40#1Fan

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...3year_deal.html by Ansar Khan Thursday October 11, 2007, 1:01 AM DETROIT -- Kris Draper has been a fixture in Detroit for 14 seasons. Only Nicklas Lidstrom, among current Red Wings, has been here longer. And Draper's not going anywhere. He is destined to finish his career as a Red Wing and is on the verge of signing a three-year contract extension, possibly this week, certainly by the end of the month. "It's certainly Kenny Holland (Red Wings general manager) showing a lot of confidence in me right now," Draper said Wednesday. "Hopefully, things can get worked out here sooner than later. It's no secret this is where I want to be and certainly where I'd love to finish my career." Draper is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.128 million a season. He was offered a one-, two- or three-year deal and prefers the security of a longer term. "The one I'd be looking at would be a three-year deal. This year and three (more) would put me at (age) 40," Draper said. "Just an unbelievable run here in Detroit. We'll see where I'm at then and maybe do the same thing Cheli (teammate Chris Chelios) is doing, one-year deals and go from there, as long as the legs can still go." Draper, 36, has been one of the top checkers and penalty-killers in the NHL for several years. He won the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward in 2004 and represented Canada at the 2004 World Cup and 2006 Winter Olympics. The Red Wings acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets in 1993 for future considerations, which turned out to be $1. "Being here for 15 years, I kind of have an idea of what my number (salary) can be," Draper said. "Being here is something I'm proud of. I certainly hope I can put myself in a situation to retire a Red Wing." The Red Wings, during the course of the season, would also like to re-sign Lidstrom and Dan Cleary, both potential unrestricted free agents, as well as Valtteri Filppula, who would be eligible for restricted free agency on July 1. The other players in the final year of their contracts are Chelios, Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood, Andreas Lilja and Dallas Drake. The club is likely to wait until after the season to decide what direction to go with these players.

http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2007/10/fo...dvised_pin.html Posted by George James Malik October 11, 2007 13:27PM Despite scrapping his way to an assist on the game-winning goal in Detroit's 4-2 win over Calgary, Andreas Lilja is now officially fighting to keep his job: October 11, RedWingsCorner: Andreas Lilja was in the doghouse after getting caught up ice on Kristian Huselius' first goal. Coach Mike Babcock preached to the media after Game 3 that defensemen shouldn't pinch in the neutral zone, they need to gap-up. If he's saying that to us, you know that the message to the players is much, much louder and clearer. So when Lilja gets caught in Game 4, he gets moved to the third defense pairing with Brett Lebda at the start of the second period. Lilja's ice time in the first period was 7:54. In the second and third periods combined, his ice time was 7:58. Lilja's made that "boo boo" in four straight games, and it's hard to believe that Babcock won't turn to Derek Meech if Lilja "gaps up" again vs. Chicago.

http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/2007/10...e-rotation.html Coach Mike Babcock said after Thursday's practice that Dominik Hasek will start Friday's game against Chicago at Joe Louis Arena and Chris Osgood will start Sunday's game in Los Angeles. Hasek missed a start Wednesday because of pain above his knee after taking a shot in Monday's game that hit an unprotected area of his leg. "It (Thursday) was my first practice after two days (in which) I could work hard," said Hasek. "I didn't feel any problems to go up and down quickly, make second or third saves. Tomorrow, it will be even better. But even today I felt great."

Accordinging to the Detroit News - Hasek healthy Hasek (bruised right knee) said today after practice he will be playing Friday night vs. Chicago.

From Bruce MacLeod of the Macomb Daily http://redwingscorner.blogspot.com/ With Johan Franzen out for the next few weeks with a sprained MCL, Valtteri Filppula will skate on Pavel Datsyuk's wing for tonight's game against Edmonton. Matt Ellis moves into the lineup, centering a line. Here's a look at the probable lines for Detroit ... Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Hudler-Zetterberg-Samuelsson Cleary-Draper-Drake Kopecky-Ellis-Maltby Lidstrom-Rafalski Kronwall-Lilja Lebda-Chelios Hasek (starts) Osgood And the probable Edmonton lines ... Penner-Horcoff-Hemsky Torres-Stoll-Nilsson Sanderson-Brodziak-Reasoner Gagner-Cogliano-Pouliot Pitkanen-Staios Souray-Greene Tarnstrom-Gilbert Roloson Garon

Sorry, but yes, when games are on Versus they are not shown on Centre Ice also. FSN is not carrying the game here in Detroit either.

Awesome, thanks for posting!

I confirmed last night that my Centre Ice is up and working. Right now they are showing MLB games (and it fun to see the Yankees take a loss after winning most of their game.)

I have Comcast and was able to order today with no problem. $149 for the year (early bird special). Told me to check my TV tonight to make sure (not sure how to check since there's no games yet, but maybe if the MLB games are playing that's an indication).

According to MLive: Coach Mike Babcock said that Dan Cleary doesn't have broken ribs and will be sidelined on a day-to-day basis. Cleary joins Tomas Kopecky (groin) and Brian Rafalski (hip flexor) in the day-to-day injury list

The Tiger's play on Sunday at 1:05 p.m, I wonder if they would allow the charity softball game to be played later in the evening, say 7:00 or 8:00 p.m.? That would be an option.

Great news. Let's wrap up Schneider next.

Excellent news. Hoping we can keep both Schneider and Markov.

No, he should not be traded. Hopefully his luck will change and he can remain healthy. He plays a physical game which we need.