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Whoa: Up Comes Jimmy
by IwoCPO on 02/20/09 at 11:52 AM ET
Comments (50)
Updated below with a note on who, other than Osgood, won’t be in there tonite.
Straight from Khan(!). Osgood won’t be dressing tonite or Saturday. Jimmy Howard’s up from Grand Rapids.
Update from Friday’s morning skate: The Wings recalled goaltender Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids. Howard will back-up Ty Conklin for tonight’s game against Anaheim and then make his first start of the season for Detroit Saturday in Minnesota. Chris Osgood will not dress for at least the next two games, as the team wants to give him some time to re-focus and work on his game. Howard is expected to be sent back to Grand Rapids after Saturday’s game.
“At least the next two games.”
If recent history tells us anything, it’s that Chris Osgood will be nowhere to be seen or heard until he’s ready to start again. And that’s his choice, not the team’s.
Or we’re going to be reading some pretty dramatic stuff. Because if he talks, he’s not going to hold much back.
I can’t help but think, continue to think, that we’ve seen Chris Osgood play his last meaningful game as a Detroit Red Wing. Howard’s going to come up and you just know he’ll stop 25 of 26 or shut out the Wild. Then maybe, because Uncle Mike’s got a little Scotty in him, Howard starts the one after that.
Oh wait. The one after is San Jose. Nah, he wouldn’t do that now. Would he?
——
In case you missed it at the tail end of Khan(!)‘s post…
There is one other lineup change from the last game, as Kirk Maltby goes back in for Ville Leino tonight. Coach Mike Babcock said he plans on rotating players in on the fourth line for the time being.
Don’t like that at all. Wanna get Maltby back in there? Go ahead. But why sit Leino instead of Kopecky?
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Comments
I hate to be snide about Osgood, out of respect for past accomplishments…
That said, if the next time I saw his face, it was on the side of milk carton, I could live with that.
Posted by dougie on 02/20/09 at 12:06 PM ET
WOW.
I mean, WOW. I understand the move, but this puts me firmly in the Hasek (make room bitches!). Conk’s been a career backup and Howard may not even be the best goalie in the farm system. Has it really come to this?
Posted by Deuce from Brooklyn on 02/20/09 at 12:20 PM ET
Did not see this coming. Hoped for it, sure.
Next thing you know, Ozzy and Manny will be meeting in some bar just outside of Milwaukee. What a sad story.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 02/20/09 at 12:23 PM ET
Uncle Mike whips out his Jimmy. Well only 12 days 2 hours and 30 some minutes of shopping time until the trade-deadline. Opportunity for Howard to showcase himself. Bold move.
Posted by Interference on 02/20/09 at 12:25 PM ET
Eh, it’s February. Right time for this move before we get caught. If Ozzie can’t handle this, he’s not our playoff goalie.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/20/09 at 12:25 PM ET
Wow.
I don’t really know what to say. Seeing Ozzie go through this is pretty painful, but maybe it will do the trick. I hope so. Move over, I need a seat on the Hasek.
Posted by Aimee in Austin on 02/20/09 at 12:28 PM ET
Unless Conk blows it tonight he will be the one starting against the Sharks (just cause he shut them out last time).
Great to (finally) see a change at the position - Tick Tock is speaking of a 10 days break for Osgood, considering the timing, could it mean he plans to trade him? no this is just too crazy…
Posted by yannick on 02/20/09 at 12:31 PM ET
Howards got the goods…
can;t wait for that Howard/Larsson/McCollum duel coming up in a couple of years
Posted by Pharazon from England on 02/20/09 at 12:31 PM ET
Tick Tock is speaking of a 10 days break for Osgood, considering the timing, could it mean he plans to trade him?
A better question might be: Is he doing this because he’s planning on trading Howard?
Meh. That’s probably crazy talk.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 02/20/09 at 12:36 PM ET
Greetings, Chief, all. George Malik had an interesting insight into the callup, noting that this could be the last opportunity that they could move Howard up and down from GR without him having to clear waivers. He would certainly be picked up by the LA Kings in such a move, and go on to join Kyle Quincey in spurring a hockey renaissance in LA. But I digress.
