The Stanley Cup Finals between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings has appeared on Fox with words showing comparisons of each (especially the offense), how the Wings were worn out, and how the Penguins are the preferred shooters of the National Hockey League. This column will present the comparisons of not only the offense (each are similar but there are major differences and while I am Red Wings fan I will point out the betters of Pittsburgh and contrast them with Detroit we will get better understanding that way), the age of the Detroit Red Wings, the young guns of the Penguins and the goalies for each team. My sources are three websites they are the stats machine from nhl.com, the Pittsburgh Penguins official website and the Detroit Red Wings official website; for team history and other interesting reading.

The roster for the Penguins is a list of verified talent from around the world. The same for the Detroit Red Wings. The leadership of each team is a difference on the rosters comparison. Here is why. The Captain of the Penguins is an offensive player young and eager to win the Cup for the first time. The Captain of the Red Wings is a defensive player in his thirties who is eager to win the Cup again (as was indicated during the photo op with the presentation of the Campbell trophy for the western conference champion Nicklas Lidstrom did not touch the trophy) he wants the biggest trophy in the sport; the Stanley Cup so retiring a winner is something that is important to Nicklas Lidstrom and starting his career as a winner is something that is important to Sidney Crosby; so here is where the comparisons are similar both want the Cup for reasons related to career statements. This will end the comparison of the Captains meaning that the personal accolades of both will not be listed, that information can be found in the player biographies of each on the teams websites.

With comparison number one we found out the the determination of the captains to win the Cup is similar and doing so would make a solid career statement. But there are differences in the comparisons because of the skill position for each age. One offenseand young and the other defense and in his thirties. Now we will delve to the age of the Red Wings with the youth of the Penguins and ask and answer the question of 'do the Red Wings and Penguins have comparable depth?' this might lead us to a very clear difference.

To start with the Pittsburgh Penguins is stating that this team has the youth mixed with NHL experience on this roster. Sidney Crosby, Evegeni Malkin, are the leaders and names of the NHL statistical columns. The goalie, Marc Andre Fleury is young and showing that he was the right pick at the right time in goal for the Pens.
The youth of the Red Wings, starts with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg who are both nominated for the Selke Trpohy which is an award that goes to the best defensive forward in the NHL. The goalie that has been starting for the Red Wings Chris Osgood, has experience and Stanley Cup wins. So we see here in the comparison that they match up very similarly until the youth breaksdown to cast a difference in the goalkeeper position which for the Red Wings has age. This is not a negative here at all for each team. To the contrary a logical argument can be made for each being positive. Fleury like Crosby wants the Stanley Cup to make a career statement now and the age of Osgood will make him slow. Wings have an experienced goalkeeper not slow at all but knows how to react to the pressure of the playoffs and he wants another Stanley Cup because going out a winner like Nicklas Lidstrom is important. The differences can make similar convincing arguments.

In comparison two the comparisons start to breakdown because of the age (or experience) of the Red Wings goalkeeper Chris Osgood. If fans and bloggers on Foxsports.com wish to debate, trash talk and predict with points that may seem strong a counter from another fan can be as valid and strong, Seeing this might help the debate be one of the best on this site.
The age of the Red Wings versus the youth of the Pittsburgh Penguins will we find who has the most depth to predict who wins what could one of the most exciting series of Stanley Cup Finals of the NHL?

Here we go to reach a conclusion promised very shortly. The Pittsburgh Penguins have a system that relies on four forward lines with lines as does Detroit. The defense of each team has depth . The conclusion is realizing that the outcome of the series will be the play of the powerplay units and penalty kill units. The defense of each team will face its fair share of tests, adversity, and challenges. The offense of each team will score, be shutout and knocked down.
Who wins is the team that outscores, outshoots and stays focused more on the Stanley Cup to be awarded to the winner.

     Dallas Stars fans were quiet last night for the first home game against the Detroit Red Wings at American Airlines Center.  The Dallas Stars have much to look forward to if they do not win this series.  The reasons for the Stars team to be proud are summed up in the words next year.  Here is why.

     Mike Ribeiro has proven himself on this Dallas Stars team.  He led the Stars with 83 points, he had 56 assists, and a fighters attitude.  He will be a star for the Stars and teams in the National Hockey League finally took notice of number 63. Mike Ribeiro has made the series against the Sharks in the second round and in the third round against the Wings exciting.  The intensity level he plays with will place the Stars to be contenders next year.

