Detroit Red Wings Trade Rumors

Ken Holland: Red Wings won't be 'very active' on trade deadline day
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March 3
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Red Wings once were major players on trade deadline day. Those days are gone, mostly because of the NHL's salary cap. Wednesday's 3 p.m. deadline likely will pass with no movement by the Red Wings. "It looks like we're not going to be very active," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Tuesday. The Red Wings are right against the $56.8 million cap, so Holland said any move they make would require them to shed equal or more salary. Now that the team is almost completely healthy for the first time this season, Holland likes his roster and doesn't feel any urgency to deal. "I look at our trade deadline acquisitions as being (Johan) Franzen, (Andreas) Lilja and (Niklas) ..."
Saturday might have been Kirk Maltby's last game with Wings
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February 14
Detroit News
 
"Saturday may be the last time we see Kirk Maltby in a Red Wings uniform for quite some time, maybe even forever. "Well, we'll see," he said, with a smile. "If it is, at least I scored a goal." Maltby scored the Wings' first goal in their 4-1 win over Ottawa. But his right shoulder has deteriorated to the point where he may require season-ending surgery. He took one last bullet for the team Saturday, playing through the pain because both Valtteri Filppula (groin) and Patrick Eaves (ankle) were unavailable. "It's been sore really since the summer and it just keeps getting worse and worse," Maltby said. "I have to take care of it. I thought at times with rest it would heal itself. That ..."
Kirk Maltby might need shoulder surgery; Andreas Lilja recalled from Grand Rapids
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February 13
Michigan Live
 
"By electing to have surgery, Kirk Maltby would have his chronically ailing shoulder repaired while also fixing the Detroit Red Wings' salary cap dilemma. The Red Wings waived forward Brad May on Friday but still need to clear $700,000 under the salary cap before activating defenseman Andreas Lilja. That can be accomplished by placing Maltby on long-term injured reserve. "Kirk Maltby has been playing with a chronic shoulder since last June and it's been progressively getting worse,'' Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We'll have doctors, in the next couple of days, look at his shoulder and see if surgery is something we should look at it. "The doctors have told him he definitely ..."
Kirk Maltby might be placed on IR
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February 13
Detroit News
 
"The Wings took steps Friday to make room for the return of defenseman Andreas Lilja. First, enforcer Brad May was put on waivers, freeing $500,000 in cap space. Then, after practice Friday, general manager Ken Holland indicated veteran forward Kirk Maltby might be forced to go on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Holland said Maltby would need surgery either now or after the season. Maltby makes $750,000, and if he goes on injured reserve, that would clear enough for Lilja's $1.2 million. The Wings recalled Lilja from his conditioning stint in Grand Rapids, where he played four games."
Wings put Brad May on waivers
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February 12
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Detroit Red Wings have put Brad May on waivers, the first step toward clearing roster space and salary-cap room for the expected return of defenseman Andreas Lilja. With a cap hit of $500,000, May's departure alone won't clear enough cap room, as the Wings need to open up $1.2 million to make room for Lilja. If May clears waivers by noon Saturday, he will be sent to Grand Rapids. Lilja has been out since last Feb. 28 battling a concussion, but he has felt good during a conditioning stint in the minors and is to play his last game in the AHL tonight. The Wings expect to clear him shortly afterward."
Wings place Brad May on waivers
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February 12
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings are starting to make room for the return of defenseman Andreas Lilja. The team placed forward Brad May on waivers, clearing his $500,000 cap number. Lilja is to make $1.25 million, meaning another player will still have to be moved. If May clears waivers by noon Saturday, he will be assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL). May could opt to retire."
Trade winds blowing Wings' way
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February 12
Detroit News
 
"All Red Wings general manager Ken Holland knew for certain was that nothing was going to get done regarding his roster on Thursday. As for why scouts from 10 NHL teams invaded Joe Louis Arena for Thursday night's 3-2 shootout loss to the Sharks, Holland said, "I don't know what to tell you." Represented were Florida, Dallas, Vancouver, Washington, Edmonton, Tampa Bay, Montreal, the New York Islanders, Ottawa and Chicago. Detroit, in recent days, has had scouts at Pittsburgh and Columbus. Though Holland wouldn't tip his hand, his phone lines have been hot with the NHL trade freeze hitting at 3 p.m. today. At issue is the probable return of defenseman Andreas Lilja. Out with ..."
Red Wings defenseman Andreas Lilja feels good after two games with Griffins
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February 6
Michigan Live
 
