Red Wings News

"Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom , right, had his day with the Stanley Cup on Friday, and he let his cousin use it as a baptismal font for a christening. Holmstrom suggested the idea to his cousin, Robert Sundstrom , who baptized his 7-week-old daughter, Alva Felicia , during a private ceremony outside Holmstrom's hometown of Pitea in northern Sweden. "Tomas came up with the idea when we were sitting in his summer cabin kitchen a week ago," Sundstrom said. "Me and my wife thought it would be fun to christen our daughter in such a priceless object." The only outsiders at the ceremony were the two security guards who travel with the trophy. Each member of the Red Wings gets to spend a ..."

"A gentle wind was blowing in Tuesday at Wrigley Field, dropping the windchill to about 72 degrees. That's significantly warmer than it's likely to feel on New Year's Day, when the Blackhawks face off against the Detroit Red Wings at the ballpark. Representatives of the National Hockey League, the Cubs, the Hawks and the Red Wings gathered atop the third-base dugout to formally preview Winter Classic 2009, the third outdoor game in league history."

"On a day fans got a view of the proposed rink layout at Wrigley Field for a Red Wings-Blackhawks game in January, they also got a taste of the rhetoric to come. What's sure to be a sellout between Original Six rivals doesn't need much hype, but Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley did his part Tuesday to ramp up emotions for the "Winter Classic." Chicago is "widely known as the best sports town in the country," Daley said during a news conference at Wrigley Field, also attended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and representatives of the Wings and Blackhawks. "We look forward to ... cheering the Chicago Blackhawks to victory.""

"The Detroit Red Wings have made several moves recently involving goaltenders. They signed veteran backup Ty Conklin, used their first-round pick in last month's entry draft toThomas McCollum and are bringing Daniel Larsson over from Sweden to play in Grand Rapids. Jimmy Howard hasn't been lost in the shuffle. The Red Wings signed Howard to a three-year, $2.15 million contract Monday and still view their top draft pick from 2003 as the heir apparent to Chris Osgood."

"Two of the Red Wings' role players recently got their turn with the Stanley Cup in Winnipeg as Derek Meech and Darren Helm were able to take pictures with the NHL championship trophy. Last week, Meech was able have breakfast with his parents, the rest of his family, and the Cup, according to the Hockey Hall of Fame's Stanley Cup Journal. Meech later took the Cup to the rink that he played at as a child in Winnipeg."

"The Detroit Red Wings have re-signed goaltender Jimmy Howard and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to three-year contracts. Team spokeswoman Lisa Hickok said Monday the contracts were filed over the weekend. She declined to discuss other details.According to information posted on the NHL Players’ Association Web site, Howard will earn $600,000 next season and Ericsson will make $550,000."

"The Detroit Red Wings are close to signing defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a three-year contract, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet. The deal reportedly will pay $550,000 next season, $900,000 in 2009-10 and $1.25 million in 2010-11. The two-way contract would mean Ericsson would receive a lower salary and wouldn't count against the salary cap if he were assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. Ericsson, who is 6-foot-5, 225 pounds, is regarded as the top prospect in the Red Wings' system."

"The league is more than welcome to try whatever it wants. And it clearly felt that the fans craved divisional games. Or more to the point, the league craved rivalries. And they felt that the best way to create those was to have teams play within their division a thousand times a year. So the Wings got jobbed because A) They are too good to be dragged into a rivalry with any of the teams in the Central. And B) Have you seen the Central lately? It is one of the worst divisions ever assembled. So there is little tension in these games because the Wings usually clinch the division on or about Opening Night."

"More games against Original Six foes. More games against Eastern Conference teams. More games on Saturday nights Those are the highlights of the Red Wings' 2008-09 regular-season schedule released Thursday. The Wings will host 13 Friday night or Saturday night games this season, compared with 11 last season, primarily because the number of Saturday night games jump from four to eight."

"Many Red Wings fans got their wish with the new 2008-09 schedule. The NHL schedule was changed so all 30 teams play each other at least once during the the season. That means the Wings will face all the Original Six teams, and even get to face the Pittsburgh Penguins twice, in a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Finals.The number of division games (Columbus, Nashville, Chicago and St. Louis) has been reduced to six from eight. The Wings will still play four games against non-divisional Western Conference teams."

"Four of the Red Wings' Original Six opponents will visit for regular-season games in 2008-09, it was learned Thursday, when the NHL schedule was released."

