We were just sitting around having a couple of burgers when we suddenly had a run in with a real legend. Scotty Bowman, the NHL’s winningest coach in history, sat by us while wearing his gaudy Stanley Cup Championship ring. The nine time Stanley Cup champ has won 1,244 regular season games and 233 playoff games over his 30 illustrious seasons of coaching. He kindly showed us the ring, studded with red and white diamonds, which he had won during his tenure with the Detroit Red Wings. We were jealous to say the least. Who would have known that arguably the greatest coach in hockey history was sleeping just down the hall from us?

“Jordan is a solid defenseman and a very good skater,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere. “He is a former Hobey Baker Award winner that has great playmaking abilities at both ends of the ice. He is only 25 years-old and has a bright future ahead of him. Moreover, we are hopeful that this year’s second-round draft pick will become an Avalanche player in the near future,” added Giguere.

GM Ray Shero: “I want to have good people around me and good people on the ice. I don’t want this team to be about two or three people, but a team.” [pretty close to word for word]

He is a strong skater blessed with incredible skill and gifted with brilliant on-ice vision. He has the highest hockey IQ in his draft class and has great leadership abilities. As the season progressed it became obvious his competitiveness & desire are second to none. He’s a highly skilled kid that has the ability to make the players around him better. Versatile and has played both wing and center equally well.

“This guy is a great player and the sky’s the limit. Scouts say he compares well to Peter Forsberg.”

Excellent, fast, mobile skater…strong on his skates…outstanding acceleration speed…excellent overall skill level…has soft, good hands…a very good puck-handler…sniper who can score in many ways…hard working player who does not shy away from the physical part of the game.

Grabner is the best Austrian available for selection for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and has two seasons of WHL hockey under his belt… led the Chiefs, and finished in the top 10 overall, with 36 goals in 67 games in 2005-06… owns excellent one-on-one skills and an accurate shot. Grabner knows where to go in order to score goals… needs to display greater consistency in order to maximize his potential as a goal-scorer… could flourish with a better playmaking center on his line, and a greater supporting cast overall…

Can intimidate the defence by his ability to change direction at top speed…can shoot the puck on the fly, won’t hesitate to pull the trigger on the puck…scores big goals, makes big plays as the go-to guy…comes back hard to cover his man and supports his own defence down low in his own zone…good leadership qualities.

The ultimate result may be that Chris turns into a better NHL player then his highly touted brother Anthony. He is like a freight train coming down the wing and he has shown some offensive sense that will translate decently into the NHL because he is willing to go into traffic and pay the price.

Bob McKenzie says that he’s a “linebacker on skates.”

From NHL Central Scouting - Is a good skater with a smooth stride…is strong on his skates and is hard to move off the puck…good backwards skater who pivots well…makes crisp first pass and likes the long pass…effective shot blocker used in all game situations…solid hitter who finishes his checks and always gives an effort.
From ISS - He demonstrated some abilities that would warrant a high ranking and then all of a sudden he vanishes for a period of time. His size and strength are impressive and he does have some skills but urgency and a consistent effort are going to be required for him to fulfill his expectations.

displays the all-around ability from the blueline that scouts love… skates extremely well and is capable of logging huge minutes… needs to make a smooth transition from high-school hockey to the WCHA… must add more bulk to maximize his pro potential… should spend at least two years with the Golden Gophers before turning pro… his right-handedness adds to his overall value…

If Nicklas Backstrom is the top-rated Swede available for selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, then Berglund is No. 2 with a bullet… owns an outstanding frame and projects to weigh well over 200 pounds when he fills out… split the 2005-06 campaign between the Swedish junior elite league and the Allsvenskan (second division) as a member of the Vasteras IK program… displays both supreme goal-scoring ability and playmaking potential… led Sweden with four goals in six games at the 2006 World U-18 tournament on home soil… should spend most of 2006-07 in the Allsvenskan…

From NHL Central Scouting - Strong on his skates with good balance and agility…moves well using butterfly technique and staying upright and square to the shooter…very tough to bet down low…has good rebound control…strong in the crease and doesn’t get rattled by traffic that crashes in his area.
From ISS - He has a big frame and uses it well. ISS has watched Leland play goal his entire minor hockey career. He is a well-rounded young man who handles pressure well. 75% butterfly, 25% reaction. Controls rebounds and recovers quickly when he goes down.

