Around the Rink – June 22nd Edition

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

We have a couple of noteworthy events happening this week — the 2009 Hockey Hall of Fame inductees will be announced on Tuesday and the 2009 NHL Entry Draft will take place on Friday and Saturday — that Hockeytown Blog will be sure to cover.

Chelios’ future

Chris Chelios has been a sturdy presence in the Red Wings’ lineup for years, but it is unknown if he will return for the 2009-10 season. GM Ken Holland and Chelios are expected to talk this week about his future with the team. The U.S. Olympic team has already extended an offer for Cheli to work with the team in 2010 for the Winter Olympics.

In Other News…

• Speaking of the 2010 Winter Olympics, captain Nick Lidstrom will mull over his playing status this summer. After two long, grueling seasons, Lidstrom may opt to use the Olympic break as a chance to recover and rest before the regular season concludes as he already is a gold medalist from the 2006 Games.
• Enforcer Aaron Downey told the Detroit Free Press that he hopes to return to the Detroit lineup this fall after spending most of the past season in Grand Rapids.
• Media outlets are reporting that there may be two Winter Classic games this New Year’s after the success of the Detroit-Chicago game at Wrigley Field. It has been expected that Fenway Park would host the Boston Bruins and their opponent, but new reports suggest that Calgary will also hold a game to mark the first Canadian Winter Classic.
• Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press grades each of the Red Wings on their performances during the 2008-09 season.
• The St. Louis Post-Dispatch believes the St. Louis Blues may target Ty Conklin, Detroit’s backup netminder, for their backup position.
• Former Red Wings Steve Yzerman and Brett Hull are expected to be named to the 2009 HHOF class tomorrow afternoon with a third former Wing, Luc Robitaille, as a likely candidate.

Hockeytown Blog will have more on the HHOF inductees in Wednesday’s edition of Around the Rink.