     Brad Richards has Stanley Cup experience and the ownership and management will be counting on the success he had with the Lightning to follow him to Dallas.  It has, there were alot of people who thought that Dallas would not be in the playoffs and certainly not in the Western Conference finals.  Brad Richards has the knack to find a way to win.  The Dallas Stars have reason to count on him and Ribeiro because they answered the question of can we?  Yes and the four overtime game versus the Sharks proves they can win and persevere against the best the NHL has to offer.  Last night there were chances for the Stars on offense and the powerplay, knowing when to capitalize will make the Stars even more dangerous.  It starts with the experienced Brad Richards.

          Brendan Morrow, captain for the Dallas Stars, had 32 goals in the regular season to lead the team in goals, and leadership that most teams in the NHL would like to have for the season and playoffs.  Brendan Morrow and his team took San Jose Sharks and displayed determination and drive to win.  This is something to be proud of and realize that next year we are going to even have that drive more.  When hockey players like Brendan Morrow want it even more the other teams in the NHL better take notice.  They have and they will next year.  Brendan Morrow is a star of the Stars and shooting the puck will get him to the next step to be taken in reaching the prize at the end.

     Stay positive fans.  From what has been seen on television the Dallas Stars are not that far from bringing the Cup to Dallas.  There are some questions for the Dallas team that will be resolved in the summer like will Mike Modano retire?  The question about Fabian Brunnstrom will be answered with the start of the 2009 season.  The fans of the Dallas Stars team that have been on Foxsports.com have been all class with Red Wings fans.  That is what makes the NHL the best.  So stay positive Stars fans next year will answer some questions for the team and the stars of the Dallas Stars will again have all the NHL taking notice.

     Darren McCarty is back where he wants to be.  He impressed Red Wings management and friends on the Red Wings team with his intensity and power; remember the "unforgettable" goal that would bring the Cup back to Detroit in 1997. That was the end of the drought after 42 years people were putting Gretzky, Lemieux, and Yzerman in the same sentence.  Because Yzerman in Detroit is the Red Wings and the fans made him one of the most popular athletes ever in Detroit Sports history, but that has something to do with Darren McCarty.  The Cup came to Detroit while Yzerman was captain.  McCarty is known to Detroit Red Wings fans as D MAC.  Here are some reasons why beside the one of helping Detroit's Captain win the Stanley Cup three times.

     Darren has the type of personality and work habits that typify what Detroit as sports city (Detroit is one of the best sports cities in the USA with ticket sales and television ratings) and a place to work.  It is not a stretch to write that Darren McCarty's work habits and "blue collar" style of play is what makes him so popular with Red Wings fans throughout the state of Michigan.  One thing about Michigan that everyone knows around the world is that people here work hard and hardly ever sleep.  That is what makes the automoblie capital of the US and world a hard to place to play sports professionally and in college.  People want the teams and athletes to win and be the best and put effort in to it all.  Darren McCarty brought that level of play to the ice every time he played in the regular season and the Stanley Cup playoffs. 

     Darren McCarty after the 2002 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes was up to negotiate a new contract with the Red Wings a team that he had fun playing for and fans of that team liked seeing him in games against Colorado Avalanche and of course all the other games in the schedule.  Fans thought the deal would get done.  Then we read in the papers and online that it did not.  D MAC was going to Calgary Flames for the 2002-03 season.  Okay that happens.  Players and people in jobs move on it is part of life.  The first game of McCarty's experience with the Flames at Joe Louis Arena he is given an ovation and then cheered the rest of the game when his line are on the ice.  This continues for the rest of Darren McCarty's career in the NHL every time he is on the ice with the Flames fans at the home of the Red Wings cheer him.  This does not happen for Sergei Fedorov who is one of the most prolfic scorers and talented two way forwards in Red Wings history.  The only player who has earned this type and level of respect from the fans is Chris Osgood.  Darren McCarty has earned alot of respect from the fans realizing that made D MAC appreciate the Red Wings and fans even more.

