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Note To Khan(!): Your Captaincy Is In Jeopardy
by IwoCPO on 07/11/10 at 12:18 AM ET
Comments (55)
While I was galavanting across our nation and avoiding any reminders that the Wings allegedly lost a playoff series, A2Y staffers from Delta Community College outside Saginaw were assigned the task of tracking our Diggers the past few months. Their findings boiled down to this: Chris McCosky is finding his voice as not only a Wing beat writer, but…sit down…a guy who’s not afraid to share an actual opinion.
Here’s an example from two days ago.
On another note, god bless Brett Lebda. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who apparently did not have access to any Red Wings game footage from last season, signed Lebda for two years at $1.45 million per. Unbelievable.
Nice. And he’s on a roll. He’s got a ditty in today’s Detroit News that should make all 19 of you proud.
Still blushing from the Wings’ full-court press last Tuesday, Modano told me, “There isn’t any other team. It will be here (Detroit) or I’m not playing. I think it’s narrowed to that.”
“Still blushing…” Frigging classic. Did you see what he did there?
And this…
Another issue here, too, is his wife, actress Willa Ford. We don’t know what she’s thinking about any of this, but presumably it would be better for her to have her husband playing in California than Detroit or Minnesota.
New to us? Nope. We hit that issue pretty hard yesterday, but it’s highly unusual that a Digger would choose to go that route; however obvious it might be to the rest of us.
We’ve hit McCosky pretty hard here the last year or so, especially last summer when Toddberculosis was signed and nobody—McCosky in particular—was bringing up the remnants of the Moore story as legitimate discussion points. So, it’s only fair that we give the guy credit where and when he deserves it. There should be no reason a Detroit Digger can’t throw his opinion around from time to time. Nice job.
So watch out Khan(!), you Babcockian lemming. Your captaincy is in serious jeopardy.
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Comments
keep it coming chief, you are helping to make the long wait quite tolerable. Are we truly surprised by Lebda the overpaid Leaf? That bunch on the lake up there made Phaneuf their captain. I mean, the signs keep coming that division is on team short of a load.
Posted by Rdwings28 on 07/11/10 at 05:48 AM ET
galavanting
You verbose bastard.
Kyle made it clear that signing Modano wouldn’t really hinder our ability to attract a veteran d-man, especially given the glut of them available on the market. Kenny himself said that they would wait through October to see how things shake out with that situation.
Although everyone seems to be debating how to handle Kindl and JonnE together, but George (and Kenny) seem to think that Brendan Smith will give them a run for their money. He’s shooting for the big team and I could see him outplaying Kindl for that spot, even if he still gets sent to GR because of the waiver situation.
In reply to someone wondering why we don’t change our first 4 d-men lines to link up the rooks with a veteran, it’s because it really impedes our offense when we do. The opposition just dumps it to the rook and gets a hard 2 man forecheck going, leaving the Circus or another scoring line spending energy on D and breakout rather than working from the neutral zone first.
King Lidas and JonnE work well (who wouldn’t work with Lidas) but Raffy doesn’t look that good, defensively, with a rook. Kronner and Stuart have great chemistry on both ends so it’s silly to split them up.
As I was telling Andrew, Babbles is trying to change the psyche of JonnE and Abdelkader with his announcements. Everyone knows that positions change quickly when the games start to count but he wants those two training in the off-season with a particular mindset: 2008 Playoff level for JonnE and more offense/ playmaking from Abby, who has demonstrated that he is capable at the lower levels.
Let’s see how that works.
Posted by Osrt on 07/11/10 at 06:52 AM ET
it’s because it really impedes our offense when we do. The opposition just dumps it to the rook and gets a hard 2 man forecheck going, leaving the Circus or another scoring line spending energy on D and breakout rather than working from the neutral zone first.
Right, and having two rookies together for a third of the game is better…
Posted by Garth on 07/11/10 at 10:30 AM ET
galavanting
You verbose bastard.
I’m guessing “frolicking” didn’t strike the right tone.
October…where are you?
Posted by Rumbear from Top O da Hasek, sippin rum & catchin some rays on 07/11/10 at 10:31 AM ET
Kronner and Stuart have great chemistry on both ends so it’s silly to split them up.
Again, am I the only one worried that both of’em tend to forget where they’re supposed to be in favor of a big hit?
