More from Todd

Apparently Khan(!) didn't tell us the whole story, as Dave Waddell reports that Bertuzzi was actually quite chatty at City I.C.E.

Bertuzzi also had this to say:

"(I'm) really happy to be back, especially knowing pretty much everyone in the room. I really wanted to come to Detroit."

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Oh, there's definately some new faces in the room, Todd. I'd like you to meet Darren Helm, he plays like he's bigger than you and works his butt off all shift, every shift. He's your new workout partner.

But wait, there's more...

"At the same time, I was trying to look east, too, just in case something came up, just for travel sake. I thought maybe it would do a little bit better on my body."

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Fair enough, it wasn't too long ago that some Leastern Conference teams wouldn't even leave their own timezone, which is criminal. But instead of going to a weaker Leastern Conference team with little travel, he goes to the on of the biggest travelers around...hmmm. Methinks the whole Leastern Conference thing had less to do with travel and more to do with the softness of the conference. Just my oppinion of course.

Todd goes on...

"All in all, I knew this was the place I wanted to go and it was a no-brainer when the decision came down."

It looks like he takes the sandwich approach, where you start off by saying one good thing, then you say one bad thing, and then you end with another good thing. Bottom line: the dude is pumped to be here, take it to the bank.

The things that Khan(!) left out about the criticism? They were a bit more stinging than just calling someone a "donkey"...

"To be honest, I don't really give a crap (about the criticism). Early on, I actually cared what people said. Now, I've been through enough and been around enough that it doesn't affect me anymore. People are always going to be negative with me coming in It's (criticism) been going on for so long, I could have 15 houses full of stuff to motivate me."

Some of those negative nancys Include a few fans from the team you currently play for. I'm all about second chances though, and luckily for Bertuzzi, Patrick Eaves and Dan Cleary... so is Ken Holland.

What else you got for us, Todd?

"I keep feeling my game's still there. Every time it's been here I've been snagged by something. Call it what it is, old age or just running down, but I worked extremely hard this summer to get myself in good shape. I got a clear head and I'm very, very excited to come in here and help out. You don't have any cape-wearers here. You got guys, who on a nightly basis, are looked upon to do it. The Zetterbergs, Datsyuks, Cleary's really coming around. You got a handful of guys who can step up to the plate"

That's why this is going to work. I think Todd gets it, I really do.

It's Bingo Night at the Roundtable

We're up to Day #4 of our Red Wings Blogger Roundtable and it's that sassy little hellcat Jessie's turn over at Bingo Bango.

Her Question:

Alright, well as a Wings fan I’ve already been called a pompous, condescending, no it all, d-bag, by just a few people. So despite the fact that this next sentence may cause the Wings haters to feel as though they were right, too bad, they can suck it. We know the Wings are dripping with talent from goal, to the blue line, to the Swedish and Russian hammer they lay on other teams night after night. We’ve watched Franzen have a breakout season, Filppula consistently grow as a player, and well whenever I think of the name Helm, I immediate get tingles from what is affectionately and simply known as "the kill.” With that being said, who’s going to have the most ‘influential’ season this year? It doesn’t have to be a breakout season as there are already many bona fide stars on the team. But instead whose play will consistently be the difference? Will Kronwall finally find a balance between being a punishingly physical player and an important scorer? Will we finally discuss Filppula’s game more than his silky, golden locks? Will Jason Williams cries and feelings of deep internal torture inflicted solely by Babcock be enough to motivate the team to another Stanley Cup Final? Ahhh the choices.

Head on over via the link and check it out...there's some gems in there.

Howard and Bedard: Easy Riders

From the Niagra Falls Review...

Apparently back-up netminder and top choice of the Wings in 2003 Entry Draft has been doing quite a bit of cycling in the Niagra Falls area, home to goaltending coach, Jim Bedard.

"It breaks things up and it gets you out of the weight room. I try to get out there at least three days a week to do a (50km) ride."--Jimmy Howard

Former back-up Ty Conklin and Chris Chelios were two others that are bicycling enthusiasts. Conklin and Bedard used to ride in downtown Detroit last season.

Bedard had this to say:

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"The guys are trying to get away from the pounding of running and the monotony of it. A lot of guys have taken to cycling because it's exciting and I think part of it is the Lance Armstrong phenomenon. He brought it from a niche sport to the mainstream. Once you start riding, it becomes very addictive. A lot of guys have gotten into cycling for their aerobic (training)."

Don't worry, Bedard insists that everyone wears a helmet. It looks like Jimmy's work ethic is starting improve...

