No nyt Ken Holland on tarjonnut Darren McCartylle 25 ottelun mittaista tryoutia Grand Rapidsiin. Aika jännä että tuo sattui tulemaan juuri nyt, edellisessä postauksessani ei ollut minkäänlaista tietoa koko asiasta, ihan puhdasta spekulointia vain. Hienoa nähdä miten äijä onnistuu.
http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2008/01/mccarty_to_get_shot_in_grand_r.html
The Wings have offered Darren McCarty a pro tryout contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He's expected to accept it once he gains clearance from the NHL. McCarty had spent the last three weeks with the IHL's Flint Generals. This 25-game pro tryout contract is the next step in what he hopes will be a return to the NHL.
"He's done in Flint. He wants to go to the next level,'' Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "He's basically gone through a three-week training camp. We told him we'd evaluate him if and when he showed up in the AHL. I think he can help Grand Rapids. That team needs a shot in the arm.
"Now we'll make a determination if that's as far as he goes or if he has another level in him.''
It's still unlikely that the Wings will sign McCarty. Asked what he must show in the AHL to earn a chance in Detroit, Holland said, "That his speed is up to the pace of the game, and passion and focus.''
McCarty is free to sign with any NHL team during his stint in Grand Rapids. In order to play in the NHL this season, he must sign by the Feb. 26 trading deadline.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080129/SPORTS05/80129043/1118/RSS
Holland said he hasn’t yet heard from McCarty, but “they play Thursday, Friday, Saturday. As soon as he can get in there we’d put him in the lineup.”
“He’s helped us win three championships,” Holland said.” Holland said. “I was the chief scout when we drafted him. I’ve known him since he was 18."
McCarty has been making a comeback attempt with the Flint Generals of the International Hockey League. The Grand Rapids Griffins are the Wings' top minor league affiliate.
Holland said McCarty has made good progress. McCarty has lost weight, gotten into a few scraps and Holland looks forward seeing him play firsthand with the Griffins.
I asked Holland how he’d judge whether McCarty had something left to contribute to the Wings and he said:
“One is passion and focus. That’s what made Darren McCarty. Near the end of his career he lost his passion and focus. (Another) question is going to be speed.”
If he makes the Griffins, McCarty would be one step away from joining the Red Wings.
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Harjoituksissa on menty hieman uusituilla ketjuilla. Zeta ja Dats on jälleen lyöty yhteen, mutta kakkos- ja kolmosketjut ovat uudenlaisen kokeilun alla.
Näin siis reeneissä:
Datsjuk - Zetterberg - Holmström
Cleary - Franzén - Samuelsson
Hudler - Filppula - Kopecky
Drake - Draper - Maltby
Lidström - Rafalski
Kronwall - Lilja
Lebda - Chelios
Osgood
(Hasek)
Babcock oli ilmeisen vaikuttunut Johan Franzén loistavasta esityksestä Ryan Getzlafin nollaamisessa, että mies todennäköisesti alkaa ajaa hänestä uutta jarrusentteriä isokokoisia senttereitä vastaan. Kakkoskentän rooli tulee siis olemaan aika puolustava, sillä pelintekijää ketjussa ei ole ollenkaan.
Erittäin mielenkiintoista on nähdä pari vuotta sitten AHL:ssä yhdessä pelanneet junnut pitkästä aikaa yhdessä. Harjoituskaudella taisi olla joku nopea kokeilu, mutta se jäi varsin lyhyeksi syystä tai toisesta. Nyt Valtteri saa oman ketjun johdettavakseen ja kolmikon roolijako muistuttaa kovasti ykkösketjun vastaavaa. Eurotwins-2 lisättynä fyysisellä Kopeckyllä voi olla toimiva setti.
Phoenix joutuu yöllä todella kovan paikan eteen, koska pelasi edellispäivänä ja Detroit lähtee otteluun levänneenä. Wings on voittanut edelliset 7 peliä Coyotesia vastaan maalierolla 34-12.
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http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2008/01/red_wings_mulling_trade_option.html
Hollandin jutustelua mahdollisista kaupoista:
"We obviously have needs. You can never have enough depth," general manager Ken Holland said. "Are we looking at a bigger deal? The question is how aggressive do we want to be."
"I get the odd call from a GM saying, 'We're on the bubble. If we fall out we might look to deal. Keep us on the radar screen,' " Holland said. "We haven't talked names yet."
Money is not an issue. The Red Wings have about $5 million in salary cap space, which, prorated to the deadline, is equivalent to approximately $14 million in full contract value that they can add.
"I don't feel the need to get a top-six forward," Holland said. "Right now I don't anticipate us doing anything big ... but we might."
They are not as deep on defense, where they would be one injury away from having to dress an inexperienced player such as Derek Meech or the Griffins' Kyle Quincey or Jonathan Ericsson. Quincey did a good job in last year's playoffs, stepping in for the injured Mathieu Schneider, but the Red Wings might want some insurance in the form of a veteran defenseman.
"Would we like a little more experience? You can never have enough experience and depth," Holland said. "But what's the cost and who's available?"
Kyllähän tuo siltä Rob Blakelta alkaa haiskahtaa, jos mies on itsekin kiinnostunut tulemaan juuri Detroitiin. Pakistoon sitä leveyttä tarvitaan, ettei viimevuotiset pääse toistumaan.