The Red Wings presented their 04-05 regular season schedule today along with the rest of the NHL. If the CBA situation turns out to be resolved quickly and everything starts up on time, the Wings will play their first game on October 14th, in Edmonton. They will then play the Canucks in Vancouver on the 16th before coming home to play Carolina and Chicago (12/3, 12/14, 12/17, 1/9/2005, 1/26) on the 20th and 22nd.

The final games aren’t all that exciting. The Wings will play Columbus twice, Philadelphia once and Minnesota twice (the last two games) in April to finish out the season.

Some games of note:
We may see Brett Hull in a Dallas Stars uniform on October 27th when they come to town to play the Wings, if the rumors are true.

Wings fans will get to see Sergei Fedorov again on the 25th when his Mighty Ducks of Anaheim come to town for the first of four meetings (11/19, 2/1/05, 3/21).

The Wings will face #1 pick Alexander Ovechkin (assuming he’s able to get out of Russia) on November 11th when they travel to Washington to take on the Caps.

We’ll hopefully get to see the Wings exact some revenge on November 24th when the Flames come to town.

The guys will travel to Denver for the first of four Avs-Wings game on December 8th. Though it’s not early in the season, it’s better than waiting until February for that game, like we did last year. (1/8/05, 1/29, 3/13)

Dominik Hasek (if he’s not injured) will get to face his old team on December 19 when he and the Ottawa Senators come to Detroit for the only game the two clubs will play against each other next year.

The Wings will go to Boston to play the oldest American team on January 11th. It will be the only time the two Original Six teams will face each other.

Original Six rivals the Toronto Maple Leafs will visit Detroit on January 15th for their only regular season meeting with the Wings, the usual scheduling crime.

The defending Stanley Cup Champions will host the Red Wings on February 19, 2005, the only game we’ll get to see the Lightning.

The Wings will host the Habs on March 3rd, another scheduling crime since it will be the only game between the two old Original Six rivals.

Unfortunately, the Wings won’t be able to get their annual meeting with the NY Rangers out of the way until March 26th. There’s an O6 game I couldn’t care less about.

Here’s a link to the complete Detroit schedule and to the complete NHL schedule.

Corrupt Officiating?

A new controversy is brewing in the NHL corner of the sports world. It appears that Andy Van Hellemond’s resignation from his position as the National Hockey League’s director of officiating is because he was borrowing money from some officials, even those who were referees in the Cup Finals. The loans were between $100 and $10,000.

This means that Van Hellemond could’ve been giving preference to certain individuals who loaned him money with respect to prime playoff assignments. An unidentified source says:

“That’s why Colin Campbell selected the officials for the final and Mike Murphy was installed as the supervisor for the final. Usually, the director of officiating is the supervisor for the final.”

But another mystery source has analyzed the situation in a different manner:

“Van Hellemond didn’t do anything illegal and he has since paid back the loans. He just made a very bad decision.”

Either way, the NHL does not need this black cloud of controversy surrounding its officiating, which has come under fire by many who want to see consistent standards of officiating from October through the playoffs.

Red Wings and the ECHL

The Red Wings have extended their affiliation with the Toledo Storm of the ECHL through the 2004-05 season, marking their thirteenth season as inter-league partners. The Wings’ other minor league affiliate is the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL. Wings’ prospects such as Darryl Bootland, Nathan Robinson, Paul Ballantyne, and Joey MacDonald have played with the Storm. Being in Toledo, it is a convenient location for the Wings to send their players (as is Grand Rapids).

Before their affiliation with the Griffins, the Wings had an affiliation with the AHL’s Adirondack Red Wings [RIP: 1979-1999]. But it was often difficult to move players from upstate/far eastern New York, with many players having to drive to Detroit just for the chance to make a cameo appearance.

