Around the Rink – September 9 Edition

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.