My name is Steve London, and I’m from Winnipeg, Manitoba. I blogged for the Predators for the tail end of their playoff run, and then took the opportunity to blog for my team when it became available, the Detroit Red Wings. I played hockey from the age of 8 until 16, when it was either work or hockey. Having missed playing the game, last year I decided to start reffing minor hockey, and it was easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. Watching those young kids with the NHL dream running through their mind, and playing the game they love is worth more than the pay.

I became a die hard Red Wings fan in 1996, the year that my beloved Jets left for the desert. There was no way I could cheer for a Jets rival (Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver), the Leafs or the Habs whom some in my family love. Ottawa was a fairly new team, so I really had no Canadian team bandwagons I wanted to jump on. That’s when I decided that I should cheer for the team my favorite player and boyhood idol Steve Yzerman played for, the Wings! I haven’t looked back since that day.

I’m going to talk about the team of course, some of the upcoming talent, some holes I feel need addressing and all other things Red Wings!

If you have a topic you’d like to see discussed, please let it be known in the comments, via e-mail or twitter.

Looking forward to this upcoming season!

After watching the Modano saga drag through July and now into August, I just can’t take it anymore. I’m cracking my fingers for one last time here and tapping out this post with my teeth clenched and a scowl on my face, all directed in the general direction of the man who drove me to this point of just not wanting to write anymore.

OK, that’s not true. Well, parts of it are.

All the Modano stuff? Made up. My last post here at MW? That is, in fact, a truth.

I’ve been on staff here at Fanball for an entire year now, and it’s been a fantastic experience from the moment they handed me the keys to this place. I love writing, I love the Red Wings and I love the folks here at Fanball that took care of all of the behind-the-scenes stuff so that I could just sit down and write and not worry about anything else. But there’s this thing called the “real world” that seems to intrude on my conscious from time to time, and it’s happening with more frequency as of late. Time that I used to spend researching obscure stats and making up ridiculous charts to keep track of mythical points has now turned into time needed to groom the beard for real-world presentations to clients and such.

So, rather than half-ass something for the next season, I’ve decided to put this ride in park and turn the keys back over to the dealership. Sad? Yes. But at the same time, this is also a welcome change for me at a time where I can really use it. I’ll have more time to spend with friends and family, and I can really sit back and enjoy the summer months before the cold and rain returns to Seattle (although, it is damp and overcast today.) As for my blogging future? No idea. I just want to take some time and think through things before I decide what to do next (thanks Mike Modano!) For now, it’s all about relaxing and enjoying the break.

Yes, I already here you guys out there who are asking about TOV and I can promise you that it won’t be going anywhere. We’ll still be putting out new shows on a regular basis once the season starts, so please don’t stress over that. My dulcet tones will still grace you ear drums each and every week. Commence rejoicing.

As for this here blog, if you are interested in filling my shoes, just shoot me an e-mail or message on Twitter (@chollis) and I’ll get you connected with the right folks.

Finally, some thank you’s are in order, so let me start from the top: A HUGE thanks to everyone at Fanball for giving me this chance, especially Mr. Bryan Douglass for answering every stinkin’ e-mail question I sent his way. First class organization all the way. I also want to thank all of you guys who read and comment here. A great blog is nothing without a great community, and you guys are awesome. Finally, a big thank you to the entire Red Wings blogging community. It’s been a blast working alongside all of you and I hope you’ll still let me into the VIP lounge from time to time.

Again, feel free to hit me up on Twitter (since I’m ALWAYS on apparently) or shoot me an e-mail about whatever. I’ll get back to it within a week (or whenever I run out of beer.)

I think that’s everything. Thanks again everyone.

Hollis. Out.

It seems like just yesterday that we were putting the signature on the big check for Children’s Hospital of Michigan and hanging out with Herm on his first ever trip to Michigan. As well all know though, time stops for no one and these events don’t plan themselves. So dust off your planners, put a big fat circle around March 11, 2011, and get ready to join the shenanigans in Detroit once again.

Your mission is to let Jen MacRostie know, via e-mail or Twitter Direct Message (e-mail is  preferred), how many tickets you will be needing for the extravaganza and the game. Game tickets are $28 each and will be on the end where the Wings shoot twice.

Get your sleep while you can. It’s going to be one heck of a party in March.

