Detroit is well known for loving hockey and great food so it only makes sense that our own Red Wing defensemen Chris Chelios got into the restaurant business. Located in the heart of downtown West Dearborn, Cheli’s Chili offers a laid back, come-as-you-are sporty atmosphere. The rooms are large with lots of “elbow space”, the bar is wide with big flat screens everywhere. The rooftop (in summer) hosts live entertainment and is a great date location. The bio on Chris Cheilos appears on the menu and makes a great connection between Chris as a great hockey player and restaurateur.
Cheli’s Chili offers an impressive selection of draft or bottled, beer enthusiasts flock to Cheli’s Chili and are not disappointed. The wine list is adequate and martini specialties include the Cheili’s Chiller (Stoli Razberi, Triple Sec, lime juice and a splash of cranberry juice) and the famous Snickertini, delicious!

Last night, Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull were inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. While around town, we have only heard about Yzermans induction, remember all three played on one incredible hockey team. I understand the fawning of Yzerman in the light of this moment. Yzerman rejuvenated a franchise with his two hands and a bionic knee.

But it was that 2001-02 season, where four inductees in the past two classes, were grouped together and he was the one who stood out. His riveting performance on one leg, in visible pain, carrying the Wings back from an imminent first round upset at the hands of Vancouver. He finished the playoffs with 23 points in 21 games. Yzerman was largely ineffective after the second round series against St.Louis, but he carried the weight of nine other Hall of Famers through the first two rounds.

Yes, nine other Hall of Famers; Larionov, Hull, Robitaille, Shanahan, Lidstrom, Hasek, Chelios, Fedorov and likely Datsyuk, so lets say ten. Yet, this seems to be the forgotten team. I suppose it was for lack of longevity. Really the 2008 Cup winning team has already seemed to suffer a fade in luster and will likely suffer the same relative obscurity.

Nineteen-Ninety-Seven was the first Stanley Cup in 42 years, they won back to back, there was emotion and adversity with the Fedorov hold-out and Konstinov accident. All seems to point towards the back to back cups as being the forever titles. But the bottom line is an assembly of such supreme talent is rare. We didn’t see such an assembly in any other team than 2002. The 01-02 Red Wings would smoke the back to back cup teams, trust me, I know, I have played out this match-up on NHL 2K9 several times.

I am just asking talent to be appreciated. That team finished the regular season 51-17-10, a dominating total of 116 points. But they did not make it boring. Of course there was the aforementioned hiccup against Vancouver in the first round. Detroit fell behind in the series 0-2 and it took a freak center ice goal from Lidstrom (or rather the ineptitude of Dan Cloutier) for Detroit to save themselves.

They played back to back hard fought series against St. Louis and Colorado, both fine teams that season. The series against the Blues seen Chris Pronger injure himself, trying to take out the wounded Yzerman, which is still one of my all-time favorite hockey moments.

The first six games of the 2002 Western Conference was the best display of playoff hockey I had ever seen. The two teams went toe to toe, trading what looked like knock out blow after knock out blow. It wasn’t until a surprise Yzerman goal in game six, paired with another oddly effective Darren McCarty performance, that got the Wings game six in Colorado while facing elimination. Game 7 ended the Avalanche run as a contender and Patrick Roy’s career. Completing the circle of the Red Wings-Avalanche rivalry, that for a time, was the best in sports.

Then how about in the Stanley Cup finals? So many people pass that series off as forgettable, but if you don’t remember some key moments of that series, then you simply weren’t paying attention in the first place.

Game 3 of that series was simply put, one of the best Stanley Cup finals games ever. It sea-sawed back and forth. The Wings had to score with a minute left in the third, on a controversial power play to send it into overtime. Fallowing a couple hit posts and tremendous saves from Irbe and Hasek it eventually went into a sixth period. Larionov got a great break on a pick set by Dandendault and floated a backhand up over Irbe to end it. This game seems lost in time. Despite had the Wings lost, they would had been down 2 to 1, with two more games to play in Carolina. It was a beautiful, clutch goal, in a gut wrenchingly important game, yet it seems overshadowed by Kris Drapper scoring in early overtime of game two in the ‘98 finals.

Who got the Conn Smythe? It somehow was not Yzerman who lead the team in points on one leg. It somehow wasn’t Hull who lead the team in goals. It somehow wasn’t Hasek who set a record for playoff shut outs with seven. It was Lidstrom who lead the team in ice time, plus-minus, while adding 16 points and only taking one penalty. This was a largely debatable decision rooted in the depth of this team.

So my plea is to take this time and remember not just Yzerman, but that entire 2001-2002 team. Every player, from Sean Avery and Jiri Slegr to Sergie Fedorov and Uwe Krupp. They were an interesting roster, just aside from the all the Hall of Fame talent.

It was for all intents and purposes, a rented team. There was a core from ‘98 there but the big guns were brought in to make sure the deed would be done. Maybe that is why this team has been swept under the bed. This is a “blue collar town” and that was a “white collar team”. The Red Wings were doing their best Yankees impersonation that season, and like for the Yankees this season, it worked then.

As I was impressed with this seasons Yankees team, I will forever be impressed with the 01-02 Red Wings and will hold them in high reverie. Three players from one Hall of Fame class playing on the same team, was a true privilege to watch. Just hope you knew what you were watching.

Last week, I met with a good friend for dinner. She was visiting New York City from Lithuania. She just so happens to be the sister of my all-time favorite defenseman Darius Kasparaitis.

As we talked both NHL and KHL hockey, I couldn’t help but feel a bit saddened after we talked. I didn’t know what it was about that conversation, but today, as I was coming into the city, I realized that I know what was saddening me.

For those who follow KHL hockey, you will see that Darius Kasparaitis is listed on injured reserve. Since I know what his status is, I cannot say anything that his club SKA St. Petersburg hasn’t said beyond him being on injured reserve.

But the truth is that Darius is 37 years old. Retirement is bound to happen soon.

But Darius’ retirement wasn’t what we were discussing…that actually wasn’t on the table.

We were discussing someone else’s future…that being the last of the NHLers that contributed in making me into the passionate hockey lover that I am.

This guy is a UFA skating down at Chelsea Piers these days, waiting for that phone call with an offer from some team out there that is willing to make him an offer.

That last of the NHLers is none other than Brendan Shanahan, a friend of Kasparaitis.

Since his departure from the Devils, and what looks to be a suggestion into a forced retirement, I can’t help but feel that the passion I once had for hockey is waning. It’s not as strong as it used to be.

Sure, there are players lingering somewhere else in the world that helped contribute to the passion…like Chris Chelios. He is lingering somewhere in Chicago in the AHL, but I’ve been preparing for his retirement for several years now.

I’ve been preparing for the time when Jaromir Jagr makes the decision to let his playing days go. I’m just praying he’ll finish his career back in the NHL, and not the KHL. There’s got to be one last desire in him to achieve the Stanley Cup one more time.

There’s Kevin Weekes, who is still able to play, but no teams have signed him.