"As far as Andreas Lilja is concerned, so far, so good. The Detroit Red Wings defenseman skated in just his second game in 11 months in the Grand Rapids Griffins' 6-3 win against the Toronto Marlies on Friday night at Van Andel Arena. Lilja said he's felt no complications from the concussion that sidelined him on Feb. 28, 2009. His first game back was the Griffins' 5-3 loss at Rockford on Wednesday night and he went scoreless with a minus-1 rating. Against Toronto, Lilja received a nice ovation from the crowd when he was announced during the starting lineups and saw plenty of time throughout the game, but finished with no shots and an even rating. Lilja has no idea if the Red Wings will ..."
Red Wings face decisions with Tomas Holmstrom, Johan Franzen and maybe Andreas Lilja returning
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February 2
Michigan Live
 
"After experiencing the most unusual rash of injuries in recent memory this season, the Detroit Red Wings soon will be feeling the uncomfortable effects of a salary-cap crunch and roster pinch. Tomas Holmstrom will return to the lineup Tuesday in San Jose. No problem fitting him in. That is why rookie Justin Abdelkader was assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL) on Friday. The first difficult decision comes before Johan Franzen's projected return Feb. 9, when the club must trim one player to meet the 23-man roster limit and shed roughly $700,000 to get under the $56.8 million cap. One or more cuts will follow if Andreas Lilja is successful in his comeback from a concussion. He will begin a ..."
Johan Franzen to return Feb. 9 against St. Louis
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February 1
Detroit Free Press
 
"Update from Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh: Mike Babcock said following the Red Wings-Penguins game that power forward Johan Franzen will play Feb. 9 at St. Louis. Franzen has been sidelined since the third game of the season, when he tore his left ACL. "He'll be back against St. Louis," Babcock said. "The doctors (say he's ready).""
Kronwall returns tonight; Jason Williams, Holmstrom close
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January 26
Detroit News
 
"There's a chance that when the Red Wings hit the ice in Pittsburgh on Sunday for their nationally televised matinee against the Penguins, they could be as healthy as they've been since the third game of the season. Defenseman Niklas Kronwall, out since Nov. 21 because of a sprained knee, will return tonight against the Coyotes. "That's huge," Danny Cleary said. "Words can't describe how important he is to our team." Kronwall will be back with his partner Brad Stuart, and he will return to his point spot on the second power-play unit. "It's nice to have him back," coach Mike Babcock said. "We need a boost right now. I don't think we played very good the other night. I thought L.A. was ..."
Wings closing in on having lineup complete
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January 25
Detroit News
 
"Johan Franzen might be the lone player in the trainer's room soon -- or so the Red Wings hope. Niklas Kronwall, out since Nov. 21 because of a sprained left medial collateral ligament, and Tomas Holmstrom, out since Jan. 6 because of a broken foot, could return as early as this week. Jason Williams, out since Nov. 7 because of a broken right fibula, might be close after that. "It's been a tough run," Kronwall said. "I'm just glad to be on the ice again. Now, I know it's getting really close. So just try to be out there as much as possible and do what I can. Right now, I can do everything and it feels really good day after day. It's a good sign. It's just a matter of getting the legs back ..."
Red Wings GM Ken Holland says nothing has changed with Andreas Lilja's status
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January 24
Michigan Live
 
"Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Saturday night that he has no knowledge of defenseman Andreas Lilja returning next week from a concussion that has idled him since Feb. 28 of last year. Red Wings TV analyst Mickey Redmond said during Saturday's telecast on Fox Sports Net that Lilja could return next week. This was news to Holland, who last spoke to Lilja on Tuesday and was told nothing had changed. Lilja also said Thursday in Minnesota that he was not close to returning."
Wings, Pistons could share downtown arena
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January 17
Detroit News
 
