DETROIT RED WINGS
An NHL colossus does not normally trust itself to an old goalie who spent last winter playing rec league (and almost went to court for beating the crap out of an opponent). But Dominik Hasek is no ordinary goaltending savant turned roller hockey goon. At 38, some decline in his reflexes is inevitable, but he's worth the risk.
The 2003-04 Red Wings will have the best defense Hasek has ever played behind, likely the best in the NHL. Attackers - from, say, Denver - will have to scale Niklas Lidstrom (quick, smart, flawless with the puck) or Derian Hatcher (6'5", 235 lbs. and coming fast), only to find Chris Chelios or Mat Schneider waiting. At 41, Chelios is not the player he was, but he and Schneider should excel in secondary roles. A host of others, varying in age and experience, rounds out the blue line.
Up front, there are a few more oldsters, like Yzerman and Hull. But the core forwards - Shanahan, Maltby, Draper, McCarty, Holmstrom, Whitney - are between 30 and 35, the prime of hockey playing life. It has proved a good environment for young lads like Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, who are coming along nicely.
The new emphasis on defense should sit well with coach Dave Lewis; all coaches love defense, especially when they have oodles of scoring talent waiting for turnovers.
Trouble: With Sergei Fedorov gone, Steve Yzerman slowing and Datsyuk still growing into his game, they could really use another decent centerman.
On the Spot: Ray Whitney has been piling up points in relative anonymity (Columbus, Florida) for half a dozen years. Let's see how he fairs under the big top.
The Forecast: The city will get antsy as Hasek relocates his inner Slinky, and if efforts to trade odd-goalie-out Curtis Joseph drag on. Fedorov will surely be missed. But the Red Wings should be rolling nicely by Christmas. They probably won't lead the NHL in scoring again, but fully loaded and fully motivated after last spring's playoff embarassment, they won't need to.
The Call: First in the Western Conference.
Who's in:
Goaltender Dominik Hasek (return from retirement)
Defenseman Derian Hatcher (free agent from Dallas)
Defenseman Jamie Rivers (free agent from Florida)
Left winger Ray Whitney (free agent from Columbus)
Right winger Kevin Miller (free agent from Switzerland)
Who’s Out:
Defenseman Dmitri Bykov (free agent to Europe)
Defenseman Jesse Wallin (free agent to Calgary)
Defenseman Patrick Boileau (free agent to Pittsburgh)
Left winger Luc Robitaille (free agent to Los Angeles)
Center Igor Larionov (unsigned free agent)
Center Sergei Fedorov (free agent to Anaheim)
2002-03 Regular Season Numbers:
Payroll:
$68,005,506, 2nd overall
(Hockey News, November 15/02. Bonuses not included.)
- Record: 48-20-10-4 for 110 points.
- At home: 28-6-5-2.
- On the road: 20-14-5-2.
- Finish: 3rd overall, 2nd in Western Conference, 1st in Central Division.
- Goals for: 269 (3.28 per game), 1st overall.
- Goals against: 203 (2.48 per game), 8th overall.
- Goal differential: Plus-66, 3rd overall.
- Power play: 23.8 percent, 1st overall.
- Penalty kill: 85.4 percent, tied for 6th overall.
Goaltending:
- Curtis Joseph, 61-34-19-6, 2.49 GAA, .912 SV PCT, 5 SO.
- Manny Legace, 25-14-5-4, 2.18 GAA, .925 SV PCT, 0 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Center Sergei Fedorov, 80-36-47-83.
- Power play points: Defenseman Niklas Lidstrom, 82-8-22-30.
- Game-winning goals: Sergei Fedorov, 11.
- Ice time: Niklas Lidstrom, 29:20 per game.
- Plus/minus: Niklas Lidstrom, plus-40
2002-03 Playoff Numbers:
- Round One: Lost to Anaheim 4-0.
Goaltending:
- Curtis Joseph 4-0-4, 2.08 GAA, .917 SV PCT, 0 SO.
Leaders:
- Scoring: Center Sergei Fedorov, 4-1-2-3.
- Power play points: Left wing Tomas Holmstrom, 4-1-1-2.
- Game-winning goals: N/A.
- Ice time: Defenseman Niklas Lidstrom, 33:35 per game.
- Plus/minus: Three tied at plus-1.
