Abel to Yzerman
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Stop The Shanny Talk
by IwoCPO on 10/10/09 at 09:06 AM ET
Comments (26)
He’s not coming back. Not for free, not for twenty bucks, or a million or a six pack of Busch. It’s not happening.
Brendan Shanahan will never play for the Red Wings again.
And here’s why: he and our Uncle Mike simply do not like one another. We knew it in ‘06 and chose to skirt around it. We also knew there were other veterans who felt the same way and left. The Enigma checked his look in the mirror then hauled ass when his contract was up and so did Mathieu Schneider.
And Steve Yzerman? I think he left a year earlier than he had to. And I think Mike Babcock had something to do with that.
Shanny and The Captain were, still are I’d guess, BFFs. They led the Wings together for nine years. Yzerman with a “C” and a wordless demeanor that absolutely demanded respect and obedience. Shanahan was his outgoing battle buddy who spoke on behalf of his teammates, especially when Scott Bowman was being...Bowman.
So that worked and you got the feeling Bowman was cool with it. He pushed Shanny’s buttons. Shanny got pissed, popped off, played better and the cycle continued that way for five years until Scotty left. Then came the Dave Lewis era and I have nothing to say about that.
Mike Babcock is not Scotty Bowman. Yeah, they share some mannerisms and Uncle Mike’s considered a very good coach. But there’s a difference. Brendan Shanahan is a hockey guy, a hockey history buff. He handled Bowman’s antics because Shanny respected the hell out of what Scotty had accomplished. Babcock? Not so much.
When Babcock stepped in he had one Stanley Cup Final on his resume. Nothing else. But, like Bowman, he zeroed in on Shanahan. Unlike Bowman, Shanny--I’m guessing--elected not to put up with it.
Like Bowman, who used to ride Shanahan like a $6,000 claimer, Babcock can be harsh on Shanahan, constantly reminding him to skate hard and move his feet. “He told me in training camp that I’d have a great year and he’d be in my ear the whole time,” Shanahan says. “Well, he’s been in my ear. His voice can be like sandpaper to me, which is kind of good because I take it out on the ice with me. He came up to me one night and said, ‘We really need you going big tonight. How do I tick you off?’ I said, ‘You just did.’”
Remember this?
“It was just a growing instinct,” he said via phone from his summer home in Massachusetts. “As great as the future is in Detroit, I think I belonged a little more to its great past.”
Shanny was a veteran. Bowman dug veterans. Mike Babcock pisses veterans off. And then some of them decide to leave. Shanahan saw no reason to stay and deal with a guy who acted a lot like Scotty Bowman but without the Cups.
Not happening and I don’t care how many goals the Wings are missing from last year. Shanny’s not coming back, folks. Not gonna happen.
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Comments
Rumor: Shanahan To Make Second Stint In Detroit
Posted by Tuba Guy from Royal Oak, MI on 10/10/09 at 10:09 AM ET
Yeah well...you also said Hossa was going to be a Wing for life, Chief.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/10/09 at 10:43 AM ET
Shanny didn’t crack the Devils lineup. I’ll pass on Shanny.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa. on 10/10/09 at 10:44 AM ET
Yeah well...you also said Hossa was going to be a Wing for life, Chief.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/10/09 at 10:43 AM ET
That’s the only prediction I’ve ever made that didn’t come true Drew. Ever.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 10/10/09 at 10:46 AM ET
Don’t forget, Shanny parted ways with the Devils because he wouldn’t accept less than 2nd-line minutes with them. You think Babcock would instantly slot Shanny into the second line and keep him there long-term? While we’re in your fantasy land, can we go visit the Unicorn Grotto? I know, I’m having trouble mentally picturing a Shanny that’s past his prime playing for Detroit, considering all the great things he did in his prime for us, but the fact remains that he is past his prime. What happens when he is asked to take a lesser role with the team? Does he become our team’s Dallas Drake, willing to do whatever it takes to help the team win, or does he selfishly distance himself from his teammates and negatively impact team chemistry?
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 10/10/09 at 10:48 AM ET
Brendan Shanahan will never play for the Red Wings again.