Just in case you didn’t believe me when I said earlier today that this Mike Modano situation was bringing tempers to a boil, all you had to do was tune into Twitter this afternoon to see the debate in action. Friends of the blog Matt Saler from On the Wings and Kyle Kujawa from Babcock’s Death Stare shared the floor for an honest and cadid debate about the Wings future with Modano, humor on the Internet and each other’s respective writing styles. It was, for lack of a better word, brutally honest. Of course, a debate of this magnitude can’t be left to dissolve into the annals of Twitter history without nary a mention, so MW is here to preserve this epic clash for all eternity.

The action all started earlier today when Kyle posted an article on BDS discussing why folks should leave Modano alone as he moves through his decision making process. While the entire article is a good read, we’ll ask you to shift your focus down to the last three paragraphs, which seem to be the spark that lit the fuse:

“Helm and Abdelkader will be fine. There’s two things that nobody seems to be bringing up. First, there will be, gasp, injuries. Yes, as of now they look like forwards #10 and #11 in this picture, and yes, the likes of Patrick Eaves, Kris Draper, and Drew Miller mean that they will probably be healthy scratches at some point. But this is a team that had about seven regular forwards last year miss significant time. It’s bound to happen again. Secondly, Modano is, you know, just the greatest American player of all-time and a player who can fill a leadership role. Do you think Helm and Abdelkader might learn a thing or two from him? Do you think they might even get to play with him? Both of them are penciled in for the fourth line, but if you’re unfamiliar with how the regular season works, lines tend to get shuffled around.

Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Franzen, Kronwall, Hudler, and Filppula all played a full season or more on the 4th line and I’m pretty sure a few of those players are pretty good. I’d be willing to sacrifice 1-2 minutes of ice time per game for Abdelkader if it means a Stanley Cup appearance, but I seem to be in the minority for that. To me, I think Helm and Abdelkader will learn more that way, but I guess it’s just more fun to be sarcastic and negative.”

The stage was now set for the epic clash that is written out below, tweet-by-tweet and in complete chronological order for easier reference. Enjoy.

Saler: Hey @BDS_blog I need a lesson in how the regular season works. When are you free to walk me through it?

Kujawa: @onthewings How much time do you have?

Saler: @BDS_blog As long as it takes for realization of hypocrisy to set in.

Kujawa: @onthewings It was a joke, fella. And it wasn’t even directed at you. I plead you to lighten up, for once.

Kujawa: @onthewings I’m allowed to disagree and be positive as much as you are to always whine and be negative.

Saler: @BDS_blog Dude the tone of your posts often owe more to preaching than humor (my turn to beware hypocrisy, probably). Didn’t see it as funny

Kujawa: @onthewings Of course you didn’t. That line was a joke. Does the whole post have to be zingers for you to understand?

SIDEBAR (from Kujawa): Twitter fight twitter fight twitter fight! I love how serious the internet is.

Saler: @BDS_blog Clearly I am too dense for your brand of humor. Unless I’m meant to laugh at the idea of Mike Modano being the Wings’ Final Piece?

Kujawa: @onthewings We agree on both accounts then. Let the internet know that comedy is reserved for those who disagree with Matt Saler.

SIDEBAR (From Kujawa): Update: Most Red Wings bloggers are comedians.

Saler: @BDS_blog Whatever. Layer on the sarcasm all you want, but I’m not the one claiming a 40-year-old 30-pt player is putting DET over the top.

Kujawa: @onthewings If you could tell me where I said that, that would be great. Thanks, Matt!

Saler: @BDS_blog Might want to get that shortterm memory checked.http://is.gd/dCsas “… if it means a Stanley Cup appearance …”

Kujawa: @onthewings That’s not what that means. But you’re welcome to try again.

Saler: @BDS_blog Then what does it mean, Kyle? Using an exotic dictionary? Innovative sentence structure to obliterate context?

Saler: @BDS_blog Or maybe it was a joke? More hilarity from the master. That is how you brush aside backlash, no?

Kujawa: @onthewings I responded to your comment. But please continue ignoring my point, it’s way funnier this way.

Kujawa: @onthewings I disagreed with you, dude. Get over it.

Kujawa: @onthewings Done with this. I stopped reading your trash long ago and I’d recommend the same.

Kujawa: @onthewings It’s become to difficult to break everything that you don’t understand down for you. Makes us both childish. Congrats.

Saler: @BDS_blog Thanks for that. I got heated in my response to you and I’m sorry about that. Fires burn hot in the dump, I guess.

Saler: Deep cut retweeted for posterity RT @BDS_blog: @onthewings Done with this. I stopped reading your trash long ago and I’d recommend the same.

