Brendan Shanahan has a two-day state-of-the-game summit planned this week with some of the big names among the players, coaches, general managers and referees of the NHL. Rather than discussing the all-pervasive lockout, they will talk about ways to open the game up and improve its entertainment value. Shanahan said

”I just thought it would be interesting to sit in a room together and discuss the game of hockey – just the game of hockey. I felt that when we do come back (from the lockout), we really need to get our focus back on the game of hockey.

“Regardless of what side you’re on (in the labour talks), nobody is bigger than the game of hockey and I just wanted to put the focus back on the game.”

Shanahan is not known as being the most outspoken and publically proactive guy so this comes as a surprise to many. Apparently, though, it’s not completely a pipe dream since he’s gone through all the right channels, speaking with Gary Bettman, Colin Campbell, Bob Goodenow and Trevor Linden. The League and the Union have no problem with it since it’s not interfering with negotiations so he got the go-ahead.

Shanahan is realistic about the summit’s chances of making an impact though. He knows the NHL is making its own efforts to improve the game and only wants to add to the process, not “step on anybody’s toes.”

It will be interesting to see what comes out of this. Because of the large amount of research required to think up viable changes, I don’t know if it’s all that likely to produce anything immensely groundbreaking. You never know though. With all the hockey minds that will be present, something should get done. Of course it will be up to the league office to decide whether any suggestions are implemented. The NHL already has some rule changes set to go into effect when the league starts up again and I doubt they’ll want to make too many more all at once. (via. TSN)

I was able to go with a friend to Champions for Children’s Pro-Am Skate for Mott last night at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. I had to skip Western Civilization class to do it (sorry Prof. Robinson) but sometimes hockey is more important. The raising money aspect of the event was certainly successful, with 7,000 people packing out a 6,603-seat arena. If that doesn’t show a how much people miss hockey, I don’t know what does. I won’t give a detailed recap of the game since I didn’t take notes and was there just to have fun.

– Sergei Fedorov was there, which was a surprise since his name was not listed in the paper. I heard a rumor going around that his girlfriend, Tara Reid, was there too but I don’t know for sure if she was or not. Apparently, Chris Chelios is responsible for Sergei being on the team. He called the organizer, David Roberts, and asked if he had a roster spot open 24 hours befoe the game started. He was cheered just as much as anybody when his name was announced during player introductions. When the announcers called him a former-Red Wing and current Mighty Duck, Chris Chelios, who was standing right next to him, gave him a funny look.

– Steve Yzerman obviously got the loudest cheering of all the players. People were standing up and starting to cheer even before his name was announced. The Captain looked good and the visor did not seem in hinder his play very much at all.

– Kid Rock was there and dropped the first puck.

– Chris Chelios didn’t play any defense, as far as I could tell, all night. Instead, he was center/winger/cherry picker and the brunt of most of the announcers’ jokes. He was able to break in on the USA goalie twice but both times was absolutely stuffed, much to the delight of everyone in the stands. His restaurant, Cheli’s Chili Bar, was plugged shamelessly by the announcers, one of whom jokingly said he was getting paid $2 each time he mentioned it.

– The whole atmosphere was very fun and easy going. It had a good, pick-up game feel and though the pros pretty much dominated, it wasn’t in a mean way. They played pretty casually and just showed a wealth of experience that the U18′s hopefully learned from. The kids were pretty talented and made some good plays themselves but rarely were able to finish. Everyone cheered when the pros scored, just as every cheered when the U18′s scored. Manny made that a little harder though with his quick glove hand but they got two by him eventually.

I definitely enjoyed the game and it made me realize even more just how much I miss hockey. I really hope the meeting next week produces a positive result because time is running out.

… Above are two pictures from the Detroit Free Press showing Steve Yzerman practicing at Troy Sports Center yesterday in his visor. It’s a lot darker than I’d imagined, so much so that, apparently, long-time teammate Kris Draper did not recognize him at first.

… Speaking of Draper, he isn’t going to Europe to play any more. He’s gotten too caught up in being a family man to disrupt the family’s life for three months or so.

… Nick Lidstrom also was planning on headed overseas next calender year. Apparently, though, he and his wife are now worried about uprooting their two young sons like that.

