Detroit Red Wings November Team Report
My second team report installment is up at FantasyHockey.com. You can view it here.
The Wings defeated the LA Kings last night, 5-2, with Jimmy Howard in net for his first NHL game. As much as I wanted to stay up and watch the whole game (it started at 10:30), I fell asleep after two periods. It was only 3-1 when I went to sleep, but the Wings looked better than they have in some recent games.
Behind the Blog: James Mirtle
Welcome to BtJ’s eighth Behind the Blog featuring James Mirtle. Aside from being one of the most popular hockey bloggers, Mirtle also spends his time as a sportswriter and editor for The Globe and Mail. Whether he’s talking about last night’s games or the NHL’s drug debate, Mirtle puts his own spin on the news making for a great read.
Q.1 – Your first blog entry was back on December 7, 2004. Since then you’ve become a regular read to fellow hockey bloggers and fans alike, what made you want to start blogging?
Ah, the beginning.
A few months before that first silly post, I was sitting in a lecture hall at Ryerson listening to a guest speaker: David Akin, who was then the technology reporter for both CTV (a Canadian television network) and The Globe and Mail. Akin had his own blog on technology issues, and he talked about how he used it as an extension of his writing.
In short, Akin said his blog was a ‘tool’ that was part of his everyday work and that helped improve his ability to do his job. He gained more exposure as a tech reporter (not that he needed it), conversed with people on-line who were in the field, and picked up ideas from sources (other blogs, readers, etc.) that he otherwise wouldn’t have had.
At its most basic level, journalism is about ‘getting the story,’ and blogging helped him do that.
I had to have one.
Akin had said the very best and most successful blogs were those that had writers will a particular area of expertise who would mine that subject matter. In his case, he wrote about the latest technology issues. For me, there was never any question what my blog would be about.
Q.2 – Were you surprised to see your blog become successful in such a short period of time?
Yes. Eric McErlain linked to one of my very first posts, the day after I’d stuck up a hit counter. Seeing 70 or so hits a day coming in right away was a pleasant surprise, although I think I would have probably stuck with it regardless of my readership. The numbers are much bigger now, and the best part about that is establishing a dialogue with people coming to the site, including other bloggers.
But, you know, it’s been a funny year in that everything I’ve tackled has turned out like the blog — very well.
Q.3 – Has it been hard to balance your blogging and journalism obligations without causing any problems in the workplace?
Oooh, you’re not pulling any punches here. Heh, if anything, the blog will be what suffers, as it does when I get strapped for time. I love what I do, and my work at the paper is definitely the No. 1 priority. It’s been years of hard work to get to the point I’m at in what is a very competitive field, and there’s so much hard work ahead of me to take my work to the level I want it to be at.
I think of the blog as something that is connected with what I do and as something that’s constructive to my work, not detrimental. It keeps me writing about the NHL when I wouldn’t otherwise be and, just as important, it’s fun. Getting exposure is never a bad idea for a journalist, either.
Q.4 – What advice would you give to other bloggers, especially to the newcomers?
Pick a topic that is something that you have a passion for — an area in which you feel you’ve got something to offer — and jump in. I wouldn’t worry about who is reading — as long as you’re producing something people are going to enjoy.
After working as an editor now for a while, I think I look at a blog a little bit like I do a piece for the newspaper. You can’t always expect people to read giant blocks of text (which is a little hypocritical considering how this interview is going to read), but if you can break things up with visual pieces or by arranging your ideas in unique ways, it’s going to be a lot less cumbersome for readers to approach. It’s not that different than what I look at doing at The Globe and Mail every night.
Q.5 – How many hours a week would you say that you put into your blog. Is it hard for you find time for work, your blog, and having a life?
Hah, I try not to think about it too much. I would say it varies week to week, depending on what else is happening, but sometimes when I’ve got a day off, I’ll sift through links most of the day and post whatever interests me. I’d like to say I spend probably 4-5 hours a week doing things blog-related, but it certainly could be more. The good thing is that the more I know about hockey, the better equipped I am to eventually cover the game for a living.
The blog is foremost a hobby, so it gets attention when I feel like giving it. I look at it as a pretty constructive hobby to have — after all, it’s something you’re creating that is of value to people and, in my line of work, is of value to yourself.
Q.6 – To be completely honest, I don’t know who your favorite team is. Who do you like to root for and why?
Hey, that’s great — that’s the way I like it. Being objective is a big part of tackling some of the issues journalists write about, and, even though I’m writing about a sport, I try to stick to that as much as possible. I’m foremost a fan of the sport, and I’ll enjoy watching a Minnesota-Columbus game as much as a Toronto-Montreal tilt (if there’s good hockey being played).
Allegiances to teams are great sometimes, but other times they can ruin someone’s enjoyment of the games. You can really see that here in Toronto, where many people simply don’t enjoy hockey anymore because of how the Leafs fare year to year. It also irks me, when reading a reporter or columnist, to see some personal biases creep into the copy.
People who know me personally know the Canucks are my team, but, as it has been a few years since I’ve lived in British Columbia, my ties to the team have faded over time. Perhaps if there’s ever another run to the finals by Vancouver, you may hear a little cheer from my corner.
I’ve also always been a big fan of the junior game, and as a youngster, my family had season tickets to the Kamloops Blazers’ teams that established a hockey dynasty in the early 90s. Perhaps, in some fashion, they’ll always be my team.
Q.7 – Where do you see the NHL in 10 years? Why?
You know, I’d like to say that the game will be flourishing and as immensely popular as Gary Bettman seems to think it will be, but my feeling is that the NHL will always be somewhat the way it is now. Absolutely adored and followed obsessively in Canada; largely ignored by a lot of the United States.
Economically, the NHL will never be on an even level with the NBA, NFL or MLB, but I don’t necessarily see that as a bad thing. What is a bad thing is if, in striving to be like those other leagues, the NHL strays too far from its roots on frozen ponds in small Canadian towns. Much of the reason the game is great can be traced back to the humble roots of its participants.
Q.8 – Whether it’s talking about the victims of the NHL or the perils of the salary cap, you always seem to be coming up with original content for your blog. Is there a method you go through to determine a new and unique topic or does it just come to you?
Well, fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it) that’s just the way my brain ticks. It’s always a different path that leads me there, but it starts with seeing trends or issues that I think bear a more in-depth look. As a blogger, I don’t just want to be a linking guru — I want to take a story and add something of value to it. I really only get to tackle a very small portion of the ideas I come up with.
Q.9 – We know that you believe Sidney Crosby is undeserving of the Rookie of the Month award for October. If you could decide who wins the Calder Trophy for their performances thus far, who would you pick and why?
Whew, I bet the voters are glad they don’t have to pick now. You know, I think people have started to peg me as a Crosby ‘hater’ from the tone of a few of my posts, but that’s certainly not the case. And, in the weeks since the end of October, he’s certainly climbed the list of top rookies.
So far, I think Dion Phaneuf is the league’s top rookie. It’s probably going to be very tough for him to win the award, being that the intangibles he brings are far greater than his offensive output, but so far, he’s been one of the best defensemen in the league. It’s something I’ve rarely seen a rookie blueliner do.
Q.10 – How would you describe a blog to someone who’s never heard of the concept before and how would you differentiate it from journalism (ie. print or broadcast media)?
Considering I’m rather new to the whole phenomenon, I’m not entirely sure I’d be the best person to do describe a blog. I guess I’d say it’s a continually updated ‘log’ on any given topic — but that hardly does justice to how malleable the medium is.
As for your second question… I think a lot of people, especially in the mainstream media, don’t give enough credit to blogs as a potential form of journalism. At their best, blogs can certainly be journalism. The main difference is that a blog is, in most cases, a medium that doesn’t have a dedicated editing and fact-checking process. (And, even then, there are those that do have an editing process that posts go through.)
Newspapers are starting to take note of blogs, as evidence by sites like the Toronto Star’s The Hockey Page and what The Globe and Mail is trying to do with veteran hockey reporter Eric Duhatschek. By creating somewhat of a community, linking to other similar blogs and allowing discussion, The Star has got the hang of it a bit better than my employer, but both can be vastly improved as the industry gets a better handle on how to make the medium work (and make it profitable).
