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.