Wings Update
It’s hard for me to imagine this but it looks like Dom’s in trouble for beating a man unconscious during an inline hockey game in the Czech Republic last weekend. Apparently, the other player checked Hasek, who was a skater, not a goalie. Dominik took exception and after he broke the man’s nose, he beat him with his stick. Uhhh, nice one, Dom. Way to stay cool, calm and collected. Wow. I guess even Dominik Hasek can beat someone up when they have a totally unfair advantage.
Bad, bad news: Igor Grigorenko is in even worse condition after his surgery. Apparently his condition is not life-threatening but he’ll be in the intensive care unit for a while now. I doubt we’ll ever see Igor in a Wings jersey. The Russian doctors are saying he won’t return until next year at the earliest. I’m hearing he has a double hip fracture along with a broken leg below the knee and a concussion. Sounds like a career ending injury to me. I’d like to know the full story on what happened that night. We’re told he was not drinking but it can’t just be that he is a bad driver. I guess sports teams run this kind of risk when they don’t lock their players up in a hotel for their whole careers. I’m glad Igor didn’t die but hopefully he has something else to do because he career probably is over.
Playoff Update
There were no games last night
Tonight’s Games
New Jersey @ Ottawa, 7 ET, Devils lead series 3-1. Go Sens!
Wings Update
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News says the Wings have other options if Grigorenko is not able to come to the NHL next year. The Wings have to decide what to do about Igor because they only have until July 15 to sign him or he’ll stay in Russia. His recovery is expected to take 3-5 months so it would be a gamble to bring him up if he ends up not being able to play. On the other hand, the Wings were counting heavily on Igor to be on the team and perform like Pavel and Henrik have. Also, besides points, Grigorenko will have something else to bring to the team: I’ve heard he’s a tougher version of Ilya Kovalchuk. Sounds just like what the Wings need, toughness. I don’t know how tough Igor is but the Wings need all they can get.
The Wings’ll need someone to fill any gap Igor leaves. Kulfan doesn’t say anything about Jiri Hudler, a Red Wings prospect from the Czech Republic who is supposed to be really awesome, but he mentions a trade. Apparently, instead of Hudler, who the Wings want to give another year to develope, the Wings might try to go after players already in the NHL. Since many teams are looking to unload their larger salaried players, the Wings might be able to get some talent for a smaller price than usual. Hopefully they’ll be able to get someone if Grigorenko doesn’t recover enough in time because the Wings run the risk of losing Sergei and Mac. This injury to Grigorenko makes the signing of Fedorov and McCarty even more important than before.
Playoff Update
The Devils are once again one win away from the Finals. They beat the Senators yesterday 5-2. The Senators have dropped 3 straight games, a first for this season and Lalime, who went a record 12 straight playoff games allowing no more than 2 goals, hasn’t done so well in this series. Not nearly as well as Brodeur, who would have been the best goalie in the playoffs if it weren’t for our friend JS. I’d say it’s unlikely the Sens will come back in this series and I’m going to be sorry to see two strictly trap teams in the Stanley Cup Finals in a few days. Game 5 is Monday in Ottawa @ 7 ET.
Igor Grigorenko underwent surgery today, they operated on his leg and hip. Holland said he talked to Igor’s agent who told him Grigorenko will be recovering in the hospital for 3 to 4 weeks. Apparently, the prospects for his return to the ice are unclear.
Playoff Update
The Ducks are going to the Finals. JS didn’t get his shut out or even break the record but they still won 2-1 over the Wild. Pretty embarrassing for Minnesota, to only score 1 goal in a series. The little I saw of the game, it looked more open than usual. Now we Wings fans can all justify the early exit by saying we lost to one of the Finals teams. Too bad that doesn’t work with everyone else around the league. The Wings still look bad.
Today’s games
Ottawa @ New Jersey, 3 ET, Devils lead series 2-1.
Wings Update
Not a great day for Wings fans. First, Holland has made no progress in signing the major free agents. That is not good news.