   Then some regretted choices brought Darren some hardship.  But like Detroit and Michigan right now going through some hard times he is back and is given a second chance a fresh start at a career like the people who spend hard earned money on the Wings tickets want from life.  This what makes sports so great it is exemplary of a city, a state, a nation.  Hard economic times and  layoffs working hard to get back in there or the game.  This is the Red Wings and Darren McCarty.  A chance to get back to the finals since 2002 for both the Red Wings and D MAC.  See now why the return of Darren Mccarty is important for Detroit and the NHL.  It is significant because it is a way to see that second chances do happen in life and that sports is a part of life that everyone makes time for.  Life is a spectator sport and it is good to see and know that the past and mistakes are sometimes forgotten.  This is why some might look at the Red WIngs and Darren McCarty as Americas team in the NHL and D MAC as America's hardest worker in sports.  There are some hard working people making your cars that you drive that already know D MAC is the one player in sports who gives it all for "eight hours".  That would be the people of Detroit.

                                               
               Welcome back D MAC!!

  Let's talk about Chris Osgood, the goalie for the Detroit Red Wings.  He is among the best right now in Goals Against Average (GAA) and save percentage.  The Red Wings are leading the National Hockey League in points.  Chris Osgood is better than his 1998 Stanley Cup Champion year. Yet, there has been some critics that have maintained that Osgood is simply not good enough.  Knowing enough to keep personal opinion out, this will suffice, other teams are wishing Osgood was not with the Detroit Red Wings team.

  The confidence of the Detroit Red Wings in Chris Osgood is not misplaced.  Henrik Zetterberg who is among the league leaders in points and goals knows Osgood is playing the best in his career right now.  Zetterberg is one of the leaders on this team.  New Red Wings defenseman Brian Rafalski saw  Martin Brodeur and New Jersey win. 

  The Detroit fans who have seen Osgood in 1998 and in 2007 will echo the confidence in Osgood as the team leadership has done.  Quite a few NHL "insiders" will point out that having the Detroit crowd behind the goalie is hard to achieve.  Everyone young and old knows that Terry Sawchuk is best goalie in Detroit history.  Yes, the crowd in "The Joe" expects the same from goalies now. 

  The achievements of Chris Osgood now has been the heart of a team player, playing the best hockey of his life right now, gaining the confidence of team leadership young and veteran, and the fans who have been chanting "OZZIE" for the last six weeks.  Believe it!  Ozzie for president!  There that is personal as I will get.  Have to admit Osgood has been more consistent that what American voters have right now. 

  Politics in general is not like sport.  But is not what the voters expect from the presidential candidates what fans in Detroit expect from the goalie?

  Be your best and work the hardest.  Chris Osgood has gained that reputation so maybe he should consider running for president.                      

 The NHL exhibition games are giving the young players from the minor leagues a chance to earn a spot on the roster.  I like watching these games to see what players are waiting to bust out of the American Hockey League in to the NHL.  At this time for the Detroit Red Wings Igor Grigorenko had a break away opportunity against Tampa Bay then hit the cross bar; it was not counted as a shot but it made an impression on people.  He has game.  Then with the game tied after the overtime period, the shootout.

  Grigorenko took the puck and with a deke, put the winning goal on the score board.  Yes, knowing that these stats are not going to carry over to regular season play, his confidence was above his shoulders.  Igor can play the game and will know where to put the puck next time.  In the net.  Igor was able to rise to the occasion, when he is given that chance on the Datsyuk line or any line for that matter he will fly on to the wings of success.

  During the game last night it was mentioned that he might go back to the Russian Super Leagues.  If that were to happen, it would be for money and yes that is ultimately what sports and even life decisions come down to.  But is not the waste of talent to be considered as well.  Igor has an important decision to make.

  I know that this is not my decision to make and that as a NHL and Red Wings fan these thoughts and words are loaded with bias.  But hang on for a moment here, you would write, say, and think the same way about your team, league and association.  So with that this really for a young Russian, to realize his potential and reach his prime in the NHL as Alexander Ovechkin and Pavel Datsyuk has.  One reason being a super star in a Red Wings uniform certainly did not hurt Sergei Federov and more recently Pavel Datsyuk and Alexander Ovechkin.  Money and being close to family would motivate a move home.  But consider this, the community of Detroit hockey fans.

  In the sport of hockey and in the NHL there are some passionate fans but the hockey fans in Detroit support the team, buy jerseys, and until recently have soldout Joe Louis Arena.  The lack of have been due to the economy situations here in Michigan.  That does not mean fans will not spend hard earned dollars on team merchandise.  We do, eagerly.