Marcel Hossa has disappeared into Russian territory.

Martin Brodeur will be bringing his career to an end in the upcoming years.

Michael Nylander…who knows where he’s going these days…reports now say to Russia.

Marty Straka has been in the Czech Leagues for over a year.

Do you see where I’m going with this? The guys that fueled that passion are either retiring, can’t get a job, or have sailed across the Atlantic blue.

Only one name I mentioned above has a current NHL job.

The thing is…I’ve been preparing for this for some time now…the retirement of the legends and the rising of the new demi-gods. But the truth is, it’s not the same.

Alexander Ovechkin will continue to astound the NHL like Wayne Gretzky once did. Sidney Crosby will continue to become a greater athlete. Evgeni Malkin will still be my favorite Russian, but none of those three will make me feel the way Jagr, Shanny, or Kasparaitis made me feel about the game.

Their passion for the game was so strong, it rubbed off on me. I remember sitting there in the front row at Nassau Coliseum on March 30, 2006 and seeing Jagr skate over to where I was sitting after he broke the record for most points scored by a New York Ranger.

The smile on his face was worth it all. For any fan of Jaromir Jagr, the 2005-2006 season was the season to watch Jagr at the height of his career. He broke record after record.

To be a witness to HIS history in the making was what made hockey so special to me. It made the player even more special to those who are, dare I say it, huge fans.

That was also the season that I got into hockey. I wasn’t into hockey before that season. The reason why I got into hockey…it was because of Jaromir Jagr.

I had seen him play for the Washington Capitals on January 3, 2001. That was my first hockey game ever. The only name I got out of that game was Jaromir Jagr’s name because every other word out of every Caps fans’ mouth was Jagr, Jagr, Jagr.

So 4 years later, sitting in Madison Square Garden, hearing that last goal that was scored on Martin Brodeur on October 13, 2005 was scored by Jaromir Jagr…just left me flabbergasted. I had no idea Jagr was playing for the New York Rangers, but in my second hockey game ever, Jaromir Jagr was playing for the home team once again.

Jagr was the guy that fueled all of my passion for hockey…and it was a passion for really good hockey…the stuff that makes hockey legendary.

Marty Brodeur is currently the last of those legends that are currently playing in the NHL that contributed to my passion for the game. October 13, 2005 was the night that if you were on the ice, you contributed to the night I was made into a hockey fan. So it’s no surprise that the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils are two teams that helped to form me into the person I am today…as far as hockey is concerned.

Kasparaitis was the one that launched my hockey writing career. He made sure the Rangers knew who I was…and he even created a few fans (Shanahan supposedly being one of them). You can’t help but feel even more connected to them when you know that 2 of those 3 favorite NHLers helped create your career for you.

Witnessing hockey history is like an addiction…just ask any Rangers fan who witnessed the Rangers winning the Stanley Cup in 1994. That was 15 years ago, but they still talk about it like it was yesterday.

It will still be many years before Crosby, Ovechkin or Malkin will be the new legends. In the meantime, I’m left with only one legend who has yet a few more records to break…but those records are few, as he’s already broken the most important ones. I’m waiting on the shutout title now.

But for now, finding that passion I once felt for hockey…it seems that with each retirement, each sailing, and each one that stands on a naked ice waiting for that opportunity to play again…my passion starts to die with the end of each of their NHL careers.

You know how when you are passionate about your work, you tend to excel…well, things change when the flame starts to die out. When what made you so passionate about life is no longer there, how do you carry on?

At the beginning of this season, one of the last of the top 3 guys on my all-time favorite NHLer list stopped playing NHL hockey. Actually, he was forced to leave. Now, it’s become a hope that he will play…and I’m not big into HOPES. Hopes are not real. Beliefs are real. I stopped believing…

Sitting in Hell’s Kitchen with my friend talking about how the KHL is changing the face of hockey and how they are so good to their players…it has me asking myself…well, what about the KHL? Would that be the next career move in hockey? Braving the cold winters for Russian hockey?

Or how about expansion into Europe? The need for hockey in places like Lithuania seem to be very well in demand. A need for a national or a kontinental hockey league is needed in Europe. They love hockey just as much (or even more) than the Russian or North American counterparts.

Sharing hockey with the world is worth getting passionate about. Bringing hockey to places where children (like in Puerto Rico) have never seen hockey before is something worth being passionate about. When you see a child witness their first hockey game, there’s nothing in the world like it.

That’s what really made me fall in love with the game…seeing the face of children experiencing hockey for the very first time…that was a much better moment than Jagr smiling after he collected the most points as a New York Ranger that night in Long Island.

Jagr’s smile may have always brought a smile to my face…but a child’s awe of the game of hockey brought an even bigger smile to my soul.

This season, my aim in many of the articles I am doing with the New Jersey Devils focuses on their charitable contributions to the community. Not only do I want to know what it was like growing up hockey, I want to know how they’re giving back.

Seeing the look on David Clarkson’s face when he talked about how he used to be a huge Toronto Maple Leafs fan when he was a kid…and how he even sat on the knee of one of his heroes, Brendan Shanahan, when he was six years old to later playing on the same line as him…that’s the same face I see when I talk to kids witnessing their first hockey game. [Clarky, after all, will admit that he is still a kid at heart.]

But most of all, as we head into the holiday season, we also have to be charitable. Our economy hasn’t been favorable…every sector has been hit, including hockey. But one lesson I’ve always learned is that when we think we don’t have it good, someone else does have it worse off than we do.

We may look at our empty coin purses and think we can’t give to someone else if we can’t give to ourselves or our families…I suggest donating your time. Make time to donate it.

This year, as in past years, I’ll be donating to the Toys for Tots. I actually donate bags full of toys to both the Rangers drive and the Devils drive. I shop all year round…that’s how important it is to me. I think about it all year long.

I’m such a kid at heart that I actually started using my Disney Rewards points from all of the Disney movies I own and started donating my points to donate a toy to the Toys for Tots program.

The point I’m making is that a smile on a child’s face can put a smile on anyone’s soul. So make an effort to do that for children that will only get that one toy as a gift this year…and make it a good gift.

I have a NHL 2K10 game sitting in my office drawer courtesy of the guys next door (the NHL in case you’re behind). Some lucky kid will be getting that this year with a game system. But who? That’s the question…

So as I say goodbye to the last of the top three NHLers that ignited so much passion in me, my focus goes to something else…something that will make my soul happy, because if that was Shanny’s last goal of his career…I’m just thankful I was there to see it.

[I better get my visa ready, because I have a couple of KHLers I need to see one last time.]

Here is a letter that Ian Penny, former interim NHLPA Executive Director, send to the executive board members regarding the horrendous state of the current NHLPA. I couldn’t believe some of the comments in here and am appalled at Chelios for being such a shit disturber.

