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[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings 2013-14 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Oct 2	vs Buffalo Sabres
Oct 4	at Carolina Hurricanes
Oct 5	at Boston Bruins
Oct 9	vs Phoenix Coyoties
Oct 12	vs Philadelphia Flyers
Oct 14	at Boston Bruins
Oct 15	vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Oct 17	at Colorado Avalanche
Oct 19	at Phoenix Coyotes
Oct 21	vs San Jose Sharks
Oct 23	vs Ottawa Senators
Oct 26	vs New York Rangers
Oct 30	at Vancuover Canucks
Nov 1	at Calgary Flames
Nov 2	at Edmonton Oilers
Nov 4	at Winnipeg Jets
Nov 7	vs Dallas Stars
Nov 9	vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Nov 12	vs Winnipeg Jets
Nov 15	vs Washington Capitals
Nov 16	at New York Islanders
Nov 19	vs Nashville Predators
Nov 21	vs Carolina Hurricanes
Nov 23	at Ottawa Senators
Nov 24	at Buffalo Sabres
Nov 27	vs Boston Bruins
Nov 29	at New York Islanders
Dec 1	at Ottawa Senators
Dec 4	vs Philadelphia Flyers
Dec 6	at New Jersey Devils
Dec 7	vs Florida Panthers
Dec 10	at Florida Panthers
Dec 12	at Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 14	vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Dec 15	vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Dec 17	vs Anaheim Ducks
Dec 19	vs Calgary Flames
Dec 21	at Toronto Maple Leafs
Dec 23	vs New York Islanders
Dec 28	at Florida Panthers
Dec 30	at Nashville Predators
Jan 1	vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Jan 4	at Dallas Stars
Jan 9	at San Jose Sharks
Jan 11	at LA Kings
Jan 12	at Anaheim Ducks
Jan 16	at New York Rangers
Jan 18	vs LA Kings
Jan 20	vs St. Louis Blues
Jan 22	vs Chicago Blackhawks
Jan 24	vs Montreal Canadiens
Jan 26	vs Florida Panthers
Jan 28	at Philadelphia Flyers
Jan 31	vs Washington Capitals
Feb 2	vs Washington Capitals
Feb 3	vs Vancuover Canucks
Feb 6	at Florida Panthers
Feb 8	at Tampa Bay Lightning
Feb 26	at Montreal Canadiens
Feb 27	at Ottawa Senators
Mar 4	at New Jersey Devils
Mar 5	vs TRADE DEADLINE
Mar 6	vs Colorado Avalanche
Mar 7	vs New Jersey Devils
Mar 9	at New York Rangers
Mar 11	at Columbus Blue Jackets
Mar 14	vs Edmonton Oilers
Mar 16	at Chicago Blackhawks
Mar 18	vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Mar 20	vs Pittsburgh Penguins
Mar 22	at Minnesota Wild
Mar 23	vs Minnesota Wild
Mar 24	at Columbus Blue Jackets
Mar 27	vs Minnesota Wild
Mar 29	at Toronto Maple Leafs
Mar 30	vs Tampa Bay Lightning
Apr 2	vs Boston Bruins
Apr 4	vs Buffalo Sabres
Apr 5	at Montreal Canadiens
Apr 8	at Buffalo Sabres
Apr 9	at Pittsburgh Penguins
Apr 11	vs Carolina Hurricanes
Apr 13	at St. Louis Blues

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: October 3rd, 2013

Finally we were able to offload Alffredsson. The LA Kings sent us their first round pick in the upcoming draft. There was criticism in the media about giving up a “solid veteran” for just one draft pick and I wish we had pushed for more. For all we know though it could turn into Ekblad.
With the hole in the lineup it looks like Babcock will move Zetterberg to center and Legwand to RW as he’s a liability in the faceoff dot anyway.
Now that that goal has been knocked out I felt like the roster is where it should be. I wish we could have gotten to this point before the first game but nonetheless we’re ready for the coming 81 games.
I also met with Mike Illich two days ago. He made it clear in not so many words that the results of this team would fall on my head and that he expected the team to win 42 games and make a run into the second round of the playoffs. I’m 100% confidant that the current roster can accomplish this.
The more and more though I look at whom we have, I see this team as a year away from challenging for the cup. I expect Nyquist, Tatar, Jurco, Pulkkinen, Sheahan, and Mrazek to make big strides in their game throughout this season. If all those guys can step up and our veterans can be healthy I expect a serious cup run next season.

