Cleary not wearing gray...likely means he is back playing..,Tatar in the dredded gray with tootoo and eaves

For what it's worth, I'd argue that a) Tatar had a rough game in his last outing and b) the Wings' off-day practice lines are indicative of changes, but they aren't *#$%@& gospel truth. 

That, and a team desperate for scoring kind of has to do whatever it can to shake things up.  I'd obviously rather see Tatar in the lineup over Captain $3 Million Salary Anchor, but goal-scoring issues and losing 7 of 11 yield desperate times and desperate measures. 

And RedWingsFeed found that the Wings have posted a 111-image(!)  photo gallery from the Toast of Hockeytown. 

If you missed it in the overnight report, Jordin Tootoo's father, Barney, spoke with the CBC North about his son's imminent demotion to Grand Rapids:

"Well, I don't feel very good, and for sure Jordin doesn't feel very good," said Barney Tootoo, Jordin's father. " Like any player put on waivers, I don't think they feel very good.  It seems like with the new salary cap that they figure they no longer need him there." 

When Tootoo was drafted by the Nashviille Predators in 2001, he became the first Inuk to join an NHL team.  Tootoo was a fan favourite in Nashville, and in Nunavut, he's a huge star and a role model who travels to communities to talk to kids. 

Sports analysts say Tootoo is a victim of the salary cap.  At $1.9 million a year, they say he was too expensive to keep on the team, especially with other, stronger players coming off the injury list. 

"Unfortunately he was just in a bad situation in Detroit in that they have a slew of right wingers right now between Bertuzzi, Daniel Alfredsson, Dan Cleary, Samuelson," says Hockey Night in Canada radio host Rob Pizzo, "They just didn't have room for him." 

Detroit sport journalists say Tootoo could be heading to the minors by the end of the week, but knowing his character they say he'll fight to get back to the big league. 

Oh hey, by the way, per The Production Line:

Let this serve as a reminder, also, that we're two short weeks away from the H2H3 pledge drive: http://t.co/6yAqdiWHmE

The Washington Post's Katie Carerra published a context-setting notebook this morning (and we'll pretend that Mike Green wasn't the player Washington picked with the 1st-rounder Detroit sent to Washington way back in 2004)...

Mike Green did not take part in Capitals practice Wednesday and is questionable for Friday’s game at the Detroit Red Wings with with what the team will only describe as a lower-body injury. 

The defenseman skated 23 minutes 3 seconds in Washington’s 4-3 overtime win against Columbus Tuesday night and finished that contest.  But Green was also the recipient of three hits, including an intense collision with Blake Comeau with 8:04 gone in the third period. 

“I don’t think it was that hit but he got bumped up during the game,” said Coach Adam Oates, who was asked if Green would be able to face Detroit. “ We’ll see.  Obviously hope so.  We’ll see, evaluate him tomorrow.” 

Green has been plagued by injuries of all types in recent years and has missed 93 of the past 231 regular season games, dating back to the start of the 2010-11 season.  Back in January 2012 he underwent sports hernia surgery after dealing with a nagging groin injury and returned later in the season, but was limited in the first half of last year’s lockout-shortened campaign with another groin problem. 

If the Capitals are without their ice-time leader (24:18) for any length of time, it will stretch the depth of an already banged up defensive unit that has been without Jack Hillen (fractured tibial plateau) and John Erskine (upper-body), who are both on long-term injured reserve, for several weeks now. 

During Wednesday’s practice, usual center Jay Beagle was sporting a blue defenseman’s jersey and went through the workout as a blueliner but that was just in an effort to offer balance in practice drills.  Oates said he wouldn’t use Beagle in a game as a defenseman. 

The Capitals travel to Detroit to play the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena tomorrow night.  Capitals defenseman Steven Oleksy was born in Chesterfield, Mich., located approximately 30 miles north of Detroit.  Oleksy played collegiately at Lake Superior State University in Michigan from 2006-09, where he registered 20 points (3g, 17a) and 110 penalty minutes in 113 games.  Entering his second season with the Capitals, Oleksy has collected four assists and 36 penalty minutes in 17 games this season. 

Capgeek's been reporting that the Wings have been spending to the cap every day to maximize their Long-Term Injured Reserve relief, but whether that means the pro-rated salaries of the players recalled have pushed the Wings over the cap when accounting for Ericsson and Smith's salaries, I can't answer that question, because I can't do the kind of cap calculus that Ryan Martin and the Wings' management are able to achieve. 

