Wings lose Lang, Calder & Bertuzzi

Kyle Calder signed with the Kings
Robert Lang signed with the Blackhawks
and Todd Bertuzzi, who the Wings wanted back - who should have stayed
in Detroit because they picked him up and he had the ability to play again this
season when no one else wanted to signed with Anaheim.

Which is okay, because i hated him still anyway. Just shows you why, huh?

Schneider out, Rafalski In

From letsgowings.com

The Detroit Red Wings acted quickly after the loss of Mathieu Schneider to the Anaheim Ducks when they signed former New Jersey Devils defenseman Brian Rafalski to a five-year contract worth $30-million.

Rafalski, a Dearborn native, is 33 years of age and netted eight goals among his 55 points last season.

The three-time All-Star had played his entire seven-year career with the New Jersey Devils, recording 44 goals and 311 points, and won two Stanley Cups with the franchise (2000, 2003).

Meanwhile...

Schneider signs with Ducks

The Anaheim Ducks secured one of the Red Wings' unrestricted free agents this afternoon by plucking defenseman Mathieu Schneider from the club with a two-year, $11.25-million contract.
From a Red Wings perspective, Schneider's contract was likely at least $500,000/year more than what the club was willing to spend. For Anaheim the move could possibly be a precursor to Norris-runner up Scott Niedermayer's official retirement.

There are plenty of free agent options on the blueline yet for the Red Wings, with Danny Markov, Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart and others highlighting the group.

Earlier this week Rafalski, who played for New Jersey last season, expressed an interest in playing for a "Midwest" NHL team. Rafalski is a metro Detroit native.

Schneider enjoyed two of the best seasons of his NHL career in Detroit and finished with 11 goals and 41 assists last season and was having a strong playoff run before breaking his wrist in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the San Jose Sharks.

Lang Out for the Wings.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has a full lineup of agent meetings scheduled over the coming two days in an attempt to lock up most of his free agents before the market opens.
One player who will not be asked back, though, is center Robert Lang.

"I've contacted Petr Svoboda and told him we will not be offering a contract to Robert Lang," Holland said Wednesday.

This isn't much of a surprise. Lang, who entered the 2007 playoffs as the team's leading scorer during the previous two playoff runs, had just two goals and eight points in 18 games this spring. His ice time hovered around 15 minutes -- low for a player considered a top-six forward -- and there was tension between Lang and coach Mike Babcock.

Before the NHL draft begins with Friday night's first round, Holland plans to meet with the agents for Dominik Hasek, Mathieu Schneider and Danny Markov. All three are eligible to become unrestricted free agents July 1.

Hasek will Return.

Dominik Hasek has chosen to come back for a 16th season.

Old news, i know. Sorry.

He's unrestricted though. And only made like $750,000 last year. So he's gonna want more seeing how he took us to the confrence finals.

who knows what will happen. He might retire again and then change his mind next week and then want back in after we get someone like Ray Emery to come play for us. He's a jackass. I still love you CuJo.

2007 NHL Award Winners

Presidents' Trophy: Best Overall Record
Winner: Buffalo Sabres

Prince of Wales Trophy: Eastern Conference Champion
Winner: Ottawa Senators

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Western Conference Champion
Winner: Anaheim Ducks

Art Ross Trophy: Top Point Scorer in the NHL
Winner: Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Qualities of Perseverance and Sportsmanship
Winner: Phil Kessel - Boston Bruins

Calder Memorial Trophy: Rookie of the Year
Winner: Evgeni Malkin - Pittsburgh Penguins

Conn Smythe Trophy: Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Winner: Scott Neidermayer - Anaheim Ducks

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Top Defensive Forward in the NHL
Winner: Rod Brind'Amour - Carolina Hurricanes

Hart Memorial Trophy: NHL Most Valuable Player
Winner: Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

Jack Adams Award: Coach of the Year
Winner: Alain Vigneault - Vancouver Canucks.

