Bleacher Report - Articles by Henry Dyck

Detroit Red Wings: Darren McCarty's Future

Henry Dyck — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:35:37 -0400

It’s been reported that Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has told right wing Darren McCarty to seek out options from the other 29 NHL clubs.

With an abundance of talent and little cap room, the Leamington, Ontario-native’s only offer from Detroit is in the two-way variety.

If he accepts such a deal, there’s a very distinct possibility he’ll spend more time playing for the Wings' AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids than with the big club.

It might be hard for some Red Wings fans to accept, but the glory days of seeing No. 25 patrol the wing, standing up for teammates, and scoring opportune playoff goals are over.

If there needs to be any reminder of this, just look at the starting lineup for Game Six of the Stanley Cup finals. Darren Helm, a 20-year old NHL rookie, was skating on the fourth line while the three-time Cup winning McCarty was watching from a press box.

In fact, McCarty suited up for a mere two games in Detroit’s six-game Finals victory.

And finally, the fact that Holland committed to signing Aaron Downey to a contract earlier in the week indicates where McCarty fits on the team's overall depth chart.

Considering McCarty’s age and financial troubles, it would be in his best interest to seek employment with another team. General managers are always looking for experience, grit and heart—something Darren possesses in spades.

Regardless of what choice he ultimately makes, fans should remember McCarty for the integral role he played in Detroit’s 1997 Cup win over Philadelphia, which ended a 42-year championship drought. His highlight-reel, game-winning goal at Philly defender Janne Niinimaa's expense is something NHL fans will always remember.

Thank you, Darren—and good luck.

Detroit Red Wings Prospect Roundup: Cory Emmerton

Henry Dyck — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 07:36:14 -0400

The Red Wings have a habit of allowing their players to progress at a steady, controlled pace. Unlike other NHL clubs, they can afford this luxury with the depth they possess on their 23-man roster.

Cory Emmerton has been provided this extra time to develop and it appears both parties will benefit from this patient approach.

Selected 41st overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, Detroit was pleased to see that he had slipped through the first round, picking him up with one of the their two, second-round selections. In fact, Red Wings general manager, Ken Holland, traded down because the St.Thomas, ON, native had yet to be chosen and the belief was the he would still be available early in the next round.

Blessed with exceptional on-ice vision, playmaking ability and stick skills, the Red Wings envision Emmerton to be a future top-six forward when he eventually makes the jump to the big leagues.

However, when first selected by the Wings, assistant GM, Jim Nill, felt his biggest weakness was his size, believing the six-foot one-inch, 177 pound centerman needed to bulk up to endure the rigors of professional hockey.

It appears that the message has gotten to Emmerton as he came into this years prospect camp more man than boy, having packing on 15lbs of muscle.

"I've been very impressed," Nill said. "He's come back here and I think he's a totally refocused guy. He's in great condition. "He looks like a man now. After coming to all these camps and playing junior, you can see the steps.

"He's taken it to the next level."

Detroit’s brass has high expectations for the slick forward who has drawn comparisons to the Florida Panthers Cory Stillman.

With his junior career firmly behind him, Emmerton will suit up with the Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, for the upcoming 2008-09 season. And from all accounts it appears that he’s prepared to make his breaks instead of waiting for them.

"I talked to Ken Holland and he said, 'It's up to you how fast you get yourself to the next level,'" Emmerton said. "He talked about how everyone has something that separates themselves from everyone else.

"As long as you do what you need to do, they'll play whoever they need to. They want to win.

"Look at Darren Helm. He worked hard in Grand Rapids his first year, got called up, stayed and won a Stanley Cup. It's what you make of your opportunity."

There will certainly be plenty of that with the offensively-starved Griffins.

With the current CBA capping teams on what they can spend, churning out quality players through the draft is essential for remaining in the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup. Considering that Holland has to resign Conn Smythe Trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler by next summer – not to mention his desire to get Marian Hossa under a long-term contract – the emergence of Emmerton would prove to be indispensable in keeping the core of the 2008 Stanley Cup champions together without sacrificing the skill level the Wings have displayed over the past two decades.

Only time will tell if Cory can embrace this opportunity and make the most of it. Lucky for him and the Red Wings, it’s something they have plenty of.

Detroit Red Wings Prospect Roundup: Logan Pyett

Henry Dyck — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:32:08 -0400

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before; the Red Wings are expecting big things from a late round draft pick.

That appears to be the case with undersized defenseman, Logan Pyett.

The Red Wings are holding their annual strength and conditioning prospects camp this week and Pyett appears to have made the largest impression.

"I think Logan Pyett has improved the most of our prospects," assistant GM Jim Nill said. "Logan was one of the last picks of the draft three years ago and last year he was a first-team all-star in the Western League. He played in the Canada-Russia series. He played for Canada in the World Juniors. That's pretty good progress for a seventh-round pick."

Selected 212^th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, this native of Balgonie, Saskatchewan is being compared to Brian Rafalski – another classic late bloomer.

Pyett admits that he wasn’t that mature on or off the ice two years ago when the Wings selected him with their last pick of the draft; "I wasn't the most mature kid. I didn't take a lot of responsibility away from the rink. At the rink I was kind of selfish.

"But I knew I could be as good as some of the guys that went in the first round."

The swift skating defender got his first taste of what it takes to be a pro during his first conditioning camp in 2006 and it appears that it gave him the wake-up call he needed.

"I just got my foot in the door when I was drafted," Pyett said. "I came here my first camp and I saw what it took. I made a decision from there that I had to work hard and prove to everyone that I could be as good as those high picks. I still have a long ways to go to be a good-late round pick for them like Zetterberg and those guys and play with them maybe one day."

With the NHL’s new standard of officiating allowing for more skating and offensive creativity, Pyett’s stock has steadily risen since his draft year. He’s a smooth mobile skater who makes an excellent first pass and isn’t afraid to join the rush. Like Rafalski, who he models his game after, he isn’t the biggest player on the ice, but he uses his intelligence and body position to break down plays in his own end and rarely makes a mistake with the puck. He scored 20 goals among his 54 points in 62 regular season games and was a plus-28 – illustrating his commitment to the weakest part of his game.

His leadership abilities have also matured as he was named captain of his Western Hockey League major junior team, the Regina Pats last year.

Pyett is slated to begin his pro campaign this season with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League.

The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup on the strength of their intelligent, puck-moving defense. It would appear they may have uncovered another cog that would fit perfectly into their system. Judging by the long strides Pyett has made in the past two seasons, his trip to the big-time could be a short one.

Detroit Red Wings: Winning Surpasses Salary Cap

Henry Dyck — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 07:37:32 -0400

Recently I wrote an article breaking down what kind of offseason Detroit fans can expect from their beloved Red Wings. In a nutshell, I predicted that it would be of standard fair, devoid of any drama.

Boy was I wrong.

When I first caught wind that Marian Hossa agreed to a one-year, $7.4M deal I was downright shocked. At least I wasn't alone, as the general manager of the Wings, Ken Holland, expressed similar emotions.

"I was caught way off-guard,'' Holland said. "Shocked, was my initial reaction.''

In fact, Holland was resigned to the fact that the door had closed on the five-time All-Star when he received a phone call from Hossa's agent, Rich Winter, while filling up at a local gas station.

With other clubs such as the Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Pittsburgh Penguins offering multi-year deals that ranged from $7M to $9M per year, Hossa set the hockey world on its ear with his decision to sign with the Wings, at a reduced rate, and for only one season no-less.

Before this transpired several fans accused Hossa of being a mercenary, letting his wallet make decisions for him. These accusations were based on his unwillingness to resign with the Penguins after they offered him a reported seven-year deal worth $49M.

Many pondered why a player, in his prime, would not want to spend the next seven years playing alongside two of the league's arguably most gifted centers, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Or how he could leave a team that was two games away from winning the Stanley Cup.

It turns out they were grossly mistaken on what drives the Slovakian star. Signing with the Wings for only one year and for far less, he's proven that winning the Cup is his only motivation.

Holland has said that it's his wish to re-sign Marian to a long-term deal. With Henrik Zetterberg, Nick Lidstrom, Valtteri Filppula, and Johan Franzen up for new contracts in the next two summers, it'll be interesting to see how Hossa might fit in financially.

A player such as Filppula may be jettisoned to make room; certainly a troubling preposition. The rise or fall of the current salary cap will play a major role in what moves might be necessary to keep all of Detroit's talented players together.

For now, however, Wings fans should rejoice in the coup that Holland has commandeered. Once again the league has taken notice that you can place a monetary limit on team spending, but the value of winning is priceless.

Detroit Red Wings: Little Drama Expected In Offseason Plans

Henry Dyck — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 06:05:03 -0400

While teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs and Phoenix Coyotes have made some big splashes early in the off-season, Red Wings fans shouldn’t expect the same dramatic events over the long summer months.

Wings general manager Ken Holland will spend most of this time working on re-signing some of the team's impending unrestricted and restricted free agents.

Tops on his list are UFA Brad Stuart and RFA Valtteri Filppula.

Holland, along with Mike Babcock and the entire team, would love to have Stuart under contract for the 2008-09 season.

Paired with Niklas Kronwall on the second defensive unit, “Stewie” looked far more comfortable and confident than with his previous teams where he was slotted as a top-pair defender and relied upon to supply offense from the backend.

For this to happen, Holland has stated that Stuart would have to take a pay-cut from the $3.5M he earned last year if he wanted to remain in Detroit.

For his part, Stuart has said that he loved his time in the Motor City and has a desire to stay. However, rumors are floating that his former team, the Los Angeles Kings want him back, will pay more, and give him more ice time.

Already owning a home in northern California, it’s speculated that Stuart’s decision will hinge on the well-being of his family. Wings fans shouldn’t be surprised if big No. 23 is no longer a Red Wing once free agency begins on July 1st.

Another big defender who’s without a contract is Andreas Lilja.

Lilja was a healthy playoff scratch for the majority of the first three rounds, but after Chris Chelios went down with a knee injury in the Western Conference Finals, Lilja stepped in and performed admirably. He’s already stated his desire to remain with the Wings, and Holland won’t have much trouble re-signing him.

While it’s believed that the re-signing of Lilja is contingent with Stuart’s decision, Holland has hinted that he would still consider getting Lilja under contract and going into training camp with ten NHL defensemen. Having that many defenders may pose a problem, but it’s one many managers would love to have.

If this is the case, the Wings GM has affirmed he’ll let the problem sort itself out on its own in September. If Kyle Quincy, Derek Meech, or even top-prospect Jonathan Ericsson show they’re ready for NHL action, the issue will be addressed via trades.

Speaking of Chelios, it’s almost certain he’ll return for a tenth season with the Wings. Money won’t be an issue, and the future Hall of Fame defenseman has agreed to a lesser role.

