Detroit Red Wings

By Greg Wyshynski • Rick Nash will not play this weekend and Kristian Huselius is concussed. Good times keep a-rollin' for the Columbus Blue Jackets, don't they? [Puck-rakers] • Will Zach Parise and Patrik Elias make the Eastern Conference All-Star Team for the New Jersey Devils? [Fire & Ice]

By Greg Wyshynski So 14-year-old Kalan Plew had his soda commercial moment at the Winter Classic, as Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings made eye contact with him and then handed him his hockey stick as he left Wrigley Field, following the Wings' win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

By Greg Wyshynski • Why did Sean Avery fail to fit in with the Dallas Stars? Two words: suit shorts. [SI] • Remember how fans of the other 29 teams in the League would mock the Detroit Red Wings for padding their record in one of the weakest divisions in the NHL? Yeah, not so much anymore. [Detroit News]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes (7 p.m. EST; TV: MSG). The Devils are 8-1-1 in their last 10 games against the Hurricanes. Meanwhile, Brandon Sutter watched his dad Brent take an embarrassing spill during the morning skate. Rookie.

By Greg Wyshynski • Reassessing the Dallas Stars' two-headed GM monster and asking yet again: What is it, exactly, that Brett Hull does? [Dallas Stars Blog] • Pavel Datsyuk and his Detroit Red Wings teammates discuss his awesome skills competition goal against the Minnesota Wild. Which Dats has decided t...

By Greg Wyshynski There were many famous faces (as well as "famous for hockey" faces) at the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field between the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings. We enjoyed Puck The Media's snarky gallery because Lepore cracked a good Billy Corgan joke.

By Matt Romig Dishonorable mention: "One, two, three pucks you're out" just didn't work for this viewer. … Postgame handshakes are a tradition, yes, but it's a postseason tradition. … Huet allowed more goals Thursday than in his last five starts combined. The Rafalski tally was a head-scratcher. … Chica...

By Greg Wyshynski • After last night's loss to the Boston Bruins, the Pittsburgh Penguins called a players-only meeting. You know, just like the one the Blackhawks had before Denis Savard was ... well, you know. [Post Gazette] • There's a chance that Danny Briere could be back from injury for the Philadelphia Fl...

By Greg Wyshynski Leading up to the 2009 Winter Classic, the NHL has been very good about playing up the distinctive aspects of Wrigley Field in Chicago in its marketing. As we discovered today while the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings took the ice for practice, that includes some representation...

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Jose Theodore (31 saves) and the Washington Capitals overcame some bad history in the HSBC Arena to defeat the Buffalo Sabres, 4-2. ... Stick-tap to Chris Bourque of the Caps and Ottawa's Brian Lee for their first NHL goals. ... Maxim Lapierre scored the winning goal in the shoo...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Chicago Blackhawks at Detroit Red Wings (7 p.m. EST; TV: CSNC, FSD). Nicklas Lidstrom is out for the Wings. Mike Babcock's line about the Red Wings families vs. the Blackhawks families at Wrigley is pretty damn funny. Preview: New Jersey Devils at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. EST; TV: VS). Seriou...

By Greg Wyshynski • Colin White will miss the New Jersey Devils' next game. [Fire & Ice] • The youngest player in NHL to play 200 regular-season games? That would be Jordan Staal, should he lace'em up for the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night. [NHL]

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: "Casting the ‘Sean Avery: Adventures of a Vogue Intern' movie" ... "Pittsburgh Penguins: The Stanley Cup Musical" ... Our glorious collection of NHL political propaganda. The Best in Guest Blogging: "Matt Bradley, Washington Capitals: 5 ways I'd change the NHL." No. 5 on Bra...

By Greg Wyshynski Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller played his part in the historic Winter Classic at Ralph Wilson Stadium earlier this year, becoming both the first NHL goalie to lose in an outdoor shootout (to Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, no less) and the first keeper to utter the words "Yo-...

By Greg Wyshynski When we bugged the NHL about how Winter Classic jerseys for the Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings were selling, we also inquired about sale figures for this year's crop of third jerseys. There are 18 teams with alternate sweaters this season, and all of them were on sale in time for th...