"Nature of the business" - Patrick Eaves on being put on waivers. # redwings

...

Patrick Eaves found out just now he's been waived. # redwings

...

Patrick Eaves in final season, $1.2 million salary #redwings

What's next?  Probably eating Samuelsson's salary and waiving him if the team does want to make room for Nyquist at some point, but, for the present moment, sticking with what the team's got, Captain $3 Million Salary Anchor included. 

Again, the cap going down from $70.2 to $64.3 million = the CBC's Friedman reporting that 20 teams are within $2 million of the cap's upper limit, so the trade market is incredibly limited unless it's dollar-in-for-dollar-out, and the Wings can't afford to take on any salaries. 

If Eaves is claimed, his $1.2 million salary will come off the Red Wings' cap.  If he clears by noon Friday, he can be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins, in which case the Red Wings would get $925,000 in cap relief. 

The Red Wings will need to send both Eaves and forward Jordin Tootoo to Grand Rapids before activating Ericsson, who has been on long-term injured reserve due to a dislocated shoulder suffered on Oct. 19. 

Ericsson is expected to ready for Friday's game against the Washington Capitals at Joe Louis Arena.  Defenseman Brendan Smith also is expected to be activated from short-term IR in the next day or two, at which time the club likely will reassign defenseman Xavier Ouellet to the Griffins. 

Eaves, 29, has appeared in only three games this season (no points, minus-2). 

Eaves was sidelined for close to 14 months due to a concussion after having his jaw broken from a shot by Nashville's Roman Josi on Nov. 26, 2011.  Eaves returned last season, appearing in 34 games (two goals, six assists, minus-1) in the regular season and13 playoff games (one goal, two assists, minus-1). 

DetroitRedWings.com's Bill Roose confirms, and again, sending Eaves and Tootoo down gets the Wings down to 22 roster spots, but whether there's the cap space to accommodate Nyquist...

#RedWings have placed Patrick Eaves on waivers today.  He's one of the nicest most accommodating players in the league. 

Well the Free Press's Helene St. James has the answer to that, because Nyquist's cap hit is $950,000, and the Wings' cap relief won't add up to that figure...

“It’s a business decision,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “ We haven’t been able to give him an opportunity here to play enough and he wants to be in the lineup every night and he should be he’s a good enough player.” 

If he goes unclaimed he’ll provide $925,000 in salary-cap relief. 

“I didn’t even know,” said Eaves after practice, who’s in the final year of his contract. “ I knew I wasn’t playing.  I just found out from you guys.” 

Eaves needed to be waived in order for the Wings to have cap room and a roster spot for the return of Jonathan Ericsson to the lineup.  Ericsson has been on long-term injured reserve with a dislocated shoulder. 

“There’s a bunch of us here, with the numbers,” Eaves said. “ I don’t know (if got a fair shot).  There were just so many of us and I got fell on at training camp so that didn’t help either.  It is what it is.” 

...

“Obviously, Patty Eaves is a real good play, a real good person, does everything right,” Babcock said. “ He knows how to play.  He’s a responsible team guy.  It’s disappointing we weren’t able to make it work and we’re hopefully he’s going to get himself an opportunity. 

Tootoo and Eaves, if he clears, will need to be assigned to Grand Rapids in order to make room for Ericsson. 

“He’s a good player,” Babcock continued. “ He’s a good player.  There’s nothing wrong with Patty Eaves.  No question.” 

Mike Green sat out a second consecutive practice with a lower-body injury that Coach Adam Oates described as a bruise, but the defenseman will travel with the team to Detroit Thursday afternoon.  Whether Green will be ready to suit up against the Red Wings on Friday, though, remains uncertain. 

Green suffered the injury in Washington’s 4-3 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets Tuesday night at Verizon Center and was seen limping at the team’s Arlington practice facility. 

“He’s going to come with us on the trip, get a couple more treatments and see how he is in the morning,” Oates said. “ It’s a different injury, he got hit pretty hard and he’s bruised.  It’s not a groin problem.  It’s a bruise.” 

The Capitals will likely recall a defenseman from the AHL’s Hershey Bears this afternoon to have an extra blueliner with the team in the event that Green is unable to play against the Red Wings.  Given that Hershey plays in Charlotte again Thursday night, the Capitals would make the decision to recall someone before that contest. 

“You don’t want them to play three-in-three so we’ve got to make that decision,” said Oates, who added the team would most likely recall a right-handed shot if they’re replacing the right-handed Green in the lineup. 