Wow.

Before we go any further, let me say that this post is in no way an attempt to embarrass either Matt or Kyle. I’m sure both of them stand by their points and I’m just here to pass those along to the rest of you who may have missed it today. It’s the beauty and the beast of an open discussion forum like Twitter. I also want to be clear that I’m not siding with either one here, just re-purposing the content that they put out there earlier today.

OK, now that that is out of the way, we can get back to business. Both Matt and Kyle are good guys and friends of both me personally and the blog, as well as over at TOV. Sometimes, though, these situations bring out the passionate side of all of us and that most definitely happened today. Personally, I love these kinds of debates and not in a “OH DAMN SON, YOU GOT SERVED!” kind of way. It’s great to see this kind of intensity in the offseason, especially from two of the better known bloggers in the Wings blogosphere. As Drew from over at NOHS told me “I’d like to see two Penguins bloggers show this much passion in mid July. Top notch!”

Top notch indeed, sir.

I’ll let all of you decide a “winner” and “loser” in this whole thing as I’m not much for it. Personally, this reminds me of one of those skirmishes that guys get into during training camp from having to listen to and be around the same individuals for prolonged periods of time. It’s just bound to happen at some point (Best watch yo’self Petrella….) At this point, I’m just ready for a certain person to make a decision on things and finally getting down to watching the Wings make a run at Cup number 12.

Consider this post as my “step back” from the entire Mike Modano situation. I, like most of you that read this blog, are anxiously awaiting the decision of the former Dallas Stars forward on whether or not he will play another season of hockey, and if so, whether that hockey will be played in the D. Unfortunately, in this day and age of instant information and real-time decision making, Modano has decided to revert to the time honored tradition of thinking through his decision and putting it on hold while he enjoys the luxury of a summer without hockey. The problem for Modano is that he apparently got caught up in the moment during his visit to Detroit and said some things that 1) Led most of us to believe that he was destined for the Winged Wheel and 2) Was going to make a decision in short notice. Yet here we sit, waiting for Mikey Mo to make up his mind while he’s busy lacing up his golf shoes and enjoying 18 holes on a sunny day.

It comes as no surprise then that Wings fans all across Detroit and the blogosphere are making their way down to Woodward Torch & Pitchfork in preparation of burning down anybody’s house who even begins to show sympathy towards the idea that Modano should be entitled to take a few weeks to sort things out. I’ve read too many posts to count from folks who are fed up with this waiting game, preferring instead to re-sign RFA’s Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm while at the same time yanking Modano’s offer off the table. Sure, I’m guilty of thinking those thoughts too. I’d love nothing more than to have the Wings roster sewn up in the next week or so and let everybody in that front office have a few weeks to kick up the feet and recline by the pool.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen anytime soon, as Modano has said he plans on waiting until he hits the ice again to see how he feels before making a final decision. Date to lace ‘em up? August 5th. Definitely frustrating and definitely not conducive to relaxation for a group of guys who diligently work to avoid situations like this if at all possible.

There’s no denying that this hasn’t been an easy road for many of the fans who proudly represent Hockeytown, but I have to admit that I’m surprised at the level of anger and animosity that is spilling onto Twitter and the Internet when it comes to this situation. Each day that Modano waits is another day that fosters the anger of the masses, which is quickly approaching levels reserved for guys like Todd Bertuzzi. Modano has found himself as public enemy number one in many Red Wings circles, and even an expedited decision to join the team may not be enough to turn opinions around.

But where does all this animosity stem from?  Before we even get into how Modano brought this upon himself, let’s take a second to set the stage. Detroit has always been a city that is immensely proud of it’s hockey organization, to the point that many fans and followers believe that a contract offer from Detroit is the equivalent to being Charlie Bucket and finding Wonka’s Golden Ticket (see what I did there?) The label “elitist” is often thrown around, but it’s hard to argue with the fact that Detroit has pulled down four Stanley Cups since 1997 and is an annual threat to go deep in the playoffs. For the hockey player serious about winning a championship, you won’t find a better destination. The concept of “family values” also emanates from the front office, from Mike Illitch all the way down the line, and that’s something you won’t find in 90% of the franchises in this league. It’s a business first, of course, but knowing that your best interests are taken care of by the ownership is certainly a perk that can’t be overlooked.

