SB Nation - Darren McCarty

Tuesday Links: In favor of 82 road games edition

averagejoe — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:00:58 -0000

It's game's like Monday when I'm glad I work nights so I don't have to watch that putrid display.

Blues news

Some dude named Chris Stewart scored twice to help down the Blues. [The Denver Post]
The Blues flat-out stink at home. [Belleville News-Democrat]
Dan O'Neill has a pretty solid lede here. Gotta love Tiger Woods' jokes. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]
Alex Steen nose he can be better, and the Blues hope he gets up to snuff and lives up to his potential. [St. Louis Post-Dispatch]

Hockey news

Monday results. [Yahoo! Sports]
Tuesday's schedule. [Yahoo! Sports]
The Hurricane have decided to keep Manny Legace to be Cam Ward's backup. [Canes Country]
Martin Brodeur ties Terry Sawchuk with his 103rd career shutout. [In Lou We Trust]
I don't care if he plays dirty, Alex Ovechkin is a monster who any team would be lucky to have. [ESPN]
John Stevens, the dismissed Flyers' coach, talks about getting the boot. [ESPN]
Darren McCarty, who is up there with Kirk Maltby and Kris Draper on the list of Wings I hate, is hanging them up. [ESPN]
Brian Burke may have the U.S. Olympic roster finalized soon. [CTV Olympics]

Other links

Well this settles it, if I have kids they are never going to visit the mall Santa. [sketchy santas]
This dog is fucking awesome and the health department needs to let him stay. [Buzzfeed]
In college, our WiFi name was "The Jetsons." I have no idea why. Here are 25 other ones that are better than that. [Holy Taco]

Video

If you've ever worked in broadcasting, you'll find this funny. If you don't know what B roll is, it's stock footage. Enjoy.

That's it from me. Gametimelinks(at)gmail.com if you like sharing.

2009-10 NHL Season Preview: Detroit Red Wings

James Mirtle — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 22:00:18 -0000

More photos » by Mark Humphrey - AP

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Who's in: Todd Bertuzzi, Andy Delmore, Patrick Eaves, Doug Janik, Jason Williams
Who's out: Chris Chelios, Ty Conklin, Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky, Darren McCarty, Mikael Samuelsson

Outlook: No team took more hits as a result of the salary cap staying flat than the Red Wings this summer.

With Nick Lidstrom, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Brian Rafalski and Johan Franzen eating up more than $30-million (53 per cent) of the team's cap space, GM Ken Holland had to watch as Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Conklin, Jiri Hudler and Tomas Kopecky all headed elsewhere, and the Red Wings have only really added bargain basement options like Jason Williams, Todd Bertuzzi and Patrick Eaves as free agents.

What that will mean is a much larger role for many of the incumbents.

Expect Detroit to be a lower scoring team this season regardless of who draws the extra minutes, and there should also be plenty of room to contribute more for the likes of Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary, Darren Helm, Justin Abdelkader and Ville Leino. Coach Mike Babcock will be relying on growth from within to keep the Wings fighting for the President's Trophy again, and that's not the worst bet given the returning cast he has to work with.

Where age and injuries could catch up to them, however, is in goal and on the backend, as 39-year-old Lidstrom showed a little bit of wear and tear in last year's postseason and will slip at some point from Norris Trophy contention. Osgood, meanwhile, can't afford a regular season like the last one, as he'll now have Jimmy Howard as insurance should he falter.

Detroit will still be a top 10 team, but their new Central Division challenger from the Windy City should give them a fight for the division crown.

X-factor: Ville Leino

For a more in-depth Red Wings preview, visit Winging It
For more NHL analysis, check out the McKeen's Hockey Yearbook

Poll

Where will the Wings finish in the Western Conference this season?

1

72 votes

2

105 votes

3

63 votes

4

65 votes

5

20 votes

6

4 votes

7

6 votes

8

1 votes

9

5 votes

10

2 votes

11

0 votes

12

1 votes

13

0 votes

14

0 votes

15

18 votes

362 votes | Poll has closed

The Jason Williams Debate

motownchollis — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 19:03:25 -0000

More photos » by Paul Vernon - AP

Could a Jason Williams return be the solution for replacing some of the Red Wings departed scoring? (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

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As the NHL off-season continues to move forward at an agonizingly slow pace, Red Wings fans continue to sit and wait for the brain trust to go out and secure some depth for the roster. As a fan, I have to admit that it's hard to sit and watch the other teams in the league scoop up talent from the FA pool, while we are stuck waiting to go to arbitration with a player who won't even be on the roster come September. Quite frankly, it sucks. And in a fashion typical of most loyal fans, I find myself becoming more and more impatient as the days without a signing pass by. I've analyzed who is out there, I've gone over the numbers and know who we can afford and I've talked to other fans about who they would like to see in Motown this fall.

The names I've heard run the gamut: Phil Kessel. Todd Bertuzzi. Mike Grier. Robert Lang. Take your pick of the litter. Almost every forward that is still available has been mentioned as a Wings target at some point or another. That's just the nature of the beast. But one name keeps popping up amongst the fans, and automatically causes a line to be drawn in the sand between them: Jason Williams.

For those of you that may not remember, Jason Williams was a part of the Red Wings organization in one capacity or another from 2000 until he was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. When playing well, Williams resembled a young Darren McCarty: physical play, some scoring touch and an energizer. When he was off, it was like watching Marian Hossa float through this past year's postseason. Anyways, Williams plateaued with the Wings during the '05-'06 campaign, where he posted 21 goals and 37 assists over 80 games, adding another goal and assist in the playoffs. The following season, however, Williams saw a dip in production, notching 26 points over 58 games, and was eventually traded to Chicago in a three-way deal that brought Kyle Calder to the Red Wings. Following a 36 point performance over 43 games in Chi-town, Williams would be signed as an unrestricted free agent by the Atlanta Thrashers, and was almost immediately paired up with Ilya Kovalchuk. But after only notching 18 points in 41 games, Williams was shipped to the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he tallied 29 points in 39 games, adding a lone assist in the playoff series against the Wings.