"The Ottawa Senators will play their home opener for the 2008-09 season against the reigning Stanley Cup champs, the Detroit Red Wings, on October 11. It will be a tough start to the season for the Sens as they begin their season with two games against Stanley Cup finalist Pittsburgh Penguins in Stockholm, Sweden, on October 4 and 5."

"The intermingling of the Hawks and Cubdom, with Wirtz right-hand-man John McDonough as the proactive common denominator, is a must-attend spectacle for the ages. If it isn't an original concept -- the NHL has played in football venues, including last Jan. 1 in Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium -- the twist is clever enough to silence cries that Bettman is wrecking the outdoor novelty with annual games."

"Red Wings fans will have to find something else to do on New Year%u2019s Eve this year. Whatever alternative they choose, they'll want to make sure they're fully recovered by New Year's Day afternoon. The Wings gave up their traditional New Year's Eve game to instead play on New Year's Day in the NHL Winter Classic 2009. The defending Stanley Cup champions will play the Chicago Blackhawks at 1 p.m. at Wrigley Field."

"The Wings will be in Chicago on New Year's Day, playing the Blackhawks in historic Wrigley Field in the NHL's Winter Classic outdoor game, the league announced Wednesday. The game will begin at 1 p.m. and will be televised by NBC and Canada's CBC. "The NHL is delighted to bring its most historic rivalry to one of the most historic venues in sports," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement."

"The National Hockey League and the Blackhawks announced Wednesday that the Blackhawks will host the defending Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings in an outdoor regular-season game, the NHL Winter Classic 2009, to be played at Wrigley Field on January 1, 2009, at noon... The NHL Winter Classic 2009 will be the second regular-season NHL outdoor game to be played in the United States, and just the third in league history. More information on the New Year's Day contest will be announced by the NHL soon."

"A Michigan bank is suing NHL veteran Sergei Fedorov, saying payments have stopped on more than $2 million (all figures U.S.) in loans. Citizens State Bank filed a lawsuit Monday against Fedorov, a former star with the Detroit Red Wings who now plays for the Washington Capitals. The lawsuit, filed in Macomb County Circuit Court, said Fedorov got loans in 2004 and 2005, one for $1.75 million and another for $500,000. A default notice was sent in May after payments stopped, Citizens State Bank attorney Scott Norton said yesterday. The bank is owed at least $2.1 million in interest and principal, according to the lawsuit."

"Dallas Drake, a member of the Red Wings' Stanley Cup championship team, announced his retirement from the NHL in a conference call with reporters Tuesday. Drake, 39, had a goal and three assists in 22 playoff games in 2008. That followed a regular season in which he had six points in 65 games. Drake, a winger, signed with the Red Wings as a free agent in July 2007 following six seasons with the St. Louis Blues. He played for Northern Michigan from 1988-92 and was a sixth-round draft choice by Detroit in 1989."

"If you're a Red Wings season-ticket holder, you'll likely be receiving renewal information today. If you're interested in saving some money, act fast. Reserve before Aug. 4, specifically, and you'll lock in to last season's prices (ranging from $22 to $85). If you wait until after Aug. 4, those seats go up $2 per ticket. A total of 1,869 tickets for seats in the upper bowl, which were priced at $44, have dropped to $33, while some $54 seats have gone down to $44. And the first three rows off the ice in the lower bowl, which were $85 last season, have gone up to $125 (although the Wings stress they're still the second-least-expensive such ticket in the league). ..."

"I spoke to Red Wings general manager Ken Holland this afternoon and he's going to be a busy man over the next 48 hours. Holland said he's been talking to agents for the team's restricted free agents and had a few more phone calls to make tonight and tomorrow."

"Remember this the next time you say you'd like to kiss the Stanley Cup. Red Wings forward Kris Draper revealed during the weekend that his diaperless baby, Kamryn, did a number on the Cup last month. A number two, to be exact. "A week after we won it, I had my newborn daughter in there, and she pooped in the Cup," Draper said. "That was something. We had a pretty good laugh. I still drank out of it that night, so no worries.""