It should come as no surprise then that Wings fans get ticked when players shun the organization and the city for “greener” pastures. Sergei Fedorov will continue to be  a hated figure in Detroit following a lengthy holdout and eventual defection. Bertuzzi still has his skeptics from when he rolled out of town a few yeas ago after Anaheim offered him pennies more than the Wings did. Marian Hossa? No need to elaborate. Jiri Hudler likely still has doubters following his one-year cash grab in the KHL, although it seems as if many in Detroit have adopted a “forgive and forget” attitude after witnessing the injury bug ravage the locker room in Hockeytown last year. It’s the way things are done in Detroit. When the Godfather makes you an offer you can’t refuse and you turn your back, you walk away from an entire city and fanbase, not just a hockey team.

Unfortunately, Modano has taken his first step down that road and he likely doesn’t even realize it. More than likely overwhelmed by the red carpet rolled out by the Red Wings, Modano brazenly claimed that it was “Detroit or retirement” and that he would look to expedite his decision so that the Wings could get the rest of the roster in order. It’s hard to blame Modano for making a comment like that on the surface. He was excited. The Wings were the only team up to that point who had shown interest in him. He grew up in Michigan. Nostalgia and security can make folks say the darndest things, and this case is no exception. I’m sure that when it was said, Modano firmly believed that the outcome of his decision would either lead him to Hockeytown or to the nearest golf course. However, when San Jose and Minnesota cranked up the interest meter, Modano quickly backed off his love affair with Motown and Wings fans began to feel like Modano was heading down the road of no return.

It’s easy to relate with Modano in that we’ve all said things we wish we wouldn’t have and it’s understandable that a guy who hasn’t really gone through free agency during his entire career might get caught up in the whirlwind pitch of the Wings brain trust. However Modano is a professional who has to understand the psyche of a ravenous fan base, and he should have left his hotel room that afternoon with a plan in place to keep his cards close to the vest at all times. Hindsight is 20/20 however, and now the heat from the fans is growing with each day that Modano opts not to make up his mind.

So what can be done about this? Personally, I think Modano finally did the right thing by outlining a solid timeframe for a decision. Of course, the fans won’t be thrilled that Modano won’t decide until after he hits the ice again on August 5th, but at least there is now time for everyone to hop off the pins and needles for a few weeks. For those worried that Abdelkader and Helm won’t get signed long term, take a deep breath. Detroit will have those guys under contract by the time the season starts, and there’s nothing changing that fact. The only variable in that equation is the one that starts with “$” and Ken Holland and Co. will make sure two of the future faces of the franchise are well taken care of.

In the meantime, it might be best to just hit the reset button on everything that has happened with Modano up to this point. Forget his words and forget all previous excitement around his decision. He’s heard the pitches and the decision making process is now under way for Modano. The Wings have as good of a shot as anybody else and we’ll just have to wait and see where his decision lands him. There’s no sense in holding on to the frustration anymore. It’ll only lead you right back to where you started.

McCosky:

The Red Wings aren’t pressuring him, that’s for sure. General manager Ken Holland has presented his offer — apparently for one-year and $1.25 million (more than I’d been speculating) — and whether Modano takes it will not impact Holland’s ability to re-sign restricted free agents Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm.

The Wings can wait; too bad so many of their fans can’t. It seems that an alarmingly large number of Red Wings fans, at least from the e-mails I’ve been getting, want to vilify Modano.

“If Modano doesn’t want to play here, forget him,” has been a common sentiment.

“What, is he too Hollywood for the Red Wings now?” is another.

It is not like that. Just because he didn’t immediately fall all over himself to sign with the Wings doesn’t mean he disrespected the organization. Just because he hasn’t yet accepted the $1.25 million offer doesn’t mean he feels slighted or he’s holding out for more.

Agree or disagree, it’s worth the read and it’s worth re-thinking how we feel about this process.

When the season wrapped up, I had every intention of keeping the show regularly broadcasting through the milestones of the Stanley Cup, schedule release and free agency. That said, there’s a reason why this is called the “off season” and I quickly realized that all of the content we would normally cover on the show was already being given in-depth coverage all across the Red Wings blogosphere. In addition to that, free agent movement has been the slowest in recent memory. I don’t know about you, but breaking apart Ryan Russell’s agreement with Montreal doesn’t really scream “excitement.” Sure, we could talk about the Mike Modano free agency saga, but there’s only so many ways to make a story compelling and most of those have already been exercised by the great writers that you read on a regular basis.

