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http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Red Wings Monday practice The Wings have just taken the ice after two days off. The only thing of note is that Valtteri Filppula is not on the ice. Not sure why at this point. I'll update after practice. Instead of just subbing in someone on the second line, however, coach Mike Babcock has juggled his lines as though Filppula wasn't going to play. Here's the line combinations being used right now ... Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Cleary-Franzen-Samuelsson Drake-Draper-Maltby Hudler-Hartigan-McCarty Downey Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lebda-Chelios Meech-Lilja Osgood Hasek Howard Babcock moved Cleary up from the second line to the third line and inserted Maltby onto the third line. If Filppula is healthy, obviously he'll bein the lineup for Thursday's Game 1.

Post-practice update I spoke with Valtteri Filppula. He downplayed his injury, saying that he "just didn't skate today" and that "hopefully" he'll be ready for Game 1. Kirk Maltby, who will be in the lineup if Filppula can't go, said "When called upon, just be ready ... that's my job."

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Forsberg out for Game 4 Colorado coach Joel Quenneville just announced that Peter Forsberg and Ryan Smyth will not be in the lineup for tonight's Game 4. With Paul Stastny also out, the Avalanche will dress seven defensemen. That means they'll skate three forward lines, rotating two extra forwards in. "We realized (Forsberg) had health issues when he came here," said Quenneville.

Official NHL/VERSUS OT Plans Tonight by Steve on 05/01/08 at 12:08 PM Comments (2) In the event tonight’s New York Rangers vs. Pittsburgh Penguins game extends beyond the scheduled 10 p.m. ET starting time of the Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche game, VERSUS will adjust its exclusive coverage of the Stanley Cup Conference Semifinals. Scenario – Rangers vs. Penguins Game Extends Beyond 10 p.m. ET • Cable viewers in the Detroitand Colorado markets will be switched automatically to the beginning of Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche semifinal Game 4. • Cable viewers in the rest of the country will join the Detroit vs. Colorado game in progress at the conclusion of the New York vs. Pittsburgh game. • Satellite viewers on DirecTV and Dish Network will be able to watch the Dallas vs. San Jose game in its entirety on an auxiliary channel. • DirecTV - Channel 659 • Dish Network - Channel 452