By Greg Wyshynski • George Richards of On Frozen Pond sent along with photo of a new billboard adorning the Florida Panthers' arena. Yucky. • The best and worst of the Carolina Hurricanes this calendar year. And, surprisingly, there are more "bests" than "worsts." [News & Observer]

By Greg Wyshynski • Big-time fun from Stanley Cup of Chowder: a game of "spot the Whale" as the Boston Bruins face the Carolina Hurricanes this weekend. [SCoC] • The media tries to get the trade winds a-blowin' for the Edmonton Oilers. [Edmonton Sun] • Mike York is back for the Columbus Blue Jackets.

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Loui Eriksson of the Dallas Stars had the night's other hat trick, scoring twice in the first period and then adding a power-play goal in the second period to help Dallas keep pace with the Columbus Blue Jackets in its 6-5 skills competition victory. ... Evgeni Malkin had tw...

By Greg Wyshynski Heading into their showdown in Detroit this evening, nine points separate the first-place San Jose Sharks and the second-place Detroit Red Wings in the Western Conference standings. But what do the standings really tell us, right?

By Greg Wyshynski • Brian Campbell to the Sharks? Dan Boyle to ... uh, the Sharks? Nope. Spector names Marian Hossa-to-the-Pittsburgh Penguins as the biggest trade of 2008. "In the short term this deal favored the Penguins, as Hossa would help power that club to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, but he subsequently bo...

By Greg Wyshynski • Before the season, we discussed the potential for Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings to be unseated as the NHL's best defenseman. Well, USA Today has decided both Nashville Predators defenseman Shea Weber and San Jose Sharks defenseman Dan Boyle are more worthy so far this season....

By Matt Romig No. 1 star: Patrick Marleau, San Jose Sharks No. 2 star: Jordan Leopold, Colorado Avalanche It's not every night you see a defenseman score the game-winning goal on a third-period penalty shot, so let's go right to the video: No. 3 star: Andrew Raycroft, Colorado Avalanche

By Greg Wyshynski • The new arena for the Pittsburgh Penguins will be called the Consol Energy Center. The Xcel Energy Center is not amused. [NHL] • Buffalo Sabres defenseman Craig Rivet is out two weeks with being a Buffalo Sabres player an injured shoulder. [Buffalo News]

By Greg Wyshynski • Ed Moran of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that Philadelphia Flyers GM Paul Holmgren has admitted his team isn't going to have the cap space to sign Mats Sundin, and that Sundin's agent told the Ottawa Sun that the final four for his client's services are the New York Rangers, Montre...

By Greg Wyshynski Kane's cell phone must have blown up over the weekend, because the Chicago Blackhawks star has passed Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings and Jarome Iginla of the Calgary Flames to place second overall -- and he's closing in fast on Marian Hossa.

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Rookie Fabian Brunnstrom avoided a Nicklas Lidstrom poke-check and beat Ty Conklin for what would be the game-winning goal in the Dallas Stars' 3-1 upset of the visiting Detroit Red Wings. Marty Turco had 37 saves in a strong effort. ... Ryan Miller blamed bad ice for Ian Whi...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs at Buffalo Sabres (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: RSN, MSG). Or as it's better known, "When the Sabres gouge the Leafs fans with variable pricing." National Post headline: "Finger dipped in ice cream when drafted." You had us at "dipped."

By Greg Wyshynski • Did Roberto Luongo suffer a setback at practice for the Vancouver Canucks? [Vancouver Sun] • Fox Sports Carolina apologizes for cutting into Carolina Hurricanes games with unscheduled commercials during action. [News & Observer]

By Greg Wyshynski • The Ottawa Senators may be preparing for an aggressive play at Florida Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester, but Ken Campbell thinks signing long-term with a Canadian team is the last thing J-Bo should do. [THN] and know this from East of Here of Carolina on Ice:

By Greg Wyshynski • The Detroit Red Wings 2007-08 Stanley Cup champions rings look like they cost more than the Coyotes are currently worth. Captain Nicklas Lidstrom explains the solemn ceremony during which the Wings received their rings: "They showed the highlights, and then they had girls with big tra...

By Greg Wyshynski • Can Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators unseat Nicklas Lidstrom for the Norris Trophy? [ESPN] • The Detroit Red Wings received their Stanley Cup rings over the weekend. Nicklas Lidstrom, Tomas Holmstrom, Kris Draper, Kirk Maltby and Darren McCarty all have four rings. Goodness. [Khan...