Rookie Connor Carrick (0G, 4A, minus-3 in 10 AHL games) and veteran Tyson Strachan (0G, 4A, plus-3 in 11 AHL games) would be the two primary, right-handed options to bring up.  Oates said that the Capitals would also consider Dmitry Orlov, a left-handed shot who was with the Capitals for most of the last two weeks but was a healthy scratch in seven straight contests during that span. 

When head coach Ken Hitchcock talks about [Alexander] Steen, it's almost as if the points and the goals are an afterthought, that the essence of Alex Steen and his place on a Blues team with significant Stanley Cup aspirations goes far beyond the numbers on the score sheet. 

Not that Hitchcock minds the points, having challenged his team in the offseason to produce more from within, but it's how Steen continues to produce offense that pleases the coach.  That is, through dogged determination and hard work. 

"I think he's really strong on the puck and he creates so many chances off his checking.  And I think that's what's really understated," Hitchcock said in an interview this week. 

The coach likened Steen's style of play to that of another great Swede, Henrik Zetterberg the captain of the Detroit Red Wings. 

"I found out from you guys," he said. " I knew I wasn't playing, but I thought I was doing well when I was getting in. 

"There's a bunch of us here.  Just the way it is.  That's the business." 

Coach Mike Babcock called it a "business decision.  Patty Eaves is a good player and a real good person and does everything right.  We haven't given him an opportunity to play enough.  He wants to be in the lineup every night, and he should be.  He's a good enough player. 

"It's disappointing we haven't been able to make it work.  We're hopeful he's going to get himself a good opportunity." 

The Wings have an excess of forwards.  Last week, they waived Jordin Tootoo, and while he has remained in Detroit for practices, he might be sent down to Grand Rapids (AHL) to help clear the room needed to activate defenseman Jonathan Ericsson from long-term injured reserve.  Ericsson is returning Friday, when the Wings will try to overturn a six-game losing streak at home with a game against the Washington Capitals. 

After being a healthy scratch last game, Daniel Cleary will return to the Wings’ lineup against the Washington Capitals Friday, replacing Tomas Tatar. 

“When I looked at our lineup (Tuesday) I thought that was a spot I felt we could have been better so he gets an opportunity to watch,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “ He’ll get back in.” 

Tatar has two goals and one assist in 11 games.  He’s a plus-1.  Cleary has a goal and two assists in 18 games.  He’s a plus-1. 
“I thought (Mikael) Samuelsson was good, had lots of opportunities to score last game so I’m leaving him back in,” Babcock said. 

Tatar has gone scoreless in the past four games after a three-game points streak.  He has two goals and one assist in 11 games this season. 

"When I looked at our lineup yesterday I thought that was a spot I felt we could have been better so (Tatar) gets an opportunity to watch,'' coach Mike Babcock said. " He’ll get back in.  I thought (Mikael) Samuelsson was good, had lots of opportunities to score last game so I’m leaving him in.'' 

Babcock said defenseman Brendan Smith, who’s missed four games with a shoulder injury, is a couple days away from returning. 

“He didn’t stop and start yesterday; we didn’t stop and start today,’’ Babcock said. “ He’ll get some more work and he should be ready to go soon.’’ 

Center Stephen Weiss (groin) skated on his own today and said he felt fine, Babcock said, but won’t be ready until next week. 
Here are the lines and defense pairs they skated with today:

“Obviously, Patty Eaves is a real good player, a real good person, does everything right,’’ Babcock said. “ We haven’t been able to give him an opportunity here to play enough He wants to be in the lineup every night and he should be, he’s a good enough player.  He knows how to play.  He’s a responsible team guy.  It’s disappointing we weren’t able to make it work and we’re hopeful he’s going to get himself an opportunity.’’ 

If Eaves clears at noon Friday he will be assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins. 

“You got to look at everything as an opportunity, so hopefully I get picked up and play somewhere,’’ Eaves said. 

Eaves has appeared in only three games this season (no points, minus-2).  He missed the first three weeks of the regular season after getting injured (knee, ankle) during practice on Sept. 19. 

“There’s a bunch of us there, so it’s just the way it is,’’ Eaves said. “ It’s a business.  And then I got fell on in training camp so that didn’t help either.” 

This is the final year of Eaves’ contract ($1.2 million).  If he is claimed, his entire salary will come off the Red Wings cap.  If he clears, the Red Wings will get $925,000 in cap relief. 