  Now one more fan point to consider for those that do not know Igor was in a car crash, had a lung illness that was life threatening, so why invest in his maybe playing for the Red Wings?  To walk away from this investment and spot on the team would declare to the rest of the league the administration involved with the Red Wings, the team is not willing to give people who tough it out and battle back from an illness an honest shot to make the roster of the Red Wings.  Ken Holland and others are not going to do that.  That is why Igors' decision will affect the team and his boss.  Take a look at how much patience has gone in to the recovery process.  The Red Wings were waiting for Igor to fly from Russia and show the league and more importantly the team and fans that the wait was worth it.  Worth the three years elapsed time of progress in to North American hockey.  Welcome to the Red Wings is what the team and fans were waiting for.

  The last words will be a question, "Will Igor be ready for the attention?"  I think the skills, talent, and tight knit team the Red Wings have will be more than ready to take Igor on the flight to the Cup.  It helps the decision making process easier for Igor not because of this post but this post might help a bit; Pavel Datsyuk is a good friend with Igor.  So time will tell and time has been shown posative regarding the hockey career of Igor Grigorenko.  If this one fan were given any say I think that Igor will stay and he will be open to starting in Grand Rapids if he has to, but without the access priviledges of interviewing Igor I can only conclude this post with the thoughts "of play in the NHL Igor and see where you go on the flight of the Detroit Red Wings".  

  It has been to long since there has been opinions posted on this blog, the readers and mine.  So after the abscence here is hearty hello to those who used to read this blog and never leave a comment and those that did.  It does feel good to state what has been on my mind about sport of hockey and the Red Wings.  Some players have left for the sun and Pacific Ocean (which is not suitable for hockey).  These players are Mathieu Schneider and Todd Bertuzzi.  Both have signed with the Anaheim Ducks.  Let's say they were ready for a surfin' vacation.  Now to what matters most to Red Wings fans, "is it time to panic?!"

   "No.  Calm down."  Here are the reasons why.  Igor Griggorenko is one player who will immediately contribute.  He is fast, a real good accurate shot; he does not miss the mark he puts the puck where it needs to be on net.  He is also a solid 20 goal scorer while in the Russian Super Leagues.  Sure he had the car accident a few years ago but his recovery and game has come under the radar and when he is on the Datsyuk line he will be set up for some stats and fans will gawk and gaze at the magic and sparkling talent on the ice.  Sure Igor will need to get used to the NHL but everyone knows that Detroit has some of best players to be paired with on line shifts.  Igor can hardly wait to wear the winged wheel and skate and get passes from Pavel D.  The grade for Igor's prospects and contributions could end up with Ovechkin watching his good friend, Pavel and phenom  Igor on highlight television. 

   Red Wings highlights will also have Val Filppula. His contribtions on the ice during the playoffs were showing that he is eagerly anticipating more ice time and more leadership.  So he can set up his team with assists and score his own goals.  This is the type of enthusiasm and excitement the youth in the Red Wings organization will bring to the ice and "The Joe" in 2007-08 NHL hockey.  I am looking to fun of NHL hockey at Hockeytown.  Now there is not a red button on this computer and if there is one yours do not press it because here is the third reason as to why the Red Wings will not be a team to panic about.

   Tomas Kopecky and if the Red Wings can sign Jiri Hudler then they will have young forwards who are waiting for the chance to win, and win big in the end.  One motivation for the team is bring Zetterberg his first Stanley Cup engraving.  IF that is not momentum building up during this summer I don't know what is.  So with all the fans of Red Wings hockey I have something to say about the signing of Brian Rafalski.

    He is someone who will contribute right away in the locker room as he is a Cup winner with New Jersey.  He has played defense in front of one the best goalies in the NHL and if the Wings re-sign Hasek or sign someone else he will free that netminder from worry.  Brodeur liked Brian and he will be appreciated on the ice by the Wings goalie.  He is an aggressive and puck moving defenseman.  Aggressive means that he will shove and push and play the game at high intensity and still bring calm game breaking skating and puck clearing passes to the ice game in game out.  Oh, he is also valuable on the power play just ask Martin Brodeur he will tell you about Brian Rafalski.

   If no one has read this or heard this anywhere the Wings are reportedly interested in Andrew Raycroft.  The Maple Leafs are interested in letting him go since they have Vesa Toskala. 