With Meech and Quincy out of minor-league options, these youngsters will benefit from Chelios’ experience and leadership much like Jiri Fischer and Brent Lebda did before them.

On the front end, Filppula will be Holland’s primary objective. He doubled his point production from last season, scoring 19 goals among his 36 points. He was also solid as the team’s second-line centerman, notching five goals and 11 points in 22 playoff contests.

Having just turned 24 in March, the Wings have big plans for the young Finnish forward and hope he can develop in the same fashion as Henrik Zetterberg.

Filppula has already made it known that he wants to stay in Detroit and money won’t be an issue. “Money won't be the main thing by any means," he's said. "Detroit has been good to me and I'm loving it there."

Look for the Wings to lock him up long-term in the $3-4 million per year range.

With forwards Dallas Drake, Aaron Downy, and Darren McCarty set to become unrestricted free agents, Holland is allowing Drake time to contemplate retirement while a decision on either McCarty or Downey isn’t expected until late this summer. It’s believed that the Wings want to carry at least one enforcer.

Checking over the Wings current salary cap balance, it looks like there is plenty of wiggle room to acquire a free agent on the open market.

However, with Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby, Brent Lebda, and Nick Lidstrom all becoming free agents in the next two seasons, Holland will have to be careful of how he allocates those funds.

It’s for those reasons that fans shouldn’t expect the Wings to dive deep into the free agent pool this summer. It’s far more likely that they’ll go into the ’08-09 campaign with the players they have now and address any needs with a trade-deadline acquisition.

It might sound boring to some, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned—"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it".

2008 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings First Round Possibilities

Henry Dyck — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:08:29 -0400

The annual NHL draft is nearly upon us. This Friday, 30 NHL teams will do their best to pick from a variety of 18-year old kids in hopes that they become NHL men.

What separates the NHL draft from the NFL’s or NBA’s is that you rarely get immediate help. In both the above-mentioned leagues, it’s very rare for one of your selections to not make the big club the following season. In the NFL’s case, it’s even likely to see a late-round selection suit up in some capacity.

Unfortunately for NHL fans, that’s hardly the case. In most instances, your first round pick, if you’re lucky, is anywhere from two to four years away from skating in the NHL.

In fact, a great majority of time, your farm team will be the first home for a high-end selection. Players like Columbus Bluejacket Rick Nash or Carolina Hurricane Eric Staal who made a successful jump in their first year are few and far between.

So while pro football and basketball general managers are afforded immediate help, the same cannot be said for their hockey counterparts.

In the NHL, if a team is thin at one position, it’s in their best interest to focus on that void. However, since picking 18 year-olds, some of whom aren’t even shaving yet, can be as unpredictable as Kelly Hrudey’s hairstyle, most teams will pick the best player available.

For the most part, that’s what the Detroit Red Wings have done over the last few years.

Assistant general manager Jim Nill and his excellent scouting department have addressed needs in the past, like when they selected goaltender Jimmy Howard out of Maine University with their first pick of the 2003 draft.

With the retirement of Dominik Hasek, Howard will have his best chance of becoming a full-time Red Wing this fall.

Nevertheless, the Wings usually attempt to draft whichever player they see as the best option available.

That might change this year.

The Red Wings won the Stanley Cup with their strength on the backend. Nick Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Chris Chelios, Brent Lebda, and Andreas Lilja made up their defensive core. Waiting in the wings are NHL-ready Kyle Quincy, Derek Meech, and Jonathan Ericsson.

In the form of prospects, Detroit has high hopes for the offensive-minded Logan Pyett, who’s been stellar so far in his junior career. Last year's first round selection, Brendan Smith, another puck moving, slick skating rearguard, enjoyed a successful first year playing for the Wisconsin Badgers of the NCAA.

In regards to defensemen, it’s safe to say the Wings have their cupboards stocked.

The same cannot be said for forwards. While the shelf is hardly bare, the Wings best offensive forward prospects aren’t as strong.

Playmaking junior Cory Emmerton, scoring winger Dick Axelsson from Sweden, left-wing Jan Mursak, and newly signed Finnish winger Ville Leino all have potential to be producers at the highest level. Emmerton has even been compared to Cory Stillman.

But what the Wings would like is a high-end scorer to compliment a forward core that possesses some of the leagues best passers.

“Sure Henry, doesn’t every team need this?” Yes. But this years draft is deep and I believe there are some sleepers that could be available after the first 29 teams make their selections.

Here are a few players that the Wings may consider drafting in the first round:

1. Jordan Eberle
Considered to be undersized by NHL standards, this 5’10” high-scoring centerman scored 42 goals for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League.

What’s even more impressive is that 25 of those 42 were considered "clutch goals". These goals include game-winning-goals, first goals, shorthanded markers, or insurance goals.

While there are some questions regarding his speed, Eberle has exceptional quickness, on-ice vision, playmaking abilities, and an undying will to win.
With each passing day it seems that more and more people have Eberle on the tip of their tongue.

For this reason, it won’t be a surprise if the diminutive center is picked much sooner. But if he’s available, the Wings need to take a long look at this young man from Regina.

2. Anton Gustafsson
The son of ex-NHLer Bengt Gustafsson, Anton has drawn comparisons to another tall lanky centre, Jordan Staal.

Like most Swedish players, his best assets are his skating, puckhandling, and playmaking abilities. He’s also a very strong two-way player. His only drawback appears to be his health. There are some concerns regarding lower back pain he experienced this season. If not for that, his projections would be in the top-15 variety.

3. Luke Adam
A big left wing who makes up for a lack of speed with great hands, Adam drives hard to the net and uses his big frame to bang for loose pucks. Many scouts feel he has great potential once he grows into his large frame and if so, could become a force in the NHL.

4. Mikhail Stefanovich
Stefanovich is another large winger with great hands, but, unlike Adam, he can skate. The biggest knock on Stefanovich is his questionable work ethic. However, the Wings may take a chance on the young Belarussian in hopes that they can mold him into a potential premier power-forward.

5. Jared Staal
The brother of Eric, Marc, and Jordan is a bit of a wildcard. His father once commented that he felt Jared (then 12) was the best of the lot. Things haven’t worked out the same for the youngest of the Staal brothers, but he’s still an interesting prospect.

Staal shouldn’t be a first round selection, so if the Wings were to nab him, it would have to be in the second round. The chances of him being available by then are slim, but if he is still on the board he might be a gamble worth taking.

His pedigree will surely capture the interest of several NHL clubs, but Staal also has a number of quality assets. His skating is excellent for someone his size, and he comes off the wing hard.

It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that Jared could develop into a 20-goal scoring power forward. Some even believe he has the potential to develop into a player of Eric Cole’s ilk. However, those expectations may be unrealistic.

The safe bet is on Gustafsson. He’s the exact kind of player that flourishes within Detroit’s system. Saying that, my personal wish is that Eberle is still in attendance when the Wings take to the podium. In my mind, he’s exactly what this team needs on and off the ice.

2008 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings Need Home Cooking To Fill Joe

Henry Dyck — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:11:10 -0400

The biggest question asked of me, by my non-hockey loving friends is, “Why are there so many empty seats at Joe Louis Arena?”.

It’s true, after enjoying an astounding 452 straight sellouts (dating back to December 10, 1996), the streak came to an end in Game One of the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs.

What was even more disturbing is the sprinkling of empty seats during this year's successful Stanley Cup run.

Several people smarter than I have taken a stab at this conundrum with varying answers.

Some will point out the weak economy in the Michigan area, specifically Detroit.

Others suggest that fans have grown frustrated with early playoff exits after enjoying regular season success—something the Wings have been guilty of over the course of two decades.

I’ve even heard people suggest that blame should be laid on the old and outdated Joe Louis arena, the building the Wings have called home since 1979.

However, I don’t believe any of the above to be true, as the Tigers, Lions, Pistons, Wolverines, and Spartans haven’t seen such a drastic decline in attendance. The Tigers, for instance, enjoyed a surge in ticket sales following their surprising 2006 run to the World Series.

And considering that the Wings went all the way to the Conference Finals in 2007, the excuse of suffering through another early playoff exit isn’t a sound one.

Finally, the Joe had no problems filling seats in 2006.

In my mind, the issue lies in something more basic; more human. Since the retirement of Steve Yzerman, the local, blue-collar fan hasn’t had a North American offensive star to hang his-or-her hat on.

I know this may sound ludicrous to Red Wings fans of the die-hard variety, but for Joe Lunchpail, it’s far easier to relate to someone of the same background. They need someone that looks like them, sounds like them and carries a name familiar to them.

A good example is Brandon Inge. For those that are unfamiliar with No. 15 of the Detroit Tigers, he’s a career .240 hitter who strikes-out nearly three times as often as he walks. He’s small, doesn’t routinely hit for power, and is a fixture at the bottom of the hitting order.

So it would seem odd to most as to why he’s one of the most popular players on the team.

During the off-season the Tigers dealt for superstar hitting machine Miguel Cabrera and 26 year-old two-time all-star and 2003 Rookie of the Year pitcher Dontrelle Willis.

The two were added to an already stellar lineup that is now the second-highest payroll in Major League Baseball. Several analysts and scribes predicted Detroit would smash records with the abundance of offensive firepower their starting nine possessed.

And yet, during spring training, it was little Brandon Inge who received a majority of the attention.

Why? Because he’s one of the very few North American hitters on the team.

It’s no different with the Detroit Red Wings and their fans. While Nick Lidstrom, Henrik Zetterberg, and Pavel Datsyuk are three of the league's premier talents, and an absolute treat to watch, it’s hard for the average fan to relate to their heritage.

If Zetterberg’s last name were Smith or Datsyuk was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota, or even Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, their popularity would be even greater. And the Joe would have far less elbow room on a nightly basis.

Some might argue against this, stating how Wings fans embraced former European stars such as Igor Larionov, Sergei Fedorov, and Vladimir Konstantinov. Even Petr Klima was well-received in the Motor City.

But what is the one constant between Klima and Zetterberg? Steve Yzerman. Fans could embrace a foreign star as long as they had a "local" boy to follow.

True, Steve Yzerman is Canadian. But since the Red Wings inception, Detroit fans have grown accustomed to watching players from the North carry the team in the standings and on the statsheet.

And are Canadians that much different from Michiganders? They speak the same language (well, just aboot the same language), have the same names and are neighbors in almost every sense.

So has Detroit’s brass gone out of their way to avoid Canadian or American talent? Absolutely not. Because of the Wings recurring success, they routinely pick at the bottom of the draft order. Outside of the top-20 selections, it’s incredibly rare to find a North American stud waiting to be selected.

On top of this, the Wings, for years, would deal their top pick in favor of loading up for a lengthy Stanley Cup run.

