Red Wing Player Updates

[Guest mindfly]

Hmm lidström's elbow giving me the creeps maybe that's why he's been so out of sync so far this season?

1.

Coach Mike Babcock said that defenseman Brett Lebda will likely be a healthy scratch again, Saturday, but that he's still very much in the blue-line mix.

So why the healthy scratch?

"Minus-9," said Babcock. "Let's make this clear ... Lebs has been outstanding for us for three years. Hasn't gone as good (this year). (He) gets a little reminder here. He's a real good player, a very important part of our team. It's important that his confidence doesn't suffer any from this. He just gets reminded how hard it is and how much fun it is to play. Sometimes we all need to be reminded. That's why I got married. My wife reminds me every day."

2.

Nicklas Lidstrom was speaking with a doctor after practice today, having him look at his right elbow. The elbow is sore and has been that was "on and off for the half-year or so" according to Lidstrom. The discomfort, however, isn't enough to keep Lidstrom out of the lineup.

"It bugs me a little bit," said Lidstrom. "Nothing severe."

3.

Both Chris Chelios (fractured leg) and Johan Franzen (sprained knee) skated before practice, today. For both, it was their first skate since being injured. It's a step forward, but neither will be back in the lineup soon.

Franzen said that everything felt fine and he's hoping that he's out just 2-3 weeks by the time before he returns to game action. He said that it feels better than it did a year ago when he suffered a similar injury.

"It felt good," said Franzen. "Started slow. I didn't want to risk anything. Long strides."

Chelios said that he was disappointed with his on-ice workout, experiencing pain not right on the fracture but in the surrounding area.

"Cheli said things aren't going very good," said Coach Mike Babcock.

"The fact that I got cleared (to skate) was at least good news," said Chelios. "I really thought I'd be a lot better off today than I (was) because when I was training, I had no pain."

Edited November 5, 2008 by mindfly

[Dominator2005 558]

Lebs has been outstanding for us for three years.

:rotflmao:

[Guest mindfly]

Lebs has been outstanding for us for three years.

:rotflmao:

Babcock is only being politically correct and one can't really say bad things about your own players, they avoid it... lot of skillz to do that though.

[Mors 201]

Babcock can keep his Lebda koolaid, I'm not having any.

[Joe_Louis 1]

I don't understand people on this site. Lebda has been fine for 2+ years.. more than fine if you consider him in the context of a #6 dman.

Players go through rough patches.. and coaches try and motivate them to return to their previous form. In case you didn't notice, Babcock is benching Lebda... ie. he recognizes the need for improvement. I suppose every player to enter a slump should be traded immediately.

Why all this talk about Lebda koolaid and Lebda = worst player ever?

[Heaton 1]

Babcock can keep his Lebda koolaid, I'm not having any.

You liked him two seasons ago

[ben_usmc 253]

sorry to be that guy, but it annoys me that Chelios is not feeling great, and more and more sounds like he maybe realizing he is done. I'll be pissed if he does because Quincey in a way was lost because of him.

[Guest mindfly]

Atta boy MULE.. fast recovery, good s***.

"One good sign — Johan Franzen (sprained knee) took part in the early non-contact drills before heading back to the locker room. UPDATE: Coach Mike Babcock said after practice that Franzen will likely miss at least the next two games.

The Red Wings worked out of the same lines as they did yesterday. It looks like Brett Lebda is definitely going to be scratched, Saturday"

[jvxp 0]

Atta boy MULE.. fast recovery, good s***.

"One good sign — Johan Franzen (sprained knee) took part in the early non-contact drills before heading back to the locker room. UPDATE: Coach Mike Babcock said after practice that Franzen will likely miss at least the next two games.

The Red Wings worked out of the same lines as they did yesterday. It looks like Brett Lebda is definitely going to be scratched, Saturday"

:thumbup:

good!

[Guest Crymson]

Lebs has been outstanding for us for three years.

:rotflmao:

Uh, he has.

[Heaton 1]

sorry to be that guy, but it annoys me that Chelios is not feeling great, and more and more sounds like he maybe realizing he is done. I'll be pissed if he does because Quincey in a way was lost because of him.

Nope. Quincey would be gone with or without Chelios re-signing.

[Mors 201]

Uh, he has.

Lebda has been an acceptable third line defenseman for this team in the past. Lidstrom has been outstanding.

Regardless, while I understand what Babcock is saying and why he's saying it, that doesn't change the fact that Lebda is in a hole right now and I tend to doubt punishing him for 2 games is suddenly going to correct the problem. I hope he proves me wrong.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Lebda has been an acceptable third line defenseman for this team in the past. Lidstrom has been outstanding.

Regardless, while I understand what Babcock is saying and why he's saying it, that doesn't change the fact that Lebda is in a hole right now and I tend to doubt punishing him for 2 games is suddenly going to correct the problem. I hope he proves me wrong.

Yup. He was never any more than good, and hes been steadily declining every year since getting his shot with the Wings. I thought he was good in 05-06, decent in 06-07, okay in 07-08, and now hes just plain bad.

[puckbags 863]

You liked him two seasons ago

I've never been a Lilja hater but the worse Lebs plays the better he makes Lilly pads look!!

[Dominator2005 558]

Uh, he has.

Maybe on NHL07 (old version of EA sports)