Yes, the NFL started its season yesterday, but I would rather talk about the Red Wings because they headed off to their training camp in Traverse City this past Friday, and before you know it my boys in red will be back on the ice. Now some fellow fans are all up in arms because of the exits of a few players, namely Hossa, Samuelsson, and Hudler. Yes, they hurt a little. (One could argue Hossa one way or the other in light of his playoff run since he did not score very much, although he certainly was active during the regular season.... we will see how you do with the Blackhawks, my boy). I, however, think we can make up for these few losses fairly well with the younger guys we have coming up, and the early indications from camp are already promising.
Case in point: A third line of Leino, Filpulla, and Williams, who rumor has it beat the Zetterberg line in scrimmage over the weekend. Williams biggest problem was getting the two Finnish guys to speak English a little bit more so he could have a clue as to what they were thinking! Everyone is back to good health including my favorite man, Nick Lidstrom, who the team jokingly has called a cyborg over the years due to his amazing good health. At age 39 he does have a few sore spots now including some tendinitis in his right elbow which he has been rehabbing over the summer. As for how long he will keep playing? He will not commit beyond this year, but plans to see how he feels during the course of this season, while definitely not ruling out a few more additional years with the Wings. Here is praying.
When I say everyone is back to good health, I mean everyone who was playing at the end of last season. Andreas Lilja, who was punched in the head way back on Feb.28th by Weber (loser) in Nashville, is still suffering post concussion-like symptoms and is not allowed any contact practices. He does not skate with the team and, in fact, had not begun skating again until this past spring. Currently, he is on the injured reserve list and at 6'3" and as our best shot blocker he is a defenseman that is sorely missed. However, at this point one wants him to be healthy just for the sake of being healthy. Apparently, there is still some reason for optimism though as it is not unusual for these types of injuries to take six plus months to subside completely. Personally, I would be very "gun-shy" of ever being struck in the head again, but Lilja very much wishes to play hockey once more.
No, the only move during the off-season that I find myself with misgivings about is general manager Ken Holland's acquisition of Todd Bertuzzi. Sure, the guy has a history of being a big time scorer and he is a a large guy who can be physical and perhaps replace some of the fire power we potentially lost with Hossa or Sammy ...... BUT. There is some big time baggage attached to this guy and do we want it even somewhat associated with the Red Wings? He is tainted for better or worse and whatever side you come down on, it is out there. And not to mention with all of his previous injuries can he really still play?? The last team he has been on that has won a playoff series in the last five years was the Wings themselves back in 2007. That's right he was on our roster when we went to the conference finals before losing to Anaheim, although he barely played with us due to injuries.
For those of you non-hockey people who have no clue what I am talking about when I speak of Bertuzzi's past, here is your quick catch up: Back in 2004 Bertuzzi played for Vancouver when he most notoriously sucker-punched Steve Moore of the Colorado Avalanche in the head, effectively ending that man's career as a hockey player. There is currently a law suit (I think in the Ontario court system) for 38 million which Steve Moore is seeking for lost income and damages. Needless to say it was the cheap shot heard around the hockey world and had everyone up in arms screaming about the violence of hockey. Now some say Todd Bertuzzi was merely the brute force, following orders, the so-called "hockey code" and, therefore, his 17 month suspension, community service, probation, while warranted, only punished the hit man and perhaps allowed the other guilty parties (coach? captain?) off with a free pass. Other people believe Bertuzzi is nothing more then a hot head whose temper got the best of him and in a moment of rage just "snapped." Now, I do not know what I believe or if I give credence to this whole "hockey code" idea or not but either way I would say this: I want a guy on my team who has the character and mental fortitude to do the morally "right thing" and win the "right way" despite what anyone may or may not be ordering him to do and someone who is not going to possibly "snap" at any given moment. At age 34 one would hope Mr. Todd Bertuzzi has grown up. I just don't know. I am a big believer in second chances and I am typically a lover of everything Mr. Holland does, but I am somewhat leery of this one, I must admit. I have always admired the Wings for being a classy organization and never having a player that could be labeled as dirty .... it would be a shame for the Winged Wheel to loose its luster on this.
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