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Brunnstrom visiting Wings today and tomorrow Swedish free agent Fabian Brunnstrom will be picked up at the Denver airport by Ken Holland this afternoon and will watch the Red Wings/Avalanche game tonight with Detroit management. Brunnstrom will be in Detroit tomorrow where he'll be shown Joe Louis Arena and have dinner with management. (Whether he travels to Detroit on the team plane or commerical airline is still being worked out, depending on what the league will allow.) Brunnstrom is making three stops on this trip to North America, having visited Dallas already. His third stop hasn't been announced, but my guess is it's Montreal. That means Detroit is one of three finalists for the free agent. Brunnstrom is a hockey late-bloomer. The 23-year-old played his first season in Sweden's top league and fared well. What makes him attractive is that he has NHL potential and doesn't cost a club anything to sign -- no draft picks, no players in trade, no money. He doesn't have a sterling resume, but Brunnstrom's been placed in a situation that has drawn international attention. He couldn't negotiate with any NHL teams until the Swedish season was finished, increasing speculation. Then he said that he wants to go to Vancouver. But days later the Canucks fired their general manager and Brunnstrom decided not to go to the Canucks. Now, he's touring three NHL cities, increasing the attention on Brunnstrom. Holland said that the Red Wings are offering the CBA maximum in both salary ($850,000 annually) and bonuses ($850,000 annually). Holland said that the Red Wings' sales pitch is: their development of young talent like Filppula and Franzen; the organization's stability; that the Red Wings play a European style of hockey; and the sustained success of the franchise. Brunnstrom might take media questions this evening. If he does, I'll update.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app?articleid=36164...mp;service=page Selke candidates contribute at both ends Dan Rosen | NHL.com Staff Writer Apr 25, 2008, 11:45 AM EDT Between the three of them they scored 94 goals and dished out 138 assists. That's some pretty decent offense for a trio of forwards being recognized for their defensive prowess. Than again, in Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and John Madden, the three candidates for this year's Frank J. Selke Trophy, given to the League's best defensive forward, you have three of the best two-way players in the game. Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been known to lift the Detroit Red Wings with their offense, but that offense often is created by their near-flawless defense — which, most of the time, comes at the expense of the opposition's top line. Madden is well-known as the New Jersey Devils' best shut-down forward and one of the best faceoff men on the planet. He is familiar with the Selke Trophy — he won it in 2001 and finished second in the voting in 2003 and 2004. Datsyuk, a two-time Lady Byng Memorial Trophy winner, and Zetterberg never have been Selke finalists. Odds are this won't be their last nomination. Now let's break down their candidacy: Pavel Datsyuk ( Highlights) Of all the masterful numbers Datsyuk put up this season — and there were plenty of them — the two that stand out are his 144 takeaways, by far the most by anyone in the National Hockey League, and his League-best plus-41 rating. This isn't to discredit his career-high 31 goals, including 10 on the power play and six game-winners, or his career-high 66 assists for a career-best 97 points, but most of those are due in large part to Datsyuk's remarkable defense. Few players in the NHL can be as sneaky-good as Datsyuk. He has a tendency to trail the puck down the ice and wait for that one moment when he realizes his out-of-sight technique has made the rushing forward forget about him. He then pick-pockets the player and takes off the other way on a breakaway or odd-man rush. The best part of Datsyuk's technique is he does it within the rules of the game. There's no hacking or whacking with his stick. He's like a snake, a silent predator, and before the rushing forward realizes it, he's the one falling behind in his backcheck. Datsyuk also kept up his prowess in the faceoff circle by winning 453 of his 833 draws, which equates to better than 54 percent. He won better than 56 percent of his 845 faceoffs last season. Datsyuk also played a major role on the Red Wings' penalty-kill, averaging 1:47 of shorthanded ice time per game. He hardly ever hurt his team either, committing just 10 minor penalties for 20 minutes in the box. Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said of Datsyuk: "He's got the puck on a string. He's great offensively. He's great defensively. And our team wins. To me, being the best player means your team wins." Henrik Zetterberg ( Highlights) Like Datsyuk, Zetterberg generates his offense from his phenomenal defense. When Babcock puts these two together on a line, they're so dangerous no matter where they are on the ice. Zetterberg also put up career-bests in goals (43), assists (49) and points (92). However, the numbers that have has earned him the Selke nomination were his plus-30 rating, 666 faceoff wins and 53 takeaways. Zetterberg has gone from a 46-percent winner in the faceoff circle as a rookie to a 55-percent winner five seasons later. He went from taking only 401 draws in 2002-03 to 1,210 this season, and the time he spends in the circle now is a tribute to his prowess and work ethic. Like Datsyuk, Zetterberg was a key component of the Red Wings' penalty-kill; he averaged 2:09 of shorthanded ice time per game. Also like Datsyuk, he rarely hurt his team with penalties: He committed only 17 minors for 34 minutes in the box. "He's as good a two-way hockey player as there is in the League, and he might very well be the best," Babcock said of Zetterberg. "We match him up every night. He's a will guy. In the end, he's more determined than you and he's going to win out. That's a good thing to have. He competes on a daily basis to be the best player on our team. If you can be the best player on our team, you're going to be one of the best players in the National Hockey League." John Madden ( Highlights) The former Selke winner again spent the majority of his ice time as the center on the Devils' checking line, matched up against the other team's best forwards every night. And once again he had a masterful season, even contributing more offensively than ever before. John is one of those guys that since Day 1 have played extremely well for this team. He's done everything that I've asked a player to do. - Devils head coach, Brent Sutter Madden scored 20 goals for only the second time in his eight-year career. His 23 assists tied a career high, and his 43 points were a career best. After playing to a minus-7 rating a season ago, Madden was a plus-1 this season, no small feat on a team that didn't score much. Madden's doggedness again showed up in the faceoff circle, where he had one of the best season's of any center. He won 786 draws, sixth-most in the NHL and good for a 53.7 winning percentage (786 of 1,463). He also had 76 takeaways, which was fifth in the NHL and bested Zach Parise for most on the Devils by 31. As per usual, Madden was the Devils' most important penalty killer. He logged 3:35 of shorthanded ice time per game to lead New Jersey's forwards, and also registered four shorthanded points — three goals and an assist. "John is one of those guys that since Day 1 have played extremely well for this team," Devils coach Brent Sutter said. "He's done everything that I've asked a player to do."

