Bummer.  You know what would be neat?  Wait, no, nevermind, Holland shot that down pretty quick. 

Don’t be.  We’re two games into the season.  Lookit - Edmonton and Vancouver are looking pretty stressed out too.  Does that make you feel better?  No?  Well, I tried.  Give it time, I’m not even going to speculate about options down the line if we struggle in goal - they’re there, but we’re not there yet.  At least if we struggle with goaltending we’re not locked into anything for the rest of the millennium like Vancouver or the Islanders.  Yes, call me a homer but I’d rather have Osgood/Howard for a year than be locked into Luongo for the next 12 at $6.75 million per year

Why is the NHL opening its season in Europe every year?  The fans are in North America.  I can see how it looks kinda neat on paper, but I can think of a hojillion at least three reasons why this is a bad idea:

1.  The atmosphere of the games isn’t very exciting, the crowds just aren’t that into it. 
2.  Flying the players across the Atlantic a few times in early october has to be brutal on them, especially the Wings, who’s average age is what?  75?  You’d think so anyway if you only read rival teams’ blogs
3.  It takes away from the home fans who can only watch the first game of the season by either flying to Sweden or taking a day off of work to sit down and watch a 3pm Friday afternoon game.

Maybe (probably not) I would have a different attitude if Detroit had actually won a game in Stockholm instead of blowing 2 goal leads (twice!) and getting it handed to them.  I’m looking forward to them leaving the losing streak in Europe.  I will, however, miss the swedish dudes doing the play-by-play

Dan Cloutier. I sat by silently when the wings signed Jason Williams and Todd Bertuzzi.  But Dan Cloutier?  Dan Cloutier?!!?!?  Now, word on the street is that Dan requested a spot at the Wings training cap.  Knowing that the wings didn’t necessarily seek him out makes me feel a little better… but DAN CLOUTIER?  Hey, I know, let’s invite… let’s invite… shit, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather not have wearing read and white than Dan Cloutier.  If Jimmy Howard can’t beat out Dan for a backup spot next year… we’re so screwed.

Yes, this is a red wings blog, but we feel great scheudenfraude in seeing the Sharks get eliminated in the first round.  This week we have a very special guest blogger - Chris Crocker - aka “the leave britney alone guy” to express his dismay at some of the negative press that Joe Thornton has been getting in the blogosphere lately.

How fucking dare anyone out there make fun of Joe after all he has been through!

He has a groin injury and the ducks were really fuckin tough

His teammates turned out to be not much help and nabokov was never a very good goalie.  All you people care about is… readers and making money off of him.

HE’S A HUMAN! (ah! ooh!) What you don’t realize is that Joe is making you all this money and all you do is write a bunch of crap about him.

LEAVE HIM ALONE! You are lucky he even performed for you BASTARDS!
LEAVE JOE ALONE!!!  Please.

Brian Engblom talked about professionalism and said if Joe was a professional she would’ve pulled it off no matter what.

Speaking of professionalism, when is it professional to publicly bash someone who is going through a hard time.

Leave Joe Alone Please…. !
Leave Joe Thornton alone!  right now!  I mean it!

Anyone that has a problem with him you deal with me, because he is not well right now.

LEAVE HIM ALONE!

What the hell was that?  How are you going to blow a 5-2 lead like that?  I was seriously thinking until about halfway through the third period:

“They’re not playing too bad, this is more like what I’m expecting out of this team”

Let’s talk about the first 80% of the game.  Detroit didn’t look too bad.  They had a little bit of secondary scoring out of McCarty.  Franzen netted one from Hudler and Samuelsson.  Osgood looked alright

And then, the shit.

Datsyuk falls apart, forgets that there’s 12 minutes of hockey left - whoops, make that 17.  Even lidstrom looked shaky during the end there.  Penalties, traffic in front of the net.  Horrible.  Simply horrible.

Alright, so I’m not sure how to solve these defensive problems we’ve been having, but they’ve been across the board.  You wouldn’t know it from the record but this is ugly.