OK, now that everyone is caught up on the historical facts of Jason Williams, it's time to address the questions of the hour: does he belong back in a Wings uniform? There doesn't seem to be a whole lot of gray area on this one when it comes to fan opinions. On the surface, Williams seems to make sense. He's a guy who has been here before, who knows what to expect playing in a market like Detroit, and who can contribute offensively. Not surprisingly, many of the fans who think the Wings' roster moves should be based solely on nostalgia are clamoring for Williams to get back here. There is an inherent belief that Williams is "ahead of the curve" when it comes to learning the style of hockey the Wings play, and that his best offensive seasons are ahead of the 29 year old. Financially, Williams is close to what we can afford, but would have to take a pay cut in some form or another.

But let's look at the other side of the coin. Yes, Williams has played in Detroit. Yes, Williams has played for Babcock. And if the red flags aren't going up for you right now, then you are more than likely one of those fans I mentioned above. The fact remains that Jason Williams wanted out of Detroit during that '06-'07 campaign, and made that apparent enough that he got his wish with a full-time trip to the Blackhawks. But it wasn't just Williams who was disappointed that year. The brain trust was reportedly none too pleased with the way Williams was developing, as he had a tendency to only show up once every three games or so. Yes, he could pop the goals in when he wanted to, but that's the problem: he didn't want to often enough. When he was traded, Williams was happy to have a "fresh start", but never really found a comfortable fit outside of the Red Wings organization, thusly bouncing down to Atlanta and ultimately winding up in Columbus. As for fitting into Babcock's mold, I'm not sure that's such a slam dunk anymore. Babcock's offensive game plan got picked apart by the Ducks and Penguins, and I wouldn't be surprised to see some changes to the game plan when the Wings hit the ice, thus putting Williams behind the curve again.

And now we have come full circle, as Williams is again front and center for the Red Wings. On paper, Williams meets the criteria as a player who could notch anywhere between 25 and 50 points. He'd be a solid third liner, adding depth and scoring without sacrificing the physical play. But what about the past? Bygones may be bygones, but there are folks in the organization that have to be hesitant about re-signing a guy who wanted out. And the fact that Williams still has trouble consistently contributing is something that hurts his stock as well. Plus, Williams made $2.2 million last season, and would have to take a sizable hit to make his way back to Detroit, which begs the question of whether or not 1)he would take such a cut or 2)is worth paying over $1 million a season for. Financially, Williams would likely make more than a Ville Leino, Darren Helm and Kirk Maltby, but less than Kris Draper. Translation: he SHOULD be able to meet the scoring demands of his paycheck, in comparison to the other players around him that are making comparable money. However, if Helm and Leino find a way to rev the engines this season and really start contributing while Williams lolly gags through the season, nobody will be happy.

The short of this is that, when you get to this level of FA, there is always going to be an increased risk that the player may not meet the expectations that are set. Guys run hot and cold, injuries are always a factor, and they may not fit the system in the way you had hoped. That's what happens when you take an up-and-down guy like Williams. You bet on his potential and hope he pans out.

If it was up to me and I was sitting in Ken Holland's seat, I'm not focusing my time or attention on Williams. I'm keeping my eye on him in case some other options fall through, but at 29 years old, I still question his maturity and commitment to showing up every night. If younger talent is what I am looking for, I'd prefer to turn my attention to someone like Patrick Eaves or Taylor Pyatt, who both need to really prove that they belong at this level and would be willing to work through camp to land an entry level type deal, a la Dan Cleary. If I can't land one of them, I think I prefer to take another run at Petr Sykora for a discount or go for Mike Grier, who should come home to Detroit for no more than $750K. The key here is maximizing every dollar I spend, which I don't do with a guy like Williams unless he's going to take a Motown discount. Given his history with the organization and a relatively productive year, I wouldn't get my hopes up about him taking a financial break to be a Red Wing.

Final move: Land Pyatt or Eaves to an entry-level deal worth between $500K and 750K, and snag Grier to a $750K contract. Leave Jason Williams' Red Wings legacy in the past.

OK folks, get after me. Can't wait to hear your thoughts.

As Joe Sakic retires, a look back at "Quoteless Joe"

Dirk Hoag — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 17:37:27 -0000

More photos » by Jack Dempsey - AP

5 months ago: FILE - In this May 1, 2008, file photo, Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic waves to the crowd after Game 4 of the NHL Western Conference Semifinal hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings in Denver. Sakic, the Avalanche's longtime captain who led the team to two Stanley Cup titles, will retire on Thursday, July 9, 2009, and end his 20-year NHL career, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because Sakic, a 13-time All-Star, will formally announce his decision Thursday in a news conference. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)

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With Joe Sakic set to hold a press conference in Denver this afternoon to announce his retirement from the NHL, a host of tributes are being written, mostly related to "Super Joe" and his world-class hockey skills, or reputation for leadership.

As Mike Chen noted yesterday, however, one of his nicknames was "Quoteless Joe", for the understated tone he took with the media, eschewing controversy even under the most trying circumstances. I got an up-close look at how Sakic handled such situations, as my first opportunity to cover an NHL game with media credentials was March 26, 1997 at the Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

That was the infamous Darren McCarty/Claude Lemieux episode, wherein McCarty exacted revenge for Lemieux's blindside hit on Kris Draper in the 1996 Western Conference Finals. It was easily the most anticipated and exciting regular season NHL game I've ever seen, and the media coverage rivaled that of the playoffs - I remember going back and forth between the Colorado and Detroit dressing rooms after the game and having to work my way through a sea of people.

On the one hand, you had the Detroit guys like McCarty and Draper calling it a big win, but not overplaying it or delivering any "message board" material for a potential playoff rematch, while on the Colorado side guys like Mike Keane and Adam Foote bristled at the notion that the Wings had jumped them on home ice, rather than in an earlier game at Denver. Colorado's coach at the time, Marc Crawford, also held a surly press conference that called for league sanction over what Detroit had done.