And I’m fine with that because he’s no longer a contributor in any meaningful way. He should have retired this offseason. We’re not the freaking Avalanche or Sharks or Flames, bring back a bunch of Has-Beens or Never-Weres to fill out a roster.
We’re the team that more often than not raises a banner at the start of a new season. If we want to keep doing that, washed-up players need not apply…
Posted by Primis on 10/10/09 at 11:00 AM ET
Yeah well...you also said Hossa was going to be a Wing for life, Chief.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 10/10/09 at 10:43 AM ET
To be fair, even Hossa himself said he would’ve been with the Wings if not for the, Thanks Gary Ass, salary cap.
Posted by calquake on 10/10/09 at 11:41 AM ET
Has-Beens or Never-Weres
Todd Bertuzzi and Brad May respectively
Posted by Itrusteddrrahmani from Ann Arbor on 10/10/09 at 11:44 AM ET
I said it after he left the Rags and I’ll say it again-- he should retire. He can’t stand up to a full season anymore, and his body is no longer up to playing the style he plays with any meaningful minutes. He maybe could be picked up just before the trade deadline if he’s fresh and hasn’t been playing but just keeping in shape, but then he screws with chemistry and even that’s doubtful. I’d ideally like to pick up somebody as a placeholder for Mule, but Shanny’s not it. And if the team can tighten up on defense like they say they will, and fix the goddamn PK, the point is moot-- then we won’t need Shanahan or even to rush back Mule.
Great post Chief.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/10/09 at 11:51 AM ET
I just don’t see Shanny playing this year unless he lands a spot on a contender.
Posted by ShanManChan on 10/10/09 at 11:56 AM ET
Well, random overdue photo update of Stockholm trip. Every morning at the Hotel I would grab the Swedish language newspaper Dagens Nyheter and have some unbelievable rolls with strong coffee and look out the window to the Old Town. Here are some pictures of my favorite articles.
This first one is a shocker but validates the World Wide Notoriety of The 19 and the A2Y Blog. This is not a coincidence. Note the date of the article, Saturday morning 3 Okt, the first issue after Baroque returned to LB the season opener.
Translation: .
“Baroque returns to Web Address”
Sidebar bottom - “Scored With 8000 Men”
.
Stunning.
.
.
Next. Nice feature on Lidstrom closing in on 1000 points. They were hoping it would happen in Stockholm that weekend but it didn’t. Those marks are points under each season, i.e. 97-98.
“To 1000 Points”
.
.
This is from the article above and is also a real shocker when you imagine Lidstrom as the perfect family man, but maybe it’s not unusual in Sweden.
Translation from Lidstrom article:
“.... his best play in year 2000 group sex in the back of a 2001 Sedan, as were Bobby Orr and Doug Harvey.”
and bottom paragraph..
“… came inspite of getting some nasty head...”
.
.
Lidstrom linked with Kris Kristofferson as ambassadors for Sweden? I just threw up a little, in my mouth.
.
.
In my Hotel, Bitter Bitch Blues fan Repellent.
.
.
Moments after informing me that I was known as “The Dirty Old Man” of The 19, Andrew Ann Arbor (A3) studied, dallied, and photo’d this Stone Cold Bitch for about 15 minutes.. I’m the Dirty Old Man? I was only thinking of where I was going to get my next beer.
Posted by RWBill from back in God's steambath. on 10/10/09 at 12:02 PM ET
Shanahan is too far gone to be of any real use anymore to Detroit. If the Shanahan of five years ago was available, sure - but that isn’t the player as he actually exists. He’s a familiar name and personality, and that makes him a bit of a security blanket to some, maybe - but I think it’s about time he accepted the inevitable and spent more time with his family.
8000, eh? Yeah, right. In your fantasies, maybe.
And just because - extra innings, screwed by a horrendous call from the umpire, bases loaded, epic squandering, and then a loss to the home team in a crucial game ...
Failtastic. Suck it, Twinkies.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 10/10/09 at 12:39 PM ET
Don’t miss this while you are waiting for the Wings game.
St Louis has the prettiest girls of all the venue’s..
