I haven’t said anything about this yet but I should have. As I’m sure everyone has heard, Darren McCarty has admitted to being an alcholic and is working to overcome his addiction. I’m very proud of McCarty for coming right out and saying it and for then working to fix it. It takes a lot of guts to admit to something like that, especially after what has happened to Fleury. I’m not so naive that I believe that NHL players don’t drink but it’s good to know that at least one guy is man enough to admit he has a problem. McCarty has really shown his quality this summer and I admire him for that. Way to go, Big Mac!

Don’t expect to see Steve Yzerman play both games of a back-to-back series. As of right now, he isn’t planning on playing consecutively much, if at all, in the 14 back-to-back games the Wings have this season. I think this is a good decison, especially since Yzerman is really taking a risk in playing at all this year. His knee can’t take a whole season of grinding and they need him more for the playoffs anyway. He probably won’t play much center, unless the Wings use a trapping system (NO!) which would put less stress on his legs. This is most likely The Captain’s last year.

There is no longer the possibility of the Wings trading CuJo to Boston. The Bruins signed Felix Potvin to a one year deal today and now have the #1 goalie they’ve been looking for. I feel really bad for Ken Holland right now.

On a slightly brighter note, New York Rangers goalie Mike Richter will be announcing his retirement tomorrow. I only call this “slightly brighter” because this may open a spot for Joseph in New York. May. Mike Dunham is still there and is a more than capable goalie. This probably means that Eric Lindros will be coming this way (ugh….) but maybe the Wings can get some draft picks instead. I’d rather have those than the Big E.

It’s sad to see Richter go, however. He’s a great goalie and probably would play more if his knees weren’t so messed up. His last win was in November 2002, when he was kneed in the head and received a concussion which he still hasn’t been cleared from. A sad way to end a career.

There’s a rumor circulating that the Wings are discussing a trade with Boston that would send CuJo there for draft picks. In a comment to the Boston Sun, Red Wings Senior VP Jim Devellano said that “our payroll is already too high… draft picks would be good.” The likelihood of such a trade definitely grew when the hockey world learned that CuJo had surgery and will be out up to 6 weeks. I would not be happy with such a trade, since I still have remnants of hope that we can pick up a solid center for CuJo, but I would be satisfied that we would be getting SOMETHING in return for our huge investment in CuJo. Losing him in the waiver draft would be no good, and would awaken the trauma of losing Chris Osgood in the same manner. Let’s cross our fingers that CuJo is moved before training camp starts!