… Manny Legace won’t go to Europe either. He’s watching his pennies now and eating out less. Apparently, his $1.3 million contract won’t be enough to sustain him were he to play for less overseas.

(via. Freep)

… I’ll be going to the charity game tonight and I’ll be wearing my Steve Yzerman jersey, like most of the other people there, I imagine.

… The NHLPA’s website isn’t completely useless after all! Check out their “NHLPA Members in Europe” page. It’s a portal to English-language stats sites for each country’s leagues. They also have some concise game reports published on the NHLPA site itself. Should be a good resource for webmasters who are trying to find material to publish (like Brian and I) as well as fans trying to keep track of their favorite players (also like Brian and I).

They also re-designed the site so it looks a lot better.

… Thanks to Brian for giving me those above links. I hope I didn’t steal your thunder by using them as my own. Sorry. This next one I found myself.

… Well, something’s finally happened today with regard to negotiations. The NHLPA invited the NHL to meet next Thursday, December 9th, and the League accepted. It’ll be the first time since September 9th that the two sides have met in any official capacity. The players apparently are working on a new proposal and will offer it in the meeting. The NHL will probably turn it down flat but at least something’s happening. Maybe there is hope after all, though I wouldn’t hold my breath.

Wings fans will get their first look at the new visor-wearing Steve Yzerman on Thursday when he plays in a charity game at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor. The game will feature five Red Wings (Yzerman, Chris Chelios, Nicklas Lidstrom, Kris Draper and Manny Legace Update: Derian Hatcher will also participate) as well as other current and former NHLers:

Aaron Ward (Carolina)
Chris Tamer (Atlanta)
Sergei Samsonov (Boston)
Brian Rolston (Minnesota)
Bryan Smolinski (Ottawa)
Doug Brown
Dave Oliver
Dave Harlock
Kip Miller
Kevin Miller

They will play the US National U-18 team and the game “will benefit the Champions for Children campaign to build a new University of Michigan Mott Children’s Hospital.” The game will start at 8:00 PM. The $10 tickets can be purchased at M-Den stores and the Ann Arbor Ice Cube as well as at the gate.

Yzerman has worn a visor for short periods of time before in his career but he will be wearing it permanently now. No one really believes it will affect his game but it will take some getting used to after so many years, I’m sure. His eye is still sensitive to light and because of that, his visor is slightly tinted.

The Captain will also appear in a game in Moscow on December 13th honoring Igor Larionov. He will be on the World Team with Martin Brodeur, Chris Osgood, Jiri Fischer, Aaron Ward, Nick Lidstrom, Sandis Ozolinsh, Mathieu Dandenault, Chris Chelios, Steve Duchesne, Brendan Shanahan, Kirk Maltby, Steve Yzerman, Luc Robitaille, Jay Pandolfo, Martin Lapointe, Scott Gomez, Darren McCarty, Kris Draper, Henrik Zetterberg, Ray Whitney, Tomas Holmstrom, and Patrik Elias. (current Wings in bold and former Wings in italics) Igor Larionov picked Yzerman to captain the team but apparently Draper has laid claim to the title too.

The Russian team will have Yevgeny Nabokov, Nikolai Khabibulin, Slava Fetisov, Danny Markov, Maxim Kuznetsov, Sergei Gonchar, Igor Larionov, Oleg Tverdovsky, Pavel Bure, Sergei Samsonov, Slava Kozlov, Pavel Datsyuk, Sergei Fedorov, Alexander Mogilny, Alexei Zhamnov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Valeri Kamensky.

Scotty Bowman, Barry Smith and Dave Lewis will coach the World Team while Sergei Makarov and Vladimir Krutov will coach the Russians.

The game will be broadcast by Comcast.

Wow, what a lineup. I’d love to see that game. I think it’s a great way to honor one of the greatest players in hockey history and I think it’s great that a lot of former teammates are getting together to do it.

Lastly, here’s something I found a little scary:

“If we don’t play this year, I don’t know if I will continue to get ready for another season. I really don’t know. We’ll wait and see.”
— Steve Yzerman

That would be a real shame. I’m sure I speak for all Wings fans when I say I do not want my last memory of The Captain to be him writhing in pain on the ice.

Come on, Bettman and Goodenow, get off your lazy behinds and start some negotiations!

(via. Freep and DetNews)