Red Wings Preseason Schedule

This past Friday, the Wings released details of a theoretical nine-game preseason that would commence September 26 at the Joe, versus Boston. I attach “theoretical” to everything related to the 2004-2005 NHL season, simply because it is protocol to schedule things, but it doesn’t really mean much with the CBA expiring on September 15. Just don’t set your heart on seeing Red Wings hockey until at least January. But here is the theoretical preseason schedule:

September 26, Boston @ Detroit
September 28, Detroit @ Colorado
September 30, Detroit @ Boston
October 1, Toronto @ Detroit
October 2, Detroit @ Dallas
October 5, Colorado @ Detroit
October 7, Dallas @ Detroit
October 9, Detroit @ Toronto
October 10, NY Rangers @ Detroit

Devereaux a Happy Coyote

After the Wings decided not to pick up their option for him, Boyd Devereaux signed with the Phoenix Coyotes last week. Devereaux inked a one-year, $650,000 contract, with bonuses bringing that up to a possible $1.6 million. The 26-year-old Devereaux earned $1.6 million as a Wing last season. And the former 6th overall pick in the 1996 NHL draft has to feel re-energized, after a rocky stay in Detroit the past four years and a history of serious concussions. The Coyotes are a much younger team than the Wings, and will be able to give Boyd more ice time and playing experience. The Coyotes’ oldest player is 32-year-old Sean O’Donnell (newly-signed Mike Ricci is 14 days younger than O’Donnell, turning 33 on October 27).

After stints in Kitchener (Ontario), Hamilton (Ontario), Edmonton, and Detroit, Devereaux will have to deal with quite a climate shock:

“I�m going to miss the seasons. We�re going there in the next couple of weeks to just get comfortable with the area and get familiar with things. I�m preparing for it to be real hot.”

Culture-shock aside for the native Ontario boy, Devereaux is looking forward to a fresh start:

“I�m looking forward to getting out there and getting started. They�ve made some moves recently, moves which are going to help us a lot. I definitely think we�ll be battling for the playoffs, and once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen.”

Even though the Coyotes are a young team, their front office boasts Wayne Gretzky, who is the Managing Partner and Alternate Governor (part owner) of the Phoenix Coyotes. Maybe rubbing shoulders with the Great One can get Boyd on the right track. I wish him the best, have no hard feelings for his stay here (ie Boyd “De-void”), and hope that he does well in his new desert home.

Ex-Blue wins $15 million suit

Former St Louis Blues left winger Tony Twist has won a lawsuit against Spawn creator Todd McFarlane, which claimed that McFarlane profited from using Twist’s name without his permission. In the comic books, McFarlane had a mob boss character named Antonio (Tony Twist) Twistelli.

Tony Twist was an NHL enforcer who had 10 goals and 18 assists in 445 career games. Now he is $15 million dollars richer, as the St Louis circuit court jury found McFarlane liable to the claims. But the sticking point is that McFarlane vows to appeal the verdict, and a previous court ruling awarded Twist $24.5 million in 2000 before that decision was overruled. McFarlane claims his use of the name is protected under the First Amendment. That isn’t saying much, since the First Amendment is probably the most misinterpreted amendment, and any wrong can be protected by one’s freedom of speech if perverted the right way. But the one thing about America is that you can always find a radical court that sides with you, and the Missouri Court of Appeals’ Eastern District did that when they overruled the previous award in Twist’s favor.

Part of me wants to side with Twist: the comics came out during the early 1990′s, when Twist was playing with the Quebec Nordiques, and the NHL enforcer was apparently depicted as a mob boss in his comic form. But it isn’t clear whether McFarlane knew Tony Twist before he created his comic book character. McFarlane was born in Canada, and Twist is well-known in the inner-circle of hockey fans, but this just isn’t enough evidence. Either way, I think that $15 million is way too steep a settlement for the “crime” incurred. And I also think that this was a bad PR move for Tony Twist, since most people think it comical for the former NHL player to be suing a comic book creator for such a frivolous issue.

Mike Danton Trial

The pre-trial hearing for St Louis Blues forward Mike Danton has been postponed until next week. Danton is accused of the would-be murder-for-hire of his longtime agent David Frost. Mike Danton (formerly Mike Jefferson) is estranged from his family, and reports from his parents suggest that he has had a close relationship with David Frost, who they suggest is manipulating their son.

