Crib Notes - Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Red Wings
Finished 1st in the Central. Lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to Pitt in 7 games.
Signed F Jason Williams
Picked up Patrick Eaves from the scrap heap
Signed lazy/injured F Todd Bertuzzi
Marian Hossa took his act to rival Chicago
Steady F Mikael Samuelsson signed with Vancouver.
Lost Backup G Ty Conklin

Questions going into 2009-2010:
I think the biggest question going into this season is about goaltending. The rest of the team is pretty stacked even without Hossa.
Can Todd Bertuzzi keep up with this lineup?
Can this team top 51 wins?
Was Hossa the jinx keeping Detroit from repeating last year?
Which unheralded Euro will be the next great Red Wing?
Again, Chris Osgood?

Poised for a breakout season:
Mattias Ritola. I randomly picked a young Swede from this lineup because I'm pretty sure with some playing time any one of them will have a strong year.

If you had to buy one Red Wing sweater:
Talk about a timeless, classic logo and jersey. I used to own an Yzerman when I was younger. I think I ruined it when our basement flooded. I'd go with a Draper jersey now but would really like to have my Yzerman back. it had a fight strap and everything.

Player whose game you like and you can't figure out why he isn't considered a superstar:
Okay, maybe not a superstar per se but Rafalski is quietly one of the best defensemen in the league. The trouble is that he's not the best defensemen on his team.

Player who reminds me of Brian Rafalski:
Larry Murphy

Member of the Red Wings tv broadcast team whose fat neck refuses to fit in the confines of a collared dress shirt:
Larry Murphy

Old guys:
Lidstrom is 39
Draper is 38
Osgood, Maltby and Holmstrom are 36
Rafalski is 35
This team is like the older squad in your mens league that doesn't waste energy, moves the puck really well and beats your ass despite having 2 guys on the bench.

Young guys:
Helm and Abdelkader are 22

Tough guys:
This team proves to people who are anti fighting that you can be successful without having a cop in the lineup.

Favorite old school Red Wing:
(tie) Bob Probert and Joey Kocur.
How cool is it that Paul Ysebaert and Steve Yzerman were in the same lineup?

Custom jersey that I may buy Bressler for Hannukah:



Goaltending coach:
Jim Bedard with his 17-40-13 NHL record with a 3.94 GAA. Sick.

Nostalgia:
47 year old Chris Chelios refuses to age and is looking to jump on with the Predators.

Interesting?:
Is the line of Franzen /Datsyuk/Holmstrom one of the scariest in the league?

NHL 94 players:
Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Dino Ciccarelli up front. DIRTY
Paul Coffey and Steve Chiasson (over Nik Lidstrom!) on D with Tim Cheveldae in net.
Tim Cheveldae - what a name.

Prediction?
Osgood proves me wrong again and has a solid season in net. The Wings lift another Cup.

YouTube:
This is one of the coolest highlights in the history of sport. What a pure slapshot. Goosebumps 1,000. Listen to the Gary Thorne call, "Yzerman moving. Blueline. Chance. SCORE!". So simple and powerful.


- Nemmy