...

“I wasn’t playing, but I thought I was doing well when I was getting in,’’ Eaves said. 

In out-of-town news, Darryl Dobbs says that Pavel Datsyuk's play of late = fantasy hockey "stud":

Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (6-4-4-8, plus-4, 4 PIM, 18 SOG) - Not since his 97-point days was Datsyuk shooting the puck as much as he is now.  He's on pace for 259 shots on goal this year.  That's a number he's only hit once. 

NBC Washington's Adam Vignan reports that the Capitals have made a move to cover their butts in case Mike Green can't play......

12.  Red Wings [last week 11]: The Wings have lost six straight at Joe Louis Arena for the first time since 1986, but only one of those losses came in regulation.  No wonder GM of this puck-possession team, Ken Holland, wants to eliminate the shootout. 

The bad news regarding Capitals defenseman Mike Green is that he did not practice with the team for the second day in a row on Thursday because of a lower body injury. 

The good news, according to Capitals coach Adam Oates, is that Green’s lower body injury is a bruise and not a groin injury and that he’s making the trip to Detroit for Friday night’s game against the Red Wings. 

Whether he plays or not, now that’s another story. 

“He’ll get a couple more treatments and we’ll see how he is in the morning,” Oates said. 

With Green’s availability in question, the Capitals are likely to recall either Connor Carrick or Tyson Strachan from the Hershey Bears sometime later today. 

The Wings need the $1.85 million to make room for defenseman Jonathan Ericsson, who is returning from long-term injured reserve Friday, when the Wings will try to overturn a six-game losing streak at home with a game against the Washington Capitals (7:30 p.m., FSD). 

"It's cap-related and it's competitive-related," general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press of the moves. " Ericsson is coming back, we need cap space.  We had to make a decision." 

...

Holland said he talked with Eaves about 10 days ago to figure out what would be best for both sides. " He wants to play every night," Holland said. " He's in the last year of a contract; he'd like another contract.” 

BIG E’S RETURN: Without Ericsson in the lineup the last 10 games, the Red Wings spiraled to a 3-2-5 record.  Still, Babcock believes that Ericsson’s absence helped with the individual growth of some of the youngsters. 

“I thought we did a lot of good things without him,” Babcock said. “ It was really good for the development of (Danny) DeKeyser because he’s gotten a much bigger role and more ice time.  Now he’ll continue to get the ice time so that’s a positive thing.  This will give us two really solid pairs.  We can move (Jakub) Kindl to the three pair so we can now really move the puck.  I think this just gives us a better team.” 

Ericsson will rejoin his top-pair partner Niklas Kronwall, while Kyle Quincey and DeKeyser form the second pair, and Kindl skates with Brian Lashoff on the third pairing.  Ericsson has a goal and two assists in nine games, but it’s his big minutes on the penalty kill and his 22-plus minutes of ice-time per game that has Kronwall excited to see his D-partner back in the fold. 

“He’s someone that I feel very comfortable out there (with) and he means a lot to this team,” Kronwall said. “ He’s huge for us on the PK and just in the 5-on-5 play as well.  He’s very solid and always plays big minutes for us, and he plays in big situations, anytime there’s a big PK coming up or the end of the game, he’s out there for us, so he means a lot to this team.” 

...

UGLY STREAK: It was 24 years ago this month that the Red Wings last went seven straight games without a home win.  It’s a streak that the current players don’t wish to equal.  Detroit has an opportunity to snap a six-game home winless skid Friday against Washington. 

“We want to be back winning as soon as possible, of course, starting here tomorrow,” Kronwall said. “ I thought last game was a step in the right direction.  I thought we played pretty decent for 60 minutes.  We kept going and kept going and kept going and didn’t let up.  It didn’t matter if they scored or not, we kept going the same way and that’s what we have to do every game.  If we can keep doing that then we’ll be in good shape.” 

And the Macomb Daily's Chuck Pleiness chose the following as his "quote of the day":

Patrick Eaves on being waived by the Detroit Red Wings. 

“You got to look at everything as an opportunity, so hopefully I get picked up and play somewhere,” Eaves said. 

Eaves, 29, has played in only three games this season.  He was injured toward the end of the exhibition season with a sprained knee and ankle. 

"I wasn't playing but I thought I was doing well when I was getting in," said Eaves, who was surprised by being put on waivers. " I just found out from you guys.” 

Eaves was frustrated by getting hurt to start the season -- and by his inability to get into the lineup. 