Q.11 – What are your thoughts on the recent trade of Sergei Federov to the Columbus Blue Jackets?
I actually have the St. Louis-Columbus game on now where Fedorov is playing his first game. The Blue Jackets broadcast team sure loves the move (they said he is among the league’s top one per cent of players, something I doubt at age 35).
At the heart of it, the trade is really a story of two desperate teams, teams that I think made mistakes going into this season. Tying up $8.75-million salary, nearly 25 per cent of the team’s payroll, in the Niedermayer brothers was not a good move by Ducks GM Brian Burke. On the Blue Jackets’ side, I’ve long been critical of GM Doug MacLean’s team-building strategy. Finding things he’s done right with that franchise is difficult.
The one thing I wonder is: Is Columbus with Fedorov and minus Todd Marchant and Tyler Wright that much better than the team that’s currently 5-13-0? As I understand it, Fedorov has two more years at $6-million per on his contract, meaning he’ll be 38 years old by the deal’s end. It’s a tad optimistic to think he’ll be a big contributor at that point.
Q.12 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
I went to Blazers games in the old Memorial Arena as a kid, watching guys like hometown hero Mark Recchi and pint-sized defenceman Greg Hawgood tear up the WHL. The first NHL game I saw was at the Canucks’ old Pacific Coliseum when I was 13 or 14. It was a 6-3 loss to the LA Kings and was made all the more disappointing by the absence of the then-injured Wayne Gretzky.
Q.13 – What team do you find to be the most exciting to watch this year?
I’ll pick a team that probably not a lot of people have seen this year in the LA Kings. Their top line of Alex Frolov-Craig Conroy-Pavol Demitra has been every bit as potent the past month as the three fellows on an unnamed Canadian club. Jason LaBarbera and Mathieu Garon are an underrated pairing in net, and I love the play from hardnosed guys on defence like Mattias Norstrom and Aaron Miller. There are even a trio of fantastic youngsters on the club in Dustin Brown, Tim Gleason and Mike Cammalleri. This is going to be a good team this year and in the future.
Q.14 – If you could change one thing about the NHL, what would it be?
I know it’s an old argument, but the league really should have fewer teams and fewer games played.
Bring the NHL back to 24 to 26 teams, including two more Canadian clubs (Winnipeg and a second Toronto franchise), and take the number of games down close to 70.
I love seeing pockets of fans in places like Minnesota that have the same passion for the game that I grew up with. That’s a great example of a place hockey never should have left, and it should serve as a lesson for the league. Going back to Winnipeg would right a similar wrong.
Q.15 – Is there a hockey blog or site that you look up to for inspiration?
I’ll have to be honest — prior to December, 2004, I’d never read a hockey blog. It was only once I started one myself and wanted to improve what I was doing that I ventured into the eccentric circle of hockey blogdom of which I’m now proudly a part of.
The first two hockey blogs I began reading regularly are still my two favourites — Eric McErlain’s Off Wing Opinion and Tom Benjamin at Canucks Corner.
The real keys for those two are that they’re both very intelligent, both love the game and are both fiercely dedicated to their blogs. I know that probably sounds terribly, horribly geeky to anyone from outside ‘the circle,’ but I wouldn’t be speaking amiss if I said those guys love what they’re doing. Like anyone who creates anything — a musician, an artist, a filmmaker — it’s the labours of love that produce the best work. I can’t begin to imagine how much time either guy dedicates to their site. But, hey, it shows.
This response is getting rather long, but I’m really, really intrigued (and pleased) to see a hockey blog like the one the Toronto Star has put together. I think the general public has the idea that journalism and those that produce it are creating a sort of staid, serious product — the stuff that fills the bundle of paper on your stoop every morning. The thing that The Hockey Page does is that it shows a) that journalists can and will adapt to use their talents in new forms and b) that the mainstream media is starting to learn the ‘power of the blog.’
Tom Benjamin said he was surprised a newspaper could produce a good blog — so perhaps the best thing about The Hockey Page is that it’s changing that notion for people. The industry has still got a long way to go before we see the full breadth of what can be done with the medium, but at least we’re getting off the starting blocks.
I hope the endeavour is a huge success for the Star, and that other papers will ‘seek out’ the commodity that is a good blogger. And there I’ll be, sitting on the sports desk.
Any additional comments?
Some silly souls have nominated me for three different Canadian Blog Awards, so I’ll just mention that and ask that some of my readers send a few votes my way as to prevent an embarrassing turnout at the polls.
This is a good thing that you do Christy. My thoughts may require the services of a good editor, but thanks for having me along nonetheless.
Gift ideas for hockey fans
Since today is the biggest holiday shopping day of the year (and the one with the biggest deals), here’s a list to either help you find the perfect gift for the hockey fan in your life or some ideas for gifts to add to your own wish list. I listed the cost next to the item and please note that they do not include the shipping costs as that will vary from person to person. Have an idea for the list, leave a comment!
General Hockey Gift Ideas
If you can’t find these items in stores or are hoping to buy them a tad cheaper, be sure to check out eBay for all your hockey needs!
–> Center Ice Package. I *just* got it and it’s amazing that I can finally watch any game that’s being played and not just my Wings. Cost: $150
–> Hockey calendar. I personally love my Detroit Red Wings calendar which lists when all the games are as well as featuring 12 great photos of my favorite Wings players. Calendars.com has 12 calendars to choose from, including one featuring the Red Wings. Cost: $13.99
–> Jersey (or Sweater for you Canadians). Pick out a jersey of your favorite player or choose to customize your own. Cost: $160-250
–> Hockey trading cards. My brothers used to be obsessed with collecting hockey trading cards, especially when they found game used jerseys or autographed cards in the pack. You can treat a hockey fan to a few packs or a whole wax box from the likes of Upper Deck.
–> Memorabilia. Whether it’s a signed puck, photograph, etc, you’re sure to find the perfect item. Whenever I want a signed photograph that’s reasonably priced, I go to this person on eBay. High quality 8×10 photos for decent prices and quick shipping. Cost: Varies
–> Bobbleheads. Most fans will enjoy a bobblehead or two featuring their favorite player. Others collect them. You can find a bobblehead in the likes ranging from Don Cherry to Steve Yzerman. Cost: $20-50
–> Action figures. Similar to the bobbleheads, you can find McFarlane figures of your favorite players minus the head bobbling part. Cost: $10-40
–> Tickets. Visit Ticketmaster to find tickets for your local or favorite team. Cost: Varies
–> T-shirts. Whether you’re buying an NHL tee featuring a player or a custom shirt made courtesy of Cafepress.com, you’re sure to find a shirt to fit. For example, my friend bought me a t-shirt from CafePress that said, “I survived the 2004-2005 Hockey Lockout” similar to this one. Cost: Varies
–> If they don’t have it already, buy them a subscription to The Hockey News for one year (42 issues). Cost: $51.48
Do you believe in Miracles?
For fans who cherish the 1980 US Olympic victory or want to learn more, buy them one of the following gifts.
–> The Boys of Winter is an excellent book written by Wayne Coffey and it covers “the untold story of a coach, a dream, and the 1980 US Olympic Hockey team.” I wasn’t alive at that point in time, but this book made me feel like I really was there. Excellent read. Cost: $10.40 (paperback)
–> HBO created an hourlong documentary featuring The Story of the 1980 US Hockey Team. Cost: $6.97
–> If they don’t own it already, buy them the movie Miracle which was released in 2004. Cost: $13.99
DVDs
Aside from the recent classic, Miracle, here are some other movies that would be a great addition to any hockey fan’s collection.
