96warrior

Kronwall out till the 'end of the month?' Posted by George James Malik February 06, 2008 15:42PM Bad news from DetroitRedWings.com's Ryan Doehrty: February 6, DetroitRedWings.com: I just talked with Niklas Kronwall and he told me he's feeling a little better, but he's not able to shoot the puck yet. He's able to stick handle side to side, but when he extends his arms out in front of him to shoot he feels quite a bit of discomfort in his clavicle. He said if everything continues to improve, he expects to be back on the ice before the end of this month. He should be back before the end of February, Wings' medical staff permitting, but if this doesn't cement the concept that the Wings need to acquire a depth defenceman or two, I don't know what does.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/ Kronwall has shoulder sprain, out for 10 days or so by Ansar Khan Thursday January 31, 2008, 1:43 PM Update from practice Thursday: The Wings got good news from the injury front. Defenseman Niklas Kronwall's shoulder injury isn't as serious as first feared. Kronwall said there's no separation, only a sprain. He expects to be out 10 days or so. Also, defenseman Brett Lebda will play Friday against Colorado after an MRI on his sore left wrist revealed no damage.

WOW. Great news.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=228601&hubname=nhl The Nashville Predators and winger Jordin Tootoo have agreed on a contract extension. Sources tell TSN it's a two-year deal worth just under $1 million a season. In 210 career games, Tootoo has registered 40 points and over 365 minutes in penalties. He has seven goals and 13 points in 41 games this season. The hard-nosed winger was Nashville's sixth choice, 98th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. The former Brandon Wheat Kings was also a member of Canada's silver medal World Junior Team in 2003

January 28, Detroit News: "I felt all right," Zetterberg said following practice. "It's been a few days since I've skated. It's definitely going in the right direction. "I kind of held back (at the end of practice) but it's natural to do that with so many days off. If it keeps going the way it's going, I'm real positive about (playing) Wednesday, but we'll make a decision tomorrow (Tuesday) or Wednesday." Babcock said the decision to play will depend on how Zetterberg feels. Nicklas Lidstrom and Pavel Datsyuk got days off Monday returning from Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta, while Chris Osgood chose to practice. Osgood, who'll start Wednesday against Phoenix, said he needed to face shots in a practice setting.

From Red Wings' Corner: Z back on the ice From Monday's practice ... -- Henrik Zetterberg was back on the ice after resting his back over the all-star break. Zetterberg worked on back strengthening drills, but didn't step on the ice over the break. "It felt real good today," said Zetterberg. "We'll see how it feels after practice tomorrow and go from there." -- Pavel Datsyuk and Nicklas Lidstrom had the day off after the the all-star game, but will be back for tomorrow's practice. Chris Osgood practiced today. Osgood will start Wednesday's game.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/ If Brunnstrom's chosen the Wings, that's news to Holland Posted by George James Malik January 28, 2008 06:40AM Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detroit News's John Niyo that he has not received word as to whether Swedish phenom Fabian Brunnstrom has chosen to sign Detroit's contract offer: January 28, Detroit News: Wings general manager Ken Holland , who is in Binghamton, N.Y., for tonight's American Hockey League All-Star Game, said Sunday the team has not reached any agreement with Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom. The Wings are one of five teams that have made contract offers to Brunnstrom, a 22-year-old forward, an undrafted late-bloomer who has become a star playing for Farjestad in the Swedish Elite League this season. Detroit, Toronto and Vancouver are believed to be the frontrunners to land his services. Holland left the world junior championships in the Czech Republic earlier this month to meet with Brunnstrom and his agent in Sweden, and he has remained in contact with the player and his North American agent, J.P. Barry , who also represents Wings forward Dan Cleary . "We've made our pitch," Holland said. "My understanding is he's going through his options and trying to make a decision on where he wants to play. The teams have made their offers, so it's now really in his hands." Brunnstrom won't sign what's expected to be a two-year entry-level contract until after his season ends in Sweden, and the soonest he'd be in the NHL would be next season. This doesn't necessarily throw any water on Helene St. James' tip as to where Brunnstrom's leaning. From what I've read (in both English and broken Swedish), Brunnstrom won't technically sign with an NHL team until after Farjestads' season ends, but he may have already made up his mind, as Niyo notes in his blog: January 28, Detroit News: Talked to Wings GM Ken Holland earlier today and he denied the report suggesting they've got Swedish prospect Fabian Brunnstrom locked up. That said, the talk here in Atlanta is that Brunnstrom's short list of five teams is down to 2 or 3 finalists, and I think the Wings are the frontrunner. There won't be any difference in money, most likely -- all the teams will max out on the bonuses they offer with that 2-year entry-level contract -- so the big question for the young Swede may be whether he thinks there's room for him in the Wings' '08-09 lineup or not, compared to the situation in Toronto or Vancouver. His opportunity to play--and win--and the support he'll get in adjusting off-ice that count most right now. Keep your ears to the ground, fellow Wings fans.