"Eager to see the Red Wings face off against some of their Original Six foes? The team's preseason schedule provides ample opportunity The Stanley Cup champs announced their exhibition schedule Thursday; it includes home games against three Original Six teams -- Montreal, Boston and Toronto -- plus Atlanta and Buffalo"

"The Red Wings used the 211th and final pick of the 2008 NHL draft to Stockholm native Jesper Samuelsson, a 5-foot-11, 178-pound center who scored 62 points in 40 games last season with Timra IK. Samuelsson, 20, will play for the Timra men's team this season. He attended a development camp for Wings prospects last week at Joe Louis Arena and spoke to Free Press sports writer George Sipple about getting drafted, what it was like to spend time in Detroit, what he's taking back to Sweden, and why getting drafted by the Wings has helped eliminate some criticism he was getting back home."

"Eager to see the Red Wings face off against some of their Original Six foes? The team's preseason schedule provides ample opportunity. The Stanley Cup champs announced their exhibition schedule Thursday; it includes home games against three Original Six teams -- Montreal,Boston and Toronto -- plus Atlanta and Buffalo."

"The Blackhawks aren't the only ones waiting for the NHL's announcement regarding a possible Winter Classic in Chicago. The Detroit Red Wings, rumored to be the Hawks' opponent in the outdoor game Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field, also are awaiting word. "We've told the league if they want us to be part of the game we'd certainly consider it," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "It's a tremendous way to promote our game, our league and each of the teams involved."

"Darren McCarty made it clear he's a hockey player at heart. After missing a putt on the ninth hole at Highland Meadows Golf Club on Wednesday, McCarty threw his arms up in the air and groaned. "This game stinks," he said. "You can't beat anybody up." Of course, McCarty was just looking for a laugh from the crowd. The avid golfer and Red Wings forward was happy to participate in the pro-am at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. He played with pro Allison Fouch, a Grand Rapids native and Michigan State alum."

"Max Nicastro is learning to choose his words more carefully since being drafted by the Red Wings. Nicastro, a 6-foot-2, 189-pound, 18-year-old defenseman from Thousand Oaks, Calif., has enjoyed the first three days of a development camp at Joe Louis Arena. He was at ease Wednesday talking about some comments he made recently that drew awkward silence from team scouts and anger from Hockeytown fans. "Some of the questions I can answer good; some are kind of tough," Nicastro said of being interviewed. "I just try to stay positive. I just try to learn from it. Hopefully, in the next couple of years, I really get used to it and hopefully get a little better at it.""

"Well, we couldn’t be more thrilled, obviously…great two way player, much like Pavel, much like Z. He’s very committed to both sides of the puck; he’s got to be a top 15 forward in the game for sure, if not a top 10. To me, with him, we’re much deeper up front. As far as maybe two lines go do we put Pavel and Z back in the middle and split them up and put Hossa with one of them, I don’t know that at this point but I’m thrilled"

"Brendan Smith could smile about it afterward in the locker room. Smith, the Red Wings' 2007 first-round draft pick, collided full-force with forward Cory Emmerton during a drill Wednesday morning, which left more than a few Wings executives seated in the lower bowl holding their breath. "He just didn't see me," said Smith, a sophomore defenseman at Wisconsin, who has the puck-moving ability the Wings love to see. "No big deal. Those things happen." Especially with young players learning and grasping information daily from pro coaches, and maybe trying to impress someone watching in the stands. But mainly, this six-day camp the Wings put on for their draft picks is ..."

"Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he hasn't been told officially that his team will play an outdoor game in Chicago next season. But he likes the idea. "We're interested, if we're a candidate," Holland said Monday. "An outdoor game, for whoever is involved, is a unique experience for players and the organization. There's a tremendous amount of focus on the game, and certainly we have interest." It is all but official that the Red Wings will play the Chicago Blackhawks on New Years Day at historic Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, in the second Winter Classic and just the third outdoor game in NHL history. NHL Players Association executive director Paul Kelly ..."

"The play they didn't want to see was included, but it was a little easier to watch this time around, knowing the way the story eventually ended. Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski and forward Kirk Maltby were among a crowd of about 200 to attend a VIP screening of the "Stanley Cup 2007-2008 Champions" DVD on Monday night at the Palladium 12 in Birmingham. The DVDs go on sale today with a suggested retail price of $24.98. Rafalski and Maltby hadn't seen the video before Monday's screening, and there was one moment they weren't looking forward to seeing again -- Maxime Talbot's game-tying goal with 35 seconds left in regulation in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup finals. The Wings went on ..."