NHL teams will look more closely at acquiring offensive defensemen going forward, so players like Vishnevsky now have added value… tied for sixth among QMJHL rookies in scoring, and finished among the top 20 defensemen in points (48 in 54 games) for the Huskies in 2005-06… is a one-way defenseman in the Sandis Ozolinsh/Sergei Gonchar mold, and will be a major asset to any team’s power play… must improve his play without the puck, and needs to get stronger in order to play the pro game… is a boom-or-bust player with enough offensive upside to get first-round consideration…

There may not be a more intriguing prospect among the 2006 draft-eligible players than Summers, whose biggest asset is versatility. An excellent skater, Summers can play either defense or forward… played exclusively as a forward at the 2006 World U-18 tournament in Sweden for Team USA, but also logged plenty of ice time as a defenseman in the NAHL in 2005-06 (17 GP, 2-2-4, 20 PIM)… will either develop into a Bret Hedican-type defenseman with closing speed and defensive smarts, or a third-line checking forward that will play important minutes at the NHL level…

Posted in: NHL News, Wings News | Comments(0) | June 24, 2006

Wings draft picks

I liveblogged the first round events. Detroit originally had the 29th overall pick but traded it (and their 152nd pick) to Phoenix in exchange for two second round picks, No. 41 and 47. They retained their original second round pick (No. 62) as well. So why did the Wings trade away their first round pick?

“We don’t like having first-round picks,” general manger Ken Holland said, laughing. “No, we had a couple of players we liked go just ahead of us.”

The Wings had eyes for center Patrik Berglund, but the Blues took him with the 25th overall pick, and another of Detroit’s desirables, goaltender Leland Irving, was snapped up by Calgary at 26.

The Wings got someone they consider similar to Berglund, though, with Swedish winger Dick Axelsson at 62nd overall.

No. 41 - Cory Emmerton
The 5′11.5″ center weighing 177 pounds had 90 points in his 66 games played with Kingston (OHL). He was +37 and had 32 PIM in that season. Emmerton was ranked No. 5 in OHL skaters eligible for today’s draft.

Jim Nill says:

“The first two guys we got, we had them going late in the first round,” assistant general manager Jim Nill said. “It worked out well.”

“He’s a Cory Stillman-type player,” Nill said. “Good skills, head for the game. Has to get stronger, but good feel for the game.”

Emmerton’s reaction to being drafted by the Detroit Red Wings:

Emmerton was relieved to hear his name called after sitting through a nearly three-hour first round at GM Place, and said he’s looking forward to meeting Steve Yzerman and the rest of the Detroit squad.

“I just hope to learn as much as I can in the next couple of years from them, at camps,” Emmerton said. “Hopefully soon I can jump in the lineup or something and learn from the players themselves…I’m more of an offensive playmaker, but I think I play well in my own end,” Emmerton said. “I like to handle the puck a lot and set up guys. I think I’ve got good playmaking skills.”

As the draft progressed, Emmerton sat watching in a suite, still wearing his Wings jersey. It turns out it wasn’t so hard to give up his love for Toronto.

“I think,” he said, “I just changed my mind after about 18 years. But that’s OK with me.”

Hockey’s Future conducted an interview with Emmerton back in 2005.

