The Fifth Liners

In NHL.com's Five Questions With series, Detroit Red Wings GM Ken Holland admitted be believes that the Wings are not legitimate contenders: "I don't know that there are more than five or six legitimate Stanley Cup contenders; we're probably not in that group." Ken Holland to NHL.com Is this a kick in the teeth for Red Wings fans or a much-needed blast of realism? Is anyone surprised by Holland's words? Probably not. Having been a Red Wing fan for as long as I can remember, I'm under no illusions that the team aren't in the best place for winning Lord Stanley's cup. I'm not even sure we'll make the playoffs. 25 straight playoffs is a solid achievement; but since the Red Wings haven't made it past the Conference Semifinals since the 2008-09 season, that achievement doesn't really count for much as it isn't bringing any silverware home. We haven't made it past the first round in the last three seasons. Let's be hon...

Well I guess it's official now: "My family and I have decided that it's time to return home" - @Datsyuk13 — Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) June 18, 2016 Detroit Red Wings superstar forward Pavel Datsyuk will not be returning to the team at the end of the season. I'm sure there isn't a single Red Wings fan on the planet who isn't grateful to Datsyuk for his effort and commitment given to the team in his 14 seasons. Let's not dwell on Datsyuk's decision though, let's take a look at the options that the Red Wings organisation has for handling the $7.5 million cap hit the team will suffer next season. There's been talk of trading Datsyuk's contract to one of the teams that can comfortably absorb it, although at what cost? Ken Holland said he's not optimistic about trading Datsyuk contact but has spoken to teams. The price is high. — Ansar Khan (@AnsarKhanMLive) June 18, 2016 Then we had this: Hearing contract w...

Finally the Detroit Red Wings have given permission for head coach Mike Babcock to begin speaking to other teams. This news has caused a wave of disillusion over Michigan because after taking home the Stanley Cup in 2008- he has become a fan favourite! But where would be the best destination for this man? Here are my top 3 choices for M.B Toronto Maple Leafs  This one is by far the bookies favourite and many were speculating this one as early as last season. As an Ontario boy at heart, this one will no doubt be in the front of Babcock's mind! But although this project may have long term potential, surely it is too much of a short term risk? The Leafs are currently going through yet another rip up and rebuild operation by Brendan Shanahan and I feel there is too much work needed to get where Babcock wants to go. Also lest we forget, the Leafs fans are not forgiving of lack of progress (no matter how many years running) and should he take the job- M.B should expect jersey's...

Playoffs are here!!!! What a crazy six months it's been in the NHL, Boston and LA failed to make the playoffs and we gathered in Columbus to watch two teams of all-stars go to battle in the most offensive neon jerseys seen in recent years. On a positive note, Washington delivered a superb Winter Classic, Jamie Benn finished top of the points table and the Vancouver Canucks BEAT teams from warm places, IN warm places to make the playoffs; but that's for another post. Let's look at the East! 1. Montreal Canadiens Vs 4. Ottawa Senators The Habs have been dominant all season, finishing the regular season with a 50-22-10 record, thanks in no small part to a squad depth that any team would be enviable of. Having megastar netminder Carey Price guarding the net is the reason I think Montreal will take this series in four games. This takes nothing away from the good work the Sens have done this season, 99 points is very respectable, but the squad can't match the fire...

It's that time of year.  Last week, a loss in overtime meant that you only took one point. This week it's a game lost that could see your team one step closer to elimination from the playoffs. 14 teams didn't even make it this far. Nobody expected in October that the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn't be making a post-season appearance. Likewise nobody would have expected injury-ravaged Detroit to get as far as they have. Holding into a wildcard place while dressing half their AHL affiliate to replace experienced superstars. Some teams have cruised to the playoffs, as expected while other teams have surprised us all. Who would have thought that the Colorado Avalanche would have made it so easily? The Flyers had a dreadful start, but captain Claude Giroux turned the ship around. Now comes the NHL.com Bracket Challenge. A time for myself and Alex to go head to head. His insane hockey knowledge against my knack for predictions (dumb luck). Last season I predicted ...

Eastern Conference  Detroit Red Wings  v Boston Bruins   This is one of the more difficult series to predict because both teams are of equal quality. The Red Wings hold a 3-1 regular season record against the Bruins, but it has been Boston who tops the Eastern conference and they have been showing this season just why they are contenders. I predict this one to be a tight one, but based on form alone, I have to give this one to the Bruins, sorry Mike! Prediction: Boston Bruins Tampa Bay Lightning v Montreal Canadiens Tampa Bay have been the one of this years real surprise packages, finishing 4th in the Eastern conference despite star Steven Stamkos being injured for a long period and currently holds a 3-1 record against Montreal. But the Canadiens are not a team that should be ruled out (unless Subban goes to the box) and I still think they could spring a surprise here. But overall, I think Tampa has just enough quality to see this one through. Prediction: Tam...

