EA makes up for Sidney's Mistake

As much as I try and stay away from Puckdaddy and his Wing-hating, I couldn't help but stumble upon this with some amusement...

Some fan from Pittsburgh already had time (shocking) to play his EA NHL 2010 (you know, the one with Pat "20 Cent" Kane on the cover) demo, and win it with the Pens. This is the gem that the programmers decided to add to the game this year, a captain's handshake.

Apparently, the whole "being young and caught up in the moment" isn't part of a players overall rating in the game and therefore has no bearing on the ending cut-scene.

Still...it's funny.

I really don't care about the handshaking thing. Rosby was being immature (again...shocking) and the Wings were upset when they made their comments (probably because they just lost the Stanley Cup Finals on their home ice).

If they can use it for motivation as Malik has suggested, fine. If not, fine.

Lid and Raff are like Fine Wine

Okay, so I didn't bother to even read this when it was first published on NHL.com last Tuesday.

Well my mistake, because John Kresier's Over 35 club has a couple of Red Wings on it, and deservedly so..

FIRST TEAM

Nick Lidstrom

Age: 39

Lidstrom is nowhere near ready to call it a career. The Detroit Red Wings' captain had another superb season in 2008-09, finishing third among all defensemen in scoring (16-43-59) and plus-minus rating (plus-31). He's still the engine that makes the Wings go, and was good enough last season to be a Second-Team All-Star and finish third in the balloting for the Norris Trophy -- an award he's won six times in the past eight seasons. Lidstrom is one of the hardest-to-hit players in the NHL, and while he has just one year left on his contract, he looks like he could play well into his 40s.

We're all still hoping that the Perfect Human Returns next year at a discounted Cap hit. The fact that people are whispering about his age catching up with him are largely unfounded, seeing as he finished 3rd in the defensive scoring race to a glorified fifth forward and Montreal's only real scoring threat. He also finished nine points clear of this year's Norris Trophy winner.

SECOND TEAM

Brian Rafalski
Age 35

Rafalski went home in the summer of 2007, signing with the Red Wings after seven seasons (and two Stanley Cups) in New Jersey -- and put up the two best offensive seasons of his career while helping the Wings win the Cup in 2008 and get to Game 7 of the Final last season. His 49 assists and 59 points were both career-highs, and he teamed with Lidstrom to make the Red Wings' power play the best in the NHL. Like Lidstrom, he's smart, a good skater and hard to hit, meaning that he should have several more productive NHL seasons.

...and all with Detroit. Rafalski, I beleive, exceeded expectations when he was brought to Detroit to fill in for the departing Mathieu Schneider. His $6 mil Cap hit might seem like a lot, but compare it to the likes of Kimmo Timonen and Ed Jovanovksi and we're actually icing him at a fairly decent price for this on-ice value.

Rafalski also may be the best player in the "guy who actually looks like he should be an accountant" category.

Fraser Elliot; Smarter than ESPN, THN

From bleacherreport.com a little ego stroking from somebody who apparently knows what they are talking about...

“To be the man, you have to beat the man.” Wrestling World Champion Ric Flair’s catch phrase also applies to the Detroit Red Wings. Since current General Manager Ken Holland joined the Wings’ front office in 1985, the team has only missed the playoffs twice (1986 and 1990).

Ever thought you'd hear Ric Flair and Ken Holland used in the same train of thought? Neither did I. In 24 years under Kenny, the Wings have only missed the play-offs twice. Some franchises can't even say that they've only missed the play-offs twice over the past 3 years. But let's not forget, The Pittsburgh Penguins, who have missed the play-offs eight times since Holland took over the Wings, are the model franchise (just ask Gary).

"The Wings have won four Stanley Cups, six Clarence Campbell Trophies (Western Conference Championship), six President’s Trophies, ten Western Conference Finals appearances and 14 Division titles.
Until a team can prove otherwise, all roads in the Western Conference will eventually have to go through Michigan. Since 1994, when the NHL changed the playoffs format from Divisional to Conference seedings, the Stanley Cup or Western Conference champs have either defeated the Wings or were defeated by the Wings in the Finals, ten out of 14 years. The Wings have been in the playoffs each of these years."

No additional commentary needed. These are FACTS, and we hold them to be self evident.

Hockeytown U.S.A. is alive and well. They have built teams under both the free-spending system and the cap-system. Has the pieces to the puzzle leave due to retirement or unrestricted free agency, Holland just replaces them, either through the draft or going out and finding affordable UFA that can take over the roles of the departed pieces. Players know if they want to win a Stanley Cup and Ken Holland’s number comes up on their cell phones, they definitely better listen.