Wings' website to simulcast NHL Network's All-Star coverage Posted by George James Malik January 25, 2008 20:34PM The Detroit Red Wings' website is doing something very cool for those of us who don't yet have the NHL Network on our cable systems. DetroitRedWings.com's Ryan Doherty says that the Wings' site will simulcast the NHL Network's extended coverage of All-Star Weekend events: January 25, DetroitRedWings.com: I've settled in here in Atlanta and from what I can see this city and the NHL have done a great job promoting this celebration of hockey. Here is a schedule of live streaming events that you can watch on detroitredwings.com this weekend: EVENT: NHL All-Star Practice and Player Media Availability DATE/TIME: Saturday, Jan. 26, 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET EVENT: Red Carpet All-Star Player Arrivals DATE/TIME: Saturday, Jan. 26, 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET EVENT: Cisco 2008 All-Star All-Access Show DATE/TIME: Sunday, Jan. 27, 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET EVENT: NHL Network All-Star Pregame Show DATE/TIME: Sunday, Jan. 27, 4:30-5:30 p.m. ET EVENT: All-Star Postgame Press Conferences DATE/TIME: Sunday, Jan. 27 approx. 8:30 p.m. ET All you have to do is click on the play button located on the lower left-hand corner of our top story panel, and the video will begin to play.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/ Babcock says Osgood will start All-Star game Posted by George James Malik January 22, 2008 08:51AM Red Wings coach Mike Babcock says that he's not going to be swayed by Ron Wilson's sales pitch--Chris Osgood, not Evgeni Nabokov, will be the starter at the All-Star Game on Sunday: January 22, Detroit Free Press: Babcock said no one has told him anything other than that it's his decision who will start in goal for the Western Conference at the All-Star Game. Vancouver's Roberto Luongo, voted in by fans, has pulled out to be with his pregnant wife. It's expected Babcock will go with Osgood. "I'm pretty sure it's my call," Babcock said. "And I'm not leaning -- I know."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../801210401/1128 "It's stiff and sore today, it's a challenge," Zetterberg said. "I felt the same way yesterday and decided to stay off today. After the game (Saturday) it got a little worse. "I'd say it's pretty questionable for tomorrow." The Wings play at Los Angeles on Tuesday and at Anaheim on Wednesday. Zetterberg said he hasn't thought about whether he'll play in Sunday's All-Star Game in Atlanta. He had to decline to play last year's game because of a groin injury. Zetterberg missed of the second half of last season with a similar back injury and doesn't want that to happen again. Coach Mike Babcock said the team will be cautious with Zetterberg, but added the Wings won't tell Zetterberg specifically to stay home from the All-Star Game. "He knows his body better than I do," Babcock said. If Zetterberg can't play Tuesday, Dallas Drake (knee) is ready to get back in the lineup.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...PDATE/801090451 Report: McCarty meets with Red Wings Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News DETROIT -- Darren McCarty has met with Red Wings officials about the possibility of returning to the team, the Windsor Star is reporting, citing an NHL source. The former Red Wing has been working out after going unsigned as an unrestricted free agent last summer. McCarty, 35, hooked on with the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League. The Generals said McCarty would be in their lineup for Wednesday night's game at Muskegon. "I still think I had something left to give and I want to find out for sure," McCarty told the Windsor Star about signing with the Generals. "I want to work my way up the ladder and to do that, I've got to start somewhere." Red Wings center Kris Draper is a minority owner of the Generals. "I just want to play hockey. I don't care where," McCarty told The Detroit News. McCarty was at the Wings' game Tuesday against the Colorado Avalanche at Joe Louis Arena. McCarty had a terrible season in Calgary in 2006-07. He did not score a point in 32 games and missed the second half of the season and playoffs with injuries. McCarty played for the Wings from 1993-94 to 2003-04. He has 126 career goals, 160 assists and 1,450 penalty minutes.

