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Wings youth movement negates age argument

Oct 5

Posted by Chris in Soap Box | No Comments

The Detroit News offered up some insight today into what sports writers from around the league think about the Detroit Red Wings and their chances coming into the new season. The claims were mostly positive with many wondering how the Wings continue to thrive and show such incredible consistency. The retractors, however, continued to use the same line that the Wings have been dealing with for years.

They are too old.

Most of the writers agreed that the Wings are definitely a playoff contender, although there were mixed feelings whether the Wings or the Blackhawks would lead the Central division this year. But for three out of nine writers, age was a significant concern while advanced age was mentioned by six of the nine writers.

Yes, the Wings are getting older. But consider the following:

  • Sure, Nicklas Lidstrom is 41 years old, which is almost ancient in hockey years, but he is also coming off of a bounce-back, Norris Trophy-winning season and shows no signs of slowing down. Even in a off-year Lidstrom is still better than a vast majority of NHL defenseman. Injuries have never been much of a concern thanks to a smart style of play that relies on good positioning and solid stick work. Age certainly isn’t a concern for the mighty Nick Lidstrom.
  • At 36-years-old, Todd Bertuzzi certainly isn’t the offensive threat he once was with the Vancouver Canucks, but he has been incredibly consistent the last several years – especially with the Wings. Bertuzzi chipped in 45 points last season, one better than his 44 the season before. Sure, the Wings would love a 20-goal, 50-point season from Bertuzzi, but he knows his role as a secondary scorer and he does it well. Besides, do moves like this indicate that Bertuzzi shows any signs of slowing down?
  • Ty Conklin was brought on in the off-season to back up Jimmy Howard when Chris Osgood decided to retire. After a sour season last year with St. Louis, Conklin, 35, re-signed with the Red Wings. A better defense in front of Conklin and more offensive support should help bring his numbers back down this year.

The only other player on the Wings’ roster this season over the age of 35 is Tomas Holmstrom. While Holmstrom has shown signs of slowing down in recent years, probably mostly thanks to the abuse he takes in front of the net on a nightly basis, it appears as if Holmstrom will be used a bit more sparingly this season with other players such as Jiri Hudler and Patrick Eaves rotating in on the top line alongside Pavel Datsyuk.

Also consider the fact that much of the Wings’ “age” retired this offseason with Kris Draper (40) and Chris Osgood (38) hanging up the skates. Defenseman Brian Rafalski (38) also retired and was replaced on the blue line by 27-year-old defenseman Ian White.

The truth is that the Wings will actually look much younger this season with players like Eaves, Drew Miller, Darren Helm (pictured), Justin Abdelkader, Cory Emmerton and Jan Mursak all slotted to play. None of those players are older than 28.

In an ironic twist, the sports writer from Nashville at least went outside the box and cited that the Wings failed to make any significant offseason improvements. Kettle. Black. Done.

In fact, outside of the additions of Commodore, White and Conklin, the Wings didn’t make any significant additions – not because they didn’t want to, but because the talent wasn’t available this summer. Remember that the Wings are roughly $5 million under the salary cap. That gives them more than enough space to address any legitimate concerns at the trade deadline and make them serious contenders for the Stanley Cup.

This season will be the first in a long time to feature a significant youth movement on the Red Wings’ roster with many of the younger players expected to take on more significant roles. Even 30-year-old Niklas Kronwall is expected to take over more responsibility from the ageless Nicklas Lidstrom. And Valtteri Filppula could be in line for a breakout season (finally) after a big preseason with six points in four games. With younger players taking on more responsibilities and veterans still performing at high levels, it’s difficult to take seriously the argument that the Wings are too old to win.

 

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2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red Wings

Sep 29

Posted by Chris in Season Previews | 3 Comments

Key Offseason Losses: Brian Rafalski (retirement), Kris Draper (retired), Chris Osgood (retired), Ruslan Salei

Key Offseason Additions: Ian White, Mike Commodore

Last Season Ranking: 3rd in the West

Offense: Top line scoring isn’t a problem in Detroit with guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg in the lineup. If both players stay healthy, they are both capable of producing at a point-per-game pace. Don’t worry about them. Instead, this is the year for guys like Filppula and Hudler to prove their worth.

Detroit fans have been waiting for a breakout season from Valtteri Filppula. He has the skill, he has the hockey sense, now he just needs to put it together into one cohesive season. At the very least, Filppula should be a 20-goal, 50 point player with the Wings. He has yet to top 40 points in a single season. This could be his year if he centers the second line with Henrik Zetterberg on the wing. Filppula so far has impressed in the preseason and needs to carry that confidence into the regular season.

Hudler had a disappointing season last year after returning from the KHL. Fans called for Hudler to be traded, and Hudler responded with intense offseason workouts with UFC trainers. The result? Well, Hudler is in a contract year and the Wings expect him to be back into the 20 goal, 50 point range again. Coach Mike Babcock has alternated Hudler on Datsyuk’s wing at times this preseason, which could spark his offensive production if it carries over into the regular season. If Hudler doesn’t produce, however, he will likely be on the trading block come March.

The Wings would love to see more consistency from Johan Franzen, who scored five goals in one game against the Ottawa Senators last season and then went scoreless for more than 20 games. But Franzen, along with Dan Cleary and Todd Bertuzzi, provide the Wings with solid depth scoring. Expect the Wings to be among the league leaders in goals scored per game again this season.

Defense: Hockeytown breathed a collective sigh of relief when Nick Lidstrom announced his return, especially after Brian Rafalski blindsided Wings fans by announcing his retirement. But this season may be the year of a different Nik as Niklas Kronwall looks to shoulder more responsibility.

Kronwall will get heavy minutes this season and will fill roles usually occupied by Lidstrom on the penalty kill. Coach Mike Babcock wants to use Lidstrom sparingly, leaving room for Kronwall to blossom into a top defender.

Newcomer Ian White has bounced around the league the past few years, but he may finally find a home with the Wings where he will be counted on to help replace some of the offense the team lost when Rafalski retired. White, a good puck-moving defenseman, will see power play time and will likely be paired with Lidstrom this year, putting the chances of having a career season offensively firmly within reach.

Mike Commodore will help add some toughness and grit to the blue line, something the Wings lacked previosuly, while Jakub Kindl will likely challenge Commodore for the 6th spot on the blue line. Kindl has shown promise in limited playing time in the past and needs to prove his merits as an NHL defenseman.

Goaltending: Playing with the Wings, a goalie doesn’t have to steal many games. But Jimmy Howard was a big reason why the Wings were able to force a Game 7 against the San Jose Sharks in the spring. Coming into his third full NHL season, Howard needs to show more of that poise consistently throughout the season. This isn’t a make-or-break year for Howard, but he’s shown how good he can be and now he needs to realize that potential all season long. Expect Howard to win 30+ games this season.

Behind Howard will be a familiar face in Ty Conklin, a former Wing returning to the squad after a stint with St. Louis. If nothing else, Conklin is solid and capable when he’s called upon and should be a great addition to the roster.

Playoff Prediction: Playoff bound. The Wings are contenders, and with $5 million in cap space they could be big trade-deadline buyers as well. The team looks solid now and they could look even better when the playoffs start in April.

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Questionable Goalie Inteference

May 10

Posted by EB in Soap Box | 2 Comments

Tomas Holmstrom is out of the crease, but is questionable for goalie interference.

Tomas Holmstrom is out of the crease, but is questionable for goalie interference.

Playoff hockey is here, fans either jubilated or angry as hopes and dreams of their favorite team winning the Stanley Cup were extinguished like a dying flame or still flickering brightly. One thing that is constant though is the hatred of the referring. Be it the belief of a botched call to a giant conspiracy theory, the referees are under great scrutiny for their jobs in this post season, like many other post seasons.

I too fall within the category of questioning some calls, especially goalie interference.

Being a fan of the Detroit Red Wings, I am no stranger to seeing many goals taken away by prominent figures such as Tomas Holmstrom pitching a tent in front of the net keeper. What aggravates me is not that the referees are making the calls, as they are making the appropriate call, but that the rule needs to be re-addressed for contact outside the goal crease.

Rule number 69 – Interference on the Goalkeeper gives light to the current dilemma. Rather lengthy, I will paraphrase:

69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper: Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal…Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact.

69.4 Contact outside the Goal Crease: If an attacking player initiates any contact with a goalkeeper, other than incidental contact, while the goalkeeper is outside his goal crease, and a goal is scored, the goal will be disallowed.

The gray area that comes from the rule is what really is “incidental contact” and “reasonable effort to avoid such contact”. Far too often a player is in front of the crease moving  side to side to screen the goalie, the shot is fired and the goalie comes out to stop it and the two make contact. More times than not, the goal is disallowed, yet the majority of times the player did not even know the goalie was there because of his range of view. So, who has the right to the ice? The player trying to screen or the goalie moving out into the player? And more importantly, how can a player avoid such calls?

Right now the goalie has the right to the open ice as he has the right to move freely to defend his goal. As for the player to avoid the play altogether, he has to be completely aware of the goalie even in times where the goalie edges out of the net at the last second, otherwise be subject to interference. This however is frustrating as a fan and as a player, as it does not resolve the problem.

Perhaps make the crease larger giving the goalie more room to defend his goal, or allow the play to play out without a call when incidental contact is made between a goalie and a player fighting for the same ice. Either option would resolve the problem, but the question still remains if the league feels it is a problem. From a fans perspective, it would be nice to see that this be discussed in the off-season.

Do you feel goalie interference should be tweaked? Why or why not? If so, what would your resolution be? Feel free to comment or email me at EB@hockeyworldblog.com to spark some discussion.

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Datsyuk Returns, Tavares Shootout Glory and Frolov to be Traded?

Oct 22

Posted by Matt in Fantasy, News | 3 Comments

Pavel Datsyuk will join Henrik Zetterberg and the Red Wings tonight

Pavel Datsyuk will join Henrik Zetterberg and the Red Wings tonight

The Detroit Free Press has been reporting the Pavel Datsyuk will be returning to the lineup tonight in Phoenix. It looks as though Pav will be playing alongside a couple familiar faces, Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom. Re-uniting this line should be great for fantasy owners who carry any of these players on their squad. When together, Homer and the Eurotwins have been known to put up prolific numbers. Detroit could use some of that scoring tonight against a Phoenix team that has been great to start the season and carries a strong netminder in Ilya Bryzgalov.

Jonathan Tavares didn’t really have an outstanding game against the Islanders last night, but came up big when it counted. Tavares’ goal in the shootout gave the New York Islanders their first win of the season. His goal was a pretty one too. Check out the video of the entire shootout.

It looks like Alexander Frolov will soon be on his way out of Los Angeles. According to a great article on BleacherReport, Kings coach Terry Murray has had 10 meetings with Frolov regarding his poor play this season. The rest of the article details a few potential destinations for Frolov if the Kings trade the winger. Fantasy owners keep an eye out, if Frolov gets dealt, he might be able to regain his scoring touch playing on a better line.

Saturday, October 24th, will mark the second time this season that all 30 NHL teams play. The first “Face-Off Saturday” as it has been called, took place on October 3rd. I’m a little disappointed, however, that the earliest game starts at 7pm. A couple afternoon games would have made this Face-Off Saturday much more delightful. Either way, we will be on Twitter Saturday night doing some live tweeting of whatever games we choose to watch. Follow along if you can, it will be a great night.

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