6/16 Notes
IwoCPO @ A2Y reminds us that 8 years ago, Detroit was celebrating its second straight Stanley Cup title. Following the win, around 1.2 million packed into downtown for the victory parade. The Pistons’ most recent championship title in 2004 couldn’t even garner that many fans for their parade.
Last weekend, Manny Legace was informed by GM Ken Holland that a contract will not be offered for the upcoming season. IwoCPO speculates that Toronto may be interested in Manny’s services.
“I was just … in shock,” Legace said. “I got off the phone with my agent, and I’m all, bitter, and I’m like, ‘Man, we’re not even going to talk, or, we’re not even going to give ourselves the opportunity to make a deal …’“And Kenny (Holland) called, and he made me feel great. It was first-class. I don’t think that any other GM would do that, and it was very classy.”
Wednesday afternoon, Rollie Thompson, the agent for Osgood, said there had been no contract negotiations between the sides but that there had been “an indicator they’re interested, and we’ll probably talk in two or three days.”General manager Ken Holland confirmed as much, saying, “I have interest if it fits into what we’re trying to do.”
GM Holland is spending his time negotiating contract deals with defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom and forward Brendan Shanahan before the July 1st deadline. It’s expected that Lidstrom will want the maximum, around $8 million. We won’t know the maximum salary allowed until June 30th when the new salary cap amount will be released. Holland also expects Shanny to get a raise from last year’s $2.28 million salary.
“I’d like Brendan to stay, and I think he’d like to stay,” Holland said. “He had a tremendous season. It’s the first time since ‘96-97 he’s had 80 points.”
“I’m sure he would be the first to say that he’d like to have done more in the playoffs,” Holland said. “For me, I thought there was great chemistry between him and Datsyuk. Datsyuk getting injured affected him and Brendan. And with all due respect, in Game 1, (Shanahan) played with Mark Mowers. Mark isn’t Pavel.
“We’d like him back. We’re going to make an offer, and we’re prepared to offer more than he made last year.”
Ouch, poor Mark Mowers. If Shanny is re-signed, it’ll be his 10th year in Detroit.
Nothing has developed on The Decision front. Holland doesn’t mind if it takes Yzerman all summer to decide because “I think the club owes it to him.” In John Buccigross’ mailbag, he wrote a nice bit on The Captain when asked what Steve will do and I couldn’t have written it better myself.
Whatever Stevie Y wants to do. Stevie Y does not sleep. He waits. Stevie Y can win a game of Monopoly without owning any property.
In fine print on the last page of the Guinness Book of World Records, it notes that all world records are held by Stevie Y, and those listed in the book are simply those who have come closest to him.
When Stevie Y goes to donate blood, he declines the syringe, and instead requests a hand gun and a bucket. Stevie Y can set ants on fire with a magnifying glass — at night.
When Stevie Y runs with scissors, other people get hurt.
Yzerman doesn’t need the money. He wouldn’t play for the money. He made $1.25 million last season and he likely would make about a million next year. He had 14 goals in 61 games. I find his grit and will incredible and exemplary, and those kinds of efforts actually make me emotional. To put his humanity on the line out there is beautiful. He did not embarrass himself. The NHL is better with people like Steve Yzerman in it.
The league is losing legends so quickly, perhaps too quickly, that I’d love to see No. 19 give it one more lap. And it would be cool to retire with 700 career goals. He’s eight away. He would pass Mark Messier, who retired with 694, and be one of just seven players to score 700. He’s also 17 assists away from passing Adam Oates for that much anticipated “most assists by a right-handed shot” in NHL history. ESPN will break into regular scheduled poker matches as Stevie Y approaches this milestone.
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