Detroit Red Wings Hockey: News, Blogs, Photos, Audio, Schedule & Stats

Darren McCarty

BYRON CENTER -- After Darren McCarty's NHL comeback became a success last spring, he found there was less and less time to work on his golf game.

Not that he minds too much.

That's because the Detroit Red Wings made another run to a Stanley Cup championship in early June, and training for the upcoming season then started almost immediately.

AP PhotoThe Red Wings keep a little toughness, bringing back bruising wing Aaron Downey back for next season.

The Detroit Red Wings re-signed right wing Aaron Downey to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday morning.

Terms were not disclosed, but the NHL Players' Association Web site lists his 2008-09 compensation at $575,000.

Downey, who joined the team last season following a training camp tryout, appeared in 56 games during the regular season and finished with three assists and 116 penalty minutes.

AP PhotoTed Lindsay, 83, played for the Red Wings from 1944-57 and again in 1964-65.

Detroit Red Wings legend Ted Lindsay was named one of four recipients of the 2008 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey on Thursday.

The award honors the memory of Patrick, who spent 50 years as a player, coach and general manager, and was a pioneer in the sport's development.

The other recipients are Minnesota Wild founding owner Bob Naegele, Jr., Anaheim Ducks general manager Brian Burke, and 21-year NHL defenseman Phil Housley.

AP PhotoScotty Bowman's position with the Blackhawks will be similar to his recent role with the Red Wings.

DETROIT -- When he retired from coaching in 2002, Scotty Bowman pictured finishing his professional career with the Detroit Red Wings. But he could not pass up the opportunity to work with his son in helping build an up and coming organization.

So, after 15 years with the Red Wings, Bowman has joined the Chicago Blackhawks as a senior advisor. The legendary coach, who has served as a consultant for Detroit the last six years, will have a similar role with Chicago.

The major difference is he'll be closer to his son, Stan, the Blackhawks' assistant general manager of hockey operations.

AP PhotoAs a 24-year-old forward, Valtteri Filppula had 19 goals and 17 assists for the Detroit Red Wings last season.

DETROIT -- Valtteri Filppula's average annual salary of $3 million might appear a bit inflated today, but before the end of his new five-year deal, it could be regarded as a steal.

The Detroit Red Wings are banking on the talented, young forward's potential, locking him up Tuesday to a $15 million contract that runs through the 2012-13 season, avoiding a Friday arbitration hearing.

It buys two years of his unrestricted free agency (which would have started at age 27) and dashes the threat of any team signing him to a lucrative offer sheet as a restricted free agent in two years.

AP File PhotoFormer AHL standout Darren Haydar has a signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Red Wings.

The Red Wings have signed right wing Darren Haydar to a one-year, two-way contract for $525,000. He'll most likely bolster their depth in Grand Rapids, filling the role that Mark Hartigan had last season.

Haydar (5-9, 170) had one goal and seven assists in 16 games with the Atlanta Thrashers last season and has appeared in 22 games in parts of three seasons in the NHL.

"He's a high-end American Hockey League depth type of player,'' Red Wings assistant general manager Jim Nill said. "We're set with 12 solid forwards. The 13th, 14th and 15th spots are open. We're looking for some healthy competition (in training camp). We just want to add some depth and it's important to have those types of players.''

AP PhotoThe Red Wings front office still views Jimmy Howard as the heir apparent to Chris Osgood.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings have made several moves recently involving goaltenders.

They signed veteran backup Ty Conklin, used their first-round pick in last month's entry draft to select Thomas McCollum and are bringing Daniel Larsson over from Sweden to play in Grand Rapids.

Jimmy Howard hasn't been lost in the shuffle. The Red Wings signed Howard to a three-year, $2.15 million contract Monday and still view their top draft pick from 2003 as the heir apparent to Chris Osgood.

The Wings have re-signed goaltender Jimmy Howard and defenseman Jonathan Ericsson each to three-year contracts, the club announced on Monday. Howard's deal is worth $2.15 million ($600,000 in 2008-09, and $750,000 and $800,000 in each of the following seasons). Ericsson's deal is worth $2.7 million ($550,000, 900,000 and $1.25 million).

Ericsson has a one-way contract, so he'll be paid the same whether he's in the NHL or in Grand Rapids. Howard's deal is two-way the first season (lower salary in the minors) and one way the last two. Both are likely to start the season in the minors, as Ty Conklin is slated to be the Wings' backup goalie and Ericsson is the only one of their 10 defensemen who can be sent down without going through waivers.

The Wings have at least three more players they will re-sign shortly: forward Valtteri Filppula and defensemen Chris Chelios and Kyle Quincey. They also have made contract offers to forwards Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey.

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings are close to signing defenseman Jonathan Ericsson to a three-year contract, according to Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet.

The deal reportedly will average $900,000 a season ($550,000 next season, $900,000 in 2009-10 and $1.25 million in 2010-11). It will be a two-way contract, meaning Ericsson will receive a lower salary and won't count against the salary cap if he's assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL).

AP File PhotoNew Red Wings forward Marian Hossa will play his old Pittsburgh teammates on Feb. 8.

DETROIT -- A slight change to the NHL schedule is better than no change, as far as the Detroit Red Wings are concerned.

After listening to many teams, mostly from the Western Conference, complain about a lack of interconference games the past three seasons, the league decided months ago to revert back to its pre-lockout format for the 2008-09 schedule.

For Red Wings fans, this means a little more variety -- fewer games against Central Division opponents (six each, instead of eight apiece) and more against the Eastern Conference (18, as opposed to 10). For the first time since 2003-04, each team plays every other club at least once.

The Red Wings' 2008-09 regular season schedule includes a visit from storied rival Toronto on opening night, Oct. 9, when Detroit will raise its Stanley Cup championship banner, and the Winter Classic at Chicago's Wrigley Field on Jan. 1, the third outdoor game in NHL history.

The NHL reverted back to its pre-lockout scheduling format, increasing the number of interconference games from 10 to 18 and reducing the number of times a club faces a divisional rival from eight to six.

AP File PhotoComing to Wrigley: Red Wings vs. Blackhawks.

DETROIT -- The Friendly Confines will be the Frozen Confines for one day next season. And the Detroit Red Wings are delighted to be a part of it.

The NHL, as expected, announced Wednesday that the Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks will play at historic Wrigley Field on Jan. 1 in the second "Winter Classic'' and the league's third-ever outdoor game.

The NHL has not yet released ticket information for the Jan. 1 Winter Classic between the Red Wings and Blackhawks at Wrigley Field in Chicago, but Wings general manager Ken Holland said he has put in a request for an unspecified number of tickets to be available for Detroit fans.

"Before we signed off on the game we wanted to make sure we'd have some tickets available,'' Holland said. "We've been assured (Red Wings fans) will have access to buy some tickets. We've given the league a fairly substantial number (ticket request).''

There will be no traditional New Year's Eve game next season, but the Wings will host Chicago on Dec. 30.

The Wings have announced that they will be hosting Toronto on Oct. 9 in their regular season opener. In addition to the outdoor game, the Wings also revealed that Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Atlanta are the three Eastern Conference teams they'll play both home and away. The other 12 they'll play just once, six home and six away. The schedule will be released tomorrow.

DETROIT -- The mind was willing, but the body, after 15 hard, grinding NHL seasons, no longer can take the toll it once did.

So Dallas Drake announced Tuesday that he is retiring, going out on top after winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in his career last season with the Detroit Red Wings.

"I love the game as much as I ever have,'' Drake said. "Mentally, I still want to play. But my body got to a point where it just doesn't recover very well any more. The years have worn me out a little bit. Physically, I'm done.''