Vancouver Canucks Perhaps me being slightly biased being a Canucks fan, but this horn is one that brings back great memories of our Stanley Cup run in 2011. Even today when it sounds at the Rogers Arena, it still succeeds in raising the hairs on your neck! New York Rangers It is fitting that the Rangers still use the same goal horn from their 1994 cup winning season at Madison Square Garden, and it is a good thing to because it is one of the most distinctive and best sound horns in the league!  LA Kings This is one goal horn that is guaranteed to make you sit up and pay attention! Sounding like an oncoming goods train, every time it sounds at the Staples Center, it's a reminder the LA Express is coming. Detroit Red Wings One of the most legendary sounds of the league, the horn at the Joe Louis Arena has become the soundtrack to the Wings success over the years and even today it still stands out. Boston Bruins When the Bruins score at TD Garden, this...

On paper, David Legwand and the Detroit Red Wings go together better than strawberries and cream, gin and tonic or Tortorella and shouting. In a surprise move on deadline day, the Michigan native traded in his Nashville Predators jersey for the winged wheel, in exchange for Patrick Eaves, Calle Jarnkrok and a draft pick. It's hard to understand what goes on some of the decisions made by the Wings' management sometimes (Brunner to the Devils?) but this move seems to be inspired. Legwand is exactly the skater that the Wings need right now. With injuries threatening to curtail the teams' playoff hopes, bringing in the experienced centre could be a stroke of genius. So far this season, Eaves has contributed five points from 25 games. Legwand has amassed 40 points this season, as many as Shea Weber. Legwand, the 1998 2nd overall draft pick has spent his whole NHL career at Nashville and is the franchises leading goal scorer and assist provider. He waived his no-trade clause ...

It's long been suspected that sending players to participate in international competitions can have a negative effect on the players' domestic teams. There are studies  and opinions  that suggest the Winter Olympics does more harm than good to the National Hockey League.  Whatever side of the fence you sit on, the Detroit Red Wings have restarted the season with pace and gusto not often seen at the Joe Louis.    Detroit restarted the season with a two game Canadian road-trip, starting with the Montreal Canadiens. Olympic gold hero goalie Carey Price wasn't played however PK Subban was on the ice. Despite Detroit leading for most of the game thanks to an early Todd Bertuzzi powerplay goal, it took an overtime goal from Wings regular Gustav Nyquist to take the two points after the Brian Gionta scored in the third period to give the Habs a chance at the two points. Final score 2-1. The following day, the Red Wings were hosted by the Ottawa Senators. The...

Boston have been playing well of late, quietly getting on with job. The result of which is a spot at the top of the Eastern Conference. Detroit's troubles this season have been well documented and last night the team had to go without superstar Pavel Datsyuk and dependable first-liner Todd Bertuzzi. On paper, this looked like another win for Boston. The first ten minutes were close, the Bruins looked dangerous when pushing and the Red Wings broke well, recently returned Darren Helm almost opened the scoring with a lightning fast breakaway, only to put the puck wide. Detroit's Johan Franzen then stepped up. The Mule set up the first and only goal of a penalty packed first period when his cross through the blue paint found Justin Abdelkader who tapped in the opener. This came straight after he stepped out of the penalty box after picking up a penalty for high-sticking on Zdeno Mt. Chara. Must have been a really high stick. The second period brought more goals for boys in ...

It's been difficult for Detroit Red Wings fans recently. Of the ten games played so far in November, the Wings have lost seven of them, five of those at the Joe Louis Arena. Fans can almost forgive a road loss, but when a team comes to Detroit and wins? Well that hurts that little bit more. It's not like there was a shortage of goals either, in the seven losses, Detroit were only shutout by Nashville. For the season so far, the Wings are scoring 2.52 goals per game (average). Which is okay but it's not cup winning form. I met a Detroit fan today who'd stopped following the NHL a few years back. We reminisced about the days when Nicklas Lidstrom was a brick wall on the blue line, and how Detroit's Swedish contingent was unstoppable. Then we realised that those days are behind us. Lidstrom is retired and the Wings haven't found a replacement to fill that gap. I'm not entirely sure that anyone exists who's as good as Lidstrom was. There's hope t...

Jordin Tootoo has been placed on waivers to free up some cap space for the Detroit Red Wings. The rest of the NHL (and I suppose the world) now has to noon tomorrow to pick up Tootoo or he'll be assigned to the Red Wings' AHL affiliate; the Grand Rapids Griffins. If Tootoo is sent to the Griffins, this won't necessarily be a bad thing for the Canadian forward. He'll get games, which is more than he was as a Detroit healthy scratch. Also the Griffins just won the Calder Cup, and that's a team I'd like to play for.

Some games are pretty, some are boring, and some are just tight. This was definitely the latter. The past few weeks have been tough for Detroit. Since defeating the Colorado Avalanche way back on the 17th, the team has lost at the hands (gloves?) of the Coyotes, Sharks, Senators and Rangers. Taking two overtime points from a possible eight. The Vancouver Canucks on the other hand have won four of their last five games, and despite a close loss to Washington are performing well under new coach John Tortorella.  Detroit's Luke Glendening is fast becoming a regular in the Wings' squad, what with the team's inability to remain injury free. Meanwhile Johan Franzen and Mikael Samuelsson were scratched for the game. The tight first period brought more penalties than goals, Vancouver's Dan Hamhuis was given a minor for holding Niklas Kronwall. Kronwall returned the favour five minutes later and was boxed for slashing Hamhuis. Vancouver was the first team to break...

