanksgiving Like a Contract Extension for Uncle Mike

2010-10-11T11:26:00.000-04:00

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving for all those canucks (not of the Vancouver variety) who read this blog. May your feasts be plentiful and full of fun.

Now on to real news: today, Uncle Mike, who the rest of the world knows as Mike Babcock, re-upped with the Red Wings for the next five years. That's right, that patented scowl will be patrolling the bench until at least the 2014-15 season, and the juggling act that is Red Wings line changes will continue.

In all honesty though, this comes as no surprise. Babcock is easily the best coach in the NHL. He's won a gold medal. he won 50 games with the Red Wings every year except last year. He's won a Stanley Cup and made it to another one. In fact, only in his first season, which I'll chalk up to a transition year, has he been bounced in the first round of the playoffs. Clearly, he's doing his job at a high level, and in Detroit, that's really all you can ask.

But most importantly it maintains the system that has been in place for years, and allows the kids in Grand Rapids, who play the same system, to allow for a smooth transition in these next few years as the new blood comes up.

Congratulations Uncle Mike. You definitely deserved this. And thanks for staying home.

Lilja's Quacker of an Off-Season Ends With Anaheim Ducks

2010-10-10T19:32:00.000-04:00

Dust off those knuckles Lilja. You're a Duck now. your fists are your only weapon.

Well folks, by now we're all pretty darn tired of this Andreas Lilja story, but for continuity's sake, I figure I should finish this up with a pretty bow since I've been blogging about it pretty consistently.

Today, Lilja signed a one year, $600, 000 contract with the biggest Douches in the West, those annoying Anaheim Ducks. That's right, this time he'll actually get paid to pass the puck to Selanne!

Anyways, Hollis has a far more professional entry over at The Production Line, so if you prefer real, hard hitting journalism to a schmo writing on Blogger, I'd suggest you find the details there. Of particular interest: the fact that Lilja's replacement on the Wings is directly responsible for Lilja getting a job in the first place, as Lilja will be taking the place of the injured Andy Sutton (dodged a bullet in fantasy hockey there) who broke it in a skirmish with the gnarliest blueliner in Motown.

Go figure.

Anyways, even with all the chirping I've given Lilja (and the fact that I would absolutely never, ever listen to my agent again if I were him) it's great to see him secure a job, and for his kids to be able to stay in the country. It could've been a really ugly situation, so thank goodness it all resolved itself.

And the next time you feel like you absolutely have to end a game in overtime, just remember Lils, that Datsyuk would make a perfect replacement for Selanne these days.

Kiss Those Dreams of Zdeno Goodbye

2010-10-10T10:53:00.000-04:00

Early in the Off-Season, I mused about who the Wings could potentially target as their number six defenseman. Naturally, Ken Holland thanked me for my suggestions, but he went a different direction and smartly signed what could potentially be the biggest steal of the off-season in the Belarussian Badass, Ruslan Salei.
Salei has endeared himself to me and a few others already, and I'm happy that Holland did his own thing on this one. So we're still cool.

But anyways, let's get this article back on track.

In that same article, I happened to mention that the list of free agent defensemen following this current season would be slim pickings. Not for utility defensemen, those guys come a dime-a-dozen these days (ask Andreas Lilja), but for elite defensemen. Because, you see, I'm absolutely one hundred percent sure that Nicklas Lidstrom calls it a day after this year, when he packs up all his IKEA furniture and moves back to Sweden.

Which makes that whole "elite defensemen in limited quantity" such a massive problem.

But there were two names that stood above the rest, and that got me genuinely excited. One was Andrei Markov of the Montreal Canadiens. And the other was the Biggest Man on Campus, Mr. Zdeno Chara.

Well, thank you Boston Bruins, you ruined my dreams for that one.

Yesterday morning, Chara licked the tip of his pen, put it down on a new contract offer from Peter Chiarelli and Co. and signed his services away for the next seven years. Which makes Andrei Markov the absolute last possible guy we can hope to replace Lidstrom should my gut feeling turn out to be a Nostradamus-like prediction.

Now, I know it's early to be thinking of these things, especially after the Red Wings went into Chicago and ruined the night by posting a 3-2 win on what is an absolutely depleted Blackhawks line-up. But still, I couldn't help feel my stomach drop in disappointment as Chara and the Bruins decided to continue their up-to-this-point happy marriage.

So, as I continue to peruse the Free Agent Defensemen for next year, I can only hope that Andrei Markov wants to play with some Russian counterparts in Detroit. And if not, then perhaps Tomas Kaberle will be fed up with the futility that comes with being a Maple Leaf.

And, should neither of those options pan out, hopefully the current crop of d-men we've got stored in Grand Rapids, who have been gently marinating for a while now, are ready to fill that massive, massive void.

It's just to bad that it'll have to be done without the massive Zdeno Chara, who would have done a pretty decent job with that.

.

Datsyuk: Russian for...Fighter? Wings Win 4-0

2010-10-09T13:07:00.001-04:00

Corey Perry: Brings new meaning to the song California Gurls.

Well, that was fun.

I mean, I was at work so I didn't get to watch it, but the highlights alone were enough to make me giddy as a schoolboy if Marcia Brady had asked me out on a date. So why was I so giddy? Well, take a look at this rundown:

After a summer of will-he-or-won't-he that definitely irked some of the more vocal Wings fans, Mike Modano, Detroit's favourite son, scored on his first ever shot in a Wings uniform. Is he too old? Well, it's awfully early to be making conclusions, but from the highlights I watched, the third line looked downright deadly.
Pavel Datsyuk is in prime form already. A goal, an assist and a fight for the Gordie Howe hat-trick. If you had asked me before this season if Datsyuk's chances at the Lady Byng would evaporate in the season opener, I would have said you were crazy. Looks like I'm the fool around here.
Ruslan Salei may turn out to be the biggest steal in the off-season for a franchise with a long history of steals. Solid defenseman who provides oh-so-much nastiness to a blueline that sorely lacks it. And he broke Andy Sutton's thumb! With the camp he had and the play he demonstrated last night, Salei may be a rock on this blueline for the next 81 games.
Filppula, according to J.J. From Kansas, did not have the greatest of games. Word on the street is that his shot selection if poor, and he made some iffy plays in the Wings end. Still, I'm not ready to write Flip off, and with the players he's playing with on the second line, I anticipate 65 points. I don't think that's too crazy.
Jimmy Howard had an easy night when you look at the shot totals. Apparently, he had his work cut out for him on a few of those saves. Good to see Jimmy answered all those Steve Mason comparisons with the sound of a slamming door. Plus a Corey Perry face wash, which brings his total up to two d-bags getting what they deserve.

Really, it was a great night for those of us who call ourselves Red Wings fans. The Joe was rocking, the players were scoring and Jimmy Howard was saying no-no-no. The four goals came from Franzen, Modano, Datsyuk and Cleary, and a video review even went out way. If that happens regularly, there's no stopping us!

Let's spoil the Blackhawks banner raising ceremony tonight and show them why having a good "core" with absolutely zero depth is the worst thing that could possibly happen.

Maybe that'll cool off the Red Hot Stan Bowman.

Swag Bag Fridays: Gordie Howe Pencil Art

2010-10-08T12:45:00.002-04:00

Gordie Howe Pencil Art

Every once in a while, someone does something out of the goodness of their heart that you can't help but shake your head in amazement. And that's where this pencil came from: and incredibly kind act by a piano teacher I had in elementary school.

His name was Mr. Shaw and, upon learning that I was a Red Wings fan, he presented me with this drawing weeks later. All it said was a simple "Here's Howe", signed Mr. Shaw. I don't know where he is right now, if he's still teaching piano or what have you, but I still have it and it's safe to say it might be my favourite piece of Red Wings memorabilia I own.

The picture itself is pure, vintage old-time hockey. Howe putting one past a sprawling Rangers goalie, a headshot of the young Howe, a far cry from his look upon retiring years and years and years later, and a shot of a small-town farm boy, walking the long dusty road beside the grain elevators of rural Saskatchewan. Everything in it, a perfect representation of everything that made Gordie Howe "Mr. Hockey".

So, as this gem of art becomes part of the Swag Bag Friday collection, it is with great thanks from Mr. Shaw.

And this one-of-a-kind piece of Red Wings Swag is definitely a permanent reminder of the legend that wore Number 9.

Opening Night GameFace: Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings

2010-10-08T11:00:00.002-04:00

...and out of the dark cold night that is the offseason, the Red Wings fans emerged. Louder, and in greater numbers, for this year was the year that the Cup comes home!

We made it!

After a long, grueling, uneventful summer that had some of us clawing our eyes out because of the lack of hockey, or hockey related stories, its finally here! No more meaningless preseason game featuring half of an NHL roster. No more scrimmages. No more games that end without points being given out.

Tonight, as 7:30 PM chimes in on clocks all over the eastern time zone, the Detroit Red Wings will kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks and every game from here on out will count towards the quest for number 12.

That tingling you're feeling all over your body? That, my friends, is months worth of anticipation that is finally given an outlet to go crazy. LET'S GO RED WINGS!

What's going on tonight: Read above, and read it over and over again, because you might be thinking your eyes deceive you!

Hockey is back and I just can't contain my excitement!

Who's Hot?: Tough to say when only preseason games have been played up to this point, but I'll give it a go.

Even though I can't find his stats for the preseason anywhere, Brian Rafalski was in Olympic mode for the entire tournament. He was playing strong defensively, he was making that great first pass, he was making things happen in the offensive zone by cycling the puck left right and centre, and he was using that howitzer of a shot to make opposing goalies pay.

But most of all, he was running our powerplay, which could be absolutely scary good this year should everyone play up to expectations.

Look for Rafalski to play a crucial role in running out offensive breakouts tonight, and even chip in an assist.

Because there's just no stopping Olympic Rafalski.

Have You Heard About?: This Kirk Maltby business?

My apologies for not posting about it yesterday, but thankfully there are hundreds of other Wings blogs that had you covered. Essentially, the jist of what went down was this: Kirk Maltby, after clearing waivers, met with Ken Holland to discuss whether he just wanted to retire, or actually play in Grand Rapids. The impression everyone got was that Malts would rather retire than play a season in Grand Rapids, mostly because he wouldn't be with his family in the Wings locker room.

Then, news broke that, should Todd Bertuzzi's back not allow him to play, Maltby would take his spot on Friday, with the speculation being that Maltby would retire on Monday.

Phew.

If that does happen (still undecided as of this writing) and you're a Wings fan that's lucky enough to be in attendance, make sure you do the right thing and send Maltby, a vital piece of the feared MDM line from the late nineties and early 200's, off right.

In Other News: Of course I can't watch the game tonight.

Much like the way last year's playoffs began (with me missing the first game), this year will mark the first time in years that I have to sit out the Red Wings season opener. Am I steamed? Yeah. A whole lot.

So, when the Wings play again on Saturday (back-to-back to open the season? Bleh...) it will be the first time I get to see the Wings 2010-2011 line-up in full. So let's hope the Ducks dirty ways don't result in someone having to miss some time because they were cheap shotted.

Which is apparently both mine and Drew's biggest concern over on Nightmare on Helm Street.

Game Face Time:

Brad Stuart and Corry Perry get reacquainted.

Let's do it like Taz does it and crush those good for nothing Ducks, with a now severely depleted blueline corps (in the weaknesses section appropriately), like the scum that they are.

Final Thought: I've said it all.

All that's left to be said is this:

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Five Days, Five Burning Questions: Part 5

2010-10-08T09:30:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! There's five days left until the Red Wings open up the Joe for yet another winter. And, in honour of Lidstrom's return to the Wings, we here at Eight Legged Freaks are posting a five day mini-feature that examines our top five burning questions heading into the season. And if you can't take the burning, stop, drop and roll.

Burning Question #5: Will this be Lidstrom's Swan Song? And will it end with a Championship?

It's kind of hard to quantify just how much Nicklas Lidstrom has meant to the Red Wings organization over the last 20 years because the word "everything" just doesn't grasp the magnitude of his abilities. Still, in listing off his resume, it helps to understand just how great a player Lidstrom truly is, and it's been that way since Day 1.

NHL All-Rookie team. Eleven time All-Star. Nine NHL First All Star team designations. Two NHL Second All Star Team designations. World Championship. Olympic Gold Medal. Six Norris Trophies. A Conn Smythe Trophy, and of course four Stanley Cups.

And if this year really is Lidstrom's swan song, he'd like to add one more ring to that already extremely crowded hand.

Progonosis: No one really knows.

Pavel Datsyuk was quoted last year as saying Lidstrom could play at least for another two years, and his play certainly demonstrated that. While it's true that he's not quite as quick as he once was, and his ability to get back has fallen off some, he's still in the upper echelon of NHL defensemen. So it's not a matter of whether he's still got it, even at the age of 40, but rather, does he want to keep playing?

He's already enrolled his son in a Swedish hockey school, so one's got to believe that this really might be his last year in the Winged Wheel. And if it is, it's pretty clear that, if the Wings stay healthy, his final game could be after hoisting the Cup.

A lot can happen between October 8th and sometime in early June. There's a lot of hockey to be played, and a lot of time to make mistakes.

But it's that last one that we need not worry about with Lidstrom, and with the team's 12th Stanley Cup clearly in his sights, and possible retirement looming, the seemingly ageless Lidstrom could very well put together one of his finest seasons in an already stellar career.

Look for it to become a reality.

(Five Days, Five Burning Question will continue daily until Friday when the Red Wings kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks. To read the other entries, click here for Part 1, here for Part 2, here for Part 3, and here for Part 4.)

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Five Days, Five Burning Questions: Part 4

2010-10-07T09:30:00.003-04:00

Burning Question #4: Does Jimmy Howard follow Steve Mason's lead and suffer a terrible sophomore slump?

Last year was a sensational one for Jimmy Howard. He put up elite numbers, got to go to Vegas for some awards show and even punched Sidney Crosby in the face for good measure.

All in all, a massive success considering expectations were at an all-time low for a goalie who was, historically inconsistent in the minors.

And it's that last line that worries me. Red Wings goaltenders have never been considered rock-solid. Osgood was shaky all through his career, suffering setbacks as often as he'd have bounce back years. Mike Vernon had the fans on his back, and had to fight Roy to get them back in his camp. Even Dominik Hasek suffered wild inconsistency in the 2008 season after backstopping them to the 2007 Western Conference Finals the year before.

And that's what makes us here at Eight Legged Freaks wary about Jimmy Howard, moreso than his doughnut pilfering ways.

Historically, rookies who put up bigger numbers and exceed expectations by that much fail that much harder in year two. And it's not just in hockey, it's across the board. Comfort starts to creep in. Expectations suddenly aren't as urgent to make because the job is locked down. And that's a dangerous slope to be trying to scale.

So, can Jimmy Howard avoid the pitfall that is the sophomore slump, and backstop the Wings to a great record? Or will Osgood once again need to bounce back and try to right a sinking ship?

Prognosis: Trust in Jimmah!

Howard was a Calder finalist last year, this is true, but he didn't win. And I think it's the biggest criticism he had going into the voting that works best for him: the fact that he's 26 years old, and has experienced his full share of the minors.

Yes, he's a little older than the traditional sophomore, but I expect that to play a huge role in how Jimmy responds, and could eventually lead him to Vezina trophy consideration.

Now, before the peanut gallery jumps all over that, consider the team playing in front of Howard last year. It was a rotating carousel of various personnel that never solidified until after the Olympics. And he still won almost 40 games.

Can you say Holy Schnike?

So, if Howard has been working on that rebound control with Wings' goalie coach Jim Bedard, and if he keeps his personal expectations realistic, us Red Wings fans could be witnessing the birth of the first stable goaltending situation since the days of Terry Sawchuk.

The keyword is could. But we here at Eight Legged Freaks think Jimmy's got the necessary mental state to stay calm, the necessary physical attributes to endure the majority of the starts, and the skill set to make believers out of the NHL Awards committee.

And who knows? Maybe this year, he'll get to fight Crosby properly: at center ice while Crosby turtles like a little girl.

And wouldn't that be the most important stat of all.

(Five Days, Five Burning Question will continue daily until Friday when the Red Wings kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks. To read the other entries, click here for Part 1, here for Part 2, here for Part 3, and here for Part 5.)

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Five Days, Five Burning Questions: Part 3

2010-10-06T09:30:00.004-04:00

Burning Question #3: Will Franzen and Kronwall be the bee's knees, or will their knees be their bane?

If you're thinking we took the whole day to sit around think up that cleverly worded question then you my friend are absolutely correct.

Now, this question is awfully similar to the first question we asked in Part the First of this feature, but I wanted to look at these two cases in particular because they were possibly the most problematic to deal with for the Red Wings. First, the Mule.

Johan Franzen began Year One of his nice, shiny eleven year contract almost as terribly as anyone could: by tearing his ACL in the third game of the season, and then missing the next missing the next four months. Upon returning, the Mule seemed like he was still hurting, something he confirmed following the Red Wings elimination from the playoffs.

To say expectations are high this year is an understatement. In fact, some pundits (my girlfriend included) are even toying with the idea that he scores 45 goals this year, numbers not totally unrealistic for a guy capable of scoring four in a single Stanley Cup playoff game.

But these visions of Franzens celebrating in our heads all depend on whether or not Brooks Orpik or some other tool decides to end it all with another well-timed knee-on-knee collision. Which brings me to Nicklas Kronwall.

As my fantasy team can attest, Kronwall was off to a rocket start in 2009. He was gaining confidence, and seemed to get exponentially better every game that he played. Babcock had him on the powerplay, and Kronner was rewarding ol' Uncle Mike's decision by scoring goals and making plays. Essentially, he was some much needed depth at a time when things were starting to go south in the health department.

Then Georges Laraque decided that, rather than play the game fairly, he'd rather intentionally injure a defenseman who looked entirely capable of emerging as a force to be reckoned with. Knee hit knee, and Kronwall added yet another knee injury to a list that is already far too long for anyone's liking.

Prognosis: Franzen doesn't worry me at all, but Kronwall scares me.

I'll start with Kronwall, and I might as well just come right out and say it: I think Wings fans might be witnessing the stifling of a once-promising career. If this pre-season was any indication of what's to come, it's a cautious Nicklas Kronwall who backs away from the big hits he used to thrive on. It's a Nicklas Kronwall who avoids high traffic areas of the ice.

The unfortunate reality is: avoid these situations, and Kronwall stays healthy, but in doing, he becomes half the defenseman he used to be.

It's a two headed monster that we here at Eight Legged Freaks feel will make for a huge disappointment in the coming season.

As for Franzen, what I neglected to mention in the previous section were the phenomenal abnormalities abound in his career. In the game that Franzen tore his ACL, he proceeded to score a goal, and play a few more shifts after suffering the tear. In the 2008 playoffs, Franzen played with a concussion, and still broke Gordie Howe's record for points in a playoff series. So, when Franzen says he feels great, that means that he feels 1000% better than any regular human, because surely any regular human would have crumbled under the previous ailments I just mentioned.

Look for him to score, and score often, especially with Filppula dishing him the puck.

(Five Days, Five Burning Question will continue daily until Friday when the Red Wings kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks. To read the other entries, click here for Part 1, here for Part 2, here for Part 4, and here for Part 5.)

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Five Days, Five Burning Questions: Part 2

2010-10-05T14:00:00.007-04:00

Burning Question #2: Will Modano and Hudler Soar With Wings?

Let's take a trip down memory lane.

The Red Wings were fresh off losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Pittsburgh Penguins, and they had a salary cap mess to deal with. With Zetterberg and Franzen inked to long term deals earlier in the season, the expectation was the the Wings would lose Hossa in order to retain Jiri Hudler's services a little longer.

Well, the KHL came a'callin' and Hudler went walking for a huge payday, and a chance at obscurity.

Well, the team, the Moscow Dynamo, went bankrupt, and he's come back home to Motown to a brand new pivot in Mike Modano.

Phewf.

With Modano leaving Dallas and giving it one more shot in the Winged Wheel, and having a sniper in Jiri Hudler to distribute the puck to, it appears the two are destined to provide some offensive depth to the third line that was sorely missing last year.

Prognosis: That depth will be there, and then some.

It's clear that Mike Modano hasn't forgotten how to play hockey. And for a forty year old, he's in great shape. As the greatest American-born player of all time, you get to hang on in this league a little longer.

As for Hudler, he was missed so much last year that just having him on the team is enough for me. He's a sniper, likes to shoot, and his tiny stature allows him to find space that others can't get to.

With Modano's personal goal already set at 50 points, and Hudler being a wild card, with the two also featuring heavily on the powerplay, the Wings should get almost 100 points out of the two. Not bad for the third line.

If the Wings are to challenge for the Cup again, and we like to think they will, these two are going to be cornerstone's to their success, and we here at Eight Legged Freaks think they'll do us proud.

(Five Days, Five Burning Question will continue daily until Friday when the Red Wings kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks. To read the other entries, click here for Part 1, here for Part 3, here for Part 4, and here for Part 5.)

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Breaking News: Yzerman Steals Ritola

2010-10-05T12:53:00.001-04:00

Apparently, you CAN play mediocre hockey in pre-season and still get a job elsewhere. Who knew?

Well, so much for not stealing our players.

From The Detroit Free Press:

The Red Wings have lost Mattias Ritola to an old friend, as Steve Yzerman, now the general manager of Tampa Bay, picked Ritola off waivers.

The Wings exposed Ritola, 23, on waivers Monday because they didn’t have room for him on their 23-man roster, and he hadn’t done enough in exhibition season to earn a job.

So much for the thought that he would for sure clear waivers. In all honesty, I haven't really seen enough of him to be sad about this at all, so I'm not. It's just getting annoying to see all these pieces of the Red Wings organization go south now, rather than when they retire.

So, goodbye Mattias Ritola. We hardly knew you, but I had the great privilege of seeing you play on the second line at the one game I have ever attended at Joe Louis Arena, in the place of Dan Cleary.

You might be missed.

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The Incredibly Sad Story of Andreas Lilja Reaches Its Horrible Climax

2010-10-05T11:26:00.003-04:00

No funny caption today. Andreas Lilja becomes the poster boy for the brutal economics of the New NHL.

Last month, we here at Eight Legged Freaks mused about whether or not it would be in Lilja's best interest to accept a two-way deal from the Red Wings. It was an idea that was debated over at The Production Line by super-blogger Chris Hollis, and then promptly dismissed by everyone, including Andreas Lilja's agent.

Time passed. Lilja accepted a try-out with San Jose and it appeared he was Left Coast bound, and would be providing back end help for a severely depleted San Jose defensive core.

Flash forward to the shocking news that emerged today: Lilja will not be tendered a contract from the San Jose Sharks. He's been released from his try-out contract, and sent to find a job somewhere else.

If he can.

And that's what makes this all the more unpleasant to hear. Not only is Lilja's NHL career in complete shambles, but also his personal life. His work visa expires on October 15th, exactly 10 days from now. If Lilja can't find another job in the next ten days, the life he's built in North America over the last five years essentially goes up in smoke.

He has to sell his house, pull his kids out of school, and move everybody back to Sweden. And then begin looking for work there.

Dan Ellis tweeted late in the off-season the troubles for NHL athletes regarding escrow payments. It was a ridiculous argument, and he was essentially asking for pity in regards to the fact that he only has a few million dollars in pay. Well Dan, how'd you like to be in Lilja's position?

Really, this all goes back to the NHL lockout. With a salary cap in play, and cap space at a premium, veteran athletes are essentially given the shaft, regardless of whether or not they've got anything left in the tank. Bill Guerin, the twenty goal scorer for the Penguins last year, was released by Philadelphia, failing to earn a contract. Still, Jay McKee sits, hoping that someone will offer him league minimum. In fact, these players may end up trying to find work in the AHL, or Europe.

Now, granted, it's hard to feel bad for someone who's going to be making $500,000 or higher, but in looking passed that, there's families attached to these anxieties. There are kids who get uprooted so their fathers can prove they still have something left. It's quite an ugly scene for the over 35 crowd, and it can really only get worse.

So, Andreas Lilja, please fire your agent, and come talk to Ken Holland.

While there is no way he can offer a one-way deal, a two-way deal is possible, and at least you won't have to move. And should someone get injured, you'll be right back up.

The only question is whether or not the relationship is still intact. And for Lilja's sake, I hope it is.

Welcome to the dark side of the new NHL: a Darwinist existence in which those who are older are cast aside in the interest of saving a few pennies. And where family situations are too often caught in the crossfire.

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Five Days, Five Bruning Questions: Part 1

2010-10-04T14:00:00.011-04:00

Burning Question #1: Will they need duct tape to hold the team together again?

Last year was an absolutely, unbelievable disaster in the injury department, and I think it's been well documented. Suffice it to say that, when $21 million dollars of elite NHL talent is sitting out nursing boo-boos, you might be in for a rough time. Ranking second in man-games lost to injury also doesn't help.

Still, after being as low as eleventh place prior to the Olympic break, the Red Wings exploded and went on to grab fifth in the West, and make it to the second round of the playoffs. Not too shabby, but the revival was completely due to everyone coming back healthy. So what about this year?

Well, for starters, let's hope Pier Van Zant (Red Wings trainer) has some extra Rub A535 around, and has them stay hydrated, because, as everyone and their mother knows by now, the Red Wings are dressing the oldest team in the NHL. Again.

So afternoon naps might become a necessity.

So what do we think?

Well, a healthy team is nearly impossible to keep for 82 games. In fact, it is impossible. So don't think that's what we want. Well, if we had our way, we'd have that, but we can't so it's moot. Instead, think of this question as more of a, will our elite players stay healthy?

In preparation for this season, oft-injured Henrik Zetterberg (who's never played a full 82 game season) dropped eight pounds in the off-season. Whether this helps him, or makes him easier to bulldoze much like Mathias Ohlund did last year, remains to be seen. Let's hope it helps out.

Johan Franzen, meanwhile, absolutely cannot go missing again for the majority of the season. We're toast if this happens. Filppula's development is directly related to whether or not Franzen can avoid knee-on-knee hits with anyone, and if he plays smart. Look for him to have a bounce back year, and to play most of the season.

As for the rest, well, you get what you pay for. Older players aren't quite so durable. Todd Bertuzzi, Mike Modano, Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Tomas Holmstrom, the list goes on, and on that list only Lidstrom hasn't had some lingering issue for years. It's a risky roster, but let's hope that the rigorous Mike Babcock training camp whipped them into shape.

Prognosis: Well, the pre-season certainly didn't inspire a whole lot of confidence. Patrick Eaves should be ready by Friday, and Bertuzzi's back might have just needed some rest. But the Draper groin issue, the Meech concussion, all as bad an omen as a black cat opening an umbrella in your house before cutting in front of you while you walk under a ladder.

Fingers crossed, these Wings stay healthy.

(Five Days, Five Burning Question will continue daily until Friday when the Red Wings kick off the season against the Anaheim Ducks. To read the other entries, click here for Part 2, here for Part 3, here for Part 4, and here for Part 5.)

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A Season Preview from ELF GF's Point of View

2010-10-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

The only competition for my girlfriends heart is that very beard on the left.

Not just us here at Eight Legged Freaks are excited for the new season to start. My girlfriend, who's had to endure countless hours of Wings talk over our four year relationship, is also chomping at the bit, because it'll give me something to do besides bother her. But, with that in mind, I wanted to do something special this year, and offer you a season preview from her point of view.

In the fairness of full disclosure, it needs to be said that ELF GF (as she'll be known to the blogosphere) is no hockey analyst, and that all of these facts, figures and analysis are inspired purely on what she's absorbed through listening to me, her own (few) observations, or how she personally feels about a person for no specific reason.

Anything said in the following interview is her opinion. Take it as you will.

Me: So last year was pretty disappointing, wasn't it? I mean, since we've been dating, the Wings have only been in the Stanley Cup Final. Were you disappointed too?

ELF GF: Yeah. Well, I dunno, I guess I was kinda thinking that, they didn't make the Stanley Cup Finals or barely the playoffs, they kinda suck this year.

Me: They were in fifth.

ELF GF: Well, it was touch and go for a while. I mean, they had a lot of injuries, and they had a lot to deal with, so I guess it was pretty impressive, so it was good that they didn't just flame out.

Me: So, this year you expect...bigger and better? (I stole this from her)

ELF GF: That's what I said!

Me: OK, so, let's look at player expectations. Last year, almost everybody had a down year-

ELF GF: 'Cause of injuries.

Me: Yes, 'cause of injuries. So let's look at a few of your expectations for players this year-

ELF GF: I'll do my best!

Me: So. Let's start with the man you've called handsome numerous times-

ELF GF: Not numerous times! I just agreed with you!

Me: Whatever. Let's start with Henrik Zetterberg. How many goals do you think he's got in him this year?

ELF GF: Hmm. I think 44.

Me: Not going to elaborate?

ELF GF: Well, 'cause he's with Datsyuk, who will be supporting him all that time, and he should be getting a lot of goals, and he's still young so he should be improving every year.

Me: Lofty, but not unrealistic. All right, so how 'bout his linemate, Datsyuk. How many points?

ELF GF: Points! Oh, points, uhm... I bet...let me just think about this....goals and assists...he's going to have lots of assists 'cause of Zetterberg....is it two points for a goal, and one for an assist?

Me: (explains that it's not)

ELF GF: OH! Oops. Well, then, I think...55.

Me: That's it?

ELF GF: No, wait...67? Err, 71! Final answer.

Me: Last year was a down year, and he had 70. The year before, he matched his career high of 97. So you think he'll struggle?

ELF GF: Oh fudge! Well, (laughs). Dammit. 104, and I'm not answering this question again!

Me: Fair enough. So, there were a few new additions this off season. How do you think Mike Modano is going to do in Detroit?

ELF GF: I think he's going to fit in with the guys, 'cause he's a little older, not one of those young folk, not that they don't like anyone, but I think it's going to be a transition, especially at his age, to fit in on a line with someone. But I think he'll do OK, because anyone who's a good player who comes to Detroit will be an even better player because that's just the way it goes.

Me: So, quick point estimate?

ELF GF: I don't think he's going to score too many goals. He's probably going to have to do a lot of the assisting, with the line that he's on. Who's he with?

Me: He's on the third with Jiri Hudler and Dan Cleary.

ELF GF: I didn't know that. Uhm. He'll probably be getting quite a few assists with Hudler, so..hmm... (long pause for thinking). I bet he can get....hmmm. 51, I know I already said 51, but I think that's reasonable.

Me: Well, you'll be happy to know that Mike Modano's personal goal this year is-

ELF GF: 51!

Me: Close. It's 50. So you were bang on on that one.

ELF GF: I did the math on that one.

Me: All right, switching gears here. After the Wings lost in the 2009 Finals, you proclaimed your newfound hatred for Chris Osgood. With Jimmy Howard emerging last year as the number one, do you think he'll be able to keep up that rock solid consistency?

ELF GF: Jimmy Howard? No. I don't think so. From what I've heard about him in training camp he's looked kind of shaky. I think Osgood might pull an Osgood and come back from being sucky. But I don't think Howard sucks at all, I just think that Osgood will come back so they can be a proper goalie team this year.

Me: That's controversial. Alot of Wings fans have high hopes for Howard.

ELF GF: I don't think he's going to flame out. I just think he's not going to do as well as last year. That was very impressive, but I wouldn't expect that to increase at that rate. That's why I think he'll still need Osgood's help.

Me: OK. So I can still take you to Detroit without fearing for your life. So...Johan.

ELF GF: Oh, I love him. I think he's my favourite.

Me: All right, I didn't know that.

ELF GF: Do you wanna know why?

Me: Why?

ELF GF: 'Cause, I got to see him come up three years ago, like, come out of nowhere, and do really well for them, and he came through for them, when they won the Cup, and he's reliable and it was nice to see him start to do well and keep up that pace.

Me: Yeah, I love the Mule too. So, last year was horrible. He missed most of the year with an ACL tear that required surgery. Can he stay healthy, and if so, do you see him scoring 40 goals?

ELF GF: Well, that's the thing. Is he going to be...what's the word...too cautious. is he worried about getting injured again? I feel like that's what we saw last year, in the playoffs.

Me: Well, he did have that four goal monster game against San Jose.

ELF GF: Well, that's Franzen. Anyways, so my goal prediction. I think he can pull of 37 easily, and if he can avoid getting injured again, I think he can do more than Zetterberg, so like, 45.

Me: I hope you're right. That would be amazing.

ELF GF: I have tons of confidence in him, and he's still young (30) so he's got time to become a great player.

Me: All right. Let's look at the defense. Lidstrom is back for another year-

ELF GF: Woo!

Me: -and they didn't really add anyone substantial. You particularly have a hate-hate relationship with Brian Rafalski. Why?

ELF GF: I dunno, every time I've watched a game, he's played not like a Red Wing should play. I dunno though, I don't know much about him, so I don't want anyone to take offense to that.

Me: Good disclaimer. Anyways, Babcock is splitting up Rafalski and Lidstrom this year. Do you think that Lidstrom and Rafalski will have both bounce back years and fit in with their new partners?

ELF GF: Well, I think everyone can fit in with Lidstrom, because obviously everybody will make room for him. Uhm. But, I mean, he is getting older, and I think it's kind of like a Yzerman situation where he'll still be a presence, but there won't be a huge expectation for points out of him, he'll just be the leader. And that's all I want from him, I think he's good at that.

Me: As for Rafalski and Stuart?

ELF GF: (whispers) I'm not very good with the defense...

Me: Well, just arbitrary numbers. And will they be good?

ELF GF: Uhm, so Ravalski. I always say Ravalski not Rafalski (laughs). Uhm...I dunno. I don't like him. I dunno. I don't know what to say about him. Now that you've explained him to me (I did), but, I dunno, I just don't like him.

Me: All right. Clearly, I'm wearing out my hockey quotient with you (she's got that glazed over look). So, one last question. Bold prediction: what's your boldest?

ELF GF: What do you mean? Of anything?

Me: Yup. Can be about anyone, or how they finish, or anything.

ELF GF: I think they'll win the division, probably second in the West. And...in the playoffs, they'll definitely make it to the third round.

Me: Gotta be bold here. Put yourself out on the line!

ELF GF: They'll take it in five and go to the Finals.

Me: Ominous. Thank you for sitting with me today.

ELF GF: You're welcome. *smoches cheek* Now let's go for breakfast.

Me: Thanks for embarrassing me on my own blog.

And with that, we're off to breakfast.

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GameFace Time: Red Wings Play Maple Laffs

2010-10-01T13:30:00.001-04:00

An artistic representation of the Maple Leafs after tonight's grudge match. The Red Wings of course being the razor.

Well, the last game was a bit of a let down as the Red Wings Lite got crushed by the Rangers A-Team (Mr. T did most of the pounding). But, with that, we move on to the next pointless game on the schedule that will mean absolutely nothing in both the long and short term as the Red Wings play host tonight to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

What's going on tonight: Well, as I said before, the Wings play the Leafs in what is essentially a pride match for me.

Should the Wings win, then all the trash I throw my surrounding Leafs fans way will be confirmed with a destruction at the hands of the Red Wings almost entire NHL team. Should they lose, well, Leafs fans have so little to take pride in that this is one of those things that I will never ever hear the end of, no matter who gets to play through April at the end of the year.

So please Red Wings, get it together and kick some ass tonight. Not because it means anything should you win, but because it means I have to constantly reference the four Cups in my lifetime and make everyone feel bad. And hostile.

And there is nothing worse than a hostile Leafs fan.

Who's Hot?: I really should stop writing this segment for pre-season games because it's impossible to tell, but for the sake of things, we'll go with Brian Rafalski.

The guy is in Olympic form. Four points in his debut, plus a powerplay goal the other night. Could my birthday wishes really be the result?

In all seriousness, Rafalski is an enigma that is capable of absolutely dominating a game, and so far this pre-season he has been tearing it up. Please let that translate to the regular season Raffi. I promise, we'll get along way better if it does.

Have You Heard About?: The injuries?

Yes, already I am cringing on a daily basis. Franzen should be good to go tonight, which is great news (thank God Orpik's aim with his knee is as bad as his shot aim). But we're still without the likes of Derek Meech, Kris Draper, Patrick Eaves, and it looks like big Todd will sit this one out with tightness in his back.

Now, most of those players are irrelevant since they will no doubt be pressbox bound come October 9th, but the Eaves and Bertuzzi ones irk me a little, mostly because Babcock's dressing his top three lines in full tonight, and a no-go with Bertuzzi means we're once again not giving the Cleary-Modano-Hudler line a chance to play together.

But, them's the breaks, and as long as this doesn't carry over into the regular season, I guess it's fine to lick your wounds now.

In Other News: The pre-season is almost, thankfully, over.

I honestly can't stand the pre-season and can only thank God and the people who made the schedule for the fact that the Wings mercifully get to stay in North America this year for the whole duration.

It's been long enough without hockey, do we really need a three week striptease to boot?

Game Face Time:

Gotta love a baby that clearly won't take crap, so that's what we're going with here. Beat the Leafs, or else I have to hold my face like this for weeks.

Final Thought: Go Wings!

Simple and to the point.

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Swag Bag Fridays: The Red Wings Jumbotron Light

2010-10-01T11:37:00.000-04:00

The Red Wings Jumbotron Light

Ah, yes. The Jumbotron light. For this one, we need to take a trip down memory lane.

Back when I was a kid, I made the move from sharing a room with my brother, to having my own basement room. And because I was the biggest Red Wings fan my hometown had probably ever seen, my parents gave me this light for my birthday, and so, it became a permanent fixture in my room for years. And man, it was awesome.

Lying on my bed, looking up at this thing, imagining what it would be like to actually go to Joe Louis Arena and see what the real thing looked like, this light was a source of pride for me and my Red Wings obsession.

The fact that the Wings were eternally winning 2-1 also made it that much more awesome.

So, while not as fly as the Snoopy hat, or as amazing as what I originally was going to post (before somethings fell through), the Red Wings Jumbotron Light remains to this day one of my most prized Red Wings possessions and definitely deserved a place on this segment of Swag Bag Fridays.

Remember, if you have anything you feel is way cooler than anything we post (and thus far, that's not hard) just e-mail us a picture, and a little blurb about what makes your Red Wings Swag so awesome! And make sure to check back next Friday for another edition of Swag Bag Fridays!

Walk It Off Boys: Rangers 5, Red Wings 1

2010-09-30T09:05:00.000-04:00

Well, the score would give most people the impression that the Wings got demolished, which is both true and untrue. But before I continue, in the interest of full disclosure (mostly to cover my ass in case I say something stupid) I once again was unable to watch the game as I had class until 9. Someday I'll get to watch a Wings game, and I hope to God it's someday soon.

Anyways, word on the street is that our "first" line played kinda okay, but Filppula was all over the place. I really think we're gonna see him absolutely blow people's expectations away. Granted, I said that last year, and I ended up with egg (read: whole omelet) on my face. Still, Pretty Boy's got it in him, and I think we'll see some magic.

That's all I've got, but let's get some other words on the street from people who actually witnessed the game with their own eyeballs:

J.J. From Kansas has been doing a phenomenal job on Winging It In Motown. His game analysis after last night's fiasco was perfect, and I trust his word. So give it a read!
Nightmare on Helm Street contradicts much of what J.J. said, which makes me a confused panda. Still, give it a read and see how two different people see the same game with different opinions! Sounds like a sitcom...

That's it from me. I'm the lucky duck who gets to be in school and then work all day today, so it's going to be pretty quiet around here for the rest of the day. If you get bored, check out the blogroll because there's hundreds of other Wings fans out there who will gladly tell you a story or three.

As for the real Red Wings, the next game is tomorrow against the Leafs. Should they lose, I'm in deep trouble and will owe a lot of money to the wrong kind of people (Leafs fans). So, don't make me look like an ass Red Wings and trounce those fools. Much obliged.

Brian, I Am So Sorry

2010-09-28T21:42:00.001-04:00

Brian, stop staring into my soul and just accept my damn birthday wishes!

Look Brian, I was in such a rush this morning to get to work that it completely slipped my mind.

I know I should have remembered, and the fact that I didn't makes me not only a terrible fan, but also a horrible Facebook fan page friend. So before I go on too long, let me just say it and get it out of the way:

Happy Birthday man. I know, I'm like, the last person to wish you a happy birthday, and I am sorry for that. I'm not even gonna try to tell you it's no big deal, because it is. I get that. But I did some things to make it up to you.

I got you a Dairy Queen Blizzard cake. And I brought the forks. So that's like, a kinda big deal. And I also picked up some Dill Pickle Chips with a king size Reese' Cups. Not for you of course, I ate them on the way home. It's a long walk.

Buuut, I didn't question your worth as a defenseman all day today. Which is new. We've butted heads quite often in the past, I know. Obviously you're a huge reader of this blog, so it's no secret. And this morning, I had an absolutely huge plan to smooth all of those ripples out, but it just didn't happen.

So, happy birthday Brian Rafalski. The coolest man to call Dearborn, Michigan home. Hope your birthday was a blast, and hopefully we'll get along this year.

Sincerely,

The Eight Legged Freaks Staff

The Hockey News: Where Logic Does Not Apply

2010-09-28T10:11:00.001-04:00

Artist's rendition of Bob Duff after reading this blog entry.

When September rolls around, and summer becomes fall, I start jonesing for some hockey. Maybe you've noticed thanks to my increase in blog posts and my need to constantly talk hockey even if no one wants to listen. I start going over possible line combinations for the Red Wings before camp even starts, working out different scenarios in my head as to who can score the most points, the second most points, etc. It's almost clinical insanity.

But September also presents an exciting time for me at the magazine stand. Instead of simply browsing the sports section and seeing only baseball, Baseball, BASEBALL magazines, or NFL season previews, or College Fantasy Football Guides (really? Don't college players have enough to worry about, what with getting drafted and their GPA?) I finally get to see some hockey titles awaking from their summer hibernation, waiting to tell me who they think has it all to win.

And if it's not the Red Wings then I know I mistakenly picked up a trash rag.

But a trash rag is not what one would usually describe The Hockey News as. In fact, they've become a pretty reputable source for hockey information over the years, and are one of, if no the, premier hockey magazines and news outlets in the world (IMO). But this year, they threw logic out the window and showed that, despite having a good reputation, they are moronic in their "logic". Let me explain.

This year, as part of looking at every team's chances this year, The Hockey News editors decided they'd answer the tough questions that fanbases don't want to ask. An interesting spin on season previews, but when you get a question like "Should the Yotes Go Young Or Old?", you start to realize that, these aren't all tough questions as many of them have extremely obvious answers.

Which brings me to their question for the Red Wings:

Is it now or never for Detroit?

Hold the phone. Now or never? What the hell does that mean? Are we suddenly going to revert to a Toronto Maple Leafs level of futility? Are we going to suck forever if we don't win this year? These are some bold statements, Mr. Hockey News writer, so you better have a good reason for thinking this. Please, tell us what's on your mind:

When Lidstrom's time comes [to retire], Detroit will retire his number and you can retire the Wings as a contender as well, making this season one in which the Wings have to win.

...wow.

Just wow.

What a simple conclusion: one player retires, the entire team gets sucked into a giant blackhole of suck for all eternity. Granted, When Lidstrom goes, I am slightly afraid that we'll drop from top of the West to middle of the pack in the West, but I didn't anticipate it leaving us with a lottery pick every year for the rest of time! This is even worse than I thought!

Can you feel the sarcasm? Can you see how absolutely ridiculous that statement is?

No? Well, let me show you how The Hockey News itself debunked their own stupidity.

Also featured in this particular issue is a rundown of the Top 20 players by position in the entire NHL, and the results were less than surprising: the good teams in the league had the most good players on their teams, and the New York Islanders had one player to register in all the lists, combined. So how does this debunk what Mr. Nostradamus Hockey Writer seems to know?

The Red Wings outrank every other team in the league in elite level players, including three, count 'em three of the league's Top 20 defensemen!

The Red Wings total of elite players: 8.
The next closest is Chicago with 6, and then it drops off from there.

Now, having a collection of the top talent in the league isn't a guarantee for anything. Depth wins those battles for you in the playoffs. Thankfully, the Red Wings have the depth to compliment this star power (not so much for you Chicago), and so, their chances increase further. Another thing to look at is, besides Nicklas Lidstrom and Jimmy Howard, every other player that ranks on the lists is under contract for at least the next two years.

Go figure.

So, I'm sorry Mr. Bob "I Write BS Because I Don't Know Anything Better" Duff. Your own magazine defeated your illogical conclusion that the Red Wings would become the LA Clippers of the NHL immediately after Lidstrom unlaces his skates for the final time.

Hockey is a tough sport to understand, I get that. Maybe you should go back to covering Mighty Mites Hockey, and someday, maybe, you'll be able to use logic before you write some garbage analysis that doesn't even make sense.

Let's Go Red Wings! And should they win, I'm totally mailing this magazine back to you, Mr. Duff, with a simple "Ha Ha" scribbled across your sorry excuse for journalism.

Baby Game Face Time 2: More Hawks

2010-09-25T13:00:00.001-04:00

Brooks Orpik woke up Hulktuzzi. If no one liked him when he wasn't angry, what on earth is going to happen now?!

Continuing the baby-theme because, well, this pre-season really is just a baby season (there should be a pre-season Stanley Cup. The Leafs would actually have a shot at it!) we have another rousing game preview which features *drumroll* the Chicago Blackhawks.

Didn't we just play you guys?

The answer is a resounding "YES", and the Red Wings pulled off a 3-2 win, with goals coming from the Eurotwins line and Jan Mursak. Cool beans.

Let's move to the fun stuff.

What's going on tonight: Uncle Mike rolls out another hybrid beast of Griffins and Red Wings to combat what will no doubt be a hybrid little brother of Blackhawks and Icehogs.

The Red Wings lines can be found at this link, and look for tonight's game (taking place at Maddy's Madhouse) to be one where the Hawks seek retribution for last night's loss.

Hopefully the Wings don't let that happen.

Who's Hot?: Todd Bertuzzi. For real.

Did he register any points against Pittsburgh? No, but sometimes this honour goes to those who do their talking with their fists and not their stick, and Big Bert did that in a big way on Wednesday when he pummeled Brooks Orpik after the knee-on-knee that wasn't.

And The Tuze has been praised for it everywhere, which is great. He's finally become part of the team.

Look for him to provide some energy and to continue to build on the great chemistry he and Val have developed as linemates.

Oh. And at least one spin-o-rama pass.

Have You Heard About?: Aaron Downey?

After taking last year off, Downey accepted a try-out contract with the Wings this summer. He's shed some weight, and is looking to earn a spot at least on the Grand Rapids Griffins.

On Wednesday he kinda sorta got tuned by Jesse Boulerice, so look for him to provide some physicality and some fisticuffs to this high-energy rival bout.

In Other News: Franzen and Hudler were back skating today.

Please recall that Hudler was injured blocking a shot in the Red vs. White game, and has yet to suit up for the Wings this preseason. Franzen, well, we've talked about that enough.

But both were back on the ice and skating today, and while Hudler says he's feeling good, Franzen says its coming along slowly. Hopefully both will make some big strides in the coming days and be ready to get some action in before the games start to count for real.

Game Face Time:

In honour of Bertuzzi's bout, and continuing the pre-season baby theme, let's come out guns a-blazing and make good old Stan Bowman start shaking in his boots when his Hawks get off to an 0-3 start to pre-season.

And Brooks Orpik totally looks like that.

Final Thought: Kick while they're down!

The Hawks were in the papers all summer, mostly because they had to tear apart the team due to short-sighted decisions in free-agency. Well, it's all over now, and the Hawks are let having to deal with it, and try to convince themselves that they're still as good as last year.

They aren't. Let's make sure they know that.

Go Wings!

Detroit Beats 'Hawks 3-2: A Sign of Things to Come

2010-09-25T09:00:00.008-04:00

"We never did build that treehouse this summer you know. Because you were off getting married."

"If I score will you shut up about it?"

In a truly meaningless game (and I say meaningless because the 'Hawks' best defenseman on the ice was Brian "Monopoly Man" Campbell), Henri Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Nicklas Lidstrom and the Grand Rapids kids beat the defending Stanley Cup Champs. And does everyone know what that means?

It means that Detroit is the better team, and that Chicago is obviously doomed because they're 0-2 in the pre-season.

That, obviously is what real journalists would write in this situation, but lets be real for a second: the preseason is soooo pointless that I'm already bored of it. Still, its nice that hockey is almost back for real, and when it does start up again, I'll be as happy as a clam. Now, onto tonight's recap:

I didn't watch. I was shooting a soccer match (and what a match it was), so I was unable to watch the Wings take on those pesky Blackhawks. So, instead of me making up plays that didn't happen, I'm going to link you to a few quality entries I think you should check out:

J.J. From Kansas wrote up his thoughts on tonight's heavyweight tilt, and like me, he recognizes the futality of the preseason. Still, his recap is thorough, and his style quite snappy so give it a click here and you will not be disappointed. Of particular interest is his breakdown of each noteworthy player's performance. Quality stuff really from the Mothership of Wings blogs out there.
TSN really broke the bank on their story tonight. To see an article that's almost shorter than its title, click here. And yet, if it were the Leafs, nothing less than a second-by-second breakdown would be acceptable.
Since I could probably link all night, I'll just give you one more. Liam, over at Babcock's Fly Hair wrote a great piece on who looked good out there. Give it a read by clicking here, just promise you'll come back once in a while.

One thing of interest to note: it was the first "game" as a Red Wing for Mike Modano, and the consensus opinion is that he's still learning the ropes. That's cool. Bertuzzi had an adjustment period last season but once he learned it, he went off on a tear through December.

So if the greatest American born player of all-time still needs some time to adjust, I think it's the least we could do to cheer him on.

As for today: Wings play again. Look for our preview of the tilt in a couple hours.

Let's keep the wins rolling.
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Got Your Tickets Yet?

2010-09-24T15:30:00.001-04:00

These tickets from the carnival will work at the gates, right?

Hopefully, readers of this blog are aware that the NHL regular season is nearly upon us, and as a result, many Red Wings fans are diligently planning pilgrimages to the Joe this year to cheer on our beloved players.

Whether that's with the incredible luxury of being able to purchase season's tickets, or after standing in line for hours to take advantage of student pricing at the Joe, hundreds of thousands of people will walk the treacherous walk up the stairs to pass through the door beneath the "Joe Louis Arena" dark black lettering.

And thankfully, after today, I will be one of them.

After perusing the offerings on StubHub, and checking our schedules, and booking off the appropriate days, my father and I will be making our second ever trip to the Joe, and I am already counting the days. Against Mike Modano's former team, the December game against the Dallas Stars should be a pretty good game, and this time I'll make sure I bring a camera with a non-dead battery.

So, like an elementary school kid frantically waiting for the final bell of the school day, I will sit, wait, do homework and work, all in the hopes that time will speed by so that me and my dad can go to the Joe to watch some hockey amongst fans that share our passion.

The season is so close. We're almost there.

Swag Bag Fridays: Snoopy as a Red Wing

2010-09-24T12:30:00.013-04:00

Welcome all, to the inaugural post of Swag Bag Fridays! What's all this about then? I'm glad you asked!

Every Friday, Eight Legged Freaks will be posting a piece of phenomenal Red Wings swag that we've amassed over the years. Some of these have been gifts, others trinkets collected randomly when I had some extra cash, or when I absolutely had to have it because it was too awesome to not. So, onto the bag, for this week's entry:

The Snoopy Red Wings Hat

This is the ultimate vision Charles Shultz had when he initially created Peanuts.

Let's take a trip back to the summer of 1998. For many Wings fans, you'll all remember what happened that June, in the friendly confines of what is now the Verizon Center in Washington, DC. Stevie handed Vladdie the Cup and the whole of the hockey community teared up as they watched a truly beautiful story come full circle.

But what the heck does that have to do with this phenomenal hat?

That summer I was making the annual trip up to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to visit my grandparents. My favourite part of the trip was always the trip to Michigan, where the summer before I had purchased my first ever Wings hat in celebration of the 1997 Stanley Cup win. And while this year I wanted to buy another hat, I wasn't quite sure what it was that I wanted.

Until I went to Wal-Mart and this beauty was staring me right in the face.

The red hat with beige brim, a small but prominent Red Wings logo featured in the upper left portion of the hat, and of course, Snoopy firing a puck with deadly accuracy and conjuring up images of Brendan Shanahan.

My only question is how could you not buy this hat?

Peanuts and the Red Wings: now there's a cartoon I would watch on Saturday mornings.

For four years I wore this hat, despite the fact that I grew out of it far quicker than I thought. But I held onto this hat, with its now sweat stained sides and faded red colouring because, in my mind, this is still one of the greatest Red Wings memorabilia finds I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing with my own eyes.

So readers, we here at Eight Legged Freaks ask you what your favourite piece of Red Wings Swag is, and if you'd like it to be featured on the site, just send us a picture of it, and a small little blurb about it at: eightleggedfreaks19@gmail.com. We'll handle the posting.

Baby-GameFace Time: Little Brother Comes a Knockin'

2010-09-24T09:15:00.014-04:00

So begins the Odyssey of Mikey Mo. By absolutely destroying his new Little Brother.

Well, I missed out on writing up one of these for the barn-burner (read: crapfest) that was the game against Pittsburgh on Wednesday, but as nervous couples say when waiting for that time of the month: better late than never!

Anyways, my thoughts on the stuff that happened against the Penguins are well documented, and many around the 'net are thinking along the same lines. So, with that in mind, we move on, collectively hoping that no more injuries happen during the baby-season that is the pre-season (hence the title of this very post).

So without further ado (and because I'm so excited to write another one of these!) lets move on to our GameFace GameDay Preview!

What's going on tonight: Little Brother comes to town to try to show us that their AHL team that will play in the NHL this year is better than our AHL team that will play in the AHL this year.

Chicago's gutting of their championship roster has been well documented. Gone are such detestable oafs such as Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager, Brent Sopel, Cam Barker, Adam Burish, Andrew Ebbett, Kim Johnsson, Andrew Ladd, John Madden, Kris Versteeg, and of course, BOTH goalies from last season, a one Monsieur Christobal Huet (he's French) and one Overrated Antti Niemi.

Wow. That's a lot of empty space.

So, this new hybrid monster of not yet ready AHL players will be paired with some of the better players on the Hawks roster as they attempt to once again prove that they aren't inferior to Detroit, no doubt by being loud and obnoxious, all the while reminding anyone and everyone who will listen that they won most recently therefore they're the best.

Mmhmm.

Let's deliver an ass whooping now, just to put them in their place immediately, and watch as the wagon immediately gets 19,000 pounds lighter.

Who's Hot?: No one. It's pre-season.

All right fine, I'll list off who's been killing it in pre-season so far.

Jordan Owens (that guy we got from the Rangers last year for Kris Newbury) had a pretty good camp and is developing quite nicely into an energy winger with some hands. Not light-the-world-on-fire stuff, but stuff nonetheless. Look for him to exchange lunches (and by lunches we mean knuckle sandwiches) with someone tomorrow, just to show you why he's a bad mother-

Have You Heard About?: This Brendan Smith guy?

We've heard he's pretty good.

In all seriousness, this kid looks like the real deal and is already measuring Jonathan Ericsson's locker stall to see how much wallpaper he'll need to make it awesome.

And if his performance in the Red vs. White game is any indication (a goal, and basically financing the entire ice surface as his own home), his first taste of borderline NHL action could be something special, and could make the defensive decisions facing Mike Babcock a little more difficult (hint: cut Ericsson).

In Other News: Prize free agent signing Mike Modano will skate as a Red Wing.

Hopefully the universe doesn't implode.

This comes hot on the heels of Modano's confession that he's looking for 50 points this year, and makes me an excited panda. He'll most likely be playing on a line with camp-hopeful Mattias Ritola and Dan Cleary while Jiri Hudler recovers from his bruised foot, and look for him to come out flying.

I for one cannot wait.

Game Face Time:

Since it's just pre-season, I'll use this little morsel as our baby GameFace.

Let's hope all those Hawks "fans" look like this following tomorrow's game.

Final Thought: Let the rivalry continue!

After that BS Pittsburgh pulled on Wednesday, I'm almost worried about cheering on this now full-blown rivalry, but I miss the glory days of the Avs/Wings tilts, so I'm all for it.

The great thing is, this one's actually on TV!

Let's play a great pre-season game Wings, and show the new BabyBlackhawks how it's done!

An ELF Programming Update: Preseason Edition

2010-09-23T16:08:00.000-04:00

Budget cuts have really affected the equipment around here. good thing our sense of humour is still as sharp as Wally Cleaver's!

Well folks, the season is just around the corner. And while we all get our fill of watching farmhands and young'uns battle their little hearts out to win a roster spot, we all know that it's a tune-up for us as well to get accustomed to watching hockey again after a summer full of baseball.

And the elimination of the glowing puck certainly doesn't help the transition.

Anyways, we here at Eight Legged Freaks took an extended sabbatical. There was much fun had. A few trips to Chicago and Detroit. Some vacation. Some road hockey. And in the end, we've come back no wiser or wittier than we were when we left.

That's right, it was sum summer (/punny).

But, now here we are, together again and ready for a new season of clawing our way back to the Stanley Cup Finals and reclaiming what is rightfully ours.

But what does that mean for us here at Eight Legged Freaks, and more importantly for you, the reader and the whole reason for this blog?

Glad you asked!

Gameday Updates will remain the same.
Remember our GameFaces? Well, they'll be back, and in full supply! But there's a twist: this year, if you have any cool, fun, or just plain badass gamefaces you want to send our way, then by all means, be my guest. You can make it as spiffy or as basic as you want, but by all means send them our way (click the link for easy e-mail fun!)

'For a Few Fleeting Moments' Will Return
A while ago we had tried to kickstart a feature called "For a Few Fleeting Moments". These features were designed to highlight previous Wings that we here at Eight Legged Freaks loved while they were members of the Red and White. Well, that idea never really got passed our first two entries, so consider this a reboot. Every month we will be chronicling another Red Wing that we felt left us too early. Feel free to tell us we're crazy. You won't be the first.

Brand New Friday Feature!
Launching tomorrow will be our new weekly feature designed to kick-start the weekend with flair! (Way more than the required 30 pieces). I'm not going to say too much about it right now, but check back tomorrow afternoon, and you'll bear witness to the first of what we hope to be a weekly feature (that will of course at some point ask for some reader-contributed content).

More Accessibility
We here at ELF are trying our damndest to be more in-tune with what our readers need to stay connected. If you aren't already, click the side tab to follow us on Twitter . We're trying to hang around there a little more often, and hope that you can tell us when you think we've done a horrible job, or, in the unlikely event that you want to compliment us we want to tell you why you'd be wrong!

General News and Opinions Regarding Red Wings News
"Duh" you say? Well, yes, you'd be right. This is a Red Wings blog, and we love to give our opinion on everything from the crowded concourses at the Joe, to the adjusted plus/minus values of Brad Stuart, all delivered with the appropriate amount of non-Pulitzer winning rhetoric.

It's going to be a fun season everyone, and we here at Eight Legged Freaks will be with you every step of the way! Just remember to stop in every once in a while, and to keep your stick on the ice!

Narrowly Avoided Preseason Disaster: Featuring the Single Worst Act in the NHL

2010-09-23T08:45:00.008-04:00

While the result wasn't as bad as initially feared, the fact is knee-on-knee hits have no place in the NHL.

The Red Wings pre-season kicked off in possibly the worst way it could have: a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, with Sidney Crosby running wild over an AHL-heavy Red Wings line-up.

The jokes have all been made by this point, but I just want to say that, no doubt Rosby was congratulating himself after every play, and immediately raced to the 'Gold Star' board in the corner of the Pens dressing room (sponsored by Pierre Maguire) and totally gave himself infinity Gold Stars because he's totally the best player ever in the history of not just hockey, but sports in general.

In fact he was totally about to shatter every pre-season record ever when, lo-and-behold, he went and hurt himself with what was described as a hip flexor injury. Sounds painful. But it also sounds like karma.

Yes, we all rag on Thid Rosby for all sorts of things around here. In fact, its all over, be it Philly blogs, Capitals blogs...basically any blog not located within the city limits of Philadelphia, or north of the 49th parallel. There, basically nothing negative can ever be said about him. So why does the injury sound like karma?

Let me explain:

About halfway through the first period, stand-up defenseman Brooks Orpik (who I actually have defended in saying he plays a pretty clean game) decided to stick his knee out as Johan Franzen skated by him, inducing a knee on knee collision and a collective heart attack felt from Kalamazoo to Sault Ste. Marie, and then back down to Detroit.

The proof? Well, there isn't a video that has surfaced as of yet, as tonight's game went untelevised, and was instead broadcast live over that old voicebox your parents called the radio. Yes, it turns out that wasn't just a horrible Cuba Gooding Jr. movie, but it also sometimes features hockey. Who knew? But I digress.

Thankfully, Franzen only ended up with what is being called a charlie horse and is day-to-day (thanks Bob Mackenzie!). Orpik, on the other hand, got handed a two minute minor for tripping, a five minute major for kneeing, and then was forced to fight Bertuzzi, for which he received a game misconduct, thereby ending his night early after receiving a few pre-shower knuckle sandwiches.

I'll get to Bertuzzi in a second, but first, I want to get a little serious here and talk about this knee on knee bullshit.

And that's exactly what it is. There's no beating around the bush on it, and in my mind it is the most despicable play in all of hockey. Worse than a hit from behind, the knee on knee is delivered solely to target a weak point on any human's body in an effort to not only knock them over, but to hopefully shatter some crucial ligaments, and in the process severely deplete your opponent's line-up.

Basically, it's no different than what Tanya Harding had done to Nancy Kerrigan in 1991. In fact, I'm not so sure it's even much different than whacking someone across the knees with a baseball bat.

Please recall November of last year. Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Kronwall had begun to show some life offensively (I know because I had him on my fantasy team) when it all came crashing down in an instant as Georges Laraque, a supposed "tough guy", stuck his leg out, damaging Kronwall's notoriously fragile MCL.

I say "supposed tough guy" because there is nothing tough about colliding with an opposing player in this manner. It is a hit delivered with the intent to injure, as said before. It's a cowardly act that deserves a stiff punishment from the Cowardly Colin Campbell.

As in, when you've got a defenseman who plays a tough game in Brooks Orpik completely disregard any form of honour code and go for Franzen, fresh of a devastating ACL injury, you should be looking at a suspension of a least a handful of regular season games because you went out and tried to end someone's season before the season began.

More than that though, you're simply a douchebag on skates. Prior to this incident, I actually respected Brooks Orpik. I too haven't forgotten "The Shift" that he had against the Red Wings in the 2008 Finals because it was an extraordinary effort on his part. But this erases all that.

The minute you move from "playing with an edge" to "attempting to critically injure" is the minute you become no different than a mafia hitman sent to break the legs of a small time crook encroaching on the boss' territory.

The knee-on-knee hit, in my opinion, is the worst act that happens all too frequently in the NHL.

Brooks Orpik is just the latest player to succumb to the urge to injure another player. May the book be thrown your way Mr. Orpik.

(Click 'Read More' below for more thoughts on the game!)

The Tuze Comes Through

There may never be peace amongst Red Wings fans when it comes to the evaluation of Todd Bertuzzi, but I hope tonight many of you haters were able to take off the "No-Tuzzi" hats and acknowledge what he did tonight.

Unlike last season, where he absolutely refused to answer all bells rung in his direction, Bertuzzi went after Orpik right away and tried to make him pay for his transgression. Whether he won the fight or got his ass handed to him isn't important here. What's important is this:

We now have irrefutable proof that Bertuzzi thinks of himself as a Red Wing and only a Red Wing.

Seriously, the guy jumped to Franzen's aid immediately. This wasn't a matter of convenience either, he sought him out and started throwing his fists because he had just witnessed a team mate being attacked by an opposing player. And that's awesome.

Not since his Vancouver days can I ever really recall Bertuzzi identifying himself with another team. What we heard tonight via Ken Kal, was the metamorphosis of Todd Bertuzzi, from much maligned and equally praised current player on the Red Wings to Todd Bertuzzi, the player who will stand up for his teamates and current member of the Red Wings.

There's a small difference, but it's there.

That's Our Ruslan

Not really a whole lot to praise about tonight's game, but Ruslan Salei is a definite positive.

He scored the Wings' only goal of the night, and from the sounds of things he played a solid game at both ends of the ice. In fact, when I was downstairs catching a bit of the Maple Leafs-Senators action, I mentioned that Salei had the goal and a friend of mine said he could not believe that the Red Wings were able to sign him for essentially Illich's loose change.

Now, I'm not saying he's going to light the world on fire, but what I am saying, for all those Wings fans worried about how Salei would transition to the Babcockian way of playing hockey, is that he will adjust quite quickly and proficiently and I truly cannot wait to see how this season will play out, not only for Salei, but also for the rest of the blueline corps.

Tweet of the Night

One specifically made me laugh out loud, and it's from Amerinadian19, who some of you may know as the head writer over at The Hole In The Door.

Upon learning about Crosby's injury:

Crosby may be hurt - word is that the Pens are summoning the OB/GYN to see if his vagina is ok

Classic stuff.

That's it for us tonight. The Wings next pre-season game is on Friday against the Chicago Blackhawks and I would hope the result would be somewhat more favourable. I promise I'll have a game-day update made up for that, I was just a little backlogged with school work this week.

Can't wait until the games actually mean something. I know you're all in the same boat.

Left Coast Bound: Lilja Joins the Sharks

2010-09-16T23:34:00.000-04:00

First On Lilja's List of Things to Attend to in California: Score a Superman Audition.

Today, news broke that Andreas Lilja, the man with the eternal scruff, will be joining the San Jose Sharks way out in Californie Way on a try-out contract in an attempt to remain in the NHL and not be relegated to obscurity in the KHL or the Swedish Elite League.

This also ends a long, drawn out, will-he-or-won't-he try out for the team saga that Lilja had going with the Red Wings, and one that had prompted me, and many other fellow Detroit Red Wing bloggers to write about it just last week. Finally, we can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that, should Lilja make the San Jose Sharks roster, his days in Detroit are over. That is without question.

What remains in question is whether or not the San Jose Sharks will pay a higher babysitter wage than the Red Wings were willing to, and whether or not the man Lilja will be responsible for keeping in check will be as clumsy and problematic as our very own loveable Jonathan Ericsson, who last season would be on par with the kid who ate crayons and wiped boogers on your shirt as he scampered around without any sort of direction.

In all seriousness, the Wings lose a valuable stay at home defender with absolutely zero (and I can't stress that enough) offensive upside. A guy who could log some great penalty kill time, but who also never ever used the generous 6' 3", 220 pound frame that he was given. In getting Lilja, I can only wish that San Jose is fortunate enough to witness a play as beautiful as his assist (ed. note: 1:36 mark) in the 2007 Western Conference Finals that set up Teemu Selanne's game winner. It was so magic that it's forever been burned into my skull.

In all seriousness though, Andreas Lilja provided a solid anchor on the blueline during his time in Detroit, and had the tall task of covering first for Brett "I'm Bobby Orr" Lebda and then for Jonathan "I'm A Small Man Trapped In A Big Body" Ericsson. He won a Cup here, was sorely missed on our second run to the finals, and no doubt will be missed on the PK should Ruslan Salei not rediscover his shutdown game that was a nightmare to play against while he was with Anaheim.

All the best Lils, and good luck cracking the San Jose roster.

Just don't ask your agent for any pointers.

Wishing Brian Lashoff the Best of Luck

2010-09-16T16:25:00.000-04:00

Brian Lashoff thinks back to his fond days playing at the K-Rock Centre in Kingston, before getting his head in the game.

With the Red Wings Prospect Tournament wrapping up yesterday, sadly in defeat to the Minnesota Wild, Red Wings Central did an outstanding piece on yet another blueline prospect in the Red Wings system. A one Mr. Brian Lashoff.

From the article:

Lashoff was a leader on the Red Wings' blue line at the NHL prospects tournament in Traverse City this week, helping them finish second following Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild in the gold-medal game. His no-nonsense approach was an important part of the Red Wings' best-ever finish.

The article goes on to compare his patient game and responsible play with that of current Wing, and defensive mainstay, Brad Stuart. great news if you're like me and can't even remember what shape the blueline was in without Brad Stuart, but horrendous news if you're in the "DAMN IT STUIE!" camp that emerged last year while Stuart began to falter a little under the heavy workload forced upon him.

So why would we here at Eight Legged Freaks do a feature on Lashoff? On an undrafted, but exciting prospect burning his way up the prospect rankings?

Surely those reasons are enough on their own, however we have some ulterior motives at work, and those would be that he captained our home town Kingston Frontenacs for the passed two seasons, and as a result he's become the prospect I most look forward to pulling on the Winged Wheel.

Many of those in Red Wings nation are absolutely and completely enamoured with Brendan Smith, however for us, it's Lashoff all the way. He's never been in any trouble, and has handled everything thrown at him with the utmost professionalism.

From the lows of going undrafted, to being traded to, at the the time, the worst team in the OHL and from the highs of winning a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championship playing for the U S of A, to making 20 appearances already as a Grand Rapids Griffin. He has worked hard, and through it all, he's had his nose to the grindstone, getting things done and making himself better in many aspects of his game.

So what does the future hold for ELF's current favourite non-NHL roster player? Well, the sky's the limit really.

Our defence continues to age, and the contracts all evaporate in a few years, and should Lashoff continue his rapid progress, he could see himself amongst the top four of defensive unit.

And who knows, maybe someday he could even be sporting the letter "A" above the Red Wings crest (but not in an Emma Stone way).

We here at Eight Legged Freaks are rooting for you Brian. Show 'em what you've got at Training Camp.

Can The Red Wings Win With Rafalski As The #1?

2010-09-15T09:21:00.001-04:00

Don't get too stressed yet Raffi, Lidstrom's still got your back for this season.

Yesterday, two different articles were posted that did a great job at being Debbie Downers in this joyous time leading up to Training Camp.

The first was a rather harmless little piece about fantasy hockey posted by George Malik, originally from CBS Sports Fantasy Preview, which said the following:

Whenever Nicklas Lidstrom retires, Rafalski will be the main man in Detroit, but it's not like he's suffering any by playing second fiddle. With the Wings, he has averaged close to 10 goals and 40 assists over the past three seasons, numbers anyone would love to have from a blueliner.

This is a fact: Brian Rafalski is a great offensive weapon at the blue line, as the Fantasy Preview suggests. He's got a cannon of a shot that, when he lets it rip, has eyes for the top corner. He distributes the puck on the powerplay better than almost anyone in the game, and he provides great breakouts with his first passes.

So what's the issue? Well, take a look at what Malik said in his little tidbit of analysis:

I have always assumed that the Wings would pick an unrestricted free agent defenseman off the market to bolster their ranks until they find an uber-prospect, but that's just me...

I hate to break it to you George, but it isn't just you, because I've been thinking, nay, banking on that thought ever since the "Will Lidstrom Retire" craze hit the second we were eliminated from the playoffs last season. And apparently, I'm not alone in worrying about what this means to the Red Wings ability to win.

Rob Discher over at the new and improved Production Line decided to take a dump on everyone's sunshine and rainbows to expose a very ugly reality that the Red Wings are facing in the next few years. That's not a shot at Mr. Discher at all, he did a very brave thing and I absolutely commend him on being brave enough to ask the question none of us want to know the answer to.

Anyways, in it, he very briefly touched on the post-Lidstrom era (PLE), and his synopsis was less than exciting:

We all know that Nick won’t be around forever. I’ve been mentally preparing for that moment for about 18 months now and there’s no point in rehashing his importance to this team. He’s the mistake-free, shut-down, smooth operator who does a million of the fundamentals that add up to a long playoff run. When he leaves, who steps into that role? Who becomes the heart and soul of that defense? I love the rest of the guys out there, but out of our current top four, one of them is gone in a year or two (Nick) and two of them have major flaws that prevent me from putting my long-term trust in them at a level I do with Nick…Kronwall (injury history) and Rafalski (Lidstrom-like age).

Could it be summed up any better?

In reality, Lidstrom is most likely done after this season. He's 40 years old, his son is enrolled at a Swedish Hockey Academy, he's won every award under the sun; in fact, I'm shocked he came back this year. Yes, he can still play, but at some point, he's going to get tired of the grind and he deserves to retire whenever he chooses.

Which brings us back to the uncomfortable question of whether or not Brian "Captain America" Rafalski can lead us to the promised land. And my answer is no.

Think of all the positive things I said about him earlier. Go ahead and re-read them if you want. Every single one of them is related to his offensive game. The shot, the powerplay presence, the puck distribution, every single thing happens on the other side of the red line. And that represents a very sad reality:

Brian Rafalski is a pretty good, but not great defensive defenseman.

Now, before I get flamed for that, let me explain. He's very average in his own zone. He is extremely turnover prone when he feels the slightest bit of pressure. He has trouble going into the corners to retrieve loose pucks. He can't clear anyone out of the crease, and he's an average shot blocker.

Not great.

In fact, I've always looked at Rafalski as the guy who needs, not benefits from, having Nicklas Lidstrom there to babysit him. Much like Lilja with Ericsson. Much like Stuart with Kronwall. Lidstrom provides that zen like presence that will be there when, not if, Rafalski screws up. Can any team really win with a number one defenseman who will look shaky from time to time?

I think, unfortunately, that answer is no, and when you look through our farm system, there isn't really a defenseman in it that has a balanced game like that of Lidstrom. I didn't say is as good as Lidstrom, I said balanced, as in, equally good offensive as he is defensive.

What I see for Ken Holland and company is a splashy free agent signing, probably as soon as this year. The market is decent at the top, and the Wings might have to spend a little to get a number one, of at the very least another number 1B guy like Rafalski is. Zdeno Chara, Andrei Markov and Tomas Kaberle are all viable options should they still be available come July 1st.

What do you think readers? Can the Red Wings win with Brian Rafalski, or will a big free agent signing be necessary if the Red Wings want to remain competitive in the brutal Western Conference?

I know one thing for sure: it's going to get really interesting come next off-season.

His Name Is ROOSLAAN!

2010-09-14T22:58:00.001-04:00

Ruslan Salei is so scary, he'll even eat your dreams.

So, it occurred to me earlier today that I hadn't actually written an article yet about my favourite off-season addition by far, but before I do, let's take a trip in the Delorean, crank it up to 88 miles per hour, and travel to October, 2007.

I was living in residence, starting my first year of university and had just discovered the joys of NHL 08 in an apartment down the hall. I had been playing a lot and had started branching out and choosing random teams to play as. It was here that I first discovered Ruslan Salei, as I played as the Florida Panthers.

It was Ruslan who would score the winning goal that game and solidify himself in my heart forever.

Flash forward to now and Ruslan Salei finally arrived, fresh off signing his one year, $750,000 contract to play for the Red Wings this year, and from the sounds of things, he is as excited as I am:

From MLive:

"It's an honor to be here," Salei said. "Look at this, all these Cups, all the players that play on this team, it's legendary, it's a dynasty. I'm really excited to be a part of it."

With any luck, Salei will be one of the key pieces to the Wings success this year, as he's expected to bring some nastiness, toughness, and stability to a third defensive pairing that will no doubt suffer through some of Johnathan Ericsson's further growing pains.

The Captain concurs:

“He’s a good skater and a good puck mover,” Lidstrom said. “He can play on the power play if needed and kill of penalties. All around he’s going to help us.”

Also of great importance is Salei's familiarity with Babcock's system, as he played for Babcock in Anaheim from 2002 to 2004. This should allow Salei to step right in and start playing, as opposed to suffering the same growing pains Johnathan Ericsson looks to be forever stuck in.

Salei's addition, and arrival at camp today, just means one more thing that's been a continuing theme this off-season: building up the depth for a long playoff run.

And while Salei's injury history leaves me a little worried - especially the fact that he played in only 14 games last season after requiring back surgery for Colorado - I expect him to fill in quite nicely as Lilja's replacement, and to provide some extreme nastiness on a back end that sometimes far too often resembles the Pillsbury Doughboy's stomach.

So, while Ruslan Salei adjusts to playing for the Red Wings, and re-acquaints himself with Mike Modano, we here at Eight Legged Freaks will reminisce about the clutch goal scoring of video game Ruslan Salei.

Hopefully some of that cyber skill will make an appearance during the season.

A Hungry Team Is Not A Happy Team...

2010-09-14T21:47:00.000-04:00

With a face like that, no wonder Snow White fell so hard for Happy...

...so it's a good thing the Red Wings have their resident Happy back in Jiri Hudler to make sure the team is adequately fed.

From the Detroit News:

If Hudler still has any frustration with the team over compensation or any other matter, Modano didn't notice it when the two went to dinner last week.

Hudler paid for Modano's meal and appears to be making any effort to reestablish any kind of rapport with his teammates that might have been lost.

So there you have it. All those rubles Hulder raked in last year are being put to good use, and his teammates' stomachs are the beneficiaries. Can you imagine the bill Jimmy Howard will rack up once those two go out to dinner?

All kidding aside, the way Hudler is approaching all of this is making me very happy. He knows he may have left management a little peeved, and his teammates even peeved-er, but the way he's come back and really expressed how much he's missed Detroit has solidified myself in the "Welcome Back" camp (I may even break out into that song they used in Welcome Back Kotter if he takes anyone else out to dinner).

Working out this summer with Dan Cleary and one of Chelios' trainers certainly helped get his foot back in the locker room, and his gracious attitude upon returning to the team has been just what the doctor ordered.

And all of that pales in comparison to how glad Babcock is to have him back.

A Happy Hudler in the line-up night in and night out means great things for the Wings. It means we have a finisher on the third line with a wicked shot. It means we have yet another offensive tool in the shed that can play on the powerplay and that can fill in when we get hit with an injury. And it means that we once again have a little guy who can find the holes on the ice with his offensive awareness.

Seriously, I never understood all the "trade Hudler" stuff that came about when it was announced he was coming back. The guy is a bonafide goal scorer, and has been touted as such since the day he was drafted (I remember because I read the Toronto Star's review of the draft the next morning while eating my Rice Krispies).

Welcome back Jiri. I have a feeling you're going to have a great year.

Should Andreas Lilja Accept a Try Out, Two Way Deal With The Wings?

2010-09-12T01:08:00.003-04:00

Andreas Lilja's reaction upon being told that being unemployed meant spending more time with his kids. Yikes.

By now Red Wings fans have become well versed in the tragedy that is Andreas Lilja's flailing NHL career, but for those who aren't here's a little refresher on how the Big Pylon has become the poster boy for the merciless, cuthroat NHL that Gary Bettman planned with his glorious CBA.

Towards the end of June, Ken Holland had already been busy. He locked up our resident Perfect Human in Nicklas Lidstrom for one more year at a reduced rate. He locked up the most Famous Backside This Side of the Mississippi in Tomas Holmstrom for two more years at a reduced rate. And finally, he signed the Most Debated Wing Since The Dawn of Time in Todd Bertuzzi for two more years, at a much grumbled over but perfectly adequate raise.

But still, something was missing.

A third pairing anchor. And Holland was prepared to look no further than the man who had been doing it for the last half of the season.

A one Andreas Lilja.

Only Lilja's eyes had become cash signs and there was no talking sense to the newly discovered Mr. Monopoly side of the tall Swede.

He expressed to anyone and everyone who would listen that, basically, the Wings were trying to hose him, that there was no room for promotion (apparently Lilja's the only one who forgot his brutal giveaway in 2007's Western Conference Finals) and that he would have no problem finding a long term deal elsewhere.

Basically, the guy wanted to feel the love both financially and, well, double financially basically.

Flash forward to now and the dude is in serious, serious trouble.

All potential suitors have apparently walked away. The Red Wings signed Ruslan Salei to replace Lils. Some KHL teams are sniffing around but really, its the KHL.

Basically, Andreas Lilja's fantasies of diving into a swimming pool of gold coins a la Scrooge McDuck have all but evaporated.

And the big guy knows it.

Still, the guys been skating with the team at Joe Louis Arena. He's been hanging out. He's once again talking to anyone that will listen, only this time it's as a humbled, broken man who realizes by holding out for more, he may end up getting less.

Truly, there seems to be no happiness to this tale.

Or is there?

The Red Wings begin training camp tantalizingly soon. Could Lilja be joining them?

(Click Read More after the jump!)

George Malik already posted a rumour that, yes, Lilja could be going to camp with the Wings. And if he did, would it be possible for him to get a two-way contract at the end of it for the year?

Let's take an in-depth look at this:

Lilja isn't getting many offers, and I'm 100% positive it has something to do with the fact that his brains were scrambled eggs for a full calendar year courtesy of chef Shea Weber. The market is dead, he knows it, as do a bunch of other solid, but not great defensemen out there.

So, what if he accepts a one-year, two way deal?

Obviously the risk for Andreas in that situation is gargantuan. He could get another concussion, this time spelling curtains for his entire career. Or a knee injury. Or something so horrific doctors themselves would cower in terror.

And all for a measly $105, 000. A Dan Ellis problem to be sure.

But, there may be something in signing on the dotted line.

Should he stay healthy, Lilja will get a chance to play for the big club as an injury call up, and God knows with Kronwall on the blue line, something is going to happen. He also would get yet another shot to post some good numbers, maybe even some fantastic numbers playing for Grand Rapids, which is close enough to enough NHL teams that he wouldn't go unnoticed. And, finally, with Salei only signing a one year deal, the possibility that Lilja could return next season is that much greater, as both players' contracts would be expiring at the same time.

Now, would Lils be OK packing his own equipment and talking the Greyhound bus to games? That depends on how much he likes signing the Flintstones theme song with his team mates. But if it's good enough for Kirk Maltby then it sure as hell better be okay for Andreas Lilja.

In all likelihood, Lilja's career is absolutely, 100% over in Detroit for the time being. No professional athlete would opt to play for a minor league team when there is the potential that teams overseas want them. And there's also the possibility of a team suffering an injury in the first week of the season and needing help on the blueline bad enough to cave to Lilja's inflated contract demands.

For Detroit, the hassle of dealing with him may have been enough to sever ties. Or perhaps Kenny is looking at way in which he can masterfully circumvent the cap, er, creatively manage his team's salary structure in order to bring him back. Or maybe Lilja will sign a one year, $500, 000 contract with the stipulation that they pay him in quarters so that he can fulfill that Scrooge McDuck fantasy afterall.

Really, who knows?

All I'm saying is that, for Andreas Lilja there really aren't that many options. And maybe suddenly Grand Rapids isn't looking so bad.

Seasons Change: An ELF Tribute To The New Hockey Season

2010-09-09T17:27:00.000-04:00

It starts with a smell.

It's not a distinct smell, not like a burning camp fire or freshly baked cookies. Or even one as faint as the last few remnants of someone's cologne as you enter an elevator.

It's a smell that brings with it a crisp, cool breeze. The kind that gets under your T-shirt, that tells you it isn't just a refreshing gust of wind sent to free you from the unrelenting grip of summer heat. The kind that tells you things that words can't quite describe.

And soon player T-shirts are exchanged for RBK jerseys, roller blades for skates, and in backyards everywhere fathers stay up late, alone with a garden hose, trying to channel their inner Walter Gretzky, or at the very least provide their kids with enough ice to learn cross-overs, to skate backwards, and to master their backhander.

But most importantly, it's the smell of Fall, the smell of changing leaves, of skates sharpening, of ice time being booked, and of course, the sound of hundreds of American made cars chugging up the I-75 to Traverse City, to take a first look at familiar faces gone too long, to scout out new recruits who are fighting to earn a spot in their hearts, but more importantly a spot on Babcock's roster.

Yes, it's the start of another Training Camp. Which means that Pre-Season is just around the corner. Which means that you, me and hockey fans everywhere are almost trembling with excitement. Because, once all the games of glorified shinny are played by a mix of farmhands, wide-eyed kids and grizzled vets (of which the Red Wings have many), that means that for 82 nights, we're all in the same boat.

With every hit, we feel it. With every goal, we stand up and cheer. And with every mind boggling save by none other than Jimmy the Kid, we displaced members of Hockeytown will collectively high five, hug and fist bump.

The smells of the arena are already creeping into our consciousness. The hot dogs, the Little Caesars pizza, the ice, the stale beer spilled on long-trudged on steps. And of course, the sounds.

The sounds of Ken Daniels, Mickey Redmond and Larry Murphy, the voices that keep us company while we study in libraries, watch the game with our kids, or stare in wide eyed amazement of the new, the old and the downright fantastic. The roar of the crowd as the opening day starting line-up skates out onto the ice, the boos as rival teams try to prove themselves in our barn.

And of course, for the players, the new season represents a clean slate, where they are free from past scrutiny, where every shift allows them the opportunity to write another chapter in their career, be it a goal that leaves opposing defensemen looking for their jock strap or a blocked shot on a powerplay that keeps the team in the game.

It's a time where familiar faces of our favourite players become a permanent highlight rolling in our heads from the minute the puck drops in game 1 and beyond. Where these players who most of us have never met, come out of their summer hibernation and remind us why we like to think of them as friends in the first place.

And most importantly, it's a time where somewhere, a fresh faced fan who has never watched a game of hockey yet, tunes into his local broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, or Fox Sports Detroit and watches as his heroes, his idols, his whole world play hard every shift, fight for every inch, and prove to anyone and everyone that nothing in life is easy, and that hard work is all you need.

Yes, the fall brings with it all of these things, and many more. It is a time where new memories are formed. Where jubilation can turn to a broken heart just as quickly as a broken heart can turn right back into a celebration.

For 82 games, millions of people across the country renew friendly rivalries, trash talking, and rejoin their fall families as they root, and cheer and live and die with every game.

For 82 nights, kids dream of heroes gone too long, and adults talk odds, stats and "did you see that goal?"

For 82 nights, men in prime physical shape will fight, grind, score and save, all in the name of being remembered.

And for 82 nights I will sit, huddled in front of my computer, watching the games with my fellow friends.

Do you smell that?

It's the smell of hockey, of fall, but most importantly, of 82 incredible nights to come.

Welcome Home Mo, and Other Off-Season Musings From an Absent-Far-Too-Often Blogger

2010-08-06T19:37:00.000-04:00

Don't look so stunned Mike. Sure, you can't have your trademark golden tan with the Detroit winters, but Mo-Town will be the perfect fit.

Today marks the forever historic date of August 6th. Why historic?

Well, first ever Aussie rules football game was played today. Satchel Paige became the oldest player to pitch a complete game, but that was ruined earlier this year by the never aging Jamie Moyer. And of course John Barrymore was providing shortness of breath for teens everywhere as Spanish Lady Slayer, Don Juan.

But it's now forever historic for another reason.

It's the day Willa Ford decided she wanted to move to Detroit, so she convinced her husband to get a job with the local professional hockey team. And it just so happens that her husband isn't just some schlub, but happens to be one Michael Modano, he of Minnesota/Dallas Stars fame for 22 years, and the all-time leading scorer amongst those who call the US of A home.

So yeah, it's a pretty big deal.

First, before I start talking about how truly awesome (take that Nodanos...) it is that he's joining our team, let me first say that I extend my condolences to those who represent the Dallas Stars fanbase. It's never easy to say goodbye to a team's favourite son, hell, look at what we went through when Yzerman left this year....four years after he laced up his last skate.

So, I'm sorry that your team's GM decided he would rather cut ties with a legend than give him another shot, and I'm sorry that he fell face first into a winning organization that he just couldn't say no to. This stuff happens. Maybe, one day when you're relevant again Dallas, and one of our franchise players is nearing retirement...well, we honour legacies here in Detroit so I guess you'll all just be treated to witnessing us sign another extension for yet another solid veteran.

Them's the breaks I guess.

Now, this post won't be too long for two reasons. One, it's been covered to death, and been covered from all angles. How Modano is good (bad) for the team because he brings depth (hinders player development) and is going to force us to lose (not likely going to lead us to lose) Mathias Ritola, who has suddenly become so enamoured amongst Red Wings fans that I'm absolutely astonished that his jersey isn't the highest selling jersey amongst Wings fans and 29 GM's in the league.

Seriously. The guy took a long time deciding to come back. I know I had an issue with it, sort of. But you know what? He did it. He left the only team he's ever known in the NHL for a team in the same Conference that he will play four times this year, and play in Dallas' home opener for goodness sakes. It's a tough choice, and the fact that he chose us is amazing.

Now, after watching his presser today, I am convinced the guy wants to be here. Absolutely. He was all smiles. He was reminiscing about his days in the Little Caesar's hockey teams. He thanked everyone over and over. Stressed how much fun it would be to play for a winning organization. Stressed that his wife encouraged him to shove it up Dallas' ass and prove he could still play (them blondes, they can be so vindictive.)

Is he going to light the lamp? Score 70 points? Demolish opposing goalies? No, and the best part is, that's not who we need him to be. We need him to anchor our third line. Pass it to Hudler who, if memory serves me correctly, has quite the shot when he wants to. Chip in on our second powerplay unit, win our hearts and let Willa come to a few games to help spawn the inevitable "WHOS HOTT3R" polls between Modano and Z's new bride.

Personally, I think this shows Holland and Co. are still in Stanley or bust mode. Modano (plus the later announcement of Helm's extension) and the soon to be signed Abdelkader clearly show that the brain trust believes we've got what it takes to win, and should the horrendous slew of injuries hit us again this year (please God no), that we've got adequate depth at forward to be the appropriate Buckwheat level of O-Tay. And that makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. And so it should to you.

Now, there's also been some mighty enticing Willie Mitchell rumours going around, with Mitchell apparently considering playing in the Winged Wheel next season. To that, I say goodbye Meech, and farewell Ritola, even though that would clearly be the end of the world. Why Mitchell and not Lilja? Easy.

Mitchell is better. And tougher. And meaner. And cooler. And, and this may be the BIGGEST reason, he is my go-to guy in every incarnation of EA's NHL series, as he is always a free agent, he's rated 85, and he's helped me rebuild the Atlanta Thrashers four times (I'm still in talks to actually take over the franchise, but apparently "limo with pool on the roof, and inside" is really stalling talks.).

Seriously though, Mitchell, if he is in fact considering a one year deal to prove he's still got it, should now be priority numero uno. He would absolutely help babysit The Big E (which means error) on our third pairing. He would be absolutely invaluable when Kronwall inevitably gets a booboo on his...well anywhere really, providing stability and the luxury of stepping up to our top 4.

Seriously, this Modano signing and Willie Mitchell rumour has got me more excited than I've been in months. The upside is HUGE (think Dumbo's mom) and the lackadasial off-season we've had so far has in turn led me to be a horrible blogger (my writing certainly helps that too, but I'm not one to nitpick). If these additions happen than I'm certain we get Power Ranked #1 everywhere. Even in the NBA pre-season rankings.

Colour me excited. With your 64 pack of Crayola Crayons. Because I think it's going be a pretty decent year.

Summa Time Update: Loss of Lebda Leaves ELF Staff Devastated

2010-07-14T16:35:00.002-04:00

Visual Representation of Eight Legged Freaks Proficiency at Dropping The Ball

I know what you're all thinking.

This Eight Legged Freaks guy (that needs to be a plaque on my desk) is a terrible writer who is a fair weather fan and only posts stuff when things are going on.

"UNTRUE!" is what I would exclaim if I heard anyone utter those words. Fact of the matter is, I have been paying attention. I've been monitoring every big signing (read: four), every trade (uhm...) and every waiver claim (there was...a few?) just like the rest of you. I've even poked my head in at other blogs, taken a gander and then sometimes even lifted my stubby little fingers and typed away a pointless observation or trite story that promptly ended most conversations.

Yes, the lack of hockey has truly turned me into that guy.

But if you all want to know the truth as to why I've been absent well, the answer is quite simple.

I've been reeling from the loss of Brett "The American" Lebda.

That's right, him leaving has left me sadder than the saddest panda around, and a consequence of the void now left in my life has been a lack of blogging. So, once again, please forgive me. It's not easy to get over someone as dreamy as good old Lebda.

So, before I go on to post the mother of all updates, let me warn you that this article will get messy. By the end of it, I may just be curled up in a ball, snot dripping down my nose, and four kleenex boxes balled up and emptied (not like that you perverts!) on the floor as I continue to mourn the loss of Lebda.

Oh, but this isn't all going to be about Brett. This will encompass everything we've witnessed thus far, since the draft. So in the immortal words of Dr. Ray Arnold, "Hold onto your butts."

(Continued after the jump)

How Much Has This Free Agency Downright SUCKED!

And I mean that with a capital "S" and a capital "D" (heehee).

Normally, Free Agent Frenzy Day is a bigger deal to me than Canada Day, which also happens to fall on the same day. this year, when I had to work on Free Agency Day, I was devastated, as I have yet to miss a Free Agent Day yet in my life. But, alas, my coworkers and I were crafty, and we were able to get OMG! EXCITED over the likes of these signings:

Sergei Gonchar (Ottawa)
Zybnyk Michalek (Pittsburgh)
Paul Martin (Pittsburgh)
Dan Hamhuis (Vancouver)
Derek Boogard (Rangers)
Prospal (Rangers)
John Scott (Blackhawks)

And the list goes on. I couldn't help but notice you fall asleep while reading. Don't worry, you're not alone. Because, after all that excitement on Day 1, 14 days later, I've signed and traded more players by not playing my broken copy of NHL 10 than these real General Managers who, if I'm correct, get paid to sign and trade players for the betterment of their team and to excite their fanbase. Consider 99% of the league's fanbases unfulfilled and about as excited as they would be if you handed out free passes to the Paint Chip Museum in North Bay Ontario.

In other words: COMPLETE FAILURE

This, coupled with the fact that Kovalchuk continues to hold out in the hopes that he too will convince ESPN Russia to give him an hour time slot for his "Decision". Just take the freaking rubbles offered by the KHL and get stop making this a sideshow, you primadonna loser! (Sorry, personal opinion seeped in there...).

So, after all this, the question on everyone's lips is: why the heck is this happening? There are a handful of teams with millions of dollars in cap space, but why aren't they doing anything? And, much like everything else, this all boils down to two people:

Dale Tallon and Glen Sather.

See, these two bumbling idiots (Tallon actually proved pretty competent at this year's draft, and thus far seems like a good choice for Florida, so he gets a pass for this offseason) have gone out and spent to the nines, clearly having missed the years worth of negotiations that set a salary cap in place and caused us hockey fans to completely lose a season. Signings like Chris Drury and Scott Gomez and Wade Redden and Brian Campbell and Christobal Huet, all "B" rated players, for contracts as high, or higher, than the elite players at their respective positions helped to both grossly inflate worth, and as a result, reset the salary structure in the league.

What we're left with now are problem contracts left right and centre, and teams that should be spending being rendered completely unable to due to stupid moves that took place over years. The well-documented Chicago exodus? A salary cap coup. The fact that only two teams (the LA Kings and the New Jersey Devils) can afford Kovalchuk? Thanks a lot Sather and Tallon, because you guys are the reason that Eric Staal, a pretty good player, can pull in $8.25 million a year, because he's better than Chris Drury, and there's no way he should be making less than him.

So yes, this free agency has sucked. Sure, Pittsburgh shored up their blue line, as did Vancouver, and the Devils got better defensively with the addition of Volchenkov. But when Kurtis Foster is one of the biggest "HOLY CRAP" signings in what has historically been a fire sale day in the NHL, the league General Managers have to be held accountable, both for eating cap space they evidently had no idea existed, and for causing this cosmic shift in player worth. Which is something the Red Wings have been feeling since day 1 in their continuing courtship for...

Mike Modano, who either needs to make a decision, or stop wasting my, and Kenny Holland's time.

Seriously Mike, we get it. You don't know if you want to play anymore. But it's getting to the point where I'm not sure I want you to play anymore, and I say that having been a big fan of yours despite the fact that you were a member of the Dallas Stars forever. What am I talking about? Well, let's back-track shall we?

On July 1st, Ken Holland did his due diligence and "kicked the tires" in regards to whether or not Mike Modano wanted to come play in his home state as a last hurrah before calling it quits, and potentially going out on top with his name being etched on the Stanley Cup. In other words, a real Hollywood type story that his show-biz wife can surely relate.

Things went so well, in fact, that Modano high-tailed it up to Detroit and has a lavish dinner with Holland and Babcock, where they talked about how he would be their third line pivot, and potentially their second line powerplay centre. They then took in a baseball game in the private suite of Mike Ilitch, continued to talk and no doubt enjoy some peanuts and sunflower seeds, and then the two went their separate ways.

In fact, the schmooze went so well that Modano tipped his hand and said, in no uncertain terms, that it was either Detroit, or retirement.

This apparently alarmed some of the other copycat franchises in the league, and within a few days of that money quote, and countless debates springing up all over Red Wings nation on whether the move would be good or bad for the club, suddenly the San Jose Sharks (Red Wings West) and the Minnesota Wild were hammering on Ol' Mike's door, and suddenly, the lock that appeared to be Modano-to-Detroit began evaporating.

Flash forward to now, a week after all that BS took place, and it looks like Ken Holland is getting a little fed up. While he didn't say anything outright like, oh I don't know, Detroit or retirement, he is starting to go public with the team plans should Modano continue to be wishy-washy and push Holland's patience.

Matter of factly, Holland stated that they'd be going after a 6/7th defenseman, and ideally it would be one with a little grit, in the Garnett Exelby mold, or one who can play responsibly and babysit the new kids, like a Jay McKee type player.

And, as we Red Wings fans continually wake up every morning to check whether or not Modano finally made up his mind, this leads me to ponder...

How the hell is Lilja still on the market, and Lebda isn't?

All right. Some of you may recall our little love sonnet to Lebda earlier this year. We had noticed that, with a little more ice time, our previous most hated Red Wing had become somewhat competent at his position and even pushed us to lobby against his being traded when Lilja was returning from injury.

Alas, real hockey minds like Mike Babcock clearly knew we here at ELF were mistaken, because as soon as was humanly possible, Lebda was never given another shot, and was even taunted by the coaching staff in being allowed to dress for a game late in the season only to see ZERO minutes of ice time.

Talk about a clear indication of not being wanted.

So when free agency began on July 1st, I don't think any Wings fan was shocked that Brett hadn't even been tendered an offer by the Red Wings, and had only been courted by the KHL leading up to that point. Then, on July 7th, Brian Burke continued to prove me right every time I say he's a questionable General Manager at best.

For some reason, Brian Burke saw Brett Lebda and his 63 games played (none missed because of injury), his 1 goal, his 7 assists (despite playing like an offensive defenseman) and his -2 rating and said, "This guy needs a 153% pay raise".

And so, because Lebda may be bad but he is no fool, Brett eagerly signed what will most likely be the biggest contract of his life, hoping to God that Dave Nonis wouldn't catch wind of this tomfoolery and put the kibosh on Burke's "plan" to bring the Leafs a championship.

Are we being entirely fair here to Lebda? Absolutely not. I still think he's a terrific skater, but he also jumps up on the play when he's no supposed to, makes terrible shot selections and often hustles more offensively than defensively. In fact, when he played here, his mistakes were often covered by Andreas Lilja, who inexplicably is still waiting for a job while his infinitely inferior defensive partner happily made bank.

Now, Lilja proved he is no slouch defensively upon returning from a year long concussion last year. He gobbles up penalty-killing minutes, he blocks shots, and he'll get in the occasional scrap just so you don't forget he's out there.

The Red Wings kind of said they wanted him back prior to the start of free agency, but when Lilja said he wanted more money, Ken Holland said, "That's Nice" and sent him on his merry way.

Fourteen days later, and Lilja still remains no one's property.

Now, should Modano decide to sign elsewhere, or maybe even call it quits (no doubt after he gets a half hour special on ESPN, aired directly after Kovalchuk's), perhaps Ken Holland will give him a call and ask if he's had enough non-interest on the free agent market, and, like your mother would call you in after you "ran away from home", ask if you'd like to come in and have some dinner.

Let's face it: for less than a million, Lilja is an absolute lockdown defenseman, who may not be the most physical, but will still not make a dumb mistake that costs your team the 2007 Stanley Cup Final series. Well, okay. He won't be the guy who does it twice.

For what it's worth, I want the guy back, but I would also rather see a true physical defenseman who can block shots and use his size appropriately, but I also understand that, should this Modano fiasco continue to challenge the Never Ending Story for naming rights, the pickings may be slim by the time we get our shot at the fish in the pond.

Whatever happens, happens, and I have faith that Kenny has contingency plans for his contingency plans and that, in the end, we'll pull through relatively unscathed.

Two Men Vital to the PK Sign, One Remains Unsigned

I almost forgot to include the two signings the Red Wings actually did make this offseason, which were the resigning of both Drew Miller and Patrick Eaves to one-year deals, making Darren Helm to only regular from last year left unsigned.

Now, last season I was a huge fan of Eaves. My Ottawa Senators fan roommate has never recovered from the trade that saw him leave Ottawa, and so him arriving on the Red Wings roster was a pleasant surprise, as was his production.

Along with Helm, he proved to be one of our most consistent energy guys, blocking shots, revitalizing out penalty kill, and playing the physical game, which included his fists when the need arose.

Miller was also a nice surprise after being picked up off waivers from Tampa Bay, setting a career high in points, goals, assists, basically everything. He also became a vital role player, blocking shots, etc. though he wasn't as endearing to me as he apparently was to many other Wings fans, and that very well may be due to his alumni status from Michigan State.

Still, the two resigning for a year ensured that, at the very least, we're going to have a better powerplay than the Swiss Cheese one we had in 2009, and that we retain some quality grinders with surprisingly good hands.

And the fact that we may once again get to see the greatest shoot out attempt ever once more.

FINAL WORD

Yes readers (for those that remain), I fully admit that I have failed you over the last few weeks. But, with how abysmal this off-season has been, there's at least a reason for it. Coupled with losing Wonderboy Brett, it's been trying for both of us.

As a programming note I will be going on vacation next week (finally) and will be visiting the home of out Little Brother, hopefully sporting a Gordie Howe player tee, and will then be swinging around to the Big D to catch two Tigers games with a buddy of mine, so any restaurant recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah, and if Mike Modano makes up his mind in the time that I am gone on vacation, then it would just serve as the perfect form of punishment for me and my inconsistent updates.

Fellow Wings fans, may the off-season of no-news continue no longer!

NHL Draft 2010: "I Love LA" Edition

2010-06-24T13:30:00.004-04:00

Let's leave Chicago to the bandwagoners. That's town's a little too idiotic. For you and me you bad girl.

-Randy Newman, "I Love LA" lyrics

Well would you look at that, even Randy Newman knows what's really going on when it come to Chicago and their "fans". That beats out that lame Toy Story song any day. Now where was I going with this... oh yeah.

Tomorrow is the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles! And guess what!

I don't care.

There. I said it. And here's why:

The NHL Draft always sucks. It's not like the NFL where you get to see next year's starting players. In fact, if you're not selected in the top 10, chances are you won't be seen in the NHL for at least the next three years on a consistent basis. Which is why I find it hard to get all revved up and excited for who the Red Wings will take because I was fourteen when they drafted Jimmy Howard and I'm 20 now and I only just witnessed what he was capable of.

I guess, officially, I'm just way too impatient.

But, that doesn't mean I'm not going to link you to everything you need to know draft wise, because I will need other people to tell me who the Red Wings drafted and why I should care about that. Because that's what happened last draft day, and the one prior to that, and the one prior to that. If that makes me less of a fan in your eyes, well, so be it, but I assure you that's not the case. Anyways, before we get to the link-o-mania, let's first get a few things straight, specifically, when the Red Wings draft, and what their strategy will be.

This year, the Red Wings hold the 21st overall pick in the draft. Which means all the heavy-hyped players will be gone an hour before the Red Wings pick, which means the name that gets called will have us all scrambling for our laptops to see just who the hell this new member of our favourite organization happens to be.

Also of note: the stupid Atlanta Thrashers enabled Chicago to get a second first round pick, which means that our Little Brothers fell ass-backwards into a retool-for-the-future situation really quickly as opposed to having to wait forever, which is what I really wanted to happen. But them's the breaks when the NHL allows a team as dumb as Atlanta to exist, so enough about that.

The Hockey Writers have a Top 100 list of the best 100 prospects goings into tomorrow's draft, and at number 21 they have Jaden Schwartz, a 5' 10", 180 pound centreman who played for Tri-City in the USHL.

However, since drafts never go according to mock drafts (see: Oakland Raiders in the NFL) or prospect rankings, let's expand our look to include the prospect before, and after their 21st ranking.

At 20, they have Vladimir Tarasenko, a 5' 11", 202 pound right winger from, you guessed it, Russia. They have a note saying he's a top 7 talent, but might be snatched up by the KHL and I've had enough of that to last me a lifetime thanks to the Jiri Hudler fiasco.

At number 22 is another Russian by the name of Evgeny Kuznetsov. He's another small (5' 10", 172 pounds) center, and is listed as being remarkably talented, however wildly inconsistent. Which potentially can be fixed, but really, who knows when dealing with prospects. Also, he's another Russian, so he also poses a "flee to KHL" risk that I'm really not interested in having to go through again.

Take a look at that list and see if there's anyone who you would want the Wings to take.

(Coming up: Red Wings beat writer's choices, comments from the brain-trust, and other blogger selections on behalf of the Detroit Red Wings, all after the jump)

Chris McCosky of detnews.com notes that this is the second highest draft pick the Red Wings have had in 20 years, or my entire life.

Let's just stop and relish in that for a minute. The Red Wings have only finished worse once, and as a result had a better draft pick in that long. That's really saying something about how successful this organization has been not only on the ice, but also off the ice in their late-round drafting.

Anyways, McCosky goes on to note that the Red Wings' strategy remains unchanged, as they will no doubt be going with the best player available, based on their scouting notes and who they feel they need, including this little tidbit:

"It will probably be a skater; I don't see us taking a goaltender. But with us, regardless of the draft position, the player we draft is a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years away. So you just want to draft an asset and hope he'll be ready five years from now."

See? Long time before we get to see this kid, whoever he may be. But I digress.

Basically, Holland has faith in not only Jimmy Howard, but also in Thomas McCollum and, if he does come back, Daniel Larson, so goaltending can wait another year. Thank God, because we suck at drafting goalies.

Nill has this to say about the Red Wings draft strategy:

"We are always looking to get bigger up front, but you look at it, there could be eight to 10 skilled, little forwards available to us,"

Please do. Please, for the love of God, draft a forward who won't be pushed around so much. That's all that I ask.

McCosky goes on to select a few names on the Top 100 list that he feels the Wings are looking at. Click the link for more, but I'd like to highlight one in particular, and that would be Mr. Riley Sheahan, currently a member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Why him?

Well, our friends over at Winging It In Motown feel that he's our boy if he drops the two spots we need him to in order for him to be available.

From WingingItInMotown:

ISS has him listed as the 22nd best player available, but some mock drafts have him going in the top dozen. Having just turned 18 in December, it's fair to assume he may add a few more pounds to his 6'2", 200 pound frame -- and if he improves on his finishing ability, he could develop into a big bodied scoring threat with defensive prowess.

I'm down for that. A big bodied, defensively responsible forward who could be a steal come the 21st pick? Does it get anymore Red Wing than that? I don't think so.

So readers, if you're unlike me and actually do care about the NHL entry draft, why don't you fill me in on your pick for the Red Wings at number 21. Think of it as a contest akin to "Principal for a Day" that would happen in elementary school, only you don't actually get to be Ken Holland, or meet them at all.

Tomorrow night, all the mystery will be gone. And I can't wait to scramble to read everything I can to welcome the newest Red Wing to the fold.

Datsyuk Makes Speech, Causes Judges to Think Twice About Giving Another Red Wing an Award...

2010-06-24T12:22:00.002-04:00

Just as Jimmy robs Donovan, so too was the young Detroit netminder robbed by East Coast bias as Tyler Myers undeservedly takes home the Calder at the 2010 NHL Awards in Vegas.

Really, that's the only reason I can come up with for Jimmy not taking home the Calder because damn that boy was robbed. I attribute most of it to age bias, or the bias against Red Wings winning the Calder (see: NHL Awards 2003) for no reason other than:

The press seems to believe that the Red Wings can't produce good rookies as they are an "old team" and rely on the veterans to pull the new kids through the season.
Jimmy was 26 years young while Tyler Myers was only 19 and hadn't had the luxury of playing in college and then in the AHL.

To that, I say who cares. Jimmy's stat line for year one in the NHL was insane-o in the membrane-o. Take a look:

Ranked 8th in Goals Against (2.26), 5th in Save Percentage (.924), 8th in Wins (37) and first in treating Rosby like the little douche he is! (ed. note: that last one might have hurt his chances...)

The fact is, while Myers had a very good season (much like Barrett Jackman (who??!?!?!) had one in his rookie season) it's pretty much like comparing Beethoven's 5th Symphony with my rendition of Jingle Bells on the guitar I made with a kleenex box, a paper towel role and some elastic bands.

It's not even f*cking close.

Honestly, Howard could have won the Hart, the Vezina, the Ted Lindsay and gone home and given Mrs. Howard a King Clancy (see How I Met Your Mother, but it does involve Maple Syrup) and even then he wouldn't have been recognized enough for the phenomenal season he had.

Steve Mason won because he had a spectacular ten shutouts, even though the rest of his stats were worse than Jimmy's. How that means that a goalie shouldn't win just because he was consistently better but unfortunately couldn't hold on to the shutout is beyond my understanding and just makes me a sad panda. And I'm not alone on this.

Drew, from Nightmare On Helm Street, had this to say over on WingingItInMotown:

Detroit doesn't make the play-offs without Howard. He's the team's MVP and should have got some consideration for a Hart/Vezina nomination...even though he would have had no chance of winning....Any thoughts of Myers being nominated for a Hart/Norris or even team MVP? No chance.

And he's absolutely right. Myers did have an impressive year, but not one to make your jaw drop and crown him the next Barrett Jackman, which unfortunately the members of the press were all too ready to do.

Jimmy Howard was the Rookie of the Year, plain and simple. He knows that, the Red Wings know that, and I'm pretty sure the Los Angeles Kings and the Phoenix Coyotes know that too.

But such is life in the NHL. Western Conference teams suffer from the East Coast bias prevalent in the media because their games are too late and sports writers need their beauty sleep. And 26 year old rookies will never get the respect that a 19 year old gets, even if the numbers they put up rank them in the same discussion as Martin Bordeur, Ilya Bryzgalov and Ryan Miller.

And that, loyal readers, is just downright criminal.

In other news: Datsyuk wins third consecutive Selke, makes yet another hilarious acceptance speech.

"Thank you Detroit Management, for paying me. I hope it never ends." (ELF's unofficial version of what Datsyuk said upon accepting his third consecutive Selke Trophy.)

Pavel Datsyuk and his comedy act got another chance to do his spiel live in front of his peers, and this time he made sure to thank his biggest inspiration of all: Mike Illich's check book.

Seriously though, I think it's safe to say that Pavel Datsyuk officially ranks as one of the best ever defensive forwards in league history, next to the likes of Guy Carbonneau and Bob Gainey. His takeaway advantage is just un-godly, his vision and reflexes are superhuman, and the best part is that he's been the Red Wings leading scorer through all of this.

His three in a row rank him second all-time in consecutive wins (big stick tap to bleep bloop for the fact) and it also goes to show you that, since Bowman changed us into a puck possession team, no other team has more wins at the Selke position than the Red Wings (7 collectively), which is no doubt a huge reason why the Red Wings have been so dominant for the last two decades.

Congratulations Pavel, and while it's too bad you lost out on being most gentlemanly, you more than deserved the Selke Trophy.

Former Wing/Griffin Kris Newbury Re-ups With NY Rangers

2010-06-19T10:42:00.000-04:00

Last season, Ken Holland went out and raided the Maple Leafs' farm system for quality depth forwards who could round out the Griffins roster and hopefully allow for them to be competitive. The result?

Well, the Griffins failed to impress and missed the playoffs, however that didn't mean those plucked from the Leafs farm system weren't any good. Among them was Kris Newbury, a 28 year old grinding centre who spent most of his time on the farm team. However, he did suit up for four regular season games for the Wigns when injuries were at an all time high, and he even scored a goal during his mini-stint.

His totals as a Griffin: 11 goals 22 assists and a -13 rating, with a whopping 144 PIMs in 52 games played.

Many fans felt that he was a valuable depth player, but during the 2010 Trade Deadline, Newbury was dealt to the New York Rangers for tough guy Jordan Owens, a younger, tougher player, who doesn't sport the same knack for scoring that Newbury possessed.

Any hope Wings or Griffins fans had of retaining Newbury over the summer evaporated sometime yesterday, as the New York Rangers have reportedly re-signed Newbury to a two year deal worth $1.025 million.

He will likely spend most of that time playing for the New York Rangers AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolfpack.

Pre-Season Schedule 2010 Released: Starring None of Our Favourites

2010-06-19T02:35:00.002-04:00

Well, as we look forward to hockey starting up again (only a few months away!), the NHL has released its pre-season schedule, in the hopes that all the excitement and anticipation can be appropriately built up.

And built up it shall be, as the Red Wings get to play all the teams we hate.

Now, I'm not going to step on any fellow bloggers' toes here, so all the credit for pointing that out goes to Drew, over at Nightmare on Helm Street.

What can else can I say, other than the fact that we get to play on back-to-back-to-back nights twice is just how you want to avoid fatigue and ensure injuries don't occur.

Because it's not like we've had a problem with that in the past.

Anyways, here's the schedule. I've got to see if I can grab tickets to the game in Toronto, as technically that's a "home" game for me. Other than that, should be fun.

Also, if for at any reason you absolutely need to see the schedule, it's presented in graphic form under the tab "Pre-Season Schedule 2010" at the top of the home page, underneath the banner.

Here's the plain text version:

Sept. 22: @Pittsburgh Penguins
Sept. 24: vs. Little Brother
Sept. 25: @ Little Brother
Sept. 26: vs. NY Rangers
Sept. 29: @ NY Rangers
Oct. 1: vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
Oct. 2: @ Toronto Maple Leafs
Oct. 3: vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

So, to sum it up, Rosby, followed by back-to-back dates against our opponents who suffer from massive inferiority complexes.

Something tells me this pre-season is going to get a little more heated than years passed.

Halak to the Blues Affects Red Wings in Big Way

2010-06-18T19:26:00.001-04:00

Halak's arrival in St.Louis means the Central Division just got a little tighter for the Red Wings,

though it's nothing they can't handle.

Yesterday, news of Jaroslav Halak's trade to the St. Louis Blues for Lars Eller, the Blues' 13th overall selection in 2007, and tough guy/grinder Ian Schulz, shocked the hockey world at large.

Montreal fans were irate, Blues fans positively giddy, and the media downright flabbergasted.

And for a while, the only thing I thought about was how awful one of my good friends must've felt upon hearing the news that the man they were calling "The Second Coming" following his absolutely downright filthy playoffs was no longer a Habitant.

And then, this afternoon I realize this trade affected the Red Wings in a big, big way.

Ladies and Gentlemen of Red Wings Nation: the Central Division just got a whole lot harder.

You see, at one time, the Blues were a decently dominant hockey team. They had one of the longest ever playoff streaks in pro-sports history, making it every year from 1979 to 2006. And then the wheels fell off the bus and they sucked.

Worse than sucked, they became irrelevant.

Now, all of a sudden, a team that has quietly been assembling a core of young talent akin to the one present in Los Angeles, the Blues have added one of the hardest pieces to build around: an established NHL starter who is only 25 years old. And in doing so the Blues look to become a very sharp thorn in the Red Wings' side for years to come.

And this is how.

Thanks to Bettman and his genius ideas to try to help generate rivalries for the handful of teams that have absolutely no established history in the NHL, a schedule change was adopted to help "encourage" (see: force) rivalries and as a result each team in each division had to play all the other teams in the division six times. Simply put, 36 points are on the line within each division every year, 12 of which are on the line against any one team.

Which is what makes the Halak trade such a big deal to the Red Wings.
(Read More After the Jump)

For those unfamiliar with Halak, he has been absolutely lights out since last season, when he arguably pushed Carey Price to the curb and took the reigns on a starting job he very clearly deserved. Lifetime he sports a .919 save percentage and a 2.62 Goals Against Average. Not too shabby. In fact, there's something kind of fantastic about it.

But narrow that down a bit to the last three seasons and the result is a scary one: .924 Save Percentage and a 2.45 Goals Against.

Yikes.

And now, thanks to new GM Pierre Gauthier, we now have the privilege of facing this beast of a netminder six times a year for however many years the Blues manage to sign him.

From a completely impartial standpoint, the trade looks OK. It's already been said it's a good deal from both parties involved. Naturally, that's to be expected as no GM wants to address the media and say, "I totally just got hosed." This isn't NHL10. You can't just restart the XBOX and pretend it never happened.

All in all, I think both teams got great value, and obviously St. Louis' will be more immediate. For Montreal fans, take solace in the fact that you could have a 60-70 point scoring forward. Although, that's like saying I also could end up working for a major news media outlet in the next few years.

Possible, though nothing you can finance a home over.

As for what I think this all means in regards to our boys in the Red and White? That's hard to say.

Steve Mason emerged two seasons ago for the Columbus Blue Jackets as an absolute beast of a goaltender, who then regressed this year almost to a laughing stock. But when he was on in 2009, we were able to beat him not only in the regular season, but also where it mattered most: in the playoffs.

And I think where this trade will have the biggest impact. If Halak can carry the Blues to the playoffs next year, and let's face it, he'll have to do his fair share with a roster that doesn't exactly boast the greatest of scoring threats, and the Red Wings have to face them, things will get interesting.

Through the Olympics and the Stanley Cup playoffs, Halak proved that he can absolutely lock it down when he needs to. He brought Slovakia to within one period of a bronze medal, and Montreal to a Conference Finals that they had absolutely no business playing in.

If he can bring that to the Blues, the Wings are going to be in for a rough ride.

But, as the Wings have always done in years passed, I expect them to bring it as well, as they have always against elite level goaltenders. Like they have against Luongo, Nabokov and Bryzgalov for years. Like they did to Giguerre, Fleury and Khabibulin.

And maybe, if we're lucky, they will break him like they did to the man that Halak was compared to these playoffs: the one and only Patrick Roy.

Perhaps only then will Halak's transformation into Patrick Roy be complete.

So, as Halak tries to adjust from the Leastern Conference skill level to the Western Conference slug-fest, let's hope he doesn't get lost in the shuffle. We Wings are old hat at the grind of the Wild West.

Let's hope Halak's just not up to the same task.

Let the odyssey begin next season.

We (Might) Need a 6th: Finding a Cheap, Physical Defenseman

2010-06-17T12:01:00.001-04:00

Who wants in? We still need a sixth with some freaking physicality!

So, yesterday the news broke about the Tuze coming back for two more years, and the raise required to keep him just may have put the idea of having a new 6th defenseman (or bringing back Andreas Lilja) to bed due to salary cap (and now roster) restrictions.

But, since I can still get in my armchair GM-ing before Ken Holland starts to do his real GM-ing, I present to you the top three picks for our 6th defenseman should Jakub Kindl absolutely Jonathan Ericsson it up this season.

Andreas Lilja

With concussion worries put to rest, for now, he provides exceptional PK

for a sometimes struggling unit.

Lilja's been a member of the Red Wings now for the last five seasons, and in those five seasons he's seen his role change dramatically. At first an absolute defensive liability, Lilja took on the role of our resident enforcer and fighter, and as a result, it cost him a full 364 days with head-splitting migraines and concussion-like symptoms.

In doing so, he missed out on the entire 2009 playoff run, and most of the injury marred 2010 season, and really could have helped us when the D-Men (Kronwall) started to go down.

Still, Lilja made a miraculous return to the big club late in the season and played 20 solid games, stabilizing the penalty kill with his big body and willingness to block shots.

Last Season's Salary: $1.25 million

2010 Expected: Pay cut, $875, 000 - $1 million

Why do I expect his salary to drop? For one, the concussion problem never goes away. As we've witnessed countless times before, a severe concussion will always rear its ugly head in the future, whether it be from taking another bone crushing hit, or simply banging it as you're getting out of a car. And Lilja will prove no exception to the rule.

A huge injury risk, I still want him brought back into the fold. He was a big body, though he didn't use his physicality much, he was the anchor for the penalty kill. If he takes a paycut, I vote keep him.

However, some other savvy GM out there might see what he brings to the penalty kill and offer him just a hair more than we can. Such is life in the salary cap world.

Garnet Exelby

Once a bright prospect in Atlanta, Exelby has lost his way

recently in his brief foray with the Maple Leafs.

At 6' 1" and 215 pounds, Exelby is anything but a push over. What he lacks in skill, he more than makes up for with soul eating hits and toughness that's tough to match.

Once considered Atlanta's future #1, he was traded to the Maple Leafs last season in exchange for Pavel Kubina. And it wasn't a great year, for him or his team.

Exelby dressed for only 51 games, mostly as a healthy scratch. One reason was an issue of too many defensemen on the Leafs roster, and another was that, he just didn't fit on the team, make-up wise. The Leafs already had a stockpile of big, physical defensemen, and Exelby's presence was not needed. What looked to be a great depth pick-up quickly unraveled, and as a result, Exelby will surely be available on July 1st.

Last Season's Salary: $1.391 million

2010 Expected: Pay cut, around or bellow $1 million

So, why Exelby? So we can finally secure a crease clearing defenseman. Exelby is a big body, who isn't afraid to use it. Sure, he racks up the penalty minutes, but he also serves notice to power forwards that the way to the net isn't the yellow brick road that our defense seems to allow on a consistent basis.

A defenseman who can hit on the third pairing would be ideal, and I can't think of a better guy than Exelby to fill the role of both big, physical defenseman, and occasional enforcer should we need him.

Zbynek Michalek

A revelation in Phoenix, Michalek may have priced himself way out of our price range.

The 6' 2", 204 pound Michalek was a force in Phoenix last year, as we can all attest thanks to his hugely physical, and often dominating performance in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. And at 27, things can only get better for the Czech defenseman.

However, after posting 17 points, a +5 rating, and garnering praise around much of the league, Michalek will most likely be a hot commodity come July 1st, and as a result will likely price himself out of range. Still, we here at Eight legged Freaks have always leaned towards the "dreamer" label, and imagining Michalek lined up next to Ericsson or Kindl next season is a vision I'd love to become a reality.

Last Season's Salary: $1.25 million

2010 Expected: Pay Increase to around $3-4 million

That alone says it all. We likely won't be able to sign him, and he'll go on to anchor a second pairing elsewhere. Still, Michalek deserved inclusion on this list, as others around Red Wings nation have expressed the same desire to see him sign if Lilja walks.

Although, thanks to Todd Bertuzzi, this list may have become entirely moot.

Frig, I can't wait for July 1st.

Two More Years of Division: Bertuzzi Gets New Deal, Kills Possibility of Depth Signings in the Process

2010-06-17T04:10:00.003-04:00

"I did it! I finally found a home where I can finish my career in peace.

Now if only the hometown crowd actually liked me..."

Well, it had to be one or the other. And while most Red Wings fans were hoping it was a different result, Todd Bertuzzi has re-upped for two more years in the Red-and-White, receiving a raise and the right to retire a Red Wing come the end of his term.

And he pissed off half of Red Wings Nation in the process.

After much was made about his resistance to taking a paycut (and, as Malik points out, it may be for legal reasons), the final result is a two year deal worth $3.875 million a season, with $2.5 owed next season and $1.375 the year after. So, quick math shows that he'll actually be eating up roughly $438, 000 more than he did last season for the next two years. Happy. Happy. Joy. Joy.

So what does it all mean?

Well, for one thing, it means that Ken Holland felt that his first order of business following the signing of his brand spankin' new five year contract would be to keep Big Todd around for two of those years. And for all those Red Wings fans complaining about it, what gives?

For less than $2 million dollars, we got a player who can still, very easily, pot 20 goals in a season, who is willing to do whatever the team asks of him, even if that means changing his game to suit a more defensively responsible style, and who, when united with the right players, can get his ass to the front of the net and make sure our star players can get some room.

To highlight this point, let's go back to last season, post-Olympics.

(Read More After the Jump)

After having an absolutely glorious, glorious November and December, in which Big Todd single handedly won us back-to-back overtime games, he had cooled off. That's putting it lightly. He had absolutely fizzled out like a cheap match after lighting up a couple birthday candles. And don't forget, every Wings fan I came across was giving him the business for it.

But then Mike Babcock saw something that we didn't. He didn't demote Bertuzzi. Instead, he kept him on a line with Zetterberg, and then flipped Filppula up to the other wing and what followed was nothing short of historic, especially for a season in which it looked like no line would generate sustained chemistry.

They clicked. Right away.

Filppula, Zetterberg and Bertuzzi combined for 40 points in the month of March, and were far and away our best line. And if any Wings fans out there think Bertuzzi had nothing to do with it, you are either blind, or refuse to look at reason.

What we were treated to as fans this year was a metamorphosis of a player. Only instead of changing one aspect of his game, Bertuzzi changed everything.

He began the year as a lazy skater. He finished the year as one of our hardest working back checkers, and most responsible defensive forwards.

He began the year trying to play big, and ended up with penalty trouble for playing stupid. He finished the year taking penalties mostly because he didn't change his name and number after 2006.

And most significantly, he began the year as a player who thought he still had the skill to deke his way to the front of the net. He finished the year getting his big body to the front of the net so that he could deflect or distract the goaltender so that the stars on his line could do their job.

To say that Todd Bertuzzi panned out after Ken Holland's gamble last off-season is an understatement.

Will he ever be as good as Datsyuk, Zetterberg or even Hudler and Filppula?

No, probably never again. But he works hard, and he doesn't screw up as often as it seems. And he's willing to try whatever it takes, so long as it helps the team.

These are intangibles that skill alone can't provide. And, while yes, the pay increase does limit the possibility of signing a gritty, fourth line, Dallas Drake type player, I say, who cares?

Ken Holland said he wanted a player who works hard at both ends of the ice, who hasn't won a Stanley Cup and who wants to win and help the team, much like we all remember Dallas Drake doing in winning the Stanley Cup in 2008.

Bertuzzi is in the same boat. Never even come close to sniffing a Stanley Cup, having played through a well-documented tumultuous career, this is about providing Bertuzzi a home team he can finally get behind and try to win. And if that required the extra $400, 000, so be it.

Look, at the end of the day, no one is asking Red Wings fans to love him. Hate him for what he did way back in 2006, or hate him simply because he didn't get new teeth to replace his missing front ones, it doesn't matter.

What matters is, the guy is a great locker room presence who gives it all at both ends of the ice. Where the skill is lacking, the effort is there. You don't have to love him, in fact, you don't even have to feel lukewarm or indifferent towards him.

The fact remains that today, Bertuzzi became a Red Wing for life. Now, I hear Wings fans are the classiest in the world.

Let's show the world we mean that.

Welcome back Todd.

Hope it's a great two years.

Detroit Red Wings: Now Sexier Than Ever!

2010-06-16T10:50:00.002-04:00

So I woke up this morning and did my usual routine.

Hit snooze twice. Desperately try to shield my face from the sun. And then, when I absolutely had to get up, I opened up my laptop and checked out Red Wings news. Which is where I got my first real shock from Ken Holland this off-season (and, let's face it, there's always a few).

Turns out Valterri Filppula now has some competition in the pretty-boy department, and no, we did not bring Mike Ricci out of retirement. It's in the form of his own older brother, Ilari.

Khan first reported the news today, and it looks like the details of the contract are a one year, $500, 000, two-way contract. Kyle, over at Babcock's Death Stare, says he presumes Ilari Filppula will be playing in Grand Rapids this season, which means he'll be making just over $100 G's.

What do I think?

Well, to be honest (and this is a shameful admission) I had no idea Filppula even had a brother, much less an older one who absolutely dominated the SM-Liga this past season. He scored 12 goals, added 37 assists, for a nice healthy point total at 49 in 58 games. Judging by those stats, he's a playmaker, like his younger brother, and playing in Grand Rapids, he'll probably be paired with Tomas Tatar.

Overall, I think it's a win-win situation. We got some cheap talent (from the same place we got Ville Leino ironically enough) who can play big minutes for the Griffins on the top two lines, and a guy with decent offensive punch to play on our lower lines should we fall into injury trouble.

If he has half the work ethic that his younger brother has, we got a steal, as he'll be a huge boost both defensively and offensively. Malik over at Snapshots is worrying about whether the grueling AHL schedule will be too much for him, and it's a good question to be asking.

All I know is, as far as depth signings go, bringing in one of our most promising prospects older brothers to light a fire under his hockey pants is another smart move by the Smartest Executive in Hockey, Mr. Ken Holland.

Also, for all of our lady readers out there, this picture will answer all your burning questions of whether or not he's A+ material like our boy Valterri.

We won't say one way or the other, but let it be known: If these Red Wings don't win in the skill department, the rest of the league is toast when it comes to the looks department.

And you can take that to the bank.

Eight Legged Freaks Enters the 21st Century

2010-06-16T10:22:00.002-04:00

Hello faithful readers!

I've got some great news that's sure to make everyone's day. In this crazy, fast paced world, it must be a chore to have to type in the url to this website to check and see if anything new is happening around here. I feel the same way.

Which is why, starting today, Eight Legged Freaks has joined the Twitter-verse, as it were.

You can follow us on Twitter, and we'll be sure to have our newest blog entries posted as they appear, directly on to our Twitter page, saving you time and money.

Thanks for the support, and we look forward to making your lives easier!

Let's Play GM: Free Agent Speculation From a Veteran Armchair GM

2010-06-15T15:24:00.005-04:00

"Friggin' Bertuzzi. Now I gotta make my list for who can replace the big oaf."

Hey all, long time no speak. Sorry for the long delay, I've been working/avoiding hockey so I didn't see the unfortunate result that ended the regular season, which was the Little Brother winning the Stanley Cup. Back-to-Back years of bitter rivals winning the cup just leaves a really bad taste in my mouth.

So, after ample usage of Listerine to try to wash it out, to no avail, I decided to just accept the fact, offer my congratulations, and then point out that there is a salary cap, so watch out for that next season.

I then realized that it is my (second) most favourite time of the year: Off Season Speculation time! And thanks to Bertuzzi's jerk of an agent, we as Wings fans get to guess and speculate as to who would be best for the team in true armchair GM fashion.

First, what's happened since the season ended:

Lidstrom re-signed and the whole city of Detroit exhaled as one. Seriously, this was a huge deal as we need him to remain competitive next season. However there's been some complaining about the fact that he didn't take a "large enough" home-town discount with his one year, $6.2 million dollar deal. To that I say, shut up. We got the best defenseman in the league (at the very least Top 5) for cheaper than Wade Redden and Brian Campbell. 'Nuff said.
Homer, one of our other Swedish friends, also re-signed, and took a surprising discount, especially after his agent was talking tough over the fact that the Wings shouldn't expect him to take another discount. Turns out, he was lying, and we got two more years of in-your-face net-front action, for the low, low price of $1.8 million a season (roughly). Show me another team that can claim a 25 goal scorer for that price. I'll give you a hint, it's tough to do.

Other than that, all the RFA's (Miller, Meech, Eaves, Helm and Tollefsen) have all received their qualifying offers, even though Tollefsen will likely never return to the Wings, choosing instead to play for Modo of the Swedish elite league, and Happy Hudler has returned, along with his $2.875 million cap hit.

So, at the very least, all seems right with the world.

Oh. Except for one lumbering oaf who seems to have decided his agent's advice on getting more money rather than playing for a team that actually, you know, is good is the right thing to do.

Of course, I'm talking about none other than Todd Bertuzzi.

No Red Wing in recent memory has caused so much backlash from Wings fans. Nor has one been so staunchly defended, including by me earlier this year. At season's end, it all looked good, with Bertuzzi even stating he would either return a Red Wing or retire. Ken Holland wants him back. Nick Lidstrom wants him back. But it looks like Bertuzzi is being difficult and doesn't want to take a paycut, and instead wants a raise.

So, with no new developments today, or, from the looks of things, for the near future, let's take a look at who we here at Eight Legged Freaks would like to sign in the event that Bertuzzi and his $1.5 million price tag walk away come July 1st.

(Continue after the jump, and as always, weigh in in the comment section)

Taylor Pyatt

Not hugely marketable, but the ceiling is massive on this former prospect.

Taylor Pyatt is, unfortunately, most known for the tragedy he suffered during the 2008-2009 season, in which his fiancé tragically passed away after a car accident in Jamaica. Emotionally, he was a wreck, and he never really regained the promising form he had in Vancouver after back to back season of 37 points, including one 23 goal campaign.

A free agent last season, he was picked up by the Phoenix Coyotes and had a strong campaign, potting 12 goals, chipping in 11 assists, and finishing with a +13 rating in 74 games. He also had a strong playoffs against the Wings, potting a goal and an assist, and providing energy as a tough, hard hitting power forward.

Last Season's Salary: $600,000

2010 Expected: Slight Raise

Pyatt was, at one time, a great prospect. He never really panned out and has bounced around the league going from the Islanders, to the Sabres, to the Canucks, and then to the Coyotes. Still, he's a serviceable player who will provide some offensive punch, as well as some physicality, in a limited role. Which, to us here at ELF, sounds like exactly the tools necessary to be a good third line player.

At 28, he's young, and at 6'3" and 232 lbs, he's a monster in comparison to most of this Red Wings line-up.

Add up the size, the physicality, and the potential offensive upside to having a power forward on the third line, and Taylor Pyatt, in my mind, is the perfect for a Red Wings organization that seems to love reclamation projects.

Make it happen Ken Holland.

Priority: First guy on July 1st if Bertuzzi doesn't resign.

Evgeny Artyukhin

Discipline problems abound, the guy is big and provides desperately needed physicality.

I know what you're all thinking.

This guy! He's a bum! He's a dirty bum!

True. He's been suspended multiple times by the NHL, for some dirty, knee-on-knee crap that I really don't like.

But he's HUGE! 6'4" and 255 lbs, the guy is a beast who will provide some real sand paper for bottom two lines, and won't allow other players to take liberties with our superstars.

Add to that that he's good for about 16-18 points a season, and he's not a bad option at all for an occasional player who does little more than intimidate.

Last Season's Salary: $950, 000

Expected Salary: Slight decrease, only because of discipline problems and lack of offensive production.

The downside to Artyukhin is that he's a walking time bomb to do something stupid, so that's not so attractive. Still, for a line-up short on physicality, Artyukhin's presence would help to clear that up.

Priority: Afterthought.

Owen Nolan

Now playing out his career, the man has never won a Stanley Cup,

and could be all the 2011 version of Dallas Drake.

Owen Nolan is a player that has a reputation for being tough as nails, the ability to score, and was at one time the face of EA's NHL games in 2001 (the best one if you ask me).

He's also old, and that's not something I'm so jazzed with bringing into the Red Wings locker room, seeing as we are on the older side, and could use some youth to inject some energy into the line-up.

Still, Owen Nolan provides something the other two players mentioned above do not: bonafide scoring at key times. While his body has betrayed him physically, suffering numerous injuries thanks to his style of play, his scoring touch remains. In 73 games with the Wild last season, Nolan potted 16 goals, 17 assists, but finished an abysmal -12.

The offensive numbers are Bertuzzi-ish in nature, however here lies the hard part.

Last Year's Salary: $2.75 million

Expected Salary: Hopefully less.

Unfortunately, I view our chances of signing Nolan as being directly linked to how much Bertuzzi fetches should he make it onto the open market. Similar numbers, similar ages usually means similar contracts. Say Bertuzzi manages to get over $2 million, then look for Nolan to ask that much, which is something we just can't offer.

However, Owen Nolan does provide us with that mythical fourth line player, who will go into the corners, chip in offensively and, most importantly, hasn't won a Stanley Cup yet in a long, storied career. The forward commonly know as "The Dallas Drake Player" who brings enough intangibles to the locker room for the players to rally around.

Priority: Sign him should Bertuzzi walk, his price tag remain low, and the brain trust choose to go with veteran experience over youth.

Wrap-Up:

All in all, this year's class is less than stellar. If you would have asked me at the beginning of the season, I was 100% sure we'd see Kovalchuk as a Wing next season, but now that looks impossible. So, with Bertuzzi being our main concern, the guys to get excited about are nothing to break the bank over, but the guys I listed above are my first choices should the Tuze try to find greener pastures (good luck).

So readers, what say you? Am I off my rocker? Who would you choose if Holland handed you the keys to the empire on July 1st?

Stay Tuned for the Eight Legged Freaks pick for 6th defenseman should Lilja not be retained!

Time's Up, Pass Your Papers To The Front: Grading the 2010 Red Wings, Part 1

2010-05-26T10:19:00.002-04:00

A Healthy Grade for a Very Unhealthy Team

Whether it was a combination of me ramping up my work schedule for summer, or my inability, or unwillingness to accept the fact that the Red Wings had been eliminated, I decided to stall writing up my grades for the Red Wings this season.

Terrible strategy as I ended up being absent for over a week. I apologize. So, without further ado, I present to you the 2009-2010 grades for Red Wings players.

Feel free to comment below if you agree, disagree, or if you still read this blog (which, after a two week hiatus, is understandable if you don't).

The Forwards:

Justin Abdelkader: Played just over half the season, when salary cap issues forced him to be relegated to the minors. There, he found his offensive game again, but it was the energy he provided the line-up that the Red Wings missed when he went down. Prone to taking too many dumb penalties, he's learning to control the physicality, and provides that extra shot in the arm that the Red Wings line-up needs on occasion. Definitely a full-time call-up next year.

Grade: B+

Todd Bertuzzi: Ah, the 'Tuze. Has there ever been a player on the Red Wings roster that was so equally maligned as he was praised by Wings fans? In my short memory, I can't think of anyone else analyzed under a larger microscope than Bertuzzi. An outcast in the off-season, Bertuzzi, in my opinion, had the regular season we needed from him. Yes, the dumb penalties would rear their ugly head now and again, but often that only served to awaken the beast within, and we were soon treated to an absolutely possessed power forward, who would use his size and stop trying to make the difficult play. He did the job he was asked to do, and when he did more, it was a bonus.He was essential for the second line, adjusted his game to play defensively, and ultimately proved to be an absolute bargain at $1.5 million.

Grade: A-

Dan Cleary: Oh Bear, what an enigma you were. Pulled groin early on, never got better, and then you became downright invisible. Very little offense, still provided great defensive play, however if this team is going to chug along, it needs more secondary scoring, which was something that just wasn't there, specifically from you this year. Hopefully the groin problem will be healed with the extra rest this off-season, and you'll be back on your game to start next year.

Grade: C+

Pavel Datsyuk: I've said it before, and I'll say it again; the Red Wings live and die based on which Datsyuk came to play. Inevitably, his defense will be astounding, and that goes double for his puck handling skills. But often all of that fails to translate into offensive results, due mostly to his frustrating insistence on pass-first, shoot later offense. He missed a few games early in the year, and didn't really get much going, partly due to his line consisting of Holmstrom and Bertuzzi for large stretches mid-season. But after the Olympics, Datsyuk shot the lights out, and finished the season tied for tops in points, and lead the team in goals with 27. A Selke Trophy finalist, Datsyuk was once again the MVP of this offense, and they leaned on him heavily to get them going.

Grade: A-

Kris Draper: As great as it was to see Darren Helm light it up, it was equally sad to watch as Draper fell apart down the stretch. It seems as though age has finally caught up with Drapes. His speed is slowing, his skill has dropped considerably, and he's not longer relied on to kill most penalties. With one year left on his contract, it's pretty clear that this year is almost definitely his last.

Grade: C

(Continued After the Jump)

Patrick Eaves: Brought in at a bargain basement price, Eaves was already being called the next Dan Cleary. A reclamation project of sorts, Eaves had trouble cracking the line-up at first, but once he did, he developed phenomenal chemistry with Helm, chipped in 12 goals, and showed that he should be resigned. Oh yeah, and he had possibly the greatest shootout attempt of the year.

Grade: B+

Valterri Filppula: Flip looked like he was going to have the breakout year we needed from him this year, establishing great chemistry early on with Jason Williams and Ville Leino. That alone says how this year went, as Filppula broke his wrist, missed almost two months, then bounced around until being placed on a line with Zetterberg. There, he had flashes of brilliance, and played lights out hockey down the stretch. Still, an injury shortened season really hampered his development, and Wings fans are still left waiting for his true breakout year.

Grade: B

Johan Franzen: How do you grade a guy who missed over half the season with a torn ACL? Well, it's not easy. He never really looked completely comfortable out there, and that is undoubtedly due to nagging effects of the injury, that I doubt ever fully healed. During the regular season he didn't do much, but in the playoffs he recorded a point in every game of the postseason, save for the last one, and had a monster Game 4 against San Jose. Still, an incomplete year from a guy we're going to lean on heavily next year.

Grade: B

Darren Helm: Helm's speed, tenacity, and forechecking all proved to be key components in the Red Wings rediscovering their penalty-killing ways, and, united with Draper and Eaves, proved to be a major component in the new era Grind Line. He has all the speed and skill to chip in more offense though, and here's hoping he works on that this offseason. Continued progression, and he could potentially chip in 12-15 goals next season.

Grade: B+

Tomas Holmstrom: After last year, he looked like he had absolutely nothing left in the tank. Flash forward to the end of this season, and who predicted he'd be second on the team in scoring with 25 goals, and be an absolute requirement to be resigned this off-season. Homer's been a fan favourite for years, and I know I'm not alone in saying we need him to stay on the team in order to be successful. Let's just hope the price can be agreed on.

Grade: A

Kirk Maltby: Maltby took one for the team this year and had shoulder surgery, placing himself on LTIR so that Holland wasn't forced into trading anyone to make room for the returning injured. A fiercely loyal Red Wings member, Maltby might be finished this year, as age has caught up to him.

Grade: C

Brad May: Relegated to the minors at the Trade Deadline, Brad May was a nice bit of grit for the first half of the season. However, as the season went on, the fighting went down, and May was squeezed out of the line-up when more skilled players returned. Still, he was a great veteran to have in the locker room, and provided great mentorship for Justin Abdelkader in his brief time with the Red Wings.

Grade: C-

Drew Miller: An outcast from the Lightning, Ken Holland and Co. saw something they liked in the former Michigan State Spartan, and soon, so too did many Red Wings fans. Prior to arriving here, Miller had zero offensive totals of any kind. At season's end, Miller had chipped in 10 goals, many of which I remember being clutch, and 9 assists. He saw powerplay time, and even time on the second line as the injuries piled up. A great addition, however his output decreased as his role decreased. It would be nice to see him back, but I could live if he wasn't.

Grade: B+

Jason Williams: Broken fibula left him on the shelf for too long, and when he came back, there simply wasn't a place for him anymore. I maintain that, had he and Flip been healthy all year, we'd have been ecstatic over his signing, but as it stands, Williams brought absolutely nothing to the team this year, and is completely expendable this off-season.

Grade: D+

Henrik Zetterberg: He carried this team at times, and then was obviously absent at others. He was on fire to start the year, but the season almost fell apart after a Mattias Ohlund hit that left Zetterberg out with a separated shoulder for over two weeks. After that, there were flashes of his old self, particularly after being united with Valterri Filppula and Todd Bertuzzi post-Olympics, but overall he didn't get the dominant game back on a consistent basis. Still, one of the heart and souls of the offense, what he did contribute was valuable.

Grade: B+

Omitted Due to Various Reasons (not enough playing time, incomplete evaluation, etc.): Ville Leino (he just sucked, OK?), Mattias Ritola

When Detroit's Favourite Son Moves Out: A Fond Farewell to The Captain

2010-05-26T09:26:00.002-04:00

After 27 memorable years, The Captain is moving

on to a new home.

Growing up in Kingston, Ontario, I was constantly asked the same question over and over again by my classmates, my teachers, other parents, and even my own family.

"Why are you a Red Wings fan?"

I mean, everyone else on the street was either a Maple Leafs fan or a Senators fan, and when it came time to choose my allegiance, there was no hesitation: the Detroit Red Wings.

Maybe the fact that I had been exposed to them often on family trips to Sault Ste. Marie. Or maybe it was because they simply weren't the Maple Leafs or Senators that were enough for me. But there was another, all-consuming, dominant reason for why I grew from simply liking the Red Wings to absolutely falling in love with the team.

It was one man who encompassed everything a parent would want their child to believe in. A man who delivered legendary on and off-ice performances, who played hard, played injured, and sacrificed himself for the greater good. A single man who dazzled with his puck handling ability, who amazed with his stoic leadership, and who inspired with his compassion, never more present than when he received the 1998 Stanley Cup from Commissioner Gary Bettman, and placed it on the lap of Valdimir Konstantinov.

That man is of course, the one and only Captain.

Steve Yzerman. Perhaps the greatest Red Wing of all-time.

By now, we've all heard the news, and it's the type of news that each and everyone of us fans will never forget. We'll never forget where we were, or how we heard. We'll never forget the confusion we felt, and the sense of loss that overcame us. And for me, I'll never forget how, for a few hours, I just had to work in silence and try to overcome the horrible news that I was convinced would never come to pass.

You see, I'm only 20 years young. But for my entire life, plus seven years, Stevie Y was a member of the Detroit Red Wings. Even after retirement, there he was, in the pressbox, watching, studying, analyzing, always with that cool, calm stare, always active.

The fact is, I don't know the Red Wings without Steve Yzerman, and I assume that, for many of you, the same can be said. Drafted in 1983, he put together a Hall of Fame career that can be remembered for his offensive prowess, his defensive coverage, and his unabating will to win. For much of my life, he played on one knee, and when it was finally time to hang up the skates, I watches as number 19 was raised to the rafters, alongside former Red Wings greats. A place he deserved, and a place he will never be moved from.

So, in hearing that the longest serving Captain in NHL history would now have two teams following his name, I was angry, confused, and frustrated.

Angry, because the Tampa Bay Lightning have come to represent everything I hate about the new NHL. The untraditional market that seems doomed to fail is a fate I wish on no one, and now my favourite player of all time is going to call it home.

Confused because I didn't really know who to blame. Was I angry with Ken Holland and Jim Nill for being too good at what they do, and forcing Yzerman to have to look elsewhere for an opportunity? Was I angry that Yzerman would bolt to the Lightning? Or was I just angry because, over the last two years, great people have left our organization, never to be replaced, first with Scotty, and now Yzerman.

And frustrated because the off-season, which used to be fun and exciting, has quickly become a nightmare I'd rather skip than ever have to deal with it again.

But as the hours progressed, and my rage and frustration and confusion ebbed away, I couldn't help but fell one thing:

Pride.

Here was the Red Wing's favourite son, their valiant leader and their posterboy being so sought after by other organizations, well after he played his last game of hockey.

Arguably the best person, not just player, to come out of Detroit, given the opportunity to helm his own team, and to make his post-retirement dreams a reality. In Tampa, he inherits a team that has it's share of problems, but that also has it's fair-share of upside. He finally has stable ownership, massive financial benefits, and a clean slate to build his own team, in a completely different conference, which helps keep the hurt to a dull sting.

For 27 fantastic years, I thank you Steve Yzerman. For giving me a reason to love the Red Wings, for inspiring me to try my hardest in everything I do, and to face adversity head on rather than hide like a coward, I thank you.

While no longer will you be the man from a single team, know that, no matter what, you will always be remembered forever in the Winged Wheel.

So good luck, farewell, and I wish you all the success in your new endeavours.

So, like a father watches as his son heads off to university in the fall, so too does Red Wings nation watch, with tears streaming down their faces, as Steve Yzerman heads south to his new team, his new city. His new house.

But, no matter what success he has, and no matter how big his legacy gets in South Florida, one thing will never change.

His home is Detroit. And if a spot should ever open up as General Manager of the Red Wings, please consider coming home.

We'll all be there to welcome you back with open arms.

Thanks for the memories Steve. Now, go make some new ones while we watch with proud eyes, and heavy hearts.

May 25th will be a day not soon forgotten. But that fateful day in 1983 will be one that lives on forever.

Thank you Stevie Y. For everything.

Cleaning Out The Locker: The 2009-2010 Detroit Red Wings

2010-05-09T12:00:00.001-04:00

If this was the last time, you're the best there ever was.

And you deserved a better finish.

As the clock ticked down to the final seconds, I held my head in my hands.

Three.

Is this the last time I get to watch the best defenseman in Red Wings history play for Detroit? If so, this sucks as much as the way Yzerman went out.

Two.

Where did our secondary scoring go? We used to have scary depth, now I just pray that they won't allow a goal. Anything more is a bonus.

One.

Refs! The damn refs! They're the reason we lost! Conspiracy! Tin Foil Hat to go with my Lidstrom jersey!

Buzzer. Game Over.

Season Over.

And just like that, the Red Wings' season ended, not with a bang, but with a whimper, and they were left to fade away into the night while San Jose finally got the celebration that we've enjoyed many times over. Obediently, they lined up at centre ice, to shake hands with the enemy, to gain some closure on the year.

And what a year it's been.

(Continue reading after the jump)

It's been anything but an easy season for the Red Wings. Well-documented injury trouble that left us without the likes of Johan Franzen, Valterri Filppula, Jason Williams (who?), Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski, Nicklas Kronwall...hell. Show me another team that could even make the playoffs with that many key guys injured for long stretches of time.

What too often gets lost in any fans' team being eliminated is all the success that brought them here in the first place. Maybe it's the bitterness. The bad taste. The missed calls, the dirty plays, all magnified under the world's most powerful microscope, fueling your anger, and your disappointment. And believe me, that's normally how I am.

But not this year. Sure, I was angry over some of the officiating - 10 penalties in one game will do that - but it wasn't overwhelming like it was last year. And, while I was sad to watch as they had to skate off the ice, as they tried as hard as they could in a 10 minute flurry in the third period, I also felt something I hadn't felt in a long time in my recent "Stanley Cup or Bust" attitude towards the playoffs.

I felt pride.

Overwhelming pride in this team. The team that started with a veteran in goal at the beginning of the season, and finished with a rookie of a year candidate in net. The team that needed the right people to step up while others were injured, and ended up being rewarded in seeing those who were injured return the favour. The team that couldn't kill a penalty to save their life last year, become a dominant penalty killer towards the end of the season.

But the biggest source of pride was to watch an at-one-point 11th place team absolutely destroy the last few weeks of the season to become a 5th place team. And that's what we've got to look at, as fans. That, even in "transition" years, the Red Wings are one of the elite teams of the NHL.

So, sure, while we will agonize over the missed opportunities, the missed plays, the "what-ifs" the "if onlys", it can't overshadow what the Red Wings did here this year. That imminent decline of the Red Wings the press would ram down our throats at any opportunity following last year's Cup Final? Still hasn't happened. The Leafs do transistion years for five years. We do ours for half a season.

And so, now, we watch, we wait and we anticipate. Who will Ken Holland draft? Who stays, who goes? Does Lidstrom retire? We become nervous parents, agonizing over what decision their child will make. We want the best for them, we want them to be successful. But Cup or Bust just isn't the answer.

And so how do I feel about all this? Well, let me just say this:

In all my years watching the Detroit Red Wings, I don't think I've ever enjoyed a season as much as this. The regular season wasn't just a tune-up. Living and dying with this team all year was an absolute roller coaster that I wouldn't trade in for anything. The sheer fact that they grabbed fifth place was astounding. Then they knocked off the fourth place team in seven.

Sure, there were a ton of times where I thought they couldn't get it together, or didn't care enough to, but come on. After the dust has settled a little bit, and the rage has worked its way out of our systems, I hope everyone comes to the same kind of agreement over the way this season went.

We didn't win. But we witnessed some magic. And, while the Cup will have to wait another year before it can come home again, the Best Team of the 21st Century proved exactly why it deserves that moniker.

There will be other years, other disappointment.

But for now, let's just enjoy the fact that, for 19 straight years, the Joe has seen playoff hockey. For 19 straight years, we, as fans, have been able to watch our team stave off tee times in favour of opening face-offs. And, as this year's team proved, a team is only as good as the sum of its parts.

They accomplished more than anyone will ever give them credit for.

Now it's time for me to do the same. So, thanks.

Thank you Mike Illitch. Thank you Ken Holland. Thank you Mike Babcock. Thank you Eurotwins. Thank you Mule, Raffi and Stuie. Thanks you Mini Datsyuk. Thank you Bear. Thank you Homer and Bert and Helmer and Eaves. Thank you Drapes and Tiberrius. Thank you Kronner, and Lils, and Lebda and even Ericsson.

But today, the biggest thanks of all goes to the Current Captain. Nicklas Lidstrom. If this was your last game, thank you for 19 years of the greatest play I'll ever see of any defenseman. Thank you for not giving up, for leading the way, and being a focal point of my childhood memories. The way parents talk about Bobby Orr is the way I'll talk about your career when it's over.

Please tell me it's not. But if it is, you've earned absolutely every bit of praise you've ever received, and more.

Thank you 2010 Detroit Red Wings.

While in the end, it wasn't the ending we all hoped for, you sure gave all us fans a hell of a show.

Enjoy the rest.

And next year, let's give 'em hell.

Let's Go Red Wings!

Reckoning: Win or Go Home

2010-04-27T10:56:00.002-04:00

That's Just the Way Things Went...

Many hockey pundits predicted this. The Red Wings' play certainly helped secure this. But here we are.

Our second consecutive series (dating back to last year's Final) has gone to the seventh deciding game, after having a chance to close it out in six games.

And, while the Red Wings effort looked once again uninspired and lackadaisial, and that is usually something that ignites my fury and encourages a long tirade against the Red Wings and how they have no heart, it was a post by Tyler over at the Triple Deke that made me realize something.

They do want to win. It's just that, maybe, Phoenix wants it more.

We are the more talented team, with glitzy glamour names like Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom and Henrik Zetterberg, while the big names on the Coyotes read like a who's-who of over-the-hill rejects, and I mean that in a complimentary way.

For a team to succeed, talent is half of the equation. But the other half is effort and chemistry, and the willingness to do absolutely everything to win, be it fight to inspire your team, to hit, or to take a puck in the face to save a goal.

All of those were qualities the Red Wings possessed in spades two years ago, and a little bit last year. But right now, the team that is willing to do absolutely everything in order to win is the Phoenix Coyotes.

On Sunday, we didn't help out Jimmy at all, allowing him to get burned five times. Our penalty kill was content to stand around and let the Coyotes dictate the play, and not the other way around.

And while we had some great scoring chances, too often did we as a team get caught up in an offense-first panic, that we allowed odd-man breaks and too many easy goals.

So while the last game was a disaster, and tonight could really go either way, it all comes down to one thing:

Effort. Want. Desire. The need to win the game.

What happened last game can't be changed. It can't be undone. It happened.

Now get over it.

Go into Glendale and prove you guys want it more than they do. That this is your season, and not theirs. And that, when you play the Red Wings, you face the toughest challenge you will ever face.

Give 'em hell. And, even if we do lose, make them wish they never had to get through us to move on.

The Octopus will haunt them. Just make sure of that.

What's going on tonight: Game 7, do or die.

'Nuff said.

Who's Hot?: Justin Abdelkader.

Welcome to Hockeytown. Permanently.

As if it was ever in doubt, Abby showed us all why he will never be demoted again. Not only was he all over the ice last game, he was delivering punishing hits, and even got in two fights, even though he got demolished in them.

In a game where, after the first period, the team looked to have packed it in, The Afrogator was still hungry, and was doing everything he could to spark his team.

It's too bad he was the only one who answered the bell.

Have You Heard About?: The PK?

The gong-show that appeared in Game 1 is back, allowing three powerplay goals, again. Doesn't help that the refs gave the Coyotes like, a trillion powerplays, but after being so good to close out the regular season, and from games 2 to 5, the ugly, 2009 playoff penalty kill reared it's ugly head again, and really sunk the ship all on its own.

Honourable mention goes to the powerplay, which failed to register a goal, including on a 5-on-3, but also managed to surrender a short handed goal.

Honestly, our special teams sometimes make me sick.

In Other News: Should we lose tonight, this will mark the first time since I started dating my girl friend that the Red Wings don't make the Stanley Cup final.

The good luck must be wearing down, but let's hope this doesn't happen, because it would break her little heart.

...

All right, I'd be the one crying, but for her sake Wings, please don't make her have to see her boyfriend cry like a baby.

Game Face Time:

Heed the Battle Cry of the Captain

It's not every series where we have to look to past Captains twice to lead us to a win, but I think desperate times call for desperate measures.

That was a man who played on one leg for far longer than he had to, because he wanted it more than anyone else.

There are enough current Wings around to remember that kind of stubborn resolve and dedication. Use it. Live it. Own it.

Do that, and you will win this series.

Final Word: Win or lose, you guys are champions, and that's something we all need to remember.

But, because this is a motivational speech and not a soccer mom telling her kids how much she loves them no matter what, I say, eat these Coyotes alive.

Leave it all on the ice. Hit, shoot, score.

Grind out a win, and prove just how tough we are as a team.

And, make that Jobing.com Arena crowd shout:

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

51st Post: Let's Make It An Elimination Day

2010-04-25T12:52:00.001-04:00

Jimmy Still Prez of the Universe

Hey folks. I don't have a ton of time today as I'm frantically studying for my last exam taking place tomorrow. Then freedom of summer!

Anyways, the Wings played terrible for stretches last game, but it was a crucial ten minute stretch in the third period that won them the game thanks to two quick goals by Homer and Datsyuk to seal it.

Heroes, every one of them.

So, without further ado, let's get on to today's Game Face Preview!

What's going on tonight: We scared 'em, now let's crush them.

I think we've all tolerated this team long enough. The Coyotes don't belong in the league, their fans are weak, and without Doan, they lack that inspiration.

I don't know if he's in tonight (I hope not), but even still, time to put the skate down on their pesky little throats.

Wings in 6. Let's make it a reality.

Who's Hot?: Without a doubt, Mr. Jimmy Howard.

Might have saved the season with his beautiful, gorgeous robbery on Martin Hanzal early in the third on Friday night. The only way he got beat was by getting stomped on by Jovanovski and the refs decided that it didn't impede his ability to make a save (it definitely did).

With a 0.50 GAA in the last two games, and a ridiculously high Save Percentage (I don't have to crunch numbers).

Keep it up Jimmy, because as you are well aware by now, these Wings tend to be a little sleepy in Matinee games.

Have You Heard About?: The PK?

Nineteen (!) straight penalties killed since that first game debacle.

Blocking shots, clogging passing lanes, the re-emergence of Darren Helm as a physical, force to be reckoned with and the great partnership he has with Patrick Eaves has really paid dividends.

Honestly, they've been massive, and it's crucial they continue that dominance this afternoon.

In Other News: The first two lines are doing what we need them to do.

Goals from Homer, Dats and Z (EN special) are what we need. Datsyuk especially, since we really tend to click when he's firing.

Hopefully, this all leads to a big "W" tonight and we can get some rest before these other series wrap up.

With Fil and Z providing goals, we're just a Todd Bertuzzi goal away from having a completely dominant scoring line.

Don't let up today boys.

Game Face Time:

I'm going to take some inspiration from Casey here and use a Mortal Kombat themed "finish him" pic.

Seriously, let's not go back to Glendale.

That's where hockey goes to die.

Final Thought: If we can keep up the pressure and limit the Coyotes speed through the neutral zone, we can win.

If we show up to play 60 minutes, we can win.

Anything less, in addition ot an off-game by Howard, and this very well could go either way.

Let's not let that happen.

GO WINGS!!!!!!!!

Heading West: Time to Take Stranglehold in Game Five

2010-04-23T11:23:00.003-04:00

Jimmah Saves!

Pictures say a thousand words, but the one above says just one: Hero.

It's been thrown around a lot here on Eight Legged Freaks, and maybe that's because I'm easy to impress, or am quick to canonize members of the Red Wings organization, but I like to think it gets thrown around a lot for a different reason.

Playoffs are where heroes are born, and where heroes decide who wins and who loses.

Enter Jimmy Howard. Prior to Tuesday night's (awesome) game, he wasn't having the best start to a playoffs ever. A GAA over 3. A Save Percentage under .900. And too often whiffing on shots that absolutely must be saved. The defense wasn't helping out either, but in the playoffs, if the goalie starts slacking, the rest of the team starts to slack with them.

And, with many demanding Osgood start in Game 4, Jimmy Howard shut everyone of his doubters up, and proved why his is the name echoing through the rafters of the Joe.

Maskless save. First ever playoff shutout.

Clutch.

With two goals from Zetterman, and another from Datsyuk, the Wings finally showed up as a team, playing defensive hockey, forechecking hard, and even Todd Bertuzzi beat out an icing call that led to the third, and clinching goal.

But where these players played exceptional, it was Jimmy in a class of his own.

Sure, Jesus saves.

But Jimmy Howard saves the rebound. Maskless.

What's going on tonight: Time to make 'em scared.

The Wings head back to the desert to take a commanding 3 games to two lead on those pesky Coyotes that just won't give up.

Tuesday was a statement game, where the Wings finally clamped it down defensively and forced the Coyotes to play their game. We all saw how that worked out, so now let's do it again, in their "home" rink.

I expect Jimmy to play well again tonight. Doesn't always happen after posting a shut out, but Jimmy's been solid all year. Let's hope this continues.

Who's Hot?: Popular choice is Howard, but it's without question, Henrik Zetterberg.

Five goals in four games, including a hat-trick and a two goal performance on Tuesday. The guy is clutch, and it's not just for his goal-scoring.

Making the defensive plays, frustrating opposing forwards with his sharp moves, his quick passes and his general awesomeness, Hank is starting these playoffs in full Smythe mode that we've seen over the last two seasons.

And while Rosby gets all the attention while playing against a far less defensive team in the Leastern Conference, Z is comfortably flying under the radar, doing what he does best in dominating entire games from opening face-off to closing horn.

Have You Heard About?: Todd Bertuzzi?

The man fans love to hate has been quietly having a phenomenal playoffs. Does he still give away the puck? Yes, but it's his overall effort that has been astounding so far.

Four assists in five games, plus several solid scoring chances that he just wasn't able to bury (and two the refs decided shouldn't count), he's been giving it his all night in, and night out. Beating out the icing call in Game 4 that led to the third goal, creating space by finally using his size, the 'Tuzz has been all over the ice, and has become an absolutely crucial component to our second line's effectiveness.

Include the fact that he's only logged 2 PIM's in the four games this series, and he may yet be the unheralded difference maker in this series.

In Other News: Johan Franzen continues to be on-and-off.

He took two terrible penalties last game (one shouldn't have been called but whatever) and at times, still seems completely lost out there as to what his role is. He's starting these playoffs off slowly, but at the same is contributing (that feed to Datsyuk for the second goal was a thing of beauty), just in a different way than we're accustomed to.

He's trying to get physical out there, which is nice, but he's occasionally taking it too far, and it's causing us to be short handed for two minutes, specifically in crucial situations.

I still think he'll break out sooner or later. Watch for him tonight to break out or his "slump" offensively.

Game Face Time:

Why Clint Eastwood? Why not Clint Eastwood? We go West to win tonight. And according to my man Clint:

In this world there's two kinds of people, my friend: Those with loaded sticks and those who lose. Coyotes lose.

So win this for Clint. And for the look Mike Babcock looks to have stolen from him.

Final Word: A win tonight means a chance to close this baby out on the weekend, at home, and I think we all know that that means alot.

In big games this season, the Wings don't exactly have a sparking record. Let's just hope the real Red Wings that showed up on Tuesday are here to stay.

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!

Showing Up: Game Four To Defend Our Barn

2010-04-20T12:52:00.002-04:00

The kid speaks for all of us.

Today's Game Face is gonna be quick because honestly, if the real Wings aren't going to put in their time, then why the hell should I?

Last game was a disaster. I didn't get to watch the game, but when you get a text from your dad that says:

I just don't think they want it.

...halfway through the game, something is wrong. Very wrong. As Shakespeare would say something is rotten in Motown.

And it isn't just the river.

So it's in the past, there's nothing we can do about it. We move on. Again. And we try to play.

What's going on tonight: This is for the season.

Remember way back when we were in 11th and sucking and were just accepting the inevitable? You don't? Me neither.

That's because they turned it on and played like real hockey players should and won a ton of games and made everyone look stupid while they did it.

Now, they look like they should have been the 7th to 9th seed team.

If we lose tonight, I think it's a foregone conclusion that we lose the series.

We may win one more, but if we lose tonight, then absolutely, season over.

So win. For Christ sake, at the very least, pretend you tried. I can handle a hard fought loss. What I can't handle is Peewee defensive coverage.

Who's Hot?: Filppula. That's it. Really.

Bertuzzi played well according to the pops, as did a handful of others, but the boxscore speaks louder than one nice play: our best players suck right now.

Darren Helm: awful.

The Perfect Human: a very Jonathan Ericsson-like -3.

All in all, we need to bring the heat from our big guys. Or this is it.

Have You Heard About?: Jimmy Howard?

Because what I've heard about him is giving me fits. One of the highest GAA's in the league amongst starters (3+ goals in the last 3 games) including a back breaking fourth goal that essentially killed the team's momentum.

A sub-900 save percentage. What is this? These are worse than Osgood regular season numbers. This are Luongo playoff numbers and we can't have that.

He gets the start tonight because, afterall, he got us here. But if he sucks again, and lets in a quick two goals, he will undoubtedly get the yank here.

This sucks so much. The one thing we didn't have as a question mark heading into the playoffs was goaltending.

My how fast things change. And, while I have nothing to base this on, I still think he'll come out flying tonight. Let's just hope the defense remembers that it's war time, and they better help him out.

In Other News: I have an exam during the game, which means thus far in these playoffs, I have seen the third period of Game 1 (we sucked), the first period of Game 2 (we sucked) none of Game 3 (we still sucked) and will now see none of Game 4.

Honestly, this has been the worst start to the playoffs I can ever remember. Maybe it's so bad because the Wings just have sucked every time I watch them, but man, this is the first time since 1996 that I didn't see Game 1 of the Wings series.

Shoot me now if they lose and I have to hear about it through someone chirping me.

Let's just hope they have a good dentist.

Game Face Time:

I think this says it all. Bloodied, bruised, it doesn't matter.

This is the playoffs.

Play like The Captain played

and leave it all on the ice.

Final Word: See above. Enough f*cking around.

LET'S GO RED WINGS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!