Danton will appear in federal court Monday, July 19. Also charged is 19-year-old Katie Wolfmeyer, who is accused of trying to hire the would-be killer. Through the whole fiasco, Frost has maintained Danton’s innocence. The trials of Danton and Wolfmeyer are set to begin in September, where they face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Danton has been incarcerated since April 16, when he was arrested in San Jose, a day after the Blues were eliminated from the playoffs by the Sharks.

Front Office Francis

The Carolina Hurricanes have offered veteran Ron Francis a front office position next season, but do not want him to return as a player. Francis was offered the position of director of player development. Says Canes GM Jim Rutherford:

“As an organization, we’ve talked about going in a different direction with making our team younger.”

Francis’ role would have him working with prospects and assessing potential trades. Francis, 41, has not made any announcement as to whether he will play next season.

Last March, Francis actually jumped boats to the Toronto Maple Leafs, accepting a trade that gave him a chance at winning the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, he suffered a back injury, and finished with only 4 points in 12 games, and the Leafs lost to the Flyers in the Conference Semifinals. I see this as a precedent to Steve Yzerman being offered a front office job with the Red Wings after he retires.

Dan Snyder Remembered

Dany Heatley joined several Atlanta Thrashers teammates and officials yesterday to take part in the inaugural Dan Snyder Memorial golf tournament in Snyder’s hometown of Elmira, Ont.

Last September, Dany Heatley crashed his Ferrari into a brick pillar, with teammate Dan Snyder in the passenger seat. Snyder died later died of his injuries, and Heatley was left severely injured and the focus of a media blitz. Dany Heatley is expected to be indicted for his role in the fatal wreck. The Snyder family has come out in strong support of Heatley, and they are expected to help clear him of the charges.

The tournament is expected to have raised up to $100,000, which will go for the building of a new hockey arena in Snyder’s memory.

Cherry Verdict Soon

Don Cherry’s future in the CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada feature “Coach’s Corner” is expected to come out in the next few days. Cherry is without a contract, and reports are that top executives at the CBC do not want him back. One source from the broadcast company gives his chances of returning of, at best, 50-50. My bet is that Cherry is offered another contract with the CBC, because, despite the dirty laundry he brings, “Coach’s Corner” is always the spike in Hockey Night in Canada’s ratings. Hockey fan or not, many are intrigued by Cherry’s straight-forward, honest approach to hockey analysis.

Red Wing Free Agent News

GM Ken Holland continues to negotiate with restricted free agents Mathieu Dandenault, Jiri Fischer, Pavel Datsyuk, and Jason Williams. All four have until Thursday to file for salary arbitration. Arbitration hearings are conducted between August 1-15.

But both sides would prefer to avoid the awkward feel of an arbitration hearing, which pits player against management in a tug-of-war over salary level. The Wings have made qualifying offers to all four, retaining their rights in a mandatory move, since all were below the league’s average salary of $1.8 million.

Reports are that Dandenault will accept the 10% raise of the qualifying offer, but Pavel Datsyuk is farthest from coming to an agreement, after his 30-goal, 38-assist breakout season.

Defenseman Ric Jackman has reportedly agreed to a multi-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He only played 25 games with the Penguins last season after being dealt from Toronto on February 11th. He had seven goals and 17 assists in those 25 games. “Ric is an important part of our team and was instrumental in our late-season success, especially on the power play,” said general manager Craig Patrick. “We’re extremely pleased to have him under contract as we move forward.”

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Yesterday Darren McCarty played a part in the ground-breaking ceremony for “The Hockeytown Kids Wing.” The wing will be the ICU’s family waiting area. The area will be Red Wings themed and contain memorabilia, murals, etc. and should be completed late this fall. The project is being paid for by proceeds from the Red Wings Wish Club which has generated almost $200,000 for Children’s Hospital of Michigan since 1996.

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Last week Boyd Devereaux agreed to a one-year deal (with an option for a following season) with the Phoenix Coyotes. He will make $650,000 for the first season and if he returns for a second season and reaches certain performance incentive clauses, he could earn up to $1.6 million over the two seasons.

