Detroit Red Wings Clips November 7-8, 2015

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1 Detroit Red Wings Clips November 7-8, 2015 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 2 Hockey Hall of Fame: Fedorov did everything well on ice PAGE 6 Hockey Hall of Fame: Lidstrom set his own standard PAGE 11 Wings' Green: I'm 'playing for sure' Sunday vs. Stars PAGE 13 Defection of Wings great Fedorov was a leap of faith PAGE 15 Wings fans get audience with Hall-of-Famers PAGE 18 Mike Green 'can't wait' for first game back vs. Stars PAGE 20 Pavel Datsyuk 'close' to returning for Detroit Red Wings, 'probably another week' away PAGE 22 Red Wings defenseman Mike Green says he'll return to lineup Sunday vs. red-hot Dallas PAGE 24 Wings expect to get Mike Green back Sunday PAGE 26 Kindl's OT goal lifts Red Wings past Leafs, 2-1 PAGE 28 Chelios welcomes friend Peter Karmanos into Hockey Hall of Fame PAGE 30 Red Wings' fourth-liners looking for offensive boost PAGE 31 Fedorov, Lidstrom: It's 'special' to join Hall together PAGE 33 Babcock impressed with Wings: 'They do things well' PAGE 34 Krupa: On a night for history, Zetterberg makes his own PAGE 37 Kindl scores OT winner for Wings against Leafs PAGE 39 Bowman let Fedorov leave to repair relationship PAGE 40 Red Wings try to rise above rash of injuries PAGE 43 Hall inductees have defensive excellence in common PAGE 45 Red Wings' Henrik Zetterberg thrilled to reach milestone, beat Leafs on 'special' Hall of Fame night PAGE 47 Red Wings postgame: Jakub Kindl gets some payback on Mike Babcock with OT goal PAGE 48 Petr Mrazek solid, Jakub Kindl scores in overtime as Red Wings clip Maple Leafs PAGE 50 Second-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 0 PAGE 51 First-period analysis: Red Wings 1, Maple Leafs 0 PAGE 52 Former Red Wing Sergei Fedorov: Scotty Bowman helped during 'tough time' in personal life PAGE 54 Red Wings' Nicklas Lidstrom chuckles about 'Perfect Human' label as he prepares to enter Hall of Fame PAGE 56 Red Wings Gameday: Hall of Fame festivities kick off today with matchup against Maple Leafs PAGE 58 Red Wings lineup vs. Maple Leafs: Petr Mrazek in goal as Detroit looks to gain traction PAGE 60 Ex-Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom, Sergei Fedorov to play in Hall of Fame Legends Classic Sunday PAGE 61 Sportsnet.ca / Possession hockey left Detroit with Babcock PAGE 64 First-period goal fades as Griffins' early-season woes continue

2 Hockey Hall of Fame: Fedorov did everything well on ice Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:38 a.m. EST November 8, 2015 TORONTO Steve Yzerman remembers a game at the 1990 World Championship in Switzerland when, suddenly, there was Sergei Fedorov. I was on the ice, and he was flying down the left wing and took a slap shot just inside our blue line, on international ice, and blew it right over our goalie s shoulder, Yzerman said. His speed and strength, he was just awesome. That awesome talent is now being celebrated as Fedorov is inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Like Yzerman, Fedorov is a first-ballot entrant, the ultimate recognition of a player another Hall of Fame member called ultra-talented. Scotty Bowman began coaching Fedorov in 1993, three seasons after Fedorov had joined the Red Wings after quietly defecting from the Soviet Union. He was so physically strong, and he was such a great skater, Bowman said. He was a terrific defensive player, too, which being from Europe wasn t always the case. He saw the game the right way, played offense, played defense. I just think from the get-go, he was a terrific player in Russia. That first season under Bowman would be Fedorov s finest one individually, as he took home the Hart Memorial Trophy and what is now called the Ted Lindsay Award, both recognizing Fedorov as the MVP of the season, along with the first of two Selke Trophies as best defensive forward. His ability to dominate was indisputable. He was such a dynamic player, with his speed and stick-handling and pace and determination, fellow 2015 inductee Nicklas Lidstrom said. He could do things at a higher speed than anyone else. He was so much fun to play with. Out of a movie Soon after the shift that left such an impression on Yzerman, he and Fedorov became teammates. Jimmy Devellano, former general manager of the Wings and now a team executive, vividly recalls making the pick on June 17, 1989, in Bloomington, Minn. When we took Sergei in the fourth round, there were snickers around the league, because the Iron Curtain was up, Devellano said. People said that it was a wasted fourth round pick that Sergei was a great player, but that we would never get him. They probably weren t wrong to think that. But we thought he was the best 19-year-old player in the world. I thought, Hell, I m not drafting some guy who will probably end up playing in the American Hockey League when this guy is available. So we took Sergei, and we were able to get him to defect. Sergei Fedorov. During the 1990 Goodwill Games, held in July and August, Fedorov left his Soviet team while in Portland, Ore., and joined the Wings in a tale straight out of a Hollywood spy 2