Amen. Don't let them fool you, Wings fans. Tune out the drunken idiots from Chicago claiming there to be a change in the guard, they'll forget about their Blackhawks if the Bears start winning, and pay no attention to the sniveling brats from Pittsburgh, school starts up again soon anyway...we ARE the team to beat. Oh and of course, don't listen to ESPN, they hate the NHL anyway, they've probably covered more Brett Farve "re-tire, don't retire" BS than they did the entire NHL play-offs. And pay no mind to THN, most Canadian media hate the Red Wings. We're not re-building, we are reloading. This team is arguably better than the one we iced in 2007-2008, how did that season turn out?

Even with the loss of key players such as; Kopecky, Hossa, Samuelsson and probably Hudler, the Wings are losing 88 goals and 187 points but as is the custom in Detroit, with increased opportunity comes increased production. They will be looking for contributions from Leino, Bertuzzi, Ericsson and Williams. They may not score as many goals but they should be better defensively.

And who wouldn't swap a few goals-for, for a lot less goals-against. I know J.J. from Kansas has been preaching this all along. Forget about mercenary Hossa's 40 goals if we can clean up the penalty killing this year. Ozzie will be better, Helm will be a PK machine and Ericsson may start to see some time as well as he continues to develop.

To recapitulate, Elliot Fraser knows that the Wings are going to be the team to beat yet again this year due to depth, growing prospects, and the best management in all of sports. Therefore, Elliot Fraser has more since than ESPN and THN put together.

There I said it.

Shut Up, Burnside

From ESPN.com...

ESPN’s Scott Burnside had a chat with some fans, and unlike XM’s hour with Gary Bettman, Wings fans didn’t get cut-off or avoided…

Cam (Lansing)
Hey Scott. Where do you think the Red Wings will finish? Other publications have all but handed the Central Division to Chicago, so I was wondering what your take is. Thanks!

Burnside
Cam; I think the Wings have taken a step back losing Kopecky, Hudler, Samuelsson and bringing in Jason Williams and Todd Bertuzzi. Sorry that math doesn't add up. The bigger factor, I think, will be the Olympics where the Wings will see probably half a dozen players jet off to Vancouver for the 2010 Games. Remember the 2005-06 season and how the Wings were upset by the Oilers in the first round after the Turin Games. Never count the Wings out but I think their stock has fallen ever so slightly.

Me
Ha ha, losing Kopecky Hudler and Samuelsson? I think he got his Slovaks mixed up and meant to add Hossa in there. And the Wings “will see probably half a dozen players jet off to Vancouver for the 2010 Games”? Yeah, on team Sweden alone, jackass. The Wings stock may have fallen ever so slightly, but it was so high to begin with, is anyone going to notice? This team we’re going to ice in 2009-2010 is better than the one we had in 2007-2008, with few exceptions (back-up goaltending and such).

Jim (Grand Rapids MI)
Hi Scott-What are your thoughts on Bertuzzi coming back to Detroit? I personally like it for 3 reasons: 1. He brings a BIG body with some skill to the team. 2. He's been here before so he knows what the expectations are and 3. At 1.5M-he's a low-risk gamble

Burnside
Jim; A quick follow-up on Bertuzzi. Injuries, lack of foot speed and a reluctance to play in traffic I think mitigate his usefulness. But he is a low-risk gamble given his salary cap hit.

Me
So if nothing else, he’s cheap? Putting up 44 points in 66 games is the same point per game production as Jiri Hudler, who actually lacks foot speed and has a reluctance to play in traffic. You say Hudler is a big loss, but Bertuzzi isn’t a big gain…something ain’t stirring the Kool-Aid, Scott.

Everyone seems to be jumping on the "Wings are done" bandwagon. Get ready to be dissapointed, Scott.

Oh wait, you work for ESPN…which means I don’t care what you think.

Griffins will wear Jersey Contest Winners’ Design

From Griffonshockey.com, yes I will try and follow the Griffins and other affiliates when newsworthy stories are released…

Winner #1 Brian Oesch

Oesch, owner of Brian Oesch Graphic Design and Illustration, has created logos for a number of local and national sports teams, including several Griffins community relations logos and the primary logo for the West Michigan Whitecaps. “Brian’s is obviously a throwback design with the string tie in front,” said Meyers. “It is somewhat modeled after the St. Louis Blues’ alternate jersey from last year, but he put a nice twist on it. It looks simple but sharp with the famous Griffins logo, a blend of old and new that captured what we were looking for.

