7/28 Notes
I love how there is so much Red Wings hockey to talk about and the season hasn’t even started! The Red Wings have announced the new assistant coaches, Shanny picked up his option, Goodenow resigned, and McCarty’s letter to the fans was published in the Detroit Free Press.
New Assistant Coaches
The Detroit Red Wings announced today that they have hired Paul MacLean as an assistant coach. The other assistant coach will be officially announced tomorrow, July 29th, according to detroitredwings.com. Unofficially, Todd McLellan will join Mike Babcock and MacLean. Barry Smith and Joe Kocur will not be returning as members of the coaching staff.
The 2005-2006 season will mark MacLean’s third season in the NHL and also as assistant to Babcock. Before assisting Babcock, he was the head coach if the Quad City Mallards of the UHL between 2000 and 2002. The Mallards won the Colonial Cup Championship in 2001 and went 112-27-9.
“Paul brings a great deal of experience as player and coach,” said Babcock. “The success we’ve had in the past and the relationship we have will help us do great things in Detroit. He’s a former Red Wing and will be a great addition to our staff.”Â
Aside from coaching in the UHL, he also was the head coach for the Kansas City Blades (IHL) from 1997-2000. In 1994, he received the Hockey News Minor League Coach of the Year when he lead the Peoria Rivermen to a division title going 51-24-6. He also scouted for the St. Louis Blues in 1991-1993.
Between 1980 and 1991, MacLean played for Winnipeg, Detroit, and St. Louis. In 719 regular season games, he scored 324 goals and 349 assists. In the 1984-1985 season, he had a career high 101 points when he was then named to the Campbell Conference All-Star Team. When playing in Detroit, MacLean played on a line that still holds the record for most goals and points. His linemates were Steve Yzerman and Gerard Gallant.
Brian at On The Wings covers Todd McLellan’s coaching background:
As for Todd McLellan, he was the head coach of the Houston Aeros of the AHL, affiliate to the Minnesota Wild. McLellan has never missed the playoffs in all of his professional coaching, and led the Aeros to the 2003 Calder Cup Championship. He has been successful at coaching at all levels of minor league play, from the IHL to AHL to WHL, enjoying coach of the year and all star game honors. A sharp contract to the success of his NHL career, which lasted a mere 5 games during the 1987-88 season with the Islanders.Â
Shanny exercises option
Brendan Shanahan will return this season while earning $2.4 million. In 2003-2004, Shanny finished with 53 points, 25 goals and 28 assists. “He can do a lot of things,” Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “He’s a veteran, he’s a leader, and he can score goals.” Shanahan was one of the bright figures during the lockout when he brought together players, coaches, broadcasting personnel, and front office executives to talk about rule and competition changes. This December meeting has been coined the Shanny Summit.
Darren McCarty’s Letter to Fans
July 28, 2005
Don’t be sad it’s over — be happy it happened.
In the past few days, since the official word came of the buyout and as the status of my contract teetered, the reality that I’m not going to be a Red Wing anymore has set in, and I’ve taken some time to reflect.
I don’t know if it’s maturity (’cause if you know me, that’s never been an issue) or the painstaking reality of the past 12 months without hockey. Either way, I’m saddened to leave an organization in a place where I’ve grown up, raised a family, been part of a first-class and first-rate team, won three Stanley Cups and achieved great personal success.
But looking back, what I really feel is gratitude — thankful for the opportunity to realize a childhood dream to play for my childhood team. Grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch and their entire family for letting this boy become a man and always treating my family as one of their own. Grateful to the entire Red Wing organization from Ken Holland and his staff, to John Hahn and Anne Marie Krappmann in the PR department for their ever tireless effort. Grateful to Piet Van Zant and Paul Boyer for patching me up and getting me back out on the ice. Grateful for the support and memories from everyone at the Joe whom I will miss seeing daily, and thankful to the media for not only their endless support of myself but in the way they’ve always supported the McCarty Cancer Foundation and my band Grinder.
What will I miss most about playing hockey in Detroit? That’s simple. The fans. From the day-to-day coffee stop or gas station conversation to the people who say hello on the street or ask for an autograph at the checkout, there are no greater fans than those in Detroit.
These are the great things about my time as a Red Wing that I will always remember no matter where I go. Thank you to all of you. But please don’t shed a tear ’cause it’s over — crack a smile ’cause it happened, and no one can ever take that away. I’ll always be a Red Wing at heart, and Detroit will always be my home.
Much love to you all,
Darren McCarty, Red Wings No. 25
Reactions to McCarty’s absence
Tuesday night McCarty thanked fans by signing hundreds of autographs (and shook hands and posed for photographs) at J. Baldwin’s restaurant in Clinton Township where he along with his band, Grinder, attended a benefit. The benefit honored the Grinder’s bass player, Jim Anders, who died two months ago. Anders left a wife and year old son. “It’s great. I mean, think about it, people have spent the time to come out here just to say goodbye. It’s so cool. I love that. A guy comes up to me and says, ‘Dude, we’re having bike night up the street. You wanna come?’ I mean, he knows I’d go if I could,” McCarty said. A 43 year old lady from St. Clair Shores who stood in line outside the restaurant for over an hour, “We’re going to miss you, Darren, we really are,” Marcie Ballard said.
McCarty also talked to the Detroit News about his reaction to the buyout.
“It’s hard, it really is…It’s obviously disappointing because this is the only place I’ve ever played and I grew up here. But you know what? I’ll always be a Red Wing at heart. This will always be home. And even though I won’t be playing, I’ll be cheering for the team. I’m just very grateful for the opportunity and the success and all the things I’ve been able to accomplish here in Detroit. The support of the fans…I just can’t say thank you enough,” McCarty told The Detroit News.Â
Bob Goodenow resigns
After meeting with other members of the Executive Committee about the NHLPA’s future, Bob Goodenow will no longer be the NHLPA Executive Director and General Counsel.
“With the conclusion of the negotiations and the ratification of the new agreement, the parties concur that this is an appropriate action for the future. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to serve the Players over the past 15 years and to have had the support of a tremendous staff at the NHLPA. I wish the Players every success under the new CBA,” Goodenow said.Â
Ted Saskin, previously the Senior Director of Business Affairs and Licensing, will be replacing Goodenow.
“I have enjoyed working closely with Bob for the Players over the last 15 years. I know how dedicated Bob has been to the Players. I plan to continue to serve them by building on the strong base that Bob created at the NHLPA.”Â
I only wish that Gary Bettman would be next to go. I know that with the owners success, this is only a wish of mine. Brian also chimed in about Goodenow and Bettman:
While not something being speculated on lately, this comes as pretty expected. Almost 80% of the NHLPA broke rank with Goodenow’s hardline stance in the CBA vote when Goodenow refused to personally endorse it. He obviously isn’t a good representative of the players at that point, and I’m sure they asked him to resign before formally firing him.Â
Now I know everyone’s going to say “one down, one to go” in reference to calling for Gary Bettman to resign as well, but I just don’t see that happening. He just won a landslide victory for the owners, and from that he enjoys overwhelming support from the Board of Governors.
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