It’s why the Wings have been forced to rely so heavily on European scout Hakan Andersson over the past several years. With little talent left of the local variety, assistant general manager Jim Nill and his team of scouts have used their late-round picks to select unknown or unproven talent from across the pond.

So far, I’d say the results cannot be argued.

Nevertheless, while team owner Mike Illitch has promised to reduce ticket prices, the real fix needed might be years away—perhaps even decades.

Unless the Wings can uncover a rough diamond or two from the Canadian Hockey League or the NCAA, don’t be surprised if the Wings continue to play to less than capacity crowds.

If you want to fill "the Joe", the Wings need to draft more, you guessed it, “Joes”.

Detroit Red Wings Prospect Roundup: Jonathan Ericsson

Henry Dyck — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 04:21:17 -0400

Over the course of the offseason I’m going to provide write-ups on some of the young prospects that Red Wings fans might be seeing wear the Winged Wheel in the near future.

This week’s featured player is defenseman Jonathan Ericsson.

In 2001, Red Wings chief European scout, Hakan Andersson, was on assignment scouting a forward who was playing for Vita Hasten in the Swedish J20 Elite league. What transpired was a classic story of the Wings' scout finding another diamond in the rough.

In this one particular game, Jonathan Ericsson, a 6’5” center man, had been asked to fill in on defense, and according to Andersson, he stole the show.

He spoke with Ericsson after the game and recommended that he switch to that position permanently.

The Wings selected the big and converted defenseman with the last pick in the 2002 draft, 291st overall.

Over the next four seasons Ericsson bounced between the Swedish Elite league and lesser tiers before signing an entry level contract with Detroit in 2006.
He began the 2006-2007 campaign with the Red Wings minor league affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins and recorded an impressive 29 points in 67 games while racking up 102 penalty minutes.

Having played center most of his life, Ericsson enjoys an impressive skill-set. He has excellent mobility and agility for a player his size, possesses solid hands, has above average puck skills, and makes a very good first pass. His shot’s not too shabby either, having recorded a 100.1 mph slap shot at the 2008 AHL skills competition.

But don’t let his soft hands fool you. He plays a physical brand of hockey with a willingness to protect his teammates by dropping the gloves.

However, it’s his competitiveness and work ethic that could be his two greatest assets. It’s that competitive nature that has allowed him to climb the ladder in the Detroit organization so quickly.

"In training camp, I had him slotted in the AHL and hopefully he could survive there. He might have to have some time in the ECHL. He's been the biggest surprise, of anybody, right from Day 1 of camp. He came in with confidence. It's amazing,” remarked Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill in January of 2007.

In September of 2007, Ericsson took part in the annual prospects tournament hosted by the Red Wings in Traverse City, MI. In six games against seven fellow NHL club's prospects he was routinely the strongest Red Wing on the ice, scoring four goals.

Following the prospects camp, he took part in the Red Wings main pro-camp where he was the last defenseman to be cut.

His performance was a lasting one on Red Wings head coach, Mike Babcock. "We have a kid named Ericsson, and I can't believe we don't dress him. I think he's going to be a stud in the league," he said.

Detroit general manager Ken Holland also expressed his belief that Ericsson has a bright future when he pronounced on XM satellite's ‘Home Ice’ channel that he believes he is a top four defenseman in the waiting.

Unfortunately for Jonathan, the depth the Red Wings possess on the blue line could postpone his engagement with the big club for another season. Fellow Griffin defenseman Kyle Quincy is another young defender who is NHL ready, but is no longer waiver eligible.

With no options left, the Red Wings can either begin the season with Quincy on the starting roster or expose him to waivers; something Ken Holland is loathe to do considering how well he played in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs.

Nevertheless, if Ericsson continues to improve and has another strong training camp, Holland may be forced into making some deals to open a spot for this late bloomer; a problem every NHL GM dreams about.

Detroit Red Wings: Defense Eclipses NHL's Brightest Stars

Henry Dyck — Wed, 28 May 2008 04:02:57 -0400

After two dominant shutout performances by the Detroit Red Wings, many Pittsburgh fans are calling out their stars to pick up their game.

While most of the Pens' forwards are sharing the grief, Evgeni Malkin seems to be the target of choice. The most popular comments range from "He doesn’t look desperate enough" to "He’s not trying as hard" or that "He looks disinterested."

The truth of the matter is, this is what Detroit’s stifling, team defense does to opposing stars.

Nashville Predators captain and key source of offense Jason Arnott had the best season of his career, recording 72 points in 77 games. Yet, he only mustered one goal in four playoff games against the Wings.

In fact, it could be argued that Arnott only had a handful of effective shifts against Detroit.

Avalanche captain Joe Sakic recorded six points in six games against the Minnesota Wild in Colorado’s opening round, but was held goal-less in the Wings four-game sweep.

The Dallas Stars leading scoring, Mike Ribeiro, scored four goals and added eleven assists through Dallas’ first two rounds, but only managed three assists in the six-game defeat to the Wings.

So what’s my point? Maybe it’s not the player, but the team they’re facing.

While thousands of fans and dozens of analysts have called out No. 71 to bring his game to another level, they forget that Detroit’s defense can limit a player's ceiling of success to a crawl-space.

Only Crosby has been able to produce a handful of offensive opportunities and he’s considered to be, arguably, the best offensive weapon in professional hockey.

In Monday night’s game, the Pens didn’t register an even-strength shot on goal until midway through the second period. That’s nearly half a hockey game without putting any pressure on a goalie during 5-on-5 play.

Any time a Penguin player received a pass, they had a red shirt on them, with another ready to scoop up the turnover.

From their sixth defenseman to their twelfth forward, Detroit is playing the consummate team game. No cog is out of sync. From their King to their Pawns, every player is pulling their weight, refusing to take a shift off.

It can be argued that the Penguins have a better team on paper. Man for man, perhaps the best in the league.

But like it’s been said many times before, hockey is a team sport. You’re only as strong as your weakest link. Sometimes the weak can only become strong through disappointment and loss. Most of the players on Detroit’s roster know something about that.

This series is far from over, but the uphill battle Pittsburgh faces is a daunting one. If they are to crawl back into this series, they’ll need everyone, from Malkin to Jarkko Ruutu to play better.

But more realistically, if the Pens are to win four out of the next five games, they’ll require more help from Detroit than their own players. Through 18 playoff games, the Wings defense hasn’t looked very interested in letting teams do what they want, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Just ask Nashville, Colorado, and Dallas.

NHL Tests Prototype Goalie Gear Sizing

Henry Dyck — Mon, 12 May 2008 02:48:12 -0400

From 22hockey.com:

http://22hockey.com/nhl-tests-prototype-goalie-gear-sizing

NEW YORK, NY – The NHL’s competition committee has formed a group to examine the size and configuration of goalie equipment this summer, and it appears that the first prototypes are already being tested.

22hockey was contacted by an anonymous employee at an NHL testing facility with the first known picture of the new goalie equipment prototypes. The picture was taken with a cellular phone, in order to avoid alerting NHL security at the facility.

To see picture of test goaltender click here

From what our experts can gather from the digital photograph, it appears that the prototype sizing has been substantially reduced from current legal sizing.

The goalie’s leg pads appear to be no larger than 30” in length by 9” in width. The current max legal sizing is 38” in length by 11” in width. The goalie’s gloves are tougher to gauge, but our experts have estimated them to be about 25 percent smaller than current regulation sizing.

It remains unknown if the NHL plans to reduce the size of the chest protector or the pants. Speculation among experts suggests that the NHL plans to test a 30 percent reduction in those pieces of equipment before making a decision.

There is belief among top NHL officials and committee members that a large reduction in the size of goalie equipment would increase scoring. Testing of these changes to equipment was authorized after unanimous consent in a February meeting of all 30 NHL general managers.

Detroit Red Wings Sign Finnish Prospect Ville Leino

Henry Dyck — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:11:18 -0400

The Red Wings lost out on the Fabian Brunnstrom sweepstakes, but their consolation prize might prove just as valuable.

Finnish forward Ville Leino signed a one-year entry level contract with Detroit on Saturday.

The 24-year old recently won the Oskanen Award, given to the league's best player over the regular season. He tied a record for the most points for a forward in the Finnish Elite league when he recorded 28 goals and 77 points in only 55 games.

It is speculated that Leino will have to earn his playing time with the Wings, as a Top Six position won't be handed over on a deep Detroit lineup. That's the reason why Brunnstrom decided not sign in the Motor City.

Just like Brunnstrom, Leino has been labeled as a classic late bloomer. Possessed with great skating and deft stickhandling, Leino, who is a natural centre but can also line up on the wing, has been described as more of a playmaker than sniper, who may need some work on the defensive side.

For a team that has a tremendous reputation for polishing diamonds in the rough, the Wings may have found themselves another gem.

Henry Dyck

Detroit Red Wings: Colorado Helps Restore the Roar of the Joe

Henry Dyck — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:45:07 -0400

Last night I had the fortune of attending Game One of the Western Conference Semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Colorado Avalanche.

I’ve been to a handful of games at Joe Louis Arena over the last few seasons. During most games, the crowd is fairly docile.

Sure, they’ll raise some noise when prompted by commands launched from the scoreboard. But for the most part, the average collection of fans who attend games remain lethargic to the winning ways the Wings have spoiled us with over the course of many regular season victories.

Last night was different, though.

Last night there was an energy I haven’t felt in that old barn for too long. As resident anthem singer Karen Newman wrapped up the last few words of the National Anthem, I thought the roof was about to be torn off.

The building was literally shaking. Goosebumps ran up and down my arms. This is playoff hockey. And the Wings appeared to respond to the raucous ovation their fans showered upon them.

From the opening face-off, Detroit took the game to Colorado. They out-hustled, out-hit, and out-chanced the visitors. Even when Avalanche center Paul Stastny scored the games opening goal, the Wings refused to deflate.

Like their fans, they refused to lay back and let the game unfold before them. They continued their attack, scoring three unanswered goals. Henrik Zetterberg, Daniel Cleary, and Johan Franzen each bent the twine less than eight minutes apart, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

Johan Franzen would again light the lamp, only 1:13 into the second period, firing a laser from the top of the circle past a shell-shocked Jose Theodore. That would be all for Colorado netminder as Avalanche coach Joel Quenneville sent backup goalie Peter Budaj to relieve him.

Reports of a flu-sickened Theodore are beginning to trickle out. It would help explain why he was shaky from the start, giving up far too many rebounds while having difficulty picking up the puck.

He certainly didn’t look anything like the man who single-handedly defeated the Minnesota Wild in the opening round of these playoffs.

The change of goaltenders appeared to settle the Colorado skaters down. With Detroit happy to sit on a three-goal lead, the Avalanche slowly began to inch back into the game.