Here are the various scouting reports on this player…

The Hockey News:

Scouting Report: Emmerton teamed with fellow 2006 draft-eligible prospect Chris Stewart to form a lethal combination with the Frontenacs in 2005-06. He finished first on the Frontenacs (and 11th in the OHL) with 90 points in 66 games… skates extremely well and is creative with the puck… also displays plenty of polish in the defensive zone (+37 rating in 2005-06)… needs to overcome a lack of ideal size in order to blossom in the pro game… should return for a third OHL campaign in Kingston in 2006-07, and may challenge for the scoring championship…

Impact: The Red Wings currently have an embarassment of riches down the middle, and adding Emmerton certainly didn’t make things worse. This year, they will hope for an Evan McGrath-like ascension up the OHL scoring race.

Hockey’s Future:

A talented playmaker with offensive flair and a nose for the net, Emmerton is the type of forward that makes those around him better. He has a knack for finding the open man, or hitting a teammate in full-stride for an offensive chance.

He has elite playmaking and passing skills and is solid on his skates. He could benefit from some extra attention on the defensive side of the game, but he projects to challenge for the OHL scoring title should he remain in the league next season, and could be a solid point-producer for years to come no matter what level he plays at.

Courtesy of TSN:

From NHL Central Scouting - Sees the puck well and moves the puck effectively through traffic…can be elusive but can also take the puck to the net while fighting through checks…plays point on the power play and is also very effective at handling the puck…an aggressive forechecker who finishes his check at every opportunity…has a hard, accurate shot.
From ISS: A great two way forward coming into this year that can shut down the opponents top line while chipping in offensively. That assessment was partially correct in that he is very adept on the defensive side of the puck but he also went out and produced 90 points on a good but not great Kingston Frontenacs team that had other offensive catalysts. He seems to be a step ahead with his vision/decision making which gives him a good passing game.
From TSN: Product of the Elgin-Middlesex Chiefs AAA …scored 35 goals with St. Thomas Jr. B in 2003/04…5th round pick (89th overall) by the Frontenacs…had 6 points at the U-17 tournament (3-3)…voted the smartest player in the OHL…was one of nine returning players on the U-18 that won gold at the Jr. World Cup last August…finished third in voting for the OHL’s Most Sportsmanlike Player…played in the Top Prospects showcase, the ADT Canada-Russia challenge and, the OHL all-star game…plays point on PP…voted to 2004-05 OHL All Scholastic team.

CBS Ranking:

In 2005-06, Emmerton led the OHL’s Kingston Frontenacs with 90 points in 66 games (11th in OHL scoring), but his draft stock dropped after disappointing performances in Sweden and in the OHL playoffs… A skilled skater, Emmerton possess pro-level speed and is highly creative with the puck… Doesn’t sacrafice on defense because of offensive skills (+37 last season)… Size could become an issue at the NHL level.

McKeen’s Hockey:

People do not realize how good of a shooter this guy is .. He generates a ton of assists from his slapper whether it is off the rush or playing the left point on the power play .. Defenders back off, as they know he has an extra top gear and his finishing skills are so effortless that he makes scoring appear more routine than it actually is.

Red Wings Central:

Emmerton piled up 90 points and finished 11th in Ontario Hockey League scoring, nearly double the production of Evan McGrath at the same age. He was a consensus first-rounder by most scouting publications and is a member of Canada’s under-18 team. The knocks on Emmerton are below-average size and the lack of a top skating gear. Skill and creativity are his assets. He was voted as the OHL’s smartest player in a coaches poll, and should easily challenge for the league’s scoring title this season.

No. 47 - Shawn Matthias
The Wings go with another OHL center. This 6′3″, 211 pound center plays for Belleville where he had 34 points in 67 games played. He was -9 with 42 PIM. Matthias was ranked No. 24 in OHL skaters eligible for today’s draft.

Jim Nill says:

“He’s a real strong, aggressive, fore-checking kind of guy,” Nill said. “And he can skate.”

“He started out the year not playing a lot and at the end of the year, his game started to take off,” Nill said.

Matthias’ thoughts:

“I know I’m not ready to make the jump (to the NHL) yet,” said Matthias, who hails from Mississauga, Ontario. “I still have to mature physically and develop as a player as well.”

