Detroit Red Wings Clips April 9-11, 2016

Transcription

1 Detroit Red Wings Clips April 9-11, 2016 Detroit Red Wings PAGE 3 Detroit Red Wings ship Anthony Mantha back to Grand Rapids PAGE 4 Pavel Datsyuk says he will leave the Red Wings after playoffs PAGE 10 St. James: Wings' teenage rookie Larkin a big reason for playoff berth PAGE 12 Breaking down Pavel Datsyuk's contract with Detroit Red Wings PAGE 13 Niyo: Wings' issues don't end with Datsyuk PAGE 16 Lightning, battling injuries, are good match for Wings PAGE 19 Wings opt for Andersson over Mantha to start playoffs PAGE 21 Never say never : Datsyuk could return to Wings, agent says PAGE 23 Red Wings reassign Anthony Mantha to Grand Rapids, will keep Joakim Andersson for now PAGE 24 Agent: Pavel Datsyuk feels bad over Red Wings' potential $7.5M salary cap hit PAGE 25 Who will win the Stanley Cup playoff series between the Red Wings and Lightning? PAGE 26 Report: Pavel Datsyuk 'done playing in NHL' after Red Wings' playoff run PAGE 27 Red Wings playoff series with Lightning to start Wednesday in Tampa PAGE 28 Red Wings seek 'another level' in playoff rematch with dinged-up Lightning PAGE 30 Agent: Still a chance Pavel Datsyuk might return to Red Wings PAGE 32 Datsyuk could still fulfill contract with Wings PAGE 34 St. James: Wings relieved to extend streak, confident facing Lightning PAGE 36 Jimmy Howard's resilience, hard work pays off for Detroit Red Wings PAGE 37 N.Y. Rangers 3, Detroit 2: Red Wings thank Ottawa for playoffs PAGE 39 Wings clinch playoff spot thanks to Bruins meltdown PAGE 41 Blog: Wings lose, but make playoffs PAGE 47 Red Wings set for playoff rematch vs. Lightning PAGE 50 Wings' playoff streak endures for 25th year barely PAGE 53 Krupa: Wings' intensity needs to match playoff longevity PAGE 56 Red Wings playoff tickets go on sale Wednesday PAGE 57 Red Wings postgame: Is keeping playoff streak alive a good thing? PAGE 59 Red Wings fall to Rangers but still extend playoff streak to 25 seasons PAGE 61 Red Wings Gameday: Rangers' strategy could benefit Detroit's playoff hopes PAGE 63 Red Wings lose to Rangers 3-2, but still make the playoffs PAGE 65 Detroit Red Wings notes: Joakim Andersson got nod due to penalty-killing ability but hardly played PAGE 67 Red Wings don't care how they got in, just excited for another shot at Tampa Bay PAGE 69 Pat Caputo - Backing into playoffs does not mask obvious issues facing Detroit Red Wings PAGE 71 Playoff streak extended, with help from Senators PAGE 73 Detroit Red Wings call up Joakim Andersson for defensive insurance

2 PAGE 74 PAGE 75 PAGE 77 PAGE 79 PAGE 80 PAGE 82 PAGE 83 PAGE 85 PAGE 87 PAGE 88 PAGE 90 Detroit Red Wings fan throws octopus on ice in Boston, gets in trouble St. James: Wings must pounce on backup goalie to clinch playoff spot Wings' postseason hopes perilously hang on one game Wings call up Andersson; Abdelkader expected to play Krupa: Will the good Wings show up vs. Rangers? How the Red Wings can make the playoffs Column: Red Wings have one final chance to overcome season-long issues Red Wings playoff race: Rangers insist they're not tanking to avoid Penguins Red Wings recall Joakim Andersson; Justin Abdelkader expected to play Saturday Red Wings fall into bad habits, which need to be corrected quickly for must-win finale Wings have huge game' with playoffs on line 2

3 Detroit Red Wings ship Anthony Mantha back to Grand Rapids Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 1:22 p.m. EDT April 10, 2016 Since he wasn't being dressed in Detroit, Anthony Mantha has been returned to the minors. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland told the Free Press earlier Sunday that Mantha has been sent to the Grand Rapids Griffins, Detroit's AHL affiliate. The Wings announced the move this afternoon. The Wings took Sunday off after playing three games in three-and-a-half days. Holland said the Wings emerged from Saturday's 3-2 loss at the New York Rangers with no injuries. The Wings return to practice Monday to prepare for their first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Wings called up Mantha in mid-march. At that time, they told their first-round pick from 2013 it wasn't a short-term audition. After 10 games, Mantha had two goals, one assist and was minus-6. That latter number contributed to his being dropped from playing next to Pavel Datsyuk to the fourth line. Mantha was a healthy scratch the past three games. If Wings coach Jeff Blashill isn't going to use Mantha, it makes more sense for him to gain more experience as a go-to guy with the Griffins. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