A few immediate concerns:

1. I gave Dan Cleary a hard time but he did have blurry vision in one eye a litle while back and it clearly hasn’t gotten better since he’s scratched with an “eye infection.” In order for the team to do well, they need reasonable production out of guys like Cleary, Filpulla, Samuellson, and Hudler.  it’s just not happening consistently enough.
2. Zetterburg’s talent is being wasted.  He needs some time rotated onto the first line.  He need some time with either Datsyuk or Hossa.  Franzen is fine if you want to keep him next to Henrik, but rotate Datsyuk or Hossa into the spot occupied by Cleary/Filuplla/Hudler/Samuellson once in a while.  Just try it.  Jeez.  Switch up Homer and Franzen.  Juggle up that first line, do something, Henrik is getting the shaft

Did anyone else notice Kirk Maltby getting time on the second line during that last game vs. New Jersey?  Does that speak about how well he’s playing or how relatively unimpressive Dan Cleary and Mikael Samuelsson have been?

And how about Brett Lebda getting scratched again?  Well, that’s probably not as much in the mass hysteria category.  I wonder how much he was shopped around at the beginning of the year.  There’s a lot of teams that he could be a second liner on, but Detroit?  Not so much.

Quick recap of the rest of the Wings/Devis game:

1. 20 minute fight
2. Hossa is awesome
3. Stick save osgood
4. Hossa is awesome

So, I’m watching the Detroit - LA game on FSN Kings or whatever this is on center ice.  They’ve got these robotic cameras at the Staples Center and they make me feel like I’m actually there in the arena watching the game.

I feel like I’m sitting in really shitty seats and so drunk that I can’t move my head fast enough to focus on the play

The cameras are making this game borderline unwatchable.  There’s two cameras over each goaltender that only give you a good view when someone is in a corner.  When players are behind the net all you can see is the top of their heads.  Every view of the action is either from directly above or zoomed out so far that you can’t read the numbers on the back of the players’ jerseys… Let alone see the puck.  There’s also a camera over the glass at center ice that’s constantly behind the play because it’s being controlled remotely.  The fact that the cameras are clearly being controlled by someone watching a tiny screen on the other side of the stadium is made worse by the jerky robotic camera movements.

This is insanity.

So, with the 5-6 shootout win last night, we’re 8 games into the season.  I was hesitant to make any real decisions about how I felt about everyone’s play until we were a few games in but I think we’re about there so here goes.

I feel pretty good that they’ve been netting a lot of goals, but not so good that they’ve been giving a lot up as well.  I’m not really blaming either Conklin or Osgood - I think they’ve both played acceptably.  I think the team is getting out of them what they expect.  When you’ve got less than 1.5 million locked up in your goaltending and you’re getting what we’re getting out of these guys, I think you can’t not be happy.  Would it be nice to have a superstar goaltender?  sure - but I’d much rather be where we are than where a lot of teams with pricy fancy goaltenders are.  Chicago?  the Islanders?  No thanks.  I think if you rank “overall goaltending situations” instead of salaries and performance and everything else individually, Detroit’s near the top of the league.

Moving back to defense, I’m not impressed with the second defensive pairing’s play so far this year - especially Brad Stuart.  Are they just getting bad matchups?  Stuart is a -4 right now, I don’t think these guys are dominating quite as much as they did last year.  I’m a bit worried (just a tiny tiny bit) that we’re going to see more of the Brad Stuart that kings fans knew and loved.  Ok, he didn’t play horrible last night, but if things continue like they have, Babcock would do well to consider moving Lilja up to the second pairing with Kronwall.  Andreas has played pretty well this year.  I guess having your job on the line has that affect - well, sometimes.  Brett Lebda is a -7 right now.  Rotate Meech in a little more often, it definitely couldn’t hurt.

In the front, I’m warming up to Datsyuk and Zetterberg being split up.  Hossa is starting to get comfortable and we’re beginning to see some production with him.  On the second line, Franzen has had some mediocre shifts but generally has looked pretty good.  Samuelsson has settled into the second line during the past few games and he’s playing ok there.  It would be really nice if Filppula could fill that role on that line, but maybe he’s not quite there yet.  Unfortunately it looks like Franzen’s now going to be out a month because of last night’s knee sprain.  Dan Cleary will need to step up and play in Franzen’s spot; he’s shown he can do it but he can be streaky sometimes so it’ll be interesting to see how the line plays out in the next month.  The checking line with Draper, Maltby, and Kopecky has been alright I guess.  There were hopes that Kopecky could fill Dallas Drake’s shoes, but it’s not happening.  Maybe McCarty will be able to take on a little more of that role.