The Hockey News:

Scouting Report: Matthias is a hulking figure for the center position. In his second OHL campaign, he finished tied for fifth on the Bulls with 34 points in 67 games… it may take him a little longer than most to fully hone his skills, but he’s an intriguing long-term project…

Hockey’s Future:

Matthias was a late round pick in the 2004 OHL Priority Draft, as such it was surprising that he made the Belleville Bulls as an under-aged player. Used to being a top star with his Minor Midgets team (he had a 31-goal season with the Mississauga Senators Minor Midgets in 2003-04), in his freshman OHL season the big center only tallied two points (one goal) in 37 games. After a slow start last fall, Matthias really progressed as this season went along. With 34 points in 67 games, and a seven game scoring streak in January, Belleville counted on Matthias more and more as the season wore on.

In April, Matthias played for Canada in the Under-18 World Junior Championships in Sweden, where he scored one goal in seven games. However, Matthias played his best hockey all season in the playoffs for the Bulls, leading the team with three goals in their first round series which was lost against the Brampton Battalion.

Matthias is used to being overlooked and then working hard to shine. As the 2005-06 season went along, he looked like he was getting more and more comfortable in an offensive role for the Bulls.

He can skate and handle the puck, but he still needs to work on his two-way play. Never one to shy away from hard work, Matthias is considered to have NHL potential.

Courtesy of TSN:

From NHL Central Scouting - Long, fluid stride enables him to generate good top end speed…very good agility, balance and is solid on his skates…sees ice well and has good playmaking abilities…started the season as fourth line centre but made steady improvement over the season to become an offensive threat.
From ISS: His size is intriguing, and he still has plenty of room to continue to fill out into his large frame. His improved foot speed, and increased acceleration with the puck helped bolster his offensive output in the second half of the season. He’s not a flashy offensive player, but has shown increased confidence with the puck as the year went on. Matthias does the little things right, is strong defensively, tenacious on the fore-check and plays sound two-way hockey.
From TSN: Played for U-18 in Sweden (1g and +2 in 7 games)…5th in team scoring in 2005-2006 and added 3g in 6 playoff games…Bulls 6th rounder 101st overall in 2004 OHL draft…won Bulls most improved player and most sportsmanlike player…last Bulls forward to go high in draft was Matt Stajan in 2002 (57th to TOR) and before that Jonathan Cheechoo (29th to SJ)…last Belleville forward to go in first round (Dan Cleary 13th in 1997).

CBS Ranking:

A huge, hulking player for the center position… Finished fifth in scoring with the Belleville Bulls with 13 goals and 34 points in 67 games… Very much a raw talent that will require a few years to hone his skills.

McKeen’s Hockey:

Really elevated his game in the playoffs and the Under 18’s .. Always making a play with the puck and is very smart and a gifted skater .. Worked hard to get up in the rankings and could provide an NHL team with a quality checking line player.

Red Wings Central:

ISS had the big, strong Matthias ranked as a first-rounder at 27th overall and compared him to Chicago Blackhawks forward Mark Bell. Although not a bruiser, Matthias is a potential two-way center. He gained more responsibility as the season progressed and saw his rankings shoot up as a result. He also earned a spot on Canada’s under-18 team in April. Matthias will need to bump up his production, but has plenty of raw tools.

No. 62 - Dick Axelsson
Axelsson is a 6′2″, 198 pound Swedish wing who had 34 points and 157 PIM in 28 games for Huddinge in the Swedish junior elite league.

Wings scout Hakan Andersson says:

“He’s a player with big potential,” Swedish scout Hakan Andersson said. “Good skill, good hockey sense, good skating. The only thing he needs is to be a little more consistent. He’s not lazy, but he has to learn to work every shift. Some shifts he’ll go real hard and be a force on the ice, and he’ll take some shifts off.”

Jim Nill says:

“He’s got real good skills and good size, he just needs to be more consistent,” Nill said.