“There's a bunch of us there with the numbers.  It's just the way it is, that's the business," Eaves said. 

Coach Mike Babcock said Eaves can help an NHL team: "Patty Eaves is a good player, a real good person, and does everything right.  We haven't been able to give him an opportunity to play enough.  He wants to be in the lineup every night and he should be -- he's a good enough player.” 

...

Defenseman Brendan Smith (shoulder) could be ready to play by the weekend.  After the Washington game, the Wings are at the Islanders on Saturday night. 

Tootoo, 30, has appeared in eight games with the Red Wings this season, recording five penalty minutes and averaging 7:13 of ice time.  The Churchill, Manitoba, native skated in 42 games with the club last season, tallying eight points (3-5-8) and 78 penalty minutes.  In 536 career NHL games with Nashville and Detroit, the 5-foot-9, 199-lb.,  forward has 133 points (49-84-133) and 808 penalty minutes.  Tootoo last played in the AHL with the Milwaukee Admirals in 2005-06.  He had 49 points (23-26-49) and 399 penalty minutes with the Admirals in 100 career AHL games from 2004-06. 

Ouellet, 20, has averaged 13:58 of ice time in three games with the Red Wings this season.  He has also appeared in 12 games with the Griffins, registering three assists, a plus-eight rating and two penalty minutes.  A native of Bayonne, France, Ouellet is in his first professional season after spending the last four years with the Montreal Juniors and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL.  In 223 career major junior games, he recorded 160 points (41-119-160).  He also represented Canada at the 2013 World Junior Championship, finishing the tournament with three points (1-2-3) in six games. 

Now that the roster moves are finally being made and NHL veterans are being demoted to the AHL, several prospects could be shuffled down to the ECHL or have their current playing time impacted.  The Griffins, who are tied for second in the AHL Western Conference, have lost just their first game in eight straight.  The Wings prospects are a big reason for the early success and a reduction in responsibility could, at the very least, impact their development in the short-term.  Outlined below are prospects who have the greatest chance of being impacted by the additions of Tootoo and Eaves (if he clears waivers Friday):

Louis-Marc Aubry – The 6-foot-4, 205 pound forward has been limited to just one game with the Griffins this season so sending him down to Toledo might be the only option to get him additional playing time. 

Gleason Fournier – The undersized defenseman is in the final year of his entry-level contract and desperately needs to show he can take the next step.  He’s had a tough time early, playing in just three AHL games so it seems like another stop in Toledo may be on the horizon with the arrival of the extra bodies in Grand Rapids. 

Andrej Nestrasil – The 6-foot-2, 200 pound winger has finally earned an AHL roster spot this season and netted 2 goals and 5 assists in 14 games after spending the bulk of his first few seasons with Toledo.  Nestrasil is in the final season of his contract and needs a break through season to earn another contract with Detroit. 

Martin Frk – The 6-foot, 193 pound forward is already in Toledo after struggling through six AHL games.  Frk had hoped to turn his game around in the ECHL enough to earn a call-up, but he’ll have to wait for injuries to mount. 

Trevor Parkes – The 6-foot-2, 188 pound grinding forward is leading the Walleye with 6 goals and 11 points in 10 games.  Parkes, who is also in the last year of his contract, needs to show he can play consistently in the AHL. 

Mitch Callahan – the 6-foot, 190 pound forward is producing consistently with 5 goals and 9 points in 14 AHL games this season, but he now may have to compete with Tootoo and Eaves if both are in Grand Rapids.  Callahan needs to have a big year to prove he is ready for the next step. 

The additions of Eaves and Tootoo will have the greatest impact on AHL veterans such as Tristan Grant, Jeff Hoggan, Nathan Paetsch and Brennan Evans because of the veteran player limit which allows AHL teams to dress only five veterans per game.  With the Griffins making a strong push toward defending their Calder Cup, the Red Wings management will need to monitor the veteran situation closely to mitigate the long term impacts on prospect development. 

Optimist Ice Arena will be the next stop on the Detroit Red Wings alumni schedule.  The group of former NHL players and personnel will be in town for a fundraiser at 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, to face the Jackson All Stars. 

“Our phones are ringing off the hook the closer it gets to the 16th,” said Don Trapp, general manager of Optimist Ice Arena. “ It’s hard to get them to come back very often; it depends on what the project is for and who is trying to raise money.” 

Saturday’s game is the main fundraiser this year for the Optimist Club of Jackson, and marks the third time the alumni team has visited Jackson -- the first since 1997.  Proceeds for the event are used to fund the club’s various service projects. 