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 07/11/10 at 10:46 AM ET
Right, and having two rookies together for a third of the game is better…
Posted by Garth
It’s not an either/ or situation. You can send out JonnE with Lidas every third shift, or Kindl and Stuart or something like that. But that as a constant rotation will impair the offense.
Who knows. Everyone was sharting on Jimmah’s face before the season began and that turned out pretty well. The same may be true of JonnE. I have nothing to judge Kindl on except reading others.
Posted by Osrt on 07/11/10 at 10:49 AM ET
I am giving more credence to those who think Mike may be mentally unstable. He married her.
LMAO, Who hasn’t heard of “Mandy Madano”?
“Willa Was Here”? Never heard of it, that Bad Girl of Pop.
Amanda Lee Williford (born January 22, 1981), known professionally as Willa Ford and often as Mandy Modano, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model, television personality and film actress. She became known in 2001 as the self-proclaimed “Bad Girl of Pop,” when she released her debut album, Willa Was Here. Aside from her music career, Ford has had acting roles in movies such as Friday the 13th, hosted several reality television shows, posed for Playboy and has competed on ABC’s top-rated Dancing with the Stars.
Her “acting career” has some intriguing entries on imdb.
Lingerie Bowl.
Anna Nicole.
Pants-Off Dance-Off.
Arby’s Action Sports Awards 2006.
Break the shackles, Mike, break the shackles, she’s no Karen Newman. At least Karen loves Detroit.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/11/10 at 02:16 PM ET
... and in other news,
Whirl Coop futbol:
nil-nil at half, Holland and Espana.
(Is it October yet?)
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 07/11/10 at 02:18 PM ET
The conviction of my own logic has been contaminated by the above, but I was gonna say this:
June 30, 2010 was NOT the first time it occurred to the Detroit Red Wings that Mike Modano would be available. The DRW are maybe the most forward-looking, strategic-thinking organ-I-zation in the NHL. They have been anticipating that date and the availability of Modano for three years.
They send scouts out all around the league during the entire season. One of the assignments during the past couple of seasons whenever Dallas was involved was to gauge the remaining skill level of one Mike Modano. Ken Holland, Jim Nill, Jimmy Devellano, and people we never heard of, all go on the road and scout players on all other NHL teams all season long.
One of the many player files they have kept over the past two or three seasons is on the capabilities of Mike Modano, knowing full well that June 30, 2010, would come someday with the possibility that MM would not be offered a contract by Dallas.
The courting of MIke Modano is not a knee-jerk reaction.
This situation did NOT take the DRW by surprise, nor is this the first time they considered it. They have discussed this eventuality during the past two seasons, constantly evaluate players across the league, and were fully prepared with their course of action for June 30, 2010 in the eventuality that Dallas did not offer him a contract.
Trust the Wings. They know what his physical abilities are. They know exactly how they would help the team and are convinced they would help the team.
This is not a fly-by-night organ-I-zation. They come prepared. I chuckle at some of the postings who seem to believe that just because signing Modano is a new thought to them, it is completely off the cuff for the Wings.
They have been preparing for this situation, as they do for countless others, for three years. Trust them.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/11/10 at 02:32 PM ET
omg stonehands i should know you would post hahahahahaha. i’mma recording it b/c i’m meeting my daughters for my birthday, so I won’t sign on for hours until I watch the game tape delayed. hahahahaha.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/11/10 at 02:34 PM ET
Posted by Osrt on 07/11/10 at 07:52 AM ET
Yeah, the ol’ sports pschology Ph.D at work. Only problem is that you & I were discussing Uncle Mike’s “Psychological Off-Season Training” for Gator & Big E before the Mike Modano Wrench was thrown into the works. Now I think after the season he had, Ericsson probably wouldn’t be too surprised and his pride really all that dented if we picked up a veteran stay-at-home D for the third pairing (and might even welcome it), but really, what does courting Modano to center the third line do for Abdelkader’s confidence? What would it do if they signed him, (maybe inadvertently, but still actually) sending a signal that they don’t have confidence in him to be a third-line center? Hudler will pick up some of the playmaking slack on that line, but slot in Modano, yeah, it’s a better line, but now you bump Gator down to the fourth line or even GR, and what does he think? What does that say to him? Not to mention that Helm & Abdelkader on the same line together means one is playing out of position, with the rough learning curve that entails at the NHL level.
