Red Wings

[Rocky Bleier]

The Red Wings are undoubtedly the classiest organization in all sports:

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090211/SPORTS0103/902110359/1004/SPORTS

[gjdodger]

Ja, sure

Wings to play in Sweden official; Zetterberg says it's wonderful



BY HELENE ST. JAMES ? FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER ? February 19, 2009

It?s finally official: The Red Wings will open the 2009-10 season in Sweden, the land that?s home to seven current Wings.

The NHL has just released the details. On Oct. 2 and 3, the Wings and Blues will play a home-and-home series at Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm.
?We?ve got a great fan base over there and it would be wonderful to play there,? Swede Henrik Zetterberg said. ?The Cup was almost two weeks in Sweden, so Red Wings are big in Sweden, so I think they will be really happy if we can come there."

It's long been something Nicklas Lidstrom, the team captain, has wanted to see happen. The New York Rangers and Tampa Bay opened the 2008-09 season in Prague, Czech Republic, and Anaheim and Los Angeles opened the 2007-08 season in London.

Sweden was a natural next destination given its status as defending Olympic champion, and the Wings were a natural team to go.

"It?s something I?m really excited about and looking forward to," Lidstrom said. "Same with my teammates, too, they?re all looking forward to it, too, to get a chance to play overseas. I was hoping it was going to happen sooner or later, and I?m happy about the opportunity to play back home."

Besides Zetterberg and Lidstrom, the Wings boast Swedes Niklas Kronwall, Johan Franzen, Tomas Holmstrom, Andreas Lilja and Mikael Samuelsson.

[Malto Marko]

Hmmmmmm. I wonder if this will be an incentive for Franzen to sign a new contract with the Wings?

[FCRhodes]

Or sign a big deal with the Blues.

[gjdodger]

Guess they lost Manny Legace's phone number

GEORGE SIPPLE'S BLOG

Wings' Osgood to sit 10 days for 'mental breather'

Wings call up Jimmy Howard

By GEORGE SIPPLE ? FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER ? February 20, 2009

The Wings called up Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids (AHL) today and have shut down Chris Osgood for the next 10 days.

Howard will back up Ty Conklin in goal tonight against the Ducks and will play Saturday at Minnesota.

Osgood will remain in Detroit to work with goaltending coach Jim Bedard. The two were on the ice about 30 minutes before today?s morning skate. Osgood was the last player off the ice and he declined to speak with reporters.

Osgood helped the Wings win the Stanley Cup last season, but has followed that up with the worst season of his career. He has a 3.29 goals-against average and an .879 save percentage.

Howard is 15-13-4 in Grand Rapids with a 2.46 goals-against average and a .916 save percentage.
?Jimmy?s playing as well as he has at any point in his four-year career,? general manager Ken Holland said of the decision to bring up Howard. ?I think it?s an opportunity for Chris to have 10 days here to get a mental breather and clear his mind.?
Asked if Conklin would be the starting goaltender if the playoffs began today, Holland said: ?Well, the playoffs don?t start today.?

[chemiclord]

Wings laying it on Anaheim again... 4-1 in the 3rd.

So... Gonz... how's that "dominance" going along?

[gjdodger]

Hey, the Ducks have done extremely well, given they're a brand new expansion team.

[THE STEE]

quack, quack....aaaackk... ducks choke, ducks choke

[Tom]

I don't think I've ever heard of a 2-time Stanley Cup winning goalie needing to take significant time off during the season (after he just won the Cup). I could understand if he was nursing an injury and just needed a conditioning stint but this just seems weird.

[chemiclord]

Having watched Osgood for much of his career, the only explanation I can think of is this;

The dude is weird in the head.

[Malto Marko]

Yowsers!

As far as the Ducks getting embarrassed by the Wings. Babcock is putting the boot to the team and the New Year Funk has to end now. They have to get back to winning on every shift, every game to be a contender for a second cup.

As far as Ozzie, this is the first I heard of it but it was speculated he is being given time to dry out. I know he was a good friend of Mac but, I was not aware he had a problem. Some have suggested he does.

Total speculation. Just some tidbits from local buzz.

I have no real knowledge that there is any credibility to these statements. I do know however, his play suggests that something is preventing him from performing at his best.

[FCRhodes]

Something is preventing him from performing at his best. Its call lazy defense and turnovers. The whole team needs a 10 day break to practice killing penalties and getting the puck out of the zone.

[Tom]

Defense is part of the problem but there must be something else there for the coaches to do this to Osgood. They've basically pointed the finger at him. Babcock is not an idiot and I think he's a pretty good coach. I've always felt that he's not Osgood's biggest fan but this isn't like pulling a goalie in a game where he's getting shelled. This is a significant move.

[jaadam4]

Conklin sure is playing pretty well.

Did anyone else catch that article in the freep that said we Holland was saying he found a way to keep Franzen and Hossa? Players like Sammy will need to be moved and Huds will prob be traded. Oh well.

[jaadam4]

Jeez Rock where the hell do you get your pics at?