Return to HockeyTown... A Detroit Red Wings BeaGM

[Son of Sam99]

January 30th, 2015

January NHL Whip Around

- Who’s Hot
o EC: Toronto- The Leafs haven’t exactly been sharp but they’re holding serve while those around them crumble. Ottawa, Florida, and Boston all hit extended losing streaks in January allowing Toronto to reach a position of potentially making the playoffs… And then surly losing in some highly disappointing way.
o WC: Chicago- The Blackhawks are hitting their stride at the perfect time as Winnipeg and St. Louis are more or less playing .500 hockey. In, likely, the last season Kane & Toews will be wearing the same sweater expect the Hawks to really push to put an exclamation point on their run of post season success.

- Who’s Not?
o EC: Islanders (still) There’s been very little movement in terms of standings over the last 30 days but we can once again dump on the Islanders. Though the trade deadline is over a month away many in and around the organization are expecting the fire sale to begin soon.
o WC: St. Louis- It hasn’t been an implosion for the Blues but the trends are concerning for a team that led the central at the beginning of the month. Jimmy Howard has a bum hamstring and the team is struggling to put the puck in the net. In a tough division like the Central losing streaks can quickly torpedo any playoff hopes.

- Hurting
o While the Sharks have no excuse for their poor performance at least the Dallas Stars can site injury luck (or lack thereof) as the reason for not reaching the playoffs after having won the conference. Seguin and Lehtonen have missed significant time this season and now Jamie Benn will likely be out for the rest of the year with post-concussion syndrome.

- Okposo on the Move?
o As the trade deadline approaches the expected first chip to fall is Islanders winger Kyle Okposo who’s in the final year of his contract. Tampa Bay, Nashville, Edmonton, & Winnipeg are rumored to have an interest in the young power forward. But word out of Brooklyn is that they’re not willing to deal the young winger

- Alexander the Great
o Although the Capitols languish in the lower section of the Metro Division Alex Ovechkin gave fans something to cheer about on January 18th. The Russian put up 7 points in an overtime victory over the Boston Bruins.

[Son of Sam99]

NHL League Leaders - Updated: Feb 1, 2015
Goals		G	Assists		A
	1. J. Skinner	25		1. Z. Parise	35
	2. P. Datsyuk	23		2. J. Thornton	33
	3. D. Backes	22		3. R. Nugent-Hopkins	33
	4. P. Kessel	20		4. H. Sedin	31
	5. T. Vanek	20		5. M. Ribeiro	30
Points		P	+/-		+/-
	1. Z. Parise	51		1. A. Galchenyuk	+23
	2. R. Nugent-Hopkins	48		2. D. Doughty	+22
	3. C. Giroux	45		3. J. Gorges	+20
	4. H. Sedin	45		4. V. Tarasenko	+18
	5. M. Ribeiro	44		5. J. B. Gallagher	+18

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings February 2014-15 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Feb 2	at Edmonton Oilers
Feb 3	vs Calgary Flames
Feb 5	at Carolina Hurricanes
Feb 6	at Buffalo Sabres
Feb 9	at Ottawa Senators
Feb 10	at Florida Panthers
Feb 13	vs Montreal Canadiens
Feb 16	vs Carolina Hurricanes
Feb 17	at New York Rangers
Feb 19	at Columbus Blue Jackets
Feb 21	vs San Jose Sharks
Feb 22	vs Anaheim Ducks
Feb 24	vs Colorado Avalanche
Feb 28	at Vancuover Canucks

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: March 1st, 2015

Once again February brought with it a post all-star game slide. A four game losing streak punctuated the month where the team won just five of fourteen games. Fortunatly we are still in front of the division thanks to everyone else pretty much succumbing to the dog days of the season.

In order to keep guys fresh coach Babcock has given some of our veteran guys nights off when we’ve had back to back games which I believe is the right call. Unfortunately this effort to keep guys’ legs underneath them may result in lost home games come playoff time. I expect the team to bounce back but once again we’re up against a trade deadline with little to offer potential trade suitors.

We still haven’t been able to nail down Coach Babcock to a contract though both sides are at the table. After not talking for so long his people finally told us he’s looking to potentially test the market basically as a free agent. I’m confident he’ll find a better offer in terms of money but not sure if he’ll find a better situation in terms of winning. I’ve got a meeting set next week with Grand Rapids Griffins head coach Jeff Blashill. I’fe Babs hits the road Jeff will be the first person we offer the job to.