Personally, I think this is a part of Tick Tock and Babcock using already signed but hurt/in GR players as the additions at the trade deadline. If the 6-2 game against Nashville is any indication, and as Babcock’s comments on the radio this morning indicate, the Wings are getting better. So if one assumes that the coach sees a general trend toward improvement in defensive play overall, then that sets the stage for a bunch of players to come back or get called up right around the trade deadline. A recuperated and rested Brad Stuart returns on defense, Tomas Holmstrom is back with the groin issues behind him, and maybe McCarty (after seasoning in GR) comes in to provide some grit (although that’s doubtful, honestly). At the same time, Helm and Leino are locks to make the playoff roster. Thus, three or four good players are added right around the trade deadline, giving Babcock the opportunity to maybe rest Nick, Raffi, and the other greybeards a bit before the playoffs start.
In that same vein, let’s assume that Howard and Conklin play well. Conklin continues his reputation for solid, if unspectacular, regular season play. If the GR press is to be believed, Howard is playing the best hockey of his life right now. Suppose he comes up and posts numbers like 2.4 GAA and a .910 save percentage. I don’t think the brain trust would seriously consider playing either of them in the playoffs, considering the old adage about veteran players in Detroit and the experience of Legace trying to lead them in the postseason. What this does do is light a fire under Chris Osgood’s “mentally tough” ass. No doubt Osgood put up awesome numbers in last year’s playoffs. Maybe his lack of consistent playing time in the lead up to the playoffs last year helped him clear his head. He’s always been a bit of a mental case in his time here. Maybe he’s the kind of guy who takes ten days, hunkers down without pressure, and comes out a new goaltender.
If this is the case, then the Wings have four or five top shelf, “new” players emerging from the injured reserve, GR, and the Jim Bedard school of pull your head out of your ass. Right around the trade deadline. Babcock uses these players, like Leino, Homer, Stuart, Helm of course, and rests Nick and Raffi, getting them fresh for the playoffs. Thus, Holland and Babcock refresh and restock the lineup without busting the cap or trading away anyone.
Or not. Who knows.
So if this master plan works, here are the people and lines I want to see on day one of the playoffs.
Datsyuk Zetterberg Holmstrom
Hossa Filpulla Franzen
Cleary Helm Samuelsson
Hudler Draper Leino
Lidstrom Rafalski
Stuart Kronwall
Lilja Lebda
Osgood
Granted there isn’t much grit there, but maybe Kopecky and/or McCarty switch in as needed. I don’t want to see Maltby. I think he’s done. Sorry for the long post.
Posted by TDeters on 02/20/09 at 12:36 PM ET
You know, I was thinking about this the other day…
Has a goalie ever been acquired at the trade deadline and made a significant impact in the playoffs for his new team? I’m sure there must be some examples, I just can’t think of any.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 02/20/09 at 12:40 PM ET
Uncle Mike on Howards call-up, from your boy Ted Kulfan at the Detroit News:
“I don’t know if we’re sending any message,” coach Mike Babcock said. “To me, it hasn’t been going very well for him (Osgood). You have to dig in and help yourself and that’s the stage he’s at. We’re all the same. Sometimes when you realize how important it is to you, you have to bear down. We still have a significant amount of games left. He won the Cup for us last year, he’s won two Cups. We think he has it in him.”
Babcock hinted the No. 1 job is undecided right now.
“I have a guy that we would like to (be the No. 1) but it’s not about what I like,” Babcock said. “It’s about what happens.
“We’ve shown a light on this by doing this, but we’ll find out who is up to the challenge.”
As far as the Wings lineup, Kirk Maltby is back in Friday against Anaheim while Ville Leino is a healthy scratch.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 02/20/09 at 12:43 PM ET
Great to (finally) see a change at the position - Tick Tock is speaking of a 10 days break for Osgood, considering the timing, could it mean he plans to trade him? no this is just too crazy…
Giving a goalie a ten day break to work on his fundemntals is a funny way to maximize his trade value. I think Ozzie’s 10 day trip to goalie boot camp is just what Kenny says it is: to allow Ozzie to work on the fundementals with Bedard and get rid of his bad habits.
Even the Ozzie haters here admit the team plays differently in front of Conks. So even if Ozzie irons out his issues, it won’t amount to a hill of beans unless the team stops collapsing down around him and instead starts playing sound positional defense.
Posted by CaptainDennisPolonich from Warm and sunny SoCal on 02/20/09 at 12:44 PM ET
It will be interesting to see how the D looks in front of Howard tomorrow night. It will also be interesting to see how long I’ll be able to stay sober watching the game.
Posted by Bella from from an undisclosed location, freaking out on 02/20/09 at 12:47 PM ET
You know, I was thinking about this the other day…
Has a goalie ever been acquired at the trade deadline and made a significant impact in the playoffs for his new team? I’m sure there must be some examples, I just can’t think of any.