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from A. K. A. NostraGrampus on 10/10/09 at 01:04 PM ET
Can’t...breathe...laughing...too...hard...damn...you...RWBill.
And dude, that concrete chick is HOT. Ain’t you never heard of Galatea?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 10/10/09 at 01:46 PM ET
Great post Chief. The upside/downside of Shanny as a returning Wing just doesn’t work.
Moving on ....
Who knew RW Bill could read Scandahoovian?....you dazzling urbanite you...RW Bjorn.
As for Andrew and the ...., well I’m concerned about this whole “dallied” thing.
Let’s Go Red Wings ! ! ! ! ! (5)
Posted by Rumbear from a boat MFr's, take a look at me...... on 10/10/09 at 01:51 PM ET
Via Sipple: Lines tonight…
Z - Datsyuk - Homer
Leino - Fil - Cleary
New Sammy - Abbadabba - Unibomber
May - Drapes - Eaves
Posted by pilgrim from the ice at the bottom of the world on 10/10/09 at 02:03 PM ET
Excellent opinions peppered with historical content adding credibility. Well done.
Whoa...I’m discombobulated.
Good points on Shanny all around.
Here is another thing:
Mule wasn’t anything until two years ago. He stepped up and became someone, just like Jonny E, Helm and even Fil in the playoffs. We need people to step up and become invaluable; this is huge in the cap era, especially with an organ-i-zation that has proven that it will take care of its players.
Let the transition to Finnish players begin.
Posted by Osrt on 10/10/09 at 02:10 PM ET
Quick update from practice: Patrick Eaves will make his debut with the Wings tonight against the Capitals. Eaves will replace Kirk Maltby, a healthy scratch, on a line with Kris Draper and Brad May.
In the Wings’ first game without Johan Franzen, who is out four months with a torn ACL, Pavel Datsyuk will center Henrik Zetterberg and Tomas Holmstrom.
Valtteri Filppula will center Ville Leino and Dan Cleary on the second line and Justin Abdelkader will center Todd Bertuzzi and Jason Williams on the other line.
Reuniting Datsyuk and Zetterberg together on the top line doesn’t appear to be the long-term plans of coach Mike Babcock, though.
“Fil’s the other guy I could put there,” Babcock said. “Fil and Pav are skating well right now and so those are the guys that are playing down the middle.”
That’s from Helene St. James. So we have…
The Flying Circus
Willy-Wally-Buckets
TuzziKamon-Gator-J Will
May-Draper-Eaves
I feel pretty bad for Gator. He gets called up to play with a mummy and J Will. The return of the flying circus is good to see though, even if it is temporary.
Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 10/10/09 at 02:10 PM ET
Awesome post, Chief, only to be outdone by RWBill’s epic tour of Sweden.
And so the Circus is back together tonight. I hate that it took an injury to the Mule to do it, but I’m relieved that Bertuzzi has at least temporarily dropped down to the third line. Hopefully he’ll be off the PP, too.
Posted by Bella on 10/10/09 at 02:20 PM ET
I think the Circus is re-united only to provide offense while shutting down AO.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from A. K. A. NostraGrampus on 10/10/09 at 02:35 PM ET
Thanks for the jinx Chief! Break out the 14 jerseys!
Posted by BP29er from In a TeePee skinnin' me some Blackhawk on 10/10/09 at 02:57 PM ET
I think the Circus is re-united only to provide offense while shutting down AO.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd from Madmen is in my 19th year on 10/10/09 at 02:35 PM ET
Whatever the reason, I feel much better about tonight’s game knowing they’re back together.It’d be nice to see AO upstaged onaccounta the Circus is back in town.
Posted by Bio on 10/10/09 at 04:06 PM ET
Mule wasn’t anything until two years ago.
This is very true. He came back from a knee injury I believe, and became a “qualified” goal scoring stud. Just think what he can become after knee surgery.
Posted by ITDeuce from a seething pit of hostility on 10/10/09 at 04:40 PM ET
This is what I’m sayin’… Nostalgia that strong clouds judgment.
Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 10/10/09 at 11:25 PM ET
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