Yep.  New Year’s Day.  Chicago.  Wings/Hawks.  Outside.  Confirmed.

NHL.com

Jan. 1, 2009 figures to be another historic day for the venerable old ballpark when it opens its doors to the National Hockey League for NHL Winter Classic 2009, which this time features an Original Six matchup.

The host Chicago Blackhawks will square off against the defending Stanley Cup champions, the Detroit Red Wings, in a 1 p.m. ET game.

Many of you, 19 at last count, have latched on to the idea of helping me name my boat.  Your responses have been heartwarming.  I’ve located a nifty device that should help us in this very serious endeavor.

If you go here, you can test the name out on a boat that actually looks a bit like mine.

Me? I decided to give a little back to our friends at Pensblog.

Morning.  Vacation has taken me away from hockey, but only for two more days.  In case you’re wondering what could possibly distract me? 

The odd relationship between you, the A2Y 19, and I continues.

I wrote a post the other day, one that was rife with startling coincidence and generational metaphors that should have left all 19 of you more than a little shaken at my abilities to tie seemingly unrelated pop cultural milestones to current Red Wing late breakers.

Instead, you elected to point and laugh at me.  At least one of you questioned my loyalty to America’s greatest rock and roll band simply because I mentioned the Sammy Hagar era.  I know.  Much of America is still split into the Hagar and Roth camps.  It was a gutsy move on my part, sure to irritate many of you.

Broken links.  Outdated stuff.  It’s a mess.

DD Captain Ansar Khan(!) reported around midnight that he decided to go against the Deep Digger grain and actually call up a newsmaker.

I spoke to Filppula’s agent, Bill Zito, Friday afternoon, and he said he hadn’t received any offer sheet or spoken to any other team about Filppula.

You go Ansar. 

Ssssshhhhh.  It’s ok.  I’ll explain.  And don’t get all flustered and start rolling your eyes.  When you enlisted into the A2Y19, you did so under the agreement that part of that deal meant putting up with my references to things other than Wing hockey. 

And I’m telling you, this one’s relevant. The coincidence is...stunning.

I suppose most of us feel Marian Hossa left an impression on the organ-I-zation during the Finals, and that the Wings were sold on him based on that performance.

Me?  Yeah. I guess.

But I’m thinking January 15th had something to do with it, too.

Updated 1543:  Feeling a little giddy? Wait until you read the Dive fan reaction below.  Frigging priceless.

Tonite...reaction from the world.

Now? Adrienne.

I think the Wings are going to win 60 games next year. They have the most cohesive dressing room in the league, the best 1-2 punch on defense of any team in the league and now they’ve added a primetime goal-scorer to take passes from Datsyuk, Zetterberg, etc., etc.

Forget about it. Nobody’s beating Detroit.

Reliable. Confirmed.

Ok.  This is insane. I mean it’s absolutely frigging out of control insane.

We have issues to address. 

AlanaH breaks it at the Empire Home Page, with some help from TSN.

All Wing signings and commentary will begin and end with this post. It’s a UFA live blog is what it is.

Updated 1545: Wings sign a backup.  Riveting commentary below.

Updated 1613: Well bitches. Tucker’s a Dive.  I’ve always hated that bastard.

Updated 1800: With Devo’s signing (just made it up. Figure it out. Read below) for 750 and Ozzie making 1.4 next year? The Wings are committed to just over two million for a pair of goalies who could arguably be referred to as top ten in the league last season.  Chicago?  Just under 12 million for Huet and Khabibulin. Forget comparing the two sets of tenders.  Dale Tallon or Ken Holland? No choice, eh?

Ahh, the life of a pay-per-BS-rumor monger.

Big day. Christmas in July.  Huge numbers. Lots of cash.

Woops.