6/05 Wings’ notes
Notes from around the web as it pertains to the Detroit Red Wings…
Matt at Red Wings Central has updated the Wings’ prospect ranking. 23-year-old goaltender Jimmy Howard remains at number one with defenseman Jakub Kindl (OHL - Kitchener Rangers) close behind.
1. Jimmy Howard, G, 6-0, 215, Grand Rapids (AHL), 49 GP, 2.70 GAA, .911 SPCT. Howard is still Detroit’s goalie of the future. He’s still a pup in goalie years, having turned 23 in March. He’s made great strides in two minor-league seasons and the Red Wings are willing to remain patient.
2. Jakub Kindl, D, 6-3, 202, Kitchener (OHL), 54-11-44-55-142. Kindl finished second to Marc Staal for the OHL’s most outstanding defenseman award. He has great size and a pile of offensive talent, and should step in as a top-four AHL defenseman with Grand Rapids next season.
3. Igor Grigorenko, RW, 5-10, 209, Togliatti (RUS), 49-14-13-27-71. The fiercely competitive winger has terrific skills and smarts. His foot-speed and ability to adjust to the NHL pace are his only question marks, but the Red Wings are hoping he will crack their roster in the fall.
4. Jan Mursak, LW, 5-11, 173, Saginaw (OHL), 62-27-53-80-50. Mursak’s speed and spunk will push the prospects ranked ahead of him next season, especially if he hits the weight room in the summer. His strong showing in the AHL playoffs was indication of his bright future.
The Detroit Red Wings will have their used equipment sale on June 15th and 16th at Joe Louis Arena. For more information, visit DetroitRedWings.com. Hopefully, I’ll be able to go, but my grandparents are in town for my brother’s high school graduation so I’ll have to see if I’m allowed to leave them for a couple hours.
Equipment manager Paul Boyer, who just finished his 13th season with the Red Wings, will be on-hand to answer all of your equipment questions.
The pro shop at Joe Louis Arena, featuring Red Wings apparel, novelty items, discounted bobbleheads, and more, will be open to the public during this free event. Bring your cameras and get your picture taken next to the Gordie Howe statue.
Doors open Friday, June 15 at 3-7 p.m., and Saturday, June 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free parking will be provided at the Riverfront/Executive lot next to the People Mover stop. Fans are asked to enter Joe Louis Arena through the West/Olympia Club entrance.
Larry Brooks at the NY Post says the NHLPA is going to try to bump up the salary cap to $52 million:
Slap Shots has been told that the NHLPA is planning to exercise its right under the CBA to request that a full five-percent bump be built into next season’s cap. If 2006-07 league revenues come it at $2.36B - Gary Bettman on Monday said he thought the number would be close to $2.4B - a five-percent bump would bring next season’s upper limit to approximately $52M.
We’ve learned that the PA was urged to push the cap as high as possible by, among others, Major League Baseball PA executive director Don Fehr and former NBA union head Charles Grantham during a meeting in Toronto last Monday with members of the NHLPA’s current leadership group.
With revenues growing by between 7-and-10 percent - Thank You Fans for Paying Higher Ticket Prices, will be the message inscribed into the ice next year - there is no reason whatsoever for the players not to insist the cap be raised to its legal limit; not one.
For the Red Wings, that would be wonderful news. Assuming Dominik Hasek returns and Mathieu Schneider doesn’t break the bank, this would allow the Wings to retain Danny Markov and go after a bigger name on the market (if so desired). It has been rumored that Ryan Smyth is one option according to ESPN (via LGW Forums).
E.J. Hradek did a podcast for ESPN, and he predicts Smyth signing in Detroit. He’s say’s Smyth is looking for a good situation and is more interested in winning than breaking the bank. Apparently, he already turned down one of those ridiculous 30-year Islander contracts.
However, if Hasek retires then that extra money under the cap will go towards obtaining a goaltender so this is just speculation. Could you imagine having both Tomas Holmstrom and Ryan Smyth? Niice. Smyth is not the Wings’ biggest concern right now so I’m sure GM Ken Holland will look into it, but it’s just a possibility should the cap go up to $52 million. If it only goes up to $47-49 million, Smyth will not be an option especially if Hasek retires.
Over 750 readers at HockeyFights.com voted the Detroit Red Wings as the “Worst Enforcing Team” in the NHL. Congratulations- our streak continues for a third year. The second place team, Carolina, had 74 votes.
Detroit with the three-peat. They have set the bar impossibly low going long stretches without anyone in the lineup that would even conceivably drop the gloves.
McKeen’s Hockey interviewed Detroit Red Wings Jiri Hudler, who just completed his rookie season.
McKeen’s: What areas of improvement do you think you have made to get back into the lineup?
Hudler: I just keep at it. I mean, this is Hockeytown and the playoffs. No one should tell you to get up for the playoffs, that is just a given. Working and listening in practice and then applying it come game time is what keeps you getting your shifts.
McKeen’s: You had a great playoff last year in the AHL. How much more intense is it at this level?
Hudler: There certainly is more at stake and a heightened pressure. However, this type of pressure should fuel you and you can say to yourself - this is it, lets play some hockey. There are going to be times when you might make a mistake but there are other guys on the ice that will back you up.
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