How I would Reload the Red Wings

After the absolute crushing heart breaking loss to the most hated Pittsburgh Penguins, Red Wings fans such as I have already become restless. After last year’s Cup and the addition of the best free agent available in Hossa, I thought a repeat was a lock. Hossa was dynamite in the regular season but lacked that same scoring prowess in the post season. I’ll be frank. Dump Hossa. He locks up money the Red Wings could A. use to sign other high priced talented scorers, (Marion Gaborik, Vincent Lecavalier) or B. make our case for the Bouwmeester sweepstakes (yeah Calgary, he’ll test the market just like Leopold) or C. use at the trade deadline. Hossa has only showed up for one Stanley Cup playoffs in his career (Pittsburgh 2008) and is a liability for distracting press coverage and lack of production in the playoffs.
So Hossa is toast. Next, let Samuelson walk. He has little production and Ericsson can replace his cannon at the point on power plays. That’s money saved and a freed up roster spot for Leino, Abdelkader or a FA. I’d like to resign Hudler, but I’ll assume he finds “greener” pastures elsewhere. Another roster spot and more money available for Holland. Kirk Maltby is worthless, and hardly played any. He doesn’t produce and is only mildly a grinder who won’t drop the gloves. He can go to Grand Rapids or anywhere he likes, just not on my Red Wings. Holland is right in letting Chelios go. He played little and the young defenseman coming up can develop more in the NHL than Grand Rapids. Stuart forgot how to play as Stuart during the finals especially Game 7. A lot of people are calling for his head, and maybe they are right. If a trade is pending, his value is still high and moving him wouldn’t be devastating. Kronwall came into his own and Ericsson is going to be an elite defenseman. A gritty winger (please no more Darren McCarty!) or some depth forward could be valuable. Lilja’s injury could be career ending. That would be brutal because of the amazing progress he made this year. I am a former Lilja hater, but he really turned it around and it would be a shame to lose him. This is not a popular decision, but I would let Conklin go. It is put up or shut up time for Jimmy Howard or Daniel Larsson. Howard has had plenty of seasoning and he needs time up to show what he has. If he falters, the Wings can trade for a solid backup in the season. Then we will know whether Howard is worth having around. The Red Wings first rounder from last year Thomas McCollum is waiting for his chance in just a few short years.
Assuming no retirements or trade requests from anybody else, the Red Wings should look very similar from last year. Not that it’s a bad thing as we were one game from repeating. The changes I would implement would be summed up as following: Hudler, Samuelson, Conklin, Hossa, Chelios, are out. That would save the Red Wings roughly ten million dollars, moving us around ten million under the cap, which stayed at last year’s total. Call up Leino, Abdelkader, Helm (if his spot isn’t already locked up), Kopecky, Howard or Larsson and possibly Jakub Kindl or Derrick Meech. Ericsson would resume playing in Detroit like he did in the playoffs. With the money we saved from letting people go and our core locked up for the next decade we go after Gaborik. Lecavalier will most likely want to stay in the Eastern Conference. He already has a Cup too, so that will not factor as it did last summer for Hossa. Gaborik has spent his entire career in Minnesota and with a new coach, he could want out. He would be signable for the Wings as well, with a short term deal possible. I know what you’re saying, “Weston, another Cup hungry scoring winger? What is the difference?” We got to get the bad mojo away from Motown and sign somebody who is used to the Western Conference and for once play in an offensive friendly system. Without him being held back in the defensive Wild style of play, he can truly show off his amazing skills. That should be enough to carry the Wings to the top of the Conference, and a move before the deadline can put us over the top.
In recap, it is a lot of staying put and rebuilding from within. It is hard to forecast who will be on the trading block come the trade deadline. I am counting on a lot of youngsters to step up like they did in the postseason, but I hate to see prospects rot in Grand Rapids when they earned a chance to play in Detroit (see Kyle Quincy, now a LA King). We reload the Griffins with deep drafts every year, but it could be a lean year for mid season call ups. I can see this team going to the Stanley Cup Finals again, and with the added experience and Babcock coaching, anything can happen.
Weston’s 2009-2010 Detroit Red Wings Starting Lineup
Forwards:
Gaborik-Datsyuk-Franzen
Zetterberg-Filpula-Holmstrom
Helm-Abdelkader-Cleary
Kopecky-Draper-Leino
Defenseman:
Lidstrom-Ericsson
Kronwall-Rafalski
Lebda-Lilja (if not recovered, substitute Meech or Kindl or an untraded Stuart)
Goalies:
Osgood
Howard

Weston Corbitt's Pregame Speech to the Detroit Red Wings, Gam 7 Stanley Cup Finals

Goalies, Defenseman and Forwards of the Detroit Red Wings!

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The
hopes and prayers of real hockey loving people everywhere march with you.
In company with our brave allies and brothers-in-arms on
other Organizations, you will bring about the destruction of the Pittsburgh war
machine, the elimination of Penguin tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Pennsylvania, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well
equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 2009! Much has happened since the Penguins triumphs of
1991-92. The National Hockey League have inflicted upon the Penguins great defeats,
in open ice, man-to-man matchups. Our umbrella powerplay offensive has seriously reduced their
strength on the penalty kill and their capacity to wage war on the ice. The Joe Louis Arena have given us an overwhelming superiority in talent and players, and placed at our disposal great reserves of ultra talented Euro players.
The tide has turned! The greatest fans in the world are cheering together to
Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in the Stanley Cup Finals. We will accept nothing less than another Stanley Cup!

Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty Gordie Howe upon this great
and noble undertaking.

Detroit Lions Draft Review: Part 4

The middle to late rounds in the draft for the Lions was pretty good, getting depth and possible special teams starters. Zach Follett out of Cal looks like a monster on the special teams. He was a tackle for loss specialist for Cal and has the size to be a solid depth guy. I was really high on him during the second day of the draft, and with good coaching and drive, he could be a decent starter for the Lions. Aaron Brown out of TCU was a strange pick. Aaron Brown is another running back, another kick returner and a possible third down back in the sixth round. I thought Morris or Williams could return kicks and that we addressed the running back situation in free agency. I guess he was the best player available at that point. Overall, a good draft, not great right now but the potential to be in a few years. Remember Lions fans, we can’t do this all in one draft. So not taking a middle linebacker, offensive line or much defense is not a big deal yet. Give it time, and I think Schwartz and Mayhew can pull this off.

Detroit Lions Draft Review: Part 3

The Lions have two solid young safeties that are solid when healthy. Daniel Bullocks and Gerald Alexander have battled injuries during their brief careers. The top rated safety in this year’s draft was Louis Delmas of Western Michigan University and the Lions could not resist taking him with the 33rd pick. He is a confident hard hitting ball hawk, who had 110 tackles for the Brown and Gold last season. He upgrades a defense instantly and has to cause havoc in the secondary. Deandre Levy of Wisconsin and Derrick Williams of Penn State round out the third round for the Lions. Levy will get an opportunity to play middle linebacker after playing outside linebacker during college. Williams will play slot receiver and kick/punt returner for the Lions, both drastic needs from last year. Since Eddie Drummond left Detroit for Kansas City, the Lions have lacked any spark returning the ball, opting to resign Aveion Cason every year. Rounds two and three gave the Lions depth and filled in needs and did not reach for names or positions as Millen did every year.

Detroit Lions Draft Review: Part 2

At first I did not like the Brandon Pettigrew pick. I know how a tight end is important to an offense. Look what Jason Witten, Greg Olsen, John Carlson and Owen Daniels do for their teams. They help block for the running and passing game and are valuable to convert on third down. The Lions have not had a good TE since David Sloan left for the Saints. Pettigrew can add another weapon on the offense and solidify the running, passing and blocking game. I personally wanted a MLB or OL to help two of our needs. But, I see the difference in Millen and Mayhew there in that pick. Millen would have reached for a name or a position no matter what (like he did with Godser Cherilus and Jordan Dizon with the first two picks last year) and would not consider taking best talent available. It filled a need (although not a huge one) and will help Stafford in the long run with another weapon, but unlike a wide receiver, Pettigrew can get tough, physical, NFC North style yardage.

Detroit Lions Draft Review: Part 1

STWWC Draft Grade: B

Best Pick: Brandon Pettigrew

Possible Steal: Sammie Lee Hill

First I will start by saying I am fine with the Lions taking Matt Stafford with the first pick. It helps a lot to have a franchise QB to lead a team. If we took the QB next year (Sam Bradford of Oklahoma or Colt McCoy of Texas would be possible choices) he would have to ride the bench as Stafford appears to be this year. This would delay overall development of the team by another year. Stafford has the big NFL arm you are looking for. I know his accuracy is in question, but so was Jay Cutler’s a few years back. Aaron Curry would have been nice, but he would probably be switching positions to play middle linebacker. Ernie Sims and Julian Peterson are good Outside Linebackers, and the possible addition of Larry Foote could give the Lions a far improved LB core. I think the Lions biggest need is on the defensive line. Sammie Lee Hill could change that. He is a big physical presence from a small college who needs good coaching to unlock his potential. Luckily, we have Grady Jackson and Chuck Darby to hold the line down now.

Thoughts From My Desk May 4th Edition

• I am back from a bye week after college got out for the summer. I also wanted some time to reflect the draft before writing on it (because who wants to hear “WE PASSED UP CURRY?!?!” again?) and will break it down over the summer leading up to the opening kickoff.
• The Red Wings look to regroup after a marathon 4-3 loss in triple overtime to the Ducks Sunday. With the series shifting to Anaheim, the Wings look to down the giant killers before it gets out of hand. Rafalski and Draper may play.
• The Cubs might be putting it together after a sweep of the struggling Marlins. It is just a lot of little things hurting the Cubs now. We are lucky to get the Giants at home for the next three to right the ship.
• I’m not a fan of Ovechkin. I’m less of a fan of Crosby. But I am rooting for Ovie over Syd the Kid in the NHL dream series. Ovechkin is a better player and not a diver (but somewhat of a showboat, I adore Don Cherry) and love to see a 7 game battle. Right now we need to root for the NHL almost as much as anybody.
• As a WMU Broncos fan and a huge Detroit Lions fan, I am pumped to see Safety Louis Delmas play this season after hearing Lions coaches praise his play all during camp. Our first overall pick Matt Stafford will probably start the season on the bench. GM Martin Mayhew said Daunte Culpepper will start the season at Quarterback for the Honolulu Blue and Silver.