And offensively, I think Smith can give Ericsson and Kindl a run for their money, but there’s a big defensive gap between the NCAA and the NHL, and as a converted forward he’s still learning play off the puck. I don’t see him jumping to the Big Show just yet, it’ll be at least another season, maybe two or even three. This is a guy they’re looking to to fill at least some of the massive gap that’ll be left when TPH retires, and they’ll want him to be as complete as possible before they ask him to do it.
I mentioned the offensive choke of splitting up the second defensive pairing to shore up the third a few days ago. Bad idea, because then we’d pretty much be left with whatever offensive moves can be made by the top pairing, and our play would start to resemble February 2008 again.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/11/10 at 02:54 PM ET
hippy BD, RWBill.
... and sorry if i ruined the surprise.
remember, i may be lieing ... 
L.G.R.W.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 07/11/10 at 02:54 PM ET
end of regulation,
nil-nil,
going to extra time.
.
.
.
prolly ... 
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 07/11/10 at 03:22 PM ET
Go Holland! If it means brown-nosing for my Dutch boss, I’m in it to win it!
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/11/10 at 03:27 PM ET
Damn Dutch had their opportunities. Couldn’t bury a single one. Fantastic game to watch, other than all the ridiculous diving and dirty shit the Dutch pull.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/11/10 at 04:34 PM ET
all the ridiculous diving and dirty shit the Dutch pull.
Posted by Sullyosis
Made me hate them. I didn’t care about who won until I saw those ridiculous fouls. Cleats to the chest? For real? Made me miss fighting in hockey. Here’s your red card biatch. BAM! Three teeth on the field.
Kenny wanted a veteran D-man before and he probably still wants one. I’m guessing there are a few training camp invites that are going to come in and fight for a spot.
Posted by Osrt on 07/11/10 at 04:58 PM ET
Holland had 5 players who should have gotten the red card,lol
this guy is just an awesome player,and if anyone understands spanish and knows the story that is behind the writing on his shirt,you can also know that he is class A kind of guy
Posted by edillac from isolation on 07/11/10 at 05:11 PM ET
The Modano Workout:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xw2QXc9Vwc8
Posted by pgoody on 07/11/10 at 06:30 PM ET
A bit of Spanish here. Nice tribute, worth the Yellow card for sure. What a game, really. The Dutch were the Anaheim Ducks of the World Cup. Those dudes played mean. I feel bad for Cote d’Ivoire not making it into the tourney, they were dirty as hell too but I LOVE Drogba, the man that pretty much single handedly brought peace to that nation back in ‘06.
Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 07/11/10 at 06:33 PM ET
All the Modano fuss aside, I was thinking today….
What the hell do we do IF Jimmah has a sophmore slump or doesn’t come back with the same mojo he found last season????
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 07/11/10 at 06:36 PM ET
All the Modano fuss aside, I was thinking today….
What the hell do we do IF Jimmah has a sophmore slump or doesn’t come back with the same mojo he found last season????
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 07/11/10 at 07:36 PM ET
spooky, ...
you read my mind, MO.
... but a wasn’t gonna post it for fear of being the start of a jinx ...
(Is it October yet?)
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 07/11/10 at 06:41 PM ET
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 07/11/10 at 07:36 PM ET
Should that happen (knock on wood), I suggest we follow the yellow brick road. I has worked very well in the past, and I am pretty sure he still has some gas left in the tank.
Posted by WingsFaninCO on 07/11/10 at 08:10 PM ET
If Howard has a sophomore slump and Osgood has lost it, then we see what kind of high draft picks are available and plan for another long summer. //shrug
Worrying won’t make it more or less likely to happen. If it happens, it happens.
Sad to see Lidstrom go out on such a sour note, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/11/10 at 09:46 PM ET
and so it begins…
Modano centering our third line?...a veteran D-man to be the steadying influence on BigRig and Kindl?....
nope, the simmering question lurking just beneath the surface that is only now beginning to surface turns out to be…goaltending!!!
now we’ve come full circle…our summertime neurosis is almost complete!!!
and it’s still only July!!!...October anyone????
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 07/12/10 at 12:17 AM ET
As Tyler once said to me, Jimmah’s too old to have a sophomore slump, any bad breaks he has is due to an old hip and he must be put to sleep.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 07/12/10 at 06:24 AM ET
Sad to see Lidstrom go out on such a sour note, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/11/10 at 10:46 PM ET
You’re assuming this is Lidstrom’s last year. I’m not ready to do that yet.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/12/10 at 07:10 AM ET
Sad to see Lidstrom go out on such a sour note, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/11/10 at 10:46 PM ET
You’re assuming this is Lidstrom’s last year. I’m not ready to do that yet.