"New Red Wings prospect Thomas McCollum got a feel for the team's goaltenders past and present on Monday. McCollum used Chris Osgood's locker stall and Manny Legace's old mask on the first day of a development camp attended by 15 Wings prospects at Joe Louis Arena. The players will be practicing at the Joe through Saturday. The Wings selected goaltender McCollum, a native of Amherst, N.Y., with the final pick of the first round of the NHL entry draft on June 20 in Ottawa. "It's a lot of fun to be out there," the 18-year-old McCollum said after finishing a 45-minute practice. "It's a pretty good pace. I just really enjoyed it."

"In what is fast becoming the worst-kept secret in hockey, an official announcement appears imminent that the Blackhawks will play host to the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 in the second Winter Classic. A Hawks source told the Tribune in June the team was confident it would be awarded the outdoor game, and late Sunday the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported the matchup and venue were approved last week when NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman met with the Hawks, Cubs and Mayor Richard Daley."

"The only thing left appears to be the official announcement. The long-rumored outdoor game between the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks appears to be set. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman reportedly met last week with officials from the Blackhawks, Chicago Cubs, and Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to finalize details for the third Winter Classic, which will be held Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field."

"According to an NHL source, the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings will participate in the league's second outdoor Winter Classic on New Year's Day. The game will take place at Wrigley Field. An announcement is expected next week before the inaugural "Blackhawks Convention" at the Chicago Hilton. Last New Year's Day, the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres in a shootout in front of an NHL-record crowd of 71,217 at Ralph Wilson Stadium."

"Marian Hossa couldn't escape scrutiny last week, even when it seemed absurd to fault him for his decision to join the Red Wings. Instead of breaking the bank in free agency, Hossa turned down tens of millions of dollars and long-term job security to sign a one-year deal for $7.45 million with Detroit. After losing to the Wings in the Stanley Cup finals as a member of the Penguins, Hossa decided the defending champions gave him his best chance to win a Cup next season."

"Restricted free agent Valtteri Filppula is heading to arbitration, and that’s a good thing for fans of the Red Wings. The NHL Players Association announced Saturday that 15 players had elected to have salary arbitration, and Filppula, 24, was the only one for the Wings. Filppula could have signed an offer sheet with another NHL club, but that threat has been eliminated by him filing for arbitration. A Vancouver radio station had reported that the Canucks were preparing to send an offer sheet, but that never happened."

"When winger Marian Hossa declined a chance to negotiate a long-term extension to stay with the Atlanta Thrashers last season, word was he was discouraged with the organization's progress, and it wasn't just about the money. A few months later, Hossa has backed that up, taking the risk of signing only a one-year deal with the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings, albeit for a glittery $7.4 million, in the NHL's free-agency period that began Tuesday. He left a host of multiyear offers on the table, including one from Pittsburgh, to go to the team that beat him and the Penguins in the Finals last month."

"Mike Babcock remembers Marian Hossa from the 1997 World Juniors, when Babcock was coach of the Canadian team and Hossa was a 17-year-old forward for Slovakia. Hossa had five goals and seven points in six games, leaving a lasting impression on the man who now will be his coach. The Wings signed Hossa, 29, to a one-year deal Wednesday worth $7.4 million. "I wanted to have the best chance to win the Stanley Cup," Hossa said. "I know I could get more money somewhere else, but I was looking for best chance to win Stanley Cup, and I think Detroit is that destination."

"Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey may not have played one shift in the playoffs, but he was still allowed to take the Stanley Cup to Orangeville, Ontario, near his hometown of Caledon. While he may have only played in six games this season, Quincey was well into Game 6 of the Stanley Cup finals. "It was a dream come true," explained Quinceyin the Caledon Citizen. "I never even played the final game and still my heart was racing and I was sweating like I played four periods. It was something special.""

"At the entry draft in Ottawa last month, Ken Holland stood holding court on the draft floor with a couple of newspaper types, trading war stories and describing his approach to luring talented players to the Detroit Red Wings. "We sell dreams and happiness," he said, unable to stop himself from chuckling. "Dreams and happiness." The Wings general manager was kidding, but only partly so. His hockey club, which boasts the most stable ownership/ management team in hockey as well as the most talented roster, has become the destination of choice for the best players in the sport. That, it seems, is the only way to understand the decision of Marian Hossa yesterday to accept a 25 per cent ..."