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings Depth Chart - 2013-14
	STARTER	2ND	3RD	4TH
LW	H Zetterberg	J. Abdelkater	T. Tatar	D. Cleary
C	P. Datsyuk	D. Helm	D. Legwand	S. Weiss
RW	J. Franzen	T. Bertuzzi	D. Alfredsson	T. Jurco
D #1	N. Kronwall	B. Smith	J. Ericsson
D #2	K. Quincey	J. Kindl	D. DeKeyser
G	J. Howard	J. Gustofsson

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: November 1st, 2013

I’m not entirely pleased with the way this team is performing right now. I personally don’t believe in the school of thought that you can give a team slack if it’s early in the season. Points count the same in October as they do come playoff time when you need a tie breaker or OTL to win home ice. I will give the guys some time to gel but we started the season 1-4 and were shut out twice!
The positives to take away at this point are that the team is being led by its stars; Datsyuk & Zetterberg are the scoring leaders and Franzen is playing like he’s three years younger at the moment. I’ll look for the youngsters to step up as the season wears on and old legs grow tired.
The other positive is that we’ve been healthy which hopefully continues. Babcock is working the line parings around to find the right combination and I trust his judgment implicitly. I know whether it be line parings or some other form of motivation that he’ll ge the best out of these guys.

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings October 2013-14 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Oct 2	vs Buffalo Sabres	Lost, 3-2
Oct 4	at Carolina Hurricanes	Won, 4-1
Oct 5	at Boston Bruins	Lost, 2-1
Oct 9	vs Phoenix Coyoties	Lost, 1-0
Oct 12	vs Philadelphia Flyers	Lost, 2-0
Oct 14	at Boston Bruins	Won, 3-2
Oct 15	vs Columbus Blue Jackets	Won, 7-3
Oct 17	at Colorado Avalanche	Lost, 3-2
Oct 19	at Phoenix Coyotes	Lost, 6-3
Oct 21	vs San Jose Sharks	Won, 6-3
Oct 23	vs Ottawa Senators	Won, 5-3
Oct 26	vs New York Rangers	Won, 5-3
Oct 30	at Vancuover Canucks	Lost, 4-1

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: December 1st, 2013

The squad finished November one win better than October at 8-7. The division is shaping up that we’re actually not going to have to be much better than that in order to qualify for a playoff spot but of course no one wants to leave our fate in the hands of other teams.

Despite only being one game above .500 Babcock tells me the locker room is in fine shape in that no one is panicking but at the same time no one is satisfied either. With the mix we have of seasoned veterans and young talent it’s important that a tone is set during rough times where guys are saying ‘We’ve got to step up, losing isn’t acceptable’.

That being said I’m heavily considering making a move. Our offensive output is not where it should be and defensively we’re unable to clear the zone all too often. I’m thinking about shopping around for a natural scorer.
I am anxious for this team to start hitting it’s stride.

[Son of Sam99]

Detroit Red Wings November 2013-14 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Nov 1	at Calgary Flames	Won, 5-4
Nov 2	at Edmonton Oilers	Won, 6-1
Nov 4	at Winnipeg Jets	Lost, 5-4
Nov 7	vs Dallas Stars	Lost, 3-1
Nov 9	vs Tampa Bay Lightning	Lost, 4-1
Nov 12	vs Winnipeg Jets	Lost, 8-4
Nov 15	vs Washington Capitals	Won, 5-2
Nov 16	at New York Islanders	Won, 4-3
Nov 19	vs Nashville Predators	Won, 4-2
Nov 21	vs Carolina Hurricanes	Won, 5-2
Nov 23	at Ottawa Senators	Lost, 5-3
Nov 24	at Buffalo Sabres	Won, 5-4
Nov 27	vs Boston Bruins	Lost, 4-3
Nov 29	at New York Islanders	Lost, 6-2

[Son of Sam99]

Entry: December 2nd, 2013

The team is struggling, it’s just plain to see. The offense is pressing, the defense is lost at times trying to clear the zone and Jimmy Howard suddenly has the highest GAA of any starting net minder in the league. I feel like we need to shake up the roster or maybe bring up some fresh blood from Grand Rapids but I can’t be sure.

There is no doubt that there is a lack of scorers on the roster. Our scouts show Datsyuk and Zetterberg as play makers while in reality they’re our two best shooters. Nyquist is playing incredibly well for his age but I’m going to start looking for a sniper to bring into the top two lines, someone who is a natural scorer.

--

I got the staff working on potential trade opportunities with an eye for scoring talent. Half of us looked at our roster while the other half began looking around the league for someone to fill the hole.
Of course there isn’t much that we’re willing to part with, or at least anyone who will command a top six forward. The best option would be to trade away draft pick or an AHLer like Jurco or Sheahan but I don’t want to mortgage the franchise’s future for a possible short term fix that might not even work out.

Looking at trade partners, we’ve circled in on St. Louis and possibly going after Vladmir Taresenko. His skill set is exactly what we’re looking for and the scouts tell me he has a very high ceiling. Also the price is right. Now we just have to find someone the Blues want.