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.

The rumors are either empty or valid and the players fans would like to see in their team jersey is realistic or not.  So here is one rumor that has some validity to it.  The Red Wings are going to find a scoring winger.  I have not heard to much about the big names either for salary cap reasons and the fact the Red Wings do not need tinker with the lines much.  Excpet for the concern that the power play is not potent and everyone knows where the Wings used to make teams pay on the power play.

The Red Wings do not a big name to become potent on the power play.  They have Lidstrom, Datsyuk, and Zetterberg.  The Red Wings will locate someone who will move the puck and score on the powerplay.  Who it could be is a mystery I do know that Holland intends to do more this year in the way of acquisition before the All-Star break or at deadline day.

I will  not throw names aimlessly in this post I will mention that the Wings will address the issues of a scoring winger and the power play potential for getting better if the above mentioned names on the Wings special team unit already improve then maybe the Wings will not address the power play immediately.   History points however to Ken Holland making the move when the right player is available for the team.  He is not content to sit idly in his office during the business day and in the box during game time and not take notes and attention to his team and the opponent the Wings are playing.  One possible player making it Detroit in a matter of months is Glen Murray or someone like him in talent and leadership.  Who is waiting for that chance to have his name on the Cup.  There is still plenty of hockey to be played and issues to address for every team in the NHL.  As we wait for the exciting happenings of deadline day in the NHL do not forget to enjoy the game with friends.

    The Detroit Red Wings announced a press confrence earlier today, many speculated that it  would bring the news about Steve Yzerman's decision and that it did. I thought about what I would write; a short piece, a biography that could make Barnes & Noble shelves collapse under the weight?  I finally decided I would write about this, about why "The Captain" Steve Yzerman is important to Detroit, and who was there at Joe Louis Arena in the audience of gathered friends and then who might wear the "C" for the fabled Detroit Red Wings; alot of the franchise legend centers around Steve Yzerman.

    Detroit, Michigan 1986 Steve Yzerman is made the youngest captain in Detroit Red Wings history, the team is made of older players who made Steve captain because they noticed what he was going to be, a leader who commands the attention of his peers and that he would lead the team to a Stanley Cup.  The vision of this 1986 team was incredible, after 20 years Steve Yzerman in the NHL is the one man to have worn the "C", the longest.  Steve Yzerman made this team the Red Wings skate better, score more consistently, and all fans know this about Steve Yzerman, his face off percentage proves he loved game, he would always be ready for drop of the puck.  And in his career this can be said; "Steve Yzerman never dropped the puck'", when it came time for a big speech in the locker room to get his team to play better, he scored momentum shifting and game winning goals, and as the Captain he always knew what to say.  Number 19 on the ice, fans young and old at "the Joe", always felt inspired when 19 could be seen.  Now, Detroit, Michigan, July 3, 2006; Steve Yzerman has ended his on ice time with the team.  This will bring a time in Toronto, Ontario, at the Hockey Hall of Fame to be inducted, with his good friends Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, but how do you enshrine greatness?  Is it the number hanging from the rafters at Joe Louis Arena? Is it talking about "the Captain" in restaurants, bars and barber shops up and down Michigan?  It is all of the above, it is how Detroit and all the people in the community of Michigan will treat him.  Steve Yzerman is important and call this state the most Canadian without the health care in the USA, because of Steve Yzerman.  Everyone from the upper peninsula to border lines with Ohio and Indiana, will say, "Steve Yzerman is, our Captain."

    After the Captain?  Who is the next player to lead the Red Wings?  two names Kris Draper and Nicklas Lidstrom.  Nick is a favorite among alot of people and the players regard him with the same respect as Steve Yzerman.  Kris Draper is a leader who could very well be an alternate.  If the team decides to look at the future again Henrik Zetterberg could be the next captain. 

    At the press confrence Steve Yzerman's, family were there, his friends, which include Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay.  The eras of hockey were present and accounted for.  I choose to conclude with this, Hockey in Detroit will be solid after this confrence today because of players like Steve Yzerman, Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay are at the Joe to encourage, listen and help keep Red Wings hockey strong, passion among the fans is not pressure, Red Wings fans like to cheer and enjoy the game, it is time to be louder, to clap more and be positive about the Red Wings, who ever the captain is. Hockeytown, USA is ready  for NHL 2006-07. 

    Steve Yzerman enjoyed your career and greatness wearing the "Winged Wheel", enjoy your retirement, and you are  the Captian of Detroit Sports.

 

Henrik Zetterberg, Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall Mikael Samuelson, and Tomas Holmstrom.  All from Sweden and wearing gold medals.  What I saw in the first game after the Olympics was a Red Wings team who needed the "Swedish Seven." Andreas Lilja and Johan Franzen were in San Jose and the Wings played good while the Swedish Olympians were drinking some beer and celebrating in Stockholm.  Zetterberg, Lidstrom, and Kronwall, Holmstrom and Samuelson  are so valuable on  the Penalty kill of Detroit.  Joe Thornton did not have Nicklas Lidstrom in front of him.

I am glad that the Swedes were in Stockholm for the celebration.  Because Henrik Lundqvuist and Peter Forsberg needed Lidstrom and Kronwall for superior puck holding on the point during power play and the defense they bring to the ice.  Zetterberg and Holmstrom gave the Swedish team some hustle and intimidation. While Samuelson brought skating and scoring touch to Torino. 

Look for more of the Red Wings prospects in Sweden right now to come to Detroit in the future and bring leadership with the skills and talents of the game they posses. 

 For those interested in Sweden Hockey prospects use this website.

It is one I read daily.

www.eliteprospects.com

Every NHL team who has drafted a Swedish player is listed and this website includes junior and Swedish Elite League hockey stats and picture with a biography.

Detroit Red Wings Swedish prospects are featured in the mentioned website

 

Stefan Liv -G- will keep Deroit very soild in the net.  Lundqvuist and Liv are already talked about in Sweden as the best.

Johan Ryno- Huge winger who can score.  Plays with same type of game as Gordie Howe. Tough and very productive.

Christofer Lofberg- Tall and strong body skater.  Productive with a very good skating and puck handling game.  Incredible scoring touch.

Matthias Ritola- An assist and goal scoring  machine. Who will only improve.

"Lets Go Red Wings!"