Campbell's Cuts: These Red Wings aren't going anywhere
Nicklas Lidstromof the Detroit Red Wings skates the Stanley Cup over to teammates. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Ken Campbell
2008-06-04 23:08:01
You know, the NHL would like everyone to play nice and get along, just like they do in minor hockey. Give everybody a chance to win once in awhile and maybe, just maybe the folks in Nashville and Phoenix and Florida will start coming out to the games.
But the Detroit Red Wings don’t play nice. They win when they have all the marbles and they win when the guys who govern the game make them give some of their marbles away. And judging by the way they won their 11th Stanley Cup in franchise history, they’re not about to start playing for the participation badge anytime soon.
The Red Wings, as you probably already know, won their fourth Stanley Cup in 11 years Wednesday night with a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game 6 of the final. The Cup final was a vintage battle, one of those ones that can do nothing but good for the sport, but the fact the Red Wings won has really set back the NHL’s grand plan for parity. That’s because these Red Wings aren’t going anywhere soon. They really like winning and they’re intent on doing it again and again…and maybe again.
The Red Wings would not allow the powerful Penguins to unleash their offensive prowess even once, but what makes this so great for hockey was the Wings never collapsed into the trap, even when they led by a goal late in a game. The Penguins didn’t get any shots because they couldn’t touch the puck.
Clearly, these Red Wings are not the Stanley Cup posers the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes were. Their history suggests they’ll at least be a serious contender every year, but their future says it with a great, big exclamation mark.
No team in the NHL has learned to manage the salary cap the way the Red Wings have and it certainly helps that the cap, which was supposed to bring some sanity to all of this, continues to balloon to the point where the Red Wings will likely be able to keep all their core players happy.
The Red Wings had plenty of cap room this season and if they need to fill a hole they can either do it by going out and getting a free agent who wants a real chance at a Stanley Cup or from within.
For example, neither Andreas Lilja nor Brett Lebda has proved to be the second coming of Doug Harvey and who knows whether Chris Chelios will attempt to continue his quest to be the first player to play until his 100th birthday.
No problem, the Red Wings will just fill that hole with Jonathan Ericsson, a mammoth defender the Wings picked with the 291st – and last – overall pick at the 2002 draft in Toronto.
“Everybody’s closing up their books and packing up and (assistant GM Jim Nill) picks this kid Ericsson,” recalled Red Wings GM Ken Holland. “The kid is 6-foot-7 and he’s probably going to play for our team next year. We get him with the last pick of the draft.”
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The Red Wings have their first-round pick for the second straight draft – something of a rare occurrence in these parts – and their Stanley Cup victory guarantees it will be 30th overall.
Holland admits he’s looking forward to the draft, but not for the reason you might think.
“I’m not worried about who we’ll pick in the first round,” Holland said. “I can’t wait to see who we pick in the sixth.”
Much bravado behind that, but it’s so justified. The Red Wings have a Murderer’s Row in their front office that is almost as scary as the team is on the ice.
And they might be together for just as long, too. Earlier this season, owner Mike Ilitch sat down Nill and vice-president Steve Yzerman and basically told them he would pay them GM-type wages, but that they were beholden to the organization and if any others came to poach them, the answer would almost certainly be no.
Both were told if they had designs on going somewhere else where they don’t have a pre-planned parade route that they shouldn’t sign their contracts. Both of them signed on the dotted line.
And if that weren’t impressive enough, the Red Wings have Pavel Datsyuk under contract for another six years at $6.7 million, Brian Rafalski for another four at $6 million, Niklas Kronwall for another four at $3 million, Dan Cleary for another five at $2.8 million and Chris Osgood for another three at $1.41 million.
Henrik Zetterberg is under contract for next season at $2.9 million and you just know Holland will have him sign a nice, long extension shortly after he can begin negotiating with him July 1. Tomas Holmstrom is around for another two years at $2.25 million and Johan Franzen has a year left at $942,000.
And don’t forget, the Red Wings and coach Mike Babcock are very close to signing a long-term extension that will keep him behind the bench for years to come.
Does all of this mean the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup win Wednesday night is the first of a dynasty run? Not necessarily, but we do know this much – the Red Wings will remain a serious threat to win the Stanley Cup every season for the foreseeable future.
And judging by the way they approach the game, that’s great news for the NHL, whether those who run the league like it or not.
Ken Campbell is a senior writer for The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears Tuesdays and Fridays and his column, Campbell's Cuts, appears Mondays.
For more great profiles, news and views from the world of hockey, Subscribe to The Hockey News magazine.