3 movie. It involved one man posing as a Russian journalist, another reading a newspaper as a signal and a private jet. I don t think I was nervous, Fedorov said. More excited. Excited to go and play hockey in front of 20,000 people. I was excited to see nice plane. I was looking forward to landing in Detroit and getting on with a new life. Fedorov scored in his first NHL game. Six years later, he scored all of Detroit s goals in 5-4 overtime victory against Washington. He became the first Russian to reach 1,000 points and 1,000 NHL games. He was an ultra-talented player, Bowman said. Look at what he did, score five goals one game, which is pretty well impossible. He could play at a level most players couldn t. For opposing centers, Fedorov was uncontainable. He was one of the better skaters I faced, Hall of Famer Mike Modano said. He did everything really well skate, pass, shoot. He had great intelligence. Great face-off guy. Played every position on the ice. He was a rare breed that could do everything really well. You could never push him off the puck. His leg strength was so above everybody s else, and that made him impossible to get off-balance. Fedorov was such a good skater, Bowman used him on defense, something Bowman has said neither Wayne Gretzky nor Mario Lemieux could have done. I think Sergei could have been an All-Star defenseman, Bowman said. He was that good when we put him back there for six weeks. He made the transition very quickly. Once a lone Russian on the Wings, Fedorov soon was surrounded by countrymen. Prompted by Igor Larionov, Bowman put together a line of Fedorov, Larionov, Slava Kozlov, Slava Fetisov and Vladimir Konstantinov. They were proud to play as a group, Bowman said. Sergei ended up playing a lot with Kozlov, but they all worked well together, played the same style, good passing. They were very effective for us. Fedorov attributed their success to the fact that they enjoyed each other s company on the ice. It was fun time. In 1997, Fedorov began his summer with a Stanley Cup party. He ended it with a holdout. Detroit businessman and Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. now part of the same Hall of Fame class eventually offered Fedorov a six-year contract worth as much as $38 million. Fedorov signed. The Wings matched. Fedorov returned to the Wings at the end of February. By June, they had a second straight Stanley Cup, with Fedorov contributing 20 points in 20 playoff games. It was a big decision, a lot of money, but we wouldn t have won the Cup in 98 if Sergei hadn t come back, Bowman said. He played at such a high level. He was a stronger physical player than most guys in the league. He didn t bang guys around, but he was 3

4 strong on the puck and his stick was exceptional. He could do things by himself. He could deke a couple of guys and come in on goal, and not many had shot like him. Fedorov would go on to win one more Cup with the Wings, on a team loaded with future Hall of Fame players. Bowman ended up using Fedorov with Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan, creating a line that, Bowman said, could play against anybody. Yzerman chuckles at the memory. It was one of funnest times I had playing, Yzerman said. Basically at that time, I had knee issues, so I d just get the puck to Sergei and let him carry it through the neutral zone, let him do all the work down low. Sergei was a game-breaker. It was really fun. I loved it. At heart, a Wing Fedorov had signaled a willingness to leave the Wings in 1998, when he signed that offer sheet with Carolina. In 2003, he made good on his desire. Attracted to the Southern California vibe, Fedorov chose to sign with Anaheim. Playing under coach Mike Babcock didn t go very well, and a little more than two years later, Fedorov was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets. In 2008, they shipped him to the Washington Capitals, and it was there he played his last NHL season, in , registering 11 goals among 33 points in 52 games. It s too bad he didn t stay with Detroit, because his career didn t do as well after he left, Bowman said. The other teams weren t as strong. He should have been playing with the Wings till the end of his career, but that happens. I think people in Detroit appreciated how good a player he was, but fans didn t like that he left Detroit. That was a tough time for him. Down deep, it didn t help his career, not at the end. He had a terrific career, with the Wings. Just look at that part of it, it was tremendous. He won the Hart. He won Selke. He challenged Gretzky for scoring. Fedorov was booed relentlessly in visits to Joe Louis Arena. I wish he would have remained in Detroit his entire career, Yzerman said, but things change over time. The Hall of Fame will be great opportunity for the city to recognize what a great player he was for us. Fedorov was a great favorite with team owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, and relationships have been restored in the years since Fedorov, now general manager of the KHL s CSKA Moscow, left Detroit. Fedorov will be recognized for his Hall induction before the next Wings home game, and there is talk of retiring Fedorov s No. 91. In the summer of 2003, those who felt such attachment to Fedorov were devastated. I felt terrible about him leaving, I won t deny that, Devellano said. I was so disappointed. We tried so hard to retain him. We were sitting in an office with Mike Ilitch, and Mr. Ilitch offered Sergei $50 million for five years, OK? Fifty million. And Sergei didn t accept it. I was always sad about that because I really wanted him to finish his entire career with Red Wings. I know both Scotty and I envisioned him becoming a defenseman toward 4