"It is possible, perhaps even likely, that within this decade the Red Wings and Pistons will partner to build and share a sports arena in downtown Detroit, sources told The Detroit News. Mike and Marian Ilitch, owners of the Red Wings, have not renewed their lease at Joe Louis Arena beyond this season, and face more than $10 million in structural repair at the dilapidated arena this summer if the team is to play there next season. Going back to the Joe, it seems, is a last resort. So the Ilitches have been looking for a temporary home while they sort out, if, when, where and how they might build a new arena in downtown Detroit. The Wings and Palace Sports and Entertainment, overseers of The ..."
Red Wings to take another look at Mattias Ritola
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December 28
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings want to take another look at forward Mattias Ritola. General manager Ken Holland said Sunday that Ritola, who played one game for the Wings last Wednesday against Chicago, was recalled and will be in the lineup Monday at Columbus. "I think he (coach Mike Babcock) wants to shake the lines up a little bit," Holland said. "He liked what he saw from Ritola the other night, so he's going to sit somebody else against Columbus.""
Red Wings send down Kris Newbury, recall Mattias Ritola from Grand Rapids
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December 21
Michigan Live
 
"The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned forward Kris Newbury to Grand Rapids (AHL), They will recall Mattias Ritola from the Griffins later today and he will be in the lineup for Wednesday's game against Chicago at Joe Louis Arena. Newbury played in four games with the Red Wings, picking up a goal and four penalty minutes while averaging 8:41 in ice time."
Wings send Kris Newbury to the Griffins
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December 21
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings on Monday assigned Kris Newbury back to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League. General manager Ken Holland said the plan is to recall Swedish winger Mattias Ritola from the Griffins today. "We've lost two in a row, and we liked what we saw from Ritola in training camp this year," Holland said. "Newbury gave us a good little push there, but you know, we are going to try something else -- shake it up a little." Ritola, the Wings' fourth-round pick in 2005, has seven goals and seven assists and a minus-4 rating with the Griffins this season. He played in two games with the Wings in 2007-2008 and had an assist."
Big night for Wings' Howard, Babcock; Zetterberg injured in first period
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December 18
Detroit Free Press
 
"Nicklas Lidstrom shook Jimmy Howard's hand after the game. So did Red Wings coach Mike Babcock. Howard made 30 saves for his first NHL shutout, and Babcock won his 300th career game Thursday night. The Wings lost Henrik Zetterberg to a left shoulder injury in the first period but beat the Tampa Bay Lightning, 3-0, at Joe Louis Arena. "The important thing is, stick with your system," Lidstrom said of overcoming all the injuries this season. "Playing your structure and not trying too much. ... And you have to kind of grind it out some nights. "Howie played tremendous in net. He came out big, especially in the second period on some of the power plays they had. "I thought he really earned that ..."
Ericsson leaves game vs. Coyotes with injury; Wings hold on to win
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December 15
Detroit Free Press
 
"Jimmy Howard made 30 saves and Kris Newbury, Patrick Eaves and Derek Meech scored to lift the Detroit Red Wings over the Phoenix Coyotes 3-2 on Monday night. Taylor Pyatt and Radim Vrbata scored for Phoenix and Ilya Bryzgalov stopped 29 shots. Vrbata's goal with 36 seconds left in the second period pulled the Coyotes to within a goal. His shot from along the right wing boards deflected off the stick of Detroit's Todd Bertuzzi for Vrbata's 10th goal. Meech gave the Red Wings a 3-1 lead 2:05 into the second period when his harmless-looking slap shot from just inside the blue line eluded Bryzgalov. It was Meech's first goal and point of the season. Detroit led 2-1 after the first period. ..."
Chris Osgood glad to share but eager to thrive in goal
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December 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"Chris Osgood has enjoyed seeing Jimmy Howard thrive the past month, getting one start after another and generally performing very well. Howard made 28 saves, including a terrific stop on Rangers forward Ryan Callahan's penalty shot early in the second period of Sunday's 3-1 victory at Madison Square Garden. Callahan attempted to stuff a forehand shot in past the right post, but Howard just managed to kick the puck away with his left skate. "It was basically just desperation, get something over there," Howard said. "Luckily, I was able to get a toe on it." Howard was the Wings' best player on the Rangers' third power play, making six saves in the 2 minutes. Howard is on a 7-3 streak, and ..."
Kris Draper's pep talk gets Wings out of doldrums
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December 7
Detroit Free Press
 
"Kris Draper had seen enough, and he let his teammates know it. For all the injuries they have, they are, he said, too good a team to look the way they did. Five periods after Draper's emotional outburst, the Red Wings left New York with three points, collecting a 3-1 victory Sunday against the Rangers after Draper put the finishing touches on the game with an empty-net goal, his second goal in two games. On Saturday, the Wings had looked disinterested in the opening period at New Jersey, prompting Draper to speak out. "It seemed a lot of the same things were being said and nothing was being done, and I don't know, I just kind of got in there and had a little bit of a snap." Draper, an ..."
Chris Osgood looking for his playoff form
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December 7
Detroit News
 