The calm in all this storm, however, was Joe Sakic - as he cooly unlaced his skates and took questions from reporters, he shrugged off the talk of fisticuffs and spoke of being disappointed at losing the game, but that Detroit was a good team... zzzzzzz....

It wasn't that Sakic operated at a Jay Bouwmeester-like level of banality, but instead that as a team leader, he was focused on winning, and didn't want to engage in a sideshow that had nothing positive to offer the Avalanche.

The guy was pure class, through and through, and deserves every one of the accolades sent his way this week. Congratulations on a great career, and enjoy the days ahead, Joe.

Just get someone else to clear the snow off your driveway, OK?

2009 NHL Free Agency / Teams by Cap Space / Unsigned UFA's and RFA's

Robert L — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:19:41 -0000

This is a listing of NHL teams by order of remaining cap space as of July 4. The Islanders top the list with approximately $23M left to spend. The Sharks have just under $2M remaining. The list is helpful in determining which team are closest to filling out their 2009-10 lineup. As one can see, there is much work to be done at both ends of the spectrum. The numbers figures are based on totals given by NHL Numbers.com.

1 - New York Islanders: $23.265 (18)

UFA: Andy Hilbert C 28, Dean McAmmond C 36, Mike Sillinger C 38, Thomas Pock D 27, Yann Danis G 28, Joey MacDonald G 29.

RFA: Nate Thompson C 24, Jeremy Colliton C 24, Jamie Fraser D 23, Jack Hillen D 23.

2 - Phoenix Coyotes: $21.972 (18)

UFA: Brian McGrattan R 27, Dmitri Kalinin D 29, Ken Klee D 38.

RFA: Nigel Dawes L 24, Joakim Lindstrom C 25, Enver Lisin R 23, Scottie Upshall R 25, Daniel Winnik C 24, Keith Yandle D 22.

3 - Atlanta Thrashers: $19.599 (15)

RFA: Eric Perrin C 33.

UFA: Kari Lehtonen G 25, Colby Armstrong R 26, Jim Slater C 26, Boris Valabik D 23.

4 - Nashville Predators: $17.913 (16)

UFA: Radek Bonk C 33, Scott Nichol C 34, Greg de Vries D 36.

RFA: Ryan Jones R 25, Antti Pihlstrom L 24,.

5 - New York Rangers: $16.436 (13)

UFA: Blair Betts C 29, Mark Bell L 28, Patrick Rissmiller C 30, Paul Mara D 29, Derek Morris D 30.

RFA: Christopher Higgins R 26, Ryan Callahan R 24, Brandon Dubinsky C 23, Lauri Korpikoski L 22, Nikolai Zherdev L 24, Corey Potter D 25.

6 - Anaheim Ducks: $14.295 (17)

UFA: Rob Niedermayer F 34, Todd Marchant C 33, Francois Beauchemin D 29, Bret Hedican D 38.

RFA: James Wisniewski D 25.

7 - Tampa Bay Lightning: $14.295 (17)

UFA: Matt Pettinger L 28, Wade Brookbank L 31, Jason Ward R 30, Marek Malik D 34, Josef Melichar D 30, Cory Murphy D 31, Noah Welch D 26.

RFA: Martins Karsums R 23, Radek Smolenak L 22, Matt Lashoff D 22, Matt Smaby D 24, Mike Lundin D 24, Karri Ramo G 22, Mike McKenna G 26.

8 - Columbus Blue Jackets: $13.313 (20)

UFA: Chris Gratton C 33, Manny Malhotra C 29, Michael Peca C 35, Jason Williams C 28, Christian Backman D 29.

RFA: Jiri Novotny C 25, Marc Methot D 24, Ole-Kristian Tollefsen D 25.

9 - Dallas Stars: $13.193 (19)

UFA: Sergei Zubov D 38, Brendan Morrison C 33, Joel Lundqvist C 27, Mark Parrish R 32, Landon Wilson R 34, Tobias Stephan G 25, Darryl Sydor D 37.

RFA: Mark Fistric D 23.

10 - St. Louis Blues: $12.295 (22)

UFA: Trent Whitfield C 32, Dan Hinote R 32, Jay McKee D 31, Manny Legace G 36.

RFA: Brandon Crombeen R 23, Chris Porter C 25, Steve Regier L 24, Roman Polak D 23, Jeff Woywitka D 25, Marek Schwarz G 23.

11 - New Jersey Devils: $12.129

UFA: Brendan Shanahan L 40, Kevin Weekes G 34, Niclas Havelid D NJ.

RFA: Travis Zajac C 24.

12 - Toronto Maple Leafs: $12.022 (20)

UFA: Brad May L 37, Bates Battaglia L 33, Andre Deveaux C 25, Boyd Devereaux C 31, Jeff Hamilton C 31, Kris Newbury C 27, Ben Ondrus R 27, Jay Harrison D 26, Jamie Heward D 38, Martin Gerber G 34, Olaf Kolzig G 39, Curtis Joseph G 42.

RFA: Jeremy Williams R 25, Justin Pogge G 23, Jaime Sifers D 26, Ryan Hollweg C 26.

13 - Chicago Blackhawks: $11.797

UFA: Aaron Johnson D 26.

RFA: Cam Barker D 23, Troy Brouwer R 23, Ben Eager L 25, Colin Fraser C 24, Kris Versteeg R 23.

14 - Colorado Avalanche: $11.654 (15)

UFA: Joe Sakic F 39, Ben Guite R 30, Brian Willsie R 31, Andrew Raycroft G 29.

RFA: Kyle Cumiskey D 22, David Jones R 24, Cody McCormick C 26.

15 - Montreal Canadiens: $10.454 (16)

UFA: Alexei Kovalev F 36, Saku Koivu C 34, Alex Tanguay L 29, Robert Lang C 38, Mathieu Schneider D 40, Tom Kostopoulos R 30, Mathieu Dandenault D 33, Patrice Brisebois D 38, Francis Bouillon D 33, Marc Denis G 31.

RFA: Tomas Plekanec C 26, Matt D'Agostini R 22, Guillaume Latendresse R 22, Kyle Chipchura C 23, Gregory Stewart L 23.