Winner #2 Chad B. Stilson

“On the opposite end, Chad’s design was a completely unique and fresh approach to our logo, a little edgier, angrier Griffin on a jersey that maintains clean lines and adapts our traditional colors.“We’re happy to give some additional exposure to these local artists and look forward to seeing our players wear their designs this season,” added Meyers.Stilson’s jersey will be worn by the Griffins on Dec. 31 and Oesch’s on Jan. 30, with each set being auctioned to the public after its game. The New Year’s Eve auction will support Grand Valley State University’s club roller hockey team, while the January auction will benefit the Griffins Youth Foundation.

Wish I would have known about this sooner. But then again, the entry deadline was July 1st and I launched N.O.H.S. on July 13th. I think this is a pretty cool thing that the Griffs are doing. And they’re supporting GVSU hockey (my alma mater)…except I played for the ice hockey team, not roller.

Hey we takes what he can gets.

Don’t get any ideas though, Red Wings fans, leave the Winged Wheel jerseys alone. Color scheme too. Don’t fall victim to what’s hip and new or we might end up with something like these….




Yeesh. Leave it to those Bitter Brittle Blues. Luckily for St. Louis (and all of humanity) these pieces of crap were never worn in a game.

Kane will Plea out of Jail Time

From the Buffalo News this morning…

“Both sides still are talking about a possible plea deal in the Kane cousins’ criminal case, with prosecutors pushing for a guilty plea to a noncriminal violation, probably harassment.
Defense attorneys are listening to that offer while also suggesting a possible adjournment that could lead to the charges being dismissed in six months, sources confirmed following Thursday’s arraignment in Buffalo City Court.”

Should we be proud that a hockey player has risen to such a level as to circumvent America’s legal system as so many other pro athletes have done before him? Did anyone expect this to gain any real traction? Or has the Pacman Jones and Kobe Bryants of the world convinced us that as long as your good at sports, you can get away with just about anything without getting more than some bad press and a slap on the wrist.

It’s the whole reason Kane plead not-guilty when he obviously is. He’s already apologized to just about everyone (except the 60+ year old man that he tuned up). I haven’t heard him say “I didn’t do it.” When you plead not-guilty, that gives you a chance to plea your way down to lesser charges. I hope that when the criminal trial is over, the cabbie sues him and gets his money back, and a whole lot more.

Wait, scratch the third sentence from that last paragraph..

“Today was a tough day for us,” Kane said, while accompanied by his parents, Donna and Pat. “You know, I just reiterated to the judge that I’m not guilty of any crime, and I’m confident in the legal process . . . Right now, much more can’t be said.”

Aw, did mommy and daddy tell you to say that? Are you still trying to convince them that you didn’t beat up a helpless old man in a fit of ego-driven rage?

The dispute inside the taxicab escalated as Radecki insisted on being paid before he would unlock the back doors, while the Kanes demanded that he unlock the doors, according to law-enforcement sources and police reports.

Typical pro athlete “how dare you do this to ME” scenario. And why isn’t there any mention of alcohol in all of this, seeing as Kane is only 20 years old. I’m wondering what he could have been doing out so late. If he was just a plain old movie star or reality TV show jerk, he would say that it was because he suffers from alcohol abuse, would say that he has a problem, and then enter rehab until everyone forgot about it.

He’s the part that I find most amusing…

The judge also agreed to prosecutor Paul E. Bonanno’s request that the defendants stay away from any contact with Radecki.
“We’d like him to stay away from us as well,” Cambria replied.

What a joke. Cambria should have said the cabbie is only allowed around if Ben Eager is around to protect little Kandy Kane.

In other news...Buffalo must have the shortest media people ever...if they make Kane look tall.

They have Bull Riding (and Hockey too)

From the Free Press...

Versus will air 54 NHL games this year, and the Winged Wheel will make an appearance nine times during the regular-season.

Wings games on Versus:

at Buffalo, Oct. 13
vs. Boston, Nov. 3
at Nashville, Nov. 23
vs. Columbus, Dec. 28
vs. Phoenix, Jan. 26.
vs. St. Louis, Feb. 9 (last game before Olympic break)
vs. Colorado Avalanche, Mar. 1 (first game back from Olympic break)
vs. Pittsburgh Penguins

My reaction; the national coverage is nice, even though it’s on a channel better known for covering cage-fighting and bull riding...but nothing compares to Ken Daniels and Mickey Redmond. FSD is going to cover all the games not nationally broadcast.

Get the Center Package, if you love hockey as much as I do...it’s more than worth the price.