News Is Coming Out

Ansar Khan at mlive.com quoted Ken Holland today as saying it isn't looking real good for Hossa to be back in Detroit next season. The Wings want a cap hit of $4 million and Hossa's agent is looking for a number around $6 million. NOT going to happen in Detroit. Also, the Wings are NOT going to offer a contract to Ty Conklin. Tomas Kopecky is going to try to see if another club wants him and Samuelsson probably will be offered a deal, especially if Hossa falls through. However, Sammy might see what he could get elsewhere. Qualifying offers have been made to Hudler and Leino, so they're safe.

It is getting really hard to imagine Hossa re-signing in Detroit. And if (when?) he goes, I don't know that I will feel terrible about it. He came for a reason and never said he was staying for the long haul--even though he HAS said he would like to stay, it always felt a little like a short-term experiment. I say good luck, it's been nice knowing you, and no hard feelings. Hossa's leaving will give a lot of exciting options for the Wings.

I don't know if Samuelsson and Kopecky leaving will be that terrible, either. For their sakes, I hope they find other teams where they can fit in and adapt. Too many times we see players who don't play well with other teams, but shine brightly with the Wings--and I hope they get good fits. Neither was a star with the Wings, but it always--well, almost always (*cough* Bertuzzi *cough*)--is sad to see a player leave.

I really, REALLY hate to see Ty Conklin leave. He is such a cutie (yes, that's me being female) and he really stepped up and saved the team when Ozzie was having problems. I was hoping that the Wings would finally cut their ties to Howard, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen. I certainly hope this isn't going to be a mistake. But, then, Holland doesn't make many mistakes, so I have to trust that he knows what he is doing.

This Will Be Interesting

Now that I have had time to think of the Pronger trade, we just may have to get NHL Center Ice next year. I can't wait to see what happens when Pronger plays his game against Pittsburgh--and when he 'accidentally' hits The Boy in the head. It'll be interesting to see how much Pronger is suspended. Cause there is NO WAY The Boy gets hit by Pronger and there is no discipline handed out.

The First Round Is Done

Detroit traded their first round pick--number 29--to Tampa Bay, so there won't be a player picked till tomorrow at number 32. More Swedish players were picked in the first round this year than ever and the majority of the rest were Canadian. Don't think I will watch tomorrow--if there is live coverage, that is--but I will keep checking for any trades/deals that might happen. I think the next couple of weeks are going to be quite exciting.

Number 2 and Number 3

Tampa Bay chose Victor Hedman number two. (I would LOVE to see him as a Wing. I think he will be a great star in the future.)

Colorado took Matt Duchene as the third overall pick.

First Pick

The New York Islanders just picked John Tavares first in the draft.

Whoa!

TSN is reporting that Chris Pronger has been traded to Philadelphia. Wow.

UPDATE: Joffrey Lupul will be going to Anaheim.

And In Today's News...

Mike Babcock was named coach of the Canadian Olympic team today. And the official announcement was quite anticlimactic, as it has been unofficially talked about for days/weeks. It will be interesting to see how/if the Olympics will impact the Wings this year. The coach, as well as a good percentage of the team, will be involved in the Games. Might be another roller coaster year.

TRIED to Resist

I swear, I tried to resist this. I used every once of my self-control, but it didn't work. I found myself clicking the 'buy' button and today, this came in the mail:

Front of shirt

Back of shirt

Yeah, I like it!

Eastern Conference?

Today Chris Chelios said he will begin looking for a new team for next year--in the Eastern Conference, preferably. He wants to limit his travel and the East has it much easier in that respect. Also, if he isn't playing one-two months into the season, he said he will retire. He has the Olympics to use up his time, if he's not playing, not to mention his business. The family will be staying in the Detroit area. It will be strange to see him play for another team.

Not A Surprise

We went on a road trip today and missed the news about the Hall of Fame inductees until hours after the announcement. Of course, it wasn't a surprise to hear that Steve Yzerman was named. I don't think there was anyone who didn't believe he would make it in this year. Congratulations--and couldn't have happened to a nicer, more gracious person.

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While we were driving to our destination, The Hubby had a radio station on that is one of his favorites. (I was good and didn't complain.) Anyway, they have a feature called 'The Word of The Day.' Today's word was 'pule'--it means to whimper or to whine. I wonder why the name of Sidney Crosby jumped into my mind as soon as I heard this?

It Was Good Knowing Ya

Ken Holland officially said bye-bye to Chris Chelios today--he will not be playing for the Wings next season. But, Cheli has not said he will retire. Actually, he has said that he wants to still play somewhere in 09-10. Chelios has a lot to give to a team, but as a coach/mentor and not as a player. I certainly hope he retires before he completely embarrasses himself. NO ONE wants to admit to getting older--especially those of us of-a-certain-age--but nature just lets our bodies do what 20-year-olds can do only so long. We should go out with a bit of dignity. We have friends that I wish would realize this.

A Bad Cliche

I mentioned in my last post that I am not a fan of Alex Ovechkin. A lot of people think he is good for hockey. I'm not going to agree with that.

He has talent--that much I will agree with. However, ANYONE that shoots the puck as much as he does is bound to get a lot of goals. And from what little I have seen of him, it seems as if he is pretty much only offense. His shooting percentage is only around 12%--NOT the best, considering how many shots he takes.