While Devereaux enjoyed his Stanley Cup win with the Wings, his playing time was dwindling and his role on the team started to shrink. �It was disappointing, but I just prefer to think ahead and I have no regrets about my time here,� Devereaux said. �Obviously you want to play, and there are possibilities of that in Phoenix. There just seems to be a chance for a bigger role there.�

He’s looking forward to the new start and challenges that come with a newer team building towards playoff qualifying potential. I�m looking forward to getting out there and getting started,� Devereaux said. �They�ve made some moves recently, moves which are going to help us a lot. I definitely think we�ll be battling for the playoffs, and once you get into the playoffs, anything can happen.�

The Coyotes look to Devereaux as a foundational block on which to build this young club. �Boyd is another young player who brings elite speed to our hockey club,� Coyotes GM Mike Barnett said. �While with the Red Wings, he gained invaluable experience as a member of their Stanley Cup championship team. We believe that Boyd can take on a more expanded offensive role with our hockey club after having played alongside many future Hall of Famers in Detroit. He brings the work ethic that it takes to win consistently in the NHL.”

Defenseman Richard Matvichuk signed with the New Jersey Devils after spending 12 seasons with the Dallas Stars. In the 75 games he played last season, the 31-year-old brought in 21 points and 36 penalty minutes.

24-year old Vitaly Vishnevski re-signed today with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. The defenseman was selected fifth overall in the ’98 NHL Entry Draft. The Russian had his career high in points with 16 and led the team with a plus/minus rating of +10 at home. He has also been selected to represent Team Russia in the 2004 World Cup.

Restricted free-agent forward Ryan VandenBussche signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins today. He played with the Chicago Blackhawks last season and played 65 games notching four goals, one assist, and 120 penalty minutes.

Forward Mike Sillinger has been re-signed by the St. Louis Blues. After joining the Blues late in the season, he had five goals and five assists in 16 games. He spent most of the past season with the Phoenix Coyotes. “Mike gives us strength up the middle and his experience in the league will benefit the entire club,” Senior vice president and general manager Larry Pleau said. “He’s extremely effective at winning faceoffs, which is critical to any penalty killing unit, and he gives us some offensive capability as well.”

In other hockey news, I just discovered an online petition to award the one Pittsburg slots license to Penguins owner, Mario Lemieux, and for the proceeds to go towards building a new hockey arena. Very interesting. You go to a hockey game and out by the concession stands, there are lines of slot machines. Hmm…very unusual.

Red Wings captain Steve Yzerman has confirmed what has been reported for weeks: he will not play in the Hockey World Cup due to the eye injury he suffered in Game 5 of the 2004 Western Conference Semifinals. Team Canada’s executive director, Wayne Gretzky said in a statement Sunday night

“Steve has indicated that he will be unable to participate in the World Cup of Hockey this summer due to his injury situation and that he felt that he would not be ready to be at the level of conditioning required.”

To replace The Captain, the unanimous choice was Tampa Bay Lightning forward Vincent Lecavalier, one of the key components in his team’s Stanley Cup-winning playoff run this year. He was so key, in fact, that many were surprised when Team Canada did not originally select Lecavalier to be on their roster. He is a rising star in the league and while he won’t bring nearly the same level of leadership to the table that Yzerman would have brought, his scoring ability won’t be a detriment. Canada will still be a very hard team to beat and will definitely be an exciting one to watch.

It’s a shame that Steve will not be able to play afterall. I admire him for having the decency to bow out, though, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to contribute nearly as much as a healthy player. It’s a testament to his character and it’s not the first time or the last time he’s demonstrated that trait. Having won a gold medal in the 2002 Olympics for his country softened the blow, I’m sure.

This is intended to be a sort of follow up to my original piece, Where NHL Players Come From. The whole idea of the follow up is that I have received a lot of responses to the tune of “My state has all these minor league programs, so you can’t say there is no grassroots talent production going on.” The assumption is that these minor league players are not imported talent, but rather local hot spots of hockey production that exist in the South. I will analyze the rosters of southern teams in the five leagues which the NHL recognizes as “Minor Professional Hockey” Leagues: SEHL (4 teams), AHL (2 teams), ECHL (15 teams), UHL (2 teams), and CHL (11 teams).

Disclaimer: The following are lists of the places of origin for all current minor league players whose team is located in the South, based on the active rosters from their respective organizations as of 7/9/04. This data is intended to give a general idea of where players are coming from. I do not vouch for the numbers to be precisely accurate, as some players were not on the active rosters when I researched the subject, and I did not feel the need to search these players out individually. In addition, a few obscure players had no birthplace listed. The purpose is to show that, even if strong minor league programs exist in the South, the majority of participating players were outsourced from the North.

SEHL (4 teams)

Canada

Ontario: 25
British Columbia: 4
Nova Scotia: 3
Alberta: 2
Saskatchewan: 2
Quebec: 2
Manitoba: 1
New Brunswick: 1

Total Canada: 40

United States

Massachusetts: 5
New York: 5
Pennsylvania: 4
Michigan: 4
New Jersey: 3
Illinois: 3
Connecticut: 2
Washington: 2
Ohio: 2
Minnesota: 2
Virginia: 1
Wisconsin: 1
New Hampshire: 1

Total United States: 35

Europe/Other

Czech Rep: 3
Slovakia: 2
Switzerland: 1

Total Europe/Other: 6

Total SEHL Players Documented: 81

SEHL Percentages:

Canada: 49.4%
United States: 43.2%
Europe/Other: 7.4%

[Cape Fear FireAntz, Huntsville Channel Cats, Knoxville Ice Bears, Winston-Salem T-Birds]

AHL (2 teams)

Canada

British Columbia: 8
Alberta: 6
Ontario: 5
Saskatchewan: 4
Quebec: 3
Manitoba: 3
Newfoundland: 1

Total Canada: 30

United States

Massachusetts: 3
New York: 2
Michigan: 1
Illinois: 1
Minnesota: 1

Total United States: 8

Europe/Other

Czech Rep: 3
Sweden: 3
Russia: 2
Ukraine: 1
Finland: 1
France: 1
Kazakhstan: 1
Austria: 1

Total Europe/Other: 13

Total AHL Players Documented: 51

AHL Percentages:

Canada: 58.8%
United States: 15.7%
Europe/Other: 25.5%

[Norfolk Admirals, Houston Aeros]

ECHL(15 teams)

Canada

Ontario: 79
Alberta: 27
Quebec: 22
Saskatchewan: 19
British Columbia: 17
Manitoba: 10
New Brunswick: 2
Nova Scotia: 1
Newfoundland: 1

Total Canada: 178

United States

Minnesota: 20
Michigan: 17
Massachusetts: 16
New York: 11
Illinois: 8
Pennsylvania: 4
Wisconsin: 4
New Jersey: 2
Connecticut: 2
Washington: 2
Ohio: 2
New Hampshire: 2
Rhode Island: 2
Oregon: 1
California: 1
Maryland: 1
Nebraska: 1
Wyoming: 1
North Dakota: 1

Total United States: 98

Europe/Other

Ukraine: 5
Czech Rep: 3
Japan: 2
Latvia: 2
Russia: 2
Sweden: 2
Slovakia: 1
Finland: 1
Kazakhstan: 1

Total Europe/Other: 19

Total ECHL Players Documented: 295

ECHL Percentages:

Canada: 60.3%
United States: 33.2%
Europe/Other: 6.4%

[Augusta Lynx, Charlotte Checkers, Columbia Inferno, Florida Everblades, Greensboro Generals, Gwinnett Gladiators, Greenville Grrrowl, Louisiana IceGators, Mississippi Sea Wolves, Pee Dee Pride, Pensacola Ice Pilots, Roanoke Express, South Carolina Stingrays, Texas Wildcatters, Wheeling Nailers]

CHL(11 teams)

Canada

Ontario: 54
Alberta: 22
Quebec: 13
British Columbia: 9
Saskatchewan: 8
Manitoba: 4
Nova Scotia: 2
Prince Edward Island: 2
New Brunswick: 1
Newfoundland: 1
Northwest Territories: 1

Total Canada: 117

United States

Michigan: 6
Illinois: 4
Minnesota: 3
Massachusetts: 2
New York: 2
Wisconsin: 2
Pennsylvania: 1
Connecticut: 1
Ohio: 1
Rhode Island: 1
North Dakota: 1
Oklahoma: 1
Utah: 1

Total United States: 26

Europe/Other

Slovakia: 3
Czech Rep: 2
Sweden: 1
Kazakhstan: 1
Slovenia: 1

Total Europe/Other: 8

Total CHL Players Documented: 151

CHL Percentages:

Canada: 77.5%
United States: 17.2%
Europe/Other: 5.3%

[Bossier-Shreveport Mudbugs, Fort Worth Brahmas, Memphis RiverKings, Austin Ice Bats, Corpus Christi Rayz, Laredo Bucks, Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees, Amarillo Gorillas, Lubbock Cotton Kings, Odessa Jackalopes, San Angelo Saints]

UHL (2 teams)

Canada

Ontario: 11
Quebec: 8
Manitoba: 4
British Columbia: 3
Saskatchewan: 3
Alberta: 2
New Brunswick: 2
Prince Edward Island: 1

Total Canada: 34

United States

Minnesota: 3
Michigan: 2
Massachusetts: 1
Illinois: 1
Alaska: 1
Connecticut: 1
New Hampshire: 1

Total United States: 10

Europe/Other

None

Total Europe/Other: 0

Total UHL Players Documented: 44

UHL Percentages:

Canada: 77.3%
United States: 22.7%
Europe/Other: 0%

[Missouri River Otters, Richmond RiverDogs]

Analysis

As seen in the data, only one player, goalie Adam Barbour, was born in the region covered by the SEHL (Fairfax, Virginia). Barbour played four years of college hockey for the University of Delaware, then for the Northern Michigan Predators, and, finally, the SEHL. Barbour is my only documented southern-born player playing for a southern team in one of the five minor hockey leagues. That’s 34 teams and 622 players documented, and only one playing in the region in which he was born. The sad truth about the outsourcing of hockey in the South.

There are few European/Other players in the minor leagues simply because players from overseas tend to play in their own countries’ minors before jumping to the NHL, due to the strength of tier leagues in places like Sweden, Finland, Russia, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. As the strength of the minor leagues increase, so does the likelihood that the players were born in Europe/Other, for example, the AHL (25.5%) versus the ECHL (6.4%).

The overall trend I expected is shown: despite the ability to boast about minor league systems in their backyard, the South still lacks the solid production of talent, whether NHL or even minor league. Sure, having a strong minor league system is a step in the right direction, but their only “local” talent is in Canadian/Northern born and grown talent, outsourced to fill the void in hockey talent in the South. I’d like to see the few Dan Hinote’s of the South foster their careers below the Mason-Dixon, as well as a significant increase in hockey production in the South. I’d say it’s reasonable to have more than one local boy playing for your southern minor league teams.

The Red Wings and defenseman Chris Chelios are all but finished working out a deal which will bring the NHL’s oldest player (42) back for another year, reports the Detroit Free Press today. According to to the man himself, a base salary has been agreed upon and all that’s left is to decide on what his bonuses will be. He is expected to earn a little less than $3 million, after getting $6 million last year.

Chelios was aquired at the trade deadline in 1999 and has become an important part of the Red Wings’ defense. Although is age would cause most teams to avoid him, the Wings recognize the good of keeping him around as a veteran leader for the younger defensemen on the team. He is still in great shape and is considered to be one of the toughest players on the team by the coaching staff.

Right now, he is in California at his off-season home training hard and staying in shape. Wings fans last saw him on the ice in during Game 2 of the Western Conference Semifinals against Calgary when he went down with a shoulder injury.

Chelios said that the only reason it took this long for a deal to be made was because the Wings’ first priority was to bring back Kris Draper.

I’m happy with this news since I know Cheli is still valuable and that it’s not a waste of Wings’ money to bring him back. He won’t play as much next season because he is getting old and that will force his minutes to go down, great shape or not, but that’s not where his greatest value comes in to play. At this point, he’s not being brought back so much for his playing ability but for what he can teach guys like Jiri Fischer, Niklas Kronwall and Jamie Rivers. It was much the same case with Igor Larionov being a mentor to Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. I think it’s a good choice by the Wings, though after this year, Chelios should retire.