4 Pavel Datsyuk says he will leave the Red Wings after playoffs Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press Columnist 8:20 a.m. EDT April 10, 2016 Pavel Datsyuk wants to go home. His career has been here. His wealth has been here. His celebrity has been here. But his heart is somewhere else. It s in Russia with his teenage daughter and his roots, both of which he wants replanted into his life. I m thinking I go home after this season, he said, in a long discussion at the Northville home of his agent and friend, Dan Milstein. I may not be done with hockey, but it is hard to say I think I am done playing in NHL. While this may be a shock to fans, it cannot be to the Red Wings. The truth is, Datsyuk has been squirming to go home since 2012, the year he played in Russia during the NHL lockout. Last season he basically told Detroit he was finished, and only the length of his contract, terrific persuasion by general manager Ken Holland and personal involvement from Mike and Marian Ilitch convinced him otherwise. Russia forward Pavel Datsyuk reacts after scoring a The tug now, he said, is too strong. He wants his family united. And he wants to end his professional career in the country that taught him the game. Datsyuk, who will be 38 this summer, still has a year left on his Detroit deal, and will have one more discussion with Holland before taking formal action presumably after the Wings are done with the postseason they qualified for on Saturday. So in theory, the door still has a sliver of light peeking through. But after two hours with the reserved Russian superstar recently, it was clear his heart and head are already back home. I have overstayed, he said. I feel very bad Datsyuk, notoriously quiet off the ice, agreed to this interview (conducted in both English and Russian translation) only if the story did not run until after the Wings regular season was over, not wishing to distract from the challenging goal of making the playoffs. After the Wings qualified Saturday (thanks to a Boston Bruins loss), Datsyuk said via phone: Because of the rumors out there, I wanted to clear this up now before the playoffs started so I can focus only on giving my best playoff performance. And I wanted the fans to hear it from me, not someone else. News began to leak last week that Datsyuk might return to his homeland, perhaps to play in the Kontinental Hockey League. Datsyuk downplayed the reports, as did the Wings, but Wednesday night at Joe Louis Arena, after a pregame presentation for reaching 600 career assists, the home crowd began to cheer, One more year! One more year! 4

5 Pavel Datsyuk talks about his future beyond this Red Wings season on April 4, 2016 at Joe Louis Arena. Video by Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press. That had an effect on Datsyuk, who sometimes employs a goofy poker face to hide a surprisingly emotional core. It was a very tearful moment, he admitted Friday, through his agent s translation. If national anthem didn t start playing when it did, I would have visible tears in my eyes. It was very difficult. I really appreciate fans very much. Still, Datsyuk knows that when he departs, their affection might be tinged with resentment, since he d leave the Wings with a $7.5-million hit against their $72-million salary cap, effectively employing an empty locker for a year. Because of a quirk in the collective bargaining agreement, teams who sign players to multiyear deals after age 35 are liable for their money against the cap even if the player leaves or retires. Datsyuk s deal kicked in when he was 36. I feel very bad about it, said Datsyuk, who is walking away from that $7.5 million. Looking back, I wish I had done a year-by-year contract, not a three-year contract. I stayed (last year) in respect for Ilitch family. I don t want to leave team in disaster. But if I have to do over again, I would sign a different deal. I didn t realize it at the time. Not an easy decision Datsyuk and I first spoke about his possible departure nearly a year ago. At that time he was already strong in his desire to rejoin his daughter Elizabeth, who is being raised in Russia by Datsyuk s first wife, Svetlana. While the former couple enjoy a friendly relationship, Datsyuk said, he felt too absent from the day-to-day affairs of his child, and worried, as she entered adolescence (she is now 13) that he wouldn t be there for guidance. It s not an easy decision, he said last May. It did not happen yesterday. I talk with my daughter all the time. I see how she misses me, how she misses my advice I want to come back and be closer. Russian special riot police guard Detroit Red Wings' At the time, Datsyuk faced a formidable hurdle with two years left on his deal. He was still a major force on the Wings, one they didn t want to give up. And the cap hit would have been disastrous. After numerous discussions with Holland and a lunch meeting with the Ilitches, Datsyuk tentatively agreed to return this season. He went back to Russia for the summer. Then a strange thing happened. Datsyuk complained of continued soreness in his right ankle the result of what he and the team thought was a puck-related injury near the end of the season. The Red Wings took quick action, and arranged for surgery in North Carolina with Dr. Robert Anderson on June 26. Datsyuk returned to America. It was supposed to be 45 minutes, he said. Instead, according to Milstein, who was present along with Wings trainer Piet Van Zant, it took more than four hours. As the time passed and the surgery continued, a worried Milstein notified Holland. Van Zant notified Mike and Marian Ilitch. 5

6 Finally, when the doctor emerged, it was learned that both of Pavel s tendons were completely gone, destroyed; they had to use cadaver (replacements), Milstein said. Dr. Anderson said he didn t think any active athlete could go through this and recover enough to go back to playing on the ice. He shook his head. But Pavel did this. If it were me, I would have retired on the spot. In the days that followed, Datsyuk learned that Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch were waiting by the phone for all four hours of the surgery, Datsyuk said. They were that concerned about his well-being. This meant a lot to me, Datsyuk said. I am happy this year It was part of why he agreed to return for this season. His respect for the Red Wings and the Ilitches is often stated and clearly obvious. But so is the Russian part of his soul. He told me a story from his childhood, when he studied French with a teacher he admired. Later, as a teen, he got to travel for some hockey games in France. While he was there, he purchased a souvenir Eiffel Tower for the teacher. When I give it to her, she start crying, he recalled. She loved France but was never allowed to go. I wanted to give her happiness, but she is crying. The incident stayed with him, even two decades later, a reminder of both his privilege and his obligations, including those to Russian fans who want to see him play before he s finished. Remember that Datsyuk, the son of a delivery truck driver, grew up in a modest threeroom apartment in an industrial city called Sverdlovsk. For most of his childhood, he shared a bedroom with his older sister. Their mother died when he was 16. Hockey was almost an accident, something his father pushed more than Datsyuk did. Given his scrawny frame, few thought the young forward would amount to much, and even the Wings took him in the sixth round of the draft. Pavel Datsyuk poses with the Frank Selke Trophy, awarded So for Datsyuk, being an NHL star was not the lifelong dream it is for other foreign-born players. He didn t know how long he would stay when he first came to America. He regrets now that he didn t learn English better over his 15 years here ( If I knew how it was going to go, I would more listen to people around and concentrate on learning it. I hate that I was lazy about it I miss communication with my teammates. ) Still, it fits in the larger picture of Datsyuk being Russian at heart, with long-term plans that always included his return. I will go back to my hometown, he said when asked his summer plans, adding that his current wife and their young daughter will go with him. It is proper time. I asked if he wished he had gone last year. He thought about it for a moment. I am happy this year, he finally said, but was like my heart pulled over both sides. Surgery nobody knew about 6