The Optimist Club sent 93 children to the state Capitol building on Oct. 10 and will take another group of underprivileged children shopping this holiday season.  The club also gives out a $2,000 Gordon Will College Scholarship to two high school students each year. 

Detroit’s full alumni roster includes Chris Chelios, Kris Draper, Gordie Howe, Joe Kocur, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty and Chris Osgood, although none of those players is guaranteed to be in Jackson. 

Former Red Wings planning on suiting up include Ed Mio, Brent Fedyk and John Ogrodnick, among others, said George Bowman, secretary and events coordinator for the alumni team.  Other players are waiting to make scheduling decisions. 

Update#18: The Subway Super Series, a slate of six games taking place between teams representing the Canadian Hockey League's three developmental arms--the QMJHL, OHL and WHL--and a team of Russian prospects will begin next week.  ESPN's Corey Pronman states the obivous in suggesting that one Wings prospect taking part in the QMJHL's pair of games against Russia is "one to watch":

Anthony Mantha, LW, Val d'Or Foreurs (QMJHL), Detroit Red Wings

I discussed Mantha earlier this season and since then, he's continued to light the QMJHL on fire.  Mantha's 2.45 points per game and 6.1 shots per game are staggering totals.  Mantha is a big, high-end skater with the skill and instincts to create offense at a high level.  He's also a good finisher (as evidenced by that point production).  One may be wary about a player putting up giant CHL numbers as a 19-year-old, but also based on his physical tools, the early returns seem good for Detroit.  Keep an eye on Mantha for Team QMJHL as a key scoring contributor. 

Update #19: Even more power rankings?  Sure, why not.  Per the Hockey News's Ken Campbell:

12.  Detroit (12): The Red Wings are 1-5 in overtime and shootout games this season and have lost each of their past three beyond regulation time.  Part of the reason is the Red Wings are getting almost no scoring beyond Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson and have dropped six straight at the Joe Louis Arena.  In the Glass Half Full Department, five of those losses have been in a shootout or overtime. 

The Red Wings are hoping to end their six-game home slide on Friday, but will have to get through Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals to do so.  The Capitals will travel to Detroit with a 10-8-1 record, boasting the No.  1 power play and No.  2 penalty kill in the league. 

“They’re all good players, fun to watch,” Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “ You like to watch them play and score against other teams.  I don’t need to watch them score against us.  We need to do a good job against them.” 

Detroit is coming off its sixth straight home loss, a winless streak the Joe Louis Arena hasn’t seen since the 1996-97 season.  Although the Red Wings have earned 12 points in their last 15 games, they couldn’t get the second point in their last three home contests. 

“We’ve been able to get one point (at home) a number a times and we haven’t been able to get the second one,” Babcock said. “ We’re taking steps here and need to continue to get better.  Playing without the puck will be key for us.” 

Ovechkin and linemate Nicklas Backstrom will be doing everything in their power to make sure that doesn’t happen.  The two forwards anchor one of the top lines in the league, alongside left wing Brooks Laich and defensemen Mike Green and John Carlson. 

“When you look at that roster and you see guys like Ovechkin and Backstrom, those are guys you really want to shut down and don’t give them any room,” defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said. “ It’s a big challenge and I really embrace those challenges.  It’s fun.” 

“I think it’s always important to bring awareness to anything of this magnitude,” forward Darren Helm said. “ I mean we do the breast cancer thing, the cancer thing and it’s all very important for people to remember.  It’s just a small thing we do to help and it’s just a fun thing to do.” 

The players are having plenty of fun with the effort.  The mustaches are growing at different speeds and angles, but two weeks into Movember there is already a clear frontrunner. 

“This guy’s winning,” Jimmy Howard laughed, pointing to Jonas Gustavsson on the stool next to him. 

“Just kind of the biggest one is looking at Gustavsson, he looks I’m not sure how to say it, but not like himself,” defenseman Brendan Smith said. “ Normally he looks like he could be in Persia with that mustache.” 

“In this room?  Gustav’s a pretty nice one,” Helm said “A lot of guys that are younger this year, the younger guys, don’t really grow as much, it’s the amateur mustache race this year.” 

“Well I don’t know if I’m winning, I kind of cheated,” Gustavsson said. “ I didn’t shave it all off and went from zero to this so I kind of had a couple weeks advantage, at least.  It’s obviously for a good cause.  Normally I don’t look like this so it’s fun for a few weeks, to do something different.” 

Babcock just can’t help himself.  It wouldn’t be a sufficient enough for him to add Ericsson.  He has to tinker.  Seriously.  Why does he have to CONSTANTLY change the lineup, change the lines….  Give it more than one game to let guys develop chemistry.  And then he will BITCH when talking about hows there are always guys coming in and out. 

Just remember that at the beginning of the season the tie goes to the veteran. 
And a quarter of the way through the season, tie goes to the veteran. 
But halfway through the season?  Tie goes to the veteran. 
And at the end of the season?  Tie, I believe, goes to the veteran. 

Also, when there’s no tie and the young player is clearly the better choice?  That goes to the veteran too, and the youngster is simply lucky he’s not waiver exempt or he’d be in the AHL and the Wings would be shopping for another shitty, slow, broken veteran.  Too bad Colaiacovo signed with St Louis.  Maybe he’ll fail his physical so Detroit canre-sign him to play centre on the fourth line. 

You don’t have to do the “calculus.”  All you have to do is read Ansar:

The Red Wings will need to send both Eaves and forward Jordin Tootoo to Grand Rapids before activating Ericsson, who has been on long-term injured reserve due to a dislocated shoulder suffered on Oct. 19. 

Or trust your readers’ 5th grade math from two weeks instead of capgeek’s projection based on a guy being on IR all year long. 

Or use common sense: Eaves, Helm and E were on LTIR for about 36 games total.  0.15 of their salaries combined don’t equal 82 games worth of $2.6 million preseason cap overage even BEFORE adding in the replacement players AND discounting Emmerton AND 0.8% of Tootoo 925,000 buried in the minors clause AND 0.2 x his regular salary of 1.9 million. 

Common sense is good even when my math or yours is bad.  It was never even that close.  The Wings needed combined $15 million men to go down for 12 games each, and there’s only 2 of those even close to that figure, and then they STILL would’ve had to waive Tootoo and Emmerton. 

That’s how badly KH f’ed the cap when he signed Cleary (and even before that). 

sitting Tatar for Buckets would give me pause to wonder if Babcock has some diabolical resentment of skill in favor of ‘hard work’, but the truth is Tatar is more skilled than Buckets and works harder, too. 

Please note that the TEAM—the coach and players as well as the GM—signed off on bringing Cleary back.  And that Samuelsson mysteriously became pectorially sore when the amnesty buyout periods were available. 

And it is *cap calculus.*  For suspension purposes, players are docked X number of games’ worth of salaries, but they are also paid when they’re not playing games.  The cap hits involve “pay periods” that include off-days and practices.  You can’t simply say, “Okay, they’ve played in a certain amount of games, and there’s their salary cap hit.” 

A little off topic, but another reason to really dislike the ” new” CBA….  Players, in many cases due in no part to their play, get shunted into the purgatory of the AHL. 

I know Eaves will still receive his salary, but if no one claims him, he’s back riding the bus.  Now, Eaves really hasn’t been a bad player, just stuck on a team with no flexibility with the F#*#*#* Cap! 

Tooto, Eaves, and numerous other more high profile players around the league sent to the minors with un-tradeable contracts, and guess what???......Phoenix, Florida, and all the usual suspects still playing to empty buildings.  Hey, at least their under the salary Cap. 

I know Eaves will still receive his salary, but if no one claims him, he’s back riding the bus.  Now, Eaves really hasn’t been a bad player, just stuck on a team with no flexibility with the F#*#*#* Cap! 

Posted by Down River Dan on 11/14/13 at 12:57 PM ET

That’s why I don’t believe Eaves will go to minors.  Someone will pick him up. 

Is it conceivable that the Wings would waive/trade Cleary, since he hasn’t been good?  I almost wonder if it is better to try now than to wait for another 15 games of no production and then try.  If we wait, any potential market for him dries up.  I mean, is this even something they would consider, do you think? 

How in the f*ck you can you know the players signed on?  What, were they going to come out and lambast Babcock and Holland if they didn’t agree? 

We know Babcock loves Cleary and we know Holland agreed because he’s the one who ultimately made the deal, but there is no way to back up any statements about the players. 

That’s some ridiculous apologist BS there. 

Tooto, Eaves, and numerous other more high profile players around the league sent to the minors with un-tradeable contracts, and guess what???......Phoenix, Florida, and all the usual suspects still playing to empty buildings. 