Musings, observations and general stuff.  Daniel Alfredsson seems to have found his happy place, the veteran forward picked up his first Detroit goal this week and has also grabbed plenty of assists. Alfredsson has nine points so far. Only Datsyuk and Zetterberg have more. Niklas Kronwall's concussion is a real concern. Widely regarded as the cornerstone of the Red Wings' PK unit, it's hard to tell who will step up if he doesn't return soon. Detroit's blueliners haven't been spectacular recently but backup goalie Jonas Gustavsson is playing out of his skin. Last season may have been forgettable for Gustavsson but so far he's .922 for the season. Jimmy Howard is expected back for tonight's game against Phoenix. The goalie has been sat out since bruising his hand in the warm up against Boston.  Darren Helm is expected to be back soon, which is probably bad news for Luke Glendening who was brought up from the Calder Cup winning Grand Ra...

The Colorado Avalanche have been on fire recently. So far this season Patrick Roy's men have won all six of their games. Mostly down to Semyon Varlamov's heroics between the posts. The Detroit Red Wings are also in a good place. Having got over their slightly shaky start, the team is settling in to life with Daniel Alfredsson and life without Valtteri Filppula. Expectations for the Red Wings' visit to the Pepsi Center were high for both teams. Mike Babcock's men are desperate not to repeat last season's chase for a playoff spot while the Avs need to prove that they're serious contenders. The Avalanche got off to a bad start when Cody McLeod was assessed a game misconduct and a boarding major penalty after his push on Niklas Kronwall left the big Swede with concussion and cuts. Kronwall was stretchered off the ice but not taken to hospital. The resulting powerplay allowed Henrik Zetterberg to set up Johan Franzen who then put the first goal on th...

At the start of the fifth game of the season, the Detroit Red Wings were 2/4 and hadn't scored a single powerplay goal. Sure they'd done pretty well on the penalty kill, fending off some serious five on three attacks, but after ten attempts, had not been able to take man advantage and grab some goals. That changed last night when the Red Wings welcomed the Struggling Philadelphia Flyers to the Joe Louis Arena.  Detroit didn't take long to open the scoring when Todd Bertuzzi , promoted to the first line, scored a great wrap-around after Michael Raffl went to the box for hooking. Raffl had been called up to deal with the Flyers' injury woes. The second period brought more goals and more penalties. Luke Schenn 's trip to the box allowed Niklas Kronwall the chance to remind us he's not just there to flatten the opposition. The big Swede opened his scoring account for the season.  Erik Gustafsson immediately decided to emulate his fellow countryman ...

With just three days to go before the Red Wings take to the ice for the first time this season, the team has added the following players to its injury reserve list. Darren Helm Patrick Eaves Jonas Gustavsson Jordin Tootoo Helm and Eaves are on the long term IR, which means that they'll miss a minimum of 10 games. Tootoo and Gustavsson are on the seven day IR. They can expect to miss the first three games of the season. Thanks to the Red Wings' Facebook page for the update.

Edit! Ignore everything I said about Cleary leaving. He's agreed a new one year deal at Detroit worth £1.75 million. Awesome. People get their hockey news from lots of different places, I have three main sources,  NHL.com ,  TSN  and the Alex Watson Alert System (AWAS). The AWAS is great. I get regular messages about the goings on in the NHL. Very useful when for when work is hectic and there's no time to peruse my usual haunts. Today the AWAS brought sad news. After wearing red for 8 years, Daniel Cleary is off to join the Philadelphia Flyers ' training camp. In a deal that'll be made official at the end of the month, Cleary has accepted three years, earning 2.75 mill each season.  Now I'm glad that Cleary has been offered a skate, he's a great guy with a lot to offer. It's just a shame that after giving eight years to Detroit, the Red Wings couldn't find him a space. As a Wings fan, I've got a lot of respect for Cleary, the 34 year old...

Shaun Burr, who played 16 seasons in the NHL, mostly at Detroit died yesterday after a fall at his home. The hard-hitting #11 was a key player in his 10 years at the Joe. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.

There will soon be a new banner hanging from the rafters at the Joe Louis. There was never any doubt that  Nicklas Lidstrom 's number would be retired after the great man retired, the Detroit Red Wings announced last week that Lidstrom's retirement ceremony will be held before the Wings' game against the Avalanche on 06 March next year. Lidstrom will join Steve Yzerman, Terry Sawchuck, Alex Delvecchio, Sid Abel and Gordie Howe in having his name and number watch over the players below. The big Swede played all 20 of his NHL seasons at the Detroit Red Wings and is probably the most respected defenseman to ever play in the league. In his time he never missed a postseason.