   If Raycroft can capture his goalkeeping style that he had in Boston this could workout and who knows if he just makes the important save that all Red Wings goalies are expected to make then it will more than workout.  Proving to be another good move by Ken Holland and keeping money in the account for emergencies.

   I have also read some reports that the Red WIngs might be interested in Alexei Yashin. There is nothing to panic about here only if he is willing not to hog the spotlight on the Datsyuk line but to share it with "Griggs" and Pavel.  IF that happens that would bring some  bully to the Datsyuk line.  If the Red Wings can help Yashin find his scoring touch and combine that with some team play and hard work then the panic button will not need be pushed.  But if Yashin lets up on the work ethic and hogs the limelight it could prove sour for this Wings fan.  Would it be ecxiting to see the Datsyuk line with Igor, and Alexei of the Senators?  You bet'cha.  With Raycroft keeping the puck out of the net like he did in Boston?

   These are gambles and everyone knows that Ken Holland's gambles have paid off even when he had some criticism.  All we can do is hold our breath and wait for the Red Wings to take flight in October 2007 when the puck is dropped to start our season, when that happens that will be when we can go with the Red Wings through the season to the playoffs for the most prized trophy in sport.

     Starting with the Ottawa Senators fans and team, it is good to see a Canadian team in the finals.  The finals will be worth watching to see if the Cup will go to a Canadian team.  I would like to see the finals with Detroit versus Ottawa just so I get to see in my lifetime a Canadian team fight for the trophy with the Red Wings.  If it is Anaheim then Senators all the way. 

     About game five so the Ducks won.  And I read that this is a seven game series.  We have known that but Ducks fans seem to think the series was won then.  That the Red Wings have nothing left.  But there is some good defense being played by the Red Wings right now in the second period.  It will be interesting to see the Wings come back to Detroit in game 7 if they win tonight.  Right now the Ducks are ahead by one goal.  A short handed shot from Pronger deflected off Rob Niedermayer.  Hasek and Gigeure have played to the highest level of skill that has been demanded from each goalie.  The Wings did this against Kiprussoff and Nabokov and won.  Yes in six.  But if the Wings win this series it will have through three rounds in these playoffs of getting past three amazing goalkeepers.  If the Ducks win the same can be said of Hasek when so many people wrote him off for the bus to the old folks home instead round three game six against the Ducks.

     Dominik Hasek has gone against Jerome Iginla, Joe Thornton and Jonathon Cheechoo, Teemu Selanne now will he have the chance to keep Daniel Alfredson out of the goals scored column.  Time will tell.  Some team will be playing golf.  Now it is 2-0.  It looks like the only thing preventing the answer here is time and plenty of hockey left to be played.

     If I had to pick a player from Anaheim to be MVP it would be J S Giguere for Detroit Dan Cleary or Dominik Hasek.

     San Jose is travelling down the right and left boards to the tback of the net in game five so far.  Live action was thrilling if you are a Sharks fan.  I am surprised that the Red Wings have not forced the Sharks to the middle.  Especially Joe Thornton.  There he would be forced to shoot.  Detroit then should send two forwards to clog the middle and force a turnoover.

     Also Detroit needs to get to the rebounds however after the shooter has taken his shot all the other White and Red jerseys are standing and watching the puck not going to it to put the puck passed the goalie.  Nabokov threw some juicy rebounds out for the Red Wings no put back only standing players on the Red Wings side during the first period.

     Last night when the Wings won they displayed the fighting attitude of Joe Louis.  When the Mathieu Schneider goal was scored it was the left hook that the team needed on the road.  When Robert Lang tied the score it was the extra jab that Red Wings needed to set up the knock out punch, the series is back at the Joe Louis Arena.  Tomas Holmstrom delivered the first big blow the the nose of the Sharks before the second intermission.  To leave the fans fearing the Red Wings flight rather than the jaws of the teal Shark. 

     Todd Bertuzzi and Dan Cleary have been important at times.  Last night Chris Chelios was the player who won the fights.  IN every push on Joe Thornton and poke check on the puck he kept the Sharks away from the blue crease.  Todd Bertuzzi need to ramp up his play and Dan Cleary needs to keep doing what he has been doing.  And the Wings in game six on the road need a game that the Sharks will not expect a winning punch the San Jose will not see hitting them. 