Defenseman John-Michael Liles got the ball rolling when he ripped a short-side slapshot past Detroit netminder Chris Osgood from a bad angle. With less than four minutes remaining in the middle stanza, Milan Hejduk would take a pass from Stastny and bury it past Osgood, cutting Detroit’s lead to one.

Suffering from flashbacks of the Wings first-round series against the Predators, the crowd’s enthusiasm began to recede, sensing another lead was slipping through their grasp.

The Wings were on their heels throughout most of the third period, refusing to budge from their defensive shell. Colorado swarmed Detroit’s offensive zone giving the home team fits with their tenacious forechecking and strong cycling.

Through timely saves and several blocked shots, Detroit was able to thwart many of the visiting team’s best chances. With less than a minute to play, Budaj headed to the bench for an extra attacker. Every seat was sold out for last night’s game but nary a soul was in theirs.

With 20,000 plus fans on their feet, octaves would reach new levels, swelling with each Osgood save or chance stymied by the skaters in front of him. Only 14 seconds remained when Liles would find himself with the puck, all alone, five feet from Osgood.

The crowd held its breath, Ozzie made the save, and the Joe erupted. The decibel meter would remain on edge well after Detroit managed to kill off the remaining eight seconds, locking up a game one victory in the second round.

Hockey is a game of emotion. From the players to the fans, it’s what makes this great game so special. Detroit has taken a lot of abuse recently due to its fans apathetic feelings towards their hockey club. Last night Colorado helped resurrect old ghosts.

Old ghosts that revived the Joe, and for Wings fans, hopefully bury the Avalanche.

NHL: Rules? Who Needs Rules?

Henry Dyck — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:18:37 -0400

Earlier this week it was reported that the NHL was fining Anaheim defenseman, Scott Neidermayer, a hefty sum of $500,000 for skipping training camp before the season began.

TSN’s Bob McKenzie wrote an excellent article[i] explaining that it isn’t the league that is punishing the 4-time Stanley cup champion but rather his own club, the Anaheim Ducks.

According to the current collective bargaining agreement, when a player misses training camp the team has two options: they can either say ‘that’s fine, come when you feel like it’ and have the players salary count against the Cap, or they can say “fine, don’t show up, but you’re being fined $500,000 for your absence” with no salary hit.

The Ducks chose the latter, allowing Neidermayer to take his time with his decision of whether or not to retire, while keeping his salary off the books. However, the $500,000 fine would have to be addressed at some point before next season began.

Sounds simple enough right? Not if you’re the NHL.

As Mr. McKenzie reports the NHL and the NHLPA are working together in their best effort to look the other way where this rule is concerned - for this one-time instance only. From here on out, all 30 teams will have to abide by this rule to the letter.

You can only imagine that the other 29 teams in the league are scratching their heads over this back-washing turn of events.

If you’re an NHL fan, especially one living overseas or in the U.S., no doubt you’ve had to defend the league at some point to individuals or friends who are ignorant of the sport.
I’ve had to do quite a bit of it over the past 15 years or so, even to some of my own non-hockey loving Canadian brethren.

They’ll bring up points regarding how the NHL isn’t even on the radar in most parts of the States. How they’ve had 3 work stoppages since 1992. How their current national TV deal is a joke compared to most other major sports. How the season is too long. How we can’t seem to get the same level of officiating game to game.

Through it all, I’ve tried my best to present a level-headed and educated argument for every question or complaint non-hockey partisans expound.

But I can’t let the NHL slide on this one. How on earth is it fair to let this rule slide, just this one time, for this particular instance? The league doesn’t seem to be trying very hard to shake its label of being an ‘Old-Boys Club’. One where fans, and even other NHL personnel claim that executives such as Anaheim general manager, Brian Burke, or New Jersey GM, Lou Lamoriello, are given a separate set of rules to adhere to.

If I were an owner or exec within one of the other 29 teams, I would begin to look at the Collective Bargaining Agreement - one that cost the NHL an entire season and playoffs - as more of a book of suggestions rather than an unwavering legally documented set of rules.

Ken Holland, feel free to spend outside of the Cap limit. David Poile, go ahead and sign a player beyond the 20% individual player ceiling. Heck, why stop there? To all the NHL general managers, stop paying your players, use two pucks and put two goalies in net.

After all, the NHL has made it quite clear that not all rules need to be followed to the letter.

Welcome to ‘Thunderdome’ hockey fans! Rules need not apply here!

To the people who take every opportunity to bash the NHL and its shortcomings, your breath no longer needs to be wasted. The NHL can do it all on its own.

Henry Dyck

[i] http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/bob_mckenzie/?id=235405

Detroit Red Wings: Jiri Hudler Stands Tall

Henry Dyck — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 05:12:15 -0400

Jiri Hudler is small. He’s listed generously at 5’9” in every NHL media guide, but is probably closer to 5’6”.

Still, while being vertically challenged, Hudler has played a big role for the Detroit Red Wings since joining the club full-time in 2006.

Born in 1984, in the town of Olomouc, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), Hudler became a phenom of sorts when he be suited up for HC Vsetin of the Czech ExtraLeague at the tender age of 15.

Bouncing back and forth between the national junior league as well as the second and third tier pro levels, it was in 2001 when he would earn a starting position with HC Vsetin.

Despite his small physical stature, the 17-year-old had a tremendous rookie campaign, recording 46 points in 46 games.

That summer the Detroit Red Wings used their second round draft pick, selecting him 58th overall.

When Detroit made their selection, members present at the Edmonton Oilers table were seen visibly shaking their heads in frustration. Apparently a few of their scouts were very high on Hudler and wanted to take him with their second round draft choice.

In his next season with the ExtraLeague, Jiri was receiving as much as 30 minutes of ice-time per game. With the extra playing time, along with the obvious confidence of his coach, Hudler was a dominating force racking up 46 points in 30 games.

It was then that his agent, Petr Svoboda, suggested signing with a Russian Elite League team to help further his development.

Things didn’t go so well for Hudler in the RSL. “I went to Kazan and I got injured, that slowed me down," he said. "And we lost in the first round of the playoffs, so it was kind of bad.”

Although Hudler was unable to duplicate his success in the Russian Super League, he felt it was time to make the jump across the pond. In 2003, Jiri made his North American professional debut when he joined the Red Wings AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Since making the move, Hudler’s development has slowly but steadily improved.

In his first pro season he recorded 49 points in 57 games. By his third full season on the farm, he was an AHL All-Star, scoring 36 goals and 60 assists in 76 contests.

In 2006, with the NHL’s waiver rules working to Hudler’s benefit, the Wings made him a full-time NHL player.

Receiving, on average, only ten minutes of ice time per game, he notched 15 goals and 10 assists in 76 games. According to NHL statistics he was the most productive player in the league in relation to playing time.

This past season Hudler received a modest boost in playing time and yet nearly doubled last season’s production with 42 points in 81 games.

His offensive output hasn't slowed in the postseason, where his five points has him tied for the team lead with Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall.

Part of his success comes from his inability to back down. He doesn’t shy away from the hard areas of the ice, and will routinely battle opposing players who are nearly twice his size.

During his first pro camp in 2003, Hudler had the misfortune of being paired against towering, 6’5” defenseman Jiri Fischer in a 1-1 puck battle scenario. When the coaches saw the mismatch they suggested the rookie wait for a partner that was closer to his physical equal. The young forward would have nothing of it and demanded to try his luck against the hulking defender.

According to sources that were present, Hudler held his own in the drill despite giving away nearly a foot in height and 50 lbs in weight.

It’s this tenacity that has allowed Hudler to succeed at every level despite his obvious physical disadvantage.

If the Red Wings are to win the Stanley Cup they’ll need timely contributions from their secondary scoring. With Hudler’s steady rise in confidence and development, it shouldn’t be too tall of an order.

Detroit Red Wings: Chris Osgood in Net for Game Five

Henry Dyck — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 03:57:04 -0400

Chris Osgood will get the start tonight for Detroit in its game five tilt with the Nashville Predators in their Western Conference quarterfinal series.

After allowing three goals on 11 shots in game four’s disappointing loss, Mike Babcock replaced Dominik Hasek with Osgood, who blanked the Preds the rest of the way.

It’s hard to imagine that "Ozzie" could do any worse than Hasek who, admittedly, played the worst hockey of his career in game four. With a postseason GAA of 2.91 and a save percentage of .888, you would be hard-pressed to dispute that claim.

Mike Babcock hasn’t indicated if this change will be permanent, but he did tell reports that he doesn’t want to switch back and forth.

Osgood has had a renaissance of sorts this season, recording 27 wins in 43 games while posting a league best 2.09 GAA, to go with a .914 save percentage and four shutouts.

Starting his career with the Wings back in 1993 as the 54th overall pick in the 1991 entry draft, Osgood shared time in net with Tim Cheveldae before the Wings dealt him for Bob Essensa, prior to the 1994 playoffs. In 41 games, the native of Peace River, Alberta recorded a 2.86 GAA and a .895 save percentage.

Over the next eight seasons, Ozzie would have 11 other goaltending partners, winning the Stanley Cup as a backup to Mike Vernon in 1997, and as a starter in 1998.

In the summer of 2001, the Red Wings traded for Dominik Hasek, leaving Osgood as the odd man out. In September of that year, the Wings placed him on waivers. He was claimed by the NY Islanders.

Four years later, after the Wings re-signed him as an unrestricted free agent this past August, his career has come full circle.

Now, it’s the fresh-faced goaltender who has knocked Hasek from the crease in the Wings' pursuit of Lord Stanley’s Cup.

Osgood is confident in his abilities and, judging by his performance after coming in cold midway through the second period of game four, the Wings needn’t worry about this change in netminders.

"I'm more mature," Osgood said. "You don't get as excited as you used to, don't panic as much as you used to. You stay on an even keel, you know what to do, you know how to prepare yourself."

After giving up a two games to none lead, the Wings will benefit from the calming effect Ozzie brings to the rink. It’s his job to lose, but judging by the roads he’s traveled over his career, he can handle whatever’s thrown at him. And that's exactly what this team needs.

Predators-Red Wings: Composure Still an Issue for Detroit

Henry Dyck — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:08:26 -0400

While the largely inexperienced Pittsburgh Penguins were wrapping up their four game sweep of the Ottawa Senators, the veteran laden Detroit Red Wings were reeling from another quick 1-2 punch delivered by the Nashville Predators.

For the third time in as many games the Wings allowed two goals in less than 35 seconds. With a roster that features more collective Stanley Cup rings than some Nashville skaters have postseason games, it's surprising to see Detroit unravel so easily.

The Red Wings and their fans have experienced almost every conceivable playoff scenario over the past 15 years. From crushing defeats to uplifting victories the rollercoaster that is the Detroit Red Wings has been anything but boring. However, the Wings total lack of composure should come as a surprise to even the most stout follower. What's the chances that Detroit coach, Mike Babcock, campaigns for more than one time-out per game? The way his team has been playing he'll need at least one per period. Or more intermissions.