16 - Los Angeles Kings: $10.285 (21)

UFA: Derek Armstrong F 36, Denis Gauthier D 32, Kyle Calder L 30.

RFA: Jack Johnson D 22, Teddy Purcell R 23.

17 - Washington Capitals: $9.720 (15)

UFA: Viktor Kozlov C 34, Alexandre Giroux C 28, Bryan Helmer D 26, Brent Johnson G 32.

RFA: Jeff Schultz D 23, Shaone Morrisonn D 26, Milan Jurcina D 26, Eric Fehr R 23, Boyd Gordon R 25.

18 - Buffalo Sabres: $8.976 (16)

UFA: Matt Ellis L 24, Dominic Moore C 28, Andrew Peters L 29, Teppo Numminen D 40, Maxim Afinogeno F 29,

RFA: Andrej Sekera D 23, Drew Stafford R 23, Clarke MacArthur L 24, Patrick Kaleta R 23.

19 - Florida Panthers: $8.405 (18)

UFA: Ville Peltonen L 36, Richard Zednik L 33, Jassen Cullimore D 36, Nick Boynton D 30.

RFA: Anthony Stewart C 24, Steve Eminger D 25, Tanner Glass L 25.

20 - Carolina Hurricanes: $8.083 (18)

UFA: Ryan Bayda L 28, Dennis Seidenberg D 27.

RFA: Tuomo Ruutu C 26, Anton Babchuk D 25.

21 - Vancouver Canucks: $7.282 (18)

UFA: Mats Sundin C 38, Jason Krog C 33, Rob Davison D 29, Ossi Vaananen D 28, Curtis Sanford G 29, Michel Ouellet R 27.

RFA: Shane O' Brien D 25. Kyle Wellwood C 26, Jannik Hansen R 23.

22 - Minnesota Wild: $6.296 (20)

UFA: Stephane Veilleux L 27, Krys Kolanos C 27, Marc-Andre Bergeron D 28, Kurtis Foster D 27, Martin Skoula D 29.

RFA: Dan Fritsche C 23, Benoit Pouliot L 22, Kyle Brodziak C 25, Josh Harding G 25.

23 - Edmonton Oilers: $6.404 (20)

UFA: Ales Kotalik R 30, Dany Sabourin G 28.

RFA: Liam Reddox L 23, Gilbert Brule C 22, Ryan Potulny C 24, Rob Schremp C 22, Denis Grebeshkov D 25, Ladislav Smid D 23.

24 - Detroit Red Wings: $5.554 (16)

UFA: Darren McCarty R 37, Aaron Downey R 34, Chris Chelios D 47.

RFA: Jiri Hudler C 25, Ville Leino L 25.

25 - Boston Bruins: $5.340 (18)

UFA: Stephane Yelle F 35, P.J. Axelsson L 34, Manny Fernandez G 34.

RFA: Phil Kessel F 21, Matt Hunwick D 24.

26 - Ottawa Senators: $4.649 (22)

UFA: Mike Comrie C 28.

RFA: Brendan Bell D 26, Brian Elliott G 24.

27 - Pittsburgh Penguins: $3.137 (19)

UFA: Mike Zigomanis C 28, James Connor L 26, Miroslav Satan L 34, Petr Sykora R 32, Janne Pesonen L 27, Philippe Boucher D 36.

RFA: Paul Bissonnette R 24, Tim Wallace R 24, Ben Lovejoy D 25, John Curry G 25.

28 - Calgary Flames: $3.053 (19)

UFA: Todd Bertuzzi R 34, Andre Roy R 34, Rhett Warrener D 33.

RFA: Dustin Boyd C 22.

29 - Philadelphia Flyers: $2.125 (20)

UFA: Josh Gratton L 26, Boyd Kane L 31, Andrew Alberts D 28, Lasse Kukkonen D 27, Martin Biron G 31, Antero Niittymaki G 29.

RFA: Jared Ross C 26, Danny Syvret D 24.

30 - San Jose Sharks: $1.774 (16)

UFA: Claude Lemieux R 43, Jeremy Roenick C 39, Tom Cavanagh R 27, Alexei Semenov D 28, Mike Grier R 34, Marcel Goc C 25, Tomas Plihal L 26, Lukas Kaspar L 23.

RFA: Torrey Mitchell C 24, Thomas Greiss G 23, Brad Staubitz R 24.

UPDATE1: Hossa? Nossa.

motownchollis — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:50:41 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Marian Hossa is likely done as a Red Wing. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Multiple sources are reporting that Marian Hossa has turned down a 10 year offer from the Red Wings.

From Sportsnet.ca:

Sportsnet has learned Marion Hossa has turned down a contract offer from the Red Wings that would have kept the all-star with the Red Wings for the next 10 years.

A source compared the length of the deal to the deals Johan Franzen and Henrik Zetterberg signed. It's believed the deal-breaker was the average salary which fell between $3.75 million and $4 million.

The Detroit News confirms, and also offers up some information on Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey:

General manager Ken Holland and Hossa's agent Ritch Winter talked again Tuesday but came to no agreement.

"It certainly appears that way," Holland said. "As I've said all along, we only have so much cap room. We have players that I'm not interested in losing."

Holland also said he'll talk again with the representative for Mikael Samuelsson Wednesday morning in an effort to retain Samuelsson, who is an unrestricted free agent.

Tomas Kopecky, the Wings other unrestricted free agent, will test the market and likely won't return to the Wings.

Holland also said the organization will not re-sign veteran forwards Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey.

**UPDATE (12:57 AM ET)

Craig Custance/Sporting News reports that, even though Hossa reportedly rejected the deal, negotiations will still continue:

The chances of Marian Hossa signing with the Red Wings aren't great, but it still could happen. Despite reports on the eve of free agency that Hossa had turned down an offer from the Red Wings, the possibility of a deal still exists.

An NHL source told SportingNews.com late Tuesday night that discussions between the two sides will continue.