     A confident Dominik Hasek is a key to this.  Confident in his style and confident that he will dominate the Sharks and the series. Not being intimidated by the Sharks as I have seen Hasek allowing the Sharks to do.  For example the jitters and shaky play in the first two games and in game 4 in the first period.  Ken Holland signed Hasek for the domination goalkeeping.  Dominate the Wings net and the puck.  We believe!  The Wings will land the Joe Louis string of punches that will end the fight in a stellar series that was hard fought to the last second in the last game of the series. 

     When the Sharks come up this type of Red Wings team (a must on the road in this series and the following ones) the opponents will find them selves only when it is to late to recognize it, on the canvas staring at the fingers counting for them to get up.  When the count is over the series will be over in Detroit or in the shark infested San Jose?  It is up to the Red Wings to decide when and where.  I am not in charge of that only this opinion.

     Will this series be worth the staying up late when the Wings play at the Shark's home in San Jose?  It will be for this first reason to see how the Red Wings are going to defend Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo.  This series will have great defense against tremendous offensive skills and puck possession.  The test on the road for the Red Wings will be to generate offense from the defense.  Now this will not assume that the Wings will not score on their chances around the net of San Jose look at Dan Cleary and Henrik Zetterberg after the face off.  These two Red WINGS are good enough without defensive take aways.  The first reason as to why the Red Wings and SHARKS will be good watching is to see how the Wings will matchup and contain the first two lines throughout the seven game series.  Doing this on the road is a must for Detroit.  Otherwise it could out of hand and the Red Wings will have to win all four at home.  This will be another reason for the Shakrs and Wings being a series you will not want to miss.

      The second reason to turn on the television and watch this series is that I think the Sharks will take one when they are the Joe.  I am not going to give away the strategies that I think each team will use to win games on the road, I am not a coach.  But the team who wins two or more games on the road will win the series.  Propelling the team closer to the Stanley Cup.  Now after that I think that the Sharks are tough to beat and the Wings proved that they are to when they they had to better than good against the goalie in the last series against the Calgary Flames.  San Jose will not be shooting at a Red Wings net with Manny Legace but Dominik Hasek.  This is the second reason why hockey fans will want to watch the Sharks in Detroit, for them they will have to play better than good on the road.

     The third reason is to see when Todd Bertuzzi is going to have his game breaking goals and hits.  The other player on the Wings is Dan Cleary.  He shows up, plays tough and he moves the puck to score and that is it plain and simple he is a play maker.  Disagree? Tell me why.  But he was the best Red Wing in the series in Calgary, he is one reason why the Wings closed the series with a win on the road.  And if the Sharks think all they have to do is to take care of Dan that would be only be a small start.  But like Red Wings being tested in reason one the Sharks defense will be tested with four lines who shoot the puck and are not afraid of getting angry around the opponents net.

      Game on and watch Thursday.  It will be worth staying up late for.

  Robert Lang

 Dan Cleary

 

  Kyle Calder

   Have you seen reports or read about the possibility of Robert Lang not being in a Red Wings jersey next year because of not contributing?  Will stop right there with that nonsense.  Robert Lang and his line had a fired up and energized Dan Cleary on before he went down eight games ago with injury.  Now Robert Lang is in a way posting some personal statistics and he has on his line another player who was written off by some as an "under achiever", this would be Kyle Calder.

     Kyle Calder and Robert Lang have only combined for more than 15 points in the nine games that Calder has been a Red Wing.  This line will be only more potent when Dan Cleary is back from injury before the playoffs and when the time comes to put a contract before Lang next year his ability to bring has beens like Cleary and Calder back to being the type of players people inside the game expected, the Wings organization will want to keep Lang around for a while.

     Now this brings us to Kyle Calder and the line with Robert Lang and Daniel Cleary.  It will be potent with passing and shooting the puck.  These guys all three are determined, hard working players with drive to win.  That cannot be beat and checked out of them.  They will work harder then to puck in the net for a score.  They do not care about personal production first, they do, only after team success is meant and that is more important goal than the combined points for each player at the end of the season.

     As people did not think that either Dan Cleary and Kyle Calder would have personal success to begin with, so this has only come to be present in the Red Wings playing the type of hockey that most thought was lost when Shanahan went to New York.  The Wings have proven they are still the tough domineering team they once were. 

     When Todd Bertuzzi wears the Wings jersey for the first time in a game it will be on the Zetterberg line with Pavel Datsyuk the other forward. 