"Chris Osgood knows it better than anybody else. Jimmy Howard has been outstanding in goal recently; a lifesaver in a lot of ways. But if the Red Wings are going to mount a charge and get themselves back into the upper levels of the Western Conference, Osgood is going to have to elevate his performance. "For me, I've got to get to the level I've been in the playoffs right now," he said after stopping 23 of 26 shots in a 4-3 shootout loss in New Jersey Saturday night. "Maybe last year we were so far ahead that I didn't have to. But the position we're in now, I've got to get to that level where I am stealing games for us. "Because we're going to get to the point where there's 30 games left ..."
Kris Draper's rant wakes up sluggish Wings
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December 7
Detroit News
 
"Never underestimate the power of veteran leadership. The Red Wings, with a 3-1 victory over the New York Rangers Sunday, took three out of four points in a tough back-to-back weekend in New Jersey and New York. They might not have gotten any had it not been for a heartfelt outburst by Kris Draper after an uninspired first period in New Jersey Saturday. "Yeah, things were said and we obviously took it to heart," said Danny Cleary, who scored the winning goal Sunday with 2:03 left in the third period. Draper, who finished the scoring with an empty-netter Sunday, got fed up with his and his teammates' uninspired play. "It just seemed like a lot of the same things were being said and ..."
Knee not expected to sideline Wings' Ericcson
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December 5
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Red Wings arrived in New York on Friday with good news to report on Jonathan Ericsson, whose knee scare in Thursday's game won't prevent him from playing tonight against the Devils. Ericsson's leg buckled after hitting a rut, but he skated Friday, and general manager Ken Holland said Ericsson is fine to play. "There were some initial concerns, but he didn't need any tests," Holland said. "He just had a twinge in his knee." Defenseman Brian Rafalski (back) and forward Patrick Eaves (ankle) also practiced and could be ready either tonight or Sunday against the Rangers. That's the good news. The old news is that again the Wings are trying to get another winning streak going, this time ..."
Jonathan Ericsson injures knee but might play Saturday
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December 4
Detroit News
 
"Coach Mike Babcock was asked for anon the injury sustained by defenseman Jonathan Ericsson late in the third period. "I don't know," he said. "I don't have enough courage to walk in there and ask." You can't blame him. The Wings began the night without two of their top four defensemen -- Brian Rafalski, day to day with a stiff back, and Niklas Kronwall, on long-term injured list because of a knee injury. Rookie Jakub Kindl was recalled from Grand Rapids Thursday and made his NHL debut. Then, in the third period, Ericsson got tangled up with Dustin Penner and twisted his left knee. Detroit is listing both he and Rafalski as day-to-day and questionable for the game Saturday in New Jersey. ..."
Dallas Stars frustrated by 4-1 loss in Detroit
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December 1
Dallas Morning News
 
"The bottom line for the Stars is they generally get what they deserve this season. On Monday night at Joe Louis Arena, a hungry and struggling Red Wings team fought hard for a 4-1 victory against the Stars. On Saturday, the Stars were better than Tampa Bay in a 4-3 OT win. On Friday, Phoenix earned a 5-2 victory against Dallas. It is a confirmation of just how inconsistent this team can be. "It is frustrating, it's very frustrating" said captain Brenden Morrow. "You prepare yourself and you go out and play hard, but they found a way to make more plays. We both had opportunities, but they took advantage of their's." Just as the Stars had taken advantage of their's Saturday when they ..."
Is Dallas Stars' Mike Modano done with The Joe?
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December 1
Dallas Morning News
 columnist Mike Heika
"Here's hoping this wasn't Mike Modano's last game at Joe Louis Arena. The all-time leader in pretty much every offensive category for the Stars franchise, Modano has played more than 50 NHL games in his hometown arena. He skated here hundreds more times before that when he was a member of Little Caesars' storied youth hockey program. So at 39, with his contract up at the end of the season, and this being the second of two trips to Detroit, could this have been the last twirl for him at The Joe? He said he thought about that possibility all day Monday. "I think it's too early to tell you," said Modano, who grew up in nearby Livonia. "There's still a lot of time left in this season.""
Loss would be sad end for Dallas Stars' Mike Modano at Joe Louis Arena
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December 1
Dallas Morning News
 