"Mike Babcock remembers Marian Hossa from the 1997 World Juniors, when Babcock was coach of the Canadian team and Hossa was a 17-year-old forward for Slovakia. Hossa had five goals and seven points in six games, leaving a lasting impression on the man who now will be his coach. The Wings signed Hossa, 29, to a one-year deal Wednesday worth $7.4 million. Hossa saw the Wings up close last month, when his Pittsburgh Penguins lost to Detroit in the Stanley Cup finals. Hossa scored three goals and had seven points during the six-game series, whetting the Wings' desire to add him to their already impressive lineup."

"A Red Wing is getting his wings. Or something like that. Forward Dallas Drake of your Stanley Cup champions will trade the ice for the sky on Independence Day, when he's scheduled to fly with the Navy's Blue Angels in Traverse City. The team said Drake will fly Friday in an F/A-18 Hornet as part of the Blue Angels' appearance at the National Cherry Festival. His plane is scheduled to take off from Cherry Capital Airport at 6 p.m., stay in the air for about 45 minutes and take part in several maneuvers."

"After shockingly signing Marian Hossa on Wednesday, the Red Wings roster is pretty much set. General manager Ken Holland said the team will look for one more forward, but he'll be a guy who can shuttle between the Wings and Grand Rapids (a two-way contract). Holland said he's offered Darren McCarty a two-way contract and will likely do so to Aaron Downey. Whether either, or both, accept the offer remains to be seen. They'd make a lot less money if assigned to Grand Rapids."

"Forward Marian Hossa turned down reported offers of close to $100 million from other teams to come to the Red Wings on a 1-year contract for $7.4 million. Hossa admitted he and agent Ritch Winter were shaking their heads at the decision. "But I'm confident I made the right decision playing with a team where we can win the Stanley Cup," Hossa said on a teleconference Wednesday. "We'll know next year if I made the right decision." The final decision, Hossa said, came down to the Red Wings and Pittsburgh Penguins, where Hossa finished up last season, and competed against the Wings in the Stanley Cup Finals."

"The rich just got a whole lot richer. Sources tell TSN that free agent Marian Hossa has signed a one-year, $7.4 million deal with the defending Stanley Cup champions the Detroit Red Wings. The 6-foot-1 winger scored 29 goals and 66 points in 72 games split between the Atlanta Thrahsers and the Pittsburgh Penguins."

"Brad Stuart's shoulder is doing fine, mirroring his overall frame of mind. On Tuesday, just before the noon start of free agency in the NHL, Stuart and the Red Wings agreed to a four-year deal averaging $3.75 million per season. On Thursday, he'll get a few hours with the Stanley Cup, which is headed to southern California and the Malibu home of Chris Chelios. First, though, Stuart will spend an afternoon with it. (He'll get it again in August, when he'll take the Cup to his native Canada.) "I haven't quite figured out what to do with it yet," Stuart said Tuesday from his home in Los Angeles. "But I can't wait to get it. I'm really looking forward to it." The Wings also signed ..."

"The Red Wings aren't a team with a lot of needs, but the few they had were adequately filled on the first day of free agency in the NHL. While phones were ringing non-stop in the background, and the television kept him further up to date, general manager Ken Holland was pleased Tuesday with what the Wings accomplished. They re-signed defenseman Brad Stuart to a four-year contract worth $15 million, thereby keeping their top four defensemen intact. And with a pressing need for a third goalie in the organization, the Wings more than adequately filled the bill by signing Ty Conklin to a one-year deal worth $750,000. Conklin will likely serve as Chris Osgood's backup, with Jimmy ..."

"After getting the Brad Stuart contract finalized around 11:30 this morning, Red Wings general manager Ken Holland soon after got on the phone to agents for several unrestricted free agent forwards, and found a goalie, Ty Conklin, to push Jimmy Howard for the back-up role...signing Conklin to a one-year deal worth $750,000. Conklin, 32, spent last season with Pittsburgh, where he had a 2.51 goals-against average and .923 save percentage in 33 games."

"The threat of retirement is not standing in the way of NHL teams taking a hard run at free agent forward Mats Sundin. Sources tell TSN as many as four teams have tablde offers for the 37 year old, including one undisclosed team - believed to be the Vancouver Canucks - that has offered a whopping $10 million per year on a multi-year contract. Sundin, who remains in Sweden is said to considering all of his options, but has yet to decide whether or not he play next season."