     The revived Robert Lang line has made sure of that.  They are tough enough.  Look for the Wings to have four very strong lines when each player returns from injury and come playoffs they will focused and driven together as a team that no one expected would be tough and domineering at this time of year and doing the unexpected that a few NHL "insiders" did not have them doing at the beginning of this season, being in the playoffs and potentially winning those tought games.  Thanks to the revived Robert Lang line this is a reality.

     A refreshed Kyle Calder is on his way to showing he might be the best under the radar trade that happend before deadline day.  My take on Todd Bertuzzi in Detroit Red Wings jersey is good.  Once he gets ready to go he will do that at the Joe.  I really do think that bringing up th incident against Derek Morris is old news.  And that is behind him and I know that Ken Holland told himplay tough for us but do not be Scarface out there.  When the Red Wings make a trade it is not necessarily about business but what is best for the team and the fans who want the product to be the best and yes you have me there that is business.  What is not business about what Detroit did in trading for Calder and Bertuzzi is giving the players a chance to win it June.  And the team has exceeded expectations when neighsayers totally wrote the Wings out of the picture for the playoffs and even being an .500 team was not possible.  Ken Holland has proven once again that gambling on certain players in the league is worth it. 

     Other teams that are in the hunt for the Stanley Cup after the regular season is over are the Atlanta Thrashers this team has a experienced player Keith Tkachuk and he has valuable experience with being a team captain and he has very good post season statisitics.

     San Jose needs Joe Thornton Bill Guerin is a mercenary type player and he cannot win by himself.  When Joe Thornton appears Jonathon Cheechoo will be in picture as well.  The Sharks desparately need goals and wins and for talented players to start playing meaning scoring at will.  If that starts to happen before the playoffs they have a very good chance. 

     One other team out of the others in the NHL who is in the hunt for the Cup is the Sabres they have done very well on the power play but this team wants to win.  When they are frustrated you can tell that Lindy Ruff wants them to work out of that and start to score at will like they were at the start of the season.

     The Predators getting Peter Forsberg will add some ####e to the series against the Red Wings if they should play in a seven game series look for Bertuzzi to help clear some lanes for the shots of Schneider and Lidstrom on the power play.  There will be quite a few penalties called. But the Wings will not drop out after the first round this year and by the way look for Datsyuk to compile some goals for his playoff stats column.  To help Zetterberg win his first Stanley Cup as a Red Wing.

     These predictions are meant for fun.  If they happen to be accurate I will be a happy Red Wings fan.  Look for Kyle Calder as well to be considered for Conn Smythe honros.  He is going to be the find of the deals before the deadline for 2007. 

     Hockey is known as the official winter of Canada.  The game is remembered in America when the team in 1980 won against the Soviets.  Hockey is a game that glitters at times in America like the ice after the Zamboni has cleaned it.  What will it take for the National Hockey League to gain audience and fan support in the United States?  The fact that most people do not know about the NHL other than the fact the teams did not play two years ago and that Wayne Gretzky was a great player.  Here a few ideas and these are not the be all end all but they might be start to get more in the USA to watch the game.

     The NHL should take on the issue of no one in the big metropolitan areas of the states has no means to buy the expensive equipment for the game to be played.  Basketball and baseball equipment is inexpensive for kids who do not have alot of money.  In essence this point is that accessability to the equipment of the sport for kids is limited to the middle and upper class of the United States.  Making the equipment affordable would increase accessability for new generations of fans, this could be applied to the urban areas of Canada as well. 

    Tell the ownership of the Chicago Blackhawks to give authority for the games to be televised locally.  The city of Chicago is ready for a winning team and one thing that will help the Hawks to reach the people is to televise the games for all to watch.  So far it is easy what the problem of Hockey America is, accessablity.  The fact that the equipment is expensive and that television is not used in a large metropolitan area like Chicago is not good for the NHL as an entity.  Correcting these issues will grow the sport to the fans and the profits will increase as well.

      If you have any ideas about Hockey America leave comment.  The sport has potential to reach people and give people more reason to get ready for the Stanley Cup playoffs.  I would say that expansion is not the answer if the NHL is to expand it should the game through affordable equipment and more games on local and major networks.