–> Mystery, Alaska: A movie starring Russell Crowe, Hank Azaria, and Burt Reynolds. Cost: $10.99
Plot: This comedy is about the residents of a small town who get over-excited when their hockey team gets chosen to host a televised event. When Mystery, Alaska’s amateur hockey team accepts a challenge to play against the New York Rangers, the entire population must put their petty differences aside and pull together as their small town becomes the center of a nationally televised event.Â
–> Slapshot: A comedy featuring Paul Newman and Strother Martin. Cost: $9.99
Plot: A failing ice hockey team finds success using constant fighting and violence during games. The player-coach of a nowhere small town hockey team must deal with an intractable owner, hostile crowds and on-ice thuggery in this warm-hearted and only slightly farcical look at ice hockey.Â
–> Lord Stanley’s Cup: A NHL DVD that delves into the history of Lord Stanley’s Cup. Cost: $6.97
–> NHL Stanley Cup Champions 2003-2004 Tampa Bay Lightning: Fan of the Tampa Bay Lightning? Or just want to re-watch last season’s playoffs unfold? Then this is the DVD for you. Cost: $8.99
–> Ultimate Gretzky: A 205 minute long 2 disc DVD featuring The Great One, Wayne Gretzky. Cost: $13.97
–> Detroit Red Wings: As an owner of this amazing DVD, I highly suggest any Wings fan purchase this 4 disc set. It shows five games voted on by the fans (including “The Turtle”), highlights of their Stanley Cup wins, and history of the team. Cost: $24.97
–> Honor and Courage - Tough Guys of the NHL: A brand new DVD that takes an on the ice and off the ice look at the life of an enforcer. I believe ex-Wing Darren McCarty is one of the four individuals featured. Cost: $14.99
Books
–> The Game by Ken Dryden: Sports Illustrated named this book as the ninth best sports book of all time and the very best hockey book. Cost: $16.47
–> Ice Time: A Tale of Fathers, Sons, and Hometown Heroes by Jay Atkinson Cost: $11.16
–> They Don’t Play Hockey in Heaven: A Dream, A Team, and My Comeback Season by Ken Baker Cost: $15.61
–> Eleven Seconds by Travis Roy: This is one of my favorite books of all time and a very inspirational read as well. Travis Roy was a promising hockey player when he joined Boston University’s varsity team. Eleven seconds into his first shift, a freak accident happened paralyzing him from the neck down. The book covers his childhood, the accident, rehab, and life after hockey. Cost: $13.60
Games
–> NHL 2006: Brett Mirtle at Red Line Sports did a review on this new video game.
Cost: $29.99
–> NHL 2K6 Cost: $19.88
–> Sony Gretzky NHL 2006 for Playstation 2 Cost: $39.99
–> Original 6 Monopoly: All 30 franchises are up for sale and you play it just like the original game. Cost: $39.99
Hockeytown Fans
–> Official online Red Wings shop
–> For the Red Wings superfan, buy them this set. You get three books — “Hang 10,” “Hockey Gods” and “Century of Champions,” a $49.95 coffee-table book about the 20th Century of Michigan sports. You also get front-page posters saluting the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup teams of 1997, 1998 and 2002. Cost: $59.95 I bought the 2002 front page poster from the Detroit Free Press and then framed it and it looks wonderful in my room. You can buy the posters separately for $7.95 a piece.
–> Customize your own locker room photo
–> Stiga NHL Stanley Cup Rod Hockey Table featuring the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs.
For everything else, visit the online NHL Catalog.
11/23 Notes
Wings defeat Avs, 7-3
After watching Jiri Fischer fight for his life on Monday night, the Wings returned to Joe Louis to face rival Colorado Avalanche. Detroit was able to break their four game losing slump and extend the Avs to three. Mikael Samuelsson notched two goals and two assists to lead the team to a victory. Three players (Jason Williams, Robert Lang, and Dan Cleary) got a goal and an assist each. Pavel Datsyuk had two assists. Brendan Shanahan and Johan Franzen got a goal apiece.
Head coach Mike Babcock had this great quote that he said right before the game started, but I can’t find it word for word yet. When I do, I’ll post it right here because it captured what this game was all about perfectly.
New blog
I’ve created a new blog entitled Injured Reserve, which will cover injuries to NHL players. My three great passions in life are hockey, sports writing, and sport medicine. Injured Reserve encompasses all three areas. I am on Thanskgiving break until this Sunday so between studying and spending time with family and friends, I’ll be working hard on my new project as well as keeping up with this one.
SportBlog Roundup
Check out Ken Owen’s blog, Militant Moderate, for his most recent SportBlog Roundup which featured Behind the Jersey among others.
Fischer released from hospital
Jiri Fischer was released from the hospital today and is home, resting comfortably. He has also been placed on IR (injured reserved). Detroit has called up defenseman Kyle Quincey from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Fans wishing to send Get Well wishes to Fischer are asked to send cards to:
Jiri Fischer
Detroit Red Wings
Joe Louis Arena
600 Civic Center Drive
Detroit, MI 48226In lieu of flowers, the Red Wings ask that fans consider making a donation to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Wish Club. Fischer has served as the team spokesman for this initiative during the past five years and is a staunch supporter of Children’s Hospital. To make a donation to the Wish Club, fans can call 313-745-5024.
In addition, fans who would like to sign a 3′ X 4′ Get Well card for Fischer can do so beginning at 6 p.m. today at Hockeytown Cafe in downtown Detroit and Hockeytown Authentics in Troy.
Fans attending tomorrow evening’s Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche game will also have the opportunity to sign 4′ X 8′ Get Well cards which will be located on the concourse at Joe Louis Arena.
Thank you for your continued support of Jiri and the Red Wings.
Jiri Fischer collapses at game
The first meeting of the Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings of the season was abruptly cancelled after Wings defenseman, Jiri Fischer, collapsed on the bench during the first period.
NHL.com is now reporting that Fischer suffered a seizure. He was given CPR at the bench and a defibrillator was used before he was removed on a stretcher to be taken to the Detroit Receiving Hospital. Captain Steve Yzerman and forward Brendan Shanahan helped his fiancee, Avery, across the ice to the bench area.
Team spokesman, John Hahn, said that he is in stable condition, responsive, talking, and breathing on his own. They do not know what caused the seizure at this point. Yzerman and Shanahan addressed the media once they received word that Fischer’s condition was stable. “We’re not really sure what is going on,” Yzerman said.
Fischer apparently has some friends on the Nashville Predators teams and both squads were too concerned over their friend and fellow hockey player to continue the game. “I don’t think any of the players felt it right to continue playing the game, even though we received word that Fischer was stable…I think it was Brett Lebda who alerted the rest of the team that something was wrong…Jiri was his usual self before the game,” Shanahan said.
In September 2002, he was diagnosed with a heart abnormality (his heart is apparently a little thicker than normal) after it was found on an electrocardiogram, which was part of Wings’ preseason physicals. He was then given a stress test, which he passed. “There is a little abnormality, but nothing that will stop me from playing,” Fischer said at the time. “It’s nothing that will bother me emotionally. I wasn’t scared about the abnormality. But I was scared about not playing hockey again. That was a shock for me.”
Paul at Kuklas Korner also has comments on the incident and what transpired. Stephen Bolen at Back in Blue also blogged live as the events unfolded.
No decision about rescheduling the game has been made at this time. The Wings will be playing this Wednesday when they face the Colorado Avalanche.
Update: The Detroit Red Wings held a conference today (11/22/05) at Joe Louis Arena at 1pm to shed more light on how Jiri Fischer is doing. I typed these “quotes” as they talked on TV so I can’t guarantee that they are all word for word what was said, but as close as I could remember. Here are some things they had to say:
GM Ken Holland: Obviously, it’s been a tough 12 hours for our organization. When I was in his room, he was in good spirits and a couple of jolts were cracked. Very thankful that we have tremendous medical people in our organization…We’re going to go see Jiri this afternoon.
Dr. Tony Colucci: He’s cracking some jokes. All his tests are coming back within normal limits. When I assessed the situation, Fischer was having a convulsion in my professional opinion. Trying to maintain an airway and establish a pulse. We initiated chest compressions. We shocked him [with the use of an AED].
Upon his arrival [at Detroit Receiving Hospital], he was very stable. He was very thankful for everybody. There’s no way to figure what triggered it. Believe it was cardiac in origin.
He couldn’t really recall too much last night. Today, he recalls his first shift, being in the ambulance, and being in the ER. He didn’t remember being on the bench.
An AED monitor should be in every public place. Any laid person is able to use the machine. It should be in any arena, period. The ABCs [airway, breathing, circulation] are most crucial.
Fischer’s agent, who lives in Florida, is flying in today and should be in Detroit this afternoon. The Wings have offered to fly his parents from the Czech Republic to Detroit. The Wings may call someone up from Grand Rapids, but will look at all the options to make the team as strong as possible.
