OT-Red Wings "Hank"
Really?
Hank left the game tonight with an upper body injury. It looked similar to when Cleary went down last week. No true update yet, but some reports are saying day-to-day but for a longer period of time.
Mickey did just point out that the trainer is on the bench for the Wings, this could mean that Hank is fine (please) or the doctors are looking at him now, which would mean the injury is more serious.
If Hank is hurt, can we catch a break this season. Of course, you can always look at it as we are stilling winning with eight (possibly nine) players hurt.
Here is a link that will be pretty updated with info. http://onthewingsblog.com/
December 17th, 2009 at 9:15 PM ^
Son of dongpuncher...
What the hell is going on with the Wings? Did they take a class from the Willis McGahee/Joe Theisman/Antonio Bass School of Making Body Parts Asplode this summer?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:31 PM ^
this is getting pretty re-god damn-diculous...nine regulars are out right now for the wings. let me say that again....NINE REGULARS are out for tonight's game. WTF?!? somebody did something to anger the red wings hating God.
What is amazing...the red wings are still a playoff team if it started today...that is impressive. they hopefully can keep it up, end as a low seed in the playoffs and will be a nightmare to eliminate....assuming we do not lose another seven players (knocking on wood) this season
December 17th, 2009 at 9:43 PM ^
The best part is that the team should be healthy when the playoffs come, meaning that it is even possible that we make another run at the cup. However, i think that we will catch up to Chicago and win the central again with the gradual addition of starters, back from injury.
I think Franzen will be the key for the playoffs, i think a few weeks ago he said he wanted to play in the Olympics so that would mean end of February he would be back with the Wings. I personally find this hard to believe, i would not be surprised if we don't see Franzen the rest of the year to avoid any further injury. Of course, i also would not be surprised to see him back by March.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:54 AM ^
they tell franzen that there is no way in hell that he is going to play in the olympics this time around. i agree with you that he won't be healthy enough to play anyways.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:45 PM ^
At least we won't need to make any moves at the trade deadline. Getting all these guys back over the next week to 3 months will be like adding players. I see us making a nice push to end the season and ride the mo through the playoffs. We'll have to see about the goalie though. Howie looks good, but is not proven and Ozzie is Ozzie (both good and bad).
At least the regular season is going to mean something again and not just a battle for home ice.
Edit: beat me by a minute...didn't mean to parrot
December 18th, 2009 at 12:45 AM ^
The great irony here is that with all these injuries, the Wings might actually have enough cap space to make something interesting happen for a veteran in the last year of a contract at the trade deadline.
That is my understanding anyway, that they are allowed to bank the cap room from the players that are on the IR. According to capgeek, they've already cleared $1.5 million in cap space.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:31 AM ^
There is no way the red wings make a deal at the deadline. Sure right now with guys on the IR they have room, but everyone who is hurt right now, with the possible exception of Franzen, are expected back before the playoffs. So their cap numbers would come back into play and would create an utter mess of things for Ken Holland if he were to make a deal. Expect them to (hopefully) continue to tread water until their injured guns get back in the lineup where they will be the one opponent NO high ranked team will want any part of.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:46 PM ^
Not sure how many of you have seen this yet but i thought i would add it because it is just awesome.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:56 AM ^
I really think all of these injuries are a blessing in disguise for the Wings. All of the young guys that have been shoved into the lineup (many prematurely) and are gaining valuable playing time in the NHL, which should further their development and give the Wings much needed experience in their depth come playoff time.
I've loved the way Eaves and Leino have responded to the increase in playing time and their roles on the PP. I also think its great to see guys like Drew Miller and Justin Abdelkader getting extra ice and being a more integral part of the team.
Overall, I think this adversity will be a net positive for the Wings. They obviously need to keep their head above water and gutting out these wins, but I really think times like these brings teams together and provides opportunities for players to step up to the plate and become "more important".
December 18th, 2009 at 9:04 AM ^
works most of the time in the NHL. you don't have to look any further then the 2005-06 oilers... that team started battling for a playoff spot 2 months before the playoffs started. they got hot and kept it going right to the finals. and as we all remember the wings go caught off guard that year by them. i want to see a battle tested wings team for the playoffs this year, just being able to "turn it on" when they want to isn't working that much anymore.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:37 AM ^
Agreed, and it might be not all bad that some of the Wings get to "rest" before the playoffs. It seemed to me that they were completely exhausted in the finals last year and were outworked by the Pens. Maybe with a lot of guys missing time throughout the season, they'll have fresher legs for the playoffs. I'm not too convinced that this is the case, but something about lemonade
December 18th, 2009 at 9:24 AM ^
how unlucky can one team be in a season
December 18th, 2009 at 11:27 AM ^
Slight shoulder separation. That makes the injury list look as so:
Dan Cleary
Niklas Kronwall
Johan Franzen
Valteri Filppula
Henrik Zetterberg
Jonathan Ericcson
Jason Williams
Daren Helm
Andreas Lilja
That's a pretty good team right there.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:58 PM ^
Well, it could have been worse.