Marilyn (Posted 2008-06-16 19:28:05)
I commend the person who mentioned that Scotty Bowman is the architect of the Detroit Red Wings in their present championship form. He is the one who brought the puck possession style of hockey with him, with an emphasis on defense first. Scotty is the genius, but the wings executive management bought into it and they have been inplementing the Scotty Bowman ideas ever since he arrived here. The Red wings are the most creative team in hockey; they realize that drafting big oafs don't necessarily equate to good or even great hockey players. I am sure the wings would love to be able to draft a big talented north american player now and then but their incredible success has left them unable to do so. Enter their incredible scouting which has picked players from the bottom of the draft heap, passed over by less creative teams. Zetterberg, Datsyuk- passed over by every other team-- Go Wings
Chuck (Posted 2008-06-06 22:22:36)
Bob, The final score *is* a stat - so yes, technically you are wrong...
Heath (Posted 2008-06-06 13:18:34)
Thank you Mr. Campbell for giving the wings there due in this article. Detroit is HOCKEYTOWN
MJM (Posted 2008-06-06 09:23:11)
One huge difference between the WINGS & the Penguins and that is the word TEAM. From owners to GM to coach & players the WINGS are a great TEAM! For all of his skills - Sydney Crosby cannot do it alone and what Pittsburgh didn't have in the finals was TEAM support. Also you Pens fans - enough of the complaining about hits on Crosby - Hockey is a game of hitting and the WINGS got called with more than their share of crappy penalties & never once had a 5 on 3 in these finals! Pens had 2 they couldn't capitalize on! Crosby was a non-force in the finals not because he was hit all of the time but because the Wings kept him from touching the puck - I lost count of how many times he was stripped of the puck. How about being gratious in your loss and giving the WINGS the credit they deserve! THANK YOU FOR GREAT YEAR
WINGS!
bob618 (Posted 2008-06-06 08:47:26)
yo arlo, I hate to inform you but statistics do not win games! Correct me if I,m wrong but I think it'susually the final score.
R.S (Posted 2008-06-06 08:40:17)
Being a Hockey fan first, and then a team fan second, I find many of the previous comments simply inaccurate and saddening. It is no wonder that Hockey continues to struggle for support when supported by fans that would rather complain about the game, point fingers, blame refs, and make excuses for a Stanley Cup final that was perhaps one of the finest we have seen in many years. Detroit won with talent, experience, and class, Pittsburgh lost possessing two of the three traits... a remarkable run! Lets celebrate the game, reward the winners, and be gracious in defeat, anything less is petty and provides more evidence for the skeptics.
D.S. (Posted 2008-06-06 07:45:52)
To the appropriately named "Derwood Sleezy" - you reply only proves that you really don't understand the game. The point isn't how many goals Hossa scored, the point is wondering how many goals Crosby and Malkin would have scored if they had been able to play their game. Sid took cheap-shot hits from 19 of the 20 players that the Wings dressed (being spared only by Hasek who probably would have smacked him from the bench if Sid had skated too close).
Derwood Sleezy (Posted 2008-06-05 17:54:53)
D.S. That comment is downright silly! Hossa was clearly Pittsburgh's MVP if not Fleury in the Finals. Hossa ended up 3rd in goals and points in the playoffs. He had 3 goals and 7 points in the 4 games in which the Pens scored in the Finals, and was constantly threatening for more, unlike some others. I agree that if Hossa doesn't sign a long term contract with the Pens that they may have given up too much for Hossa in hindsight. But that's the problem: "too much". Too much for the salary cap is what the Pens would have had to pay all their young talent eventually. They took stock and took a shot at the cup this year (and almost won it), and the cheese was the one to get let go.
D.S. (Posted 2008-06-05 16:40:22)
If the Pens had kept Colby Armstrong they would be the ones skating around with the Stanley Cup. The Pens were pushed around from start to finish and Sid took more after-whistle cheap shots from the Wings in one series than he did in all three of his previous series combined. Hossa for Armstrong will haunt Shero forever...
whatsthatsmell (Posted 2008-06-05 15:38:08)
Sometimes I wish I lived in Detroit. Ericsson is a far classier player than Pronger - Oops I didn't mean to elbow, kick, or whatever other dirty piece of work I just did.
Nathan (Posted 2008-06-05 10:17:49)
6'4" on the ground, 6'7" on skates.
The man's as big as Chris Pronger but can actually skate.
arlo guthrie (Posted 2008-06-05 08:46:54)
The Pens were able to make only one game weigh in their favor, the third, and were outshot in that one. Name me one, any, aspect of the series they wern't dominated. Shots, hits, faceoffs, PP goals, steals all tilt in the Wing's favor. Add being badly out coached and 'tis a wonder they took the series to 6.