Defenseman Derek Meech is on the ice this morning for the Red Wings' skate, meaning that his conditioning stint in Grand Rapids is over. No Dallas Drake (swollen knee), as expected, so tonight's lines should be ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Franzen-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Cleary-Drpaer-Maltby Hudler-Kopecky-Downey Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Ellis (healthy scratch) Meech (healthy scratch)

http://www.tsn.ca/blogs/mckenzie/?id=227428 1/16/2008 Marian Hossa is going to market. That is the message the Atlanta Thrasher forward has delivered in no uncertain terms to general manager Don Waddell. Sources say that Hossa, his agent Ritch Winter and Waddell met earlier this week in Atlanta over dinner and then went to an Atlanta Hawks' basketball game and that over the course of the evening Hossa told Waddell that he's not prepared to sign a long-term extension with the Thrashers at this point and will go to unrestricted free agency on July 1. Sources say Hossa is telling friends that he expects to be traded before the NHL trade deadline on Feb. 26. If the Thrashers trade Hossa, he could conceivably be the highest-impact rental player made available. Hossa scored a hat trick to lead the Thrashers to victory over the Detroit Red Wings last night. But the Thrashers are in a tough spot. They currently hold down first place in the Southeast Division and would dearly love to secure a playoff spot, an effort that would be greatly aided by Hossa's offensive production in their lineup. But the Thrashers also know that to allow Hossa to stroll into unrestricted free agency without getting something in return is counter-productive to the long-term interests of the franchise. Sources say Waddell is not ready to make an absolute commitment to trading Hossa at this point, but there's no question the talented Slovak winger is going to be in play between now and the deadline. What will likely dictate whether Hossa is traded is the return on the trade. If Waddell can get a significant package in return, Hossa is likely to be dealt to a contending team. The latest negotiations between Waddell and Hossa's new agent, Winter, never even got to the stages of discussing dollars or term. Hossa's primary concern is the status of the Thrashers as a legitimate Cup contender. Quite simply, he's not prepared to commit there long term and wants to see where the club is come July 1. The Thrashers had previously offered Hossa a five-year, $35 million contract when Hossa was represented by another agent. The bottom line is that Hossa is almost certainly going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and that will significantly increase the likelihood of him being traded before the deadline.

From MLIVE: Downey in, Draper moved off centre so Franzen can go head-to-head against Holik Posted by George James Malik January 15, 2008 14:57PM The Detroit Red Wings are making two line-up changes tonight. The first involves replacing an injured Dallas Drake with Aaron Downey, and the second involves a positional shift for Kris Draper: January 15, RedWingsCorner: Johan Franzen will center the third line tonight with Kris Draper on his left wing. Normally, the roles would be reversed, but the Red Wings are testing Franzen against Bobby Holik to see how he fares against a big centerman. "We already know Drapes can play in the middle," said Detroit coach Mike Babcock. "There's no concern with that. Franzen's a great big guy. I feel that this is a good opportunity to see ... He played real well at center when we had injuries. And then after seeing that, I thought maybe he could be a good matchup center for us with his size. Tonight, he'll have the opportunity to go against a huge guy (Bobby Holik). "It gives us something right there that we can test to see how we match up in that area. When you go through the west, they've got some big, big centermen that can wear on your smaller guys. Holik gives us that opportunity to test that theory."

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...ed_by_knee.html Drake, Downey bothered by knee issues by Ansar Khan Monday January 14, 2008, 1:26 PM Update from Monday's practice: Dallas Drake didn't skate. He hurt his knee in the third period Saturday in Ottawa, on the same play in which Senators forward Dany Healtey separated his shoulder. Heatley tried to check Drake, which eluded him. Healthy then crashed into the boards. Heatley's out up to six weeks but Drake's injury doesn't appear to be serious, Wings coach Mike Babcock said. Aaron Downey avoided a serious injury when Kirk Maltby fell on his knee in practice Monday. Downey said he "felt something snap'' and had to be helped off the ice. But he returned later and finished the practice. "Kind of hyper-extended it a little bit,'' Downey said. "We're going to check it right now. Knee's a little sore right now. I'm sure a miracle heal will help and I'll be able to go tomorrow.''

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Friday's practice in Ottawa -- Starters in net will be Dominik Hasek (who drew a big crowd of Ottawa reporters because of his stay in Ottawa) and Ray Emery. -- The Red Wings' forward lines were altered slightly at today's practice. With not knowing if Ottawa will keep Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson on the same line and what matchups that the Sens will try to force on the Wings, Detroit's lines and defense combinations could be adjusted early in Saturday's game. These are Friday's combinations. Mikael Samuelsson was moved up to the third line and Johan Franzen was moved off center on the fourth line to wing on the third. That puts Tomas Kopecky back in the middle on the fourth line ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Zetterberg-Cleary Franzen-Draper-Samuelsson Drake-Kopecky-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Ellis (healthy scratch) Downey (healthy scratch)

Zetterberg (flu) questionable tonight by Ansar Khan Saturday January 12, 2008, 1:03 PM Update from the morning skate in Ottawa: Henrik Zetterberg didn't practice after coming down with the flu on Friday afternoon. Coach Mike Babcock said he thinks Zetterberg will be able to play tonight against the Senators but it'll be a game-time decision. If Zetterberg can't play, Johan Franzen will probably center the line with Jiri Hudler and Dan Cleary.

http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&a...rticleid=349056 Lidstrom may be the NHL's perfect player To learn all you need to know about Nicklas Lidstrom, just listen to his coach. “He is so professional that he tapes his stick better than anybody I’ve ever seen,†Mike Babcock, who is in his third season behind the Detroit Red Wings’ bench, told NHL.com. “He does everything better, and it’s without effort.†For 15½ NHL seasons, the rest of the League has marveled at the specimen that is Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s a three-time Stanley Cup champion, an Olympic gold medal winner, the only European to ever win the Conn Smythe Trophy, and a five-time Norris Trophy winner. He even was given the nickname “Norris†by a member of the Red Wings’ training staff. Later this month, Lidstrom will start in his eighth All-Star Game. It will be his 10th All-Star appearance. At 37-years-old, he’s already played in more than 1,200 games, and he could finish with over 1,000 points if he plays just another two seasons. Lidstrom, the once unheralded defenseman out of Sweden whom the Red Wings nabbed in the third round, with the 53rd overall pick, in the 1989 Entry Draft, is, for all intents and purposes, the National Hockey League’s vision of perfection. “He’s the best player,†Babcock said. “No one is as good as him.†For good reason, too. No one in the last 20 years of the NHL has been as durable as Lidstrom, who has missed only 22 games throughout his entire career. Lidstrom has fortunately avoided the injury bug that stings even the best in the League. “My off-season conditioning, the way I take care of myself and prepare, is a big part of it,†Lidstrom told NHL.com. “And, my style. I’m not the physical defenseman looking for the big hit. I’m staying in my position. I know I can take my guy into the boards and neutralize him that way instead of going for the big hit.†Lidstrom is as good of a positional player as there ever has been in the NHL. “He doesn’t make mistakes,†Babcock said. “He just doesn’t make any mistakes.†Not only that, Lidstrom is one of the best skaters in the League. “I don’t ever remember him getting trapped up the ice,†Hall of Fame coach Scotty Bowman told NHL.com. “His stats are not as a result of him taking chances, and he’s always playing against the best players. That’s probably what the most unique thing is, he’s had this career playing against the other teams’ best.†Even while playing against the best, Lidstrom is a marvelous plus-372 for his career, including a plus-43 in the 1993-94 season. He was a plus-40 last season when he scored 13 goals and dished out 49 assists. This season he’s plus-34 with 40 points. “That’s a great stat for him,†Bowman said of Lidstrom’s plus-minus rating, “because he plays half the game, and both ends of the rink.†Both are almost true. Lidstrom, who most certainly does play on both ends of the ice, is averaging roughly to 27 minutes of ice time per game this season, the same way he did last season and the season before that and the season before that. In 2002-03 Lidstrom averaged more than 29:20 per game. He was near 29 minutes in each of the previous two seasons, as well. “It’s the consistency that stands out,†Bowman said. “He doesn’t get flustered and he’s in so many key situations.†That’s because Lidstrom thinks the game better than most, and his instincts are impeccable. He says they come from experience. Intelligence has a lot to do with it, too. “He’s smart, I tell ya,†Babcock said. “He’s the same every day. That’s what puts him in a league separate from everyone else.†Lidstrom, though, will have you believe he actually does pull his hockey pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else. Despite all of his accolades Lidstrom is as humble as can be. He doesn’t think he pays as much attention to detail as everyone believes he does. “I don’t even pay attention to how I tape my stick now,†Lidstrom said. “It’s just part of my routine.†Despite winning five of the last six Norris trophies, Lidstrom said he, too, went through a rough adjustment period getting used to the new rules once the League returned from the lockout in 2005. Only Lidstrom’s struggles barely showed because of his rare style. He finished with a career high 80 points in 80 games during the 2005-06 season, but also rang up a career high 50 penalty minutes. In 80 games last season he was boxed for 46 minutes. Fifty and 46, though, hardly are alarming numbers when it comes to penalty minutes. “I try to play my position right all the time. That helped me adjust to the new rules, where you have to be skating all the time,†he said. “We work on it daily. It’s not just trying to get better and better, but keep where you’re at right now. You don’t want to lose that feeling, that timing, and the quickness.†He hasn’t even come close, leading some to speculate Lidstrom could play another 10 years. If he remains healthy, why not? “He’s got the best stick in the NHL. He slides on the offensive blue line as good as anybody. He skates effortlessly,†Babcock said. “He’s great. He’s just great.â€Â

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/ Fox Sports Detroit, CBC to cover Yzerman's induction to Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame Posted by George James Malik January 08, 2008 07:35AM Fox Sports Detroit and the CBC will ensure that Red Wings fans don't miss Steve Yzerman's induction to the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, at least in retrospect: January 8, Detroit Free Press: The Red Wings' trip to Ottawa this weekend is sort of a home-away-from-home game for Steve Yzerman. Yzerman was born in Cranbrook, British Columbia, but he grew up in the Ottawa suburb of Nepean and played his youth hockey there. Friday night, he'll be inducted into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, and the timing is great. Saturday, the Senators host the Red Wings, and Yzerman will be honored before the 7 p.m. game with a video tribute and the ceremonial first puck. You can see that ceremony on FSN and CBC's "Hockey Night in Canada" (Channel 9 in Windsor), and FSN also plans to show some highlights from Friday's induction ceremony. It also is CBC's main evening game, because the Maple Leafs are playing at San Jose at 10 p.m. -- a rare occasion when "Hockey Night" is guaranteed a prime-time game matching two teams with winning records. As the Free Press's Steve Schrader notes, Yzerman will be inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in February: On Feb. 11, he'll be at the head of a class of 11 inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in ceremonies at the Fisher Music Center. Balcony tickets for the 7:30 p.m. ceremonies are $35, and there also are $150 VIP packages that include a 6 p.m. strolling supper.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/01/wi...ncement_as.html With no Wings announcement as to McCarty's inclusion in organizational plans, 'Mac's' got to focus on his tenute as a Flint General Posted by George James Malik January 09, 2008 16:33PM The Wings' press corps questioned whether the Wings' "major personnel announcement would include announcing some sort of provisional agreement with Darren McCarty to bring him back into the Red Wings' fold. Realistically, such a decision is, at the very least, a month or more away as McCarty needs both significant IHL and AHL play to work himself into shape, so McCarty's focus at present is centered upon making a favourable impression on Flint Generals GM Ron Sanko and coach Kevin Kerr: January 8, Flint Journal: "Obviously, we're excited to have Darren be part of the lineup and part of the organization," said director of hockey operations Ron Sanko. "We look forward to helping him in his comeback. As much as we can help to offer some conditioning, that's what we're looking for." Barring unforeseen circumstances, McCarty will make his home debut Friday night against the Port Huron IceHawks at Perani Arena. The Generals are also home Sunday vs. Muskegon. "You're putting a three-time Stanley Cup champion in our lineup," Sanko said. "I think we'll be a better team (today) and Friday night when we face Port Huron. All the good things are obvious. The character, the leadership, the ability, the work ethic he'll show our kids who want to get to the higher levels." ... Flint coach Kevin Kerr said he would likely use McCarty on a forward line with Jason Cirone, Mike Kinnie and John DiPace, rotating the foursome to see which combination clicks. "He's going to have a big impact on our team and a big impact in our locker room," Kerr said. "All the stuff we've talked about before with the younger guys, showing them what it means to be a pro." The Detroit Free Press's Helene St. James attempted to analyze the situation as best she could: January 9, Detroit Free Press: My question to those who want to see McCarty, 35, back in a Red Wings uniform is this: Whom could he supplant in the lineup? We can, right off the bat, eliminate Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk, Tomas Holmstrom, Jiri Hudler, Johan Franzen, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby, Valtteri Filppula and Mikael Samuelsson from the list. Yes, Samuelsson too. While he hasn't been very consistent this season, he is capable of being an offensive juggernaut, and he did have a good performance in last year's playoffs. That leaves Tomas Kopecky, Matt Ellis, Dallas Drake, and Aaron Downey. Kopecky is only 25, and while he's still learning to be a physical player every night, he's a good, inexpensive depth player. Ellis is 26, and has shown himself a solid reserve when needed. Drake? He hasn't had a great first half, but his effectiveness was restricted by having to wear a full facemask to protect a broken cheekbone. He will fight if called upon, and is a solid penalty killer. Then there's Downey. He's the enforcer on the team, and often a healthy scratch. But when he does play, he's smart - he makes sure he bothers opponents without being obvious enough to get called for a penalty. He's impressed Mike Babcock with a terrific work ethic, and Downey's sense of humor makes him a locker room favorite with teammates. Is McCarty, whose contract was bought out by the Wings following the 2004-05 lockout season, an upgrade over anyone in this lineup? Keep in mind, this isn't the 1997 version of McCarty we're talking about. McCarty will be 36 on April 1. He's got a long history of injuries; most recently, last season with Calgary, he was limited to 32 games, and he played single-digit minutes in all of those games, didn't score a single point, and was a minus-3. I think in all likelihood what will happen is this: If he doesn't garner interest from other NHL clubs over the next few weeks, the Wings will sign him to play in Grand Rapids.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Line Combinations With all players healthy again, here's how the Red Wings are constructed at the Tuesday morning skate ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Zetterberg-Cleary Drake-Draper-Maltby Kopecky-Franzen-Samuelsson Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood Downey (healthy scratch) Ellis (healthy scratch)

If I heard correctly, the back ups are named tonight on VERSUS during the Detroit/Colorado game.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/ Sundin doesn't plan on waving no-trade clause Posted by George James Malik January 08, 2008 07:00AM There should be no surprises to fans of the Detroit Red Wings that the Toronto media's infatuation with the concept of trading Mats Sundin to a team for a treasure trove of top prospects is nothing more than pure fabrication. The Toronto Sun's Lance Hornby says that Sundin's less than enthralled with the idea of being traded: January 8, Toronto Sun (via the London Free Press): [H]e's adamant he wants to stay and that includes nixing any Rent-A-Mats plan to fetch max value at the deadline, help a contending playoff team in the spring and then return to the Leafs as a free agent in 2008-09. While dropping a couple of expletives yesterday to describe the club's wasteful efforts of late, Sundin reaffirmed his desire to see his one-year contract through as a Leaf and play beyond April 5. "I have not talked to my agent (J.P. Barry) about anything," Sundin said of waiving his no-trade clause. "We're not going to give up when our conference is so close. When we play our style of game, when everyone works together, we're a good team, as good as a lot of teams that are ahead of us. We have to learn to close out games, but we're shooting ourselves in the foot." Since that first night in the old L.A. Forum, Sundin has compiled 957 points as a Leaf, now the franchise's leading scorer. Nearing his 37th birthday, he was asked again about the anticipated boon for the Leafs from a trade, at the same time improving his chances at a Cup ring before retirement. "My mindset has not changed," he said. "You don't know what can happen (if a deal is made before Feb. 26 and doesn't help either team)."

No suspension. http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/sp...cker_punch.html

I also heard Ken Daniels mention it last night and have been unable to find an update.