The Left Wing Lock

Follow

When the Red Wings announced the 15 player Black Ace squad on Monday it was no surprise that Sergei Kolosov’s name was no where to be found. The 6-foot-4, 217 pound defensemen signed a one year deal last summer. In 55 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins this season he has picked up a single assist along with 46 penalty minutes.

The former 151st overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry draft is a steady defensive presence on the blue line, but he hasn’t developed the mean streak and physicality that Detroit was hoping for. Despite that, Kolosov has been solid … Continue Reading

Follow

The Red Wings have had a lot to be happy about the last few days after clinching the Central Division title and securing their spot in the NHL playoffs for the 20th consecutive year. While both are significant accomplishments, Detroit is a team that measures its success in the playoffs and not  by season awards or division titles. That being said, the Red Wings enter the post season with significant areas that must be improved to have a chance at a long Stanley Cup run. Here’s a look at a few key areas:

• Big guns must fire regularly – Johan Franzen … Continue Reading
  

Follow

After suffering a disappointing end to his OHL season, Petr Mrazek will get a chance to join the Grand Rapids Griffins for the remainder of the season. The 19 year-old signed an amateur contract with the Griffins that will help him gain valuable experience. Mrazek was hoping to have a long playoff,  but fatigue and injuries caught up with him and the 67’s as they were swept in four games by the Sudbury Wolves.

The 6-foot, 162 goalie had an impressive season starting in 52 games and leading the league with an impressive .920 save percentage. Mrazek confirmed that, barring … Continue Reading

Follow

Cory Emmerton faces an up hill battle to earn an NHL roster spot next season. The former 41st overall pick in the 2006 NHL entry draft signed a new three year deal with the Red Wings on Tuesday. The deal ensures that Emmerton will earn a guaranteed NHL salary in the final two years of the pact.

The 6-foot, 188 pound forward is out of AHL options next season, meaning that he will have to clear waivers in order to be sent to Grand Rapids. The Red Wings have had high hopes for Emmerton because of his playmaking ability … Continue Reading

Follow

500 points is an accomplishment for any player, but for Tomas Holmstrom it is a milestone that seems improbable. The 6-foot, 198 pound winger is not particularly gifted offensively and certainly isn’t the best skater on the ice. None of that matters for Holmstrom, who has earned his paycheck the hard way by crashing the crease and scoring ugly deflection goals near the net.

The Red Wings discovered the 38 year-old winger after Detroit scout, Hakaan Andersson, watched him play in 1993 Swedish national team selection camp. They drafted him a year later in 1994 with a 10th round selection – 257th overall.

The Pitea, … Continue Reading

Follow

Detroit’s shot at the Stanley Cup was nearly over before it started on Saturday as Jimmy Howard was helped off the ice. The 6-foot, 210 netminder suffered a sprained shoulder when Toronto’s Joffrey Lupul crashed the Red Wings crease early in the third period.

The Red Wings are already without Chris Osgood who had a setback in his recovery from a sports hernia surgery and was placed on long-term IR earlier this week. He isn’t eligible to return until April 8th leaving the Wings with the strong possibility of entering the playoffs with journeyman Joey MacDonald as their backup.

Howard has … Continue Reading

Follow

The Detroit Red Wings will again host their annual prospects tournament and training camp at Centre I.C.E. Arena in Traverse City, Mich.

The prospect tournament, which is scheduled for Sept. 10 to 14, will feature entries from the Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Dallas Stars, Minnesota Wild, New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and the Tampa Bay Lightning. The full schedule has not been determined.

Tickets are expected to be $5 per day and should be available on game days.

Training camp will begin Sept. 17 and run through Sept. 20 with morning practices, with ticket prices of $20 for Mezzanine, $15 … Continue Reading

Follow

On Wednsday, The Red Wings announced that they had signed 20 year-old goaltender Troy Passingham to a 24-hour amateur try-out contract. The 6-foot-4, 223 pound netminder is coming off his overage season with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL where he posted a 4.79 goals against and a .879 save percentage.

The move is one was made because the Red Wings do not have enough salary cap space to recall both forward Jan Mursak and Joey MacDonald. The Red Wings had hoped Osgood would be ready to backup Howard tonight against the Vancouver Canucks, but with his recurring post surgery soreness ruled … Continue Reading

Follow

Coach Mike Babcock is nothing if not intense. From the moment he stepped on the ice in Traverse City for the 2005 Detroit Red Wings training camp, he set the tone for the veteran team. Babcock is an intense and demanding coach who runs his practices like a drill sergeant. That being said, he’s delivered nothing but results in his six years as coach for the Red Wings.

His 600 regular season wins in just six seasons puts him in impressive company that includes former Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman and Glen Sather. He’s also coached the team to a … Continue Reading

Follow

In case you missed my feature story over at Red Wings Central, please check it out here. Thanks to Petr Mrazek for his time and willingness to chat with me.