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Wings Welcome Stuart
by IwoCPO on 02/28/08 at 03:09 PM ET
Comments (12)
Rafalski didn’t stay long. Update below.
Update from the Joe via the Anti-Digger,
On the ice for Thursday’s practice at Joe Louis Arena (an unusual 3 p.m.) are Chris Chelios, Niklas Kronwall and Brian Rafalski. So is newcomer Brad Stuart, meaning nine defensemen (no Nicklas Lidstrom) are at practice.
Stuart led the Red Wings’ stretching exercises (one player does each practice) to hoots and hollers from his new teammates.
Updated at 1520.
MID-PRACTICE UPDATE: Rafalski left the ice when drills started. Obviously his groin is still limiting him. Here are the defense pairings for the drills ...
Kronwall-Stuart
Meech-Lilja
Ericsson-Lebda
Quincey-Chelios
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Comments
Nevermind…
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/28/08 at 04:22 PM ET
Of all the injuries, Rafalski’s groin is potentially the worst. These things sometimes take months to heal. Ask Hasek.
Posted by w2j2 on 02/28/08 at 04:51 PM ET
I dunno- surprising Cheli was out there- I read Kenny Boy saying yesterday that Cheli “could hardly walk.” Hopefully he’s healing quicker than expected…
Posted by mudshark from Divetown, Colorado on 02/28/08 at 04:53 PM ET
They’d probably have to shoot Chelios with a tranquilizer dart and lock him in a cage to keep off ice for long. Or else he was driving his wife nuts and she kicked him out of the house to get some peace. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/28/08 at 05:05 PM ET
I don’t think it’s surprising that Rafalski is skating. It also makes perfect sense that he’s leaving before the drills start. Kenny and Babcock have both made it clear he’s still at least a week away. Honestly, I’d expect, based on the cautiousness of this organ-i-zation when it comes to injuries, that Rafalski will be the last d-man back.
Posted by Nathan on 02/28/08 at 05:38 PM ET
Rafalski’s definitely out for a week, but I’d gather no more than that. There were some rumblings about Rafalski getting “more tests” (read: ultrasound to check for tears) when he came back, and the fact that they allowed him to go on the ice is a good sign...But you look at a guy like Jason Williams, who tried to “play through” far too many groin issues, and the guy’s out every three weeks with chronic, persistent groin issues, so that, more than Hasek’s issues, is why the Wings are so paranoid about the darn things.
Posted by George James Malik from South Lyon, MI on 02/29/08 at 12:03 AM ET
I’m a little concerned that Cheli’s back on skates-- I mean, I know he’s a warrior and was probably going stir-crazy not being out there, but given that yesterday’s ‘impartial’ report was that he could barely walk, I’d much rather he took it easy for a while. The whole team needs to be healthy for a good playoff run, which is why I think we’re seeing timescales stretched-- not necessarily because players are injured for as long as is said, but because the team is being careful with them, making sure they’re back up to 100% before getting back in the lineup.
Maybe they could slip Chelios a Mickey Finn.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the land of better living through chemistry on 02/29/08 at 05:09 AM ET
Maybe Chelios had the Wolverine treatment?
He knows himself well enough that this doesn’t bother me. If it was a young kid who really wanted to get back I’d be more worried about the bravado and machismo hurting him in the long run.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/29/08 at 07:21 AM ET
Maybe Chelios had the Wolverine treatment?
What, they poached him from West Virginia? Chicago, last time I checked.
He sure has the attitude. Now if only he had the claws…
Sure hope you’re right about him. If he needs the time off, he should take it even if they have to straitjacket him.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the bushes outside Terelle Pryor's house on 02/29/08 at 10:16 AM ET
No, silly, the comic book Wolverine - from the X-Men - the guy with the reinforced skeleton and enhanced healing abilities.
That’s why I wonder if he isn’t an escaped DARPA project who ran away from the training compound to play hockey. 
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 02/29/08 at 10:25 AM ET
No, silly, the comic book Wolverine - from the X-Men
Now why do you think I mentioned attitude and claws? 
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the other side of the same coin on 03/01/08 at 06:07 AM ET
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Assuming we get back Rafalski and Kronwall for Friday’s game:
Rafalski/Kronwall
Chelios/Stuart
Lilja/Lebda
If anyone wants to correct me, you’re welcome to and please.
Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 02/28/08 at 04:21 PM ET