5 the end of his career because he could skate so well and handle the puck. We were hoping he would have two decades in Detroit, but he chose to leave. But I am thrilled he is going into the Hall because he was a great, great player and a big part of winning three Cups for the Red Wings. As he admired his Hall of Fame ring, Fedorov downplayed his decision to leave, saying he would not have done it if he thought he was going to regret it. It is, under any circumstance, a decade-old event. Fedorov never completely left the city, maintaining his Detroit area home for his parents and for his own frequent visits. In his mid-40s and recognized with the highest recognition with hockey, Fedorov is reflective, and appreciative. The time I spent in Detroit was just amazing, Fedorov said. At heart, I am a Wing. The Hall Call What: 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. When: 7:30 p.m. Monday. Where: Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto. TV: NHL Network. Who s in: Sergei Fedorov, Bill Hay (as builder), Phil Housley, Peter Karmanos Jr. (as builder), Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Pronger, Angela Ruggiero. Sergei Fedorov Inducted as: player. Claim to fame: Fedorov won three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, in 1997, 98 and He was runner-up for the Calder Trophy in , losing the rookie of the year to Blackhawks goaltender Ed Belfour. He won the Hart Trophy as the NHL s most valuable player in He won the Selke Trophy as the league s best defensive forward in and After leaving the Wings in 2003, he played for the Mighty Ducks, Blue Jackets and Capitals. He entered Saturday night with the most goals in NHL history by a Russian-born player with 483, one ahead of the Caps Alex Ovechkin, who visits Detroit on Tuesday night. Did you know? Fedorov defected from the Soviet Union in He was playing in a tournament in Portland, Ore., and the Wings, who had drafted him in the fourth round the year before, whisked him out the back door of the team hotel, into a limousine and onto owner Mike Ilitch s private jet. He played for the USSR again, however, in the 1991 Canada Cup even though the team was still coached by the infamous Viktor Tikhonov. He continued to play for Russia after the fall of the Iron Curtain, winning Olympic silver in 1998 and bronze in He finished his playing career in the KHL and became general manager of CSKA the modern version of the old Central Red Army club and Tikhonov was his mentor until he died last year. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

6 Hockey Hall of Fame: Lidstrom set his own standard Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:30 a.m. EST November 8, 2015 TORONTO His life now is all hamburgers, downhill skiing and going to his sons hockey games. As was the case during his career, if Nicklas Lidstrom is doing something, he is doing it perfectly. The last, enduring chapter of Lidstrom s amazing career unfolds Monday, when he will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. He enters with four Stanley Cups and seven Norris Trophies, as a member of the Triple Gold Club, and as a player so great even the man who has coached more great hockey players than anyone doubts that there can be another Lidstrom. Nick was so consistent and durable, I don t know if it will ever be duplicated, Hall of Fame member Scotty Bowman said. He always played against the best players in the league, and his stats were terrific. He was just a consummate, consummate pro, and he will go down in history for his durability and performance. Lidstrom produced 1,142 points in 1,564 NHL games, all with the Wings, all while playing against the best opposing forwards. In 20 seasons, he missed just 42 games, and a dozen of those were in his last year, The Wings never missed the playoffs while he was on the team. In 2006, Lidstrom scored the goal that won his native Sweden a gold medal in men s hockey at Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy. In 2008, he became the first European to captain a team to the Stanley Cup. From the minute he played his first NHL game, he looked totally comfortable, former teammate and Hall of Fame member Steve Yzerman said. I never saw him get rattled. He never had a bad day at the office, never reacted or acted inappropriately on or off the ice. He was the most low-maintenance player I have ever seen. Best draft in history The funny thing is, when Lidstrom first came over from Sweden, he didn t think he d last long. I feel fortunate I was able to play for 20 years, he said. When I first joined at 21, I thought I would play a few years, see what it would be like. Then it turned out to be 20 seasons, and I was fortunate to be on some good teams, had lot of success. We went to six finals and won four. I feel very fortunate. Nicklas Lidstrom. So did the Wings back in At the June 17 draft, held at the old Met Center in Bloomington, Minn., they drafted Mike Sillinger in the first round and Bob Boughner in the second. Next came Lidstrom. The fourth round yielded Sergei Fedorov. Their 11thround pick, 221st overall, was Vladimir Konstantinov. I was general manager of the Detroit Red Wings at the time, and nobody at that time would have envisioned that our scouts would provide me with the best draft in the 6

7 history of the NHL, Jimmy Devellano said. You add up how many games Mike Sillinger and Bob Boughner and Nick and Sergei and Dallas Drake and Vladimir Konstantinov played, and how two of them are now going into the Hall of Fame. And I m not so sure Vladdie wouldn t have joined them, we will never know, but it wouldn t have surprised me if that unfortunate accident never occurred. But that was the best draft we ever had. When it came to make their pick in Round 3, Devellano buttonholed chief scout Neil Smith and European scout Christer Rockstrom about their selection. I m the GM, I hadn t seen this player, so I did what all GMs do, Devellano said. They ask questions. Who is he? Why can he make the NHL? Blah blah blah, Devellano said. Nick was described to me as young boy who was a fluid skater, had fabulous hockey sense and really knew how to play the game. That all turned out to be true. The only questions was, they felt, and they were correct, was that he needed to get bigger and stronger. So we let him be in Sweden a couple of years, and then he came over in 91, and boy, oh boy, he really helped propel us to be a pretty good team for two decades. Unbelievably good The genius of Lidstrom was in his positioning, in the way he extended his stick between himself and the boards to cut off room. Where other defensemen would detour to make a hit, Lidstrom never strayed. He was just so unbelievably positionally good, you could never shake him, Hall of Fame member Mike Modano said. At some point or other, you had to go through him, and you never could. There was no better defenseman I saw at that. He was never, ever out of position. He never put himself in a vulnerable position. That instinct was visible when Lidstrom was drafted and honed when he joined the Wings for the season. At the time, Dave Lewis was an assistant coach in Detroit. He taught me how to be a two-way defenseman, Lidstrom said. He taught me you don t have to be overly physical to get the job done. Bowman, too, credits Lewis with being a good influence on Nick s career, because he knew how to play. I give Dave Lewis a lot of credit. It was good combination. I didn t do hardly any coaching with Nick. Bowman coached Lidstrom from During that time, Lidstrom missed just 17 games over nine seasons, while regularly hitting double digits in goals and topping mid- 50s in points. Considering he played against the best in the league, as a defenseman his offensive stats were terrific, Bowman said. He didn t go up the ice very often, and he never got caught up the ice. I have never seen another defenseman who could play in the O-zone and not get caught. Whenever he had the puck and made a play to a teammate, we generally kept the puck. Nick s possession game was fantastic. Lidstrom played the point on power plays to perfection. He and Tomas Holmstrom perfected a sequence where Lidstrom would deliberately shoot wide, using the bouncy 7