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Top Defenseman in the NHL
Winner: Nicklas Lidstrom - Detroit Red Wings

King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Leadership and Humanitarian Contribution
Winner: Saku Koivu - Montreal Canadiens

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Player who Displays Gentlemanly Conduct
Winner: Pavel Datsyuk - Detroit Red Wings

Lester B. Pearson Award: Most Outstanding Player as Selected by the NHLPA
Winner: Sidney Crosby - Pittsburgh Penguins

Lester Patrick Trophy: Outstanding Service to Hockey in the United States
Steve Yzerman, Gordon "Red" Berenson, Reed Larson, Glen Sonmor, Marcel Dionne

Maurice Richard Trophy: Top Goal Scorer in the NHL
Winner: Vincent LeClavalier - Tampa Bay Lightning

Vezina Trophy: Top Goalie in the NHL
Winner: Martin Brodeur - New Jersey Devils

William M. Jennings Trophy: Goalie(s) With the Fewest Goals Scored Against
Winners: Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez - Minnesota Wild

"This Cup wasn't for Vladdie and Sergei, it was because of them."

10 Years ago, i sat in my apartment with my children. Fresh in my memory was Steve Yzerman hoisting the cup over his head in a crowd of red on Woodward Ave. It was estimated that 1 million people attended the 1997 Victory Parade in Detroit. It was still fresh in my memory mostly because it was my first Stanley Cup as well. I grew up watching the Tigers and occasionally, the Lions, but NEVER the Red Wings. My dad ruled the Television and until 1995, i was oblivious to the sport. I read in the paper about the sweep in the finals that year, but didn't watch. The next season, 1996, I didn't watch many games during the regular season. Seriously, only about 20 - tops. But I watched the playoffs. I witnessed Steve Yzerman's double overtime goal against the Blues. I witnessed the awful hit on Kris Draper via Claude Lemieux and the heartache that was losing to the Avalanche in the 3rd round after that fantastic season. And I remember not really knowing who "Brenden Shanahan" was when he suited up for game one of the 1996-97 season, but being excited none the less. I watched in delight that March when at 18:22 of the first period, the clock stopped as Darren McCarty beat the piss out of who we now know as the Turtle, and Short little Mike Vernon took out a Legend by the name of Roy. (Not Wah, but Roy - like Orbison) I was there for the playoffs, with my livingroom wall plastered with news paper articals and i jumped up and down and cheered loudly to the point of the upstairs neighbors pounding on their floor to get me to shut up as Darren McCarty scored what was the single prettiest goal i'd ever witnessed to give us our first Stanley Cup in 42 years. And I made sure the entire building knew by posting a flyer on the bulletin board in the lobby. It was a fantastic night.

But just 6 short days later, as i sat in my apartment with my children, i received a telephone call from my best friend in a panic to turn it onto PASS (Pass Sports - now known as Fox Sports Detroit). And the first thing i see is Steve Yzerman, walking hastily into a hospital. The headline saying that members of the Detroit Red Wings were in a car accident, and rushed to the hospital. This hosptial. "Who was it?" "Is he dead?" "How many were there?" I was going crazy with questions. They showed the limo. It was totaled. Later i find out that it was part of the Russian Five. 5 Russians on our team, 2 Defensemen and 3 forwards, all able to speak their own language on the ice, and thoroughly ruin the night of many-a-hockey player. Vladimir Konstantinov and Slava Fetisov, along with team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov, were all injured in the limo when driver Richard Gnida, who's drivers licence had been suspended, "Blacked out" and crossed 3 lanes before jumping the curb and crashing into a now non existant tree and severely injuring both Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov. Fetisov was also injured, but not nearly as severe. With closed head injuries, Vladimir and Sergei endured months of comas and rehab only for us to come to the realization that both careers were over. The best Defenseman in the NHL had lost his ability to play. He would never be the same.

One year later, with Konstantinov and Mnatsakanov in the arena, and Fetisov on the ice, the Detroit Red Wings swept the Washington Capitals to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup. After Steve Yzerman hoisted it, and the Washington fans cheering, Vladimir Konstantinov was wheeled onto the ice, handed the Stanley Cup and as he held up one finger, signaling that Detroit was once again Number One, the team gathered around him for the team photo before any other player skated with the cup. Trainer John Wharton was summed up the entire night when he said: "This Cup wasn't for Vladdie and Sergei, it was because of them."

I Believed.




The Wings’ Vladimir Konstantinov celebrates the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup victory, the team’s second straight title, a year after he was severely injured in a limo accident that ended his career.




The Wings’ Vladimir Konstantinov wasn’t the only Red Wing injured in the infamous limo accident on June 13, 1997. Team massage therapist Sergei Mnatsakanov and defenseman Slava Fetisov were also hurt in the accident.