Bob Allisat (Posted 2008-06-05 08:28:30)
Scotty Bowman is the brains behind the Red Wings. I'm surprised there's not a mention of this true hockey genius behind Detroit's success. But I sure as hell saw him hoist the cup last night. Not like he did when he was younger and the force behind the Habs. But he was there all right. And when any of you think of Detroit hockey's recent success just remember: the others are support staff, banner carriers and water boys. The core and not so secret weapon is Scotty Bowman. As long lives Scotty Bowman so endures the Wings empire. At least until the slumbering children of the Pens do awaken...
cob (Posted 2008-06-05 08:09:42)
Ericsson is 6'7?
The Red Wings on their site have him listed at 6"4.
I guess when you win a lot of Cups you can get away with exaggerating.
tom hartle (Posted 2008-06-05 02:14:01)
My wife and i live in San Francisco with our two boys. both of us are from the detroit area. this was a great victory. it was a dream season for the team. a combination of hard work, the right perspective, endurance and will power. we hate seeing what is going on with Detroits economy and leadership. hopefully this win will bring a little relief to the day to day grind that detroiters have to live through. the way the wings win is inspiring.
BobinChico (Posted 2008-06-05 01:18:03)
I've been fortunate to watch more than 70 regular season games the past several years (on CI), and all playoff games the Red Wings have played. It has been a treat to watch the skill at which this team plays. I believe, at least from comments made watching Wings hockey games, and shots into the crowds whenever they play on the road, and seeing this in San Jose, they have more Wings fans at those games than any other visiting team in the NHL. I think this is because they play such a skilled game and are very entertaining to watch. If I lived near Detroit, instead of over 2K miles away I'd be a season ticket holder, for life!!! This was a real good Stanley Cup finals. Pittsburgh does have a good team and Crosby is an awesomely skilled player. I was somewhat disappointed in the Pens fans with all the booing at Bettman and when Zetterberg hoisted the Conn Smythe Trophy. I remember what it looked like when they won at home against Carolina. It was something to see and too bad we couldn't have seen that again this year.
Leigh McBain (Posted 2008-06-05 01:04:34)
Congratulations to the best overall organization in hockey today!! The Detroit Redwings have proven hwo to be winners and to do it with class. While dynasties have historically been measured in consecutive years, this franchise needs to be considered for that title; that's 4 cups in more or less a decade and they have won the President's Cup multiple times besides and they are going to content again next year. Winning the Stanley Cup is the most rigorous test in major North American sport, a spectacular combination of endurance, determination, power, speed and finesse and to be able to contend this often and at this level for so long is unparalleled in the current 80+ game era.
Joe, check your reading glasses; the word used was "powerful", not "champion" and it was appropriate. The Penguins iced a "powerful" team; one powerful enough to put nearly anyone, save one of the most complete teams we have ever had the good fortune of watching play this game. The Penguins were simply second to a better team; the best team all year!
Can't wait for next season to get going; the playoffs this year were awesome to watch.
PuckMucker (Posted 2008-06-05 00:47:11)
I'll take the high road tonight because the RED WINGS ARE THE STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS !!!!!!!!! The Penguins have AWESOME talent and made this Cup Run one of the best I've ever seen. But it should be said that the media has slobbered over Sidney Crosby a bit too much. Gretzky? Mario? They had to win it first, and THEN they were heralded as the superstars they had become. The silver platter is the Stanley Cup. It has to be earned. Good luck next year Pitts. You have a great team, maybe great things could happen.
Andrew Clark (Posted 2008-06-05 00:39:52)
This organization is a well oiled machine from top to bottom. They act as whole and keep the ego's at bay. (Something I feel hockey teams do more so than any other North American pro sport.) The skills and winning edge this team holds continue to perpetuate as older players pass on their knowledge to the up and coming youngsters. It's a perfect system, anyone who argues otherwise should take a look at who owns the cup right now.
This has been a fantastic post season and since the Wings "aren't going anywhere" and the Penguins talent is already this good at a such a young age, I wouldn't be surprised to see these two clubs go head to head again in the near future.
Joe Willix (Posted 2008-06-05 00:06:29)
Why do you use adjectives like "powerful" to desribe Pittsburgh? They got shut out 2 games in a row, never won by more than one goal, were ridiculously outshot, and should be glad that puck possession doesn't seem to be a measurement anyone cares about. Don't hand Pittsburgh and Crosby anything until they've earned it, like Detroit did tonight.
WingNut (Posted 2008-06-05 00:01:08)
Hockeytown scoops home its 11th Cup! And with the way the management rolls in this town, we're gonna get more. WOO HOO!
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