So after thinking it over for a few days, I’ve come to the decision that TOV will be on hiatus for the rest of the summer, returning in time to drop the puck on the NHL preseason. I have a hard time believing that hearts are breaking all across the Red Wings nation right now, but in case there are folks who now find themselves in a deep state of despair, I encourage you to find the nearest watering hole and have a few shots of Jameson. It’ll be OK. I promise.

Just because there won’t be any new shows this summer doesn’t mean that planning for the next season of TOV isn’t already underway in earnest. After a successful first season that saw great shows, great analysis and a fair share of hungover humor, it’s a daunting task to ensure that the second season is just as good as the first. However, there are areas that we can improve upon, with one of the biggest being our hosting solution. As you may remember, the show bounced from a dedicated server over to libsyn last year, which unfortunately forced all of our listeners to update their RSS feeds in iTunes and set new bookmarks in their browsers. While the show remained successful, I was disappointed with a number of things in regards to libsyn, most especially the lack of branding and customization options that were provided on the site. For those that aren’t familiar with libsyn, it costs a fair bit of money for the storage that each show commands, and I just didn’t feel like we were getting the bang for the buck that we were paying. After some careful consideration, it was decided that it would be best to terminate the association with libsyn, and TOV will be moving to a new, permanent hosting location on September 1st.

Since we’ve already discontinued our association with libsyn, the website should be coming down within the next week or so. That means that the content stored there will be unavailable for about a month as we work on the transition to the new location, but fear not, as all archived shows will be placed on the new site. I apologize in advance for the fact that many of you will once again have to move your bookmarks and resubscribe to the RSS feed in iTunes, but I do believe that this is for the best and will provide the show a number of upgrades over what libsyn was offering, while also costing much less to maintain per month.

Again, I do sincerely apologize for any convenience that this may cause all of TOV’s loyal listeners, but I can assure you that it will be worth it in the end. As always, thanks for tuning into the show and sharing your feedback. I can’t wait to get rolling again in September.

As the slow slog that is the NHL offseason continues to move forward at a pace resembling a Chris Chelios breakout, the Wings are also continuing their methodical pursuit of a number of free agents, both within and outside of the organization. A wild ride this is not, but let’s take stock of all the happenings of the past few days around Hockeytown.

Derek Meech

I never thought I would type anything resembling what is about to appear on your screen, but arguably the biggest news of the week so far is that the Red Wings re-signed the oft scratched Derek Meech to a one year deal for $500,000. Meech – a defenseman who also moonlighted at forward last season for an injury depleted Wings squad – has made no bones about the fact that he wants to play on a team where he can contribute, and he’ll be given his shot during training camp this year to do it for the Wings. Should the space-time continuum somehow re-shape itself and Meech somehow finds himself in the starting lineup, I’ll buy a round of shots at H2H2 next March. More likely to happen is that Meech will get shipped off to a team in need of a third pairing defenseman for either a prospect or some draft picks, and everyone will move on from this without blinking an eye. The good news? Ken Holland successfully avoids arbitration with Meech, where the Wings could have potentially gotten stuck paying more money for a guy who probably isn’t worth anything more than what his new deal will pay him.

Andreas Lilja

Apparently Andreas Lilja and the Wings are still talking, although reports suggest that Lilja is seeking a deal worth $1.5 million annually. Normally, I’d laugh this notion right out the window, but this offseason has been chock full of overpaid defensemen. When Brett Lebda pulls down more than $1 million, you know something is screwed up. That said, kudos to Lilja and his agent Todd Diamond for trying to milk this market for every last penny that they can. However, with the Wings looking for a veteran defenseman to fill the #6 spot on the blue line, I wont go so far as to rule out Lilja’s return just yet. There’s just no way it’ll come at the price tag currently hanging around Lilja’s neck.

Kirk Maltby

The Kirk Maltby pot got stirred up a bit this week when a certain site that specializes in formulating “rumors” said that the Wings were closing in on offering the veteran forward a one-year deal to remain with the organization. However, reports from the local beat writers suggest that Maltby is still shopping the market in hopes of landing a one year, one-way deal outside of Detroit. If that doesn’t happen, the Wings will probably offer Malts a one year, two-way deal to see if he could make the squad out of training camp. If not, Maltby would be shipped down to Grand Rapids, something that seems unlikely for a guy who is 37 years old. Who knows though. Darren McCarty did something similar a couple of years ago before hanging up the skates, so who’s to say Maltby wouldn’t consider a similar move. Personally, I’d like to see him hang it up and take a scouting role with the Wings, but if he thinks he’s got what it takes, then at least give the man a shot.

