Mike 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Holland said defenseman Brad Stuart, out since Jan. 20 with injuries to his neck, back and ribs, will return to the lineup Wednesday or Friday. The club will not need to send anyone down to Grand Rapids because Tomas Holmstrom (sports hernia surgery) is on long-term injured reserve. Defenseman Brett Lebda (back spasms) remains day-to-day. This is great news for the Red Wings defense. Hpefully this provides an extra boost to a team that desperately needs one at the moment. The full article is mostly about Kopecky, but it is an interesting read. The injury update is near the end. MLive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 And yes, I realized that I spelled his name wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kevvie 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Glad to see he'll be back. I hope he's completely well, and brings his A-game...or maybe the A-Team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cusimano_brothers 1,655 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 This is great news; I think everyone will agree that he's been a big missing part of the Club's defense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeta Power 40 1 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 very good news! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cnot19 191 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Hopefuly he throws a big hit to get himself and the D back on track Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bryguy 103 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Great news, his big hits are missed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pjgj13 30 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Thankfully the Wings didn't go thru the stretch like they did last Feb with the injury bug when they won 1 of 12 games or so. Glad Stuart is coming back shortly and hope he is near 100%. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
titanium2 867 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 He will be like a trade deadline acquisition. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Konnan511 1,736 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Glad we get all our injuries out of the way before the playoffs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wingaling 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Nice I miss this guy!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
xBrave_Heartx 0 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 He will be like a trade deadline acquisition. Word, and hopefully he can get some good chemistry with Kronner before we enter the playoffs.. I want no question marks heading into the playoffs.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
swansoccer13 1 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Stuart will return this Wednesday against the sharks, Lebda is still sore but feeling better. Conklin in net for Wed Night. http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...t_to_retur.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedSea 31 Report post Posted February 23, 2009 Kinda stinks that Kronwall will be parted from Lidstrom, I liked that pairing. But I can't really see Raf playing with Stuart. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted February 23, 2009 I don't like Stuart pairing with Kronwall... epic fail thus far this season Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 I don't like Stuart pairing with Kronwall... epic fail thus far this season Epic fail is a little harsh! I think they are great together when all is clicking. They were great together last spring. And now this season Kronwall has recently turned it up and Stui is coming back. Maybe Kronner and Stui can lay a decent hit on you, and knock some hockey sense into you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComradeWasabi 109 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Epic fail is a little harsh! I think they are great together when all is clicking. They were great together last spring. And now this season Kronwall has recently turned it up and Stui is coming back. Maybe Kronner and Stui can lay a decent hit on you, and knock some hockey sense into you! If those two get back into form I think they will be great again this playoff season. Unfortunately, both of them were decidedly below par until Stuey was hurt and Junior got paired with Senior. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Epic fail is a little harsh! I think they are great together when all is clicking. They were great together last spring. And now this season Kronwall has recently turned it up and Stui is coming back. They were good last spring but they've been by far the worst pairing this year. Kronwall has been on the ice for the most goals against this season for the Wings and before Stuart was hurt he was on top, too. Nik has been on the ice for one more goal than Lidstrom, even though Lidstrom plays against the opponent's top line and spends more time on the penalty kill and in critical late game situations. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mike 0 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Update from Monday's late afternoon practice: Defenseman Brad Stuart has been cleared to play in Wednesday's game against San Jose. He hasn't played since Jan. 20 in Phoenix, when he injured his ribs, back and neck after a nasty head-first collision into the boards. Stuart will be reunited with Niklas Kronwall, as Nicklas Lidstrom will go back to playing with his regular partner, Brian Rafalski. Brett Lebda (back spasms) feels much better but isn't ready to return. He's hoping to play Friday. Coach Mike Babcock said Ty Conklin will start in goal against the Sharks and Chris Osgood will start Friday against the Kings. Babcock indicated he'll rotate the goalies the rest of the way. MLive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Wow. Stuart will be reunited with Kronwall? Back to a 2nd pairing of pure suckage then. Kronwall has been worlds better since pairing up with Lidstrom, and having Stuart out of the lineup has actually gotten our defense playing better than with him in the lineup. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 They were good last spring but they've been by far the worst pairing this year. Kronwall has been on the ice for the most goals against this season for the Wings and before Stuart was hurt he was on top, too. Nik has been on the ice for one more goal than Lidstrom, even though Lidstrom plays against the opponent's top line and spends more time on the penalty kill and in critical late game situations. That may all be true, about being on the ice when all these goals are allowed. But stats and prior play aside. I believe playoff time this pairing can be good, and effective. And we all know a good hit can turn the momentum of a game. And in the playoffs, experience really pays off. And they both have that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 I must be in the minority, but I'm not particularly happy to see Stuart back, and even less so knowing that he'll be reunited with Kronwall. That pairing has been ridiculously abysmal so far this year. I'd rather see Lilja stay with Raffi and Stuart stuck down with Lebda. I'm a fan of Stuarts physicality, but half the time he looks dumb as a brick out there when he tries to do anything more than throw a hit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungGuns1340 1 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Maybe Kronner and Stui can lay a decent hit on you, and knock some hockey sense into you! Hopefully they'll collide and knock some hockey sense into one another. God knows they both could use it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Hopefully they'll collide and knock some hockey sense into one another. God knows they both could use it. Yeah, I think they could all use a little more hockey sense. And I know Kronwall and Stuart have pretty much stunk up the place earlier in the season. I am just trying to be positive and possibly 'will' them into being a productive pair of pylons that will stop getting scored on. Other than Lidstrom with "that ever present stick" and his goal scoring as of late, Lilja has been far better than other D-men on this team. The credit he receives on this board for what he goes through nightly is beyond me. I have a whole new respect for players who sacrifice their body on a blocked shot, like him! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SouthernWingsFan 854 Report post Posted February 24, 2009 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