By Sean Leahy This morning, the National Hockey League announced a contest for all fans during the upcoming Winter Classic at Wrigley Field. During the game, one player on either the Detroit Red Wings or Chicago Blackhawks will have the Reebok logo missing from their jersey. You must find that player t...

By Greg Wyshynski • Clearly, Adrian Dater is just expressing an informed opinion on Mats Sundin. But the Denver Post writer believes the Philadelphia Flyers and the Chicago Blackhawks are the "clubhouse leaders" for Sundin's services this season, pending cap room. [Denver Post]

By Ross McKeon Honorable mention: Panthers goalie Craig Anderson allowed only a power-play goal in the 46 shots he faced during a 2-1 win over the Sabres. … He hasn't done as much as projected as a high first-round pick, but David Legwand did set a Nashville record by appearing in a 574th career game. … Nickl...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Buffalo Sabres at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: MSG, FSFL). Patrick Kaleta is on IR, and the Sabres are facing injury issues (there's a stunner, huh?). The Panthers are offering fans a putting competition this evening. Florida Panthers ... golf ... these jokes write themselves.

By Greg Wyshynski • Attention people of Grand Rapids: Chris Chelios is on his way. [Red Wings] • Brian Rolston is back and skating with the New Jersey Devils, which would be much more exciting for the Devils if he were an all-star defenseman or goalie. [Fire & Ice]

By Greg Wyshynski In 2006, David Booth was playing for Michigan State's hockey team, juggling classes with practices. In 2008, after a breakout 22-goal season for the Florida Panthers in his sophomore NHL season, the Miami Herald was ready to anoint him the future star of the franchise:

By Greg Wyshynski • The San Jose Sharks have 43 points in 25 games, tying the 1943-44 Montreal Canadiens for the best start in NHL history. But is it fair to dismiss that because of the team's legacy of postseason failure? [Two for Elbowing] • The psychological wisdom of Detroit Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock. [S...

By Greg Wyshynski After yesterday's release of that rather awesome commercial, the hype machine is humming for the 2009 Winter Classic between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field. We called on our Y! Sports blog buddy Kevin Kaduk of Big League Stew, a Blackhawks fan who will be pro...

By Ross McKeon No. 3 star: Vesa Toskala, Toronto Maple Leafs The veteran netminder allowed a goal just 57 seconds after the opening faceoff in Los Angeles, but Vesa Toskala was a wall after that, allowing the Toronto Maple Leafs to rally for a 3-1 win over the Kings.

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: FSPT, FSD). Here's what Mike Babcock had to say about his Red Wings today after practice: "Who's the hardest-working team in the National Hockey League? ... Well, in the past I've been able to say without any question, here. I don't th...

By Greg Wyshynski UPDATE: Sports Business Journal has opened up its article on the Turnkey Index for Puck Daddy readers; as you can see, the Montreal Canadiens (12th), Buffalo Sabres (13th) and Carolina Hurricanes (20th) have cracked the Top 20 for the NHL. Meanwhiile, only the NBA's Pacers, Nets, Knick...

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Sidney Crosby had two second-period goals to rally the Penguins. ... Jeff Carter scored his league-leading 16th goal for the Flyers. ... Michael Ryder had two goals and Phil Kessel notched his 12th in the Boston Bruins' emphatic 7-2 win at the New York Islanders. ... Marian Hossa no...

By Greg Wyshynski At 14-3-4 and with the ability to ice an all-star team on any given hockey night, the Detroit Red Wings probably aren't close to earning your sympathy. That whole "defending Stanley Cup champions" thing doesn't help, either. But they are in a bit of a financial pickle come next summer, with f...

By Ross McKeon The veteran forward scored two goals, including a tie-breaker at 14:52 of the third period to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-3 victory over the lowly Dallas Stars. Knuble has found the scoring touch recently as he has five points on the strength of four goals and one assist in four games.

By Greg Wyshynski • Spector looks at how the Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks have turned around their fortunes. Hint: Having good players and solid goaltending helps. [Fox Sports] • Your three stars of last week: Marc Savard, Boston Bruins; Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks; Nikolai Khabibulin, Chic...