8 end boards at Joe Louis Arena for a ricochet that Holmstrom would get to first. The two were great friends off the ice, too, often carpooling to and from work. When Lidstrom was featured on an episode of a behind-the-scenes TV series, it was Holmstrom who was the scene-stealer. Being able to play with him, and our friendship, is something I treasure, Lidstrom said. Other teammates were awed by how Lidstrom always was the picture of calm. It is extremely rare for a hockey player not to be known by a diminutive of either first or last name. Holmstrom was Homer, Yzerman Stevie. Lidstrom first was known as Swede, but soon that changed to The Perfect Human. Lidstrom was extremely polite to everyone, hung up his own equipment and never complained. It s something I chuckle about, Lidstrom said. His wife, he said, could have killed that story real quick. His demeanor was especially key during games, Modano noticed when he became a brief teammate late in his career. It was clear he enjoyed what he was doing and he enjoyed pushing himself to stay at that level, Modano said. But he never got worked up, and that filtered to the whole team, so that no one got too rattled. He set the tone in that aspect. The ultimate tribute to Lidstrom s greatness may well be how many partners he made look exceptional. He started out on a good roll, with Paul Coffey and soon after Konstantinov. But when that June 1997 limousine crash one week after the Wings won their first Cup in 42 years claimed the career of Konstantinov, the Wings were left without one of their top two defensemen. Lidstrom extended the career of Larry Murphy. Lidstrom made a defenseman out of converted forward Mathieu Dandenault. Lidstrom revived the career of Fredrik Olausson. A few years ago, Ian White had a defensive rating in the plus-20s while paired with Lidstrom. As soon as White stopped playing with Lidstrom, the plusses plummeted. Nick made a lot partners good, Bowman said. They all had terrific seasons when they were with him. Without him, some were still pretty good, but not like they were with him. He was effortless. No maintenance at all. He did not need much coaching, he just played at a high level every game. Love of the game Lidstrom retired in 2012, a month after his 42nd birthday. He had done everything possible as a hockey player, winning championships in the NHL and internationally and collecting armloads of individual awards. Bowman coached a number of Hall of Fame players during a career that spanned , and even to him Lidstrom shines especially bright. It is spelled out with all the Norris Trophies he won, Bowman said. He was up against the Chris Prongers and Al MacInnises and Ray Bourques. There were half a dozen defensemen that could be considered the best at the time, but if I m voting, I m putting Nick ahead of everyone. 8

9 Lidstrom, 45, returned to Sweden with his wife and their four sons later that summer. As a last gesture to the area that had been their home for 21 years, the Lidstroms took out a full-page ad in local newspapers to say thank you. They returned in March 2014, when the Wings retired Lidstrom s No. 5, and will all be in Toronto for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Whereas some players second-guess their decision to retire and flirt with comebacks, Lidstrom has gone through no doubts. He knew he couldn t push his body through the demands any more. I m happy with my decision, he said. But I do miss the camaraderie and setting goals in September and trying to reach them in June, the journey I had every season throughout my career. I really enjoyed it so so much. Nowadays, Lidstrom enjoys spending his time helping coach the hockey team of his youngest son, 12-year-old Lucas. He has an advisory role with his former team in Vasteras. He is involved with some businesses. He sometimes scouts for the Wings alongside their chief European scout, fellow Swede Hakan Andersson. This always was the lure of retirement for Lidstrom: doing things he couldn t do during his own hockey career. It s been nice to have all this free time, Lidstrom said. We go to northern Sweden a lot to ski. I could never do that while playing. We ve gone to the Caribbean on vacation. We are just enjoying traveling a lot more. I discovered I can t eat as much as I used to when I was playing. But I do eat a lot more hamburgers. Lidstrom s oldest is now 21, the same age Lidstrom was when he played his first game with the Wings. In another decade, it s entirely likely Lidstrom will add babysitting grandchildren to his retirement routine. Should one of them ask what he did, Lidstrom has the perfect answer. I would tell them that a long time ago I played in the NHL and played for a lot of years and had a lot of success, Lidstrom said. I would tell them I loved what I did. The Hall Call What: 2015 Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony. When: 7:30 p.m. Monday. Where: Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto. TV: NHL Network. Who s in: Sergei Fedorov, Bill Hay (as builder), Phil Housley, Peter Karmanos Jr. (as builder), Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Pronger, Angela Ruggiero. Nicklas Lidstrom Inducted as: player. Claim to fame: Lidstrom won the Norris Trophy as the NHL s best defenseman seven times. Only Bobby Orr has won it more. He won four Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, in 1997, 98, 2002 and 08. He became the first European to win the Conn Smythe 9