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Brad Stuart and his wife Melissa have a newborn baby boy, Logan Michael. (Coach Mike Babcock joked that he can't believe Stuart wants on the power play so badly that he'd name his son Michael.) Stuart will be in Detroit later today and he will practice with the Red Wings tomorrow. He will be back in the lineup for Game 2. Andreas Lilja will partner with Niklas Kronwall tonight on the second defense pairing. Lija has been a healthy scratch the past three games.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ The Red Wings are on the ice for the first time since Sunday's Game 6 in Nashville. The only two regulars not on the ice are Pavel Datsyuk and Brad Stuart. I'll ask after practice what the reason was for their absences. Stuart has been playing with a broken finger. Datsyuk has been banged up, but nothing that should keep him out of Game 1 of the second round. On the ice is Kirk Maltby, who missed the first round with a strained hamstring. Last week he thought that he might be ready for the second round. Also on the ice is Jonathan Ericsson. Since calling up seven players from Grand Rapids once the Griffins' season ended, the youngsters have been practicing on their own. So Ericsson is practicing with the varsity does mean something even if it's just to keep him ready just in case. Ericsson's presence gives the Red Wings eight defensemen at this practice. The Wings are practicing in the same lines that they used in Game 6. Aaron Downey is working in on the fourth line of Helm-Drake-McCarty. With Datsyuk missing, Mark Hartigan and Kirk Maltby are working in with the top line of Zetterberg-Holmstrom.

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/win...FTOKEN=62252451 Posted by Ted Kulfan on Fri, Apr 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM Helm replaces Hartigan There is another line up change in store for the Red Wings other than goaltending. This one won't generate headlines like Chris Osgood replacing Dominik Hasek. But Darren Helm will take Mark Hartigan's place on the fourth line. Coach Mike Babcock said Helm's speed is a key component behind the switch. This will be Helm's first NHL playoff game, but Babcock said Helm's experience playing in the Memorial Cup (junior championships) and his performance in Grand Rapids during the season should aid Helm Friday in Game 5.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/ Update from Wednesday's morning skate: Looking for more speed tonight in Game 4 vs. Nashville, the Wings made one lineup change and are contemplating another. On defense, Brett Lebda is in for Andreas Lilja. Coach Mike Babcock also said that rookie forward Darren Helm might play, depending on the status of an unidentified player who has a minor injury. Everybody, however, practiced, so it can't be anything significant. For Nashville, center David Legwand will play his second straight game, after returning from a foot injury. Coach Barry Trotz said he was making no lineup changes. Said Babcock about Lebda, who'll be paired with Chris Chelios: "We thought last game we weren't as quick. Hockey is a simple game, if you spend too much time in your zone, you spend no time in the offensive zone, so they're wearing on your D intead of you wearing on their D. We feel Lebs can push the puck up the ice.''