Second, Red Wings prospect Igor Grigorenko is in serious condition after he crashed his car today. His team’s spokesman said “He broke his left leg in two places, above and below the knee, and also suffered a concussion.” He also said Igor will be out of action for at least three to four months. The Wings were going to be bringing him up next season, hopefully he can recover well enough to play. If anyone’s wondering if Grigorenko was drunk, his spokesman said: “Doctors will have to determine if Grigorenko was drinking before the crash, but I doubt that because as far as I know he doesn’t drink.”
Playoff Update
Another reason this day isn’t a great one for Wings fans is the Devils won again. I don’t know of many Wings fans who want the Devils to win (they swept us in the 95 Finals) and I sure don’t. The Senators got lucky that New Jersey’s second goal did not count because the refs were too blind to see it go in. Even so, Ottawa couldn’t score the 1 goal needed to tie the game and lost 1-0. The Sens worked hard for this game and the only reason they lost is Martin Brodeur. I haven’t seen so many tape-to-tape passes since the Wings were on. If the Devils make the Finals (we all know the Ducks will), then it’s going to be an amazing goalie duel and some of the most boring hockey ever at the same time.
Tonight’s Games
Minnesota @ Anaheim, 10:30 ET, Ducks lead series 3-0, Wild have not yet scored a goal (I doubt they will……)
Wings Update
Igor’s days in Detroit may be over. The Wings have not talked to him yet about next year and have focused on resigning Yzerman, Fedorov, McCarty and Woolley. Holland really should be talking to Igor too. While I’m not sure the Wings should bring Igor back as a player, I know they shouldn’t let him leave the organization. The experience he brings to the table is invaluble to the young players the Wings have already on the teams and those that will be coming up. I say make him a coach and let Barry go to Pittsburg. If not that, find a way to keep Igor around the team.
Playoff Update
Jean-Sebastien Giguere became the second goalie NHL history to begin a playoff series with 3 straight shut outs when he blanked the Minnesota Wild to help the Ducks win 4-0 and take a 3-0 lead in the WC Finals. He needs to shut the Wild out for a little less than two periods to break the playoff record scoreless streak of 248:32, which was set by the Wings’ Normie Smith in 1936. He’ll probably get it because the Wild are dead. Going to 7 games in their last two series did not help their energy level. The game was the Duck’s first one-sided win of the season and they’re probably breaking out. If they continue to play like this, they will be unstoppable and the words “The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim” will probably be on the Cup in a few weeks.
Tonight’s games
Ottawa @ New Jersey, 7 ET, series tied 1-1
Wings Update
There is a short article in today’s Detroit News about the possibility of Hasek returning to the league. Basically, since the Wings don’t need him, other teams would likely go after him and because the Wings still have a club option on Dom’s contract, those teams would have to go through the Wings. If Dom decides to come back, the Wings could get a big trade for him.
Playoff Update
The Devils beat the Senators last night 4-1. I watched some of the game and I wish it had turned out differently. I really want the Sens to win that series. They worked really hard but didn’t get any breaks. The play was in their hands for a lot of the game. The Devils still had a bunch of turnover, which was a major problem in Game 1 but the Sens only scored on one. I don’t have much else to say about the game other than I wish the Senators had won. I really hope the Devils do not make the Finals.
Tonight’s games
Minnesota @ Anaheim, 9 ET, Ducks lead series 2-0
Wings Update
Ted Kulfan did an interview with Lewis. It’s mostly about next year but also mentions some things about this last season. Kulfan also has a short article talking about how Lewis’ first year is being praised.
John Niyo has an article about the World Championships and the Wings players’ roles in it.
In the weekly fan quote/answer section, the question was “Who should be the Wings #1 goalie next season - Curtis Joseph, Manny Legace or someone else?” One guy said “Manny Legace. I don’t think CuJo played well enough.” Everyone else was enough of a hockey fan to recognize that Joseph was not the only one responsible for the meltdown, they picked CuJo.
This news has potential to be good news for Wings fans. St. Patrick is 90% sure about his decision, whatever it is. Retire retire retire retire……..