7 Datsyuk admits he pushed at times this season to make it a memorable one. It was destined to be difficult. His rebuilt ankle suffered an infection around Labor Day and I had to have it opened up again, Datsyuk said, a surgery nobody knew about. He fought through that, missing the first 15 games of the season and finally making his return in mid-november. He didn t score a goal until his sixth game back and has only looked like his old dazzling self in patches, including a stretch in February where he was named NHL Player of the Week. All told, statistically, with 16 goals and 33 assists, this would appear to be a declining year for Datsyuk, failing to reach 50 points while playing more than 50 games for the first time since his rookie season with the Wings in Still, given his age and what he endured physically to get back, it is remarkable. Experts still declare him one of the most unique talents in hockey, a magician with the puck (thus the nickname the Magic Man ) and an artist in seeing the possibilities each time he comes down the ice. There is a reason Datsyuk won three Selke Awards as the league s best defensive forward and flirted with 100-point seasons several times in his career. Like other Russians to play in the NHL, Datsyuk has a vision and creativity that can be stifled by more rigid systems. Not long ago, former Red Wings star Igor Larionov wrote an online piece claiming Russian players like Datsyuk are underappreciated. "Many young players who are intelligent and can see the game four moves ahead are not valued," Larionov wrote for the Players Tribune. "They're told 'simple, simple, simple.' " Datsyuk doesn t disagree. It feels like it s sometimes you must choose you win or you be the star. I like to be with team and be star but with winning. When he returns to Russia, he was asked, will he get to do some of the old Pavel stuff? Probably, yes. But that s not the main reason he wants to go. Not about money Datsyuk and Milstein say there is no contract in place with any Russian teams, but they admit there have been discussions and plenty of interest. Should he indeed return, Datsyuk plans to play at least one season for some team in the KHL, before eventual retirement that includes plans for a hockey academy for young Russian players. This is not about money, Milstein insisted, and while that is a common phrase, in this case, it appears authentic. Datsyuk has instructed Milstein not to negotiate in any way with anybody, even though Holland, Milstein said, has been willing to consider some kind of extended deal and has discussed a very, very generous offer. Datsyuk does not wish to even give the appearance of a negotiation. He also said that if the Wings wanted to trade his rights to another team as a salary cap dump, he would accept that, understanding that it was strictly business (Milstein said the Wings have told him that would not happen). 7

8 Both men also insist that whatever money Datsyuk might get paid in Russia is not a motivating factor in this decision, and whatever that money is, it could easily be surpassed if Datsyuk wanted to stay in America. Years ago, a star player in NHL came and told me about other teams in league, Datsyuk said. He told me how good Red Wings organization is compared with other teams. After that, I only want to stay here. I don t want to check the water on the other side. In fact, the other side of the water is the one thing the Wings can t offer. This is about geography, upbringing and pride. Datsyuk said he wants to play a last season in Russia while his skills are still mostly intact, and not be broken down, performing a victory lap that isn t warranted. Good steak here For now, the playoffs loom, and Datsyuk will likely throw all he has into this postseason, hoping, as he had hoped in returning this year, to leave the best impression he can on all the fans who support me in Detroit. He said some of his teammates know of his plans, but he didn t want it to be a distraction. What will he miss from Detroit? He seemed overwhelmed by an attempted answer, stopping and starting and shaking his head. He mentioned the players, naturally, the Ilitches, Holland and the whole organization that put me in the comfort zone. He grinned at memories of skating alongside Hank Zetterberg ( we are really friendly ) and Niklas Kronwall and Tomas Holmstrom ( I always knew where he was because I see him sit in his chair in front of net ). He also says he ll miss the steak. Good steak here. But he is gone, or all but gone, barring some miracle persuasion by Holland, and fans can take him at his word or choose not to. I would. Datsyuk has always skated to his own tune. Management and teammates gush over his talent and his attitude, and on the ice, he has done what s been asked, even though at times it clearly ran against the type of hockey he was schooled in. He also made an awful lot of other Red Wings look a whole lot better when he was out there. In Saturday s regular-season finale against the New York Rangers, his secondperiod shot was deflected off Riley Sheahan s body into the net. Sheahan got the goal. But it doesn t happen without Datsyuk. With more than 900 career points, he would leave the Wings as one of the most prolific and gifted players to ever pull on the red sweater. He s most certainly a Hall of Famer. For many fans, he is the last connection to the 2002 Stanley Cup championship team that may be remembered as the best assembly of talent in the history of the game. Red Wings forward Pavel Datsyuk talks about becoming the sixth player in franchise history to reach 900 career points. Video by George Sipple, DFP But that s just one connection. The heart is another. And when it calls, you have little choice but to answer. When these playoffs are done, there ll be no more pulling rabbits 8

9 out of hats by the Magic Man. Just a quiet bow, a final curtain, and the sound of a distant airplane, heading home. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

10 St. James: Wings' teenage rookie Larkin a big reason for playoff berth Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 2:46 a.m. EDT April 11, 2016 Dylan Larkin is having his best year ever. The teenage rookie led the Detroit Red Wings in goals with 23 in 80 games, and now he ll get his first taste of what it s like to be in the playoffs via a first-round series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. As he stood in the visitors locker room at Madison Square Garden immediately after the Wings found out they d clinched Saturday, Larkin spoke with appreciation of his achievement. It s pretty cool, he said. I would have liked a better ending to my season, but it s a great honor. I ve played with great players all year. I was put in a great situation to achieve that. The Wings put Larkin in a situation to succeed because he d shown them ever since they drafted him 15th overall in 2014 that he was capable of succeeding. Just consider the past 12 months: Larkin turned pro after a standout freshman season at U-M, played for the U.S. at the World Championships, made the Wings roster out of camp, scored a goal and assisted on another in his NHL debut, and was good at both ends of the ice even as he adjusted to the marathon that is an NHL season. That, Larkin said, has reinforced, how much I love playing hockey. I ve always loved it, but... it s been the best year ever and so much fun. It feels really rewarding to be in the postseason and then on top of that, the streak. It s a great accomplishment. I m excitedly playing with some intensity. Larkin is a big reason why the Wings made the playoffs for a 25th consecutive season. He is doing at 19 what Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk did in their mid-20s, when they provided a push from below for then-aging stars Steve Yzerman and Brendan Shanahan. Wings rookie Dylan Larkin, who was drafted 15th overall In contrast, the silent springs of Gustav Nyquist, 26, Tomas Tatar, 25, and Riley Sheahan, 24, are a big reason why it came down to the regular-season finale for the Wings, why they enter the playoffs having to start on the road. The Wings had Nyquist and Tatar projected to score in the goal range. Tatar exited the regular season with 21 goals, Nyquist with 17. Nyquist, who received nearly a $4-million raise in a new contract last summer, had three goals the last 30 games. Tatar, who has one year left on a contract with a $2.75-million cap hit, had six goals the last 30 games. Sheahan finished with 14 goals thanks to a spurt late in the season. If the Wings are to succeed against the Lightning, to take advantage of a team missing superstar forward Steven Stamkos and defenseman Anton Stralman, they will need everyone contributing. Nyquist, especially, will be under scrutiny, because his playoff production history is so meager. He had one goal and one assist in last year s seven- 10

11 game series against Tampa Bay, and no points the previous year in a five-game series against Boston. Tatar at least had three goals and four points in the 2015 series. Larkin has been the Wings best story this season, because he combines skill and maturity way beyond his years. He s their biggest rink rat since Chris Chelios, practically having to be shoved off the ice after practices. Larkin has provided a pair of fast legs next to Zetterberg for most of the season, in turn benefiting from Zetterberg s experience. A player s first taste of the playoffs can leave some looking like a deer caught in headlights. The intensity is so much greater, every game so much more meaningful. Larkin, so far, has thrived every time he has experienced something bigger than before, such as leaping from college hockey to pros, such as being a teenager playing among men at the Worlds. Odds are, he ll be a boost for the Wings again in the playoffs. Those a few years ahead of him would do well to strike, too. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

12 Breaking down Pavel Datsyuk's contract with Detroit Red Wings Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press 3:25 p.m. EDT April 10, 2016 If Pavel Datsyuk does return to Russia after this season, the Detroit Red Wings would be best served by finding a way to turn an unideal situation into a coup. Datsyuk told the Free Press he will go home after the Stanley Cup playoffs, which begins with a first-round series against Tampa Bay. Datsyuk, 37, has one season left on the three-year, $22.5 million contract that took effect in the summer of It averages out to a salary cap hit of $7.5 million, but the actual salary breakdown had Datsyuk collecting $10 million in , and $7.5 million this season. He would make $5.5 million next season, though the cap hit to the Wings remains $7.5 million whether he returns to Detroit or not. Because the extension took effect after Datsyuk turned 35, collective bargaining rules dictate the contract stands even if Datsyuk retires. That could devastate the Wings, leaving them with a significant cap hit and no player. Dan Milstein, Datsyuk's agent, told the Free Press the Wings have said they would not try to trade Datsyuk's contract. Yet that is the only scenario that makes sense for the Wings. There are no loopholes in the CBA. It's trade the contract, or take the hit. It would be huge if the Wings could do something similar to what the Philadelphia Flyers did with the contract of Chris Pronger, trading it to Arizona so the Coyotes could add the cap hit to their bare-bones payroll even though Pronger was long done playing. It would not be easy, nor cost-free for Detroit. There are few teams that operate near the lower-end of the salary cap, which for next season is projected in the range of this season's $52.8 million to $71.4 million. Teams near the bottom include Winnipeg, Arizona, Buffalo and Carolina. To unload the contract, the Wings would likely have to include a sweetener in the deal, such as a high draft pick. If the Wings can pull that off, there could be significant payoff. Adding $7.5 million to the contracts coming off the books this summer - such as Kyle Quincey's $4.25 million - would give the Wings enough cap maneuverability to take a run at pending unrestricted free agent Steven Stamkos. Stamkos, who is currently sidelined with blood clots in his arm, has declined to re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning to this point. At 26, he is a premier young forward, and would go a long ways towards rejuvenating the Wings and ameliorating the loss of Datsyuk. Detroit Free Press LOADED:

13 Niyo: Wings' issues don't end with Datsyuk John Niyo, The Detroit News 4:12 a.m. EDT April 11, 2016 Detroit They keep telling us this chapter isn t closed yet. That s even what Pavel Datsyuk s agent is saying now Never say never, Dan Milstein reiterated Sunday as the aging Red Wings star prepares for what could be his NHL farewell this month. But the writing has been on the wall for some time now. And as this storied hockey franchise trumpets the silver anniversary of its Stanley Cup playoff streak it s not over until it s over, they keep reminding us it sure feels like we re all just waiting for the epilogue, doesn t it? Maybe these playoffs will prove otherwise. The plot certainly has thickened, with Detroit sliding into the playoffs Saturday, nudged across the finish line by Boston s last-gasp collapse against Ottawa. The Red Wings 3-2 loss in a must-win game in New York was rendered moot by the Bruins Beantown beatdown, and it left them sounding defiant even in defeat. They can say whatever they want, goaltender Jimmy Howard said of his team s doubters. We re in the playoffs. That s all we care about. And that s as it should be, particularly when faced with a first-round opponent limping into the postseason in their own way. Tampa Bay already was without top scorer Steven Stamkos (blood clot) and top-pair defenseman Anton Stralman (fractured leg), and Saturday the Lightning watched forward Tyler Johnson their leading scorer in last year s run to the Cup finals leave after a scary fall into the boards in the regularseason finale at Montreal. Stuck in the middle Last year s first-round series between these teams went to seven games We were that close, forward Justin Abdelkader noted Saturday and the Wings have been in playoff mode for weeks now, scraping to get in. So there s that, I suppose. But for the organization, there s a broader picture here. And this new April hockey tradition for the third consecutive season, the Red Wings squeaked into the playoffs in the final week (each time on April 9) in a losing effort certainly is a part of it. So are Datsyuk s retirement plans something the team won t publicly address until after the playoffs, though they ve privately braced for it for months, if not years and the troubling questions they raise, both for the team s salary cap and the whole notion of rebuilding this roster on the fly. That s been the operational plan touted by general manager Ken Holland and his staff for years now, emboldened by the past glory and buoyed by a streak that s now older than seven members of the current roster. But that plan hasn t produced a playoff run past the second round since 2009, something nearly half the league (13 teams) has done at least once in that six-year span. And with Datsyuk s looming departure exacerbated by a string of free-agent 13

14 misses and the severely-diminished returns on so many other big investments it s hard not to view this playoffs as a watershed moment. We re not content with just getting in, Abdelkader said. We know what type of group we have in here, and it could be an exciting run, if we do things right. Right or wrong, this could be a defining moment for many, from the reticent (and retiring?) star trying to conjure up one last bit of magic to the rookie head coach trying to pull something out of his hat as well. And yes, there s also the GM (Holland) trying to avoid a second straight, first-round defeat to his one-time understudy and franchise icon in Tampa s Steve Yzerman. The one thing I know about the playoffs is it s a new year, Jeff Blashill said after Saturday s 3-2 loss to the Rangers. Everybody s so tight in the NHL that you see what happens in Game 1 and you go from there. Confidence can be gained as you go through the playoffs, I know that for certain. Maybe so, but the group he has or at least the one he chooses to deploy certainly doesn t inspire a ton of confidence right now, entering the playoffs with their worst goal differential (minus-13) since 1991, the year the streak started. Down seasons The Red Wings leading goal-scorer this season was 19-year-old Dylan Larkin, and now he s being asked to do something no one in Detroit has been asked to do in ages. We re gonna need Dylan to be a top-line player for us through the playoffs, Blashill said Saturday, and not a 19-year-old kid. That s because the 20-something crowd isn t exactly lighting the world on fire here, while the over-30 gang looks gassed. Zetterberg, who along with Datsyuk led all forwards in ice time in the regular season, has one goal in his last 24 games. More troubling, perhaps, is the lack of production from the next-highest-paid scorers on the roster, Abdelkader and Gustav Nyquist, who ve scored just five goals apiece the last 48 games. Blashill has made it clear he doesn t trust some of the other young players at his disposal namely Brendan Smith, Andreas Athanasiou and Tomas Jurco and the team demoted rookie Anthony Mantha this weekend in favor of Joakim Andersson to start the playoffs. The goaltending that kept them in it all winter finally left them for a spell starting in late February, right about the time Petr Mrazek suffered an injury in that outdoor game at Colorado. Jimmy Howard s late-season resurgence makes for an intriguing storyline this week, but will it be enough to carry this team into May? Meanwhile, as everyone wonders about the cap ramifications of Datsyuk s decision, it s worth noting one of the Red Wings best players down the stretch in the regular season Darren Helm might be the one they can t afford to re-sign as a pending free agent. So, yes, there s plenty to ponder as this story plays out. Just don t expect to hear any of that from them now. 14

15 The streak is the Red Wings shield, and they re still carrying it. You just have to get in, Howard said Saturday, once they d done just that. I mean, it s a new season now. And you know what? You just go out there and play. Detroit News LOADED:

16 Lightning, battling injuries, are good match for Wings Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 4:29 a.m. EDT April 11, 2016 Detroit The stretch drive was an even bigger challenge for the Red Wings this year than the past few seasons, and they backed into the playoffs because the Bruins played even more poorly than they did late in the year. Not the best scenario for entering the playoff against the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Lightning, a team with a comparatively young roster and lots of jump that seems primed for even better seasons ahead. Certainly, the Lightning would dearly love to avenge their loss in the Stanley Cup final 10 months ago, to the Blackhawks. That kind of motivation can help produce champions. So it is a bit of a surprise the Wings have a decent shot at defeating them and playing in their first second round of the playoffs since Injuries and illness have cut sharply into the Lightning s roster. Major players will remain off the ice for Tampa Bay during the series between two teams that split the regular season series, with both clubs winning at home. As unevenly as the Red Wings performed down the stretch, it is a bit hard to believe they have a shot in the first round. But the fact of the matter is, they have a pretty good one. If they can manage to string together a few of their better performances, as they did against the Wild, Maple Leafs and Flyers in succession April 1-6, the Wings first victory in a playoff round in three seasons is a possibility. Anton Stralman s plus-16 rating, nine goals and 25 assists demonstrated the defenseman s fine defensive and offensive play along the blue line before he suffered a broken leg March 25 in a slew-footing incident directly in front of his net against the Islanders. Stralman s 22 minutes on the top defensive pairing are hard to replace, and he is likely to miss at least another month. The Lightning is 3-5 without him. Steven Stamkos, who leads the Lightning with 36 goals, had surgery Monday to treat a blood clot near his right collarbone. The surgery was successful, general manager Steve Yzerman said. But Stamkos is likely out for one to three months, a timetable that is expected to be firmed up in a few weeks. Stamkos missed the last five games of the season, and the Lightning went 2-3. In 48 playoff games, Stamkos scored 15 goals and assisted on

17 The one thing we can t do is sit here and say our two big guns are out and now our season is over, Jon Cooper, the Lightning s coach, told The Tampa Bay Times last week. We ve come way too far to have anything like that try and get in our mindset. It stings. It hurts. It is clearly not ideal. But we ve got to be pros. When he announced the results of the surgery, Yzerman said the team would simply have to play through the misfortune. Every team is dealing with something and that s part of what makes it difficult to win championships, Yzerman said. For us it s an opportunity for other players and something we re going to have to rally around and do our best to survive, until we start getting guys back. In the last game of the season Saturday against the Canadiens, the Lightning lost speedy forward Tyler Johnson. Yzerman said Sunday Johnson is day-to-day, and might return for the first game. Johnson scored 13 goals and assisted on 10 in 26 playoff games last season. Against the Red Wings in their seven game series, Johnson had six goals and an assist. With four minutes left in the first period against the Canadiens Saturday, Greg Pateryn shoved Johnson toward the boards and the Lightning forward appeared to catch a skate blade on the ice. He tumbled headlong, awkwardly into the boards and had to be helped off. Pateryn got 15 minutes in penalties but no further discipline from the league. If we were in a playoff game, he wouldn t come back, Cooper said, of Johnson not returning to the final game of the season. I m not sure how this is going to end up with Johnny, how hurt he is... That wasn t good. Forward Ryan Callahan (73GP, 10G, 18A) missed three games at the end of the season with a lower body injury and is considered day to day. But Callahan has not skated. Defenseman Victor Hedman missed the last three games of the season with an upper body injury. But Hedman did skate Saturday and is likely to play in the first game against the Red Wings. You want to be 100 percent, you don t to risk too much before the playoffs start, Hedman said. That s the decision made. Look forward to Wednesday. Players missing from the lineup does not always result in success for opponents. The Red Wings skated against a depleted, watered-down lineup for the Rangers Saturday afternoon and lost, struggling at times. They must still provide their better performances against the Lightning, and inconsistency has hampered the Wings throughout the season. 17

18 But clearly their odds are better against a Lightning lineup that, after struggling for much of the season with injuries, ended on an unhealthy note. I still think we ve got another level, Jeff Blashill said after the game Saturday. One thing I know for sure about playoffs is it s a new year. Everybody starts 0-0 and everybody s so tight in the NHL, let s see what happens in Game 1 and you go from there. Confidence can be gained as you go through the playoffs We know we ve got a great opponent in Tampa, Blashill said. Obviously, everybody s real familiar with them. We re going to focus on doing everything we can to play the very best hockey we can. Detroit News LOADED:

19 Wings opt for Andersson over Mantha to start playoffs Gregg Krupa, The Detroit News 4:34 p.m. EDT April 10, 2016 Detroit In a strong signal of their commitment to team defense in the playoffs, the Red Wings returned Anthony Mantha to Grand Rapids Sunday, in favor of the veteran Joakim Andersson, who will fill a fourth-line checking and penalty-killing role. Well, he s not playing Game 1 and it s been about 10 days; his last game was in Toronto (April 2), general manager Ken Holland said of Mantha, who was drafted 20th overall in the first round in 2013, and whose overall game improved this season, playing for the Griffins, before his 10-game, late season call-up to the Wings. He s 21 years old. He s 10 days without playing, Holland said. If we do need him in the series, he needs to be playing. The Griffins have a week remaining in their regular season, and Mantha likely will play in four games beginning Monday. We ll see how things are going here, Holland said. We d like Grand Rapids to go on a playoff run. He needs to play. It s great to be on the plane, it s great to make major-league meal money, it s great to be in the warm weather in Tampa. But if you want to be a player, you need to play in important situations. And I think it s more important to play than be on the black aces. If we need to bring him back, at least he will have been playing. Mantha scored two goals and assisted on a third and had a minus-6 rating in 10 games with the Wings. Jeff Blashill moved him from a top-six forward position on a line with Pavel Datsyuk, but it did not last. But Blashill then moved Mantha to the fourth line, where players generally perform defensive roles. Blashill said he preferred the veteran forward Brad Richards on the line with Datsyuk because of his better all-around game, including defense. If he s going to play eight minutes, what s the use of it? Holland said of Mantha s situation on the roster. Anthony Mantha was a spare part in the (AHL) Calder Cup playoffs a year ago. Why does anyone think he is going to be the answer in Detroit? Having Andersson, said Blashill after Saturday s loss in New York, adds another quality penalty killer. We needed to make sure we had enough penalty killers on the bench, Blashill said. I thought (Tomas) Jurco played good the last couple of games, but when you don t play on either specialty team, there s only so much you can do. Having Andy in there, not only is he another penalty killer, but it gives me the choice between him and AA (Andreas Athanasiou). AA is a good killer but he doesn t win 19

20 faceoffs. Andy wins lots of faceoffs, so it gave me a one-two punch of an extra killer if we needed it. Good direction Despite losing the final two games of the regular season to Boston and the Rangers, Blashill likes the direction of his team. I still think we've got another level, Blashill said. One thing I know for sure about playoffs is it's a new year. Everybody starts 0-0 and everybody's so tight in the NHL, let's see what happens in Game 1 and you go from there. Confidence can be gained as you go through the playoffs. I saw that my first year in Grand Rapids; we gained confidence as the playoffs went along. We had a great team by the end. I like a lot of what we're doing, let's keep getting better here. Instant impact Dylan Larkin became only the sixth first-year player in Red Wings team history to lead the team in goals (23). There's two things you need to do to be in that spot, Blashill said. One is ability and drive, and he has those things, and two is opportunity; he certainly got lots of that, as well. We re going to need Dylan to be a top-line player for us through the playoffs, not be a 19-year-old kid. He seems to embrace those opportunities, so I look forward to seeing him play in the playoffs. Detroit News LOADED:

21 Never say never : Datsyuk could return to Wings, agent says Ted Kulfan, The Detroit News 4:10 p.m. EDT April 10, 2016 Detroit This could be Pavel Datsyuk s final playoff run with the Red Wings, amid reports Sunday that he is likely to retire from the NHL and return to Russia. But it s not a done deal. Datsyuk s agent, Dan Milstein, told The Detroit News on Sunday there s a chance Datsyuk could return to the Red Wings next season to play the final year of his contract. Never say never, Milstein said, until that plane (to Russia) is up in the air. Obviously, at the conclusion of this season, Pavel will sit down with (Wings general manager) Ken Holland and Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch (Mike and Marian) he has such respect for all of them and they ll discuss the future. But this isn t about the money. It s never been about the money. Pavel has done very well for himself. This is about family. Datsyuk s contract carries a $7.5 million cap hit for the season. Holland on Sunday had no comment until after the playoffs, he told The Detroit News. Datsyuk, who will be 38 in July, was unavailable for comment; the Red Wings did not practice Sunday after qualifying for the playoffs Saturday for the 25th consecutive year. Because the contract was signed after Datsyuk turned 35, per the NHL collective bargaining agreement, the Red Wings are left absorbing the salary cap hit even if Datsyuk leaves for Russia. Milstein said Datsyuk, currently in his 14th season with the Red Wings, would be willing to work with the Red Wings in any way they d like to alleviate the salary cap ramifications, should the need arise. He s very loyal to the Red Wings organization and would like to help the Red Wings in whatever way, Milstein said. The Red Wings likely will search for a team near the salary cap floor (minimum spending) that would be willing to take on Datsyuk s salary cap number $7.5 million to help that team reach the floor. But there aren t many teams in need of adding such a big number, and most teams likely would ask for a prospect in return. If the Red Wings were to trade Datsyuk s salary cap number to another team, they would be free to spend an additional $7.5 million this coming offseason. Milstein insists this isn t any sort of contract ploy or to secure an extension. Datsyuk says he wants to return to Russia to spend time with his daughter Elizabeth, 13, who lives with Datsyuk s ex-wife. 21