By Greg Wyshynski A glance at the NHL All-Star Game voting totals this morning reveals some tightening of the races. Marian Hossa (166,915), Pavel Datsyuk (163,044) and Henrik Zetterberg (159,054) all lead the Western Conference forwards voting for the Detroit Red Wings, but Jarome Iginla (148,728) is...

By Greg Wyshynski • Mike Van Ryn of the Toronto Maple Leafs hits back at critics who say that he put himself in a position to be injured against the Montreal Canadiens. [Toronto Sun] • Kevin Weekes will be in goal, but the New Jersey Devils may be without center John Madden against the New York Islanders this eve...

By Greg Wyshynski Honorable Mention: Jiri Hudler scored two impressive goals in the Detroit Red Wings' 4-3 win at the Edmonton Oilers; the Wings were 3-for-5 on the power play. ... Crosby had at three-point night in leading the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 3-2 victory at the Atlanta Thrashers. ... Radio analyst Sherry...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Washington Capitals at Los Angeles Kings (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: CSN, FSW). No Alexander Semin again for the Capitals tonight. Here is your obligatory Alexander Ovechkin valentine from local media that see him visit as often as the Hale-Bopp comet. 

By Greg Wyshynski • Kostya Kennedy of Sports Illustrated nominates Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings for Sportsman of the Year. And we fully expect him to win, provided Michael Phelps gets caught wearing counterfeit Speedos in a meth lab. [SI]

By Greg Wyshynski • Icethetics does it again, with clear shots of the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and Ottawa Senators third jerseys. The front of this SNES tribute is a fail. [Icethetics] • Darren McCarty was placed on waivers yesterday by the Detroit Red Wings, but Ken Holland said he'll remain in the r...

By Greg Wyshynski • Bruce "Malkin to the Kings" Garrioch continues to feed the flames of the Ottawa Senators' interest in Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mattias Ohlund. Vancouver Canucks GM Mike Gillis and assistant Lawrence Gilman were listed as scouts at MSG for last night's loss to the Rangers. [Ottawa S...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Boston Bruins at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. EST; TV: VS, RSN). These two teams have already played twice, splitting games back in Boston. The Bruins have earned at least a point in 10 of their 12 games up in Toronto. Tim Thomas is likely to get the nod between the pipes.

By Greg Wyshynski • What killed the Edmonton Oilers' Kid Line? [CBC Sports] • Lost in all of that Pittsburgh Penguins celebration from earlier in the week: Darren McCarty scored a nice goal for the Detroit Red Wings. Now, when is he going to drop the gloves again? [Snapshots]

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: Calgary Flames at San Jose Sharks (10:30 p.m. EST; TV: FPPV, CSBA). A rematch from last year's Western Conference quarterfinals, the Flames will see Brian Boucher between the pipes for San Jose. Dion Phaneuf's partner Jim Vandermeer will miss six weeks with a broken ankle.

By Sean Leahy The buildup was perfect: A Stanley Cup rematch. Sidney Crosby. The Detroit Red Wings. Marian Hossa against his former teammates for the first time. It sure beat last week's Versus' exclusive 7-0 pouncing by the Philadelphia Flyers over Atlanta Thrashers.

By Greg Wyshynski Bernie Nichols: Nichols was a legendary offensive talent with the Los Angeles Kings, finally settling on No. 9 as his digit of choice. It's the number he wore while starring for the New York Rangers, too. He switched to No. 19 for two middling seasons in New Jersey, before reclaiming his touch w...

By Greg Wyshynski Preview: San Jose Sharks at Florida Panthers (7:30 p.m. EDT; TV: CSBA, FSFL). Some injury worries for the Sharks about Joe Thornton, but the big guy should be in action tonight against the Panthers. Thomas Vokoun should be in goal for Florida.

By Greg Wyshynski Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings, C, Round 1/Pick 11) Daniel Briere (Philadelphia Flyers, C, Round 4/Pick 62) Brandon Dubinsky (New York Rangers, C, Round 13/Pick 227) Paul Gaustad (Buffalo Sabres, C, Round 15/Pick 263) Travis Zajac (New Jersey Devils, C, Round 17/Pick 299)