10 Trophy as the playoffs most valauble player in He won Olympic gold with Sweden in Did you know? Lidstrom almost had even more hardware. He was runner-up for the Calder Trophy in , losing the rookie of the year to the Canucks Pavel Bure. He was runner-up for the Norris three years in a row before he won it three years in a row, and the lockout erased a season in the middle of his run of six Norris Trophies in seven seasons. He also was runner-up for the Lady Byng Trophy five times, and he finished in the top five in the voting six other times. Somehow he never won it, even though it is supposed to go to the player with the best combination of performance, sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct and he was The Perfect Human. Five for No. 5 Free Press sports writer Helene St. James quizzed Nicklas Lidstrom on what and who he d bring with him if headed for a desert island: Top snack to pack? I d have to have chocolate. One beverage? Definitely beer. What one book could you re-read over and over? Unbroken by Lauren Hillebrand. I really enjoyed that one. One TV series? Sons of Anarchy. One former teammate? I think we both know I d be stuck with Homer. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

11 Wings' Green: I'm 'playing for sure' Sunday vs. Stars George Sipple, Detroit Free Press 3:23 p.m. EST November 7, 2015 Pavel Datsyuk said he's at least a week away from returning, but Mike Green appears to be ready to play again for the Detroit Red Wings. "Tomorrow playing for sure," Green said today, after the Wings practiced at Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett. "Although it's been two weeks, it feels like it's been a month. I can't wait to get back out there. Green hasn't played since he suffered a shoulder injury on a hit in a 3-2 loss to the Flames on Oct. 23. "There's always the first period to get the speed back but we've been working hard here, doing our skates, making sure that we're doing everything we can to prepare," Green said. "There always is that first period, but other than that, should be fine." Wings assistant coach Tony Granato said Green's return will be a boost to the team. "Everybody that's watched Mike Green over the years knows he has an offensive instinct and skills to go along with it that not many defensemen have," Granato said. "I think we all can become a little bit more aggressive offensively and he's certainly a guy who knows how to do that." Forward Landon Ferraro, who suffered a lower-body injury in Friday's 2-1 overtime win in Toronto, did not practice today and won't play against Sunday when the Wings host the Dallas Stars at 3 (FSD). Ferraro was scheduled to see a doctor today. Granato said they should know more about his status on Sunday. Darren Helm played with Luke Glendening and Drew Miller in practice and Tomas Jurco was playing with Joakim Andersson and Teemu Pulkkinen. Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson didn't practice today, but Granato called it a maintenance day. Granato also said the starting goaltender will be announced before Sunday's game. As for Datsyuk, he said he needs a little more time to practice. "We'll see, but probably another week, at least," said Datsyuk, who hasn't played yet this season after having ankle surgery in June. Told that he looked good in practice, Datsyuk responded: "I wish. I need more practice, more skating with the team." Granato, though, said he has been impressive. "He looks good, he looks real good actually," Granato said. "Each and every day we try to do a little more physically with him. So he's progressing well. He hasn't had any setbacks. 11

12 "As the week goes along we'll keep working him and making sure that each day gets better and hopefully he's in there soon." Speedy Stars: Asked about the Dallas Stars' start, Granato said: "Speed, lots of speed." The Stars have scored 50 goals in 14 games. Only the Montreal Canadiens (55 goals) have scored more. "Their goaltending has played well," Granato said. "They've got an active group of (defensemen). But they've got great speed." Former Plymouth Whaler Tyler Seguin has eight goals and 13 assists for a team-high 21 points and Jamie Benn has 10 goals and 10 assists for 20 points. Granato said Benn is playing like a league MVP. Jason Spezza and Patrick Sharp have each chipped in five goals for the Stars. Antti Niemi is with a 2.77 goals-against average and a.908 save percentage, while Kari Lehtonen is with a 2.63 GAA and a.917 save percentage. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

13 Defection of Wings great Fedorov was a leap of faith Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 10:52 p.m. EST November 7, 2015 Toronto Even 14 seasons after he left the team, Sergei Fedorov remains a compelling figure for Red Wings fans. At the public question-and-answer session with the players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame Saturday, he answered a series of questions from fans about his defection from Russia, his decision to leave the Red Wings, the retirement of his number (91) and even the cereal once named for him Fedorov Crunch. About the defection, in his quiet voice and gentle demeanor, Fedorov was expansive, adding some details to the public record. "Well, I was a really young man, 20 years old, and I played four seasons for the Red Army Moscow club. "One day I realized something was going to go funny with the country. I don't know how I understood that, but I figured out hockey was probably not going to be the most important sport in the country." Fedorov's instincts were right. In the Glasnost era under former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, the old economy was disrupted and spending on sport decreased, affecting the remnants of the Red Army team. "Detroit did a good job of drafting me and letting me know what they want," Fedorov said. In Portland, Oregon, prior to the 1990 Goodwill Games, Fedorov said, "I had a few conversations with representatives, through an interpreter, with Vice-President Jim Lites, at the time." When the Russian team crossed the border to play in the States, Fedorov made his move, which involved his roommate, Sergei Tchekmarev, a man larger than Fedorov. Tchekmarev is still the Wings team masseur. "I was the last guy off the bus and I went into the hotel with my roommate and I told him, 'I don't know what's going to happen to you, but here's all my money. I hope you want it because I'm leaving for Detroit.' "He said, `Come on, let's go to dinner.' Then I got nervous, because I didn't think he believed me, and I thought he was going to grab me and put me in the elevator and take me to the coach. "But we're good friends. Eventually I somehow convinced him to go into the elevator without me. And I then saw that Jim Lites was waiting for me, sitting across the hall. "So with the only few words (of English) I know I went up and said to him, `Ok, Jim, let's go.' 13

14 "We went through the back door of the hotel and we drove away to the airport. And four hours later, at six in the morning, we were in Detroit." A Red Wings fan asked Fedorov two other questions: Did he ever eat Fedorov Crunch, the cereal named for him, boxes of which are still available on websites? And why did he leave the Red Wings? "Yeah, I tried that cereal," he said. "But it was a long time ago. I probably have a couple of boxes laying around the house. But that's not good to eat now. Good picture on it, though!" Fedorov paused and looked down before continuing. "Second question, not easy. But I didn't really want to do it for any kind of reasons. After all, I spent 13 seasons playing for the Red Wings. "But, unfortunately, hockey is not only a fun game but sometimes, and this particular time, it becomes a business. So, I am going to blame the agents!" Another fan asked, "How do you plan to celebrate when the Red Wings finally retire 91?" Fedorov smiled, clearly appreciating the question. And the knowledgeable Wings fans in the audience applauded and laughed. "To answer the question, probably with my family and a few friends," he said, and left it at that. But he clearly liked the idea. Detroit News LOADED:

15 Wings fans get audience with Hall-of-Famers Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 8:45 p.m. EST November 7, 2015 Toronto The folks from Hockeytown invaded and occupied the Grand Hall of the Hockey Hall of Fame for over an hour Saturday. They put on some kind of show, with the 2015 inductees, including the former Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov, taking their questions. The hall annually invites the public to come in, see the inductees arrayed on a stage in the big room, with its high, ornate ceiling with the stained glass cupola, and ask anything they would like. This year Wings fans formed, by what appeared to be a considerable margin, the bulk of over 200 people in attendance. Lots of them wore Red Wings jerseys. Among those gathered, the young players from the Lakeland 2004 Hawks, the organization that helped nurture Dylan Larkin, occupied half of the front row. The 2004 Hawks were also in town for a tournament championship game Sunday. Even at such a stately and imposing venue, one nearly expected the Let s go Red Wings! chant to break out. The second inductee to answer a question, Phil Housley, the United States-born offensive defenseman whom Scotty Bowman nurtured as a 19-year-old when he coached the Sabres, thanked the audience for attending. I think it s only fitting we started with Nick, Housley said. Because I can see Detroit s well-represented in the crowd. That brought big applause, along with some considerable hooting and hollering. The jokester of Oz The audience members asked great questions, some of which made clear they had been thinking about it for years while they watched their heroes play. One man said, You all played a lot of years and spent a lot of time with your teammates. I d like to know who on your team was the best practical joker? Without a moment s hesitation, Lidstrom smiled and said, It s got to be Chris Osgood. There was always something going on, and everyone accused Ozzie of being the guy, and he never fessed up to anything. But we all knew it was him. Lest there be any doubt, Fedorov provided confirmation. Yeah, you knew when Chris Osgood was not in the lineup, something would happen, he said. And you would think he was busy doing something. 15

16 Another fan asked about trash-talking in hockey, whether the inductees had engaged in it and if anyone in particular had really gotten under your skin. Well, I wasn t the most vocal one out there on the ice, Lidstrom said. Someone would chirp at me a little bit, but I really didn t pay attention to it. I really didn t get bothered. But I played with some of the best chirpers in the league, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby. I am sure Chris (Pronger, another inductee on the stage) heard some words from them. Another fan stood and said, Nick, as the captain of a great franchise like Detroit let me rephrase that, the greatest franchise (pause for audience applause) what attributes do you think make a great NHL captain? I think, first of all, you have to back up your words in the locker room, Lidstrom said. If you are telling your team you have to do something out there, you have to go out there and lead by example. And also you sort of have to rally your troops. If one or two guys aren t happy or something is going on in the room as a captain, you have to kind of get everyone together, get everyone on the same page so you reach your goal. And I think you have to have good communications with the coaching staff, or it might be management, to see how the group is doing, whether you re practicing too much, or maybe something is going on that s not the way it should be. The big C As a follow-up the inductees were asked the greatest captain for whom they played. I think Nick would agree, Fedorov said. Steve Yzerman, of course. Lidstrom nodded and smiled, making it clear he agreed. Then, the smile suddenly left his face, for some deadpan humor. I was never captain when Sergei was on the Red Wings, he asserted, spurring much laughter. Also in the front row, Dan Bussey of Windsor stood, wearing his Red Wings uniform. I m a huge Red Wings fan, Bussey said. Sergei, Nick you made me a lot of money in the factory, betting on the team. Amid more laughter, Pronger, the big, tough, offensive defenseman, who lost more than a few important games to the Wings, had a joke of his own. I probably made you a lot of money, too, then! Pronger said. Bussey had a quick response. You ticked me off! he told Pronger. Playing against these guys and beating them up. He then turned to Housley, a gentler, skill player, and said, Phil, you were OK! It was all greeted with lots of laughter, including from Pronger. When it was over, one of the Lakeland 2004 Hawks, Cooper Harfoot, thought it was pretty neat. 16

17 I liked it. It was fun to hear them talk about hockey. Detroit News LOADED:

18 Mike Green 'can't wait' for first game back vs. Stars Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 4:01 p.m. EST November 7, 2015 Detroit Time has gotten away from defenseman Mike Green since he's left the Red Wings lineup with an upper-body injury. "It's been two weeks but it's felt like a month," said Green, who'll return to the ice Sunday when the Red Wings host Dallas. "I can't wait to get back out there." Green hurt his shoulder Oct. 23 in Calgary and has missed the last six games. He admits it might take a period, or little more, to get reacclimated. "We've been working hard doing our skates and making sure we're doing everything we can to prepare for that," Green said. "There's always that first period (when you return, which is the toughest) but it should be fine. "I'm hoping I just can get back into it; it shouldn't take long, maybe a couple of shifts. It might take a few shifts to get your feel back, but other than, it should be pretty instinctual." Green has two assists in seven games, while averaging almost 20 minutes a game (19:37), with a minus-1 rating. What frustrates Green about the timing of the injury is that he was getting comforatable with things on the ice just as he got hurt. "I was just getting used to the habits of the guys, and then you have to take a step backward," Green said. The Red Wings are excited about getting Green's offensive talents back on the ice. "Everybody knows who has watched Mike Green over the years, he has the offensive instincts and skill to go along with that," assistant coach Tony Granato said. "He's somebody that can help all of our defense." Datsyuk update Pavel Datsyuk (ankle surgery) continues to practice but is still at least a week from making his season debut. "I need more practice, more skating with the team," Datsyuk said. Datsyuk said he still needs to catch up to the pace of the game and practices. He's anxious to return to the lineup. "What's frustrating is to practice, practice and practice," Datsyuk said. "But it's more important to recover and keep playing (when he returns)." Ice chips Landon Ferraro (knee) is out for Sunday after getting hurt during Friday's 2-1 overtime win in Toronto. Ferraro was being examined Saturday by doctors. 18

19 ... In Dallas (11-3-0, 24 points), the Red Wings will go against one of the toughest teams they've faced this young season. "They have lots of speed, their goaltending has played well and they have an active group of defensemen," Granato said. "But they have great speed, and lots of guys who have gotten off to great starts. It will be a challenge for us. We have to be sharp. "They have a lot of things going for them. It's not a fluke. They are winning games because they deserve to win. They are playing well." Stars at Red Wings Faceoff: Sunday, 3 p.m., Joe Louis Arena TV / radio: FSD / 97.1 FM, 1270 AM Outlook: Dallas enters the game with the best record in the Western Conference ( , 22 points).... The Stars have the two leading scorers in the NHL in C Tyler Seguin (eight goals, 13 assists) and LW Jamie Benn (10 goals, 10 assists). Detroit News LOADED:

20 Pavel Datsyuk 'close' to returning for Detroit Red Wings, 'probably another week' away Brendan Savage on November 07, 2015 at 8:51 PM, updated November 07, 2015 at 8:53 PM DETROIT Barring a setback, Pavel Datsyuk could be back in the Detroit Red Wings lineup sometime next week. Datsyuk, who has been sidelined all season after undergoing ankle surgery, said after practice Saturday that he hopes to return in "probably another week." The veteran forward began practicing with the Red Wings last week after skating on his own and he's doing more each day in hopes of sticking to the mid-november timetable doctors set for him after undergoing surgery June 26 to repair ruptured tendons. He's eager to get back in the lineup. "It's frustrating to practice, practice, practice," Datsyuk said. "You want to (get) more in action, you want it to be another team. I know it's more important to recover good than play longer. "It's coming along slowly but at a good pace." That said, Datsyuk said he's still not back to full strength. "I wish," he said. "But it's not there yet. I need more practice, more skating with the team." After hosting the Dallas Stars Sunday at Joe Louis Arena, the Red Wings play Washington Tuesday at Joe Louis Arena, San Jose Friday at home and then visit the Boston Bruins next Saturday. "He looks good," said assistant coach Tony Granato. "He looks real good, actually. I think he's getting close. Each and every day we try and do more with him physically. So I think he's progressing well. He hasn't had any setbacks. "He'll skate tomorrow. Obviously he won't play tomorrow but he'll skate tomorrow morning and as the week goes along we'll keep working him and making sure that each day gets better and hopefully he's in there soon." Although it remains to be seen how quickly Datsyuk will return to his old form once he's cleared to play, one thing that is still sharp is his sense of humor. When asked if he has any areas of concern, Datsyuk quipped "You think I just tell you my secrets?" Despite playing on the bum ankle, Datsyuk led the Red Wings in playoff scoring last spring with five points while sharing the team lead with three goals in a seven-game loss to Tampa Bay in the first round. 20

21 During the regular season, he was second behind Henrik Zetterberg with 65 points that included 26 goals. Michigan Live LOADED:

22 Red Wings defenseman Mike Green says he'll return to lineup Sunday vs. red-hot Dallas Brendan Savage on November 07, 2015 at 3:17 PM, updated November 07, 2015 at 3:18 PM DETROIT Defenseman Mike Green expects to be back in the Detroit Red Wings lineup Sunday, when they face the red-hot Dallas Stars at Joe Louis Arena. Green has missed six games since injuring his shoulder Oct. 23 in Calgary but reported no problems after practice Saturday and is eager to return for the 3 p.m. matinee vs. the Stars. "Although it's been two weeks, it feels like it's been a month," Green said. "I can't wait to get back out there. I'm hoping it's going to be easy. There's always that first period trying to get the speed back. "We've been working hard here, doing our skates and making sure I do whatever I can to prepare for that." Green, signed as a free agent in the offseason after spending 10 years with the Washington Capitals, appeared in only seven games for the Red Wings before getting hurt. He had two assists, a minus-1 rating and the Red Wings had a record when he was sidelined. Green was signed to help bolster the Red Wings' offense on the back end and the coaches are hoping he'll provide a boost for a team that has scored more than two goals just once in the last five games. Assistant coach Tony Granato, who spoke to the media while coach Jeff Blashill tended to a family commitment, said he thought Green was coming into his own with the Red Wings when he got hurt. "When you come into an organization, you got new players, you got new systems, a lot of things that are probably just a little bit different and I thought he handled it well," Granato said. "As the games progressed and he got a little more ice time I thought he felt more comfortable. I thought his last game was the best. "Everybody that's watched Mike Green over the years knows that he has offensive instincts and skills... not many defensemen have. So it's something that will help all of our defense. I think we can all become a little more aggressive offensively and he's certainly a guy that knows how to do that." Green is a former Norris Trophy runner-up who scored 31 goals for the Capitals in and has reached double-figures in goals five times in his career. Last season, he had 10 goals and 35 assists in 72 games. One of the most frustrating parts of the injury is that Green was just starting to become comfortable with his new team. 22

23 "Yeah it was because I was just starting to get used to the habits and the guys and then you sort of take a step backwards," he said. "But it's been good, too, to have some time here to skate with Pavel (Datsyuk) and get to know him a little bit. We've had a good a time off the ice. He's been working me hard. "I'm hoping I can just jump back right into it. It shouldn't take long, a couple shifts of the first period to get the feel back. Other than that it's sort of just instinctual." The Red Wings can use Green's offense when they face the Stars, who are one of the NHL's top teams with an 11-3 record. Their 22 points are second only the 25 of the Montreal Canadiens (12-2-1). Dallas ranks second in the NHL in goals scored with 50, again trailing only Montreal (55). "I just want to keep it simple," Green said. "Move the puck around to create 2-on-1s to establish shots. I'll just try to slow things down and use the composure to open up plays. "There are times when it's necessary to jump up and create confusion for the other team but I definitely don't mind getting up in the play, that's for sure." Datsyuk (ankle) also skated in practice Saturday and said he's about a week away from returning. Landon Ferraro, who left Friday's 2-1 overtime win in Toronto after a knee-to-knee collision with PA Parenteau early in the first period, did not practice and Granato said he won't play against the Stars. The Red Wings will announce their starting goalie Sunday. Michigan Live LOADED:

24 Wings expect to get Mike Green back Sunday By Chuck Pleiness, The Macomb Daily Posted: 11/07/15, 3:48 PM EST Updated: 7 secs ago DETROIT >> The Detroit Red Wings blue liners have had quite an offensive uptick to their game of late. That could only continue to trend upwards Sunday when Mike Green is expected to make his return to the lineup after missing the last six games with an injured shoulder. There s always that first period trying to get the speed back, Green said after practice Saturday at McCann Arena. We ve been working hard here, doing our skates and making sure I do whatever I can to prepare for that. Over the last three games the Wings defensemen have combined for two goals and five assists. And it was Jakub Kindl that netted the game winner in overtime Friday in Detroit s 2-1 win over Toronto. We ve sort of developed an identity of how we want to play, it has the d-men jumping up in the play a lot, moving the puck and creating plays from the backend so hopefully we can keep utilizing that, said Green, who last played on Oct. 23. There are times when it s necessary to jump up and create confusion for the other team, but I definitely don t mind getting up in the play that s for sure. Green could also help boost a power play unit that was ranked 18th overall (eight goals on 44 chances) heading into play Saturday. I just want to keep it simple, said Green, who had 52 power play goals in 10 seasons in Washington. Move the puck around, to create two on ones to establish shots. I ll just try to slow things down and use the composure to open up plays. Detroit had been in the market for a right-handed, offensive-minded defenseman and signed Green this past offseason. However, he has just two assists in seven games. I was just starting to get used to the habits and the guys and then you sort of take a step backwards, but it s been good too to have some time here to skate with Pavel (Datsyuk) and get to know him a little bit, Green said. We ve had a good a time off the ice. He s been working me hard. Assistant coach Tony Granato felt Green s best game was the last he played. When you come into an organization you ve got new players, you ve got new systems, a lot of things that are probably just a little bit different and I thought he handled it well, Granato said. I thought as the games progressed and he got a little more ice time I thought he felt more comfortable. Offensively everybody that s watched Mike Green over the years knows that he has offensive instincts and skills to go with it that not many defensemen have, Granato 24

25 added. So it s something that will help all our defensemen. I think we can all become a little more aggressive offensively and he s certainly a guy that knows how to do that. Pavel Datsyuk appears to be about a week away from returning. I need more practice, more skating with team, Datsyuk said. It s frustrating to practice, practice, practice. You want to more (game) action, you want it to be another team. I know it s more important to recover good than play longer. Datsyuk had surgery on June 26 to repair ruptured tendons in his right ankle. He looks real good, Granato said. I think he s getting close. Each and every day we try and do more with him physically. So I think he s progressing well. He hasn t had any setbacks. As the week goes along we ll keep working him and making sure that each day gets better and hopefully he s in there soon. Landon Ferraro didn t practice Saturday and won t play Sunday against Dallas. Jonathan Ericsson was given the day off from practice, but is expected to be in the lineup against the Stars. The Wings starting goalie won t be named until game time. Macomb Daily LOADED: