From: smorris@venus.lerc.nasa.gov (Ron Morris )
Subject: Re: Red Wings - Training Camp
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: NASA Lewis Research Center
Date: 15 Sep 1992 12:04 EDT  

In article <1685FB2E4.SGLENN@cmsa.gmr.com>, SGLENN@cmsa.gmr.com writes...
> 
>DEFENSE:
>VETERANS:  Howe, McCrimmon, Chaisson, Racine, Konstantinvo, Lidstrom
>FIGHTING FOR SPOT:
>  - Dennis Vial - traded to Quebec for $1 before the expansion draft,
>    then re-acquired this week for future considerations.  Vial adds
>    toughness to the team.
>  - Bobby Dollas - Played well in the playoffs for Adirondack.  Was up
>    with Detroit from time to time last season.
>  - Dimitri Motkov - 6'3" defenseman who played with the Red Army last
>    year.  May need a season in Adirondack.
>  - Serge Anglehart - If he's ever healthy he could challenge for a spot.

Murray has said he wants to limit McCrimmon and Howe to 50 or 60
regular season games due to their age to save them for the playoffs.
Hence, they will carry a 7th defenseman who will play quite a bit.
Barring a trade, I expect Dollas to be that guy at the start of the
season and maybe Motkov, if he develops at Adirondack, would come
up at mid-season.  Have you heard anything about Anglehart's recovery?
> 
>CENTERS:
>VETERANS:  Carson, Federov, Yzerman
>OTHERS:
>    - Mike Sillinger - Looked good playing at the end of last season, but
>                       lots competition at center.
>    - Slava Kozlov - First full season back after sitting out most of last
>                     season injured.  May be converted to Wing.
>    - Dallas Drake - Signed as a free agent out of Northern Michigan.  Murray
>                     seems quite high on him.

I expect Sillinger to make the team as 4th line center and penalty
killer.  Some scouts have said Kozlov has more talent than Fedorov.
Unless what I hear about his ability is way off base, he'll make the
team as a winger on one of the top three lines.  Drake would seem to
be frozen out, but Murray has spoken highly of him and thinks he has
a chance.  Maybe this means he expects a trade.  Any new trade rumors?
Last one I heard was LA was interested in Carson.
> 
>WINGS:
>VETERANS:  Probert, Burr, Ysebeart, Sheppard, Ciccarelli, Gallant
>FIGHTING FOR SPOT:
>   - Troy Crowder - Once again - INJURED....it is doubtful he'll be at camp.
>   - Keith Primeau - Murray has said that many teams were interested in him,
>                     but he wants to keep him and feels he will develop into
>                     a very solid player.
>   - Martin LaPointe - May need a season in Adirondack but should have a good
>                       future with the Wings.
>   - Brent Fedyk - Will be fighting hard for a position with the younger
>                   players.
>   - Sheldon Kennedy - Has his time passed?  Murray has said that he must
>                       have an excellent camp to make the team.

I think Primeau is a virtual lock to make the team because of his
size and potential.  Assuming I'm correct about Kozlov, that locks
up all eight wing spots.  Ogrodnick could make the team as ninth
winger, maybe alternating with Gallant.  They could use a left
winger who can put the puck in the net.  Maybe Ogrodnick has one good
year left.  I can't see Lapointe getting a lot of ice time if they
put him on the roster, so perhaps some time at
Adirondack would be best.

Overall, the team is loaded with good young players at every position.
They are overloaded up front and could use a top flight defenseman
who has a bad temper.  Hopefully, a package deal is in the works.
I guess it's a nice problem to have, but they are going to have to
free up some roster spots and playing time for these young forwards
in the next couple years.  You can only spend so much time in the
minors before development begins to stagnate.

Ron
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