http://info.detnews.com/redesign/blogs/win...FTOKEN=62252451 Lebda in; Lilja out Brett Lebda will replace Andreas Lilja in the Red Wings line up Thursday in Game 4. Lebda's puck-moving ability and quickness was an ingredient the Wings were lacking in Game 3. "We thought last game we weren't as quick," Babcock said. "Lebs can push the puck up the ice. Our penalty kill has been good and Lils can block shots as good as anybody. You sacrifice something to get something." There could be one other change. Babcock indicated one forward was potentially going to sit out depending on how the player felt after warm ups. If someone had to sit out, Babcock said Darren Helm would go in the line up.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ POST-PRACTICE UPDATE: Lebda confirmed that he's back in the lineup. Lilja is out. "It's been a tough couple of games here just watching," said Lebda. "All you can do is just be a cheerleader for the guys. It's hard. But it's a role that I had to accept. I'm going to get my chance tonight to play." Lebda said that last year's playoff run had him eager for more this spring: "I got a taste of a long run last year. I was anxious to get back in there and get another taste of it. When I sit and look back, that was what was the most disappointing thing. But those first two games, we played really well and got the wins. We should have had the win last game." Here's the line combinations that the Red Wings are using at practice this morning ... Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Filppula-Franzen-Samuelsson Hudler-Draper-Cleary Drake-Hartigan-McCarty Lidstrom-Kronwall Stuart-Rafalski Lebda-Chelios Lilja-Meech Hasek Osgood I'll update after practice and hopefully coach Mike Babcock will let us know if Brett Lebda is in and Andreas Lilja is out. The fact that Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are together in the morning skate means that they'll play on the same line for considerably longer than the two seconds they did at the start of Game 3. But splitting Datsyuk and Zetterberg onto separate lines could happen at any point in tonight's game.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/ Samuelsson says he's ready for the opener, but Babcock won't make final lineup decisions until today by Ansar Khan Wednesday April 09, 2008, 12:53 PM Update from Wednesday's practice: Forward Mikael Samuelsson (groin) said he felt good after practice and believes he's ready for Game 1 vs. Nashville Thursday. But coach Mike Babcock said the final lineup decisions on Samuelsson, Tomas Holmstrom and Brad Stuart won't be made until Thursday morning. Babcock said there's no reason to believe Holmstrom won't be ready, but they just want to make sure. Stuart, coming off a broken right index finger, continues to maintain he's ready to play. This is what the lines looked like in practice. This is how they are likely to be at the start of the game if those three players can play: Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Filppula-Franzen-Cleary Hudler-Draper-Samuelsson Drake-Hartigan-McCarty Out: Abdelkader-Helm-Downey Defese: Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Stuart Lilja-Chelios Out: Lebda, Meech

FSN is showing the game in the Detroit area.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Mikael Samuelsson skated on his own after practice. It was the third time that the forward worked out on the ice since being sidelined with a groin injury. Samuelsson said after his workout that he's hopeful that he can play in Thursday's Game 1, but it's very much an injury that you have to wait to see how your body reacts to a workout. -- Brad Stuart said that he's on track for returning for Game 1. Coach Mike Babcock said that he's "hopeful" that Stuart will be back. The defenseman's shooting, however, might still be a problem.-- Kris Draper (groin) is definitely in the lineup Thursday and will center Jiri Hudler and Justin Abdelkader. -- Dallas Drake said that he's ready to play Thursday and thinks he's going to be in the lineup. -- Kirk Maltby (hamstring) did not skate today.

From the Macomb Daily: Tuesday's practice The Red Wings have just started on-ice preparation for the post-season. Neither Kirk Maltby (hamstring) nor Mikael Samuelsson (groin) are skating at all today. Also, Darren Helm nor Jonathan Ericsson -- call-ups for the season-finale last Sunday -- are on the ice. Here are the practice lines for today ... Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Cleary-Flippula-Franzen Hudler-Draper-Abdelkader McCarty-Hartigan-Downey Drake

From the Macomb Daily: Tuesday's practice The Red Wings have just started on-ice preparation for the post-season. Neither Kirk Maltby (hamstring) nor Mikael Samuelsson (groin) are skating at all today. Also, Darren Helm nor Jonathan Ericsson -- call-ups for the season-finale last Sunday -- are on the ice. Here are the practice lines for today ... Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Cleary-Flippula-Franzen Hudler-Draper-Abdelkader McCarty-Hartigan-Downey Drake

Kirk Maltby's injury is worse than I thought. "Might be able to play if the first round goes deep"??

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Abdelkader gets amateur tryout contract from Wings The Red Wings have signed Justin Abdelkader to an amateur tryout contract. The Red Wings' second-round pick in 2005 will be available for tonight's game against Columbus. The Muskegon native has been playing for Michigan State.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/ First round possibilities: Nashville, Calgary or Vancouver by Ansar Khan Wednesday April 02, 2008, 11:08 AM Quick update on the playoff race, regarding the Wings' first round opponent. Let's assume the Wings will finish as the top seed in the Western Conference, a safe bet, since all they need to do is pick up one point in their three remaining games. In that case, cross Minnesota, Dallas and Colorado off the list, as none of those teams can finish eighth. That leaves Nashville, Calgary and Vancouver as Detroit's possible first-round playoff opponents. Nashville, right now, is the odds-on favorite, and it could be official as soon as late Thursday night. In any case, the Wings will know for sure by late Saturday night. Sunday's games will have no bearing in determining who finishes eighth. Nashville controls its own destiny. If it wins its last two games (home vs. St. Louis Thursday and at Chicago Friday), it clinches a playoff berth and will finish either eighth or seventh (the Predators can't pass Colorado or Dallas because those clubs have the tie-breaker -- more wins. But there is still a scenario where Calgary could drop to eighth). It's also worth noting that Vancouver has the second tie-breaker advantage (points earned in the season series) over Calgary and Nashville, should those clubs finished tied and have the same number of wins. And Calgary has the second tie-breaker advantage (again, points earned in the season series) over Nashville.

From the Macomb Daily: POST-PRACTICE UPDATE: Maltby has a strained hamstring, according to coach Mike Babcock, an injury that occurred without any contact from an opponent. When he'll return to the lineup is unknown. Tomas Holmstrom said that he won't play tonight, but will definitely be back in the lineup Sunday, giving him a one-game tune-up for the playoffs.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2008..._abdelkader.php Abdelkader Signs With Wings CHN Staff Report EAST LANSING, Mich. — Justin Abdelkader, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2007 Frozen Four for Michigan State, has decided to forgo his final year of college eligibility, signing an amateur tryout agreement with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Abdelkader, a second-round pick of the Red Wings in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (42nd overall), could play this evening when Detroit plays Columbus. "It's an amazing feeling to realize my dream of being a Red Wing, and I would like to thank the Detroit organization," Abdelkader said in a statement. "On the flip side, it's difficult to leave Michigan State. My three years there were the best of my life, and not only from a hockey standpoint. "I'm proud that we were able to win a National Championship, and was thrilled to have the opportunities that were given to me not only by the coaching staff, but also within the University. I want to thank everyone who has been incredibly supportive of me over the last three years." Abdelkader was an Honorable Mention All-CCHA selection as a junior and won the CCHA's Ilitch Humanitarian Award. He was the Spartans' second-leading scorer this past season with 19 goals and 40 points, while sharing the team lead in game-winning goals (5) and leading the team in penalty minutes (107). "We're very happy for Justin," Michigan State head coach Rick Comley said. "Obviously, this is one of those situations where we're thrilled for a player who has meant so much to our program and helped us achieve a tremendous amount of success; on the other hand, we're disappointed that he won't be back for his senior year. But, we have nothing but good thoughts and we wish him the absolute best. He has meant a tremendous amount to our program, and we look forward to watching his success as a professional athlete." Abdelkader leaves behind a strong legacy. His goal with 18.9 seconds left in regulation in last year's NCAA championship game, was the game winner over Boston College. In 124 career games, Abdelkader had 44 goals and 51 assists for 95 points, with 120 penalties for 281 PIM. The Spartans were recently eliminated from the NCAA tournament, losing in the West Regional final to Notre Dame.

Maltby injured and not playing. The Wings have signed Jason Abdelkader to a try-out contract and he may play tonight.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/ Wings sign Abdelkader to amateur tryout, might make NHL debut tonight by Ansar Khan Thursday April 03, 2008, 10:05 AM The Wings have signed forward Justin Abdelkader to an amateur tryout contract, and the club said that the Michigan State star might make his NHL debut tonight at home against Columbus. The Muskegon native has played for the Spartans the last three years, leading the team to the NCAA championship in 2007. He scored the game-winning goal in the championship game vs. Boston College with 18.9 seconds remaining and was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player at the Frozen Four. Abdelkader was Detroit's second-round selection (42nd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

From the Macomb Daily: Homer back, Z out? From the morning skate in Chicago, Tomas Holmstrom is skating and Henrik Zetterberg is not on the ice. It looks like Homer might be ready to go with Z being given the night off.