+19 I’m done here. 
I’m not that far behind you ( even though you probly meant this discussion, I’m applying it to the NHL). 

I still don’t get what Florida’s situation has to do with Detroit having to potentially bury players in the minors. 

I think I get it: part of the excuse to impose a salary cap was to spread the wealth of talent around the league so to draw more interest in the sport and fill the seats.  So the Detroit situation is they are going to bury talent in the AHL when teams well under the cap in the NHL (where all the “best” players play) with a still empty building.  In short, Salary Cap net result: 2 work stoppages, talent drain, and still empty buildings. 

Fair enough.  I’m not sure that’s a “new CBA” thing though since the new CBA makes it harder for to do it and harder on teams that do it.  The previous CBA had Wade Redden’s huge contract by a free-spending team completely buried in the minors, but in the new CBA it’s not really feasible to send down a $6.5M contract. 

You don’t have to support everything your team does.  You can be pissed off at your team.  That’s all part of being a fan.  But constant wailing and gnashing of teeth for *every move* that you don’t *completely support* gets a little…Weird. 

Being a sports team’s fan does not involve being in perfect harmony with every personnel move and every on-and-off-ice decision.  It involves some loyalty on both sides and some acceptance of the fact that you’re not going to agree with everything the other side does—and that some of what the other side does is going to piss you off. 

It’s “New” NHL (CBA included) what DDD initially wrote that I wrote my interpretation of how I understood the correlation.  I remember coming out of the work stoppage that first imposed the salary cap, all the talk was the “new” NHL and all these changes for the better.  Like shoot-outs, new penalty rules (calling), and, of course, the spreading of wealth of talent.  So, post 2004 is the “New NHL”.  I hate putting words in other peoples mouths, so remember my comment is on how I read him to mean; only he can best explain himself. 

Posted by Garth on 11/14/13 at 01:28 PM ET
Otherwise, you are correct that this most recent iteration of the CBA is even more punitive than the previous one. 

Here’s a suggestion for both of these guys.  If the job is so complicated that you can’t get it done right, then get the hell out of the job.  I’m sick and tired of the “it’s complicated” excuses from both of these “leaders” for why they’ve failed to do what they were hired to do. 

George.  We that grew up on the Wings for the last 30 years have become accustomed to excellence in both the management and coaching of this team.  The course this team has taken over the last five years has been distinctly lacking the aforementioned excellence, and it is distressing to the fans of the team to watch the team slowly slip into decline as a result of the mediocrity we bear witness.  So it becomes that each move that appears to not be in the best interest of putting the best team on the ice becomes a heartburn that will raise peoples voices each and every time the best team is not the ice playing in the way to most likely win every game.  This is a fan base that will not accept becoming pillar of mediocrity lightly. 

Spoken well, SnLO.  It is a building momentum toward anger.  I think fans can tolerate a bad move once in awhile.  But when the team is drifting toward mediocrity and there are opportunities to add players…and then the players that are added end up being bust after bust, there is a momentum of fan anger that grows more voracious each time.  Every loss.  Every game the team cannot score.  The moves that are made look worse and worse and that is slowly going to bring out an angry fanbase. 

sitting Tatar for Buckets would give me pause to wonder if Babcock has some diabolical resentment of skill in favor of ‘hard work’, but the truth is Tatar is more skilled than Buckets and works harder, too. 
Posted by MoreShoot on 11/14/13 at 12:48 PM ET

see Anaheim, Mighty Ducks of, circa 2002

Too bad Colaiacovo signed with St Louis.  Maybe he’ll fail his physical so Detroit can re-sign him to play centre on the fourth line. 
Posted by Garth on 11/14/13 at 12:42 PM ET

I think we have a 1st rounder available to trade for him at the trade deadline

Posted by
Hootinani
from the parade following Babs out of town on 11/14/13 at 03:44 PM ET

Please note Capgeek’s estimation: Capgeek estimates that waiving Eaves and Tootoo and bringing back Smith and Ericsson = $545,455 in cap space.  Much less than Nyquist’s $950K.

Can’t they then also send Glendening’s $525K back to GR and then have enough for Nyq?? 
They would have an open roster spot for Nyquist then. 
Z-Dat-Bert
Mule-Weiss-Alfie
Nyq-Helm-Tat
Abby-Andy-Cleary
Sammy
Miller
Kron-Eric
Dek-Quin
Kindl-Smith
Lash
Howy
Monster
Thats 23 boys!  Make it happen Kenny! 

About The Malik Report

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