The Red Wings 2008-2009 season roster looks pretty good with Dan Cleary, Pavel Datsyuk, Kris Draper, Valtteri Filppula, Johan Frazen, Darren Helm, Tomas Holmstrom, Marian Hossa, Jiri Hudler, Tomas Kopecky, Kirk Maltby, Darren McCarty, Mikael Samuelsson, and Henrik Zetterberg. Red Wings defenders include Chris Chelios, Jonathan Ericsson, Niklas Kronwall, Brett Lebda, Nicklas Lidstrom, Andreas Lilja, Derek Meech, Brian Rafalski and Brad Stuart. The goalkeepers are Ty Conklin and Chris Osgood.
This season’s Red Wings prospects are Justin Abdelkader, Joakim Andersson, Dick Axelsson, Randy Cameron, Cory Emmerton, Eric Himelfarb, Evan McGrath, Jan Mursak, Nick Oslund, Ryan Oulahen, Mattias Ritola, John Ryno and Jack Torquato. Red Wings defensive players include Jakub Kindl, Logan Pyett, Bryan Rufenach, Alexander Seluyanov and Brendan Smith. The goalkeepers are Jimmy Howard and Daniel Larsson.
Head Coach Mike Babcock, Assistant Coach Paul MacLean, Assistant Coach Brad McCrimmon, Goalkeeping Coach Jim Bedard, Video Coach Keith McKittrick, Fitness Trainer Piet Van Zant, Team Manager Paul Boyer, Assistant Manager team manager John Remejes, assistant team manager Adam Sheehan, assistant athletic trainer Russ Baumann, team masseur Sergei Tchekmarev and masseuse Lynn Newman.
The Red Wings are working their way to the top again, second in line in the NHL’s Western Conference behind San Jose. At 68 points, that’s a jump and a jump from the 73 points the leaders have.
Although the Red Wings suffered a loss in their last game before the break, which was against the Coyotes, they are still in as good shape to take home the Stanley Cup as they have in the past. For January, the Wings will face the Stars and Capitals for a home and away game respectively. In February, the Wings will host games against the Blues, Coyotes, Oilers, Wild, Avalanche, Predators, Ducks, Sharks and Kings. Road games will take the Red Wings on the road where they will take to the ice against the Penguins, Predators, Blue Jackets, Wild and Predators.
In March, the Red Wings will also be on the road to play road games against the Blues, Avalanche, Blues, Blue Jackets, Thrashers, Flames and Oilers. They can be challenged on their own ice as they host games against the Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Flames, Flyers, Islanders and Predators. Unlike many other NHL teams, in April the Red Wings will take on the Blues, Wild, Predators and Blackhawks on their own ice. They will challenge the Sabers and Blackhawks on the road in April, with road games including the Wings’ final game of the season against the Blackhawks on Sunday, April 12.
Hockeytown, as Detroit is affectionately known, is cold and snowy, but general managers Jim Nill and Ken Holland won’t be shaking as they head to the 2009 NHL Draft in Arizona. For 4-5 hours a day, Nill and Holland will meet with all draft-eligible players from all countries who will be in attendance for 3-4 days.