It's not an issue of either side wanting to get a deal completed, it's a matter of finding common ground. The Red Wings would like to keep Hossa at a annual salary cap number in the $4 million range, which would be considerably less than he'd earn on the open market.

Not all that encouraging, but at this point, it's better than nothing. If you want Hossa to stick around, that is.

Top Avs Of All Time: #3 Peter Forsberg

Joe Dunman — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:32:32 -0000

The speed. The finesse. The energy. The ferocity. The physicality. The intensity. The focus. The stare. The raw, unbelievable talent. An entire book could be written on each one of these characteristics, all possessed by one Swedish hockey player, who, year after year, gave fans of the Colorado Avalanche more than just a little hope for success. He gave them all a swagger. Peter Forsberg gave fans of the Avs a kind of confidence and security that only two other players have ever given them, and those players are two of the greatest in history.

Despite the injuries caused by his style of play, Foppa never once played lazy, never once held back, never once eased up. His very presence on the ice made every single player around him better. Very few other players in history can be said to have done that. Gretzky. Lemieux. Dionne. Messier. Bourque. Sakic. Some of the greatest names in the game, and Forsberg is securely placed among them. He's also securely placed in the top 3 of the Top 19 Avalanche Players of All Time.

Forsberg began his career at home in Sweden for the local team, the junior branch of MoDo HK Ornskoldsvik. In 1989-90, at the age of 16, Foppa scored 27 points in 30 games, and even got a one-game call up to the elite league branch of MoDo. He had an assist. The following year, he split his time between the junior and elite teams. For the junior team, Forsberg scored 102 points (38 goals) in 39 games. For the elite team, he scored 17 points in 23 games. His tenacity on the ice and his gift for creating plays and scoring chances began attracting the attention of NHL scouts.

In the 1991 Entry Draft, the Flyers took Forsberg sixth overall, ahead of his MoDo teammate and countryman, Markus Naslund. Naslund and many other players taken in the first round that year were rated higher than Forbserg in the pre-draft reports, but the Philly scouts obviously knew what they were doing. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the rest of the front office was not so competent.

Forsberg would play three more seasons in Sweden with MoDo, continuing to play well. He made appearances in two World Championships and the Olympics, winning two gold medals (1992 WC, 1994 Olympics) and a silver (1993 WC). During that time, the rights to his NHL contract were swapped from Philadelphia to Quebec in what is now considered one of the dumbest trades in the history of hockey. Quebec, unable to sign their petulant 1991 first pick (Eric Lindros), traded him to the Flyers for Forsberg, high-scoring defenseman Steve Duchesne, Kerry Huffman, Mike Ricci, Ron Hextall, $15 million and two draft picks that would become Jocelyn Thibault and Chris Simon. Thibault, of course, would later be part of another one-sided trade that led to future success by the Quebec/Colorado franchise.

Unfortuntely, even with the growing excitement over his performances at home with MoDo and in international play, Forsberg wouldn't get the chance to make his NHL debut until January 1995, at the age of 21. A labor dispute and lockout canceled the first half of the 1994-95 season. Once finally on the ice, though, Foppa made an immediate impact, much to the chagrin of his original team. In his first game, Forsberg had an assist against the Flyers. His first goal would come two games later, against Buffalo. Quebec won both those games, and 30 overall, in a shortened season of just 48 games. Forsberg played 47 of them, scored 15 goals and 35 assists, and won the Calder Trophy for best NHL rookie.

1995-96 would be a banner year for both Forsberg and his team. After being sold, the Nordiques moved to Denver and became the Avalanche. Stacked with talent (in large part due to the Lindros trade with Philadelphia and later the Roy trade with Montreal), the Avs finished the regular season with a 47-25-10 record. Forsberg played all 82 games (the only season he ever did so) and was second on the team in points scored, behind only captain Joe Sakic. Forsberg had 30 goals and 86 assists. But his offensive prowess wasn't the only aspect of his game that amazed teammates and opponents alike. Breaking with the old stereotype of European players being "soft", Forsberg played like a rugged power forward, throwing his body around and making big hits just as often as he feathered perfect passes to his wingers for easy goals. And despite his propensity for physicality, he was only penalized 47 minutes that season. That would be one of the lowest PIM totals of his career.

Forsberg was just as amazing in the playoffs, finishing third on the team in points (21 in 22 games) and hoisting the Stanley Cup with his teammates after a four-game sweep of Florida in the finals.

The late 1990s was an intensely successful period for both the Avalanche and Forsberg. Year after year the team won their division title and made deep runs in the playoffs. Though another Stanley Cup was elusive, the Avalanche cemented their reputation as a Western Conference powerhouse, rivaled only by the equally successful Detroit Red Wings. Peter Forsberg would become a critical player in both that dynasty and that rivalry.

Between 1996 and 2000, Forsberg averaged over 90 points a season while never playing all 82 games. And despite the time lost to injuries, he never eased up or held back. His consistent goals-per-game average above 1.2 illustrates the fact that he was always in the middle of the action when playing offense, and his increasing number of minutes spent in the penalty box just goes to show how physical his play really was. In 1998-99, he scored 97 points (30 goals) and tallied 108 penalty minutes---including no fighting majors.

Forsberg played with a special flare against the Red Wings. He hit harder, skated faster, and showed more intensity against them than any other team. He fully embraced the "Blood Feud." His only official NHL fight came against Red Wings winger Martin Lapointe on March 16, 1997. Ten days later, a tussle between Forsberg and Igor Larionov would spark the infamous brawl that included the vicious sucker punch attack by Darren McCarty against Claude Lemieux and a legendary fight between Patrick Roy and Mike Vernon at center ice in Joe Louis Arena.

Forsberg had another fine year in 2000-01, playing 73 games and scoring 89 points. Unfortunately, during the second round of the playoffs against the Los Angeles Kings, pain in his abdomen clued his doctor into a ruptured spleen. The surgery would end Forsberg's impressive run (14 points in 11 games), but the team went on to win it all without his help. He hoisted his second Stanley Cup wearing tennis shoes on the ice, but just as much a part of the overall "Mission 16W" effort as any other player on the team.