How about Roloson in ‘06? I’d say that chunky *#$%@& had an impact wouldn’t you?
I’ll go ahead and start drinking now. Thanks Mandingo.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 02/20/09 at 12:49 PM ET
I don’t want to see Maltby. I think he’s done.
I would be completely shocked if Maltby is on the playoff roster. Barring a multiple-injury scenario, I just don’t see him edging out Leino for that spot. I don’t know how Kenny and Babs could rationalize it. The numbers just don’t crunch.
There’s a point where playoff experience has to take a back seat to superior talent. Leino gives them a legit scoring threat on that fourth line and an extra PP guy if needed. That’s going to be absolutely critical in the playoffs.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 02/20/09 at 12:49 PM ET
How about Roloson in ‘06? I’d say that chunky *#$%@& had an impact wouldn’t you?
Damn…I forgot about that. “Repressed it” may be a more accurate description.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 02/20/09 at 12:53 PM ET
Just sayin… Legace had a shutout last night!
Ha!
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 02/20/09 at 12:54 PM ET
I agree, Mandingo (great screen name, by the way). How is Maltby a better option than Leino? I guess Babcock wants some grit, but man, Maltby and Draper’s +/- are just terrible. The team won the Stanley Cup last year without Kopecky, but then again they had Drake. Sometimes I think we need that grit on the fourth line. But then again, if your fourth line has 20 goal scorers who are also responsible defensively, that’s pretty good.
The goaltending situation will lead me to drink heavily as we approach playoff time, much to my wife’s utter delight.
One last thought. How good is a team that has Danny freaking Cleary pencilled in on the third line!
Posted by TDeters on 02/20/09 at 12:57 PM ET
Has a goalie ever been acquired at the trade deadline and made a significant impact in the playoffs for his new team? I’m sure there must be some examples, I just can’t think of any.
Roloson for sure. Huet last year with the Caps wasn’t to shabby either despite the outcome.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 02/20/09 at 12:57 PM ET
Just sayin… Legace had a shutout last night!
Ha!
The folks manning the phones at the Peoria suicide hotline must be so relieved. They’ve officially downgraded their alert status from “Legace” to “Cobain”.
Posted by Mandingo from The Garage on 02/20/09 at 01:03 PM ET
I think I like reading the comments more than the original post….
:runs away ducking and weaving:
Posted by _Jon from NC on 02/20/09 at 01:07 PM ET
I think I like reading the comments more than the original post….
:runs away ducking and weaving:Posted by _Jon from NC on 02/20/09 at 01:07 PM ET
Heck Jon. That’s nothing new. I always like the comments more than the posts.
Posted by IwoCPO from Sunny San Diego, bitches on 02/20/09 at 01:09 PM ET
Apologies for a quick digression, but did anyone else see Malik’s note that tonight will be Sasquatch’s 1,000th game?
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out, a Red Wings spokesman said via email.
I have no doubt that the 19 there tonight will make us proud in honor of the momentous occassion.
Posted by Bella from an undisclosed location, freaking out on 02/20/09 at 01:12 PM ET
So we have whipped out our Conk AND our Jimmy! I hope the Poultry is ready for Tag Team Tummy Sticks!
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 02/20/09 at 01:20 PM ET
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out, a Red Wings spokesman said via email.
Opportunity knocks. Maybe we can start a “pussy” chant 20,066 strong. It would be a glorious moment.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 02/20/09 at 01:23 PM ET
Heh Drew…
Hey Oz, Todd is painting you a picture, so warm up yer tube socks…
Posted by TeamDub from The gratch. on 02/20/09 at 01:34 PM ET
Helm and Leino are locks to make the playoff roster.
I wouldn’t count on Lieno for the playoffs.
He is very talented, looks like a natural….
but
It was obvious in he first 2 games (I haven’t concentrated on him since).
He avoids bodychecking with a passion. I haven’t seen that on the Wings
roster since Sergei left. He is still here because of Babs fascination with
wasted motion.
One thing you have to remember about rookies…
They often impress you at first, but you should wait 5 games before making
any predictions….Often there isn’t a 6th game.
He avoids bodychecking with a passion
There are many gifted players like that with long careers,
But the SC playoffs is not the time for them to begin establishing
that long career.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 02/20/09 at 01:44 PM ET
If grit is needed maybe the Wings should inquire about Gary Roberts to fill in the Drake void from last season. Maltby is beyond done
Posted by bababooey on 02/20/09 at 01:44 PM ET
Wanna get Maltby back in there? Go ahead. But why sit Leino instead of Kopecky?
