Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Hellos and Goodbyes

Hello friends and fans, as you know the NHL season has begun and the Wings are back!  Plenty has changed for me since last season, and even more has changed in Detroit.

Hello Ruslan, Welcome Back Hedgehog
Not Brett Lebda

Though I will share more in-depth thoughts on each individuals mentioned in this portion of this post, I'd like to give a quick nod to Mike Modano and a greeting to Ruslan Salei, two great additions to the roster.  Modano's upsides are obvious, but I really think Salei can be a difference maker on the blue line.

He has looked tough (unlike Derek Meech/Brett Lebda), mean (unlike Jonathan Ericsson), and responsible (unlike Andreas Lilja) in front of Jimmy and Chris thus far this season.  Even though I like all those unlike guys, Salei is a more complete defenseman and could be the greatest addition this season.

I nearly threw my elbow out waving goodbye to Jiri Hudler last year...good riddance...chase your money...we don't need you.  Well, I think we saw last season how desperate the Wings were for goal scoring and how thin they became after that plague of injuries.

Hedgehog
They call Hudler 'The Hedgehog' because he's tenacious, bristly, and surprisingly tough for such a little guy.  He's also not afraid to stick his pointed snout into the tough stuff and can put the puck in the net from anywhere on the ice.  With Dan Cleary on the opposite wing and Modano centering, this sick-looking third line could feasibly produce 45-50 goals this season, maybe even more.  On a continuously rotating third line in 2009-10, Darren Helm, Kris Draper, Patrick Eaves, and Drew Miller combined for 40.

Fare You Well, Fare You Well

Dear Steve Yzerman, I love you more than words can tell.  Tampa Bay is my new second favorite team in the leage.  As much as I despise warm weather NHL markets, the Lightning are alright by me.

Dear Brett Lebda, Derek Meech, and Andreas Lilja.  Goodbye.  Thanks for your effort, good luck with your careers, you won't be missed.  

I took this photo from the 2009 Buick
Open Pro-Am...Malts missed the putt.
Dear Kirk Maltby, I was deeply saddened to see that you announced your retirement prior to tonight's game against the Colorado Avalanche.  The selfish side of me said, "Damnit!  I wanted to watch you play at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids this season!"  The better side of me prevails, "Thank you for your contribution on four Stanley Cups in Detroit."  Good luck on the golf course; practice the putting.

There will certainly be more to come on Malts very soon, but for now, I want to say that watching him over the years hustling, bustling, grinding, and antagonizing on third lines, fourth lines, penalty-killing units, and that incredible Grind Line with Darren McCarty and Drapes, has been an absolute joy.  He might be one of the most underrated Wings during this latest era in Hockeytown, but if you've watched him play you had to have loved his style, dedication, and loyalty to Detroit.  Even though his diminished role became obvious last season, and blatant this off-season, his character and accomplishments wearing the Winged Wheel shall never be tarnished.

So long Malts, thanks for the memories.

Peace.

AWP