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Single Game Tickets went on sale today at 10am. I hope all of you had a Pre Sale code, because by 4:30 it was slim pickings for the weekend games! I was lucky to get tickets to October 29 vs. Boston and December 11 vs. Philly. If you're hoping to see the Bruins in October, I got the last 2 together for that game, so blame me for there only being single tickets left

Last week Tom McCollum reached an agreement with the Kings for a Professional Try Out. Full Article http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/2016/08/tom_mccollum_former_red_wings.html

Always pulled for the guy and hoped he'd end up with the Wings full time one day when he was drafted 30th overall. Used to watch him play in the OHL, and he was damn good. Just sorta stagnated once he hit the AHL, and he was never given a shot with the big club, not that he deserved it. Never inspired enough confidence for Holland to bring him up as full time backup. Only brought up as an emergency backup here and there before Mrazek and Coreau passed him on the depth chart. Pretty sure he didn't even start one NHL game. Played a few third periods. I always felt he didn't really want to be in the Wings system where it takes forever to get a shot unless your Mrazek and you force them to give it to you. Maybe a change will do him good and he gets another shot at playing in the NHL.

Anybody read the NHL.com "5 Questions" article with Ken Holland? I liked that they're planning to start Zetterberg with Nielsen, but a bit disappointed that he didn't mention AA when talking about prospective centers. I'm going to be really irritated if they develop that kid into a winger.

I assume you just don't know that much about Winnipeg. Like the Wings, they are kind of loaded with mid-level forwards: Wheeler, Scheifele, Little, Perreault, Ehlers, Stafford. Obviously Laine will be in the mix. Most seem to expect Kyle Connor to make the team and some think he may be better than Larkin. Just signed Matthias. Dano looked ok for them last year. Burmistrov will probably never amount to much, but he's still only 24 so I doubt they've completely given up on him. I'd say it's hardly a lock that Sheahan or Pulk would even make their top-9, much less top-6. Plus they (like pretty much everyone) are already going to be struggling with the question of whom to protect. Then you include Smith, and either they resign him and have to protect him, or they risk losing him as an UFA. The Jets offense wasn't very good, but neither was their defense. Even losing Ladd, the potential impact of Laine and Connor plus continued development of Ehlers (and maybe a little more from Scheifele even) gives reason for some optimism there. On defense, Morrissey is the only good prospect they have. Getting rid of Trouba for anything other than a direct replacement doesn't make much sense. Maybe for a real upgrade at forward or a top pick + prospect that wouldn't need protection. Really nothing about that trade makes any sense for the Jets. The only way it would is if they get completely desperate with being unable to resign Trouba, and just go for the highest bid. But you already admit that wouldn't likely be us. The Anaheim deal is a bit better, if you presume they are still looking for help at forward. I'm not sure they still are, but they do have a lot of good young D. Not so sure Nyquist + Holmstrom would get Fowler (E and Bieksa is more or less a wash), with Nyquist coming off a down year and with a longish-term contract. Also not sure Fowler is even good enough to be worth Nyquist.

That makes so much sense, I'm gonna start calling them mine-mines as well.

Red Wing players as olympians - Hurdles - Darren Helm 100 meter sprint - Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou Gymnastics - Petr Mrazek Beach Volleyball - Niklas Kronwall and Jonathan Ericsson Diving - Gustav Nyquist Rowing - Henrik Zetterberg Weightlifting - Justin Abdelkader Handball - Brendan Smith http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2016/8/21/12475262/red-wings-as-olympians

Pasha giving back to his hometown by opening the Datsyuk Arena in Yekaterinburg, Ru

I never really put any players in the same pool or made any comparison between them. I've said that I still think Zetterberg is a top 6 talent and shouldn't be dropped to the 3rd line. I've also said being moved to the wing, rather than playing center should keep his legs going longer into the season.

Good for him, hope he gets a decent shot.

The writing was on the wall with McCollum. He had some decent years in Grand Rapids, but there was never going to be an opportunity for him in Detroit. With Mrazek looking like he will be the guy for the foreseeable future, Coreau looking like he could become a solid NHL backup, the addition of Pasquale, as well as Paterson looking to battle for a spot in Grand Rapids, and the glut of other guys in the system... Glad to see McCollum get a shot elsewhere, and I hope they sign him to a contract.