Monday Practice Update

[Guest mindfly]

Update from Monday's practice: Goaltender Chris Osgood skated by himself for about 40 minutes before practice, for the second straight day, but Tuesday will be a key day in determining his status.

Osgood said he'll participate in the gameday practice and push his strained groin to see how it reacts. If it feels fine, he'll continue serving as Ty Conklin's back-up until he's ready to play. If it doesn't feel better, Osgood said he will be placed on long-term injured reserve, meaning he'll have to sit out at least 10 games or 24 days.

"Tomorrow will be the biggest day,'' Osgood said. "If I can go through the whole practice and take shots to where it doesn't hurt, then I'll be back. If not, then I'll have to go on IR.''

The Wings can't place him on short-term IR (seven days) because that doesn't give them salary-cap relief (the player still counts against the cap, not the 23-man roster). They don't have the cap space to recall a goalie from Grand Rapids unless they place someone on long-term IR, when the player doesn't count against the cap.

Osgood said he injured his groin during the pregame skate against Colorado last Monday. He was still able to make it through the game but the tightness didn't go away. He said that was the first time he had experienced any pain in his groin this season. An MRI releaved no tear.

Osgood said it would have been extremely difficult for him to go into a game as the backup if Conklin were injured.

"I would have had to go in there and stand there and hope I don't hurt it,'' he said.

The Wings practiced with the same line combinations they have been using the last few games.

Marian Hossa didn't participate in the sprint drills at the end of practice for fear of reaggravating a sore groin, but he'll play tomorrow against St. Louis.

"One game I felt it was against San Jose (Thursday), but last game (Saturday) was fine,'' Hossa said.

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

Here's to you goin to IR Ozzie.

Lets see J-ho play a few games.

[Guest mindfly]

Larsson > Howard... or is it just me?

Or does kenny holland think about experience first..

[seeinred 1,488]

Here's to you goin to IR Ozzie.

Lets see J-ho play a few games.

I know my 1st reaction is happiness when a player goes on LTIR

[puckloo39 5,686]

salary cap is sucky.

Feel better, Ozzie. It's probably best not to push through an injury to play, anyway, so LTIR might be a blessing in disguise?

[Chase 0]

Here's to you goin to IR Ozzie.

Lets see J-ho play a few games.

Really? Who applauds for someone being injured??

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

not at the injury he substained but the fact he's going to miss some time and hopefully can come back ripping and roaring. I hope he digs a hole sits in it and comes out a better man. thats all

Edited December 22, 2008 by PROBIE4PREZ

[puckbags 863]

Really? Who applauds for someone being injured??

Someone with absolutely no class !!

[Konnan511 1,736]

Maybe now this is incentive to waive Lebda or Meech to get some much needed cap relief!

[lets go pavel 2]

Maybe now this is incentive to waive Lebda or Meech to get some much needed cap relief!

You would just have to replace them with someone else, and they only count .65 and .483 million against the cap respectively. That won't help with cap space ...

[sether 5]

If they have to call up a goalie while Ozzie recovers, I'd rather see Larson than Howard.

[eva unit zero 271]

Trade Lebda or Lilja for a pick, replace him with Meech or Chelios.

Then, if we need to call up a goaltender, call up Larsson; he's apparently playing better, and he's also cheaper than Howard or Lebda. If not, still trade Lebda/Lilja because it clears up cap space and gets us a decent pick by trading an easily replaceable player.

[PROBIE4PREZ 58]

Trade Lebda or Lilja for a pick, replace him with Meech or Chelios.

Then, if we need to call up a goaltender, call up Larsson; he's apparently playing better, and he's also cheaper than Howard or Lebda. If not, still trade Lebda/Lilja because it clears up cap space and gets us a decent pick by trading an easily replaceable player.

Lebda has really stepped up his game since his benchin and is way more skilled than meech is anyday.. Lilja has been a force to and is crucial to the PK. If you ask me its Meech on the outs and not lebda/Lilja.