One of my five college classes I’m taking right now is a required CPR/First Aid class. We had just recently covered how to use an AED, CPR, etc. An AED is extremely easy to use. You have two patches to place on the chest and they are clearly labeled with where they are supposed to go. The AED talks to you and will direct you through it whether it’s telling you to stay clear, shock, etc. As the doctor mentioned, ABCs are what you first look for when something goes wrong. You check the airway first, breathing second, and circulation third. AEDs cost around $3000 according to the doctor.
I’ll have more updates for you as they come out. My thoughts and prayers are with Jiri and his family for a speedy recovery.
Update (11/23/05):
Fischer was released from the hospital today and is home, resting comfortably. He has also been placed on IR (injured reserved). Detroit has called up defenseman Kyle Quincey from the Grand Rapids Griffins.
Fans wishing to send Get Well wishes to Fischer are asked to send cards to:
Jiri Fischer
Detroit Red Wings
Joe Louis Arena
600 Civic Center Drive
Detroit, MI 48226In lieu of flowers, the Red Wings ask that fans consider making a donation to the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Wish Club. Fischer has served as the team spokesman for this initiative during the past five years and is a staunch supporter of Children’s Hospital. To make a donation to the Wish Club, fans can call 313-745-5024.
In addition, fans who would like to sign a 3′ X 4′ Get Well card for Fischer can do so beginning at 6 p.m. today at Hockeytown Cafe in downtown Detroit and Hockeytown Authentics in Troy.
Fans attending tomorrow evening’s Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche game will also have the opportunity to sign 4′ X 8′ Get Well cards which will be located on the concourse at Joe Louis Arena.
Thank you for your continued support of Jiri and the Red Wings.
Behind the Blog: Predator’s Den
It’s already BtJ’s seventh edition of Behind the Blog. Today we’re featuring Jason Kirk at the Predator’s Den, which is a pretty good fit since my Wings play his Preds for the first time of eight this season tonight at the Joe. So if you want to know all there is to know about the Preds, go check out his great hockey blog. Interested in being part of an upcoming Behind the Blog feature? Drop me an email! Check back next Monday for feature #8!
Q.1 – When did you first create Predator’s Den and what made you do so? Why did you name your blog Predator’s Den?
The Den has been running since August 2004, though the archives only go back to earlier this year because of hosting problems. I started it for several reasons. The first was because of all the hockey blogs I saw on the net, none of them covered the Predators. The second was to give my friend Charlie Tuttle an outlet to take his mind off the daily grind of being a cancer patient. Finally, I had posted about hockey on my personal blog during the 2004-04 season and decided that having a regular hockey outlet would be a good idea.
I tried to think of a name that sounded natural for predators, and “The Den” was the best one. I think it has a nice ring to it…but I’m also biased. 
Q.2 – Why are you a Nashville Predators fan and have you always been one?
I’ve been one since my first game. The easy answer is “because I live nearby,” but that doesn’t really begin to describe why I love this team. They’re hard working, fast, talented, and they a solid effort just about every time they hit the ice. I also love an underdog story, and considering how the rest of the hockey public has reacted to the Nashville franchise in the past I think they qualify as underdogs.
Q.3 – Where do you see the Preds and/or NHL in 10 years?
That’s hard to say. I’d like to think that the league will get its act together and continue to grow the fan base, but right now that’s too difficult to predict. If they manage to score a good TV deal and figure out to properly market the sport I think the sky is the limit, but they don’t have a good track record on either count.
So far as the Preds go, I think that if the front office management team stays in place you’ll be looking at a perennial playoff contender. One or two of the right moves, coupled with this team’s talent and desire, could very well bring the Stanley Cup to Nashville within the next decade.
Q.4 – What advice would you give to other bloggers, especially to the newcomers?
In terms of general blogging advice: make sure you have something to say, and then be sure to say it well. The best blogs are those that not only have good content, but also have style. That doesn’t mean you have to be completely over the top (though if it works for you, by all means do so!) - it just means that people are more likely to read you if your personality shows through. Sometimes it takes a while to develop a voice, but it’s also something that happens naturally.
For newcomers: it’s not too late to get out! Seriously, don’t start blogging unless you really, really love to write. It will eat up a lot more of your life than you probably realize.
Q.5 – How do you think the Preds will end up this regular season, both in the Central Division and overall? And where do you see them going in the playoffs?
Unless someone can break the entire Red Wings squad’s legs in a “freak accident,” chances are the Preds will finish between 4 and 10 points behind them in the Central. I think that we’ll be looking at probably a Western Conference 4th or 5th seed if that’s the case. And once the playoffs begin, I think that whether we have home-ice advantage will make a big difference in how far we go. Nashville is a notoriously difficult place for visiting teams to steal a win. If the team is hot around March and April I wouldn’t be surprised to see them make the Conference Finals (or better!). This is all assuming that there aren’t any major injuries to our squad, of course - there’s been something of a history of untimely injuries in Nashville the last 3 or 4 seasons.
Q.6 – Who is your favorite player? Why?
Tomas Vokoun. He’s the backbone of the team, not only because of his skill in net but also because of his attitude. He works hard, he doesn’t make any excuses, and above all he has a burning desire to win. Also, he’s just a little bit crazy on the ice - he’s got that little something extra that makes him entertaining to watch.
I also enjoy watching Martin Erat play. He’s one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen and he’s impossible to knock off the puck. I think if things go right the rest of the league will know his name in two or three years.
Q.7 – Do you find it challenging to balance your hockey blog, poker blog, and life in general?
Absolutely. My regular job involves writing about poker; so finding the time to say anything on my own blogs can be difficult. I go through dry spells sometimes where I don’t have much to say. Hockey blogging in particular can be hard at times because I don’t get to watch as many games as I’d like to. I’ve also found blogging about hockey much more demanding this season than in the past because Charlie isn’t around to help carry the workload. In the end, though, I love hockey and I love to write - that’s what keeps me coming back.
Q.8 – Do you get really annoyed when people say there shouldn’t be a team in Nashville because the city can’t support it? And what thoughts do you have to refute that argument?
The majority of the comments I’ve seen in that vein have been from people who have never been to a game in Nashville. A lot of them haven’t even bothered to look at the numbers from the beginning of the franchise’s history, when the average nightly attendance was astronomical for an expansion team. So yes, it’s annoying. So far as refuting the argument goes, I don’t know that there’s much I can say that would change the mind of someone who feels that way. Arguments about where a hockey team should or shouldn’t be are almost always based on emotions, so arguing the point is pretty much a waste of time. The way I see it, as long as Craig Leipold thinks that a hockey team in Nashville is a good investment the critics will have to take the issue up with him.
Q.9 – What team has surprised you by their performance thus far into the season?
Carolina is at the top of my list. They’ve shown a lot of character for a relatively young team, and it’s nice to see them experiencing success. The Rangers have also been a big surprise - given their recent history there wasn’t much reason to expect them to perform well. I’ll be interested to see how both teams play the rest of the season out. I’ve also been surprised by the slow start in San Jose. I expected them to jump out of the gate but they’ve had trouble finding their identity on the ice. I think that come playoff time they’ll still be in the picture, though.
Q.10 – If you could change one thing about the NHL, what would it be?
Only one thing? Well then, I guess it’d have to be the officiating. From the time I started going to games, I’ve been underwhelmed by the quality of the referees. Half the time they appear either to not know the rules or just not care about enforcing them. Then there are the times when they look like they’ve awakened from a dream with a whistle in their mouths, blowing the puck dead every 10 seconds for phantom calls. It’s almost schizophrenic, the way they can’t make up their mind how the games should be called.
I’d like to see more games each year called by the book, and in particular I’d like to see playoff games. Rules shouldn’t be rules if they aren’t going to be enforced all the time.
Q.11 – Do you think the rule changes and salary cap have brought about their desired effect?
At this point in the season I think it’s pretty hard to argue that they haven’t - attendance and scoring are both up and player costs are down, and I think those were the main objectives the league had coming into this season. But just the same, I’d rather sit back and see how things go over the course of the entire season before making a judgment on the rules or the cap. It’s a long way yet to the playoffs.
Q.12 – When did you attend your first hockey game and who was playing?