But, his performance on the ice isn't what makes me a non-fan--well, except for his after-goal antics. (I REALLY don't like showoffs.) The thing that bothers me most about him is that he lives every bad cliche there ever has been written/said about a star athlete. I mean, come on, walking down the red carpet of the NHL awards with Vegas showgirls hanging on him?! Pah-lease!!! He reminds me of the 'bad boy' character in MVP: The Secret Lives of Hockey Wives TV show. (And, yes, I did watch it--but it was summer and there wasn't anything else on.) He's making the money, he's living large, he's showing off, and it makes me not like him. Maybe it's because I'm not a guy.

The Awards

Unfortunately, Lidstrom didn't get the Norris this year--but most people didn't think he would. While it would have been nice--and I think he deserved it, even if this wasn't his best year--I'm happy it was Chara instead of Green that took it home.

Now, the good news: Datsyuk took the Lady Byng and the Selke. This is the fourth year in a row for the LB and the second for the Selke. In my mind, he should have gotten the Pearson and the Hart, too, but I do happen to be prejudiced.

I was pleasantly surprised that Iginla got the Mark Messier Leadership Award. I was so sure it was going to The Boy that I would have bet money on it if I was in Vegas. I think Iginla is a good player, however I DON'T like him when he plays against the Wings. ;) I always have thought that he would be someone I'd LOVE to have drinks with--he just strikes me as a fun person on a personal level.

A lot of people like Ovechkin--I don't. I put him on the same level with The Boy: I'm sick and tired of hearing about him. I find that I can't even try to see any talent in a player that is constantly being praised. It is very tiresome and boring. But, it wasn't surprising that AO got the Hart and the Pearson. And I still think that Datsyuk deserved them more.

My Laugh Of The Day

The Youngest posted this to Facebook:

"It's official my mom will never be allowed near the Stanley Cup now for fear she will try to scratch Crosby's name off of it ....."

I guess my family knows me! :D

The Injuries Revealed

Over the last several days, the various injuries to the Wings have begun to be revealed...and it is quite a list.


*Lidstrom--speared in the testicles and required surgery. Also, he was bothered throughout the season by his elbow.

*Rafalski--separated shoulder and herniated disk in his back.

*Draper--torn cartilage in his neck and groin pull.

*Datsyuk--charley horse and foot injury.

*Cleary--severe groin pull.

*Holmstrom--left knee requiring pain-killing shots. This on top of a season of hernia, back, and knee problems.

*Zetterberg--hasn't been confirmed, but it has been suggested that he had a problem with his wrist/hand and wore a brace during the playoffs.

I STILL say that the Wings would beat the Pens any day of the week and twice on Sunday if they were healthy--and if Datsyuk was able to play every game of the Finals. The series would NEVER have gone past five games.

Yeah, He's Got Balls

The Hubby and I have been married FOREVER. I like to tell people that ours was an arranged marriage--we were promised to each other just after I was born. AND I was the only female in history to give birth at the age of 5. That is the ONLY way I could possibly be the mother of someone who is 31 years old, as The Oldest is.

With all of the years The Hubby and I have been together, I have to say that we have NEVER had a discussion about his testicles. I figured THAT conversation should be reserved for his doctor. Since game 7, we HAVE discussed Lidstrom's balls. You gotta love hockey!

Hmmmm...

On Sunday, The Hubby worked the first time since last Wednesday. During the day, guys kept seeking him out and asking how I was doing because of the loss on Friday. I don't know what to think. Was that just sweet of them or is it sad that the only thing I'm known for is being an obsessed Red Wing fan? :)

Bettman Is An Assclown

mlive.com had this to say, followed by a quote from the Globe and Mail:

Speaking of Bettman, those who claim that the Red Wings simply booed the Penguins didn't catch the drift of Gary Bettman's comments--as in nothing about the Red Wings, save, "It takes a champion to beat a champion." It's traditional for the commissioner to congratulate both teams and both teams' owners, and he completely ignored both the Wings and Mike and Marian Ilitch:

We did get to hear a warm greeting for the Commish from the faithful at the Joe Louis Arena, however, as he presented the Stanley Cup to Crosby. They weren't booing, they were ... well, they were booing, as a matter-of-fact.

Never one to miss a chance to Balsillie-ize these days, Bettman oozed thanks to the owners of the new Cup winners, "for saving the Pittsburgh Penguins." Apparently Detroit owner Mike Ilitch was unmoved; after Bettman failed to acknowledge the Wings in his Cup presentation speech, Ilitch kept walking past the commissioner as Bettman stuck out his hand under the stands.

And people STILL wonder why some Wing fans think there is a conspiracy!

My Second

On 29 May 2004, I began my first blog. Nothing much, just a place for me to bitch a little and have an outlet for some of my feelings. I have attracted several faithful readers and made some very good friends. Little did any of them know that I would evolve into an obsessive hockey fan--or rather, that I would obsess over hockey on my blog. This is what happened. And there are very few--if any--of my readers who are actual hockey fans. And so this is the reason for me to start my second blog. Now my regular followers can read about my boring life and anyone interested in hockey can come here. A separation of both my worlds.

I am not a hockey authority. Far from it. I am just a woman-of-a-certain-age who doesn't have a life except for the Red Wings. I am never as witty as the guys at The Triple Deke and can't turn a phrase as well as The Chief over at A2Y, but I might have some things to say that may be interesting. I say stupid things way too often and embarrass the hell out of myself. I don't apologize often. This blog will be a mixture of news and opinion and most of it will deal with the Red Wings. If I don't like your comment, I will delete it if I see fit. This is MY blog and we will play by MY rules. And the rules can change at any time I see fit. Almost like the NHL in that regard. So, welcome and hope you enjoy.