Speaking of Darren McCarty, he was put on and cleared waivers.  I was a little surprised by that.  I guess in the salary cap world teams are more adverse to taking on a risk like him.  It seems to me that a guy like him pulling in league minimum might not be a bad gamble.  There must not be a lot of teams hard up for a checking line forward.  What exactly does that mean anyway that he was put on waivers you ask?  If he plays less than 10 games or before 30 days is up, he can be sent down to grand rapids to free up cap space.  I’m not sure I understand the strategy since McCarty stayed with the Wings - maybe they were opening that option in case an emergency happened and they needed some space.  In any event, he remains with the organization.

Bruce said Lieno was called up but then backed off the claim.  Maybe we’ll get to see him once Franzen is put on long-term injured reserve (I hope).  I’ve been looking forward to seeing what the kid can do.  If he’s not called up and Helm is instead I won’t complain.  Darren played well in the two games he was called up for a week or two ago.

LA tomorrow.  Keep an eye out for Kyle Quincey.  If you go by stats alone, he’s outplaying Brett Lebda.

Some pre-game news from TSN, Kyle Quincey has been places on Waivers.  Kind of a bummer that Detroit couldn’t get at least a pick for him.  I’d be surprised if Tampa or Los Angeles don’t pick him up; we’ll find out Monday at noon.

Update: Quincey’s been picked up by the Kings.  I can’t say I’m surprised that he didn’t stay in Detroit long after the season started given all the talent on the Detroit blue line; what I am surprised about is that he was lost to waivers.  I guess Holland’s hand was forced since Detroit is so close to the cap and needed to move him so quickly.  Kyle did a great job two years ago when he was called up during the playoffs after Kronwall and Schneider were sidelined.  Not a bad free pickup for the Kings - and I’m sure Kyle will enjoy it out there

Well, my 401k was in the toilet today and I’ll most likely be spending my retirement years eating macaroni and cheese out of a box but it doesn’t matter because it’s HOCKEY SEASON AGAIN!!!!111ONE ONE ELEVEN

It’s kind of a bummer that they had to go and lose the first game of the season… Against a team that’s ranked at the bottom of the league… On the day that they raise their cup banner - but!  I guess it’s a good reminder that it’s a new season and the cup from last year is completely behind them now.

A few highlights from the evening:

• Almost having a heart attack watching a player with a “1” and an “8” on their jersey laying on the ice after taking a puck to the leg… Until I realized it was Kurt Maltby.  PHEW.  I was ready to write a scathing post about how giving some young guys an opportunity to play with Maltby on injured reserve wouldn’t be such a bad thing, but he did give Jason Blake a good shove during the second period while Blake was slashing at Osgood, so I’ll cut him some slack FOR NOW.
  
• Watching Jiri Hudler jump into the middle of every scrum on the ice.  Jiri’s something like four feet tall and he cracks me up every time he skates up to give a guy a facewash for shoving Zetterburg.  I love it.  They clearly have no use for Aaron Downey as long as Hudler is on the ice.
  
• Wondering why Mike Babcock insists on splitting up Datsyuk and Zetterburg, especially when we have Marian Hossa now.  I understand breaking up the best line to make it tougher for the competition to match, but Zetterburg+Datsyuk+Holmstrom and Hossa+Franzen+whoever are two pretty friggin tough lines.  Datsyuk and Zetterburg play well together.  Put them together.  Please.
  
• Watching Osgood score an assist on that first Toronto goal.
  
• The Def Leppard pre-game show.  Those guys look older than Ted Lindsay.  Maybe it was ironic.
  