I’ve followed hockey in general since the 1980s, but the first game I ever had the chance to attend was when the Red Wings came to Nashville on December 29, 2001. This was back before anyone took the Preds seriously and the Wings were on the road to the Stanley Cup. Nashville trailed 2-0 with 4:20 left in the 3rd period and ended up winning 3-2 in overtime. I had seats two rows off the ice - what a game!
Q.13 – What player do you think has made the biggest impact on the Preds this season?
I’m going to take the easy way out and name three: Steve Sullivan, Paul Kariya, and Tomas Vokoun. Sully for his point production, Kariya for making the team believe it can win, and Vokoun for being Vokoun in the net.
Q.14 – What do you hope to achieve with your blog over the next couple of years?
It’s hard to say, really. Just keeping it running is something of a victory considering how tough the last year has been, with the lockout and Charlie’s death. I guess I’d have to say that I’d like to be able to update the Den more frequently and be the guy that people think of when they’re looking around the blogosphere for opinions on the Preds. Oh, and win an Oscar for Best Hockey Blogger, I suppose.
Q.15 – Is there a hockey blog or site that you look up to for inspiration?
Eric McErlain’s Off-Wing Opinion is an example of what a sports blog ought to be - informative and fun. He’s also inspiring because he balances a busy life with his blog very well. I also love Jes Golbez’s blog - I wish I could be as funny as he is on such a consistent basis.
Carnival of the NHL #13
Welcome to the Carnival of the NHL #13, which features a wonderful assortment of rides for your pleasure. Whether it’s the rollercoaster that is Sean Avery or the Rookie Ferris Wheel, you’re sure to find a ride to suit your taste and interest.
Ride #1 - Merry Go Round of Officiating
It seems lately that fans and players alike have plenty to say about the officiating in the new NHL thus far this season. However unlike players and coaches who get fined for talking negatively about the officiating, us hockey bloggers can talk about the refs all we want. Dubi at Blueshirt Bulletin doesn’t have a problem with the new rules, rather the inconsistency of calling them. In a few games he watched, “you couldn’t get a call unless you dove (both teams).” Tom Benjamin noted in a Vancouver-Calgary game the numerous phantom calls made by NHL officials as well as critical penalties that were missed entirely. Mike finds fault with the referees going overboard on calling minor penalties and ignoring flagrant penalties.
Paul at Kuklas Korner helps clarify Steve Yzerman’s comments about the officiating. He doesn’t have a problem with the rules, but the fact that the refs need to use some judgment. Off Wing Opinion’s Eric McErlain also had some thoughts on Yzerman’s comments and other officiating observations.
Mike Chen steps up on his soapbox to proclaim that players control the outcome of the game and not the referees. Red and Black Hockey cover the controversy surrounding LA’s Jeremy Roenick’s shootout goal in this post.
Ride #2 - Rookie Ferris Wheel
On this ride, we’ll view the rotating views on who is the #1 rookie thus far this season. It seems most everybody has an opinion on Sid Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, whether good or bad. A common view is that Crosby didn’t deserve October’s Rookie of the Month honors, but he is certainly proving his case this month. Among those views are James Mirtle and Eric McErlain. Michael was impressed with Crosby’s shooutout goal that won the game for the Penguins over Montreal. You can read more at his blog, Confessions of a Hockey Fanatic. He also covered the Battle of Pennsylvania (Part 2) where Crosby also got the game winning goal. However, Jes asks that everyone keeps things in perspective when it comes to Sid Crosby.
Matt at Battle of Alberta thinks Dion Phaneuf is deserving of winning the Calder if he keeps up this pace, but unless Ovechkin and Crosby get injuries resulting in a loss of 12+ games, that won’t happen. Greg at Puck Stops Here believes that Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers should be considered as a Rookie of the Year favorite.
Carnival Food
Let’s take a break from the rides to enjoy some carnival snacks courtesy of Washington Capitals owner, Ted Leonsis. Lately he has become the league’s most fan friendly owner as seen through his jersey giveaways and owner’s box invitation extended to blogger Eric McErlain. Jordon at Hockey Pundits discussed the benefits Leonsis would receive from giving season ticket holders a black CCM Caps replica jersey of their choice. You can also read Eric’s detailed account of game night in the owner’s box with Leonsis here and here.
Ride #3 - The Sean Avery Rollercoaster
Avery’s big mouth and brash actions continue in this rollercoaster ride. Martin at HockeyDirt.com pokes fun at Avery and his new “agent,” Drew Rosenhaus. Red and Black Hockey takes a look at Avery’s problem with a diving call and consequent $1000 fine and David believes he should just let it go. And like they say at Vancouver Canucks Op Ed, every time Avery gets a fine, an angel gets its wings.
Ride #4 - Poor Blues
Not until the two past games, the St. Louis lost 11 straight games. Eleven. Jes Gölbez talks about the Blues, both the good and bad. There’s obviously a lot more bad to talk about then good. Just yesterday, Stephen at Back in Blue also gave his thoughts on the good, bad, and ugly of the Blues before they faced Detroit. He also believed Yzerman should stop whining about the rule changes and officiating. And now that David Checketts withdrew from negotiations to buy the St. Louis Blues, things don’t seem to be looking up for the Blues.
Ride #5 - Small World After All
On this ride, we get to see that while fans may differ in their favorite team and hometown; they aren’t so different afterall. Some of us bloggers, myself included, have debated over the type of fans and and others have asked if we can or should even classify fans.
Another common topic of conversation is hockey sweaters or jerseys. Michael Fedor talked about why he thinks its okay to wear a jersey with your name on it. Jes also added some more rules to keep in mind before wearing a sweater. David Lee at Red and Black Hockey has his own thoughts on the sweaters whether it’s a couple of rules, his favorite sweaters, or the worst ones.
Ride #6 - Business Stop
Well, the next stop isn’t as fun and enjoyable as making fun of bad jerseys, but it is an important ride. Here you can see the business world in the NHL from high atop Space Mountain. To the right, you can view the perils of the salary cap courtesy of James Mirtle. JJ, who recently got engaged (congratulations), had additional comments on this topic.
Go through the tunnel where Kevin at BFLO Blog takes apart ESPN’s Scott Burnside’s column through the eyes of a Sabres’ fan. Outside the tunnel to your left, look as Jes compares ticket prices, beer costs, and attendance. And to conclude the ride, Tom Benjamin dissects the trend in goals whether its goals with even strength, shorthanded, or on the powerplay.
Background Music
Stop for a minute to observe the surroundings. Hear anything? Perhaps some classic hockey tunes? Martin uncovers the reasoning behind playing songs after a certain player scores and also finds a website run by Glen Gower, the Ottawa Senator’s Director of Entertainment & Events, featuring the top hockey songs.
Ride #7 - The NHL As We Know It
Jeff at Sisu Hockey posted his Quarter Pole awards for biggest hit, best goalie name, most lethal shooutout team, etc. Ranger’s Pundit, Mike, compares the old NHL to the new version. Matt Barr has a few suggestions in changes that need to be made in this new NHL.
Kuklas Korner’s Paul is waiting for the day when _____ (you’ll have to click on the link to read his list).
Matt at Battle of Alberta takes a look at home and road records and how that could impact coaching. The Puck Stops Here comments on Matt’s theory.
Tom at Sabre Rattling examines the pronunciation changes in names of late. For more humor, don’t forget to visit Vancouver Canucks Op Ed for their weekly quote sheets (posted every Thursday) and daily NHL Odds and Ends feature. Additionally, Habs Blog pokes fun at Sheldon Souray for his amazing performances of late [note the sarcasm].
Sidearm Delivery brings up the possibility of a NHL-IIHF series.
HockeyAnalysis.com came out with its Entertainment Index Version 2.0. David Johnson created a formula to rank teams based on their entertainment factor. He determined that Toronto is the most entertaining team thus far this season while Tampa Bay finds itself on the bottom of the list. You’ll have to visit his website to find out where your favorite team falls in the rankings.
Ride #8 - Hockey Fights
Odd Man Rush covers the noticeable decrease in fighting majors this season; 42% less than the 2003-2004 season. Jon at Sharkspage features Drop the Mitts exhibition featuring hockey fighting. You can also view a “toughness preview” of all the teams at HockeyFights.com where you can also purchase Honor & Courage: Tough Guys of the NHL.