The Hockey News:

Scouting Report: Axelsson owns excellent size that projects very well for the NHL game… led Huddinge of the Swedish junior elite league in goals, points and penalty minutes in 2005-06… may be a future NHL power forward down the road… needs to work on his skating in order to make it…

Elite Prospects:

Axelsson has great size and is an aggressive and physical player. He has good timing in his hits. His skating, the intensity he plays with and his forechecking is quite good. Axelsson’s main asset is his hockey sense and he is good at finding passing openings. At the same time he is a good scorer. Technical skills and hands are good. There is room for improvement when it comes to his defensive game and his acceleration.

CBS Ranking:

Axelsson split time in 2005-06 between the SuperElit and Division 1 for Huddridge in Sweden this past season… Combined stats from both leagues gave Axelsson 53 points in 51 games, with 34 of those in SuperElit along with 157 of his 167 penalty minutes… An aggressive, physical forward possessing good size… Good instincts and hockey sense, excellent at finding passing lanes… Needs to work on his speed and defensive responsibilities.

Red Wings Central:

Axelsson didn’t see time on the Swedish under-18 team, but he was one of the leaders in scoring and penalty minutes at the country’s under-20 level. He also scored 17 goals in 23 games at the third-tier men’s level. Axelsson, unranked by most scouting publications, has good size could evolve into a power forward if he finds consistency. He has signed with Djurgardens and hopes to play in the Swedish Elite League this season.

No. 92 (3rd round) - Daniel Larsson
A 6′0″ goaltender weighing 170 pounds had a 2.67 GAA and a .916% in 28 games played with Hammarby in Sweden. I feel like I should start learning Sweden so I can read all these Swedish reports with all the Swedish players the Wings are collecting. Larsson played for the Swedish team in the World Junior Championship tournament.

Wings scout Hakan Andersson says:

“Did really well there,” Wings’ Swedish scout Hakan Andersson said. “They were one of the worst teams and he held them in that league.” Set to play next season for Djurgardens of the Elite League.

The Hockey News:

Scouting Report: Larsson improved his draft stock with a strong performance as the No. 1 goalie for Sweden at the 2006 WJC in Vancouver… spent a big chunk of 2005-06 in the Swedish Allsvenskan (second division), and put up solid numbers… as goaltenders go, he could be a draft-day sleeper…

Impact: The Red Wings know Sweden better than virtually all other NHL organizations, so adding Larsson makes sense. They already have one Swedish netminder (Stefan Liv) ready to make his mark in the pros, so Larsson essentially replaces Liv as the overseas goalkeeping prospect.

McKeen’s Hockey:

Has improved both his poise and his positional game over the last couple of years. Boasts a sharp glove hand, good agility and most importantly for this tournament, strong nerves.

Red Wings Central:

Larsson, unrated by most scouting publications, is already 20, but is coming off a strong year at Sweden’s second level. He ranked among league leaders in goals-against average and save percentage, and was Sweden’s starting goaltender at the world junior championship in Vancouver. Larsson is headed to Djurgarden and will look to take the next step in the Swedish Elite League. The Red Wings have terrific organizational depth in the crease, but teams can never have too many quality goaltenders.

No. 182 (Round 6) - Jan Mursak
This 5′11″ left wing weighs 167 pounds and plays for Budejovice in the Czech junior league. He had 32 points and 34 PIM in 48 games played.

Wings scout says:

“Did really well there,” Wings’ Swedish scout Hakan Andersson said. “They were one of the worst teams and he held them in that league.” Set to play next season for Djurgardens of the Elite League.

Red Wings Central:

The undersized but talented winger is Slovenian-born — a rarity — and played in the Czech junior ranks last year. He was rated 22nd among Europeans by Central Scouting, which touts him as a fast skater with quick hands, ranking him near the top of the draft in both categories. Mursak played on a line with Anze Kopitar at the second-level world junior (under-20) championship this year and had five points in five games. He is one of those picks who could be Pavel Datsyuk. Or Dmitri Semenov.