With his health having suffered significantly from his sick spleen and the subsequent surgery, Forsberg elected to sit out the entire 2001-02 regular season. He returned for the playoffs, and led the Avalanche with 27 points in 20 games, appearing to have never been sick at all. Sadly, despite a solid lineup and a general assumption that they would repeat as Cup champions, the Avs collapsed in the Western Conference finals against the Red Wings, giving up a 3-2 series lead, being shut out 0-2 in game six and 0-7 in the worst game seven showing in team history.

Unfazed by this setback, Foppa returned for the 2002-03 season fully rested and ready to go. While captain Joe Sakic missed nearly 30 games with injuries of his own, Forsberg teamed up with linemates Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay to set the Western Conference on fire. In 75 games, Forsberg scored 77 assists and 106 points, leading the NHL in both categories. Hejduk would lead the league in goals with 50. For his efforts, Foppa received the Art Ross scoring title trophy and the Hart Trophy for league's most valuable player. Unfortunately, the Avs choked hard in the first round of the playoffs that season under coach Tony Granato, dropping game seven of the conference quarterfinals to the Minnesota Wild with an overtime goal from Andrew Brunette that beat Patrick Roy and signified the end of the great goalie's stellar career.

2003-04 was a hard year for many Avalanche players, including Forsberg. Foppa lost 43 games due to injuries to his groin and hip, while new teammate Paul Kariya missed nearly as many to a wrist injury. Teemu Selanne, also picked up during the off-season in an effort to create another Cup-winning Denver powerhouse, struggled to score under Granato's coaching style. But, despite the extensive time lost, Forsberg still managed to score 55 points. His 1.41 points-per-game average in 2003-04 was the third time he'd reached that milestone and the second time he led the league in that category. The previous two times were 1995-96 and 2002-03, his best overall seasons.

The Avs again stumbled in the playoffs under Tony Granato, dropping in the second round to the San Jose Sharks, four games to two. Forsberg had a solid 11-point showing in as many games.

In 2004-05, during the Lockout, Forsberg returned to MoDo in Sweden along with Markus Naslund and the Sedin brothers, but the injury bug followed him there, too. He lost playing time due to wrist problems, and without his presence in the playoffs, MoDo lost in the first round.

At the end of the Lockout, the implementation of the salary cap and the onset of professional incompetence in the Avalanche front office resulted in a low ball contract offer to Forsberg. Foppa rejected the Avs' proposed four year contract worth $13.5 million and instead went back to his original NHL home of Philadelphia. The Flyers' offer of $11.5 million for two years was far more attractive. Luckily for the Avs, however, the end of the Lockout was also the beginning of the end of Forsberg's career. Recurring injuries, including foot and ankle problems that have consistently sidelined him, began to add up. In 2005-06, Forsberg managed 60 games for the Flyers (and 75 points), but the following year his level of play had decreased noticeably. In 57 games spent in Philadelphia and Nashville, Forsberg scored just 55 points, the only time in his entire professional career in which his points-per-game average dropped below 1. The only noteworthy moment of 2006-07 for Forsberg was his assist on Paul Kariya's game winning goal against the Avs on April 7th. That goal eliminated the Avs from playoff contention for the first time in team history and stifled a brilliant 15-2-2 late-season run.

Forsberg then sat out nearly the entire 2007-08 season due to continued foot and ankle problems. After surgery and extensive rehab, he decided to return to the NHL, rejoining the Colorado Avalanche. He signed a one-year contract on February 25th and made his debut on March 4th, 2008 to a jubilant Pepsi Center crowd. Almost immediately he faced groin problems, however, and managed to play just 9 regular season games. Despite the problems, though, Foppa still managed to score a goal and thirteen assists, and his 1.56 points-per-game average was the highest of his career. His very presence (along with that of Adam Foote, also returning to the team for the first time since the Lockout) rejuvenated an Avalanche team many felt had lost its old identity. The Avs beat the Minnesota Wild in six games in the first round of the playoffs, with Forsberg contributing four points. Sadly, Foppa would only play one game against the Red Wings in the second round, and scored no points. Detroit swept the Avs and ended Colorado's effort to regain some past glory. After the series it would be revealed that Forsberg had suffered two torn groin muscles.

Peter Forsberg did not return to the NHL for the 2008-09 season, opting to stay home and focus on his lower body recovery and various business interests in Sweden.

Over the course of 15 years, Peter Forsberg established himself as one of the premier hockey players in the world, and arguably one of the best two-way players in the history of the game. His accomplishments are impressive: 885 points in 706 games, 171 points in 151 playoff games, two Stanley Cups, two Olympic gold medals, two gold medals in the World Championships (along with three silvers and a bronze), and a legacy of amazing passes and huge hits. The once-devastating Avalanche offense, feared around the NHL during the mid- to late-1990s and into the 21st century, turned as much on Peter Forsberg's abilities as it did on Joe Sakic's. Foppa's presence on the ice elevated everyone around him, even when hampered by injuries late in his career.

Whether or not Forsberg ever returns after the missed 2008-09 season, his legacy is secure. He no doubt has a place waiting for him in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and it won't be long before his number is hanging from the rafters in the Pepsi Center. He is undoubtedly one of the finest players ever to wear the Burgundy and Blue, and is most definitely one of the Top 19 Avalanche Players of All Time.

Peter Forsberg at Hockey-Reference.com

Peter Forsberg at AvalancheDB.com

2009 NHL Free Agency: Detroit Red Wings Preview

Christy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:00:22 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

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The NHL free agency period kicks off this Wednesday at noon EDT. In the few days between the draft and the start of free agency, we as fans have a chance to debate what the Wings should or should not do this offseason. The blogging crew here at WIM should have some more in-depth posts up about specific players/news until then, but here's a summary to kick off discussions.