"Here's hoping this wasn't Mike Modano's last game at Joe Louis Arena.The all-time leader in pretty much every offensive category for the Stars franchise, Modano has played more than 50 NHL games in his hometown arena. He skated here hundreds more times before that when he was a member of Little Caesars' storied youth hockey program.So at 39, with his contract up at the end of the season, and this being the second of two trips to Detroit, could this have been the last twirl for him at The Joe? He said he thought about that possibility all day Monday."I think it's too early to tell you," said Modano, who grew up in nearby Livonia. "There's still a lot of time left in this season.""
Dallas Stars falter on chances in frustrating loss to Detroit Red Wings
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December 1
Dallas Morning News
 
"The bottom line for the Stars is they generally get what they deserve this season. On Monday night at Joe Louis Arena, a hungry and struggling Red Wings team fought hard for a 4-1 victory against the Stars.On Saturday, the Stars were better than Tampa Bay in a 4-3 OT win. On Friday, Phoenix earned a 5-2 victory against Dallas.It is a confirmation of just how inconsistent this team can be."It is frustrating, it's very frustrating," said captain Brenden Morrow. "You prepare yourself and you go out and play hard, but they found a way to make more plays. We both had opportunities, but they took advantage of their's."Just as the Stars had taken advantage of their's Saturday when they scored ..."
Wings forwards nagged by scoring drought
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November 26
Detroit News
 
"It's one of those negative trends that is easy to rationalize into an excuse, but no matter how justified the rationale, it remains a fundamental truth about the team. Entering the game Wednesday, there were eight forwards with goal-less streaks of five or more games -- Todd Bertuzzi (six games), Tomas Holmstrom (five), Kirk Maltby (six), Kris Draper (six), Brad May (13), Ville Leino (six), Patrick Eaves (10) and Justin Abdelkader (six). Certainly, the Wings weren't counting on five of those players to score a ton of goals. But regardless of the name on the back of the sweater, if you have eight forwards combining for zero goals in the last five games, your offense is going to sputter ..."
Frustration continues for Wings in loss to Thrashers
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November 26
Detroit News
 
"It might be time to call in a priest to bless the sticks, or maybe a witch doctor to remove the curse. Because no matter how hard the Red Wings grind, no matter how many shots and chances they create, the puck will not go into the net for them. The Atlanta Thrashers and goalie Ondrej Pavelec came into Joe Louis Arena and handed the Wings their fourth straight loss, 2-0. The Wings had 40 shots, 20 scoring chances -- no goals. Over the last five games, the Wings have fired 177 shots and all they have to show for it is five goals. Nik Antropov had a goal and former Wing Slava Kozlov had a goal and an assist, as the Thrashers improved their road record to an impressive, 7-2-1. By the end of ..."
Laraque faces disciplinary hearing
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November 23
Montreal Gazette
 
"Montreal Canadiens winger Georges Laraque will have a hearing with NHL disciplinarian Colin Campbell on Monday to review Laraque's knee on knee hit of Detroit's Niklas Kronwall during the first period of Saturday's game. Laraque was given two minutes for tripping, tacked onto his double minor for high-sticking Red Wings' Darren Helm. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said the hit was dirty, though Laraque said after the game there was no intent to injure and that four officials on the ice decided to give him only a minor for tripping."
Red Wings' Niklas Kronwall out at least four weeks
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November 23
Detroit Free Press
 
"Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said Sunday that defenseman Niklas Kronwall will be out a minimum of four weeks after spraining his left MCL Saturday night in Montreal. "The good news is there's no damage to the ACL," Holland said Sunday. "But we're looking at a minimum of four weeks and at a range of somewhere between four to eight weeks." Kronwall was injured during a knee-on-knee hit by Montreal forward Georges Laraque in the first period of the Wings' 3-2 shootout victory."
Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall out at least two weeks after 'dirty play'
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November 22
Detroit Free Press
 
"The Red Wings anticipate being without top-four defenseman Niklas Kronwall for a minimum of two weeks after he was injured Saturday in what general manager Ken Holland flat-out called a dirty hit. Kronwall, 28, suffered what Holland said early examination revealed to be a second-degree, possibly third-degree MCL sprain to his left knee. In 2005, he needed that knee operated on after tearing his ACL, and ended up missing 52 games. The Wings are hoping it won't be nearly as long this time, but won't know for sure until Kronwall undergoes further testing today. "He'll certainly be out for a little while," Holland said. "Right now we're guessing, we need to get pictures, but we're looking at ..."
Wings aren't interested in Jean-Sabastien Giguere
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November 13
Detroit News
 
"Media and internet rumors circulating out of the general managers' meetings in Toronto earlier this week intimated that the Anaheim Ducks are seeking trade offers for $6 million goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere, now a back-up to Jonas Hiller. Whether those rumors are true doesn't matter to the Red Wings. They are not interested, either way. General manager Ken Holland, though he would not talk specifically about Giguere, said he has not talked trades and doesn't expect to talk trades with any team any time soon. The Wings, with $12 million of salary on the injured list with Johan Franzen, Valtteri Filppula, Jason Williams and Andreas Lilja -- all of whom are expected back at some point ..."
Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk expects to play Thursday despite missing practice with sore foot
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October 29
Michigan Live
 
"Update from Wednesday's Detroit Red Wings practice at Rexall Place: Pavel Datsyuk didn't skate because of a sore foot from blocking a shot in Tuesday's 5-4 win in Vancouver, but coach Mike Babcock said he will play Thursday in Edmonton "I told you that last year in the playoffs, when he got a shot in the foot, too, and it ended up being a hole in his thigh, so you can't trust me one bit,'' Babcock joked. "No, he got a shot in the foot and he should go. He just was sore today and it wasn't going to be comfortable getting his skate on.'' Babcock said Darren Helm and Patrick Eaves will return to the lineup, replacing Kirk Maltby and Justin Abdelkader. Jimmy Howard will start in goal. He was ..."
Red Wings, Nicklas Lidstrom in no hurry to talk contract
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October 25
Michigan Live
 
"Neither Nicklas Lidstrom nor the Detroit Red Wings feel an urgency to get a new deal done for the captain. General manager Ken Holland said he had not yet approached Lidstrom about his plans for next season and didn't have a time frame on opening contract talks. The Red Wings want him back, but they don't know for sure if Lidstrom, who turns 40 on April 28, will retire or continue to play. "He knows we want him back,'' Holland said. "I'm expecting he's going to play but haven't had that conversation.'' Lidstrom maintains he has not decided if he will play next season and doesn't know when he will make up his mind. He has signed some extensions during the middle of the season and has inked ..."
Red Wings' Pavel Datsyuk to sit out Saturday; Chris Osgood will start in goal vs. Colorado
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October 16
Michigan Live
 
"Update from the Detroit Red Wings' practice Friday: Pavel Datsyuk (upper-body injury) skated and reported improvement, but coach Mike Babcock said he will not play Saturday against Colorado. Datsyuk is listed as day-to-day and probably will return for the following game, Thursday at Phoenix. "I'm skating, shooting much better than yesterday,'' Datsyuk said. He said of Thursday's 5-2 win against the Kings: "It's awesome. Our team played well. I'm happy Nick (Lidstrom) got his 1,000th point. I'm not happy I'm not in picture.'' Babcock said Datsyuk is not far, adding, "We think it's important to buy him a couple of more days.""
Johan Franzen hopes to be healed up for Games
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October 15
Detroit Free Press
 
"Johan Franzen ambled around the dressing room Wednesday much like it was any other day. Yet instead of suiting up for the Red Wings tonight he'll be getting on a plane and flying to Birmingham, Ala., where on Friday he'll have surgery to repair his badly damaged left knee. Franzen has a torn ACL, an injury that requires at least four months to heal -- often six. He is going to miss the majority of the Wings' season, and will at best be back in early February, right before he ideally would be going off to Vancouver to play for Sweden in the 2010 Winter Games. "I haven't really thought about that yet," Franzen said in his first comments since getting hurt. "It's more the disappointment of ..."
Franzen out at least 4 months with torn ACL
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October 10
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings' quest to return to the Stanley Cup Finals for the third consecutive season took a huge hit Friday. Johan Franzen, who scored the winning goal in Thursday night's 3-2 victory over the Chicago Blackhawks, will miss at least four months because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. "It happened last night, I don't know exactly when," general manager Ken Holland said. "It happened before he scored the goal and he played the rest of the game with it." After practice Friday morning, coach Mike Babcock said Franzen, 29, had gotten bumped in the game and wasn't feeling great so he went for tests, which revealed the ACL tear. Holland said the team would call ..."
Former Blackhawk Chris Chelios will skate with Chicago Wolves
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October 9
Chicago Tribune
 
