norrisnick

Sure he isn't known for his defensive game, but can you point to one glaring mistake he's made this season? A blown coverage? A bad turnover that led to a goal or even a prime scoring chance? He's one of our best goal scorers per minute, and Bruce MacLeod (Macomb Daily reporter that posts at RWC) ran the numbers and he's also among the best on the team for having the fewest goals scored against us while he's on the ice. Jiri has played solid, sound minutes all season long. That's more than you can say about some ahead of him on the ice time chart. Because one or even both of Datsyuk and Lang won't be around after this season.

MacLean has had some issues with him. As has Hitchcock since he arrived. Zherdev apparently isn't the easiest player to get through to, but his skills (when he's on) are undeniable.

He's really selfish with the puck. Believe it or not the Wings need a winger like that. A highly skilled guy that wants nothing more than to put the puck on net. Plus he's what? 22? I'd take a gamble on him, particularly with Pavel's Red Wing future being in doubt (here's hoping it's in doubt!).

I think the "weak as a noodle" comment probably comes from the weightroom. That it doesn't seem to affect him when playing is a good sign and then any strength he does gain is a bonus.

Yeah, I think he'll make it. Fast winger with good hands? And apparently isn't afraid of contact and high traffic areas. So long as he fills out a bit and his body holds up *knock on wood* he should be a Wing some day.

The OHL site (stat wise at least) is far better than anything the NHL has. That points go up on the board as they happen. Automatically updated. He has 38 points in 21 games. He owns the OHL's longest point streak to date having scored in every single game thus far. At the very least Mursak is BLAZING fast. Though with regards to size and grit... Weak as a noodle is not a good thing I've heard.

Que? Gagner had 46 points in 56 games with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL last season. Not sure who had those stats you mention.

It would be one hell of a trick if he were...

Nothing much of use. That's a very awkward (and expensive) package to trade away at the deadline. Who's going to want or need two 1st line centers and a 3rd string goalie?

Just speaking the language dick is sure to understand.

A couple games further than Pavel...

Bob has led all forwards in playoff scoring since he was acquired. Has anyone noticed?

On doctor’s advice Igor Grigorenko makes his jumps at half-strength, so as not to strain his left leg. Igor Grigorenko: My daughter has a whole store of toys! Igor Grigorenko is probably Togliatti’s most famous hockey player. The athlete spent two past seasons outside his native city, playing for Salavat Yulaev and Severstal. And now, after a year and a half of separation, the forward has come back to Lada. Closer to his wife and one year-old daughter. Sports Ice Palace “Volgar†is awkwardly empty in the middle of the summer. The athletes walking back and forth in their gear are the only reminder of big time hockey. Yet another practice session of Lada is in its apex. The sessions are conducted in three stages: first one hour on the ice, then – gym and cycling. Short and sturdy Grigorenko is visibly different from his teammates. Igor is nonchalantly walking around the gym, looking at the equipment: “Alexander Gennadeyvich, how many press exercises do I do?†– consults Grigorenko with second trainer Alexander Nesterov. And having received recommendations honestly performs the abs muscle exercises. When the entire team begins the jump exercises Igor limits him self to a light leg workout: “I am prohibited from jumping. It’s additional strain on the injured leg. The effects of the accident are still being felt – legs ache sometimes.†Now Grigorenko can boldly consider him self a fully rightful member of the roster. But three years ago his career could have been finished forever. In May of 2003 Igor was in a car wreck. Thirteen days Grigorenko fought for his life, while in a coma. And a fit young body claimed victory. Grigorenko survived and only six months later was on the ice once again. But it was difficult for the player to find his old form. At that time, NHL stars were playing for [Lada] and Grigorenko did not have a chance to make the club roster. Petr Vorobiev, then Lada’s coach, sent Igor to Salavat Yulaev. “I was sent to Ufa without my knowledge, - remembers Grigorenko. – But the trip to Salavat was only for my own benefit. I knew that I would have more ice time.†Gradually Igor began getting in shape and soon became a real leader of Salavat. And then he turned out to be the best sniper of the Cherepovets Severstal, he was invited to the national team. Not the smallest role in the forming of this new life was played by Igor’s future spouse Oksana. “We are always together with her, - confesses Igor. – Even when Oksana was pregnant she still lived with me in Ufa. She left for Togliatti to receive medical consultations and then again came back to Ufa.†Igor and Oksana got married when Grigorenko was playing for Salavat. “A full-fledged wedding with all the traditions did not happen, - complains the player. – I was constantly traveling: games, camps, practices. Oksana was nearing an important point in her pregnancy and when there was a break in the season we just signed the papers.†Several months later Igor had a daughter. The girl was named Sasha. “In Cherepovets I began to miss my family, my baby, and Oksana came to me with my parents and my daughter. But after two months I sent them back to Togliatti myself. The ecosystem in Cherepovets is nonexistent! Besides, I was living not far from a steel mill.†The birth of little Sasha changed Igor’s life. Grigorenko was taking being away from his loved ones hard. The player doesn’t conceal the fact that the key factor in his transfer to Lada was his family. “I’ve had enough of traveling around cities! – confesses Igor. – Besides, I wanted to be together with my daughter. Is she supposed to recognize me from pictures? When I played for Severstal I called my parents and my wife every day. I call them before every game – it’s somewhat of a ritual.†Grigorenko is a model family man. After every practice he tries to get back home as soon as possible. “I am ready to do anything for the well-being of my family, - says Igor. – I think that I changed, became more serious and composed.†Dad tries to pamper his one year-old daughter with presents. “There is a whole store of plush toys in the house. So many, we could start selling them! – smiles Igor. – Now Sasha became calmer, but before she used to be boisterous. She could easily wake us up in the middle of the night. And even now she can create chaos. I am forced to verbally explain that she can’t do that. And if she doesn’t understand, I may smack her on the soft spot.†Artem Lisovsky Komsomolskaya Pravda - Samara July 29th, 2006 Original source. http://samara.kp.ru/2006/07/29/doc128511/

Not just Europeans. College kids could go the AHL route as well.

I just double checked. The Import Draft means nothing. Bergfors was drafted by a CHL team but he played in the AHL last season at 18/19.

I'm not sure if that's true or not. He came straight over from Europe and has never played in the CHL (until now). He might have been able to go to the AHL if the Wings felt it was best for him. But they wanted him in Juniors I think. I say might because he was drafted in the CHL Import draft and I'm not sure how that impacts anythying.

Mursak was fast (he likely is the best skater in our organization at this point) and highly skilled. Not afraid of contact. Pretty impressive according to the folks over at RWC that covered training camp. He's already with the Saginaw Spirits and picked up an assist in his first game of the OHL season.

He might if Z and Lang are having good/great years (which sounds like a good possibility from the way camp is going). A Datsyuk/Morrow trade is a match made in heaven. Dallas needs a scoring line center badly. Detroit needs a Morrow badly. Both are impending UFAs. AND this trade could help both for a playoff run THIS season. It would be mutually beneficial. The probability of this is hovering somewhere near 0% but one can dream!

Probably, but I doubt you'd approve of tossing in Kronner...

Do you honestly belive Iginla needed to lose the 10 lbs? He made a conscious decision that he'd be better off a bit smaller with less power but faster and more agile/mobile. And it's not like he was slow to begin with.

I'd still take Morrow. Size is irrelevant. What you do with what you have is what's important. Scouts have been burned left and right drafting big bodies that can't play a lick of hockey. Need a further example? Iginla spent the offseason dropping 10lbs of muscle mass to get lighter and more mobile.

Assuming your referring to my last sentence. Who would you rather have play for the Wings? Viktor Kozlov (6'4" 232lb) or Brenden Morrow (5'11" 210lb)?

No, because you fail to acknowledge that speed and goal-scoring from the wings is as big of a need as toughness. Size is completely irrelevant

Bingo. A checking line center likely interests Clarke now that he doesn't have Primeau or Handzus (which is why he went after Kesler), but not Lang.

All the players on the left have lower trade values than their counterparts on the right. That sort of makes the trades tricky to pull off...