Whether it's fair or not, eventually the finger must be pointed towards Babcock. Line changes and strategy aside, it's he that must keep his team cool under fire. One wouldn't think that necessary with a club that features proven winners such as Nick Lidstrom and Chris Chelios. Yet, that's where the Red Wings sit.

After Nashville defenders Dan Hamhuis and Shea Weber scored 32 seconds apart in the opening period, Detroit was lucky to be down by only two goals after twenty minutes of play.

In the second stanza, Nashville continued their strong play keeping the Wings on their heels until Predators defenseman Marik Zidlicky took a slashing penalty five minutes into the stanza.

While on the powerplay, Pavel Datsyuk took a nice cross-ice pass from Brian Rafalski and out-waited Nashville goaltender, Dan Ellis, before sliding the puck between his legs cutting the Preds lead to one. The smattering of Wings fans in attendance wouldn't be on their feet for long. Only 11 seconds after Datysuk's tally, a third Nashville defender restored the home teams two-goal lead when Greg De Vries fired a point-shot past a screened Dominik Hasek.

After allowing three goals on only 14 shots, Babcock made the decision to replace the veteran netminder with fellow 27-game winner, Chris Osgood.

The goalie change appeared to inspire Detroit with the Wings controlling the play in Nashville's end until Detroit received consecutive penalties inside two minutes of one another. With Brad Stuart in the box for slashing, veteran Wing, Kris Draper took a slashing penalty of his own after uncharacteristically retaliating from a mild shove courtesy of Shea Weber following a stoppage in play.

The Wings would kill off the 5-on-3 disadvantage and continue their strong play in the Nashville zone. Dan Ellis was equal to the task making a handful of saves preserving the two-goal lead heading into the 2nd intermission.

At the start of the third period Chris Osgood made some key stops of his own, strengthening his case to be Game 5's starter in Detroit. After stoning Predators forward Radek Bonk, the Red Wings came right back into Nashville's end. Retaining the puck through a strong cycle, Tomas Holmstrom found Datsyuk at the left face-off circle who scored his second goal of the game over a sprawling Ellis.

With momentum swung in their favor Detroit would keep the pressure on the Predators. For long stretches at a time, it seamed as if the ice was tilted in the Nashville zone. However, despite the visiting teams best efforts the Predators, behind the stellar play of Ellis, were able to hold on securing the 3-2 victory guaranteeing a six-game series.

Over the last 40 minutes Detroit dominated play outshooting Nashville 30-18 in the last two periods. It would also be the first time Detroit showed any hint of desperation in this first round matchup.

After squandering a 2-0 series lead the Wings will need every ounce of that desperation heading back for Friday's Game 5 in Detroit.

Detroit Red Wings Let Game 3 Slip Through Their Fingers

Henry Dyck — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 02:50:57 -0400

The NHL’s version of Nyquil, the Detroit Red Wings, had the Nashville Predators and their fans asleep for nearly 60 minutes of hockey last night, but failed to put them, and this series, to bed.

For the second straight game, Detroit squandered a 2-0 cushion as the visiting regular season champs watched two leads evaporate in a 5-3 game three loss.

What should be even more alarming for the Wings and their fans is watching Dominik Hasek continue to allow one questionable goal in each of the first three games.

With Detroit leading 3-2, Ryan Suter fired a low forty-foot slap-shot into the far corner past an unscreened Hasek. Seconds later, Nashville captain Jason Arnott, who was on the verge of being reported missing, ripped a howitzer from the top of the right circle to put the Preds on top, before Martin Erat sealed the game with an empty-net goal.

History has a habit of repeating itself, but it’s strange to watch it rewrite the same story in less than 24 hours.

On Monday night, the San Jose Sharks built a 3-0 lead in the first five minutes of game three against the Calgary Flames only to watch that seemingly insurmountable lead slowly evaporate en route to a 4-3 loss.

Detroit coach Mike Babcock had mentioned this collapse prior to last night’s game, so it’s any wonder how or why he allowed his team to sit on a lead instead of pushing his squad to drive in the final nail, which would have given his team a three-games-to-none series lead.

Another point that should give Wings fans reason to worry is how their team appears to have no answer for a team riding a wave of emotion.

After Nashville winger Alexander Radulov redirected Suter's point-shot to get his team on the board, the Predators responded by jumping all over the more seasoned and experienced Detroit club.

Energized by the now-awakened crowd, the Preds hit everything that moved and gave Detroit fits in their own end, working the cycle to crazed perfection.

Less than three minutes after the Radulov goal, J.P. Dumont pounced on a Wings giveaway in the neutral zone, and fed Michigan native David Legwand for a perfect one-timer to even the score at two goals apiece.

With five minutes left in the middle stanza, Detroit was able to hold off the surging Predators and regroup during the intermission.

Saved by the bell, the Wings were given a chance to catch their breath and steady themselves, similar to when Babcock was forced in calling a timeout during game two after the Wings watched Nashville wipe a 2-0 lead from the scoreboard. This tactic was more effective in icing the surging Predators than it was in resurrecting his own club.

The third period began with the Predators forcing the action from the opening faceoff. Detroit kept their composure and Pavel Datsyuk forced a turnover at his own blueline creating a two-on-one break.

Using Zetterberg as a decoy, the Wings leading scorer fired the puck past Dan Ellis to put his team back on top. The sold-out crowd at the Sommet Center fell silent, with the Predators bench looking visibly deflated.

Detroit continued to apply their highly effective puck-possession strategy while sending in only one forechecker, hoping to bottle the Preds in the neutral zone. For nearly 15 minutes of the final period, it would seem this approach was a wise one, until Suter scored his timely goal.

With a rejuvenated crowd behind them, Nashville burst from the coffin they were being sealed in, while the Wings stood idly by, content in watching a game they once had in control slip through their fingers.

The good news for Detroit is the production they’re receiving from their third and fourth lines. Kris Draper notched his second goal of the postseason, while Jiri Hudler continues to rack up points, scoring on a first period power-play.

Nevertheless, if Hasek continues to allow questionable goals and the team in front of him maintains a clinical approach devoid of emotion, Detroit will find it far more difficult to finish off teams that bring a full sixty minutes of work to the rink, instead of the ten that, evidently, were all Nashville required.

Detroit Red Wings-Nashville Predators: Thoughts on Game 1

Henry Dyck — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:41:56 -0400

The Detroit Red Wings skated away with a 3-1 victory last night against the Nashville Predators in game one of the Western Conference Quarter-Finals.

As a Wings fan I’m happy with the outcome. However, if you watched the game, you might have noticed that Detroit didn’t look nearly as physical as they did in last year’s opening round against the Calgary Flames.

For this reason, the game was far tighter than it should have been leading up to the final minutes before Henrik Zetterberg potted his second goal of the night into an empty net.

Yes, the Wings out shot Nashville 40-20 and controlled the play most of the night although those shot totals are very misleading.

First, home teams always get a few extra clicks on the shot counter, Detroit is no exception. Secondly, too many of these shots came from the perimeter where Nashville netminder, Dan Ellis, was able to easily swat them away without much effort.

Where you need to look is the quality scoring chances between both clubs and in this regard things were far more even.

Speaking with some fans during and after the game I heard the same mantra from years past, “another no-name goalie stonewalling us”.

I hummed this same tune many times over the past six years. My song has changed as last night I finally came to the conclusion that the Wings have a habit of making the opposing goalie look far better than they should.

For stretches at a time, there didn’t appear to be any red-and-white sweaters in the vicinity of the Nashville net. The Wings, once again, seemed content to control play from the outside, while the Predators were more than happy to allow them real-estate several feet from any potential scoring areas. Any goaltender, old or young, experienced or unproven, would relish 40 shots from bad angles and long distances. It allows them to stay active in a game while gaining confidence; especially against the league leading Detroit Red Wings.

In last year's opening game against the Flames, the Wings flew out of the gate hitting everything in sight, sending a message to the visiting roughhouses from Alberta that they would not be intimidated or pushed around.

Over that 6-game series Detroit proved to be the more physical while showing more heart and emotion than Calgary. The Wings continued this trend all the way into the Western Conference Finals before they were eliminated by the Ducks.

This same level of physical play and emotion wasn’t present in last night’s opener. The Wings have had many first round upsets in the past few playoffs and part of the reason is because they are easily lulled into matching their opponent’s efforts.

In boxing, Teddy Atlas calls this ‘entering into a silent contract’ where both parties agree to a certain level of exertion without uttering a word. In the past, more times than not, it would transpire in the Wings losing a close contest where the opposing goalie was made to look better than he really was.

Dan Ellis played a very solid game last night but for the most part his job wasn’t as difficult as it should have been. I don’t want to make it sound as if Detroit played poorly because they didn’t. They exerted their strategy and earned a victory for it.

Nevertheless, if the Wings want to advance further through a very tough and taxing Western Conference they’ll have to find another level physically and emotionally. A level they’ll need to attain without an invitation from their opponent.

Henry Dyck

Your 2008 NHL Conn Smythe Trophy Winner

Henry Dyck — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 01:42:26 -0400

Many of the NHL’s biggest stars will get their chance to shine starting Wednesday, when 16 teams battle over four grueling rounds until only one is left standing.

The ultimate prize, of course, is Lord Stanley’s Cup. There have been an abundance of predictions by so-called experts, fans and players alike of which team has the best chance of holding the cup aloft.

I not only intend to boldly predict this years champion but also the Conn Smythe winner, awarded to the playoffs most valuable player.

The Conn Smythe Trophy was introduced in 1964 by the Maple Leaf Gardens Limited to honor Conn Smythe, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame as a builder, and the former owner, general manager, and coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Forty-two players have had their names engraved on the side of this highly regarded award, from the first ever recipient, Montreal legend, Jean Beliveau, to last years four-time Stanley Cup winner, defenseman Scott Neidermayer.

Who will win the honor this season? Three out of the four last playoffs, a goaltender has taken home the prize. Will another masked man steal the award? Or will it be a forward who will lead his team to victory through countless courageous acts and timely goals similar to heroics displayed by Tampa Bay Lightning centerman during his teams 2004 Cup winning victory?

In the end it’s my belief that the two teams battling it out for the Silver Chalice will be the New York Rangers and the Detroit Red Wings.

Jaromir Jagr has actually looked interested of late while Henrik Lundqvist has found his early season form when he best impersonated a brick wall. While the Rangers' backend appears young, they were the rock that the rest of the blueshirts leaned on during some rough spells they fell into over the middle portion of the season.

Scott Gomez and Chris Drury are bon afide playoff studs while three-time Cup winner Brendan Shanahan knows what it takes to get to the top.

Some may laugh at my predicted Eastern Conference champs but in my opinion the East is up for grabs. Nearly every team has some question marks but it’s the Rangers that have squeaked out several 1-0, or more specifically, one goal games, over the course of the season. This will play a big role in the always tight postseason.

In the West, the Detroit Red Wings cruised through most of the season on route to another Presidents Trophy winning campaign. If not for a brief spell in February, in which the Wings lost their top-four defenseman for weeks at a time, their inflated points total might have looked even more bloated.

Last year, the Anaheim Ducks took advantage of key injuries to Detroit’s blue-line when they defeated the 2002 Stanley Cup champions in six games. The two clubs appear destined to meet again. This time it will be Detroit’s depth that prevails. With the emergence of Johan Franzen, the addition of rugged defenseman Brad Stuart and a more balanced attack over all four lines, Detroit will muster out a tough seven-game series to advance into the Finals for the first time in six years.

In the Finals it will be the Red Wings that triumph over five games against their fellow "Original Six" team.

When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presents the award for the playoffs most valuable player, it will be a name he has summoned forth previously. The 2008 winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy will go to Detroit Captain Nick Lidstrom.

Lidstrom’s icy composure, rock-solid defensive play and timely contributions on the power-play will ensure that his name is immortalized on the side of the late great Conn Smythe’s trophy once again.

Henry Dyck

[1] http://www.nhl.com/trophies/smythe.html

Sizing Up the Red Wings' First Round Opponent, Whoever It May Be

Henry Dyck — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:56:52 -0400

Any way you slice it, the Wings will have a tough first round opponent.

After an overtime victory last night against St. Louis, the Nashville Predators moved into the eighth seed in the West, one point ahead of the Vancouver Canucks.

With only two games remaining for Calgary, Nashville, and Vancouver, the Wings should know soon enough who their opening round dance partner will be.

Each team brings a different dynamic to the rink, but all present a challenge that will either push Detroit to new heights or send them home with devastating disappointment.

Calgary Flames

Calgary features a physical attack with strong goaltending. Their defense isn’t as stifling as it was during the ’04 Cup run, but their offense has picked up the slack.

Led by captain Jarome Iginla and hard hitting defenseman Dion Phaneuf, the Flames will scrap, hit, and bully their way to victory. Detroit will use the same blueprint they employed in last year's first round contest.

Since both teams' rosters haven’t changed a great deal from last season, I would suspect the Wings have the advantage. This is the playoffs, however, where one bounce can mean winning the Cup in June or shooting for the tin in April.

Vancouver Canucks

Despite struggling lately and going 4-6 in their last ten games, the Vancouver Canucks could be a major spoiler in the Western Conference. Featuring Roberto Luongo, who is arguably the best goalie in the league, the squad from B.C. could very well steal a round or two with their All-Star goaltender and their sleep-inducing defense.

The Wings are on the verge of winning the William Jennings trophy for least amount of goals allowed over the course of the season, so their defense isn’t exactly porous.

However, they have a history of deflating when facing a goaltender who stonewalls their best chances.

This could become an issue if Luongo is able to duplicate his performance of last spring against Dallas. Perhaps this is the best scenario for the boys in red and white, as many teams that have gone on to win the Cup faced their toughest challenge in the first round.

If the Wings and Canucks face each other to start the playoffs, I believe Detroit will prevail though the games themselves have potential to be frighteningly boring. Not a great combination for fans on the East Coast staying up for those late-night Pacific Time games.

Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators, at first glance, appear to be the most favorable of the three clubs to start the playoffs.

This judgment is not intended as an insult to the Predators. Barry Trotz has once again done a great job with this club.

Losing Kimmo Timmonen, Peter Forsberg, Paul Kariya, Scott Hartnell, and Tomas Vokoun would have most coaches throwing in the towel. Not Trotz. He’s rallied his troops and led them to a possible fourth consecutive berth into the postseason.

What Nashville doesn’t have that the Canucks and Calgary do is consistent goaltending.

Despite putting together some impressive outings of late, the tandem of Dan Ellis and Chris Mason has also been pulled or forced from the bench three times out of the last seven games. In a battle of Central Division rivals, I see Detroit winning an entertaining and hard fought five-game series.

No matter which Western Conference team you root for, this year’s playoffs should prove to be very entertaining. The only thing missing is the potential for a dramatic first round upset. From the first place team to the ninth place team, any club has the potential to win it all.

I believe that there is no other professional league, in terms of excitement and intensity, that can match the first round of Stanley Cup playoffs.

Enjoy, and let the games begin.

Kyle Turris: Coyotes Top Pick In '07 Turns Pro

Henry Dyck — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 02:42:16 -0400

Wisconsin’s loss is Phoenix’s gain. Highly touted forward Kyle Turris has signed an entry-level contract with the Coyotes. He will remain with the top club for the team's final three games, giving fans in the desert a glimpse of what is to come.

After being eliminated from the NCAA hockey tournament, the Badgers top scorer decided to leave his college life in pursuit of a professional one. In his one and only season, the slick centerman recorded 35 points in 36 games for Wisconsin. Those numbers are very impressive for a freshman, but it must be pointed out that 12 of those 35 points were collected in the first four games of the NCAA season against lower-end programs.

The knock on Turris is his size, but the kind of offensive instincts he possesses cannot be taught. Turris wears #19 and it’s no coincidence that he draws comparison to two other great 19’s in Joe Sakic and Steve Yzerman. With tremendous skating ability, vision and a scorer’s touch, as well as sound defensive skills, Wayne Gretzky and Don Maloney have a reason to smile over the long off-season.

With the Coyotes officially eliminated from the playoffs, fans will still have a reason to head to the rink. Make sure to wear shades, the future appears bright.

Columbus Blue Jackets News: Rick Nash Moving to Center For '08-'09 Campaign?

Henry Dyck — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 09:21:13 -0400

Ken Hitchcock recently called in to Phil Esposito and Jim Tatti on XM’s Home Ice, channel 204, to discuss Blue Jackets hockey.

During the conversation the obvious subject of Rick Nash was brought up. Both Espo and Tatti raved about the young power forward's skill set and asked what the fans could be treated to next year. The Blue Jackets' bench boss surprised the radio tandem when he revealed that he’s asked Rick Nash to consider a position change from left wing to center ice for next season.

Hitch’s reasoning was that with Nash’s hands, size, and vision he could be as effective as San Jose’s towering number one center, Joe Thornton.

According to Hitchcock, Nash is still apprehensive about this change, but did promise his coach that he would mull over the suggestion during the summer months.

I have to admit that I like Rick Nash as a winger. He’s a big, strapping kid who can skate, score, and make great plays. However, I’m interested in seeing how Nash’s skills might translate as a centerman.

Mats Sundin was drafted as a right-winger but was moved to the middle early on in his career with great success. Similarily, Mark Messier was also a winger before Edmonton coach Glen Sather moved him to center ice.

Perhaps Nash is this era’s next great centerman? We’ll find out next fall.

Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby: The Great One vs. the Next One

Henry Dyck — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:37:02 -0400

Over the weekend I caught the NBC weekly game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Rangers. I viewed this matchup in the company of a friend who is both a huge Edmonton Oilers fan and, more specifically, a Wayne Gretzky fan.

I’m not sure if all fans of No. 99 are like my buddy, but if they are, it appears that they are personally insulted every time Sidney Crosby is compared with the NHL’s overall points king, Gretzky.

I tried to inform my friend that it’s not a fair comparison due to the difference in the style of hockey that was played then compared to now. This usually gets him worked up as he believes there is barely any difference, and any suggestion that Gretzky could not duplicate his accomplishments in today’s game is an insult to his wife and children.

So, in the honor of “Superfan No. 99 over here,” I’d like to illustrate several reasons why comparing the two players is not only unfair, but completely unrealistic.

First, let’s compare the two eras. While Gretzky was putting up inconceivable numbers, he wasn’t competing against the world’s best on a nightly basis. Communism was still very much alive and present. This meant that the NHL was missing out on some of the world’s finest talents such as Igor Larionov, Sergei Makarov, or various other NHL-caliber players from the USSR and Czechoslovakia, who were still playing behind the veil of the Iron Curtain.

Watch a game on ESPN classic from the early 1980’s and observe the skill level of the fifth and sixth defenseman, along with third and fourth line plumbers. The disparity between the best players and the bottom feeders is striking.

Allowing players from the aforementioned countries into the league would have increased the talent level.

Secondly, the age of technology was still not upon us. It used to be that you were deemed clinically insane if you chose shot blocking as your ticket into the NHL. Brad Marsh was loved for the courage he displayed when getting in the way of blasts from the point—without a helmet no less.

Due to the advancement in equipment, every player on an NHL roster is expected to block shots. There is still fear of injury, but nothing like it was in the past. It’s not uncommon to see your top offensive player lead his team in points as well as shots blocked.

Furthermore, goalies from yesteryear donned pads that weighed twice as much as well as retained water. Chest protectors didn’t blot out the sun and jersey’s actually fit tightly.

Blackhawk great Tony Esposito recently commented on XM Home Ice that the players shin guards of today are stronger than his old goalie pads. He also remarked that he could literally fit the entirety of his old trapper into the webbing of a current glove.

What this translated into was far less shot blocking, along with smaller and slower goalies—two things that have been major factors in the average goals per game sinking from 7.84 (between 1980 – 1986) to 5.88 over Crosby’s young career.

Finally, along with Russian and Czechoslovakian players, defensive systems were still absent from the NHL. Every team utilized a three-man forecheck while backchecking was something for third line centers.

It was for these reasons that top forwards would absorb shifts that exceeded 90 seconds and, in some cases, in excess of two minutes.

Former Oilers coach, Glen Sather, commented that when Gretzky would get a “rosy glow” to his cheeks, he’d double and triple shift his superstar. This meant that on many nights, “The Great One” would exceed thirty minutes of ice-time.

In today’s NHL, the average top-line forward falls in-between 18-22 minutes. With a third less ice-time, 200 points would have been a far more difficult feat to attain.

In no way am I attempting to taint what Gretzky accomplished throughout his career. He is still, in my opinion, the greatest offensive weapon the game has ever seen. However, it’s for these reasons that Crosby should never be asked, or expected, to put up the absurd numbers that Gretzky did.

Crosby has enough pressure living up to lofty expectations during his own era, let alone someone else’s.

Let’s leave history behind us so that No. 87 can write his own.

Henry Dyck

hsdyck@gmail.com

Patrick Roy Fallout: No Room for Fighting in Amateur Hockey

Henry Dyck — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:49:27 -0400

Recently there’s been a lot of debate regarding fighting in amateur hockey—junior hockey specifically.

We can all thank the Roy family for that. On the heels of this incident it appears that the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is on the verge of outlawing fighting altogether.

David Branch, the president of the Canadian Hockey League, which oversees all three major bodies in major junior (WHL, OHL and QMJHL) also stated recently on XM Home Ice 204 that this ruling will inevitably spread to all three junior leagues.

Of course, this has many hockey fans fired up. I’ve heard several different opinions as to why fighting needs to remain in amateur hockey. I’m taking this opportunity to play devil's advocate and offer a different opinion for each of these arguments:

“How are these kids supposed to prepare for life in the NHL?”

Less than 6% of kids playing in Major Junior Hockey make it to the NHL. In one case study following the 1975 OHL draft class, which was considered a very deep talent pool, only 32 skaters played in an NHL game, with only 15 of those 32 dressing more than once. Out of those 15 skaters only six qualified for the NHL's Player Pension (minimum 400 games in the NHL). To sum up, only six kids out of 232 "made it" as an NHL pro. That’s less than 3%. Furthermore, I have a hard time believing that all six players were fighters or fought often enough to say their apprenticeship in fisticuffs during their stay in major junior allowed them to survive the big leagues.[i]

“Messages need to be sent if your team is losing badly!” or “If you can’t beat ‘em on the scoreboard, beat ‘em in the alleys”

This is as asinine a remark as I’ve ever heard. Amateur sports are about teaching kids fair play, teamwork, social skills, and the value of commitment. Only in hockey is it acceptable to react like a spoiled child and physically assault another player simply because your team is being outplayed and outclassed. Could anyone imagine this occurring in a college basketball game or high school football contest? I would think not.

“Fighting is needed to deter certain players from taking liberties on star players or playing over the edge.”

I can see the merits of this argument. However, fighting never deterred former pests like Esa Tikkanen, Ulf Samuelsson or Claude Lemieux from playing their brand of irritating hockey. I also doubt it will have any affect on how current players such as Cory Perry, Sean Avery or Steve Ott ply their trade.

“Boys will be boys”

Very true, but does this mean that any and all behavior should be tolerated from our young adults? I know full well that my children will more than likely drink before they are legally of age. Should I cease any sort of discipline for this infraction? Or how about if they skip school, cheat on a test or experiment with drugs? How many who are reading this can say they never engaged in any of these activities in your youth? Does it make it right? No.

“It’s entertaining and the game has always had it.”

Bingo. Let’s face facts; we’re a violent nation. If you saw a fight on the street, chances are you would stop and watch. If the NHL initiated cock-fighting between periods I imagine beer runs and washroom breaks would vanish during intermissions.

When I was younger I would attend the weekly Junior C and B games and would be disappointed if there was an absence of fisticuffs over the course of the evening. As I've grown older, perhaps I’ve gotten softer. Once I became a father (now with 2 young boys) I know it to be the case. At a recent Junior C game, I couldn’t help but cringe when I saw a grown man salivate at the site of two 16-year olds who were about to engage in a fight. During the tilt, I don’t believe he, or anyone else, were considering how this was going to help the combatants in their future endeavors into professional hockey.

In the Roy incident I couldn’t help but think how the parents of Bobby Nadeau (the goalie who was jumped by Jonathan Roy) must have felt. In many cases, when a player is drafted into the CHL, they leave their families and friends to live and pursue their dreams far from home. If I’m lucky enough to have my sons embark on the same journey I can only hope that the community, coaching staff and billets treat my boys with the same love, care and respect that they’ve received thus far from their mother and I. I couldn’t imagine watching one of my sons experience an assault similar to what young Nadeau was forced to endure.

It’s true that this incident shouldn’t even be classified as a fight. In fact, most proponents of fighting in amateur hockey feel that these types of shenanigans have no place in the game. But one has to wonder if they would even occur if fighting was banned to begin with.

It might be a revelation for some to hear that several kids play the game for the joy, fun, and simplicity of it. Nobody should be forced to suffer through fear or intimidation as an amateur in order to continue playing the game they love, and certainly not to satisfy the bloodlust of a few thousand bystanders.

In regards to pro hockey, I have no issues with fighting. They are professionals and are being paid to take these risks. However, in amateur hockey, I see no place for it. Former NHL pugilist Tiger Williams once said, “If you’re not being paid to fight, you’re an idiot." I tend to agree.

Note: I have no delusions in believing my opinions on this subject are popular ones. I’m fully aware that most, if not all, arguments will be the opposite of my point of view. Still, I welcome your comments and look forward to reading them. Thank you.

Henry Dyck

hsdyck@gmail.com

[i] http://www.cumberlandminorhockey.ca/to_the_nhl/chances.htm

Darren McCarty: Is the Risk Worth the Reward?

Henry Dyck — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 03:57:30 -0400

Many words have been used to describe the Detroit Red Wings General Manager, Ken Holland.

Among them is intelligent, honest, professional and loyal. In fact, some believe, at times, he is loyal to a fault.

This is why the Darren McCarty experiment is a head-scratcher. We all know ‘Mac's’ history with the Wings. From growing up in Leamington, ONT, roughly an hour away, to his dramatic Cup clinching goal in 1997, it’s obvious why he was, and still is, a fan favorite among the Wing faithful.

However, Holland’s modus operandi has always been to keep his team's chemistry in tact. It’s why you seldom see him make a deal at the deadline that involves any of the team’s core players, or allow free agents to skate out of Detroit in the off-season.

It’s hard to argue that the Wings aren’t having a terrific 2008 campaign. At times, they appear to be in a class of their own compared to other Cup contenders.

So why would a general manager risk disrupting a cohesive dressing room by bringing in a 35-year-old, oft-injured winger who hasn’t played an NHL game in nearly a year or scored an NHL goal in almost two?

I have heard nothing but great things about Aaron Downey, who is believed to be the first to sit in the wake of McCarty’s return.

Mike Babcock has raved about his team-first attitude and commented more than once on how the rugged, knuckle-chucking winger has done everything asked of him.

He also appears to be a very popular player in the dressing room as alternate captain Kris Draper remarked that Downey’s attitude towards playing professional hockey is both refreshing and uplifting.

Don’t get me wrong, Downey is never going to be mistaken for Wayne Gretzky, or even Keith Gretzky for that matter, but he is a valuable player within his role. You know what you’re going to get with him.

McCarty, on the other hand, is more of a mystery. How many minutes will he assume? Can he stay healthy throughout the playoffs? Scratch that: can he remain healthy for the remaining five regular season contests?

If he can, what kind of contributions can he lend a team that seemingly is firing on all cylinders? Downey is a better pugilist, his skating is better and he’s defensively sound.

McCarty has a lot more playoff experience, which is obviously a plus, and more than likely answers my own question. However, in an era where chemistry and cohesiveness often trump skill in the postseason, I still wonder what advantage there is to brining #25 back on board.

As a Wings fan, and only a fan, I’m not glib to believe that I know more than Ken Holland. At the same time, the fan in me is hoping that I’m wrong and the McCarty experiment is a wise one which pays off with the ultimate reward.

A Different Perspective: Reseeding the NHL Playoff Format

Henry Dyck — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 03:44:52 -0400

In 1979, the NHL added four WHA franchises. In addition to the new teams the League introduced a new playoff format. The four divisional champions automatically earned a spot in the playoffs with the next 12 best regular season records rounding out the final 12 seeds.

I thought it would be fun to imagine what this would look like if the NHL adopted this same playoff format and applied it today if the regular season were to have ended last night.

Because there are six divisions in today’s NHL, I decided to go with overall points as a way to seed the teams. In cases where there was a tie, I placed the team with more games played in a lower seed.

This is how the playoff picture came into focus:

#1 Detroit (108) vs. #16 Vancouver (86)

#2 San Jose (100) vs. #15 Boston (86)

#3 Montreal (96) vs. #14 Colorado (88)

#4 Anaheim (96) vs. #13 Carolina (88)

#5 Pittsburgh (95) vs. #12 Philadelphia (88)

#6 New Jersey (91) vs. #11 NY Rangers (89)

#7 Ottawa (91) vs. #10 Dallas (89)

#8 Minnesota (91) vs. #9 Calgary (90)

While some of the match-ups look similar if today’s playoff format was still used many are drastically different; and in my opinion, more intriguing.

Seeing as this is total fantasy I thought I’d continue our trip down the yellow brick road and predict the Stanley Cup winner based on this format.

In round 1 I don’t believe we would see too many upsets.

Detroit’s offense would eventually overpower the stout defense and heroics of Roberto Loungo.

Boston would see the return of Joe Thornton but it wouldn’t be a pleasant visit. The Beantown faithful would once again be reminded of one of the worst deals in NHL history as ‘Jumbo Joe’ leads his Sharks past his former team in swift and brutal fashion.

Montreal and Colorado also share some history as it was the Habs that sent the Avalanche the last piece they needed to secure multiple Cups on the back of former Montreal Conn Smythe winner Patrick Roy. It would also mark the return of Jose Theodore whose career appeared to be on the brink of distinction when he was dealt to the Avs in March of 2006. Things have changed since then as Theodore has regained some of his old mojo pushing Colorado back into the playoff spotlight. However, while Theodore performs heroics for Colorado between the pipes, Montreal beats the Avs in a close and very entertaining first round match-up.

The two previous Stanley Cup champions meet up next in the #4 vs #13 bracket. Carolina has shown an amazing amount of resilience after losing their heart and soul captain, Rod Brind’Amour and a slew of other core players. They will give the current reigning champs all they can handle but in the end Anaheim is too big, too healthy and too deep on the backend for the Raleigh bunch.

In the Battle of Pennsylvania the Penguins and Flyers prepare to renew an old and heated rivalry. With the return of Sid the Kid the Penguins boast an impressive offensive attack. The Flyers have been picking their game up of late as Mike Richards has also come off the IR to help lead his team into the postseason. Along with the Montreal-Colorado series, this one is also highly entertaining featuring high-flying attacks and acrobatic goaltending. But this year, the Penguins will not be sent home early. Malkin, Crosby, Hossa and Fleury are too much for the Flyers and the Penguins are off to the second round.

In another inter-state battle the Devils play host to the NY Rangers. This series features stone wall defenses with superb goaltending. While Henrik Lundqvist shines at the Rock and in the Garden, future Hall of Fame goaltender Marty Brodeur answers each save with one of his own and the Devils take advantage of the Rangers young defense sending the boys in Blue home in five games.

Ottawa grabbed the #7 seed but they’re lucky to be participating in the playoffs at all. After a tremendous start to the season, the Sens collapsed under a whirlwind of soap opera type drama that eventually cost former bench boss, John Paddock, his job. With Marty Gerber in net and an unbalanced offensive attack, the Dallas Stars pick them apart in one-sided affair. The off-season proves to be more entertaining for Sens fans than their brief playoff appearance. As the world turns, so will Bryan Murray’s telephone dial as he attempts to find Ray Emery a new home.

In a Northwest division match-up we see the #8 seeded Minnesota Wild take on the Calgary Flames. This is another entertaining series with Minnesota trying to impose their puck possession style over the rough and tumble gameplan employed by ‘Iron’ Mike Keenan. However, Minnesota proves to be too small for the big men from Calgary as Jarome Iginla and Miikka Kiprusoff lead the Flames into round two.

#1 Detroit (108) vs. #10 Dallas (89)

#2 San Jose (100) vs. #9 Calgary (90)

#3 Montreal (96) vs. #6 New Jersey (91)

#4 Anaheim (96) vs. #5 Pittsburgh (95)

Hockeytown welcomes the Stars for what promises to be another strong defensive series. Brad Richards continues his strong postseason play and Marty Turco shows everyone why Mike Smith was expendable. Nick Lidstrom is, once again, a rock on the blueline while leading the attack on the powerplay. Dominik Hasek and Chris Chelios do their part in proving that age is only a number and the Wings squeak out a tough six game series that could have gone either way. When the dust settles the Wings depth on the blueline combined with a balanced attack from their top two lines propels Detroit into the third round for the second year in a row.

While San Jose had an easy time with Boston in the first round, the waters became much murkier for the Sharks in the second. Calgary is relentless on the forecheck and downright mean in their own end fracturing San Jose’s already fragile playoff psyche. Despite Big Joe’s best efforts he can’t drag his team further and the Flames are off to round three.

The top two teams in the East faceoff in what will prove to be the best series of the second round. Alex Kovalev leads the Habs attack while Martin Brodeur, again, resumes his role as the greatest last defense of his era. In a see-saw, seven game battle, the Devils penalty killing trumps Montreal’s potent power play in a series that could have gone either way.

In a classic matchup of offense vs. defense the young Penguins fly into Anaheim hoping their young superstars can crack the armor of the NHL’s best defensive core. Crosby and Malkin are valiant in their quest for the Cup, but Anaheim’s defense, led by Scott Neidermayer and Chris Pronger squelch the Pens attack while the Ducks top two lines provide just enough offense to move on to the next round.

#1 Detroit (108) vs. #9 Calgary (90)

#4 Anaheim (96) vs. #6 New Jersey (91)

Detroit and Calgary rekindle the friendships forged from their first round encounter last year. Both teams know each other well as both rosters are nearly identical to their previous meeting. Blood is drawn and wills are tested in a tightly played semi-final. Over the course of the seven game dust-up, Detroit’s depth and resilience helps propel them over a gritty Flames performance. For the first time in eight years, the Wings are back in the finals.

In a rematch of the 2003 Stanley Cup finals, the Ducks and Devils engage in a tough and suffocating defensive struggle. Goaltenders on either side stymie rare offensive opportunities to a frustrating degree. Patrick Elias and Zach Parise make Ducks fans sweat every time they control the puck in the offensive zone, but the Ducks hold them off while Ryan Getzlaf has a series for the ages, propelling Anaheim back into the finals for the third time in six years.

#1 Detroit (108) vs. #4 Anaheim (96)

If destiny was a hockey fan, she had a hand in the finals. Many predicted these two teams would meet in the playoffs with the winner taking home the ultimate prize. Fans will not be disappointed as this series features strong defense, stalwart goaltending and two completely, yet effective, brands of offense. While the Ducks like to base their offense off a strong, pulverizing, dump-and-chase forecheck, the Wings continue to employ a highly effective puck possession offensive scheme. Refusing to simply give up the puck, the Wings will always attempt a pass before bailing out by dumping the puck. Both clubs are extremely effective in their strategies and it’s for this reason that the Finals will be decided by a seventh game. Chris Pronger has just returned from a one game suspension after cross checking Johan Franzen into next week. It was that suspension that allowed the Wings to tie up the series with a 3-2 victory in Anaheim two nights before.

Through 60 minutes, both teams trade chances, kill off one nerve-wracking penalty after another, and swap goals in the first and second periods leading to the most exciting period of any team sport; sudden-death overtime. Unlike the third period, both teams fly out of the gate trying to end the game early. Teemu Selanne rings one of the iron as Dominik Hasek sprawls around the crease after tossing his paddle aside. Tomas Holmstrom tips one wide after a strong cycle produces a Rafalski blast from the point. And then, with only four minutes and 32 seconds played in the extra stanza, Mikael Samuelsson fails to chip the puck out of his zone, allowing former wing Mathieu Schneider to kick the puck to Chris Kunitz along the wall. The undrafted Saskatchewan native throws the puck out front to Ryan Getzlaf who quickly fires the puck past a diving Hasek to give the Ducks their second Cup victory in as many years.

Teemu Selanne and Scott Neidermayer announce their retirement through tears of joy as the Wings players and their fans once again think about “next year”.

Please let me know if you'd be interested in seeing the NHL adopt this playoff format or what you're predictions would be using this scenario.

Thanks!

Henry Dyck
hsdyck@gmail.com

Shrink to Grow: NHL GMs Discuss Goaltender Equipment

Henry Dyck — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:57:54 -0400

In late February, the NHL’s collection of general managers gathered in Naples, Florida to discuss the state of the game. Many items were addressed, but the most important was the size of goaltender equipment.

This is not a new discussion as many fans and NHL executives have wondered whether things have gotten out of hand.

Scoring zones that existed for nearly 80 years have all but dried up and gone the way of the maskless netminder.

Many factors have contributed to the demise of the Mike Bossy-shot along the wall or the 15-foot Wendel Clark snapshot: better players, better coaching, better defensive systems and of course, better and larger goalies.

But it’s no secret that the shooters of today have half as much space to score on as players of old.

It’s true that the science of goaltending has soared since the emergence of Patrick Roy.

More and more children began to emulate goaltenders over offensive stars. Many of today’s top netminders have been quoted as saying Roy was the reason they wanted to become a goalie.

The average size of players has also grown considerably since the days where anyone who stood over 5’10” was considered a behemoth. To put it simply, goaltenders are larger, stronger and more agile than the men who minded the nets in years past.

It is for that reason that the goalie equipment of today must be tapered to allow more offense into the game.

Most goalies will rally behind the word "safety." They believe that without such large equipment, they will be more susceptible to injury.

This is an issue and one that can’t be ignored.

However, one of the greatest goalies to strap on the pads also wears the smallest equipment in relation to his physical size.

Martin Brodeur has been minding New Jersey’s net for over a decade. In the past 11 years, he has played in no less than 70 games per season.

During that time span he has won three Stanley Cups, one Olympic Gold Medal, three Vezina Trophies (awarded to the best goalie as voted by the 30 NHL general managers), three William M. Jennings Trophies (Lowest goals-against on the season), and appeared in eight all-star games.

How is it that the goalie that wears the smallest equipment is also the least injured and most productive?

Brodeur stands 6’2” and weighs 215 pounds and yet he wears 35” pads. Compare that to St. Louis goaltender Manny Legace, who stands 5’9” and uses 38” pads, the same size pads that 6’4” Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig wears.

Unfortunately, the issue doesn’t stop at the length of leg pads. The upper body protection that many goalies wear today is beyond ridiculous.

Watch an Anaheim Ducks contest and observe the equipment that J.S. Giguere adorns. His shoulder pads extend well beyond where his shoulders stop. He’s been known to have special attachments to his shoulder pads that "flap-out" (pardon the pun) when he assumes the butterfly position.

How is adding equipment that doesn’t protect any part of the body a matter of safety?

Another interesting question is this: If adding larger equipment is essential to a goaltender's safety, how is it that the equipment is square in shape and not rounded like the natural shape of the human body?

Why do more and more goalkeepers resemble a rectangle, the same shape as the net?

I don’t think it’s a healthy coincidence.

In an age where the advances in technology have allowed equipment to become both stronger and smaller in size, goaltending equipment has become larger.

There is no reason that a belly pad should extend 18” from the player’s stomach. Similarly, players with thin waists should not have any reason to wear pants sized for much larger men.

Martin Brodeur agrees.

"From my point of view, and I hope they think about this, they need to make the effort to size everyone individually," he said in an interview from New Jersey.

"If they do that, they'll see a big difference. They have to reduce the little guys to being little guys and the skinny guys to being skinny guys. Those guys are taking advantage of the system.

"There's no reason why anyone under six feet should be wearing 38" pads, but everybody is wearing them," he said. "It's like if you have a 33" waist, you shouldn't be allowed to wear XXL pants."[i]

The issue extends beyond the physical implications of larger gear but also psychological.

Hall of Fame goaltender Ken Dryden commented to Sports Illustrated writer E.M. Swift, "You can't really beat a goalie with a shot anymore. The goals now are almost all scored off redirections.

"The shooter sees a whole lot less space now, which changes the psychology of the contest between the goalie and the shooter. The goalie's equipment has gone from being an instrument to protect the body to being an instrument to protect the net."[ii]

After reading that quote, I made a conscience effort to observe if this was true. It didn’t take long to realize that the former Montreal Canadiens great was right.

I have seen countless times, in many games, where a player will have possession of the puck, in a prime scoring area, only to pass it off to a teammate who is both farther away and at a more disadvantageous angle.

The reasoning is simple: the player didn’t see any net, and found that passing was a higher percentage play than shooting.

Scoring zones aren’t the only casualty of inflated goalie gear. The art of goaltending is also dying along with it.

There are only a handful of goalies that are worth the price of admission these days. Almost every goalie repeats the same mantra over and over: “Square to the shooter and make yourself big.”

This certainly wasn’t the case many years ago. I realize that today’s netminders are far better in their positioning with defensive systems assisting this strategy. However, in many cases, the equipment is doing more work than it should.

Again, to pick on Giguere, when is the last time anyone witnessed him making a dramatic glove or blocker save? It rarely, if ever, happens for the Anaheim goalkeeper.

He’s all but admitted that he lacks any kind of athleticism and he bases his entire game around sound positioning and making himself big.

In a time where the consumer has several entertainment options, this hardly sounds worthy of someone’s hard-earned money. Why on earth would anyone invest their time and money when the League allows a ridiculous standard to suck any kind of entertainment value from the product?

Most goals today are scored from rebounds, screens or deflections. And the majority of the time, the only way to score during five-on-five play occurs off the initial rush.

The NHL desperately needs to resurrect scoring zones that existed for decades. If the NHL is to improve its product and compete for consumer dollars against the other major sports, it needs to shrink in order for it to grow.

Henry Dyck

hsdyck@gmail.com

[i] The Toronto Star, Damien Cox, Feb 20^th, 2008, http://www.thestar.com/Sports/article/305184

[ii] Sports Illustrated, E.M. Swift, Jan 16, 2007, http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/em_swift/01/16/bigger.goals/index.html