Red Wings Updates
Mike Babcock not sure why he didn’t play Nyquist in OT
The Red Wings had the chance to win in OT against Boston Wednesday night. They had plenty of chances during regulation as well, but that’s a different story. They concluded the OT period with a 4-0n-3 power play, in which Mike Babcock decided to NOT ice leading scorer Gustav Nyquist. Even he admitted to the media the next day that the decision was a “dumb” one. Via Ansar Khan of MLive:
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said it was because Nyquist hadn’t worked with that unit during four-on-three practice; he worked with the second unit.
But Babcock was kicking himself a day later for not adjusting.
“It drove me crazy that I did that, even though we worked with those other guys,” Babcock said. “How the heck was I dumb enough to let that happen? We even talked about it and I still did it.
“I thought it was dumb. Why did I do that?”
The Red Wings had Henrik Zetterberg, Johan Franzen, Riley Sheahan and Niklas Kronwall on the ice. They managed just one shot during that abbreviated power play, before losing 3-2 in a shootout.
Plans approved for the demolition and redevelopment of Joe Louis Arena
Via the Malik Report and Detroit News:
Under the settlement, Detroit will “let” the creditor redevelop the Joe Louis Arena site, which the Red Wings are leaving for a new home downtown.
The Financial Guaranty Insurance Co. says it will replace Joe Louis with a hotel, riverfront condominiums and retail shops.
That deal not only resolves a major obstacle to settling Detroit’s bankruptcy, it also removes what could easily have been a headache for the city.
The largest question coming out of the decision by the Red Wings to move to a massive new Cass Corridor complex was what would happen to Joe Louis.
Finding an investor willing to take on the riverfront piece is a two-fer for the city — it gets the new arena development and an exciting project along the river.
Turning FGIC from a legal adversary into an investor was a brilliant stroke by the city’s negotiators, and is typical of how the bankruptcy process has unfolded.
Red Wings open home-and-home in Toronto tonight
After a less-than-stellar performance against the Boston Bruins, the Red Wings take their 1-1-1 record into Toronto for the first of two games in two nights against the Leafs. Lineup will be the same as it was against Boston, coach Babcock still hoping to use the youngster’s speed to their advantage. Pavel Datsyuk (shoulder) stayed home from the trip, as he’s still not in game-shape yet, and Stephen Weiss and Danny Cleary will continue to watch as healthy scratches. Jimmy Howard gets the start in net, (presumably Jonas Gustavsson will start tomorrow’s game back in Detroit), on the Wings’ first road game of the season.
Toronto has scored 14 goals in four games so far this season, to Detroit’s 6 in three games. The defense, and Howard, will have to be up to the challenge tonight. Puck drop at 7:30 ET on Fox Sports Detroit.
Around the NHL
Myers (BUF) and Petry (EDM) still being shopped
Trade talk continues to circulate the league regarding defensemen Tyler Myers of the Sabres and Jeff Petry of the Oilers. Among teams reportedly showing interest are the Red Wings and the Ducks. The asking price for Myers would be high, as he’s a young, big defenseman, right-handed, and in the upswing of his career. A sticking point may be his high salary for potential buyers, as he’ll earn $5 million this year and next year, then drops to $4 million the following season, and then $3.5 and $3 the following two. The Red Wings walked away from the trade talks during the offseason when Buffalo told them that the starting asking price was top-prospect Anthony Mantha, who the team is refusing to part with.
Jeff Petry’s name is also being circulated in talks. Another right-handed shooter, his game is compared more to the likes of Jakub Kindl. In 2013-2014, he played in 80 games, putting up 7 goals and 10 assists, and finished the season a minus-22; not very good for a defenseman of over 200 games. The asking price for Petry would be significantly lower, but also would be the return. Detroit would essentially be getting a right-handed Kindl, which while a nice asset, would not alleviate their need for another top-2 defender.
Lucic fined $5,000 for obscene gesture to crows in Montreal
Via NHL.com:
Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic has been fined $5,000 for an obscene gesture made during Game No. 53 in Montreal on Thursday, Oct. 16, the National Hockey League’s Hockey Operations Department announced today.
The fine money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.
See the gesture in question below:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGVxRHYsziI
Islanders uncharacteristically impressing early in season
In what most would qualify as a “once in a blue moon” occasion, the New York Islanders are sitting atop the Eastern conference (8 pts, T-1st Montreal), with a perfect 4-0-0 record to start their season. In those four games, they’ve managed 19 goals, with 12 goals against for a goal differential of +7. Much of the reason for this success is their impressive forechecking, and the acquisitions of defensemen Johnny Boychuk from the Boston Bruins, and Nick Leddy from the Chicago Blackhawks. With all the 1st-round picks the Islanders have picked up in recent years from terrible seasons, their rebuilding period may finally be over, and the fans at the Nassau Coliseum finally have something to be excited about. (Granted they’re moving to a new arena anyway, but I digress).
Keep an eye on New York’s younger hockey team to be legitimate contenders this season.
-Nathan Webb