JP at Japers’ Rink portrays the glitches in this season’s scheduling and then provides an alternative with a solid explanation for his reasoning.
The Acid Queen also discusses the lessons we should take from the Bertuzzi incident at Sweet Tea, Barbecue, and Bodychecks. And that we all need to just let it go. Give it a rest. Move on.
Ride #9 - Hockeytown
This carnival wouldn’t be right without a stop in Hockeytown, my hometown. Grampapinhead discusses who he thinks will take the Western Conference after reading this post. Be sure to check out Blue Line Comics take on Chris Chelios cheering for the Chicago White Sox.
Matt at On the Wings talks about the trade that brings ex-Wing Sergei Federov back to the Central Division. Grampapinhead rounded up some quotes on this trade aka salary dump. Steve Ovadia at PuckUpdate believes that this “trade” is more like a personality dump.
Kevin wrote in his Rinkside Ramblings about the Wings’ past week including all the highs and lows. And finally, a tribute to the Red Wings captain, Steve Yzerman.
Ride #10 - Hail to the Victors
Not only have the Michigan Wolverines ice hockey team gotten off to a strong start (9-1-1), they are doing so with a large influx of freshmen. The Wolverines are coming off a sweep of the Wildcats and will face the University of Minnesota this Friday, which I will be attending.
Penn State seems to be slipping in their control over the ACHA division according to Michael Fedor. For other college hockey news, visit Inside College Hockey.
Michigan Junior Hockey covers all that is junior hockey in Michigan, including my favorite the OHL Plymouth Whalers. For more OHL coverage, visit Ottawa 67s Fan Blog.
SoVeryObsessed.com’s Heather Creegan attended the AHL Manchester game to cheer on their opponent, Lowell. You can view her game recap and beautiful photos here.
In Conclusion…
We hope John at BoltsMag makes a quick recovery from his wrist surgery. I also hope you all enjoyed the many rides and stops that this Carnival had to offer and good luck to the next host of the Carnival of the NHL.
Blues 3, Wings 2
The St. Louis Blues have won their first two straight games this season by beating the Detroit Red Wings, 3-2. The Red Wings continued their winless streak in four games with tonight’s loss being their first to a Central Division opponent. They face the Nashville Predators on Monday at Joe Louis Arena. Tonight’s game marked the fourth time the two teams have met this season, each previous game had resulted in a Wings’ win while outscoring the Blues, 13-5.
First Period
Not a whole lot happened in the first period. There were no goals and three penalties (2 on St. Louis and 1 on Detroit). Detroit outshot St. Louis in the first period, 10-6.
Second Period
Jamal Mayers scored the first goal of the game 7:32 into the second period with even strength to put the Blues on the board first. With a little under five minutes left in the second period, Mikael Samuelsson beat Blues goaltender, Curtis Sanford, by tipping in a pass from Jiri Fischer. In the second period, the Wings were able to successfully kill three penalties including a near minute long 5-on-3 opportunity for the Blues. Both teams had 11 shots on their opponent’s net in the second period.
Third Period
Seven minutes into the third, Mike Sillinger scored the Blues’ second goal of the night. A minute and forty-six seconds later, Dough Weight beat Manny Legace on the power play. The Blues had two penalties in this period and the Wings were not able to convert on the power play.
With 52 seconds left in the game, Brendan Shanahan scored on a pass from Henrik Zetterberg to put the Wings within one goal. He then received a penalty (for charging) diminishing any chance the Wings had to tie the game up. Both the Wings and Blues had 13 shots apiece in the third period.
Overall
The Wings outshot the Blues, 34-30, but were unable to convert on six power play opportunities. Blues goalie Sanford made 32 saves to lead the team to a victory over the Wings.
Mike Babcock: “We got ourselves behind the eight ball and couldn’t scramble back…Everybody has a tough schedule, there’s no point in making excuses for having no energy. We needed to win this game…We weren’t sharp…Manny gave us an opportunity on the 5-on-3, but we failed [him]. We got to find some energy [before the game versus Nashville].”
Personal Thoughts
While I was bummed that the Wings lost to the likes of Vancouver and Calgary, I am completely frustrated with the Wings’ performances against the Oilers and Blues. After being up 3-1 over Edmonton at the end of the second period, the game ended in a Wings OT loss. I figured that the Wings would want to redeem themselves and defeat an opponent that we have handily beat thus far the season. However, this was not the case. I’m not going to panic, but we really needed to win tonight and we couldn’t even beat the Blues.
Links
Recap Boxscore Play by Play
Behind the Jersey: No. 19
Before my feature starts, I wanted to say a few things.
1) Behind the Jersey started off as a feature “column” for On the Wings and eventually became this blog. Unfortunately, I left this feature behind but have now decided to revive it. The original feature looks at a specific Detroit Red Wings player. I try to uncover who they are when they’re wearing the jersey and then what they do outside the hockey rink. I want you to get an idea of who the individual is behind the jersey. I’ve only covered four other individuals: Pavel Datsyuk, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, and Kris Draper.
2) Usually it takes me a day or two to write this type of feature. I research the individual online and in any books/magazines I have. I then start to write about this person as a player and who they are outside the sport. However for this player, I spent many days working on this feature. The research alone took a while with my busy schedule and since Steve Yzerman’s private life is a lot harder to uncover who he is outside the rink because he keeps his private life, well, private. I’m sorry it took this long to get the latest installment up, but I wanted to do Yzerman justice.
3) Like many Wings fans, Yzerman is my favorite player. Ever. While he is an amazing player and leader, his priority is with his family and other people. He is selfless and humble. But I have a different reason why he is my favorite hockey player of all time. Cancer patients and survivors look to Lance Armstrong for inspiration. While knee problems are nowhere near the magnitude of seriousness as cancer, I look to Yzerman for inspiration. As you all know, Yzerman has had his fair share of knee injuries. He is the only known professional athlete to return from an osteotomy, a realignment surgery of the knee usually done for the elderly. Typically, it’s a surgery done to postpone a total knee replacement. While I haven’t had that surgery, I’ve had 6 knee surgeries (more minor ones than major). I’m currently waiting to have my 7th and 8th surgeries for my torn lateral meniscus repair, ACL revision (a 2nd ACL reconstruction), and a medial meniscus transplant.
Pain is a part of my everyday life and Yzerman is a major source of inspiration to me. For someone to come back from all of his surgeries and a major osteotomy to play professional hockey, I know that even when the pain is awful, I can make it to class. I have a big autographed photo of Yzerman that I purchased from Hockeytown Authentics over my bed at home, and it always reminds me that I can and will overcome my injuries because he did and succeeded in a very physical sport.
I spent so long working on this feature because I wanted to do Yzerman justice. While I realize he will never read this (most likely), I wanted to reflect his life and career for how amazing it has been and that’s no easy feat. I hope you enjoy the feature and please leave a comment with your thoughts on it. Thank you.
Behind the Jersey: No. 19
On August 2nd Steve Yzerman calmed many fans’ doubts and fears, the Captain would return for another year with the Detroit Red Wings. The 2005-2006 season marks Yzerman’s 23rd season in Hockeytown, including the lockout, and his 19th season as captain. If Yzerman had decided that his knee couldn’t take it anymore or that he was done with playing hockey, his last moments would’ve been him crumpling to the ice after a puck deflected into his eye. Fortunately for fans and the Wings, we will all have an opportunity to say a proper farewell to our beloved Captain.
Yzerman stands to make $1.75 million for the 2005-2006 season plus various bonuses.
“I spent a lot of time thinking about it, going back and forth, and in the end, I just felt if I didn’t come back, I’d be wondering if I could’ve played. I wanted to give it my best shot. I’m not afraid of the challenge, and this year, there’s a lot to try and accomplish. I wanted to see if we could correct some areas and have better feelings than we had two years ago.”
While Yzerman is no longer the player of his youth, he brings leadership a team that is transitioning from the wealthy Stanley Cup winning era to a more youthful salary cap era. Even after recovering from knee surgery, the Captain scored 18 goals in the 2003-2004 season including game winner in the season opener against the L.A. Kings with 1.7 seconds remaining. “I’m very happy he’s back,” Wings GM Ken Holland said. “I feel two years ago he played a big part in us winning the President’s Trophy, a guy who played 17 minutes a night, in all key situations.”