Two possible reasons.
1. This is just the beginning of the rotation. Next game Leino will be back in, Kopy will be out. Then next game we start over with Malts out and Leino in. Circle of fourth-line life…
OR
2. Kopecky is the new Samuelsson. You can’t honestly tell me that the organization doesn’t seem just a bit infatuated with Kopecky’s size, and more importantly, the fact that like Sammy, he has decent hands and decent foot speed to go with the size. I think Babcock and Tick Tock both have been enamored with Kopecky’s potential as a pesky player with a little offense to boot, and feel that he hasn’t been able to round into form because an injury has derailed him each of the last two times he’s finally started to come around and look real good with the Wing on his chest.
I think 2 is more likely. 1 is what we’ll be told, if anything.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/20/09 at 01:49 PM ET
I wouldn’t count on Lieno for the playoffs.
He is very talented, looks like a natural….
And we are in total agreement again! 
I think Leino is the odd-man out. Babcock is obviously enamored with his talent, and rightfully so, but if all people are healthy, you’ll have to get Helm in for his speed and hits, and despite what a lot of us think, there is a lot of value in the experience of Maltby and Draper for the playoffs.
If the Wings pick up a guy like Smolinski, or make a deal for a guy like Laperierre or Roberts, you can guarantee that Leino is not playing in the playoffs, barring serious injuries.
Besides, the Griffs are in the playoff picture this year, so who knows, they might need him down there. And you know they’d rather have him playing 15+ minutes per night every game in the Griff’s playoff than 8 or 9 per night in the Wings, if he’s not a healthy scratch for half the games.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 02/20/09 at 01:52 PM ET
I’d rather have Kopecky in the lineup than Leino. His first goal was beautiful against Washington and he’s doing some really great things, but he’s no 4th liner. If Dr. eVille can get some nastiness in his game, he might be our replacement for Sammy (he even misses the net with the same comforting and maddening regularity). But, as Gramps points out, he’s not a checker. You stick your fourth line out there for energy and Kopecky brings that in spades.
BTW, anybody think that next season opening in Stockholm may have any, if even the slightest bit, of an affect on Tick Tock’s decision to keep/move a Swedish player?
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 02/20/09 at 01:52 PM ET
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out, a Red Wings spokesman said via email.
Damn, I was hoping he would hit the IR list in the 1st period.
Now it has to be before the first commercial break..?
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 02/20/09 at 02:04 PM ET
BTW, anybody think that next season opening in Stockholm may have any, if even the slightest bit, of an affect on Tick Tock’s decision to keep/move a Swedish player?
I would suggest that the opener has less of an impact than the impending end of Lidstrom’s contract.
We all know Lidstrom can come back if he wants because he’s still the best, the only question is whether he wants to. A locker room full of Swedes might be a nice incentive.
Posted by shanetx on 02/20/09 at 02:09 PM ET
If the Wings trade Howard then it’s just another example of why the organ-I-zation hasn’t developed a home grown goaltender since Chris Osgood.
It’s possibly the one flaw in the way the team does business. This team since Bowman simply does not believe in bringing along goaltenders and will always go with “verteran presence”. I was hoping that had changed with three legitimate prospects in the system and they would have had four if Liv hadn’t returned to Sweden.
Lastly it doesn’t make much sense to trade Howard as that doesn’t address the starting goaltending as they aren’t going to get a number one straight up for Howard, so it would be him in a package deal and then we’re still at the cap and trading AHL salary does nothing to alleviate that.
Like someone above said, Howard has been lights out and finally got his head on straight after the mental screw job he received from the Wings coming out of camp and I think it’s just a chance for the Wings to give him another NHL look before his two-way rights expire.
Posted by moocat on 02/20/09 at 02:27 PM ET
Whoa. Man. Nuttiness abounds.
Howard looked good last year during F*cking February—he was losing 1-0 games because the team in front of him couldn’t produce any offense whatsoever. With a healthy offense in front of him, that one goal he lets in will look a hell of a lot better.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 02/20/09 at 02:33 PM ET
Oh, apparently Howard’s still waiver-free next year due to the goalie exemption rule. So…?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from Fortress Europe on 02/20/09 at 02:34 PM ET
Freep is reporting Osgood is sitting for the next 10 days!
The Wings called up Jimmy Howard from Grand Rapids (AHL) today and have shut down Chris Osgood for the next 10 days.
Howard will back up Ty Conklin in goal tonight against the Ducks and will play Saturday at Minnesota.
