Abdelkader continues to impress...

[Shutemdown 23]

Taken from mlive:

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...lkader_imp.html

The Muskegon native realizes his chances of making the Red Wings roster are slim. They are set with their top 12 forwards. If they carry a 13th forward, it will be either Aaron Downey, Darren McCarty, Ville Leino or Darren Helm.

"I'll just play my game and do what I can to help the team in the future and show them what kind of hockey I play,'' Abdelkader said. "There's really no expectations. Obviously, you want to make the Red Wings, but they're so stacked up front that it's a tough lineup to crack. Wherever they put you, hopefully it's going to be the best for your development and hopefully play with the Red Wings some day.''

He will definitely play for the Red Wings, perhaps next season, maybe at some point this season as a injury replacement. He's a good skater who forechecks hard, plays the body and is dependable defensively. He is projected to be a third-line NHL player.

"Losing a guy like Dallas Drake (who retired), he provided a lot of (grit) for them,'' Abdelkader said. "I know they're looking for guys to bring that physical play and that's one of my best attributes. Hopefully they see that and I can help them out.''

Coach Mike Babcock said he's been impressed with Abdelkader's work ethic, among other things.

"He plays the game right and plays the game hard,'' Babcock said. "He's got to get up to NHL speed and NHL understanding and NHL hands to handle the puck, but he's a guy who's going to push for a job on the Red Wings one day.''

"I'm a lot more comfortable here,'' Abdelkader said. "I'm more confident on the ice and everything's not so new -- the system, the coaches, the players. It's like I've been to this training camp three or four years.''

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

soo since he signed to pro contract can he not go back to MSU?? Is he going to be in Gr?

[Dszymo12 2]

soo since he signed to pro contract can he not go back to MSU?? Is he going to be in Gr?

yea Abdelkader will be heading for GR if he doesn't make the Wings roster. The pro contract will bar him from returning to MSU to finish his senior year

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

I would love to see this Abdelkader and Helm wearing the Winged Wheel soon,could it be time to release Malts and Downey to make room for these kids?

[Doc Holiday 0]

If the Abdelkader makes the team down the road he will definitely be my favorite...

[LeftWinger 5,152]

I would love to see this Abdelkader and Helm wearing the Winged Wheel soon,could it be time to release Malts and Downey to make room for these kids?

...not this season. Abs still has plenty of minor league eligibility (he can go down without clearing waivers) so that is where he'll go for this year for sure (and maybe a few more.) One day he will be here (unless they trade him in a Bertuzzi type deal, which I hope not!) I can see him taking Downey's role in a couple of season and Maltby is signed until 2010. I know we got to start making room for these guys, but for them the worst thing that could've happened was for us to win the Cup. It makes Holland NOT want to change too much in order to try to repeat, and if they do repeat, I have a feeling we are gonna see this exact team again (which isn't a bad thing.) So, Abs is gonna have to wait until the lose a Cup one year in order for "Changes" to be made...

...on a side note, this is Jimmy Howards LAST year of minor's, he has to make the club next year or clear waivers, so odds are we will see a Osgood/Howard tadem starting in 2009/10...

...their time is coming. Sammy won't e around here forever, Drapes and Malts will eventually see less and less of a role, but it sure is gonna be hard to crack the top 2 lines if Hossa stays around for a while! Hopefully we a squeeze him in soon though, I'd hate to lose him. But when you can boast a 4th line of Draper, Maltby and Lieno/Downey/Kopecky, it's gonna be hard to crack to lineup for sure!

[Icer 0]

Abdelkader is a prototypical Babcock type player. He's got some size, some speed, and some grit. That's the reason the Wings signed him last spring rather than leaving him at MSU for another season. He'll probably be on the short list for callups if and when the injury bug hits.

[DEVILSWATERBOY 10]

...not this season. Abs still has plenty of minor league eligibility (he can go down without clearing waivers) so that is where he'll go for this year for sure (and maybe a few more.) One day he will be here (unless they trade him in a Bertuzzi type deal, which I hope not!) I can see him taking Downey's role in a couple of season and Maltby is signed until 2010. I know we got to start making room for these guys, but for them the worst thing that could've happened was for us to win the Cup. It makes Holland NOT want to change too much in order to try to repeat, and if they do repeat, I have a feeling we are gonna see this exact team again (which isn't a bad thing.) So, Abs is gonna have to wait until the lose a Cup one year in order for "Changes" to be made...

...on a side note, this is Jimmy Howards LAST year of minor's, he has to make the club next year or clear waivers, so odds are we will see a Osgood/Howard tadem starting in 2009/10...

...their time is coming. Sammy won't e around here forever, Drapes and Malts will eventually see less and less of a role, but it sure is gonna be hard to crack the top 2 lines if Hossa stays around for a while! Hopefully we a squeeze him in soon though, I'd hate to lose him. But when you can boast a 4th line of Draper, Maltby and Lieno/Downey/Kopecky, it's gonna be hard to crack to lineup for sure!

I understand all that but at the same time players that are long in the tooth need to step aside to make room for the youth to move up these players are not going to stay were they will not get the chance at the show,

[BlakChamber 8]

Glad to hear he's doing well, really looking forward to seeing another MSU player with a long NHL career. I hope

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

...not this season. Abs still has plenty of minor league eligibility (he can go down without clearing waivers) so that is where he'll go for this year for sure (and maybe a few more.) One day he will be here (unless they trade him in a Bertuzzi type deal, which I hope not!) I can see him taking Downey's role in a couple of season and Maltby is signed until 2010. I know we got to start making room for these guys, but for them the worst thing that could've happened was for us to win the Cup. It makes Holland NOT want to change too much in order to try to repeat, and if they do repeat, I have a feeling we are gonna see this exact team again (which isn't a bad thing.) So, Abs is gonna have to wait until the lose a Cup one year in order for "Changes" to be made...

...on a side note, this is Jimmy Howards LAST year of minor's, he has to make the club next year or clear waivers, so odds are we will see a Osgood/Howard tadem starting in 2009/10...

...their time is coming. Sammy won't e around here forever, Drapes and Malts will eventually see less and less of a role, but it sure is gonna be hard to crack the top 2 lines if Hossa stays around for a while! Hopefully we a squeeze him in soon though, I'd hate to lose him. But when you can boast a 4th line of Draper, Maltby and Lieno/Downey/Kopecky, it's gonna be hard to crack to lineup for sure!

Should we be sending players down to GR just because they can without clearing waivers? Why not let the best players play and let the others find homes where they may? I think that most players would clear waivers both ways if we sent non exempt players down to make room for younger guys. I say put the best talent on the ice!

[Nev 1,085]

Thing is, as the wings have said, Abdelkader and Helm, whilst good enough to play in the NHL right now are better off playing 20 minutes a night in GR than 5-10 minutes a night in Detroit. They will still play in the NHL this season as they will be called up for injury replacements.

They will get their chance next season - Maltby and McCarty are on their last legs, and not all of Sammy/Huds/Franzen/Hossa will be back.