22 Milstein said because the Red Wings have been so successful over the years making the playoffs, the summers spent with Elizabeth have been short. It s heartbreaking, really, Milstein said. If Datsyuk does return to Russia, he could end his playing career in the Kontentinal Hockey League (KHL). Datsyuk has said previously he d like to finish his playing career in the KHL. It s no secret Pavel would like to finish his career some day in Russia, Milstein said. He feels very loyal to his fans over in Russia, it s something he s always wanted to do. Datsyuk wanted to elaborate on his plans before the playoffs, said Milstein, so his Red Wings teammates wouldn t be inundated with questions and everyone could concentrate on the postseason, starting later this week against Tampa Bay. He didn t want this situation to be a burden on the team with the playoffs beginning, Milstein said. Pavel is excited about the playoffs and the potential of this team. It s all he s been talking about. He is proud of the (playoff) streak. Hopefully there will be a long, successful playoff run and then we ll see where it goes. Datsyuk had a delayed start to this season because of surgery for ruptured tendons in his ankle in June that needed another procedure in September, just before training camp began. The second procedure was needed because of an infection near the ankle. Datsyuk didn t begin playing until Nov. 13 and has put together a typically effective offensive season, although not at the pace of previous seasons. Datsyuk had 49 points (16 goals, 33 assists) in 66 games and repeatedly said he hasn t been pleased with his consistency or level of production this season. Many analysts believe the recovery from those surgeries have slowed Datsyuk this season. Coach Jeff Blashill and captain Henrik Zetterberg probably Datsyuk s best friend on the team said last week, when news first broke of Datsyuk possibly returning to Russia, that the playoffs are the focus now. That s what Pavel is focused on and what we re focusing on, Zetterberg said. You go through that (players leaving or retiring). I don t know how many times we talked about Nick Lidstrom not being here. Players move on and players will retire and there s other guys who step up. But as I said, we re focused (on the playoffs). Said Blashill: Anything with the future with players, we ll sit down at the end of the year and we ll talk with those players and we ll see what that brings. Detroit News LOADED:

23 Red Wings reassign Anthony Mantha to Grand Rapids, will keep Joakim Andersson for now Ansar Khan By Ansar Khan on April 10, 2016 at 11:50 AM, updated April 10, 2016 at 1:12 PM DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have reassigned forward Anthony Mantha to the Grand Rapids Griffins, opting to keep Joakim Andersson on the roster for the start of their playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The club is more comfortable playing Andersson in a fourth-line checking role. He can also kill penalties and take faceoffs. There are concerns about Mantha's defensive awareness. He has been an offensive player throughout his career. Mantha had two goals, three points and a minus-6 rating in 10 games with the Red Wings. He was a healthy scratch the final three games with a playoff spot on the line. "He's a young player, he's got to go play," general manager Ken Holland said. "If we need to bring him back, at least he will have been playing. "Andersson is a pro. He's been around pro hockey for 6-7 years. And he's been playing." Mantha began his stint with the Red Wings playing in a top-six role, on a line with Pavel Datsyuk. He was later moved to the fourth line, where his minutes were reduced and he was placed in an unaccustomed role as a checker. Coach Jeff Blashill feels more comfortable having veteran Brad Richards as Datsyuk's linemate because of his two-way game. They would rather have Andersson play limited minutes on the fourth line, though they still have the option to put Tomas Jurco back in the lineup. "He's a better player today than he was a year ago, way better pro, more confidence," Holland said of Mantha. But the Red Wings feel he still has a ways to go, that he needs to get better defensively and be heavier on the puck. Michigan Live LOADED:

24 Agent: Pavel Datsyuk feels bad over Red Wings' potential $7.5M salary cap hit Josh Slagter By Josh Slagter on April 10, 2016 at 10:15 AM, updated April 10, 2016 at 10:16 AM Pavel Datsyuk's pending retirement from the NHL certainly comes as an emotional blow to Detroit Red Wings fans, and certainly his teammates. But there's also a financial hit to the organization itself. Datsyuk has one year remaining on his contract at $7.5 million. Because the three-year deal took effect when he was over 35, the cap hit remains on the books for the Red Wings. However, they can and likely will trade his rights in the off-season to a team that needs to reach the cap floor, like the Arizona Coyotes. Datsyuk's agent Dan Milstein says that's expected: Just spoke w/datsyuk's who confirmed report. Plan is for Datsyuk to meet w/holland & Ilitch family after season. (con't) Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 10, 2016 He said this is very personal for Datsyuk who will do anything to help the Red Wings in any way possible to help with the cap charge, etc. Craig Custance (@CraigCustance) April 10, 2016 Datsyuk is leaving due to family reasons. He misses seeing his 13-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, on a regular basis. She lives in Russia with Datsyuk's ex-wife, Svetlana. "He's going to have a meeting with (Red Wings GM Ken) Holland and (owners) Mr. and Mrs. Ilitch at the conclusion of the season... certainly he has tremendous respect for the Ilitch's and their organization," Milstein told ESPN.com. "It's not over until it's over. This chapter is not closed right now." Michigan Live LOADED:

25 Who will win the Stanley Cup playoff series between the Red Wings and Lightning? Brendan Savage By Brendan Savage on April 10, 2016 at 9:09 AM DETROIT The Detroit Red Wings and Tampa Bay Lightning both won twice in four meetings during the regular season. The home team won every game. Could home-ice advantage be a factor when the teams meet for the second straight year in the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs? If so, the Lightning will have an edge given that they'll host the first two and if necessary final two games in the best-of-7 series. But the Lightning will almost certainly be at a disadvantage offensively without the services of high-scoring forward Steve Stamkos and his team-leading 36 goals. Stamkos, who wasn't much of a factor in last year's playoff series, is out for the season after having surgery for a blood clot last week. Ben Bishop gives Tampa Bay one of the NHL's best goaltenders he's among the top four goalies in wins, GAA and save percentage while the Red Wings situation between the pipes has been a question mark with Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek both struggling at times. The Red Wings have the edge when it comes to the power play, where they rank 12th in the NHL to 28th for Tampa Bay but the Lightning's penalty killers are seventh while Detroit's are 14th. Tampa Bay beat the Red Wings in seven games during the opening round of last year's playoffs before losing to Chicago in the Stanley Cup Finals. So with all that in mind, who wins? Michigan Live LOADED: