first of my all time favorites...

one of my all-time favorite moments watching hockey was in 2002:down 3-2,to Colorado,Patrick Roy played with confidence,in the series,so far... the first goal of the sixth game was the turning point of that series,when Roy tried to stop the puck,using a Statue of Liberty pose,but the puck was on edge,and it rolled out of his glove,and into the goal... classic blunder... Detroit won game six,2-0... Roy never recovered his poise,composure,or his game,period,after that goal... in game seven, Detroit decimated Colorado,7-0,and putting Roy on bench,by end of game... in fact,after that goal,when it came to the Red Wings,Roy seemed human...

NHL,and Red Wings' news...

Chris Chelios retired after 26 years,in NHL,playing in 1,651 games,most ever by a defenseman... only player in NHL history to play more than 400 games,for three different teams(Chicago Blackhawks,664 games,Detroit Red Wings,578 games,and Montreal Canadiens,402 games)... three time Stanley Cup Champion,with Detroit... beloved both in Chicago(his hometown),and in Detroit... played for three Original Six teams,and remembered in each city...

NHL history...

my favorite player-outside the Wings' organization-is Martin Brodeur... he has a record of 602 wins,324 losses,and 105 ties,and 29 overtime losses,with 110 shutouts,with a save percentage of .914,with a G.A.A.(goals against average)of 2.21,in 1.076 games,for the New Jersey Devils... he has won 3 Stanley Cups... his first Stanley Cup came in a strike-shortened season,against Red Wings,in a four game sweep,in 1995...

Red Wings' news...

Red Wings will hold press conference Tuesday,basically to announce that Chris Chelios will retire,and join Red Wings in a player-development capacity(mentioned earlier in blog,but now official)... what? the dog days of summer,only 38 days to puck drop,of regular season...

Red Wings' history...

Jimmy Howard had a record of 37-15-10,with save percentage of .924(third in NHL),and a G.A.A.(goals against average)of 2.26(tied for fourth in NHL),in only 63 games,and only 61 starts in net,last season... he was also tied for eighth in wins,in NHL...

Red Wings' history...

there are sixty players,who have played for Red Wings,in HHOF...

NHL news...

Paul Kariya,of the St. Louis Blues,will miss the 2010-2011 season,because of post-concussion syndrome,it is reported,on NHL.com... it is really too bad-a great player out for the season... hope he is all right...

Red Wings' news...

Curt Fraser agreed to two year contract(extension),as Grand Rapids Griffins' head coach...

Red Wings' history...

in 1942-1943,Johnny Mowers shut out Boston Bruins the last two games,of the 1942-1943 Stanley Cup Finals,4-0,and 3-0,to complete a four game sweep,for the Red Wings...

NHL news...

New Jersey Devils and Ilya Kovalchuk,are working out on a new contract,but the Kontinental(Russian spelling)Hockey League is also talking to Kovalchuk's agent,and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman denied report that the NHL has denied a second report,of rejection of contract,and says no contract has been submitted to the league's headquarters...

Red Wings' history...

i have said Edmonton always plays Detroit tough,except for a four game sweep,in 2008-2009,Edmonton has won more games,against Detroit,than Red Wings beat Oilers,since 2005-2006,winning 10 games,losing 9 games,and an overtime loss...

NHL history...

"Bashin" Bill Barilko of the Toronto Maple Leafs beat Montreal Canadiens,with an overtime shot,in a series that went to Toronto,in five games,in 1950-1951... all games of the series went into overtime... in summer(August) 1951,Barilko died on fishing trip,in a plane crash... his body was not found until 1962... ironic twist of fate,Maple Leafs did not win another Stanley Cup,until 1962,when they won three in a row,from 1962 to 1964...1964 was the last year that Toronto won the Stanley Cup,up to this day... he was born,in Timmons,Ontario,Canada....

Red Wings',and NHL history...

2001-2002 Detroit Red Wings became the first team in NHL history,to lose the opening two games,in opening round,at home,to Vancouver,4-3(overtime),and 5-2,to come back,and win the Stanley Cup...

Red Wings' history...

Marguerite Norris,president of the Detroit Red Wings,was first woman,whose name on the Stanley Cup,in 1953-1954...

Red Wings' news...

Abdelkader re-signed for $1.575 million,for two years... $750,000/first year,and $825,000/second year,Detroit Free Press,reports...

Red Wings' news...

Justin Abdelkader re-signed with Red Wings for two years...

Red Wings' history...

in 2007-2008 Stanley Cup playoffs,Detroit had three shutouts on way to Stanley Cup,a 3-0 shutout of Nashville,to close out opening round,and two shutouts of Pittsburgh,to open up Stanley Cup Finals(a 4-0 shutout in the first game,and a 3-0 shutout in the second game)...

Red Wings' history-correction...

correction:176 minutes,and 30 seconds,not 175 minutes,and 30 seconds,is time of longest game in NHL history,between Detroit Red Wings,and Montreal Maroons,six overtime,1-0,thriller,on March 24.1936,in first game of 1935-1936 Stanley Cup playoffs...

NHL history...

Maurice "Rocket" Richard became the first player to score 50 goals,in 50 games,against Boston,in a 4-2 win,for the Montreal Canadiens,in last game of their season,in,i believe,1944... year may be 1943,or 1944....

NHL history...

2007-2008 Detroit Red Wings were the last team to win the President's Trophy(best record in NHL),and the Stanley Cup,in same year... the last two President's Trophy winners(2008-2009 San Jose Sharks,and the 2009-2010 Washington Capitals),lost in first round,and they lost to Anaheim,and Montreal,respectfully...

Red Wings' history...

in 1949-1950 season,Red Wings won Stanley Cup,without Gordie Howe,who suffered a fractured cheekbone,and a broken nose,along with a serious head injury,when he went head-first in the boards,against Toronto,in opening game of Stanley Cup playoffs,which the Red Wings lost game,5-0

Red Wings' history...

in leading Red Wings into the 1953-1954 Stanley Cup Playoffs,Terry Sawchuk,won 35 games(of 37),had a 1.92 goals against average,with nine shutouts...

Red Wings' notes....

Tomas Holmstrom has scored 214 goals,with 42 goals,in playoffs,along with 255 assists,in regular season,with 46 assists,in playoffs... in a 13 year NHL career,he has 469 points,and 88 points,in playoffs... not bad for a guy who gets beat on every game....

best in Western Conference...

this is a list of teams in Western Conference(top five teams,not all fifteen),and not in order,because all the teams i name,have legitimate chance to win in the Western Conference,and they are very close to each other,that any one of them could win,with the right bounce,or two:
San Jose Sharks:they need help on defense,with retirement of Rob Blake,and their blue line is sketchy,in terms of depth,but their goaltending is still a question mark,with a new goaltender in net,this year,but he is proven to be a playoff goaltender,which is a plus...
Phoenix Coyotes:they have talent to win,and defense is solid,but can they repeat the best season,in team history,and go further in the playoffs... will their goaltending hold up,and be just as solid as last season? if they can,that is a mark of a legitimate contender,and not a pretender...
Vancouver Canucks:a long road trip,because of Olympics last year,made Vancouver lose steam,at end of season,losing to Chicago in playoffs,for second straight year... Luongo,and company,have to hold up for the season... they need help on blueline,and defense around goal has to improve... too many garbage goals around net,but can they outscore many teams in NHL? yes... can Sedin twins repeat last year,which both of them had great years? time will tell..,
Chicago Blackhawks:every bounce went their way last season,including back to back 3-0 shutouts,of Red Wings,which convinced me,of being best team in NHL,last season,but departure of eight back end players,via free agency,and stupid trades(to Atlanta,ha,ha),and new free agent goaltender(from Dallas),in Marty Turco,who has losing record,in playoffs,and has not been in playoffs the last two years,makes them the biggest question mark,of a defending Stanley Cup champion,since the 2006 Tampa Bay Lightning,who did not defend their Stanley Cup win,until 2006,because of the 2005 strike wiped out their chance to repeat...
Detroit Red Wings:the back end of their roster was depleted some,but basically they stayed pat,added two major players(Mike Modano,and Jiri Hudler),but core is intact,which is very good... biggest two questions:can Red Wings improve defense around net,and can Howard improve in net,and in shootouts,or is he going suffer sophomore slump? i do not think so,because it is Detroit,and the staff will make adjustments to Howard's shortcomings,but if he does suffer,they have a backup,who has won three Stanley Cups,and Osgood will improve,on horrible year,last year... it is only logical...

predictions for 2010-2011

this post will be talked about,but this is my opinion:
predictions for the Central Division,for 2010-2011:
1: Detroit Red Wings
2: Chicago Blackhawks
3: Nashville Predators
4: St. Louis Blues
5: Columbus Blue Jackets
putting Detroit over Chicago may be a chic pick for the pundits,but i just feel that Chicago gutted their back end of their roster,by allowing their free agents to walk away,or be traded to Eastern Conference teams,and signing free agents,that have losing records--in playoffs-Marty Turco,and fresh faces from their AHL team,which may,or may not,be ready... injuries last year forced the Red Wings,to use their AHL team the same way,and their offense suffered all year,and,at times,they looked like The Keystone Kops,on the ice... Detroit basically stayed pat,with only minor corrections,and a couple of key additions--Mike Modano,and Jiri Hudler,who came back from Russia,after one year... Nashville,and St. Louis have improved,but they both lack enough firepower,to score enough goals to keep a consistent threat to Detroit,or Chicago... Goaltending for both teams have improved,and should keep them in games,outside of the division... offensively,they both are building an potent offense,but not enough this year... both of those teams have a chance at playoffs,if their defense holds up,and if they can score consistently... Columbus has probably the most talented player,outside of Detroit,Chicago,or the Eastern Conference,in Rick Nash,and they are a gritty team,and have a goaltender,who won the Calder Trophy(rookie of the year),in 2008-2009,but it is Nash,and the unknowns,for Columbus this year...

Red Wings' history...

Hall of Famer Steve Yzerman had 692 goals,and 1,063 assists,for 1,755 pionts,in 1,514 games...

Red Wings' history...

in 1935-1936,Red Wings lost only one game,in two best of five series,for first Stanley Cup,a 4-3 overtime loss,to Toronto Maple Leafs,on April 9,1945,winning six games of seven games,including a six overtime thriller,against Montreal,1-0,(time of 175 minutes,and 30 seconds--longest game in NHL history--on March,24,1936)

commentary...

the Red Wings' outlook on this season(2010-2011)looks very good... they may be the oldest team(average age of team),but they do have a potent core of scoring,and Nick Lidstrom on defense(ha,ha)... Lidstrom may be older,but is a top defenseman,still,and should have been a finalist for the Norris Trophy,last season,but that just means that there are many defensemen,who deserve a nod to try to win the Norris Trophy,and Lidstrom have won the Norris Trophy six times... Datsyuk,and Zetterberg had sub-par scoring seasons,last season,and that should not happen again... the Red Wings had a sub-par season,by their lofty standards,but still had a 102 point season,but only forty-four wins,and fourteen overtime losses,and that should improve,period... they stood pat,basically,but they did lose Brett Lebda(Toronto),and Brad May,who is an unrestricted free agent,and a few ancillary players,but they are basically the same potent team,with a renewed spirit,to fight for the Central Division,with Chicago... injuries to major players,made the Red Wings seem like the Detroit Griffins,because of so many players,from Grand Rapids,had major playing time,in Detroit,last year(the AHL affiliate,in Grand Rapids,are called the Griffins),but they are healthy,rested,and hungry for a Stanley Cup run,this season... i will make a prediction that the Red Wings will make a very serious run this season,for the Stanley Cup...

Red Wings' history...

in 1935-1936,in the first round,the Montreal Maroons scored only one goal in their sweep loss to Detroit(a best of five series)...

commentary...

Red Wings will be stronger,in 2010-2011,than in 2009-2010,because they stayed basically pat from last year,and added Mike Modano,and Jiri Hudler,back from Russia,on a two year contract... with the thinning of back-end talent,in Chicago,they are ripe for a fall in the standings... the Blackhawks have a core of marquee players that can score,but to tell the truth,their goaltending is weaker than last season... Marty Turco has a losing record in the playoffs,overall(21-26,with 2.27 goals against average,and a respectful .914 save percentage),but have not been in playoffs the last two years(a 12th place finish,both years)... i do not like Blackhawks,but i would tell the truth,about the teams i follow... honestly i really did think the Blackhawks had the best team,in NHL,last season,if their goaltending came together,and it did,so they are the defending Stanley Cup champions,however,this season,they may not be as good as they were last season... Red Wings,and the Blackhawks will fight over the Central Division,and one of the top three spots,in Western Conference,but honestly,the infighting within division will toughen both teams up,for the playoffs... will the Western Conference champion come out of the Central Division,for the fourth straight year? i hope so,but who knows? this season will be very interesting...

commentary...

the signing of Mike Modano will make the Red Wings stronger,mostly,in the locker room,and of course,on the ice... he will stabilize the back end of the roster,being there,and just bringing in a routine,that made him the highest scoring American-born player,in NHL history... i have respected him for 20 years,when he played for Minnesota North Stars,and for the Dallas Stars(same franchise).. he won a Stanley Cup in Dallas,in 1999(against Buffalo),and was in the Stanley Cup Final,the next year(against New Jersey)... he may not be the same player now,as he was earlier in his career,but he has been drained,by the last two years,in Dallas,when talent was lacking,and the Stars missed the playoffs,in last two years... he says that this has renewed his spirit,and he wants to play for the Stanley Cup this year,and will do in April,May,and possibly June... the pundits have said that last season was the beginning of the Red Wings' slide,but they forget the little fact,that they had injuries last season,that would kill most teams' chances of making the playoffs,period... they had major injuries to eight starters most of the season,including one having a broken leg(Franzen),and one having a separated shoulder(Zetterberg)... when they were healthy,they had the best record,in NHL,after the Olympic break,and the pundits will eat crow this season... i am not saying that Red Wings will win Stanley Cup this season... that would be arrogant of me,but i do love our chances,of being in the fight for Stanley Cup,this season...

Sports news...

AP reports that Mike Ilitch wants to buy the NBA's Detroit Pistons... he already owns the Detroit Tigers,of Major League Baseball,and the Detroit Red Wings,of the National Hockey League...

Red Wings' news...

Ruslan Salei signed with Red Wings... 13 years in career,played with Anaheim,Florida,and Colorado,and played for Babcock,in 2002-2004,when he was Ducks' coach,when his team(Ducks)upset Red Wings,in a sweep,and played New Jersey,to a thrilling seven game Stanley Cup Final,losing 3-0,in seventh game of Stanley Cup Final,to Martin Brodeur,and company...

NHL news...

arbitrator voids Ilya Kovalchuk's contract,with the New Jersey Devils,of 17 years,$102 million,basically because of payments on the back end of contract:the stance of the NHL,making him a unrestricted free agent... Los Angeles Kings and the New Jersey Devils were the two teams bidding for his services... New Jersey could try to restructure the contract,or the Kings could outbid them for Kovalchuk...

trivia answer...

Phoenix(six games),St Louis(six games),Dallas(six games),and Washington(in a sweep of four games)...

Red Wings' trivia...

what teams did the Red Wings beat,in order,to win the Stanley Cup,in 1998?

Red Wings' news...

Chris Chelios is joining the Red Wings' front office in a job,yet to be determined

trivia answer...

Danny Gare,who played five seasons in Detroit,from 1981-1982 to 1985-1986... came in a trade from Buffalo to Detroit...

Red Wings' trivia...

who was captain of the Red Wings,before Steve Yzerman?

Red Wings' news...

Mike Modano is a Detroit Red Wings' player... Modano signed an one year deal

NHL news...

Calgary plays Montreal in Heritage Classic in Calgary's McMahon Stadium,on February 20th,2011,outdoors;second outdoor game next year... McMahon Stadium is home of the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders...

Red Wings' news...

Darren Helm re-signed for two more years;terms will be coming...

NHL and Red Wings news...

Mike Modano will be introduced on Friday,by Red Wings,in press conference... he confirmed that he will sign for one year,worth,reportedly,for $1.25 million... ESPN,and AP reported... Yahoo news says that he has signed deal...

Red Wings' news...

Forbes magazine ranks the fans of the Red Wings,as the best fans of NHL,and ranks them third behind the Boston Red Sox,and the Pittsburgh Steelers,which is fine,because i am a Red Sox fan,and i tolerate Steeler fans,and i admire both of them... Pittsburgh Penguins rank sixth,Montreal Canadiens rank eleventh,and the 2010 Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks rank sixteenth,which is fine,because the Blackhawks really suck,and i despise them...

Red Wings' news...

According to Detroit Free Press,Mike Modano will sign with Detroit Red Wings... GM Ken Holland is cautiously optimistic about the signing on Thursday... he has played with Minnesota North Stars,and Dallas Stars,for twenty years... he is the highest-scoring American-born player,in NHL history... i may be wrong in saying this,but i hope this is true.... he was born outside Detroit,in Livonia,Michigan... the Red Wings says that he would center the third line on the team...

NHL news,and commentary...

Blackhawks reject arbitration award of $2.75 million to Antti Niemi,making him the eighth Blackhawks player,to abandon ship,as a unrestricted free agent,and signing Marty Turco,who played with Dallas,for ten years,and i can count on one hand the number of wins,against Red Wings,in Detroit... i believe he has won only once,maybe twice,in Detroit,in regular season,in his career,and has a 21-26 playoff record,with a respectable 2.27 G.A.A,and a .914 save percentage,which means Dallas did not score for him too often,in the playoffs... Chicago has better team than Dallas,and Turco had a miserable year last year,in goal... his backup beat Red Wings,twice in two very disputed games,as referees took a goal away from Red Wings,in one game(which the NHL said was wrong call),and in another game,allowed a goal in a shootout,from 30 feet away,when referee next to goal waved it off,and Stars announcers were dumbfounded in disbelief,when the goal was counted... i listened to the call of the Dallas announcers,a few days later,and they sounded like they could not believe it... sorry,i still have a very hard time with that series of two games... i am not saying that Dallas did not have chance to win games,but both situations were treated like,"screw you,Red Wings...",by incompetent referees...

Red Wings' news...

Aaron Downey,late of the 2007-2008 Red Wings' will get tryout in training camp,in Traverse City,Michigan...

trivia answer...

Gordon "Duke" Keats,who only played 30 games,and played a total of 82 games,in NHL,scored 12 goals,three game-winning goals,and coached team for final 12 games,in 1926-1927; was traded to Blackhawks in 1927-1928,after being suspended indefinitely,for swinging stick toward the fans,in a Chicago-Detroit game,and almost hitting the Blackhawks' owner's wife,actress Irene Castle(owner was Major Frederic McLaughlin)... Keats was elected to Hockey Hall of Fame in 1958,mostly for his total career,before the NHL was formed...

Red Wings' trivia...

who had the first "hat trick",in Detroit Red Wings' history?

NHL news...

on a note of mirth,and a laugh,former NHL enforcer,Georges Laraque has been elected to Canadian Parliament,as deputy leader of the Green Party... he played for the Oilers,Coyotes,Penguins,and Canadiens....