Helm/Abdelkader

No news on any deals with Darren Helm or Justin Abdelkader, which doesn’t really come as a surprise. Ken Holland said earlier this offseason that he would take his time with these two, looking to get them set with a pair of longer-term deals. I would expect something to be finished by the end of the month, but that all depends on…

Mike Modano

If you follow Red Wings hockey, you know all the details about the Modano situation already. With Modano now backtracking on his “Detroit or retirement” statement – and, apparently, a deal in Detroit (bit premature, no?) - to consider alternate destinations, the Wings find themselves in a waiting game that is holding up the rest of their negotiations. Look, I love the idea of Modano in Detroit, but this is less about him considering his future at this point and more about getting his ego stroked after being dismissed from the only franchise he’s ever played for. Taking time to determine his future his totally acceptable. Holding teams hostage as he looks to be wined and dined before making that decision is not. Sound familiar?

Etc.

One other note: I know some of you posted comments on previous posts and let me know that those were not appearing on the site. Those should be up now. Apparently the entire network was dealing with an issue on the commenting system, and it looks like a solid workaround is in place. Re-commence telling me how wrong I am.

Somewhere in Canada tonight, Derek Meech is crying himself to sleep. Or celebrating. Who knows.

When the news hit that Brett Lebda - one half of the interchangeable defensive threat known as “Mebdeech” (H/T to Kyle, as always) – is  departing Detroit for greener pastures and ridiculous contracts in Toronto, it only took mere seconds for Red Wings fans all across to blogosphere to share a collective laugh and offer up semi-heartfelt condolences to the Maple Leafs organization. In a move that can only be described as a “miracle” for the Lebda camp, the former Notre Dame defenseman was able to conjure a 2 year deal out of Brian Burke that will see him rewarded with $1.45 million annually, a raise of just around $800,000 from what he made in Detroit.

While Lebda may be nothing more than a chip in Burke’s ongoing game to move Tomas Kaberle, both the team and fans alike in Toronto are trying to make the best out of a situation that is incredibly baffling and downright ridiculous at the same time. Toronto points to the fact that Lebda has playoff experience with the Wings, which is an invaluable commodity both on the ice and in the locker room. Meanwhile, Detroit fans point to the fact that Lebda amassed a whopping eight points over 63 regular season games last season, and appeared only twice in the playoffs before finding his way to the press box. Sure, a third pairing defenseman isn’t regularly counted on for steady point production, but as Toronto touts Lebda’s skating skills and puck-moving abilities, the numbers tell a different story.

We all knew that Lebda would wind up somewhere other than Detroit this offseason, and Toronto was actually predicted to be his destination way back in April by some guy that pretends to know a thing or two about hockey. That said, throwing such a hefty amount of money at a guy like Lebda when A) Toronto’s blue line looks like the national debt of some small countries, and B) it’s this early in the offseason with is plenty of talented defensemen still available is bound to raise questions in Toronto and facilitate scoffing in Detroit. To find the linchpin in this deal, however, you need not look any further than the Leafs front office. As was previously mentioned, Lebda played his college puck at Notre Dame and was coached by none other than Leafs assistant GM, Dave Poulin. That doesn’t excuse the cash cow the Leafs lobbed at Lebda, but it at least makes the logic behind the acquisition a little less fuzzy.

So rather than linger on for too long about Number 22’s departure (that was his number, right? I already forgot…) I’d like to take this moment to say “Bon Voyage” to Brett Lebda. Honestly, I wish you nothing but the best in your new ventures in Toronto, both on the ice and in trying to explain and inexplicable pinch or costly blind pass to the local media. Don’t use them all up at once, Brett. We expect you to save a few of those “OH GOD I’M BEING PRESSURED, I BETTER JUST BACKHAND THE PUCK AROUND THE BOARDS TO THE OTHER TEAM” passes for your return to Detroit on March 26th.

The dominoes continue to fall into place for the Red Wings this week, as Patrick Eaves is back on board for another year.

RedWings.com:

The Red Wings have re-signed forward Patrick Eaves to a one-year contract.

Pierre LeBrun confirms the deal, noting that Eaves will be paid $750,000 for his services next year. I have to admit that I’m very surprised that his salary comes in this low, as I honestly thought Eaves would consider arbitration if he didn’t get closer to the $900K range. That said, this is a huge victory for the Wings in terms of their free agent money and Eaves’ price will definitely aid in their pursuit of a 6th defenseman to support the blue line corps.