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http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Chris Osgood was named to the Western Conference roster for the NHL all-star game, Thursday. A well-deserved honor for Osgreat (the name has to change until he stops leading the league in everything) especially since starter Roberto Luongo backed out of the game because of the impending birth of his child. Tough to come up with four goalies in the Western Conference and not include Osgreat. In addition, Grand Rapids goalie Jimmy Howard and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson were named to the PlanetUSA team roster for the AHL all-star game. Howard, who injured his hand in his last game and might be shelved for a while, and Ericsson are the Red Wings' top two prospects. Talking to goalie coach Jim Bedard yesterday and complimenting him on how well Osgreat and Dominik Hasek have played, he said that he's most proud of the improvement made by Howard this season. Bodes well for the Red Wings next fall because this was a make-or-break year for Howard. If Ericsson can make the jump to the NHL next season, the Wings will have a big piece of the bridge to the future in place.

according to MLive today: Update from practice Friday: Kirk Maltby, out since Nov. 27 with a sore lower back, said he hopes to return for Tuesday's game against Colorado. "My back's been feeling really good,'' Maltby said. "We've done a lot in the last few weeks, exercises and therapy to strengthen my back, at the very least to prevent it from happening again. Now it's just conditioning.'' He'll travel with the team to Dallas and Chicago just to skate over the weekend. "My wife's probably happy to get rid of me for a couple of days,'' Maltby said. "It's going to be fun being around the guys on the road. As a group, you bond, and I definitely miss that.'' Tomas Holmstrom said he feels like playing Saturday but is fairly certain he'll be in on Sunday. "They won't let me play (Saturday), I don't know why,'' Holmstrom said. "If I would decide, I would play tomorrow, but they don't like that, so hopefully Sunday.'' Before addressing the media, coach Mike Babcock couldn't resist the opportunity to take a playful jab at Holmstrom, asking him why he didn't want to play Saturday. Asked if Holmstrom would play Sunday, Babcock said, "We'll see. I don't have an answer to that, that's Piet's (trainer Van Zant's) department. I'd have him playing right now.'' Tomas Kopecky said his hand is fine and he's ready to play. He hasn't missed any practice time the last two days. Babcock said he never considered altering his goalite rotation to start Chris Osgood in Dallas because of his 26-10-3 lifetime record vs. the Stars. So he'll start Sunday in Chicago instead. "I never even thought about it that way,'' Babcock said. "We have a good team good players, we're letting the players play.''

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...9/80103033/1048 Red Wings reserve defenseman Derek Meech, who has played in just nine games this season, practiced with the Wings Thursday, and then was shipped to Grand Rapids. “I’ll get down there, get some good minutes in, get the feeling of just getting out there and competing and getting into my old regiment will be a nice feeling for my mind and my body,†Meech said. “The goal is to go down and just to play well and hopefully help the Griffins to win some games down there.†Meech has played in just nine games this season. “It’s been a little bit difficult not getting into the lineup,†he said, “but guys have been really supportive. I’ve just been coming in every day with a good, positive frame of mind and just treating every practice as a game-type situation is what I’ve been doing all year. I’ve only had nine games this year, but I’m trying to keep it simple every game I’ve played in.†Meech is expected to return Jan. 17. Mike Babcock – who wished Meech good luck as Babcock passed Meech in the hallway while leaving Joe Louis Arena – said it would be a good experience for the 23-year-old. “We think he’s a real good player,†Babcock said. “But, we’ve got real good players and it’s not just like it’s your turn. It comes on an at-earned basis.†INJURY UPDATE: Tomas Holmstrom, out since Dec. 20 with a sore right knee, said he hopes to play either Sunday at Chicago or Tuesday at home. “I feel pretty good,†he said. “I’m shooting for Sunday. I really hope Sunday.â€Â

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ POST-PRACTICE UPDATE: Zetterberg will play tonight and center a line with Jiri Hudler and Mikael Samuelsson. Pavel Datsyuk will have his own line with likely Dan Cleary and Valtteri Filppula on his wings. Chris Osgood will start in net.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/01/wi...multimedia.html The Wings' website posted a ridiculously-long (in a good way) 6:35 clip of NHL players speaking about the Winter Classic: Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, Dan Cleary, Kirk Maltby, Mike Babcock, Dominik Hasek, Dallas Stars forward Mike Modano, Stars goaltender/NHL competition committee member Marty Turco, and Mike Ribeiro all suggest that the Winter Classic should be a once-a-year event. Babcock's comments are especially noteworthy--he'd like to see the NHL stage a game at Michigan Stadium, adding the U.S. National Development Team Program vs. a Canadian team, a Michigan-Michigan State game, and a pre-game tournament would generate a tremendous amount of revenues for the Metro area and the state, and it would put Michigan back on the map, so to speak, and it would sell well given Michigan's proximity to Canada, especially if the Wings played the Leafs. Babcock also notes that all the students at U of M and MSU could help in terms of organizing the events as interns. The NHL should be taking to Babcock about staging the event!

Malts is looking to return on January 12th, against Ottawa: http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2008/01/ma...rn_vs_sena.html Maltby hopes to return vs. Senators on Jan. 12th Posted by George James Malik January 02, 2008 12:46PM Detroit Red Wings forward Kirk Maltby believes that he'll round into "game shape" by the middle of the month: January 2, Detroit Free Press: Kirk Maltby, out since Nov. 27 with back problems, is shooting to return in about 10 days or so. "I'm hoping no more than two weeks, as long as I don't have any setbacks as far as my back and just get myself back in game shape," he said Wednesday morning as the Red Wings prepared to face Dallas tonight. "I really had four, four-and-a-half weeks there were I did almost nothing cardio wise, so I feel it out there in practice," he said. "So, it's going to take a little bit to get that back, and then obviously you have to get in some games to get game-shape back." Maltby said he's aiming for the Jan. 12 game at Ottawa.

According to Mlive Hank will not play tonight due to a sore back, but it's not considered serious. And Homer has a bruise on his knee and is expected back soon.

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...maltby_dra.html Kirk Maltby underwent further tests on his sore lower back Tuesday and the good news is he was cleared of any significant injury, such as a stress fracture, general manager Ken Holland said. He was given an epidural injection in hopes of reducing the inflammation and will begin rehabbing in 2-3 days. He felt a lot better than he did two days ago, but there is no time frame on when he'll return or even begin skating. "Based on how he feels, how quickly he responds, we'll determine when he'll be back,'' Holland said. "He's day-to-day, but that could be week-to-week. We're hoping that with rest and the injection it'll be a short-term thing.'' Meanwhile, Kris Draper (sprained left knee) skated by himself Tuesday (the team was off) and felt good. But it appears he'll be out much longer than the 10-14 days that was originally projected. Holland said Draper will likely be ready just before or after Christmas. "There's no need to rush him back, he's coming along nicely,'' Holland said. "He'll need four, five, six days of practice once we get him going.'' Maltby and Draper were both injured Nov. 27 vs. Calgary and each has missed six games.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...1210043/0/COL14 NASHVILLE - Chris Chelios wasn’t slated to go to Nashville, but a possible injury on defense prompted a change of heart after Sunday’s game against Carolina. Mike Babcock told Chelios to make the trip, but as of the morning skate, it hadn’t been decided whether Chelios would play or not tonight when the Red Wings face Nashville. “We’re a little bumped on the back end, so we’ll see,†Babcock said after an optional skate at Sommet Center. “We’ll see who is eligible and who’s not. Originally I wasn’t bringing him (Chelios) on the trip, but I told him last night after the game, ‘you’re on the trip,’ because depending on who is going and who is not going.†Asked who was bumped, Babcock said, “I’m not telling you. As long as they play, I don’t have to tell you guys (reporters) nothing, right?†The optional nature of the morning skate made it impossible to discern who might be injured; some defensemen, like Brett Lebda and Derek Meech, skated; others, like Nicklas Lidstrom, Andreas Lilja and Brian Rafalski also were at the arena. I specifically asked Babcock if it was Lidstrom, and Babcock said, "no, no, no." Babcock would like to not have Chelios, 46 next month, play in back-to-back situations. Meech, the seventh defenseman on the team, usually plays when Chelios is being rested, or when there is an injury.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=224847&hubname=nhl DETROIT - The Detroit Red Wings have promoted Ken Holland and Jim Nill and added Steve Violetta to the front office. Owner Mike Ilitch announced Monday that executive is being inserted in front of Holland's title of vice-president and general manager, Nill is now a vice-president as well as assistant general manager, and Steve Violetta joins the management team as senior vice-president of business affairs. ''I believe these personnel moves will greatly enhance our ability to meet the ever-growing needs and challenges of operating a professional sports team in a highly competitive market,'' said Ilitch. ''Ken and Jim have been instrumental in our success over the years. ''The promotions are well-deserved and, combined with the addition of Steve's position, will enable us to put the best product forward both on and off the ice and will lead to an even more successful franchise.'' Violetta will report to Ilitch and work closely with Holland, Nill and the rest of the staff. ''We're excited to have Steve and his vast experience as part of the team,'' said Ilitch. ''This new organizational structure is similar to what we've done with the Detroit Tigers and we certainly expect to see similar, successful results as Violetta focuses on making the fans' hockey experience all it can be.'' Violetta was executive vice-president of business affairs for the Nashville Predators since July 2005. Under his leadership, the season ticket base and overall ticket revenue grew more than 50 per cent, corporate sponsorships

Update from MLIVE: Update from Thursday's practice: Kirk Maltby is getting a little worried about his sore lower back. He hsn't been on the ice since he tweaked it during practice in Montreal on Monday. An MRI a few days ago revealed no bugling disc or any other problem. He's hoping to skate Friday morning and didn't rule out playing Sunday against Carolina, but a more realistic return date would be next week. "It didn't really progress like I had hoped,'' Maltby said. "Hopefully I'm not still saying that a month down the road. I definitely thought it would be a little better than it is now.'' Kris Draper was fitted for a brace for his sprained left knee Thursday and plans to skate a little on Friday. He said he's on schedule to return somtime next week. Thursday's line combinations, with the usual disclaimer that this isn't necessarily how they'll start Friday's game vs. Minnesota: Datsyuk-Zetterberg-Holmstrom Hudler-Filppula-Samuelsson Drake-Franzen-Cleary Kopecky-Ellis-Downey

There's a great article in today's Detroit News at Mac and his future goals. http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic...ION03/711280419

According to the New York Post: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/28314 Bowman talking to Maple Leafs Posted: Sunday November 25, 2007 07:21AM ET Dialogue has resumed between Scotty Bowman and the board of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment aimed at working out a deal so the nine-time Cup-winning coach and one-time player personnel director would become the Toronto club's president and director of hockey operations, Slap Shots has been told.

from Spector: Spector's Note: My thanks to everyone who sent this in. I'll be commenting on this on my blog later this afternoon as more details emerge, particularly as I'm curious to see if anyone takes him. Suffice to say it's a curious move. Ducks GM Brian Burke wanted to trade him, but perhaps this means there's no deal to be had. It could also perhaps signal a return of Scott Niedermayer or perhaps Burke needs to free up cap space to bring in another player. Time will tell, but it certainly appears as though Burke wants to move Bryzgalov's salary right away

from Sportsnet..... http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2007/11/08/...relli_bergeron/ BOSTON -- 'Career-ending injury' is not usually a phrase associated with 22-year-old NHL players, but Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli was not able to rule it out after meeting with Patrice Bergeron on Wednesday. "You can't rule that out," Chiarelli told the Boston Herald after a Wednesday meeting. "I'd like to think he's young and strong, this is his first concussion, and it won’t be career ending." Bergeron suffered a concussion and broken nose when he was hammered into the boards by Flyers forward Randy Jones. Now, nearly two weeks after the incident, Bergeron is unable to sustain even five minutes of continuous activity. "He can't move his head. There is still some severe whiplash. He had to lay down and rest after three or four minutes of activity," Chiarelli said. Jones received a two game suspension for the hit. He is the third Flyers' player (Jesse Boulerice, Steve Downie) to be suspended by the NHL this season. This past Friday Chiarelli was forced to defend Bergeron after many hockey observers commented that Bergeron was partly at fault for what happened. "It really irks me," Chiarelli told Sportsnet then. "It irks our organization for some people to suggest that Patrice Bergeron is partly at fault for this incident. I don't see how that can be a theory. Everyone has the right to speak their opinion, but what's the alternative? How's he supposed to go in to retrieve that puck?"

There are two parking structures right near Joe Louis. Both charge $10 to park. Millennium Garage 423 W. Congress 313.259.3540 First Street Parking Garage 621 1st Street (corner of 1st and Fort Street) 313.965.0463 There are two parking structures right near Joe Louis. Both charge $10 to park. Millennium Garage 423 W. Congress 313.259.3540 First Street Parking Garage 621 1st Street (corner of 1st and Fort Street) 313.965.0463

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...layer_of_m.html Henrik Zetterberg was named the NHL's first star for October. Zetterberg leads the NHL with 22 points and have a 20-game points streak that dates back to last season. With a point tonight at Calgary, Zetterberg would tie the Red Wings' longest season-opening point streak (14), set by Norm Ullman in 1960-61. Here's the longest season-opening point streaks since 1993-94: Games Player Club Season 22 Dany Heatley Ottawa 2005-06 15 Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh 1999-00 13 Henrik Zetterberg Detroit 2007-08 (active) 13 Ron Francis Pittsburgh 1994-95 Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Pascal Leclaire and Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla were the second and third stars, respectively. Because of the early start time tonight (6 p.m. locally), Dominik Hasek was the only player at the morning skate. He tested his irritated hip and worked on his movements in net with goaltending coach Jim Bedard. Hasek said he expects to be ready for the next game, Wednesday at home vs. Nashville. No word yet on whether there will be any lineup changes tonight for the Wings.

update from the Boston Globe.... GM Peter Chiarelli provided an update on Patrice Bergeron, who suffered a Grade 3 concussion six days ago when Philadelphia defenseman Randy Jones belted him into the TD Banknorth Garden boards. "He could be out a month. He could be out two months. He could be out a year," Chiarelli said. Chiarelli said that Bergeron can hold a conversation for several minutes, but then becomes tired and loses focus. Bergeron wakes up once or twice each night and is wears a neck collar during the day. He is sedentary and can watch TV, but becomes distracted easily, according to Chiarelli. Perhaps the most disturbing news was that Bergeron required a wheelchair to travel from his home to the Garden for treatment several days ago. Bergeron usually walks to the Garden for games and practices. "I was told at one point that it was pretty certain he had broken his neck," said Chiarelli. "He's very well-conditioned. He's strong up top with the [trapezoid muscles], shoulders, and neck. But for that, he probably would have broken his neck." http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins...rons_condi.html

According to the Detroit News - the reason the game is starting early..... http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2007/11/wi..._their_ear.html Wings fans will take their early-start breaks Posted by George James Malik November 01, 2007 14:25PM Given that Detroit Red Wings fans have been burning the midnight oil rather regularly of late as the Wings are completing their sixth West Coast game within a 30-day period, the fact that the Calgary Flames chose to start their pay-per-view telecast early is a welcome respite from those 10 or 10:30 EDT stars: October 31, Detroit News: Weird start time here in Calgary tomorrow, 6 p.m. (8 p.m. Det time). Why so early? Near as we've been told, the Flames were worried about a possible conflict with a Game 7 in the World Series. So not wanting to even have a possiblity of that, the Flames pushed back the game time early on. That's fine with Wings fans back in the East

http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock...igns_in_russia/ Danny Markov has signed a two year agreement with Dynamo Moscow of the Russian Superleague. Reported salary is $1.8 million after Russian tax.

update 12:16pm, from the CP via TSN, Veteran defenceman Danny Markov has signed a two-year deal with Moscow Dynamo, his agent Jay Grossman confirmed Friday. Grossman would not say but it’s believed the deal is worth around US$4 million. The contract has an out-clause that lets him return to the NHL next summer.

According to MLIVE: http://blog.mlive.com/redwingsinsider/2007...ed_from_gr.html Wings goaltender Dominik Hasek has "hip irritation,'' forcing the club to recall Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids. Howard will serve as Chris Osgood's backup for Friday's game vs. San Jose. "It's nothing major,'' Wings general manager Ken Holland said of Hasek's ailment. "But, it's early in the season. It's bothering him enough that we're hoping with a few days off it'll go away.'' Hasek won't practice the next few days but will travel with the team to western Canada, as will Howard. To make room, the Wings placed Dallas Drake (fractured cheekbone) in injured reserve. Holland said Hasek's injury has been lingering over the last week, but added that if it were a playoff game tomorrow, Hasek would be able to start

Dom did practice today: The Wings have just recalled goaltender Jimmy Howard from the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. It's not clear yet why Howard was recalled. Dominik Hasek and Chris Osgood both practiced Thursday, but one of them must be hurting. In four games this season, Howard is 3-1-0 record with a 3.00 GAA and a 0.902 save percentage. With a 29-save performance on Oct. 11, he became just the fourth Griffins goalie to earn 50 career wins (Joey MacDonald 87, 2002-06; Marc Lamothe 54, 2002-04; Mike Fountain 55, 1999-01).

from Bruce MacLeod from the Macomb Daily.... http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ Nicklas Lidstrom said that the report in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that he's close to signing a two-year contract extension is false. Lidstrom said after Thursday's practice that "Nothing's happened. I haven't even talked to Ken (Holland) yet." There isn't cause for concern. Lidstrom wants to sign with the Wings. There just isn't a deal coming this week.

According to Kuklas Korner, Jason was just named the #3 Star for last week: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hock...rs_of_the_week/ THIRD STAR – JASON WILLIAMS, F, CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS Williams recorded six points (2-4--6), second among scorers for the week as the Blackhawks won two of three games. He began the week scoring Chicago’s only goal in a 3-1 loss to St. Louis, Oct 17. On Oct. 19, he recorded one assist in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche, Oct 19 and followed that with one goal and three assists in a 6-4 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 20. For the season,Williams has posted seven points (3-4--7) in eight games as Chicago sits second in the Central Division with 10 points (5-3-0).