I don’t think that’s the only bad assumption in the sentence.
Posted by Guilherme from Brazsil on 07/12/10 at 08:07 AM ET
After the last two seasons, I’m pretty sure Ozzie knows he’s got to buck up. No more rust. He’s a better goalie than that. As for Jimmy, he’s had a lot of AHL seasoning, and some of that has to go some way toward keeping a consistent level of play—besides, once he got his sea legs under him, he found his groove, and I think he’s well-equipped to deal with a potential sophomore slump before it becomes serious.
Now Modano, that’s a whole ‘nuther matter. Now the Schmucks may be in the mix, according to George. Guy’s a cock-tease now; cut ‘im loose. This is just stupid.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 07/12/10 at 10:36 AM ET
There is precisely dick we can or should do about our goaltending situation right now. If Howard has another strong year, everybody forgets that the sophomore slump doesn’t happen to everybody.
We don’t have the cap space to bring in another goalie, and there aren’t any out there in free agency right now that I’d rather have over Osgood or Howard. Besides, dumping Ozzie would be a move that I don’t think fits the Detroit organization, especially since you wouldn’t be doing it for a Hasek/Joseph combination in goal, but rather to have some other journeyman come in and take over the back up spot.
Right now, I’m more worried about Brendan Smith’s partially separated shoulder. I liked the idea of him making the club out of training camp. He’s got time to heal, but part of me would feel better if we just brought Jay McKee to camp to try out for a contract (provided he doesn’t get one, which is only about a 20/80 shot at best)
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/12/10 at 11:52 AM ET
Sure a veteran defenseman would be nice, but what is wrong with bringing up Janik?
Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 07/12/10 at 12:02 PM ET
Right now, I’m more worried about Brendan Smith’s partially separated shoulder. I liked the idea of him making the club out of training camp. He’s got time to heal, but part of me would feel better if we just brought Jay McKee to camp to try out for a contract (provided he doesn’t get one, which is only about a 20/80 shot at best)
Posted by J.J. from Kansas
Me too. I felt like an ahole talking him up only to read about his separated shoulder a few hours later. I cursed the kid. But yea, as I said earlier, I think we’ll have a few guys coming to training camp to try out. I assume some of them have already been contacted. Former Devils would be high on my list; they’re used to winning and doing what it takes to win. Good fit with us.
Posted by Osrt on 07/12/10 at 12:13 PM ET
Sure a veteran defenseman would be nice, but what is wrong with bringing up Janik?
Posted by mrfluffy from Cincy on 07/12/10 at 01:02 PM ET
I think Janik is a solid AHL player, but over the long haul is not going to bring as much value as a Jay McKee, who is a better NHL defenseman. Not that there would be anything inherently wrong about bringing up Janik and it may be what we have to do with the cap space, but I would prefer to have a guy better than him if I had the choice. The good news is that the choice doesn’t have to be made for a few months yet.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/12/10 at 01:17 PM ET
Sharks only called Modano after they saw Detroit do it, a team that was fully prepared due to three years of scouting.
Amanda Wiliiford.
Willah-ford.
Willa Ford.
Wow that is such genius.
Nederland participated in the diving and writhing game in this tournament to the extent that the Italians would be proud. That was disappointing.
Good for Spain, the skilled passing and first touch control was rewarded.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 07/12/10 at 01:18 PM ET
Sure a veteran defenseman would be nice, but what is wrong with bringing up Janik?
I’m all for this. Odds are one of the two in the Ericsson-Kindl pair will struggle at some point this season. Bring in the cheap AHL vet for a few games instead of stunting their growth by signing someone else. But above all else: In Kenny We Trust.
...is it October yet?
Posted by D4LRob on 07/12/10 at 01:45 PM ET
George links to Bettman’s salary disclosure
That little fuching turd makes $7.5 million a year. Unfuchingbelievable.
Posted by Osrt on 07/12/10 at 02:23 PM ET
That little fuching turd makes $7.5 million a year. Unfuchingbelievable.
$7.5 mil AND he gets a reach around from Thid? Shameful.
Posted by D4LRob on 07/12/10 at 02:28 PM ET
Wow.
Imagine waking up to this.
And check out the latest numbers in Chicago from “Nightmare on Helm Street”.