Osgood will remain in Detroit to work with goaltending coach Jim Bedard. The two were on the ice about 30 minutes before today’s morning skate. Osgood was the last player off the ice and he declined to speak with reporters.
———
Asked if Conklin would be the starting goaltender if the playoffs began today, Holland said: “Well, the playoffs don’t start today.”
Posted by Squiboda from Port Huron, MI on 02/20/09 at 02:54 PM ET
This is a little surprising, and more extreme than I thought Osgood needed. Maybe it could have been avoided if they hadn’t insisted on playing Osgood so much the last 10-15 games. But oh well, the guy who gets Ken Holland his coffee probably has a better hockey mind and knows more about what’s going on in Osgood’s head than I do, so who am I to question?
Good for Howard to get an audition. But the Wings aren’t giving him a shot because they’re planning on dumping Osgood. I’m sure they’ve thought about it as some kind of Plan Z, but I think they still expect him to turn his game around (so do I). Howard’s getting his shot because Plan A (or maybe B or C) is for him to replace Conklin.
Leino sitting out is unfortunate. It’s also a damned waste for him to be playing on the fourth line. Just send him down if he’s sitting every other game and not getting meaningful minutes.
As for Kopecky, I’m starting to suspect he’s more in the Wings long-term plans than I thought. Last year, we all thought he was the replacement for Dallas Drake, but I think the Wings are aiming a little higher than that. They want him to develop into the same type of player as Dan Cleary.
Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 02/20/09 at 03:05 PM ET
But why sit Leino instead of Kopecky?
Exactly right on that one Chief. Leino can stay on his feet and has been impressive to say the least. I still haven’t figured out what is going on with the Canadian-MOI but I do not like what I see so far this season. I know Ozzie came to camp unprepared and probably bothered by the groin. He should have been more honest. Bitches.
Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!
Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 02/20/09 at 03:07 PM ET
They want him to develop into the same type of player as Dan Cleary.
bring up Meech permanently and make Kronwall a forward. he can still play point on the PP of course.
speaking of players that can play O and D….Dandenault is a UFA after this season 
Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 02/20/09 at 03:12 PM ET
Apologies for a quick digression, but did anyone else see Malik’s note that tonight will be Sasquatch’s 1,000th game?
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out…
I can hear Bud Lynch in the back of my head.
“In honor of the Anaheim Ducks Chris Pronger’s 1000th NHL game, please stand up, look at the fan to your left, and elbow them in the back of the head.”
Posted by WingsFanInBeanLand from Lidstrom's head telling him 1 more year on 02/20/09 at 03:22 PM ET
Apologies for a quick digression, but did anyone else see Malik’s note that tonight will be Sasquatch’s 1,000th game?
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out…
They should be handing out shooter-tutors of Sasquatch with a bullseye over his heart.
Posted by Animal Drew from A Nightmare on Helm Street on 02/20/09 at 03:27 PM ET
Apologies for a quick digression, but did anyone else see Malik’s note that tonight will be Sasquatch’s 1,000th game?
Detroit, per club policy regarding opponent’s milestones, plans on recognizing Pronger during the first commercial time-out…
The worst part is, it’s happening probably a dozen or two games sooner than it should with all the suspensions he should have served for his ass-hattery.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 02/20/09 at 03:43 PM ET
i’m a bit late to the party on this one, but i say GR when they played here in rochester the other night. jimmy stopped 37 of 38, including the shoot-out, where he stopped 5 of 5. if the kid isn’t ready now, he ain’t never gonna be…and he looked ready on wednesday. i’ll look forward to his first start.
Posted by laerm from rochester, ny on 02/20/09 at 03:49 PM ET
Interesting parallels with montreal and Kovalev.
Hell no.
Kovalev isn’t trying and his team is a complete disaster.
Ozzy is trying and playing like shit but his team is kicking ass.
The two situations are nothing alike.
Posted by shanetx on 02/20/09 at 06:17 PM ET
well. i didn’t say it was the same situation, but to say the situations are nothing alike is a little extreme. both players are playing well below their abilities ... whether that is by laziness, lack of effort, or lack of ability is up for debate. fact is, kovalev is being sat for not doing his job, and so is osgood. both are important players for their respective teams.
Posted by ColdWar on 02/20/09 at 07:21 PM ET
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SHOCKA!! All I can say, its about frigging time!!
Let us all hope that Howard pitches a shutout Saturday, and give everybody something to really think about—like maybe putting Ozzie down to G.R.
Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 02/20/09 at 12:01 PM ET