A lot has changed since that game against Calgary. The Wings have a new head coach in Mike Babcock. Darren McCarty, Ray Whitney, and Derian Hatcher were bought out. Chris Osgood is going to be competing with Manny Legace for the number one goaltending spot. When Yzerman saw all of this unfolding, he wondered if he too shouldn’t move on.
“I went through periods when I thought, this is tough, I’m too old to do this stuff, maybe it is time to retire. But then there were periods when I felt good and energetic. What it came down to was, Kenny and Jimmy D. expressed they really wanted me to be part of the team. If I felt they were jammed on the cap, I’d have moved on. Now I’m excited about playing again.”
Even with all of the changes and a new CBA, Yzerman expects the Detroit Red Wings to remain as a competitive team. “Our team is going to be good. You add a couple of young guys like (Niklas) Kronwall and a few free agents and I expect us to be a strong team. I don’t know about favorites, because I think Tampa Bay and Philadelphia are real strong. But I expect the Red Wings to be Stanley Cup contenders.” The Captain has talked to Babcock and knows that his role will be hammered out over time. He will most likely play on a line with Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper.
“I know he didn’t like going out — and we stated we didn’t like the way he went out — with that cheekbone and that eye injury,” Wings owner Mike Ilitch said. “Just the kind of person he is, I got a hunch that he’ll want to come back and maybe skate on a line with (Kris) Draper and (Kirk) Maltby, and I think that’d make a great line.”
Not many Detroit athletes have remained in the Motor City for as long as Yzerman. Only Alex Delvecchio has played more (23) for a Detroit team. After this season, the Captain will be tied with the Tigers’ Al Kaline for 22 seasons in Motown.
When Yzerman is finished playing hockey, probably following this season, he hopes to turn to the management aspect of the sport like Joe Dumars did with the Detroit Pistons. “My goal is to one day run a hockey team, to be the guy responsible for putting everybody in place, for signing players to contracts,” Yzerman said. After playing 14 seasons with Detroit, Dumars became president of operations with the Pistons. He guided the team to an NBA title in 2004. Yzerman has followed Dumars’ career and admires what he’s done while playing for the Pistons and while managing them.
“I followed his career from player to a management position and follow his team closely,” Yzerman said. “I read all his interviews, watch his transactions. I read the reasons he gives to the media for the moves he makes.” Dumars thinks highly of Yzerman as well. “The first thing that strikes you about him is his humility and class,” Dumars said.
Dumars isn’t the only person that the Captain observes; Yzerman looks to the Wings own General Manager Ken Holland and Assistant General Manager Jim Nill.
“Between observing Joe from afar and talking to Ken and Jim Nill and Jimmy D over the years, I’ve learned a lot. I have no expectation of retiring and taking a significant management position with the Red Wings,” Yzerman said. “My goals are realistic in doing something like that. My route will take a little bit longer.”
Because of the lockout, Yzerman may have a harder time returning to the ice since he wasn’t out there practicing almost daily. Aside from his many knee surgeries, the Captain suffered a groin injury, scratched cornea, and multiple fractures to the orbital bone in the 2003-2004 season. All of which will make it more difficult to return. Steven Karageanes, sports medicine specialist at Henry Ford Hospital, worries that layoff-related injuries will abound early in this upcoming season. “The body gets used to not being beat up, the less-stressful lifestyle. It’s hard to get that back again. The aging process goes on,†Karageanes said.
John Wharton, former Wings trainer, was pleased to hear that the Captain is returning for one more year but also worried about how the layoff would impact him, “It can either really help him or really hurt him. I just hope they don’t expect too much from him early on.” Wharton compared Yzerman’s layoff during the lockout to being in “semiretirement,†but he also believed that Yzerman would condition quickly. “Knowing Steve and the way he conditioned himself and the way he takes care of his body, it shouldn’t take much longer than a couple months,” Wharton said. Yzerman isn’t the only one who needs to be careful in his return to the NHL, “Kind of the same thing goes for all those guys. They’re all looking at the same boat. Sixteen months for any of them is going to pose a problem.â€
Yzerman missed eight games in October to start the new season due to a groin injury. His first goal of the season didn’t come until November 8, 2005 against the LA Kings when he tipped Mathieu Schneider’s shot in during the first period. Head coach Mike Babcock is gradually giving Yzerman more ice time as he adjusts to the new NHL. “We want him to feel good and be an important part of our team,†Babcock said. “He told me the other day that he feels he’s skating well, and that his leg doesn’t hurt. Well that’s great news for us. He’s dominant in the face-off circle, his brain works all the time; he knows how to play in all situations.â€
NHL Rookie Season
22 years ago, on October 5, 1983, the 18-year-old Yzerman played his first NHL game with Detroit. In that game, he also scored his first goal as a young 18-year-old by beating Winnipeg goaltender, Doug Stoetaert. That goal was only the first of many in his rookie season when he lead all NHL rookies with 87 points and 48 assists. He was also selected to the All-Star Game making him the youngest player in NHL history to do so. He capped off his rookie year as Calder Trophy runner-up and with The Sporting News naming him NHL Rookie of the Year.
In the years following, Yzerman was named to 10 NHL All-Star Games (missed one in ’99 due to injury), won an Olympic gold medal with Team Canada in 2002, and won three Stanley Cups. Jimmy Devellano wasn’t surprised by Yzerman’s success both individually as a player and as a team leader.
“You may find this hard to believe, but I knew almost his very first year,†Devellano said. “It might sound silly, but, truthfully, he was the first pick ever for me. And he came in as an 18-year-old, and we had a very poor team. He scored 39 goals and just narrowly missed being rookie of the year to Tom Barrasso. I knew he was the real deal that he was going to be a really good player. He was a pretty special guy from his very first game.â€
However, Yzerman was a star player on a sub par team. In his first eight years in the NHL, the Wings only had one winning season.
“He grew with the team, with all the ups and downs we all suffered through. Even into the ’90s, we had a lot of playoff disappointments before we eventually won some Cups,†Devellano said. “We were bounced in the first round — we had a lot of that. Then there was a lot of criticism, on talk shows, that maybe they can’t win with Yzerman. But eventually we did. He stuck with us and we stuck with him, and that goes to show that sometimes in sports you really do need to stick together.â€
Pre-NHL Hockey
Before going into detail on Yzerman’s success in the NHL, let’s take a look at his past with the Nepean Junior A Raiders and OHL’s Peterborough Petes. As a fifteen year old, Yzerman played for the Raiders, a team in the CJHL, for one year. After Yzerman won his first Stanley Cup in 1997, the Nepean Sportsplex was renamed the Steve Yzerman Arena. At the ceremony, he brought the Stanley Cup. The Raiders then retired his jersey in 1999 at the CJHL All-Star game in the arena named after him. In his fifty games with the team, Yzerman scored 38 goals and had a league-best 54 assists. “He’s still the same guy who left Nepean. He’s quiet, doesn’t like the publicity and hasn’t changed one bit. He’s just a great guy,†former Nepean Raiders coach Mike Goddard said.
Yzerman played for the Petes from 1981 to 1983, right up until the Wings drafted him. Peterborough selected him as their first round draft pick, fourth overall. As a major junior rookie, he notched 64 points (21 goals and 43 assists) and a year later, 91 points (42 goals). While he didn’t make the top ten scorers list, he still was viewed as a strong prospect. Petes’ coach, Dick Todd, ingrained a team approach into his players. While equally splitting playing time among the four lines, Yzerman got to develop both his offensive and defensive abilities. “I don’t know whether Steve would admit to this, but we really stressed to him to learn the game at both ends of the rink. He was an excellent defensive player for us as well as contributing offensively,†Todd said. Yzerman was named to the OHL’s Scholastic All-Star Team in 1981-82.
“I’ve got to tell you, if you ever look at tapes of him in junior hockey with Peterborough, he was just like he is now,” said Darren Pang, former NHL goalie and one of Yzerman’s closest friends since the age of 14. “He is the same kind of player. Everybody talks about Stevie changing how he plays. He always had that in him. He always played both ways all the time.”
1983 Draft
While Yzerman wasn’t the top choice for the Detroit Red Wings in the 1983 draft (hometown boy Pat LaFontaine was), Devellano wasn’t disappointed with his first round pick (fourth overall) either. Yzerman, on the other hand, had dreamed of playing for Detroit and was hoping to get picked by the Wings in that year’s draft.
“I was happy and surprised to go high. I knew I was rated high, but you never know how things are going to turn out…I really hoped [Detroit] would pick me. They’re rebuilding and I figured I would have a good chance of making it this year. They expect me to make it and told me to just give it my best shot,” Yzerman said after being drafted.
At his first training camp at Port Huron in ’83, Yzerman supposedly showed up weighing only 155 pounds when the draft report said he was 175 pounds. The front office did not expect Yzerman to start off playing in the NHL, rather a lower league. However, he thoroughly impressed the organization with his skill and hard work. Sadly, they admitted that Yzerman was the Wings’ best player. Their best player weighed only 155 pounds and had yet to play an NHL game, never a good thing. However, in his first NHL game, versus the Winnipeg Jets, Yzerman scored a goal and earned an assist as well.
Why did Yzerman choose to wear No. 19? He chose it in honor of his favorite player, Brian Trottier of the New York Islanders. Randy Ladouceur had previously worn No. 19, but he started the year in the minors so that number was open and Yzerman started wearing it. Now Yzerman is the reason for others choosing to wear No. 19. In Edmonton, Boyd Devereaux wore No. 19 because of “The Captain.†Joe Thornton of the Boston Bruins also picked No. 19 to wear because of his admiration for Yzerman. “I haven’t put too much thought into it,†Yzerman said of the influx of No. 19s. “There have been a lot of good 19s, Joe Sakic…I’m sure there’s people wearing it because he does.â€
Early NHL Years
In 1986, Yzerman was named captain, succeeding Danny Gare to be the youngest captain (21 years old) in Detroit franchise history. He played in all 80 games and led the team in points (90) with 59 assists. In the years to follow, Yzerman performed well individually, but the team as a whole continued to struggle. He won the Lester B. Pearson Award, which is selected by his peers, in 1988-89 for the league’s top performer when he become only the fourth player to notch 150 points in a season. In that season, he accounted for 49.5% of Detroit’s goals. Additionally, a fan poll in The Hockey News voted Yzerman Player of the Year and Inside Hockey Magazine picked him as NHL MVP. He had six straight seasons with 100 points. Five of those seasons, Yzerman scored at least 50 goals.
However, the Wings either failed to make it to the playoffs or didn’t last long in the post-season.
“The last five years, you didn’t want to be recognized. I put a hat on, glasses on. You don’t want people to recognize you,†Yzerman said. “A couple years ago, I went to Las Vegas after the playoffs. I don’t remember which year. I was at the craps table. Two old guys from Windsor came by and saw me. They said, ‘You don’t want to play at this table. There’s no luck at this table.’”
By the 1993-1994 season, the Wings finally captured a Central Division title with 46 wins and 100 points. In the following two seasons, Detroit earned the President’s Trophy but lost in the Stanley Cup finals to the New Jersey Devils (’94-95) and Western Conference finals to the Colorado Avalanche (’95-96).
Stanley Cup Wins
After 42 long years without winning the Stanley Cup, the Detroit Red Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers in the 1997 Stanley Cup finals. In the 20 playoff games that year, Yzerman notched 13 points. While the victory was sweet for both Yzerman who had waited 14 years and for Detroit, it only lasted a week when an accident tragically ended Vladimir Konstantinov’s career and injured team masseuse Sergei Mnatsakonov.
In the following season, “believe†became the Wings’ team mantra. Believe that they could win. Believe that the Wings could repeat. Believe in their players. It was also stitched onto their jerseys as a reminder of Konstantinov and Mnatsakonov. That year, Yzerman led the league in playoff points with 24 including 18 assists. For leading his team to a second straight Stanley Cup title (after sweeping the Washington Capitals), Yzerman was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as MVP in the playoffs.
“First of all, I can’t believe I’ve won two Stanley Cups,†Yzerman said. “I’m totally amazed by that. The Conn Smythe, I’m delighted to have my name on a significant trophy. It’s great to have the Yzerman name on there along with my idols and my dad’s idols.â€
For his strong leadership, readers of the Detroit Free Press voted Yzerman as the top sports figure for 1998. A season later, he won his first Frank J. Selke Trophy given to the top defensive forward.
The Knee Injuries
Since his first injury in 1988 when he tore ligaments in his right knee, Yzerman has faced numerous knee injuries including one that he suffered on January 26, 2002. The next day he had an additional arthroscopic knee surgery. While playing in that year’s Olympics for Team Canada and winning a gold medal, he reinjured the knee and didn’t return to the ice until April 10. Because of his injuries, he only played 52 games but was still sixth on the team in scoring with 48 points. “It’s amazing what he’s doing out there, playing on almost one leg,†Luc Robitaille said. “It just shows what kind of player he is and what kind of character he is.â€
His knee got so bad that he would use his stick as a crutch to get up from the ice with a grimace prominent on his face in the 2002 playoffs. During the post-season, Yzerman had to have fluid drained from his knee twice and receive injections before every game. “You saw how it was,” Wharton said. “The first couple games in the playoffs, we were all holding our breath every shift, just hoping he could make it back to the bench in one piece, let alone make it through the game or the series or the playoffs.”
Even under those painful conditions, Yzerman led the team with 23 points in 23 games during the playoffs; only Peter Forsberg had more, with 27 points. “I never realized Stevie was such a quiet leader,” Brett Hull said. “He probably doesn’t even realize how important it is to have him back. He’s off, what two months (with the knee injury), and then comes in and plays as if he hasn’t missed a beat.’†The post-season ended with the Stanley Cup back in Hockeytown after defeating the Carolina Hurricanes. “It has been kind of an enjoyable year [in] that everybody has played pretty hard and played competitively,” Yzerman said. “Guys have gotten along very well to this point and remained pretty well focused on trying to win this thing.”
After celebrating his third Stanley Cup victory, Yzerman had a major knee surgery, an osteotomy. This surgery is typically performed on the elderly, those who want to return to walking pain-free; not a professional hockey player. Before the surgery, Yzerman had this to say, “I know (the surgery) doesn’t guarantee me anything. But I had to do something, whether I wanted to play or not. I couldn’t run or swim or even start training.†But after six long months of pain and rehabilitation, Yzerman became the first professional athlete to return to his sport after an osteotomy. “We didn’t do it so Steve could return to playing hockey,†his surgeon, Dr. Peter Fowler said. “We did it so Steve could return to walking without pain.â€
Yzerman ended the 2002-2003 NHL season by winning the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy, which is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey. In fact, he was the first Wing to win the award since Brad Park won it in 1983-84. “The most impressive story I’ve heard about him is when it was explained to me how bad his knee was, and he continued to play on it,” Dumars said. “The people I spoke to said there was no way possible he should have been playing, and there he was, getting it done on the ice.”
We’ll have to see how much longer Yzerman’s career lasts. Whether he’ll be done after this season as many believe or if he’ll hold out for a couple more years and possibly reach Gordie Howe’s 25 years in Detroit.
“Gordie Howe is probably considered the greatest Red Wing of all time,” Devellano said. “He played a quarter of a century with the team. He is right up there even today as one of the greatest goal-scorers of all time. I think the best is to describe it is as 1 and 1a. Gordie, 1, because he was first. And Steve is 1a. They’re neck and neck. That’s the way it should be. Gordie is the old-time all-time Red Wings favorite; Steve is the modern all-time favorite. One thing is clear: There’s nobody else. There’s no other player who enters their domain. This franchise has been very, very fortunate — take Howe’s 25 years, and Yzerman — if we presume this to be his last year — his 22 years, that’s 47 years the franchise has had a terrific, terrific player.”
Yzerman’s Private Life
As most of you know, Steve Yzerman is a very private individual especially when it comes to himself and his family. For that reason, I decided to just give some quick facts about his family and I can always add to this when I find out more.
To view a collection of quotes either from Yzerman or about him, please click here.