"The news that former Blackhawks defenseman Chris Chelios may be continuing his hockey career as a member of the Wolves didn't come as a shock to his most recent teammates. Chelios, who played 28 games with the Red Wings last season but wasn't offered a new contract for 2009-10, will skate with the Wolves on Monday and could sign with the American Hockey League team next week when it returns from a Canadian road trip, a team spokesman said Thursday. The 47-year-old Chicago native, who played nine seasons with the Hawks during the 1990s, has expressed a desire to keep playing in the NHL. "I've talked to Cheli about it," Wings coach Mike Babcock said. "I think that's a good move for him. If ..."
Brad May gets tryout with Wings, but is long shot to stick
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September 25
Detroit News
 
"Coach Mike Babcock got his man. Four years too late, perhaps, and maybe he won't have him for long, but he's got him nevertheless. The Red Wings have extended a professional tryout to veteran bruiser Brad May, who skated with the team Thursday and will be in the lineup tonight against the Maple Leafs. "Yeah I pushed for him a long time ago and I never got him," Babcock said. "He used to thank me when we played against him. He'd say, 'Thanks for trying to get me signed.'" The odds of May making the club are remote. It is possible he could be signed to a two-way contract and start the season in Grand Rapids. "I know he provides a physical presence and I don't feel we have much of that," ..."
Red Wings sign 2009 draft pick Tomas Tatar
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September 18
Michigan Live
 
"The Red Wings have agreed to terms on a three-year contract with forward Tomas Tatar, their second pick in this year's entry draft. Tatar, 18, had a terrific prospects tournament and training camp and will continue to practice with the team, likely getting into a preseason game or two, before the Red Wings decide where to put him this season. Tatar (5-11, 176) hopes to play in Grand Rapids (AHL), and he might start the season there. But if he's not ready for pro hockey, he will be assigned to the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. "I think the better decision for me is Grand Rapids because I played one year on the men's team in Slovakia,'' Tatar said. "I think I'm ready.'' Tatar said he needs to ..."
Zetterberg likely out for Wings' next two games
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September 18
Detroit News
 
"Red Wings fans will probably have to wait a few more days to see Henrik Zetterberg play. Zetterberg, bothered by a sore groin, won't play Friday night against the Rangers and is not likely to play Saturday night against the Sabres, either. Both games are at Joe Louis Arena. "It got a little tight this morning, so I'm staying off (the ice) tonight," Zetterberg said Friday."
Tomas Tatar, 18, signs three-year deal with Red Wings
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September 18
Detroit News
 
"Forward Tomas Tatar, 18, taken by the Red Wings in the second round of the 2009 NHL draft, signed a three-year contract with the team on Friday. "We want him to play in North America," Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He had an out in his contract in Slovakia if he signs a contract over here. We think we can do a better job of controlling his development over here. Grand Rapids (AHL) or Plymouth (OHL) are the two options. We're going to give him every opportunity to earn a spot in Grand Rapids." Tatar, who turns 19 on Dec. 1, was taken 60th overall in the draft. Advertisement "I'm very happy," Tatar said. "It's my dream to play in Detroit.""
Andreas Lilja says he's ready; Wings will be cautious
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September 10
Detroit News
 
"The Red Wings are encouraged that defenseman Andreas Lilja is skating and feeling optimistic about resuming his career, which was suspended on Feb. 28 after taking a pummeling from Nashville's Shea Weber that left him concussed and suffering from headaches since. But general manager Ken Holland warned that Lilja's return is far from imminent. "There is a big difference between skating and practicing and playing in an NHL game," Holland said. "He's got to get cleared and I assume the doctors are going to want to know that he's symptom-free for a period of time before they clear him." Lilja told reporters in Detroit Tuesday, "I have to sit down and talk with doctors still, but my thinking ..."
Predators coach expresses interest in Chris Chelios
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August 28
Detroit News
 
"Ageless former Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios may not have to go to Russia to continue his hockey career. The 47-year-old has been approached by the Nashville Predators. Predators coach Barry Trotz told the Nashville Tennessean, "I said, 'Chris, are you sure you'd have the interest of playing in Nashville, because you're not exactly well-liked here?' He said, 'Trotzy, trust me, I'm not well-liked anywhere.' I said 'Yeah, I guess you're right.' " Chelios had been in discussions with teams in the Russian KHL league."