B6
SU N DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 2 , 2 0 17
T H E G R A N D R A P I D S P R ES S
“It’s definitely a place I could see myself being here. But, again, at the end of the day, it’s business.” Detroit’s Thomas Vanek on the possibility of being dealt prior to the March 1 NHL trade deadline
DETROIT RED WINGS STATS Through Friday NO.PLAYER A PTS +/- PIM PP SH GW GP G S PCTG F 40 Henrik Zetterberg 54 12 27 39 11 10 1 0 0 120 .100 F 62 Thomas Vanek 42 13 22 35 3 14 4 0 2 90 .144 F 14 Gustav Nyquist 54 7 21 28 -6 10 1 0 2 111 .063 F 39 Anthony Mantha 39 12 15 27 13 27 1 0 2 87 .138 D 25 Mike Green 46 10 16 26 -12 28 2 1 2 89 .112 F 51 Frans Nielsen 51 10 16 26 -12 10 1 2 0 101 .099 F 21 Tomas Tatar 54 12 14 26 -4 18 1 0 1 107 .112 F 71 Dylan Larkin 52 12 7 19 -15 23 3 0 1 127 .094 F 72 Andreas Athanasiou 39 13 5 18 -2 11 1 0 1 75 .173 F 8 Justin Abdelkader 36 4 8 12 -11 25 2 0 0 53 .075 F 41 Luke Glendening 54 2 10 12 -12 20 0 0 0 62 .032 F 43 Darren Helm 26 6 4 10 3 10 2 0 1 46 .130 D 52 Jonathan Ericsson 51 1 8 9 -2 63 0 0 0 43 .023 D 65 Danny DeKeyser 54 3 5 8 -14 19 0 0 2 54 .056 D 61 Xavier Ouellet 38 2 6 8 5 40 0 0 0 48 .042 F 15 Riley Sheahan 52 0 8 8 -18 12 0 0 0 74 .000 D 48 Ryan Sproul 22 1 6 7 -6 4 1 0 0 39 .026 D 3 Nick Jensen 21 2 4 6 4 4 0 0 0 27 .074 D 3 Alexey Marchenko 30 0 6 6 6 12 0 0 0 27 .000 F 20 Drew Miller 35 5 1 6 -10 14 0 0 1 31 .161 D 55 Niklas Kronwall 30 0 5 5 -2 14 0 0 0 31 .000 D 2 Brendan Smith 27 2 3 5 -1 32 1 0 1 36 .056 F 29 Steve Ott 37 2 2 4 -7 56 0 0 0 30 .067 F 59 Tyler Bertuzzi 7 0 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 3 .000 F 26 Tomas Jurco 16 0 0 0 -8 2 0 0 0 12 .000 D 23 Brian Lashoff 5 0 0 0 -3 0 0 0 0 1 .000 TEAM TOTALS 54 131 219 350 492 21 3 1524 .086 OPPONENT TOTALS 54 161 267 428 533 30 6 1656 .097 NO
GOALTENDER
GP MINS AVG W
34 Petr Mrazek 31 Jared Coreau 35 Jimmy Howard TEAM TOTALS OPPONENT TOTALS
NHL STANDINGS Through Friday EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W
L OT Pts GF GA
W
L OT Pts GF GA
Montreal 31 17 8 Ottawa 28 18 6 Toronto 25 17 11 Boston 27 23 6 Florida 23 20 10 Tampa Bay 24 24 7 Buffalo 22 22 10 Detroit 22 22 10 Metropolitan Division
Detroit forward Thomas Vanek, right, fights for position with New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson as Henrik Zetterberg looks on. Mike Mulholland, MLive.com
Future uncertain as trade deadline nears Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com D E T RO I T — The NHL trade deadline is March 1, but the Detroit Red Wings’ play over the upcoming week could go a long way toward determining the role they have in the trade market. If Detroit falls further out of the playoff picture, general manager Ken Holland is certain to move some assets for draft picks, and Thomas Vanek, an impeding unrestricted free agent, would top the list of tradeable commodities. The veteran has been in this spot before. He was traded twice during the 2013-14 season, from Buffalo to the New York Islanders early in the season and then to Montreal at the deadline. “You try not to think about it, but I think anyone will. It would be a lie if they tell you they don’t think about it,” Vanek said prior to last week’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. “It’s not like it would have been 10 years ago, if you had a wife or girlfriend and you just pack your stuff and move on. It gets hard as you get old. “I got three boys, they’re all in school. I like it here, it’s comfortable. It’s definitely a place I could see myself being here. But, again, at the end of the day, it’s business. I signed a one-year deal, so even before the year, I knew there would be a chance I could be traded. But it’s something you can’t focus on too much, but it’s definitely in the back of your head.” Despite cooling off recently (no goals, two assists in seven games), Vanek has flourished as a Red Wing. He’s tied for the team lead with 12 goals and is second to Henrik Zetterberg with 32 points, in just 40 games. Many playoff-bound teams would like to add Vanek’s offense. If the Red Wings deal him, they likely would get a second-round pick, and possibly an additional thirdor-fourth-rounder. Vanek, 33, said whatever happens, he would consider re-signing with the Red Wings on July 1. But, if the Red Wings start rebuilding, they might pass on free agency and give younger players more of an opportunity. Plus, they
could be tight with cap space, and Vanek will be seeking a bump from his bargain $2.6 million salary. “Things have to be right,” Vanek said. “I enjoy my time here, and we all (his family) like it here. It’s a good culture to be around. We have a lot of young talent. They’re getting some minutes, and you can tell they’re getting better. They’re learning slowly how to win close games. I think the future is pretty good here. It doesn’t take much to turn around and be real good, so it’s definitely a place I would consider.” Coach Jeff Blashill doesn’t believe Vanek will be distracted by the uncertainty of his future before the March 1 trade deadline. “There’s always a human element to this stuff that I think is easy to overlook from the outside,” Blashill said. “I think anytime any player has an unknown future in any capacity, it’s hard. But he knows how to manage himself, he’s been around the league. Our focus is winning a game tonight and putting ourselves in the playoff picture.” Vanek, playing on a line with Darren Helm and Andreas Athanasiou, is focused on snapping out of this lull. “Right now, I’m struggling a bit, our line hasn’t produced, but we’re winning, so that’s good, because everyone is going to struggle through five, six, seven, eight games,” Vanek said. “But that’s when good teams find ways to win and let ourselves find the game again.” Blashill has leaned on Vanek’s experience for input. “I’ve learned tons from the players I’ve had the opportunity to coach over the years, and certainly he’s right up there with some of the real good ones,” Blashill said. “His offensive mind is excellent. The thing about Thomas is he’s not afraid to say his opinion, and I love that, because then through the discussion of opinions, usually you come to the best answer. “He’s also not afraid to listen and admit when there’s other ways to do it better. Thomas has had a great influence on me, I think he’s had a great influence on this team.”
JOE LOUIS ARENA MEMORIES
Bowman takes victory lap with Stanley Cup One in a series of memorable moments and games at Joe Louis Arena from former players and coaches, as the Red Wings prepare to move into Little Caesars Arena next season. Ansar Khan akhan1@mlive.com
Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman skates with the Stanley Cup after sweeping Philadelphia in 1997. MLive.com files
DE T ROI T — It would be difficult to top the way Scotty Bowman said farewell to Joe Louis Arena in 2002. The Detroit Red Wings defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-1 in Game 5 to win their third Stanley Cup in six seasons. Bowman, the NHL’s all-time winningest coach, announced his retirement on the ice and then put on his skates to take a lap around the rink while hoisting the Cup, his ninth as a coach. Bowman’s teams won 228 regular season and 48 playoff games at the Joe from 19932002, so he has plenty of other fond memories of the building the Red Wings are closing this season as they prepare to move into Little Caesars Arena in 2017-18. “It’s hard to pick one,” Bowman said recently. “Probably the fourth game (of the Cup finals) in ’97. Winning the fourth game at home. It’s not easy to sweep a team. When
you get in the finals, you’re playing a good team.” The Red Wings ended a 42-year championship drought June 7, 1997, by defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 at the Joe to complete a sweep. “Cup -clinching w ins, you a lways remember those games,” Bowman said. The Red Wings didn’t win the Cup in 1996, the season they won an NHL-record 62 games. But Bowman recalled their 1-0 double-overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues in Game 7 of the second-round series. Steve Yzerman scored at 1:15 of the second overtime. “St. Louis, when I look at their roster, they had a really good team,” Bowman said. “(Wayne) Gretzky wasn’t there a long time, but that was a tough series. Those games you remember.” Bowman said one of his most memorable regular season games at the Joe was Dec. 26, 1996, when Sergei Fedorov scored five goals, including the overtime tally, in a 5-4 victory over the Washington Capitals. “There was a lot of individual performances, so many, you can’t just put your finger on one,” Bowman said.
Washington 38 11 6 Pittsburgh 34 13 6 Columbus 34 14 5 N.Y. Rangers 35 18 1 Philadelphia 26 22 7 N.Y. Islanders 24 18 10 New Jersey 23 21 10 Carolina 24 21 7 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division W
Minnesota 36 Chicago 34 St. Louis 28 Nashville 26 Winnipeg 25 Dallas 21 Colorado 15 Pacific Division W
L OT
32 1778 3.14 12 13 6 12 638 3.01 5 2 3 17 857 1.96 5 7 1 54 2.92 22 22 10 54 2.38 32 13 9
70 62 61 60 56 55 54 54
82 74 73 71 59 58 56 55
163 140 164 149 127 150 133 137
186 190 173 185 145 156 127 138
142 143 158 152 149 159 154 161 117 151 132 143 167 154 153 151
L OT Pts GF GA
12 6 17 5 22 5 20 8 28 4 24 10 34 2
78 73 61 60 54 52 32
181 161 157 149 165 150 104
126 146 163 141 181 175 172
L OT Pts GF GA
San Jose 33 18 4 70 151 132 Anaheim 29 17 10 68 147 141 Edmonton 29 18 8 66 156 141 Los Angeles 28 23 4 60 138 136 Calgary 28 25 3 59 149 159 Vancouver 24 24 6 54 128 154 Arizona 17 28 7 41 120 166 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. Sunday’s Games San Jose at New Jersey, 12:30 p.m. Detroit at Minnesota, 3 p.m. Colorado at N.Y. Islanders, 6 p.m. Dallas at Nashville, 6 p.m. Montreal at Boston, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver at Buffalo, 7:30 p.m.
SO GA
SA SV% G
1 93 899 2 32 324 1 28 426 4 161 1656 7 131 1524
A PIM
.897 0 .901 0 .934 0 .903 .914
0 0 0
2 0 2
Monday’s Games N.Y. Rangers at Columbus, 7:30 p.m. Arizona at Calgary, 9 p.m. Tuesday’s Games Colorado at New Jersey, 7 p.m. Vancouver at Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. N.Y. Islanders at Toronto, 7:30 p.m. Buffalo at Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. Anaheim at Minnesota, 8 p.m. Dallas at Winnipeg, 8 p.m. Arizona at Edmonton, 9 p.m. Wednesday’s Games Toronto at Columbus, 7 p.m. St. Louis at Detroit, 8 p.m. Philadelphia at Calgary, 9:30 p.m. Florida at San Jose, 10:30 p.m.
Capitals 6, Red Wings 3 Thursday Detroit Washington
2 2
0 1
1–3 3–6
First Period–1, Washington, Johansson 18 (Kuznetsov, Williams), 5:57. 2, Detroit, Athanasiou 12 (Sproul, Vanek), 13:30. 3, Detroit, Athanasiou 13 (Vanek), 16:23 (pp). 4, Washington, Connolly 12 (Eller, Alzner), 18:30. Second Period–5, Washington, Oshie 21 (Backstrom, Carlson), 1:16. Third Period–6, Detroit, Zetterberg 12 (Nyquist, Mantha), 1:25. 7, Washington, Carlson 6 (Oshie), 4:15. 8, Washington, Oshie 22 (Johansson, Backstrom), 14:18 (pp). 9, Washington, Backstrom 16 (Beagle), 18:28. Shots on Goal–Detroit 6-6-5–17. Washington 13-12-6–31. Power-play opportunities–Detroit 1 of 2; Washington 1 of 1. Goalies–Detroit, Mrazek 12-13-6 (30 shots-25 saves). Washington, Holtby 28-8-4 (17-14). A–18,506 (18,506). T–2:30. Referees–Wes McCauley, Kevin Pollock. Linesmen–Tim Nowak, Pierre Racicot.
NHL fires coaches more than other pro leagues It is coach firing season in the NHL. Well, actually, that’s every season. Claude Julien, of the Boston Bruins, became the fourth coach fired this season and the second in the past week after the St. Louis Blues canned fellow veteran Ken Hitchcock. The New York Islanders fired Jack Capuano last month, and the Florida Panthers cut ties in November with Gerard Gallant, who was left outside a visiting arena waiting for a cab. No one should be surprised when an NHL teams gets rid of the coach while games are still on the schedule: In the past 10 seasons, NHL teams have fired 38 coaches during the season, more than the NBA (30), NFL (19) or MLB (25) in that same time frame, according to Associated Press research. In fact, three of the past eight Stanley Cup champions have replaced their coach during the season. Outrage over Hitchcock taking the fall for bad goaltending or Julien getting blamed for some bad luck and deteriorating defense showed that each individual firing might be surprising based on timing, circumstances or track record, but the trend is clear: Management doesn’t necessarily consider coaches the final ingredient for reaching the postseason or winning a championship. “We know what we signed up for, and those are the things that sometimes happen in our game,” Julien said last week when asked about Hitchcock. No coaches are hired to be fired quite like in hockey, where making the playoffs is no guarantee of job security. — The Associated Press
RED WINGS
Down for the count Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson slams into the boards during Thursday’s 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals. Ericsson was placed on long-term injured reserve with a broken wrist, and he will be out for 12 weeks, meaning his season likely is over. AP