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings February 2014-15 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Feb 2	at Edmonton Oilers	Lost, 3-0
Feb 3	vs Calgary Flames	Won, 4-3
Feb 5	at Carolina Hurricanes	Lost, 3-2
Feb 6	at Buffalo Sabres	Lost, 4-3
Feb 9	at Ottawa Senators	Won, 3-2
Feb 10	at Florida Panthers	Won, 3-2
Feb 13	vs Montreal Canadiens	Lost, 4-3
Feb 16	vs Carolina Hurricanes	Lost, 5-1
Feb 17	at New York Rangers	Won, 4-3
Feb 19	at Columbus Blue Jackets	Lost, 8-3
Feb 21	vs San Jose Sharks	Lost, 3-2
Feb 22	vs Anaheim Ducks	Lost, 3-2
Feb 24	vs Colorado Avalanche	Lost, 5-1
Feb 28	at Vancuover Canucks	Won, 5-2

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings Leaders - Updated: Mar 1, 2015
Goals		G	Assists		A
	1. P. Datsyuk	27		1. N. Kronwall	33
	2. V. Tarasenko	21		2. H. Zetterberg	29
	3. H. Zetterberg	16		3. G. Nyquist	29
	4. M. Frolik	14		4. J. Kindl	27
	5. C. Clutterbuck	13		5. B. Smith	24
Points		P	+/-		+/-
	1. P. Datsyuk	49		1. V. Tarasenko	+13
	2. H. Zetterberg	45		2. N. Kronwall	+12
	3. V. Tarasenko	44		3. J. Abdelkader	+11
	4. N. Kronwall	40		4. T. Tatar	+10
	5. G. Nyquist	38		5. B. Smith	+9

[Son of Sam99]

[Son of Sam99]

February NHL Whip Around

February 28th 2015

- Who’s Hot?
o WC: Arizona- The Coyotes were under .500 and in 6th place in their division at the end of December. Since then they’ve gone 15-7-5 & moved into second place in the pacific. Though they’re still looking like one of the weakest playoff bound teams, it seems likely they’ll be in the post season and that’s a big save after having won the President’s Trophy last season.

o WC: Nashville- The Preds have managed to navigate the logjam that is the Central division to place themselves second behind Chicago. They’re style of play is gritty and rarely leads to exciting high scoring games but they’re in good position for the playoffs & that should be enough for the fans.

- Who’s Not?
o EC: Detroit- No one could have expected the Wings to keep on the pace they had earlier in the season but 5-9 hockey could turn their season into a disaster if it continues. The results aren’t as concerning as the context. Since returning several key players from the injury report the wins have dwindled as goals against have skyrocketed. Expect the Wings to try once again to bolster their blue line before the deadline.

o WC: Calgary- The Flames have plummeted over the last two months having won just ten games since the New Year. Injuries have plagued the team but from night to night it’s one has to look hard to find the effort and the numerous fundamental mistakes are impossible to miss. No doubt Calgary will be in the market for a new coach sooner than later.

- Justice?
o LA King Robyn Regehr has been suspended by the league for five games following his hit on Carolina Hurricane Nathan Gerbe. While Regeher will be back in time for LA’s post season push Gerbe will likely not see the ice again until next September.

- Refs in Hot Water
o The February 26th brawl between Ottawa and Boston has put further stress on the officials as Referee Don Richard has been cited by the league for “allowing the violence to escalate.” Richard has been put on paid leave, the officials union plans to appeal.

- Mascot in Danger
o Minnesota mascot Nordy had an interesting second intermission during the Wild’s February 17th tilt against the Blues. The performer botched a high wire type routine leaving him suspended above the playing surface for fifteen minutes while crews attempted to safely lower the mascot to the ice. Fortunately no one was hurt though PETA has filed a complaint with the Wild.

- Player Movement
o Edmonton acquired winger Curtis Glencross from Calgary in exchange for a fisrt round pick in the 2016 draft as well as prospects M. Gernat & A. Lepkowski both of which are defenseman

- Injuries
o Anaheim winger Teemu Selanne incurred a concussion on the 24th possibly ending the winger’s career. Selanne will be 42 this offseason.
o Dallas Winger Mats Zuccarello fractured his wrist on February 4th. If the Stars were to make the playoffs he might be able to play however that seems unlikely.