Executive Board Members: I am writing to the Board in my capacity as Interim Executive Director to share my concerns about a number of very troubling issues, including surveillance activities at the NHLPA office; the leaking of confidential information from Board meetings; fatal flaws with the review of operations; and my personal situation. I recognize that I am in a conflicted position when I comment on the review and some of the other office issues that concern me, but it remains my duty to advise the Board on these types of matters.

1. Poisonous Office Environment: In recent weeks, there have been a series of hostile and intimidating acts taken against members of the NHLPA staff. These acts are contrary to the legal obligation of the NHLPA to create a safe work environment that is free of harassment. Unfortunately, this obligation is not being fulfilled because of these acts, which include the following:

- Chris Chelios is using staff members inside the office to monitor the meetings and discussions of their fellow employees and report back to him on their activities

- Chelios has confronted multiple employees and interrogated them about why they were meeting with other staffers and what was said in their discussions

- The most recent example of this surveillance campaign occurred on Tuesday, when Chelios sent me the following text message while I was meeting with four other managers in a board room:

“Ian when you r done can you please call me and let me know what you 5 staff members are discussing with each other i would like to know being your guys Emplyer.”

It is obvious based on this text message and other recent incidents that Chelios has staff members spying on their colleagues so that he can intimidate and harass the targeted staffers. This completely inappropriate conduct has created a hostile, fractured and distrustful work environment. It is the type of environment that exists in repressive, totalitarian regimes – not work places. It must stop immediately.

Chelios’ suggestion that he is the employer and that he is entitled to engage in this form of harassment is simply wrong. No employer is entitled to intimidate employees in this manner. In addition, this view reflects a misunderstanding of the relationship between the Executive Board and the staff. There are over 700 NHLPA members who dictate the union’s course through 30 Player Reps acting as a group. No single Player and no single Player Rep directs the day to day management of the NHLPA or its staff. Not only would that be a recipe for chaos, it would allow a single Player to engage in activities that may create legal liability for the entire membership.

Because I am a target of Chelios’ surveillance activities, I strongly recommend that the Board seek guidance from other counsel regarding the legal exposure that these activities may have created for the NHLPA.

2. Leaking of Internal Information: The hostile work environment that currently exists has been made significantly worse by the consistent leaking of information, including information from our recent Executive Board calls. Sensitive, confidential union information is appearing in the media within minutes of the meetings’ conclusions. These leaks have resulted in a siege mentality among staff and have created the perception that we are an ineffectual organization that is incapable of governing itself. The NHLPA and the Board owe a duty to maintain the confidentiality of the matters discussed in Board meetings and they also owe a duty of confidentiality to staff. Now that the Board has authorized a review of operations, this practice of leaking information significantly raises the risk of legal exposure for the NHLPA. As I discuss more below, it will be the Board’s responsibility to make sure that appropriate steps are taken to prevent the release of confidential information relating to the review.

3. Review of Operations: Consistent with my fiduciary duty to the Board, I am compelled to advise you that the review of operations is fatally flawed as it is currently designed. The key flaw is the well-established bias of Chris Chelios – one of the four committee members conducting the review. That bias is demonstrated by the following:

- In a conversation several weeks ago Chelios urged me to tear up my contract extension and then threatened me by claiming that I would not survive a review. This indicates that he has prejudged the matter and will not approach a review with the necessary balance and objectivity.

- As discussed above, Chelios has demonstrated his bias and hostility towards me and other staff by engaging in the surveillance of our activities at the office.

- During the September 28 and October 4 Board calls Chelios made false and misleading statements about my compensation history and my record. These statements, which Chelios admitted making, not only showed his personal bias, but created a false sense of distrust among other Board members and Players that prevents them from approaching a review with an open mind. This manufactured distrust also led to the improper reduction of my role in union affairs.

- Chelios has communicated with a number of Certified Agents in developing the presentations to Board members that have portrayed me in a negative light. Chelios’ statement on Thursday that the review committee may seek assistance from Agents creates the appearance that the review will be dominated by individuals harbouring an improper bias.

- Following Paul Kelly’s termination and prior to the Board’s approval of the review, Chelios engaged in an unauthorized, personal investigation of my conduct during which he solicited negative information about me from staff and others. These efforts demonstrate a substantial, pre-existing bias towards me.

- Shortly after Paul Kelly’s termination, Chelios and several other Board members received a written communication from Kelly encouraging him to investigate me and other staff. Since that time Chelios has continued to communicate with Kelly. These contacts create the appearance that the review is being coordinated with Kelly and that the review will target certain staff, while steering clear of Kelly’s conduct and the conduct of his allies. That appearance was reinforced when Kelly recently offered public praise for the creation of the review committee and when Glenn Healy stated on the radio Wednesday that Players on the review committee want to bring Kelly back to the NHLPA (see summary of radio interview below).

Because of these significant flaws, the results of the review will be placed in doubt and the Board will be prevented from taking effective action.

The Board should also be concerned with the possibility that the review will result in breaches of privacy that would violate applicable privacy legislation. This concern should be heightened in light of Chelios’ recent statement that he may involve Agents and individuals from other sports in the review process. To guard against privacy violations and to comply with the duty of good faith owed to staff, the Board needs to have effective controls in place to insure that information is not accessed by unauthorized individuals or otherwise leaked.

Given all of these circumstances, I recommend that the Board retain an independent, objective professional to conduct the review and that Chris Chelios have no further involvement. If those steps were taken, I would welcome the review and the opportunity to work with the independent professional in reaching a fair and balanced assessment based on all of the evidence.

Due to the fact that I am in a conflicted position in rendering this advice, I further recommend that the Board seek advice from other legal counsel. This advice should address whether the review committee is properly constituted given the strong appearance of bias and whether the review will allow the Board to meet its legal obligations with respect to privacy, confidentiality and good faith.

4. Ian Penny: Based on the actions that have been taken to date with respect to my employment, including the ongoing surveillance of my activities at the office and the reduction of my role through the circulation of false information, it is my view that I have been constructively dismissed by the union. However, what is more important to me is that it has simply become impossible to work for the Players in the environment that has been created. It is also unfair to the hard-working, dedicated staff of the NHLPA to have my untenable situation negatively impact them in any way.

Due to this unacceptable work environment, I am prepared to resign from the NHLPA subject to certain reasonable conditions being met. At the present time there is no person with whom I can discuss the situation. I therefore recommend that the Board appoint counsel who can handle such a discussion. If you appoint a representative, I will appoint someone to represent my interests. If an amicable resolution cannot be worked out, I will consult my representative about next steps.

In the meantime I intend to continue to perform my duties on behalf of the NHLPA. However, I will not respond to Chris Chelios’ demands for information about my meetings and discussions with staff unless directed to do so by the Executive Board.

For those who want to believe that this memorandum is an attempt to undermine or avoid the review process, I suspect they cannot be convinced otherwise. The truth of the matter is that I would have no difficulty being held accountable in an environment where a fair and balanced assessment can be made. Unfortunately, that environment does not exist. This is due to the steady campaign of misrepresentations that has impaired the trust that needs to exist between me and the membership.

Please give these matters your prompt attention.

In solidarity,

Ian

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Three former Wings to be inducted into HHOF today

Former captain Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille, and Brett Hull — all members of the Stanley Cup-winning 2001-02 squad –  will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this evening.The ceremony will take place at 7 p.m. EDT and will be broadcast live on TSN (Canada) and the NHL Network (Canada and U.S.).

• Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com writes a fantastic article about Yzerman’s career and I highly recommend checking out the article.
• Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press had a lengthy exclusive interview with Yzerman with topics ranging from how he has never regretted his decision to retire to what he has learned since joining the front office.
• MLive.com quoted Yzerman as saying getting enshrined in the HHOF was the “greatest honor.” MLive.com also looked back at the 10 key moments of Yzerman’s 20-year NHL career.
• The Detroit News looks back at Yzerman’s early start in hockey at the age of five.
• Greg Eno of Out of Bounds discusses how the Wings did pretty well with their backup plan: drafting Yzerman when Pat LaFontaine was already taken.
• Ted Lindsay wasn’t at a loss for words when it came to talking about The Captain.
• The Windsor Star talks about how Yzerman feels strange to now be considered a Hall of Famer.

Wings fall 5-1 to Toronto

In the Hockey Hall of Fame game on Saturday in Toronto, the Wings dropped a 5-1 decision to the Maple Leafs. Before the game, the 2009 HHOF class was honored (see picture above). The Detroit News noted the one highlight of the loss as Dan Cleary scored his 100th career goal to snap a 12-game scoreless streak. Red Wings Blog, The Triple Deke, Winging It In Motown, and Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle posted their thoughts on the loss.

Forward Jason Williams fractured his right fibula according to The Detroit News. The Red Wings’ GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press that he expects the forward to be out for eight weeks with the injury, but does not anticipate calling anyone up since Patrick Eaves’ foot is feeling better and he should be able to re-enter the lineup.

In Other News

• Former Red Wings defender Chris Chelios returned to Michigan this weekend when his Chicago Wolves (AHL) faced the Grand Rapids Griffins and Van Andel Arena. He told The Grand Rapids Press that his 25-game tryout with the Wolves has allowed for more family time, especially with his ill father who lives in Chicago.
• The blogger behind Big Red Machine was able to attend the Red Wings’ autograph signing in Toronto on Friday afternoon and shared a picture of the poster signed by the team (minus Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen).
• Brad May doesn’t like to wear a visor, but believes the NHL should mandate that visors be a requirement and yes he realizes those two statements conflict.
• The amount of injuries popping up to the Wings has some bloggers worried, including Abel to Yzerman, The Production Line, and On the Wings. Drew at Nightmare on Helm Street reminds us that the Wings still have some great players left, who are not injured so don’t press the panic button yet.

After a surprisingly slow to their season which has seen the Detroit Red Wings win just 7 of their 15 games, general manager Ken Holland has admitted to purposely decreasing the teams talent level and instilling a losing atmosphere. ”Who won the cup last year? It certainly wasn’t the Detroit Red Wings so I had to teach a lesson and show everyone that if losing is what they want, then losing is what they’ll get,” said Holland following the Wings 5-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. “It looked to me like those guys last year wanted to lose, so that is exactly what they are gonna get this year.”  Holland also points out the decision to not re-sign Marian Hossa and Mikael Samuelsson and instead signing the likes of Todd Bertuzzi, Patrick Eaves and Jason Williams as moves that would lead to a much weaker team and thus carrying out his plan of teaching the team a lesson. “Why else do you think I brought in Bertuzzi, Eaves and Williams but chose not to re-sign Hossa and Samuelsson? If I was going to replace those guys I would have atleast brought in some more Swedes, but I knew those three players would give us a much better chance of losing. Do you really think that Jiri Hudler decided to go to Russia on his own? That was all me too.” Holland also turned to the glaring fact that Chris Osgood is still the teams top goaltender. “Do you honestly think Osgood would still be here if we weren’t purposely trying to lose? Give me a break. How else would we be able to lose to the Leafs?”

Of all the offseason moves that Holland made to make the team worse, there is still one that got away and it is clearly the one that bothers him the most. “Cheli,” said Holland with obvious disappointment. “If I could have kept Chris Chelios for another year we probably wouldn’t win 10 games this year and I definitely would have gotten my message across a little stronger.”

It is exactly what I thought would happen if Chris Chelios was given any power in the NHLPA. CBC.CA has posted up Ian Penny’s Letter to the NHLPA. Here it is:

This is a letter written by Ian Penny, former interim executive director of the NHLPA on October 23, 2009 to the organization’s player executive board. It details reasons why he believes he was constructively dismissed by the NHLPA. It was obtained by CBCSports.ca

In solidarity, Ian

In celebration of Halloween, I thought I’d do a little special on a few of the scariest hockey moments that have scared the crap out of me.

But before I get into the gory details, make sure you support UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat Campaign.

Also, Trick or Treat For Our Troops is an interesting charity. After all, do we really need all of that candy?

Teach the kids about helping out other kids in the world and our troops!

Now to the Top 5:

5. Richard Zednik’s Throat Slashed

I remember watching this game on TV when it happened. It was horrible. Luckily for Zednik, the guys that saved his life that night were there when #1’s incident happened. Chances of getting your throat slashed and surviving it in Buffalo are pretty high. Yes, there is a lot of irony in the fact that two throats slashed all happened in Buffalo territory.

4. Brendan Shanahan Dead?

For any Rangers fan or Shanahan fan, seeing Shanny carried off on a stretcher, completely unmoving after colliding with Mike Knuble could make anyone’s heart stop.

Truthfully, this video (personally) would be number 1, but (professionally) it hits #4.

3. Jiri Fischer Collapses On Bench

2. Alexei Cherepanov Dies

Being a huge fan of Jaromir Jagr, seeing the last minutes of Cherepanov’s life is one of the most haunting videos you’ll ever see. Alexei’s dream was to play hockey with Jagr. He got that wish before he died.

1. Clint Malarchuk’s Throat Cut

This has to be one of the scariest moments in hockey. The video explains it all.

The Manitoba Moose had a week that saw more than one of their games go past regulation, as well as a severe power outage of the scoring variety. For those looking for a more statistical look at how the Moose did during the week of October 18, 2009 to October 24, 2009, please visit that version of this report at Hockey’s Future Vancouver Canucks message board.

_________________________

The Week That Was

The Moose started the week off with a pair of games at Copps Coliseum against the Hamilton Bulldogs. The first game on Monday didn’t see a goal until the third period, when Sergei Shirokov put the Moose ahead 1-0 near the seven-minute mark of the third. Hamilton forward Ryan Russell evened up the game at one almost exactly two minutes later, and the game went to overtime. In the extra frame, Nolan Baumgartner picked a fine time to score his first goal of the season, giving Manitoba its first overtime win of the season. Of note aside from those detail in the game, Cory Schneider faced his first penalty shot of the season, and was able to brush aside Ryan White’s attempt that occurred in the first period.

Manitoba didn’t have as much luck in the rematch that happened on Tuesday. The Bulldogs and Moose traded goals early in the first period, then Hamilton took control, scoring three unanswered goals on their way to a 4-1 win over the Moose. Matt Pettinger scored Manitoba’s only goal on Tuesday.

Manitoba’s scoring, or lack thereof, nearly came to a head on Friday against the Chicago Wolves. Neither team scored through regulation and overtime, and in fact, the first goal of the game didn’t happen until the third shooters of the shootout. Chicago’s Tim Stapleton and Manitoba’s Mike Keane were able to solve Cory Schneider’s and Manny Legace’s puzzle respectfully, then the Moose were able to wrap things up on the final shooter, with Matt Pettinger scoring the game winner in a 1-0 win. The game was also notable for the debut of veteran NHL defenceman Chris Chelios in a Chicago Wolves uniform. This of course wasn’t the first time the Chicago native has played professionally in his hometown, as he played for the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks between 1990 and 1999.

The Moose finished off the week and their first road trip of the season against the Milwaukee Admirals, who had their home opener on this night. Manitoba looked set on spoiling the Ads’ first home game of the season, as Brian Salcido and Sergei Shirokov scored power play goals to put the Moose ahead 2-1. Just over a minute after Shirokov’s goal, Mike Santorelli put the equalizer past Daren Machesney to eventually send the game to overtime. With less than a minute left in the extra frame, Ben Guite fired a shot past Machesney to complete the comeback and hand the Moose their first overtime loss of the season.

The Lines

Changes came to nearly every line and defensive pairing for Monday’s game against Hamilton. Marty Murray and Matt Pettinger moved up to the first line with Sergei Shirokov. Matt Pope came back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch the previous three games, and he was added to the second line with Marco Rosa and Guillaume Desbiens. The third line stayed the same, while Matt McCue and Eric Walsky took Derek LeBlanc’s and Tommy Maxwell’s places on the fourth line beside centre Dusty Collins.

Neil Petruic finally saw his first action with the Manitoba Moose, taking Nolan Baumgartner’s place beside Michael Funk. Baumgartner took his place beside Nathan McIver, while Travis Ramsey and Evan Oberg remained the only stable defensive pairing from the previous game.

Cory Schneider took his place between the pipes after taking last game off to give Daren Machesney his second start of the season.

Sergei Shirokov      -     Marty Murray     -       Matt Pettinger
Matt Pope            -      Marco Rosa      -   Guillaume Desbiens
Pierre-Cedric Labrie -    Mario Bliznak     -           Mike Keane
Matt McCue           -    Dusty Collins     -          Eric Walsky

           Michael Funk         -         Neil Petruic
           Nathan McIver        -    Nolan Baumgartner
           Travis Ramsey        -           Evan Oberg

                          Cory Schneider
                         Daren Machesney

Only one change to the lineup took place from Monday’s lineup, as Derek LeBlanc took Matt McCue’s place on the left side of Dusty Collins on the first line.

Sergei Shirokov      -     Marty Murray     -       Matt Pettinger
Matt Pope            -      Marco Rosa      -   Guillaume Desbiens
Pierre-Cedric Labrie -    Mario Bliznak     -           Mike Keane
Derek LeBlanc        -    Dusty Collins     -          Eric Walsky

           Michael Funk         -         Neil Petruic
           Nathan McIver        -    Nolan Baumgartner
           Travis Ramsey        -           Evan Oberg

                          Cory Schneider
                         Daren Machesney

The Moose made a few changes to the lineup for Friday’s game against the Chicago Wolves. Three players traded places with each other at forward, as Eric Walsky took Guillaume Desbiens’ spot on the second line, Desbiens moved down to Pierre-Cedric Labrie’s spot on the third line, and Labrie took Walsky’s place on the fourth line. Tommy Maxwell came back into the lineup after being a healthy scratch the past two games, while Brian Salcido returned to the Moose lineup after missing six games with a concussion.

Sergei Shirokov      -     Marty Murray     -       Matt Pettinger
Matt Pope            -      Marco Rosa      -          Eric Walsky
Guillaume Desbiens   -    Mario Bliznak     -           Mike Keane
Tommy Maxwell        -    Dusty Collins     - Pierre-Cedric Labrie

           Michael Funk         -        Brian Salcido
           Nathan McIver        -    Nolan Baumgartner
           Travis Ramsey        -           Evan Oberg

                          Cory Schneider
                         Daren Machesney

The Moose pretty much kept the same lineup as they had against the Chicago Wolves the previous night. The only change came in goal, where Daren Machesney took Cory Schneider’s place in between the pipes and started his third game of the season.

Sergei Shirokov      -     Marty Murray     -       Matt Pettinger
Matt Pope            -      Marco Rosa      -          Eric Walsky
Guillaume Desbiens   -    Mario Bliznak     -           Mike Keane
Tommy Maxwell        -    Dusty Collins     - Pierre-Cedric Labrie

           Michael Funk         -        Brian Salcido
           Nathan McIver        -    Nolan Baumgartner
           Travis Ramsey        -           Evan Oberg

                         Daren Machesney
                          Cory Schneider

Who’s Hot

The only player who has been really hot lately is goaltender Cory Schneider, who has gone 3-1 in his last four starts, with a 1.71 goals-against average, a 0.938 save percentage, and one shutout.

A couple of players who are teetering on the edge of hot are forward Marty Murray and Sergei Shirokov. Murray has picked up five points (1-4-5) in the past six games, while Shirokov has accumulated three points (2-1-3) in his last four games, and six points (3-3-6) in his last seven games.

Who’s Not

The Manitoba Moose are 12 games into their season, and any time a player has suited up on the fourth line, they have failed to pick up a point. As said in the previous update, the fourth line isn’t expected to score a lot of points, but one would figure by this point in the season, someone would have lucked out and put their name on the scoresheet in a spot other than the penalty column.

The Moose have failed to score more than two goals in a game in their past five games, and in one of those games, the only goal came in a shootout. The exclamation point on the lack of scoring comes in the form of seventeen Moose players who are currently on the active roster have failed to score in at least their last three games. Yes, that’s not a misprint. The only players who have scored at least one goal in their last three games are Matt Pettinger, Sergei Shirokov, and Brian Salcido.

Who’s Up

Both Michael Grabner and Alexandre Bolduc remained up with the Vancouver Canucks for another week. Grabner has continued to play on Vancouver’s second line with Ryan Kesler and Mason Raymond, and this week picked up his first NHL goal, scoring on Chicago Blackhawks backup Antti Niemi to cue his team’s comeback for a 3-2 win on Wednesday night. The Raymond-Kesler-Grabner line has combined for seven points (4-3-7) in the past three games, with Grabner leading the way with three points (1-2-3). So far in his five-game stint with the Canucks, Grabner has picked up four points (1-3-4) with one power play goal and 18 shots on net.

Meanwhile, Bolduc averaged just over 12 minutes of ice time, going pointless with an even plus/minus rating and three shots on net. Bolduc has also seen some ice time on the Canucks’ penalty killing unit.

Who’s Down

Forward Sergei Shirokov has made the most of his time with the Manitoba Moose, averaging a point a game since getting sent down from the Vancouver Canucks. His production has slowed down a bit (he had seven points in his first four games, but only three in his last six games), but his overall production has put him in a three-way tie for rookie scoring with Manchester Monarch Andrei Loktionov and Worcester Shark Logan Couture. He’s also in a seventeen-way tie for sixth in AHL scoring.

Hey, I Remember You!

Former Vancouver Canucks and Manitoba Moose goaltender Curtis Sanford faced off against his former mates as a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs on Monday. Sanford made 16 saves in a 2-1 loss to the Manitoba Moose at Copps Coliseum.

On Friday, the Moose saw–for the third time this season–former Moose Jason Krog and former Canuck Steve McCarthy. Krog went pointless on three shots and McCarthy had two penalty minutes and two shot on net in a 1-0 shootout loss to the Moose at AllState Arena.

The Week Ahead

The Moose finish off their busiest month of the regular season with a pair of games against the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins at the MTS Centre on Thursday and Friday. Both games, which start at 7:30 p.m. CT, kick off a busy stretch for the team, as they play seven games within a ten-day period.

Anyone who wants to follow the games can listen to them for free on local radio station CJOB 68, or can pay a fee to watch the games on AHL Live.
_________________________

That’s it for another edition of the Moose update on The Mattress Line. As always, if you have any suggestions on what I can do to make this better, just let me know in the comments section on this post, or mention it in the relevant thread on The Mattress Line section of The Breakaway Forums.

Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings dropped a 6-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on the road Tuesday evening. The game was even at one goal apiece heading into the first intermission, but the second period was a different story when Buffalo capitalized on Detroit’s mistakes. The Sabres posted four goals in the middle frame, including two from Thomas Vanek who left the game with a shoulder injury after his second tally. Netminder Chris Osgood was chased from the goal by Buffalo’s fifth goal of the evening midway through the second period. Detroit’s two goal scorers were Valtteri Filppula (Niklas Kronwall, Jason Williams) and Tomas Holmstrom (Brian Rafalski, Henrik Zetterberg). George Malik of Snapshots wasn’t pleased with the team’s play and said it was a ‘burn the tape’ game.

In Other News

• Darren Helm returned from his shoulder injury, making his season debut on Tuesday night and being placed on a line with Patrick Eaves and Brad May.
• Forwards Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby were healthy scratches in the game. Coach Mike Babcock explained to The Detroit News that they will use a rotation for a bit when it comes to the lineup before making any final decisions.
• In the NHL.com piece on the Central Division, Larry Wigge emphasizes goalie Chris Osgood’s dedication to ensuring that this year is not a repeat of last season. MLive.com also took a look at Chris Osgood and his intended play this year.
• Offensive production has not been an issue for the Wings this year writes The Detroit News.
• In Saturday’s win, Todd Bertuzzi saw some time on the top line with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Coach Mike Babcock spoke with the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News about it.
• Can’t get enough of that victory over the Capitals? Motown Wings has more analysis of the game, including video and thorough statistical analysis.
• Nightmare on Helm Street drew a few comparisons and contrasts between Detroit and Buffalo, including a comparison of stats. On the Wings, Winging It In Motown, and Snapshots also had some Wings-Sabres previews up on their respective blogs.
• Red Wings Central describes prospect Willie Coetzee as a great free-agent find.
• The Red Wings aren’t the only teams to lose a player due to a serious injury this early in the season, although Johan Franzen may be the biggest offensive name on Fox Sport’s list.
• Captain Nicklas Lidstrom remains two points away from notching his 1,000th career point.
• The NHL website notes that former Detroit goaltender Dominik Hasek is on the Czech’s invite list for the upcoming Winter Games.
• Former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios will sign a 25-game tryout contract with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) in order to get a contract with an NHL team per Puck Daddy.
• The Fourth Period reports that former Wing Kyle Quincey had actually been traded to Dallas, but the deal was nixed after Quincey did not pass their physical due to a herniated disc. He wound up being placed on waivers and getting claimed by the LA Kings. Quincey was later traded to Colorado this past summer.
• The New York Post details why Brendan Shanahan is no longer with the New Jersey Devils.
• Interesting note: Windsor will host the CHL Top Prospects Game according to the Windsor Star and will take place sometime in January.

Here is the link to my latest ‘What You Need to Know’ on NYCSN:

http://nycsportsnews.com/articles/details.htm?id=1018

This week’s highlights:
Ottawa’s captain wins a Swede vs. Swede showdown, Dave Scatchard and Chris Chelios find employment, Jacques Lemaire joins an elite group and Montreal finally returns home…

Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings got off to the right start in North America with a 3-2 victory against the Chicago Blackhawks in the team’s home opener Thursday night. They bounced back from a one-goal deficit early in the second period to earn their first win of the regular season. Captain Nick Lidstrom, Kris Draper, and Johan Franzen posted Detroit’s three goals in the second period.

DRW.com’s Michael Caples breaks down what happened in the Wings’ win. George Malik noted on Snapshots that defenseman Jonathan Ericsson left the game during the third period after taking a shot off of his ankle or foot, but coach Mike Babcock told the media after the game that he seemed to be fine. Thursday’s contest was the first of six against the Blackhawks this season, which should only promote the already healthy rivalry between these two Original Six squads.

Wings sign Brad May

Detroit announced that the team had signed enforcer Brad May to a one-year, two-way contract on Thursday worth $500,000 per The Detroit News, filling the void left by Aaron Downey. May already made an appearance Thursday evening with a fight against Radek Smolenak in the first period.

Red Wings coach Mike Babcock didn’t mince words when asked how veteran enforcer Brad May might help his team.”Well, we got the crap ran out of us (in two losses against the Blues),” he said. “It’s pretty interesting, we had May in a couple of exhibition games and no one got hacked or whacked or touched. We don’t have him and we get run. You get tired of watching that.” …

“Our guys do a good job of competing hard but we don’t have a team that twists off helmets at stoppages,” Babcock said. “When you are seeing that all the time (done to your team), it’s nice when you’ve got someone to look after that stuff.

“Tough guys always play tough and I got no problems with that. But guys who aren’t tough and they play against you and they are tough, that drives me crazy.”

The overall reaction from Wings’ bloggers was generally positive. Kyle at Babcock’s Death Stare sees May as the “right mix of Draper and Maltby.”

Detroit hosts Capitals

The Wings take on the Washington Capitals led by superstar forward Alexander Ovechkin this Saturday. But you don’t have just the game to look forward to as it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Night. As a result, the Wings have numerous activities going around before and during the game:

Select Red Wings players will wrap their sticks with pink tape during the pre-game warm-ups, and in support of the HFC campaign, Red Wings coaches and front office executives will wear lavender ties, which signify the fight against all forms of cancer. Lavender is the NHL’s designated color for this year’s HFC initiative. Some of the sticks used during the pre-game warm-up will be individually autographed and available in a silent auction on the Joe Louis Arena concourse during the game.

Red Wings’ wives will also get involved in the event by selling custom-made pink hats on the concourse for $20. They feature the winged wheel on the front of the hat with a pink breast cancer ribbon embroidered on the side. Proceeds from both the stick auction and the hat sales will benefit local hockey families affected by breast cancer. The team will host breast cancer patients, survivors and their families in suites during the game.

Want to make it out to the game? Visit Ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets.

In Other News

• With May joining the lineup, Justin Abdelkader was sent to play for the Griffins in Grand Rapids.
• Darren Helm’s shoulder is still not 100% so he did not play in the home opener.
• If you were at Thursday’s game, you may have noticed the sounds of an organ throughout the game. It was the first of 11 games (all against Original Six teams) that an organist will be playing at Joe Louis Arena. DRW.com gives us an inside look at the organist.
• Are you a high school or college student? If so, you can catch a Wings’ game for just $15! Check out DRW.com for more details.
• Former Wing Chris Chelios plans to start practicing with the Chicago Wolves (AHL) next week according to the Detroit Free Press.
• Tomas Kopecky talked to DRW.com about his expectations for Thursday’s game against his former team. The forward expected plenty of chatter from the likes of Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper.
• Hockeytown Static posted 10 reasons why the Blackhawks hate the Red Wings, while Nightmare on Helm Street gave five reasons why the Wings hate Chicago.
• The Detroit Free Press writes that Henrik Zetterberg is hoping to see his line click and fast. Hank centers a line with fellow forwards Dan Cleary and Todd Bertuzzi.
• Babcock’s Death Stare posted their expected lineup for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
• Eric Goodman reminds us on DRW.com that Lidstrom is nearing a very important milestone — his 1,000th career point.
• The blog Big Red Machine found a couple websites with some new Steve Yzerman material.
• Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News recently wrote a book, which has been released under the title “The Good, The Bad, The Ugly” and it examines the “heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, and gut-wrenching moments from Detroit Red Wings history.” The book is currently available for $10.17 at Amazon.com.

My 8 year old called me a little over an hour ago.

“Hey, Uncle Mikey, did you hear the Chris Chelios is going to play with the Wolves?”

I was stunned, “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.  This should help them and maybe help them go all the way this year!”

Still stunned and clutching the phone to my head I got on the internet and found this article.

I can’t say it’s a bad move.  Having Cheli around will give some stabilization and toughness to the defense and supply some defensive leadership. 

I know, I know, he’s 47 years old.  But if he’s been staying in shape, and if he wants a crack at the NHL then why not?

The more I think about it – the more I like it.  But, don’t just take my opinion – ask my nephew…

Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images

The Red Wings played two preseason games over the weekend at Joe Louis Arena, including a 4-3 win over the New York Rangers on Friday and a 3-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. You can attribute the loss to the outstanding play by the Sabres’ netminder Ryan Miller, who made 42 saves in the contest. Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard played well in the outing as the two goals he allowed (the third goal was an empty-netter) came off deflections.

This evening, the Wings will take on the Rangers in New York City and will then head to Philadelphia tomorrow to face off against the Flyers. The game against the Rangers will be broadcast on the NHL Network in Canada for all of our fans north of the border.

In Other News

• Wings’ draft pick Tomas Tatar was given the opportunity to play in Friday night’s game. While he did not grab a point offensively, he did end the weekend with something else — a three-year contract with Detroit. It is still to be determined whether he will play for the Griffins in Grand Rapids (AHL) or the Plymouth Whalers (OHL).
• Detroit also signed Willie Coetzee, who is the teammate of another Wings’ draft pick Landon Ferraro in the WHL, to a three-year entry level deal.
• Justin Abdelkader is taking advantage of the ice time during these exhibition games and making his case to play in the NHL, especially if Darren Helm remains out longer than anticipated with his shoulder injury. In Thursday’s victory over the Rangers, he recorded the game-winning marker and an assist.
• DRW senior vice president Jimmy Devellano was named one of three recipients this year for the Lester Patrick Award.
• Henrik Zetterberg was scratched from Saturday’s lineup due to a nagging groin injury. He may miss Monday’s game at Madison Square Garden, but could take the ice in Philadelphia on Tuesday.
• MLive.com reports that goaltender Dan Cloutier, who participated in the Wings’ training camp on a tryout invite, will play in one of the upcoming preseason games.
• Greg Eno at Out of Bounds believes Chris Osgood’s promise. What was it? You’ll have to visit his blog to find out.
• Snapshots has all the info about Chris Chelios’ comments regarding the firing of NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly.
• Kris at Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle has her preseason profile of Niklas Kronwall up.

Photo By Dave Sandford/Getty Images

Some of the players returned to Detroit last week, skating at City Sports Arena earlier in the week before the ice was ready at Joe Louis Arena. With the appearance of about half of the roster, the number of articles in the local media outlets has certainly increased over the past week. While discussions have varied, two Swedish defensemen got some coverage.

Captain Nicklas Lidstrom spoke with reporters about his summer, rehabbing his elbow, Sweden’s Olympic meeting, and his plans (or lack of) in the future with his contract up after this season. Andreas Lilja told MLive.com that he is almost 100% sure that he will play after fighting concussion syndrome since a fight in a game back in February. Lilja spoke with DRW.com, telling us that he has gone a couple days this summer without headaches and that they are not so intense when he does have them. He will have more tests and doctor appointments before a decision is made on whether he can play or not. Winging It In Motown takes a look at what the Wings will have to do if Lilja is healthy and can play or what will happen if he is not ready by the start of the season.

A lot has happened since our last post before the holiday weekend so let’s get to it!

In Other News

• Second round draftee Tomas Tatar has had a strong showing at the Traverse City prospects tournament this past week while a trio of goaltending prospects are trying to make a mark as they fight for a spot in Grand Rapids this season. Babcock’s Death Stare talks about what has transpired during the tourney, while Octopus Thrower specifically recaps Day 1 of the tournament.
• Forward prospect Cory Emmerton, who scored the tying goal in the prospect game against Atlanta on Sunday, appears primed for the NHL but understands that he must wait his turn as Darren Helm, Ville Leino, and Jimmy Howard know all too well.
• Since our last update, the DRW blogger roundtable has had quite a few new topics to discuss at the various stops. Babcock’s Death Stare hosted a Q&A about Helm, Leino, Ericsson, and Howard, while The Production Line asked the bloggers to compare the potential for the 1996 and 2010 seasons which both occurred after a loss in the Stanley Cup finals. On the Wings had bloggers ponder if Lidstrom had lost his stride after a slightly less than perfect season last year and Bingo Bango discussed which player would be the most influential on the squad this year.
• Craig Custance of The Sporting News lists four ways the Red Wings can replace the 90 goals they lost this summer when some free agents signed elsewhere. The Wings will certainly look to Ville Leino as he earned a full-time position in the lineup. A report suggests that Todd Bertuzzi is the healthiest he has been in three years, which is a great sign as the team hopes Big Bert will help fill the void.
• A tryout invitation was extended to netminder Dan Cloutier after he expressed interest with the Red Wings. Some of the Wings’ bloggers aren’t too fond of the invite.
• Forward Patrick Eaves made his first appearance at the Joe on Monday and apparently paused right when he entered the Wings’ locker room according to an article at DRW.com. The Detroit News writes about how he is ready to contribute to the lineup and where he learned that he was placed on waivers this summer.
• A Russian hockey website interviewed Pavel Datsyuk about his future and the Olympics. According to the website, Datsyuk would like to finish his NHL career in Detroit and then play in Russia.
• The Detroit Free Press talked to Filppula, who says that he is fighting for a spot on one of the power-play units.
• Kirk Maltby doesn’t know what his future holds, but made it clear to The Detroit News that he’s not planning on this season being his farewell tour.
• Goalie Chris Osgood is determined to show that last season’s lackluster performance, according to the Detroit Free Press, was just a one-time deal.

• A couple bloggers have their season previews up and you can check them out at Bingo Bango and Babcock’s Death Stare.
• The Detroit News talked to GM Ken Holland about how he felt the last three long seasons would affect his players.
• On Friday, two groups of Red Wings’ players will take separate tours (east and west) of the state as they make their way up to Traverse City. One group consisting of Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Kronwall, Valtteri Filppula, and Ville Leino will appear at VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and speak at a Grand Rapids school according to The Grand Rapids Press. The second group composed of Johan Franzen, Henrik Zetterberg, Jimmy Howard, and Brett Lebda will make stops at Central Middle School in Midland and John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit.
• Dan Cleary may have competed against the best Canada had to offer at Team Canada’s Olympic orientation camp, but he wasn’t star struck during the process.
• The Detroit News and The Windsor Star talked to Bertuzzi, who told reporters that he is not affected by the negative press.
• Tomas Holmstrom spent his summer giving his knee a much-needed break and appeared rejuvenated when he returned to the Joe.
• View from My Seats hosted a Central Division roundtable, including a couple of Red Wings’ bloggers, to talk hockey.
• Which Red Wings’ team is better: the 1997 squad or the 2002 team? Snipe Snipe, Dangle Dangle debates this very question.
• Red Wings Hardware evaluates the Wings’ impressive 1989 draft and compares it to the other top draft classes by an NHL team.
• Jiri Hudler recorded a hat trick to lead his Czech Republic squad to a 3-2 win over Russia in the Czech Hockey Games.
• Wings’ PA announcer Budd Lynch spoke to fans at HockeyFest about some of his favorite hockey stories.
• Chris Chelios continues to search for an interested NHL team, but has been skating at the informal Wings’ sessions over the past week to gear up for the season.
• Former Wing Sergei Fedorov won his $60 million lawsuit against Joe Zada, but now says that three banks also wronged him.

I check www.eliteprospects.com about every hour now anymore. Seriously, it’s getting to be that sad. I am literally over here waiting with baited breath. It’s any wonder I get actual work done at my job.

I was intrigued to find under their “Rumors” section that Darren McCarty and Chris Chelios are rumored to be heading to the KHL. Now how strong these rumors are, I don’t know. It could be a rumor that turns out to be legit. I’ve seen a lot of rumors on there turn out to be true. Or it could be a total pile of crap.

I thought I read somewhere that Cheli has or was going to do some time in the AHL? Maybe it wasn’t Cheli, but it was someone of his caliber, like Shanny or whoever. I kinda like that idea. An NHL big shot, in the prime of their career, willing to play in the AHL and willing to teach the future generation everything they know so those kids can go on to become awesome players. Passing on a legacy!

Just imagine being a rookie on your first day at AHL camp and you get there and see Eric Lindros. Yeah, okay, so maybe that’s not so cool. But Shanny, Cheli or Darren McCarty? You know someone is going to crap and/or pee their pants…maybe even at the same time.

If they’re willing to take the pay cut, log tons of hours on busses (cause you know the AHL is a little low budget…except if you’re the Hershey Bears and you get a chartered plane to Calder Cup finals away games) and be satisfied playing at the AHL level, let them do it. I couldn’t imagine going to a Phantoms, Baby Pens or Bears game against Grand Rapids and seeing Cheli or Darren McCarty. It’d be pretty awesome.

So I don’t know where this is going, but I think it’d be pretty cool to see them there, teaching a new class of young hockey players and passing on their wisdom.

In non hockey-related news, Ted Kennedy passed away today. Sad. RIP Teddy.

Photo by Mike Ridewood/Getty Images

Wings’ coach Mike Babcock has already made his mark at Team Canada’s Olympic orientation in Calgary. You can watch Babcock address the media on Day 2 of camp at NHL.com. With much of the Canadian media’s attention on the pre-Olympic camp, it’s no surprise that Babcock has discussed the roster with the Edmonton Journal and Calgary Herald. James Mirtle breaks down the camp’s roster at From the Rink.

In Other News

• Are you in the Detroit area this weekend? If so, head over to Ticketmaster to purchase tickets for the Red Wings’ HockeyFest on Friday and Saturday. The event includes player appearances (captain Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper, Tomas Holmstrom, Dan Cleary, and Jason Williams), a tour of the locker room, a photo opportunity with the zamboni and Al the Octopus, a special Q&A session with players and management, alumni autograph session, hockey memorabilia exhibits, and much more!
• George Malik at Snapshots has a translated version of a Sydsvenskan interview with defenseman Andreas Lilja. He said that his headaches are lessening, which is very encouraging news.
• Bruce MacLeod of The Macomb Daily notes that Dan Cleary skated on a line with Jason Spezza and Patrick Marleau at Canada’s Olympic orientation camp. “Not bad,” he said, but not the top line there.
• The Detroit Free Press has a look at The Hockey News Yearbook’s take on the Red Wings, including their list of 10 Detroit prospects to watch this year.
• Michael Zuidema of The Grand Rapids Press has his latest installment of The Press Box Podcast up on MLive.com.
• Red Wings’ single tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. EDT. It’s also your chance to purchase $9 tickets for October, November, and December games.
• Wes Goldstein of CBS Sportsline believes that Chris Chelios will not land a gig with an NHL team this season.

According to the NHL Network, here are some the unrestricted free agent defensemen, in no particular order:

Bret Hedican ANA
Kyle McLaren SJ
Alexei Semenov SJ
Brett Warrener CGY
Chris Chelios DET
Marc Andre Bergeron MIN
Jason Cullimore FLA
Steve Eminger
Marik Malek TB
Darryl Sydor DAL
Philippe Boucher PIT
Matthew Dandenault MTL
Denis Gauthier LA
Matthew Schneider MTL

Interesting? Kindly share…