Posted by stonehands-78 from the beginning ... a WingsFan, on 07/12/10 at 03:07 PM ET
That little fuching turd makes $7.5 million a year. Unfuchingbelievable.
How dare that little troll make more money than Lindstrom. I’m outraged.
Seriously, run him down with a Zamboni.
Also, HA HA Chicago. Screw Modano, howsabout we trade Bert, Ritola, and Meech for Patrick Sharp?
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/12/10 at 03:19 PM ET
Also, HA HA Chicago. Screw Modano, howsabout we trade Bert, Ritola, and Meech for Patrick Sharp?
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/12/10 at 04:19 PM ET
So you’d have a new man crush instead of Eaves? 
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 07/12/10 at 03:20 PM ET
What, I cant have more than one? Fil , Eaves and Sharp? That would be amazing. Did I mention we still have Z, Pavel, and Lids too?
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/12/10 at 03:29 PM ET
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 07/12/10 at 04:29 PM ET
Osrt might put up a fight for Fil….aLOL
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 07/12/10 at 06:21 PM ET
After the last two seasons, I’m pretty sure Ozzie knows he’s got to buck up. No more rust. He’s a better goalie than that.
Is he still? Perhaps not.
//devil’s advocate
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/12/10 at 06:28 PM ET
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/12/10 at 07:28 PM ET
unlike the past two seasons we know at the very least that This Year’s Ozzie won’t be smugly resting on Last Year’s Ozzie’s playoff laurels…maybe not getting even so much as a sniff of playing time in the postseason will light a big firecracker under his ass!
I’d love to think our two goaltenders could push one another kinda like Dom and Ozzie were back in 07-08…time will tell…meanwhile, all star break means no Tigers game today…slow day on the hockey front…man, for the love of god is it October yet???
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 07/12/10 at 08:37 PM ET
After the last two seasons, I’m pretty sure Ozzie knows he’s got to buck up. No more rust. He’s a better goalie than that.
Is he still? Perhaps not.
//devil’s advocate
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/12/10 at 07:28 PM ET
Ozzie’s in a no-win situation. If Jimmy falters and Ozzie comes in and plays well people will say, “That’s what he’s supposed to do.” And if Ozzie falters also, people will say, “See we were right all along, Ozzie sucks.”
Posted by calquake on 07/12/10 at 08:43 PM ET
Ozzie’s in a no-win situation. If Jimmy falters and Ozzie comes in and plays well people will say, “That’s what he’s supposed to do.” And if Ozzie falters also, people will say, “See we were right all along, Ozzie sucks.”
The career of Chris Osgood in 3 sentences.
Posted by D4LRob on 07/12/10 at 09:03 PM ET
If Jimmy falters and Ozzie comes in and plays well people will say, “That’s what he’s supposed to do.”
Well, it really is what he’s supposed to do. If that happens, there’ll be plenty of people who are happy for Osgood. That’s not exactly no-win.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/12/10 at 09:11 PM ET
Well, it really is what he’s supposed to do. If that happens, there’ll be plenty of people who are happy for Osgood. That’s not exactly no-win.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/12/10 at 10:11 PM ET
My point is that if it were Ty Conklin people would be talking about how great he is. When it’s Ozzie then it’s “that’s what he’s supposed to do.” Not enough respect for the guy plain and simple.
Posted by calquake on 07/12/10 at 10:54 PM ET
Ozzie made his own bed with that. Two seasons ago everybody was falling over themselves to give Ozzie the respect “he deserved” and then he spent a season whining to the media about how mean his coach was being while he lost his job to a goaltender who far outshined him. It was his attitude dug his own grave. I agree that Babcock didn’t give him nearly as much leeway as he gave Howard, but I don’t care. I side with Babs 100% on that because every chance he got with a microphone in his face, he found a new way to bitch.
IF Jimmy falters and IF Ozzie can pull it together, I have a feeling you’ll be reading a lot of “great to see the old Ozzie back(!)” That’s as much respect as anybody could expect and as much respect as Ozzie deserves while he’s still playing for us.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 07/13/10 at 08:04 AM ET
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Sweet Irony…
What do Patrick Marleau, Mike Modano and Khan(!) have in common?...
Besides being stripped of their captaincy in a very public and thus very humiliating way, I can’t think of a damn thing!
Seriously is it fuching October yet???
Posted by WestWing from Portland, Oregon on 07/11/10 at 01:16 AM ET