"It has turned into being 365 days a year. It's to the point now where you take Saturday and Sunday off and you feel guilty for not doing anything. It's a process I've learned. Especially watching guys like Chelios and Draper. They keep their bodies in shape and it has been really key for them."

That's good to hear, Jimmy. You have better be worth the wait. We've been very patient with you and it's time for you to return the love. We don't need to you play as many games as Conklin did last year, but we expect a better showing than that stinker you put up in Minnessota.

Another Golfer Talking Red Wings

The Expositor was running a little piece on Ernie Ells and his renaissance...guess who got name dropped?

Warning: This quote will not make you happy.

"Look at the (New England) Patriots or the Dallas Mavericks, the regular seasons they had. Or even the Detroit Red Wings," said J. J. Henry, another Callaway staff player who joined Els at Magna. "Just because you have a great regular season ... like the other sports, you've got to play well to bring home the hardware."

Guess what, J.J. Henry...you can s*ck it. Last year's regular season was arguably one of the most frustrating we've had in a long time. Maybe he meant to say San Jose Sharks?

Or maybe anyone who's a fringe fan of the NHL just expects the Red Wings to win the Cup every year.

New Banner...

NOHS's only staff member other than myself (some kid at OSU law school) just submitted the new banner to me (without me even asking). It's pretty slick and fills up more of the space above than the previous banner.

What do you guys think? Keep this one or go back to the old one?

Khan(!) Talks to Big Bert

Ansar Khan(!) had a little chat with Bertuzzi, who participated in an informal practice today at the City I.C.E.:

"I still think I'm capable of playing a top role and scoring, at same time you got to go out and prove it and that's what I'm here to do. I'm an offensive player. I had decent numbers in Calgary last year. Ran into the injury bug, tearing my hip and having knee surgery. It seems every time things start to go good, something like that knocks me back down. But I'm coming in here with a fresh slate and hopefully find some chemistry with someone early and contribute offensively.''

Shouldn't be too hard to find chemistry in this lineup. The question is, who would Bertuzzi play well with? Helm and Williams? Filppula and Franzen? Datsyuk and Zetterberg? We'll let Babcock ruin a few more napkins and figure that out for us.

Keeping in line with A2Y's discussion on the Colorado Avalanche, seems like Todd isn't shying away from the possibility of re-sparking the rivalry:

"I know there's some donkey in Colorado that keeps writing crap continuously about me. That's his opinion, he can say what he wants and so be it. It's unfortunate that there are people that actually read that crap and see some truth behind it because it's (far) from the truth.''

Seems like the players, old and new, are getting psyched for the season to start.

Survey Results: PK Stinks

The third N.O.H.S. sidebar survey results are in.

The question: Which issue hasn't been properly addressed this off-season?

Loss of our right-handed point on 2nd PP: 4 votes (9%)
Losing a reliable back-up netminder: 10 votes (23%)
Our terrible penalty killing last season: 25 votes (58%)
All of the offensive production lost to free-agency: 4 votes (9%)

Total votes: 43…hey, did you guys do that on purpose?

So despite all of our complaining about Williams and Bertuzzi, it would seem that Bert’s dwindling numbers and Williams’ shaky play on the point, are not the biggest fear of the majority who voted. That’s good. I don’t think we’re going to miss Hossa, Samuelsson, and Hudler’s goals as much if 1.) The new guys chip in on a fairly regular basis and 2.) We play better defensively this year.

What scares me is this…

84.03% in 2007-2008 reg. season
85.71% in 2007-2008 playoffs

78.29% in 2008-2009 reg. season
73.24% in 2008-2009 playoffs

That is an astounding (and baffling) drop off. Sure you can chalk up the shaky PK in the regular season last year to Ozzie’s inconsistent play, but it got WORSE in the playoffs when Ozzie was playing great, not to mention Helm being on the team to help out. Seriously…almost a 12.5% decline in our PK success rate from post-season to post-season? Not many teams would be able to endure such a meltdown and still be one goal short of OT in game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

I can’t say for sure, but I believe that defensive coach Brad McCrimmon is in charge of the PK. And collectively, it would appear that he is costing us 18.23% on the PK in the regular season and playoffs when compared to Todd McLellan’s numbers with the Wings as PK coach. I just don’t understand how a PK can be so terrible with two Selke-worthy forwards in Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Mr. Norris Nik Lidstrom along with Brian Rafalski, a face-off specialist in Kris Draper and Darren Helm, the little Tasmanian Devil out there…

Well, McCrimmon still has his job, so unless he underwent some MAJOR penalty-killing training, I would say that this issue has still not been resolved.