No. 191 (Round 7) - Nick Oslund
A 6′3″ right wing weighing 195 pounds. He earned 51 points in 25 games while playing for Burnsville (USHSW). He was one of the 10 finalists for the Mr. Hockey award [given to the best high school hockey player] in Minnesota. He will be playing for St. Cloud State next year.

Red Wings Central:

Think potential role player. Oslund is a big, good-skating forward who likes to lay the body. His offensive upside remains to be seen. Oslund, who played for Minnesota-based Burnsville, is the first U.S. high school product drafted by the Red Wings in 13 years. He will play for the Tri-City Storm of the United States Hockey League this coming season and has committed to St. Cloud State of the NCAA for 2007-08. The Red Wings have until 2011 to sign him, not 2008 like the team’s six other draftees.

No. 212 (Round 7) - Logan Pyett
A 5′10″ defenseman weighing 199 pounds. He had 45 points. -14, and 89 PIM in 71 games while playing for Regina in the WHL.

McKeen’s Hockey:

Scouting: right-shooting defenseman is an okay skater .. uses a smooth stride and shows solid balance as well as good lateral movement and agility .. still could use further upgrades to his backwards speed and first-step quickness .. works hard down low and shows solid reliability .. tough to beat in one-on-one situations .. demonstrates solid effectiveness when he keeps things simple .. decent defensive awareness .. doesn’t join the rush too often yet nevertheless displays a regular offensive flair .. adequate puck distributor who prefers the safe plays .. plays a patient game and doesn’t panic with the puck .. takes his man out of the play effectively .. good intensity and determination .. doesn’t make glaring positional mistakes .. unleashes a hard shot from the point but could improve on his accuracy .. possesses solid defensive stickhandling.

U18 Jr World Cup Review:
Hardworking defenseman filled a steady role on the Canadian back rows .. often used as a powerplay pointman .. not very flashy in the round-robin game against Czech Republic however did impress with his determination and tenaciousness .. duplicated his gritty showing in the gold-medal contest against the Czechs .. didn’t exactly turn heads with his performance at this event, however he also didn’t disappoint with any off games (5-2-0-2).

Hockey’s Future:

Going about his business, Logan Pyett quietly having one of the best seasons among defensemen in the Western Hockey League.

On a Regina Pats squad that sits third in the East Division, Pyett has accumulated little fanfare en route to posting impressive numbers in his third season in the league. He’s doing it at the right time, too.

Ranked 100th among North American skaters by the Central Scouting Service, Pyett is eligible for the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, to be held in Vancouver this offseason. The rankings are something Pyett is trying to ignore, as is the draft.

Red Wings Central:

Pyett has shades of Derek Meech — an undersized Western Canadian-developed defenseman with good all-around skills. He has shown good potential at both ends of the rink, and his 45 points in 71 games are impressive for a blueliner in his draft year (Meech didn’t scored more than 38 his entire career). Pyett also had four points and 25 shots in seven games for Canada at the world under-18 championship in April. The question will always be: Can Pyett overcome his lack of size?

My Personal Reactions
1) I thought we would get some defenseman since we seem to be really strong offensively especially down the center when it comes to our prospects. All three of our second round picks were offensive players (2 centers, 1 wing).

2) I was surprised we passed on defenseman Chris Summers and gave up our first round pick even if it gave us two more second round picks. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see how that plays out down the road…

3) We drafted another goaltender? Aren’t we good with Stefan Liv and Jimmy Howard? Well, I guess it can never hurt to have a few solid goaltender prospects. What about bolstering our defense?

Posted in: Wings News | Comments(0) | June 24, 2006

Mock drafts and Wings draft history

Mock Drafts

The Red Wings always go for the flashy Euro in the first round, right? This year it’ll be steak instead of sizzle. Summers has some zip to his game — he’s a marvelous skater — but at heart, he’s a defensive-minded guy who plays a smart, low-risk game.

A solid talent who could fit well with Swedish teammates in Detroit. The Wings do their homework well.

The Hockey News also has their own mock draft and they have the Wings going with left wing Alexander Vasyunov.

Most view Vasyunov as a first-round talent, and the Red Wings are famous for finding late gems. This could be the latest in a long line of steals for Detroit. Vasyunov is several years away from the NHL, but the Wings will gamble that he’ll be ready for North America within two seasons.

Wings Draft History
Red Wings Central has a history of the Wings previous draft picks from 1990 through 2005.

Posted in: Wings News | Comments(0) | June 24, 2006

Trades, Lidstrom, draft, and more

Wow. Roberto Luongo, defenseman Lukas Krajicekis, and a 6th round draft pick are heading to Vancouver in exchange for Todd Bertuzzi, Bryan Allen and Alexander Auld. I expected plenty to happen the weekend of the draft, but I guess I thought actual trades would come out following the draft.

Florida Panthers GM Mike Keenan is pleased with the trade outcome.

“This is a trade that addresses a number of needs for our hockey club,” Keenan said. “We’ve added an experienced and talented forward, a skilled goaltender and a strong defenseman that we expect to help our team immediately.”

Likewise, Vancouver Canucks GM Dave Nonis had to make his positive comment regarding the trade:

“We are very excited to be making this announcement today,” said Nonis. “We believe that in Roberto we are getting a player who has represented his country at the highest level, has been nominated for the Vezina Trophy and has proven that he is among the elite goaltenders in the world. Lukas is a young, skilled, puck-moving defenceman who has a very bright future in this League. I would like to thank Todd, Bryan and Alex for their contributions to our hockey club over the years and wish them and their families the best of luck in the future.”

Please check out Abel to Yzerman in regards to how this impacts the Wings. I really never expected us to get Luongo, although it would’ve been nice, so no surprise for me.

NHL Draft

Scott Burnside has his pick of the 10 things to look for in today’s NHL draft. Half of them actually have to do with picks in the draft and the others are deals/decisions that could be made this weekend. Number 3 is The Decision:

The venerable Detroit captain has delayed his decision on whether to return for a 23rd NHL season long past what had been expected. Given the long lag time and the fact the Wings re-upped octogenarian defenseman Chris Chelios for one more year, look for Yzerman to return, as well. He was, when healthy, the team’s best player in the team’s first-round loss to eight-seeded Edmonton, something of a backhanded compliment if ever there was one. If Yzerman does return and the Wings return free-agent defenseman and Norris Trophy-winner Nicklas Lidstrom, it’s hard to imagine GM Ken Holland would have room for veteran forward Brendan Shanahan, who will be an unrestricted free agent. And oh yeah, Holland needs to find a goalie having voted Manny Legace off the Red Wing island. Suffice it to say this will be a busy weekend for the Detroit GM.

I don’t think we should expect The Decision this weekend as I thought Holland and Yzerman weren’t meeting until after the Draft. I hope that Holland doesn’t agree to anything with Shanahan just yet. If I had to pick a veteran to leave out of next season’s team roster, it’d be him. I like Shanny. I like him a lot in the regular season. But he just doesn’t seem to have it in the playoffs, when it really counts. And if Holland signs him AND gives him a raised, I’ll be upset. I hope Holland focuses on the draft, re-signing Lidstrom, and any potential trades instead of focusing on re-signing Ozzie and Shanny. They can wait until after the weekend.

In Other News…

“We had good conversations,” Holland said. “We’ve gone back and forth the last couple of weeks with different ideas and numbers. I’m trying to convince Nick on a number, he’s trying to convince me on a number. We’re trying to find a compromise. I’d like to get something done (next) week.”

Former Wings coach Dave Lewis interviewed Friday for the Boston Bruins head coaching position with their incoming GM Peter Chiarelli. The Los Angeles Kings and one other unidentified club have also spoken to Lewis about an assistant coaching position.

Lewis’ contract as a pro scout with the Wings expires on July 1. Holland said he’s welcome to return in the same capacity if he doesn’t accept a coaching job.

“I’ll wait to see how everything falls out,” Lewis said. “I don’t want to do anything in a hurry, I want to make the right decision.”

Former Toronto coach Pat Quinn interviewed with the Bruins last week and reports indicate that Lewis and Quinn could be the finalists for the job. The Bruins, however, are expected to talk to Carolina coach Peter Laviolette after his contract expires on July 1. Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos has said his club will match any offer Laviolette receives.

Update:
Kukla’s Korner is reporting a rumor that Carolina has re-signed head coach Peter Laviolette to a five year extension. The same Sportsnet article says that it appears Dave Lewis is “rumoured to be the frontrunner for the head coaching job in Boston, currently occupied by Mike Sullivan.”

Posted in: Wings News | Comments(0) | June 24, 2006

More on the NHL Awards

Late last night (or early this morning), I talked about the actual NHL Awards and gave a few quotes and pictures of Nicklas Lidstrom accepting his fourth Norris in five seasons. Well, we have more Lidstrom reaction for you…

- Lidstrom earned 91 first place votes for a total of 1,152 points. He was named on all of the 129 ballots. Scott Niedermayer received 29.

- Lidstrom finished seventh in the voting for the Hart Trophy.

- He was very honored to receive the award after choosing to stay in Detroit during the lockout instead of return home to Sweden to play there.

“It does mean a lot because I wasn’t sure what was going to happen after not playing last year because of the lockout, not playing anywhere,” said Lidstrom in a telephone interview Thursday.

Lidstrom chose not play in Sweden during the lockout, and remained in Detroit.

“There were a lot of mornings of skating and working out at Troy (Sports Center) and that did help me,” he said. “I came back this season energized and excited about playing hockey.”

- Lidstrom showed his country’s soccer team some support when they played England to a 2-2 tie on Tuesday.

Lidstrom came with childhood buddy Joakim Enocksson, a car sales manager in Lidstrom’s hometown of Avesta. True story: Enocksson was married Saturday, and, while giving a speech at the wedding reception, Lidstrom told guests that now he and Enocksson were going on a honeymoon to Vancouver.

And since their flight had a stopover in Frankfurt, Germany, the two changed the reservations to leave two days earlier and extended their stay in Frankfurt.

Why? In order to be in Cologne on Tuesday, where they cheered Sweden to a 2-2 draw against England. “We had a great time,” Lidstrom said. “Great just to be there in that atmosphere. It’s such a big event.”

And my brother wonders why I’m cheering for the Sweden soccer team. The US is out, and I might as well hope for some happier Swedes when it comes to contract negotiations. Anything can help, right?

- Lidstrom would like to sign a two year deal and when asked if he would take $7 million/year, “Lidstrom smiled. ‘That,’ he said, ‘is all part of negotiations.’”

- Right now the individual accomplishments seem nice, but Lidstrom will have plenty of time to focus on those once he retires.

“I think once I retire I’m going to look back at what I’ve accomplished, but not right now,” he said. “The way I look at it now, I’m getting ready for next season.”

- GM Ken Holland and head coach Mike Babcock are singing Lidstrom’s praises.

“Nick’s achievements speak for themselves,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said. “He’ll go down as one of the greatest defensemen in this game.”

But what impressed coach Mike Babcock equally as much as Lidstrom’s talent was Lidstrom the person.

“There are great defensemen in this league, but he’s the best,” Babcock said. “He’s a great player, but he’s also a great man.”

- Vezina Trophy (NHL’s top goalkeeper) was given to Calgary’s Miikka Kiprusoff. However, Manny Legace actually received more points (6) toward the award than Roberto Luongo (4).

- Head coach Mike Babcock finished fifth in the voting for Jack Adams, which is an award given to the top coach, with 28 points.

Posted in: NHL News, Wings News | Comments(0) | June 23, 2006

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