     It is half done.  The National Hockey League is winding towards the playoffs.  Here are my predictions for the playoffs and I will predict the winner.  There is still half a season left I will pick the 16 teams now.  I will also predict that two teams will make trades that no one thought would ever happen.  One team from the east and one from the west.  They will not swap players with each other they will address a need and both of these teams have some salary cap room.  The playoff predictions are:

From the Eastern Confrence-

Buffalo Sabres

New Jersey Devils

Atlanta Thrashers

Montreal Canadiens

New York Rangers

Carolina Hurricanes

Toronto Maple Leafs

Ottawa Senators

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Representing the Western Confrence-

Nashville Predators

Vancouver Canucks

Anaheim Ducks

Detroit Red Wings

Calgary Flames

San Jose Sharks

Minnesota Wild

Dallas Stars

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     Stanley Cup victor and the city that will host the parade will be from the result of an upset the Atlanta Thrashers.  Why?  The goalkeeping and the play of the offense will keep them in contention the remaining half of the regular season and then in the playoffs they have the team that is built to win close games.   The city of Atlanta will come to celebrate the victory as the result of winning the Cup in seven games over the Nashville Predators.  Nashville came oh, so close but 2007 was not meant to be for them.  The Conn Smythe trophy winner is Ilya Kovalchuk. 

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     The two teams that will make the trades are Detroit from the West and Buffalo from the East.  Detroit trades for a forward who can score and Buffalo trades for checking wing. 

     Steve Yzerman will be honored tonight at Joe Louis Arena, for his accomplishments, his work ethic that blended perfectly with the city he calls his home and the city that adopted him; and finally for just being someone who likes getting the job done.  It seemed the first time when Red Wings fans read about Steve Yzerman in 1983 and saw the draft day picture of him shaking hands with Mike Ilitch and Yzerman wearing a red tie that Detroit Red Wings fans knew that Steve Yzerman would restore Red Wings back to Detroit.  And that the jeers and name of "dead wings" would be erased.  Here is list of how flight was restored to the Red Wings.

     In 1983 it was plain to see that Steve Yzerman would be a great player in the NHL and that he would one day have a chance to win with the Red Wings.   The Red Wings were back in the playoffs.  For the first time in over 10 years  the Red Wings were playing with inspiration and the jeers ended.  The relentless pursuit of taking the puck to the opposition and scoring against any goalkeeper kept Steve Yzerman and the team on the road of winning and the team found itself in the NHL elites once again.  Number 19 had restored pride, excitement for the fans and the goals accumulated for Steve Yzerman one of them was to win the Stanley Cup.  There was one goal that he did not count on in Detroit.

     In 1986 at the age of 21 he was named Captain of the team.  He was the youngest player in NHL history to be given the honor and responsibility of wearing the "C".  He wore it for 22 years and along the way made more history, his 22 years as captain is the longest that anyone wore the "C" with one team.  His nickname in Detroit, is 'the Captain", fans respect the player who gave his all every night and played through every injury known to NHL physicians earned him that honor.  He has said that Detroit Red Wings fans have a passion and beyond that a commitment to winning and that he has that as well because the fans and the organization want to win.  Steve Yzerman is a proud citizen of Detroit, Michigan.  And we are proud fans of the Captain. 

     Steve Yzerman battled through the early 90's and when Scotty Bowman was hired lived through the trade rumors and became a two way forward.  He put aside personal success and when the sacrifice was made the Red Wings went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, in 1996-97 and 97-98.  Then in 2002 he would go on to raise the Cup one more time.   Steve Yzerman has proven that he can play the game at the highest level and that being rewarded for loyalty is one of the most glorious things in life and sport. 

      Since the celebration starts officially tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Joe Louis Arena before the game against the Anaheim Ducks, Steve Yzerman is starting his new career in the front office of the Red Wings, he calls the Detroit Red Wings, "the organization".  Tonight the organization, fans and friends will probably cheer him for over five minutes and salute the Captain for over an hour.  All he has to do is watch and enjoy.  And cheer on the team that has the name Red Wings back since the erasing of a name that took place 24 years ago.  Tonight the number 19 will be sixth in Red Wings history to go to the rafters, after that, next stop the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Other awards for the Captain include, Selke trophy, Conn Smythe trophy, and the Masterson trophy; which is awarded by the NHL to player who perseveres.  Other highlights of Steve Yzerman's amazing NHL career are found at the hockey hall of fame website.

                                               
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