Holmstrom looked good with his two goals, he’s clearly healthy again.  I think Cleary played well too.  Our gang of superstar forwards all had one or two moments but no one really stood out.  Hossa had an opportunity to get the first goal of the season early on but couldn’t connect.  That would have been a nice story.  Had it happened.  Instead of a LOSS.  Did you see Ron Wilson and the rest of the coaching staff after the game?  They looked like they’d just won the stanley cup OMG #$@^%

Anyway

Check out this article in Maxim about why you should care about the NHL this year.  Reason number one made me feel better.  Did they use the “D” word?

Update:

Bruce shows why he’s a better blogger than me and points out the turnovers that I forgot to mention.

Looks like the king of Sweden visited Detroit recently and got a chance to meet some of the Red Wings finest.

Franzen’s mom is going to be SO JEALOU - or, wait, not her, she already met him.  His other relatives though.  SO JEALOUS.

the 2008 preseason that is, tomorrow against the Habs.  I’d love to provide some hard-hitting analysis on who’s shining in training camp and who’s likely to emerge as filling spots those last few lines, but all that seems to be happening about a million miles away.  I’m probably not the most qualified to make those calls right now since I haven’t seen much of the action happening in Traverse City.  I can tell you this though, I couldn’t be more excited about the news I’ve read coming out of training camp

The red wings have depth.  I’m serious.  depth. You thought they they looked good last year?  If they can stay healthy, they’re going to dominate this year. dominate.

Some of the stories nick can’t wait to watch play out

The goaltending - Bruce says

Forget about outplaying Ty Conklin.  Jimmy Howard hasn’t outplayed Daniel Larsson ... and that’s a compliment to Larsson, not a slam on Howard. The Swedish netminder has come to camp ready and looks very strong. He’s an excellent position netminder, who looks much better than a No. 2 AHL goalie.

What? Since when do the wings have promising goalie prospects?  Where did this Larsson guy come from anyway?  Anyone else getting the feeling that there’s something in the Detroit drinking water that turns Swedes into superstars?  Wait - I’m getting ahead of myself, but I will say this - I’m looking forward to seeing the guy play.

The Defense -

Ken Holland has pretty much said “we’re trading a defenseman shortly after the preseason.” Where did he say that?  I dunno, it’s quoted in pretty much anywhere anyone has written an article about detroit’s defense.  I’m too lazy to look it up right now, but are you surprised?  Lidstrom-Rafalski and Stuart-Kronwall are given.  That leaves Chelios, Meech, Lilja, Quincey, Lebda, and Ericsson fighting for a 3rd defensive pairing spot.  A lot of people like to hate on Lilja, but I don’t think he’s that horrible.  He had a bad turnover against the Ducks during the playoffs a few years ago that he’ll never live down.  Ericsson is staying, Chelios is staying.  You other four?  One or two of you are gone.  Hope you haven’t been slacking off during the offseason.  Based on performance last year, I predict Lebda and Quincey are the most at risk.  Meech proved himself capable when he had to step up and play big minutes during the rash of injuries last year.  Lilja?  He’s fine as long as you don’t ask him to play top-4 minutes.

The Offense -

Another glut of talent.  Can Franzen keep up playing like he started to last year?  That was Conn Smythe performance until he got injured during the playoffs.  How awesome is Marian Hossa going to be?  Super awesome?  or just merely really awesome?  And what about all those guys fighting for those last roster spots? Abdelkader? Downey? McCarty? Helm? Leino? Where did that Leino guy come from anyway? There’s just too much going on here, I could write ten pages.  Detroit could fill two teams.

I can’t wait.

Joe Kocur was on the last episode of This American Life talking about a fight with Jim Kyte and pitching his and Bob Probert’s new book The Bruise Brothers.  The Prolog (and the rest of the radio show) is pretty good and worth a listen.  There’s an article about the book over on canada.com

In addition to talking about his problems with alcohol and drugs, Probert also provided an interesting perspective on his time in prison in Minnesota. After providing protection for so many teammates over the years on the ice, Probert benefited from having well-known Detroit mob boss Jack Giacalone as a fan who made sure the prison thugs didn’t try to find out how tough the Lakeshore resident really was.

While Kocur said his style was to take a few shots if necessary to get control of a fight and then land a bomb, Probert was a windmill of flying fists.

Hilarious.

from A2Y courtesy of LGW The picture we’ve all been waiting for.