2009 NHL Free Agency: What The Wings Should Do
Pending UFAs: Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, Aaron Downey, Tomas Kopecky
Pending RFAs: Jiri Hudler, Ville Leino, Evan McGrath, Ryan Oulahen
Salary cap space: $4.5-million (approximately)
Projected budget: $56.8-million
Key needs: With the Wings up against the salary cap, don't expect any big splashes in the offseason. Holland will likely find a role player or two to fit our needs on offense for the fourth line, but Detroit is mostly set this year. A lot depends on Hossa. If he stays, the Wings will need to trade away guys to make room under the cap and find some cheap talent and fast. If he goes, there will be more money to target a second or third line player.
Potential targets: Samuel Pahlsson, Chad LaRose, John Madden, P.J. Axelsson, Ian Laperriere
What our Central Division opponents want: Second City Hockey (Blackhawks), The Cannon (Blue Jackets), On the Forecheck (Predators), and St. Louis Game Time (Blues)

What We Do Know: The Red Wings have informed Ty Conklin (goaltender) and Chris Chelios (defenseman) that they will not be offering them deals. Due to the salary cap and Jimmy Howard having to clear waivers now, there's just not room for Conklin. Detroit has offered Darren McCarty a two-way contract, which would allow him to stay with the Wings but will keep him down in Grand Rapids for most of the season. He has not made his decision yet.

If Marian Hossa is not re-signed by today, GM Ken Holland could try to trade away the negotiating rights to the star forward. As we pointed out on Sunday, it's not looking like the Wings are going to get a deal done. If that's the case, let's hope Detroit can get something positive out of it.

Based on their playoff performances, Darren Helm (forward) and Jonathan Ericsson (defenseman) have earned spots on the roster so that will help offset whatever personnel losses the Wings experience during free agency. If Holland can re-sign RFA Ville Leino, he should also join the Red Wings' lineup this upcoming season. Should Hossa stay and the roster is short a few players, expect Holland to insert Justin Abdelkader into the lineup purely for financial reasons.

Now It's Your Turn: Who do you want to see stay or go? Who do you want to see Detroit target this summer? Tell us know in the comments.

Wings Free Agency Roundup - 6.24

motownchollis — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:26:00 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Niklas Kronwall (left) and Henrik Zetterberg will be on the ice for the Wings next season. Who's going to join them?(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Now that we know Steve Yzerman is headed to Toronto as the newest member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, along with former teammates Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille, we can finally settle in and get back to the business at hand: who's going to be suiting up for the Wings next season?

The picture looks to be clearing up a bit, but is still incredibly hazy. Here's what we know so far:

Multiple sources have confirmed that Chris Chelios will not be offered a playing contract for the Red Wings this upcoming season. Cheli is scheduled to meet with the media today to discuss his own future, and he still believes he can contribute big minutes for someone in the league. In terms of immediate impact: everyone knew this was coming. The blue-line is pretty much set for next season with Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Jonathan Ericsson, Brad Stuart, Andreas Lilja and Derek Meech. Obviously, Lilja's health is still a VERY big question, so a move to shore up the blue line even more may not be out of the question.

With every passing day, it looks more and more like Ty Conklin will probably find his way out of Detroit in favor of giving Jimmy Howard a shot at being Chris Osgood's backup. From Rachel Lenzi/Portland (Maine) Press-Herald:

"Jimmy's earned a chance to get to the top," said Jim Nill, the assistant general manager of the Detroit Red Wings. "We have full confidence that Jimmy Howard's going to come in and be a goalie for the Red Wings, but he has to come in and earn that, and there's an opportunity for him to do that. It's up to him. Is there a job for him? He has to earn that."

Lenzi also talked with Howard about his situation:

"The Red Wings like how I've progressed," said Howard, the 64th selection in the 2003 NHL Draft. "They like how I've gotten rid of the inconsistency bug, and this season, I was a lot more consistent. Next year, I"m going to get my shot and I have to take full advantage of it."

Ken Holland and Jim Nill seem pretty confident in Howard, and now is as good of time as any to give him a shot at competing. The Wings have some good prospects behind Howard, so that should provide motivation for the kid to step it up. This also (theoretically) frees up some additional money for the Wings, as they won't have to shell out to keep Conklin on the roster.

As many folks pointed out this week, Eklund from over at HockeyBuzz laid out a claim that Detroit had all but locked up Marian Hossa for the long term. That's a bit difficult to believe right now, especially considering that, as Ken Holland has repeatedly said, he won't know what he can offer until he gets a solid salary cap figure for the upcoming season. Does this mean Hossa isn't staying? Absolutely not. Ted Kulfan/Detroit News makes a great point:

Hossa is expected to receive an offer in the range of $4 million to $5 million from the Wings, but for anywhere from 8-10 years. Many teams, especially teams contending for the Stanley Cup, won't be able to offer similar lengthy deals.

So what does it come down to? The same thing it has from the beginning: is Hossa serious about putting a long-term deal over making more money. If yes, he's back. If not, he's not. Holland has already said he will meet with Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter, during the draft this weekend, so we should have a better idea of where things stand early next week.

Take this one for what it's worth, but according to Kulfan, Mikael Samuelsson has put his house up for sale.

Samuelsson, incidentally, has put his house up for sale according to several residents in his Novi neighborhood.

No surprise here, as it's been pretty much assumed from the get-go that Samuelsson would be odd man out after this season was over. Barring a major surprise, Sammy's services will be with another NHL franchise next season.

Finally, we know that Holland has made qualifying offers to both Jiri Hudler and Ville Leino, both restricted free agents, in an attempt to keep their rights. Holland has also said that he is currently undecided on offering two-way contracts to veterans Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey. Leino will stick around, as his role should increase this season with the Wings. I would also expect Holland to offer both McCarty and Downey deals, as long as he has the money to do so. As far as Hudler goes, his presence in Detroit is an incredible long shot for next season. Even if he re-signs, he will be one of Detroit's biggest trade pieces, and will likely get moved.

Like I said, it's still hazy, but it should really start to clear up next week once the draft is over with and the free agent market opens up.

Now Comes the Real Fun: Who Stays and Who Goes in Motown?

motownchollis — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:34:50 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

Will Marian Hossa be staying around Motown and adding his picture to the wall of legends? (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

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Despite only being two days removed from losing in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals, your friends here at WIM are picking up the pieces and moving forward. What better way to start moving towards next season's Stanley Cup title run than looking at the pieces that will hopefully be raising Lord Stanley next June.

Before we move forward and look at who might not be around, let's take a look at who is already locked up. Up front, Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Dan Cleary, Tomas Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby, Kris Draper, Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader are all taken care fo for next season. Defensively, the Wings have already secured the services of Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian Rafalski, Niklas Kronwall, Brad Stuart, Jonathan Ericsson, Andreas Lilja, Derek Meech and Brett Lebda. In net, Chris Osgood will be back as the starter and Jimmy Howard is signed for the next two years.

Which leaves us with the following question marks and probable results (which of course are all IMO):

Marian Hossa

Hossa is an unrestricted free agent entering the off-season, but it is widely believed that he will be back in the winged wheel next season, and for quite a few seasons after that. Despite all but disappearing in this postseason, Hossa is still a superstar in the NHL and the Wings are a better team with him in the lineup. However, his price tag is guaranteed to be high, as he garnered 7.45 million this past season. Even if Ken Holland can work his magic and get Hossa to take less money over a long-term deal, his presence bodes pretty unfavorably for some of the other free agents on the Wings roster.
Staying or going? Staying.

Jiri Hudler

Here's where things begin to get complicated. Hudler is a restricted free agent, so all the Wings have to do is offer him, and he stays with the team. However, as Hossa is widely expected to sign a long term deal with the Wings, Hudler becomes one of the players on the outside looking in. Normally, this wouldn't be a major issue, as Hudler has enough NHL experience to receive a crop of offer sheets from other clubs. However, and unproductive playoff - three assists and zero goal in his last 12 playoff games - could lead some clubs to reconsider Hudler. In the end, though, someone should take a chance on him, and Hudler will be playing for someone else when the fall rolls around.
Staying or going? Going.

Mikael Samuelsson

Samuelsson, an unrestricted free agent, is expected to be another victim of a Marian Hossa re-signing. Despite being productive for the Wings early in the playoffs, Sammy fell of the map in the last 10 games, netting zero points. His contract is just over one million dollars, which is completely reasonable for a 20 goal scorer, so someone will scoop up Samuelsson off the market.
Staying or going? Very much gone.

Tomas Kopecky

Kopecky is another major question mark, as the Wings will likely need to shed one more salary, in addition to Hudler's and Samuelsson's, to keep Hossa in a Red Wings uniform for the foreseeable future. The likely answer appears to be Kopecky, who has been out since Game 5 of the Anaheim series after suffering a broken orbital bone. But it won't be easy to cut ties with him, as Kopecky played 79 regular season games and is only 27 years old. But the reality is that Kopecky only put up 19 points over those 79 games, and with younger players like Leino, Abdelkader and Helm gaining experience and playing time, Kopecky's lack of production might help to show him the door in Detroit.
Staying or going? Probably going.

Ville Leino

No drama here. Leino is a restricted free agent, who hasn't played in enough NHL games to really warrant an offer sheet from another team. Leino will be back and will probably get increased time with the big club, especially if Kopecky doesn't get re-signed.
Staying or going. Staying.

Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey

With the young talent making its way up the ladder, I just don't see both of these guys staying. McCarty played in 13 games this season to Downey's four. Combine that with McCarty's status as a fan favorite and someone who is willing to grind it out in the minors to get his shot, and he's my pick to be back in a Wings uniform next season.
Staying or going? McCarty: Staying. Downey: Going.

Chris Chelios

Unfortunately, Cheli's time in Motown is up. With young defensive talent like Jon Ericsson and Niklas Kronwall leading the charge, Chelios' minutes just aren't there anymore.
Staying or going? Gone.

Ty Conklin

So this is one situation that has managed to stay under the radar for the most part, but Conks finds himself as a free agent and the Wings potentially find themselves with an untested backup goaltender in Jimmy Howard. At this point, things get really tricky, and Ken Holland is going to earn his paycheck when this is all said and done. Conklin made $750,000 last season, but happened to turn in 25 wins while Osgood was interested, and will most likely ask for more money. But Jimmy Howard is making $717,000 a season, and also can't be sent back down to the minors without being waived. And if Howard got claimed off waivers and called back up from the minors, half of his salary would be on the shoulders of the Red Wings. It's a predicament, for sure. However, I don't think that the Wings staff is 100 percent confident in Howard's ability to succeed in the NHL, and surely don't consider him a full time backup at this point. Combine that with the fact that there isn't a huge demand for starting goaltenders this off-season and, in the end, I think it looks something like this: Howard gets a few more chances to prove himself during the regular season, but...
Staying or going? Conklin is staying, at least until the trade deadline.

That covers off on all of our free agent action, but there is one more area of concern:

Andreas Lilja

Lilja is signed to play this year, but after getting his block knocked off during the regular season last year, he hasn't been able to return to the ice because of persistent headaches. For awhile, it looked as if he was turning the corner, but now he claims that the pain is worse than ever. I hate to say it (and I hope it's not true), but Lilja sounds like a player who might possibly have played his last game in the NHL. I may very well be wrong about this, but he doesn't sound like he is making a ton of improvement here and I, for one, do not expect him to be ready for the start of next season.
However, if he does somehow make it back to the lineup, it puts Derek Meech in a really tough position. Meech has had a really tough time cracking the starting lineup over the last two years, and if Lilja can return, Meech finds himself squarely on the trade block. However, if Lilja can't return, then Meech finds himself on more secure footing, as long as he isn't passed by another guy from the minors.

All in all, it's going to be a tricky off-season in terms of roster movement. Without a doubt, there will be changes, but the Wings remain in good shape since their core players have all been taken care of. With young, playoff proven talent ready to step up for anyone who leaves town, the Wings should find themselves in a pretty good position when the playoffs fire up again next season.

As always, WIM will bring you all the latest news and notes on the off-season moves for the Wings, so check back frequently for updates and analysis.