A well-wisher covers up with his coat against the rain as he checks out the items left by others near the site of the limo crash that injured Red Wings Slava Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov, and team massage therapist Sergei Mnatsakanov. This site is on the west side of Woodward at Redding. The crash site is in the background in the median.



Vladimir Konstantinov takes his turn with the Stanley Cup after the Wings swept the Philadelphia Flyers on June 6, 1997. It marked his final NHL game.



Red Wing Vyacheslav Kozlov has a picture of injured Wings player Vladimir Konstantinov, right, and masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov taped in his locker as shown here after a practice.




Vladimir Konstantinov kicks a ball around with his daughter Anastasia, 10, right, at their home in 1998. In the background are friends and neighbors

Cheli & The Awards

The Red Wings re-signed 45-year-old defenseman Chris Chelios to a one-year contract Tuesday. By the end of next season, he'll be 46 years old and by the way he looked this season, especially toward the end, he'll continue to be a great Defenseman for our team. After Kronwall went down with a broken sacrum, Cheli stepped up his time on the ice and was fantastic in doing so. I'm glad he'll be back.

Also, we should know this week sometime if Hasek will be back. Knowing him, he'll "retire" again and want to come back after next season only to fuck up the goalie we get for next season ala Curtis Joseph. Emery and Giguere are both free agents this summer... And we in Detroit do need our goalies to fight... However - with Wah (Roy) no longer playing... i suppose it doesn't matter as much.

The Awards Ceremony is Thursday night on Versus. The Awards are:

Presidents' Trophy: Best Overall Record
Winner: Buffalo Sabres

Prince of Wales Trophy: Eastern Conference Champion
Winner: Ottawa Senators

Clarence S. Campbell Bowl: Western Conference Champion
Winner: Anaheim Ducks

Art Ross Trophy: Top Point Scorer in the NHL
Winner: Sidney Crosby

Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy: Qualities of Perseverance and Sportsmanship
2006 Winner: Teemu Selanne - Anaheim Ducks

Calder Memorial Trophy: Rookie of the Year
Finalists: Evgeni Malkin - Penguins; Jordan Staal - Penguins; Paul Stastny - Avalanche.

Conn Smythe Trophy: Most Valuable Player in the Stanley Cup Playoffs
Winner: Scott Neidermayer

Frank J. Selke Trophy: Top Defensive Forward in the NHL
Finalists: Rod Brind'Amour - Hurricanes; Samuel Pahlsson - Ducks; Jay Pandolfo - Devils.

Hart Memorial Trophy: NHL Most Valuable Player
Finalists: Martin Brodeur - Devils; Sidney Crosby - Penguins; Roberto Luongo - Canucks.

Jack Adams Award: Coach of the Year
Finalists: Lindy Ruff - Sabres; Michel Therrien - Penguins; Alain Vigneault - Canucks.

James Norris Memorial Trophy: Top Defenseman in the NHL
Finalists: Nicklas Lidstrom - Red Wings; Scott Niedermayer - Ducks; Chris Pronger - Ducks.

King Clancy Memorial Trophy: Leadership and Humanitarian Contribution
2006 Winner: Olaf Kolzig - Washington Capitals

Lady Byng Memorial Trophy: Player who Displays Gentlemanly Conduct
Finalists: Pavel Datsyuk - Red Wings; Joe Sakic - Avalanche; Martin St. Louis - Lightning.

Lester B. Pearson Award: Most Outstanding Player as Selected by the NHLPA
Finalists: Sidney Crosby - Penguins; Vincent Lecavalier - Lightning; Roberto Luongo - Canucks.

Lester Patrick Trophy: Outstanding Service to Hockey in the United States
2006 Winners: Steve Yzerman, Gordon "Red" Berenson, Reed Larson, Glen Sonmor, Marcel Dionne

Maurice Richard Trophy: Top Goal Scorer in the NHL
Winner: Vincent LeClavalier - Tampa Bay Lightning

Vezina Trophy: Top Goalie in the NHL
Finalists: Martin Brodeur - Devils; Miikka Kiprusoff - Flames; Henrik Lundqvist - Rangers; Roberto Luongo - Canucks

William M. Jennings Trophy: Goalie(s) With the Fewest Goals Scored Against
Winners: Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez - Minnesota Wild