10 items of excitment

Hey it's only July, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming season. Before we know it the playoffs will be starting and the quest for Cup number 12 will have begun. In my anticipation for the 10/11 season (and for the lack of other news and things to write about this summer), I've put together a top 10 list of things I am personally excited for the most this year.  Let's begin...


#10 - Training Camp

I love training camp. It's like the first day of school when you get to see all your friends that you haven't seen all summer. Now, I am not personally going to training camp in Traverse City, but I know that a lot of people are. This is my first camp while being involved in the whole Wings' blogosphere, so I am highly anticipating the coverage of the event. The longer offseason means that (hopefully) everyone will be fully healthy entering camp and ready to go better than ever when the season rolls around.


#9 - Brendan Smith

What? Did you really expect me to leave of the namesake of this blog off the list? Whether he makes the team or not at camp, I can't wait to follow his first professional season. Even if he's in Grand Rapids, I'm going to keep a close eye on how he performs down there and plan to update the blog regularly with his progress. Hopefully he makes the big club and I can purchase my Smith jersey come Christmas time.


#8 - The Rest of the Kids

This goes for the kids in Grand Rapids, Detroit, and the prospects too. I want to see how Tomas Tatar and Thomas McCullom do with the Griffins. I want to see how 1st round draft pick Riley Sheahan does in his second season at Notre Dame. And of course, I want to see Abby, Helmer, and Ericsson take the next step in Detroit and I want to see just how well Jakub Kindl can handle potentially being the 6th defenseman on this team.


#7 - Opening Week

The Wings open with the hated Ducks on a Friday night. I can tell you right now that I will be glued to my TV watching Ken and Mickey on Center Ice that night. It's still July and it has been far too long since I've seen a Red Wings game. But ya know what's even better? After the Wings beat the Ducks, they get to fly to Chicago to play the Blackhawks. What could be better than watching the Hawks' 4 or 5 returning players raise their banner and then destroying the living hell out of them on their home ice. Let them raise their banner and then send an early message but crushing them, let's say, 6-0? Sounds about right to me. We're taking the Cup back. Enjoy it while it lasts, Chicago.


#6 - Jimmah Howard

Jimmy was the surprise of the season last year. He saved the Wings on many occasions and without him, they may not have even made the playoffs. And, he did it all as a rookie. This season is going to be big for Jimmy. We've all seen and heard about the sophomore slump (see: Steve Mason, CBJ) and I think deep in the back of all our minds we have that little doubt or a question asking if Jimmy can do it again this year. I hope he can. I think he can. I believe Jimmy will have a solid follow up campaign. I mention Mason, but the big difference in Howard's case is that he's playing behind the Detroit Red Wings, not the Columbus Blue Jackets. Having guys like Datsyuk and Lidstrom on your side will do wonders for one's confidence. Plus, I don't expect Jimmy to play as many games as he did last year. Let's hope Ozzie has gotten his act together and plays well enough to split the season's starts about 60/40?


#5 - New Years' Eve

I'm going to my first ever New Years' Eve Red Wings' game.  It's going to be a family affair too.  I'll be there with my uncle Leon (huge fan), aunt Amy, my parents, possibly some cousins, and most importantly, my girlfriend Jillian. I've mentioned her on Twitter before (@JillianRM, follow if you want, but she never tweets haha).  The biggest reason I'm excited for this game is that it will be her first Red Wings game and first time inside Joe Louis Arena.  She's from the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania and really didn't know anything about hockey when we first met two years ago.  Over the past two years she's basically watched every single Wings game with me, learned the rules of the game of hockey, listened to my tin foil hat stories, and put up with all my nonsense.  Well, in all this time she became a fan herself.  She knows all the players, the rivals (present and historic) and learned all about the Wings' history too.  I'm also pretty sure she'd leave me for Pavel Datsyuk if she could too.  Bottom line, I can't wait for her to experience her first Red Wings game at the Joe.  Ladies and gentlemen of Hockeytown, add one new member to our population.



#4 - The Mule

I don't know about you, but I missed watching Frazen last season.  I'm pretty sure his teammates missed him too.  The Mule was supposed to be The Man last year.  The 09/10 season was his time time to shine.  Every Wings' fan knew that Franzen was going to be counted on heavily with the departure of Hossa, Hudler, and Samuelsson (hate him).  Instead, Mule was gone in the third game of the year and missed a great deal of the season.  If you ask me, if Franzen is healthy, then Pavel and/or Hank would have had at least 10-20 more assists to add to their resume.  But The Mule is back.  He had an excellent playoff run putting up 18 points in only 12 games.  I, for one, cannot wait to watch him this upcoming season.  I'm honestly expecting him to net 40-50 goals and battle for the league lead.  He has the ability.  Everyone get ready to jump on the Mule and go for a ride.


#3 - Detroit vs. Boston

The Red Wings are coming to Boston this year.  I'm probably the happiest hockey fan in the entire city.  I've never been to a Red Wings game in an opposing building and I can say that I am absolutely thrilled to be doing so this season.  Boston is a decent hockey city.  Living here the past two years, I'd say they have a solid fan base.  I've met a lot of Bruins' fans that are hardcore about their team and you can have a great hockey conversation with them.  However, with Boston having so many championships this past decade (none by the Bruins), the B's kind of get the short end of the stick when it comes to sports in this city.  I like to see the Bruins do well.  I don't mind seeing them win, that is, unless they are playing the Red Wings.  And I cannot wait to see the Wings play a home-and-home series with Boston and sweep the floor clean with them.  When you're watching the game, look for the loud Wings' fan wearing a Yzerman (or Smith) jersey.  That will be me.  If there is one thing Detroit's sports teams have over Boston, it's hockey.  I want to make sure it stays that way.


#2 - Nicklas Lidstrom

I personally believe this is the last season Lidstrom will spend with the Wings before he retires.  I'm looking forward to watching the last games of his amazing career.  When I was younger, it was easy to overlook the impact he had on this team.  The more I grew up in general and as a Wings fan, the more I was able to understand and appreciate what an unbelievable player Nick Lidstrom is.  He is arguably the best defenseman of all time.  Without a doubt, the best European born player (of any position), the best Red Wings' defenseman, and possibly the best player of the last 15 years or so.  He plays the game so disciplined and at the highest level.  He rarely makes mistakes, he always knows where to be on the ice, and he makes it all look so effortless.  I don't remember who said it or where I read it, but it's crazy to think that Nick has never won the Hart Trophy...let alone be nominated!  But that says something about his game.  He's so good at doing the right things that you don't notice him out there.  A lot of the times, the best defensemen are the ones you never notice.  He isn't super flashy.  He doesn't take dumb penalties or take runs at guys.  There's always talk of "who can replace Lidstrom?"  Well, no one can.  You can't replace him.  There is no other player like him.  He's Nick Lidstrom.  He's just one of a kind and I can't wait to watch him end his career with his 5th Stanley Cup championship.


#1 - H2H2

Of course H2H2 is number one!  This is going to be the party of the year.  I couldn't be more excited for this.  Everyone that has ever told me anything about the original H2H as had nothing but great things to say.  Most every said it was one of the best weekends of their lives.  I graduate from college in December and plan to come back to Boston in the spring until Jill finishes school in May, but there is no way in hell I'm missing this party.  It might be hard to top the H2H, but we sure as hell will try.  Anyone who has ever tweeted me or read this blog or commented...I want to meet you.  I think I'm going to make a list of all the names of the people I need to meet and won't stop until every name is crossed off.  I plan to go to the game on the 9th and will be there on the 11th with Gannon, my Uncle Leon and cousin Robbie (his birthday is the 12th).  We're all going to be ready to party.  So when H2H2 comes along and you're in Detroit, if you see the guy in the Brendan Smith jersey, that will be me.  Pretty sure if they make Smith jerseys by then, I might be the only one who owns one!  Come say hello and we'll raise our glasses to the best organ-i-zation in the history of sports!

Lets Go Red Wings

"The Numerical Decision"

Recently, I've had the tough decision of choosing a number to wear on the back of my Emerson College hockey jersey as I come out of retirement this fall.  As I stated in a previous post, I've never worn the same number twice (7, 24, 33, 10, 17, 96, 41, and 66) and plan to continue that trend this season.  There has been a lot of speculation and information from "sources" regarding what number I've chosen.  I've read rumors of me wearing 67 or 29.  I've received a lot of suggestions from many people too.  My girlfriend Jillian, as well as a secret commenter named Anonymous, think I should wear 5.  More ideas include TheNorm41 and my pal Gannon suggested 14 because it's 41 (my favorite number) backwards and Shanny used to wear 14 for the Wings, plus my dog is named Shanny.  Liam suggested threve.  Baroque suggested pi.  Andy suggested 9, 19, 25, or 92.

With eight previously worn numbers off the board, plus 16, 18, and 62 already taken by members of Emerson's team, it left me with 88 different numbers to choose from.  First, I decided to eliminate the obvious numbers that I personally refuse to wear.  That meant that 87 was out the window and I had to say goodbye to any number that Mikael Samuelsson wore, so 26 (Vancouver), 37 (Detroit/Pittsburgh/NY Rangers), 11 (Panthers), and 28 (Sharks) were all eliminated.

I thought about my the suggestions I received and my favorite Wings' players too.  The obvious number choices when it comes to Red Wings are 9 and 19, but I really didn't want to wear those numbers.  In the past when I've picked a number because of a Wing, I never picked the obvious, most popular Wings' number.  I've picked 33 and 96 for Draper and Homer.  There was a big push by Jillian for 5 and it made sense.  As a defenseman, I'm a huge Lidstrom fan (in the future, my first born son's name will be spelled Nicklas). 

In the end though, I did choose a Wings' number and my choice makes a lot of sense (to me at least).  So without further ado...

In this fall...this is very tough...in this fall I'm going to take my talents to downtown Boston with the Emerson College Lions hockey team and wear the number...

Cooler than me? With that jacket, yes.

It's been a slow summer for big Red Wings news, but a few friends mentioned a Winged Wheel appearance that was new to me.

I'm not sure if anyone else knows about this or it was common knowledge awhile back in May.  I feel like I've been living under a rock when it comes to music and music videos, but apparently the Red Wings have been well represented in the music industry lately (NOTE: I don't have a car here in Boston. Generally my only music listening happens in the car, so I'm really not up-to-date on current music.  I just listen to the same songs I've had on my iPod since forever.  So I have no idea if this song is/was popular or not).

Earlier this week my Canadian friend Greg (a Leafs fan...poor guy) told me to check out a music video called Cooler than Me because the singer had a sweet Red Wings jacket on.  I didn't bother to google it until I got another message from my friend Seth (a hockey fan who was born and raised in Michigan...but is an Avs fan...and is currently a med student bandwagoning in Chicago, but is actually in the Philippines doing med work interning stuff or something at this very moment) telling me to check out the video as well.  So I figured I might as well take a look.

Nonetheless, I checked out the video and there was artist Mike Posner wearing a custom made, crazy Red Wings hybrid leather jacket.  It kind of looks like a part Winter Classic uniform, part normal Wing's white sweater with a sideways logo. Plus, you've got the late 90s Stanley Cup patch and the alternate captain letter.

It might not be the type of jacket I'd wear, but hey, props to Mr. Posner.  He's from Southfield, MI and he's a Red Wings fan.  No matter how ugly interesting the jacket is, I'm glad to see people sporting the Winged Wheel wherever they are.  I was surprised to see Fedorov's name and number on the jacket.  I would've thought it would be Yzerman or Howe, but Fedorov seems more fitting to me.  He's more of 'Hollywood' type kind of guy compared to The Captain or Mr. Hockey.  I think the Fedorov selection was a solid choice for the occasion.

When I did a google search I found this article on the Red Wings' official website talking about Posner.  Apparently, this Cooler than Me song reached #6 on the Billboard 100 list.  I'm no music expert, but I think that's pretty good.

Here is the music video below.  The Red Wings' jacket makes it's debut in the video at the 2:04 mark. Enjoy.



Lets Go Red Wings

I need a number!

My second stint with the Rangers. I'm second row, center with the 'A'

There really hasn't been much Red Wings' news lately other than the current Modano will-he-won't-he Brett Favre-like soap oprea...The Young and the Modano...Days of our Modano...General Modano...One Modano to Live...The Bold and the Modano...or All My Modano.  Daytime soap opera names with Modano in the title aside, this post is not about him.

This post is about me needing your help!

This fall I will be coming out of retirement to lace up the skates once again.  I will be playing competitive ice hockey for the first time since I was 16-years-old and sophomore in high school (I'm now 22 and about to begin my last semester of college).  So it's truly been awhile.

The reason for the post though, clearly given away by my clever title, is that I need a number for my sweater.  To briefly provide some background for you, I've never wore the same number twice.  I didn't start skating super early like most hockey players.  The first time I ever played competitively was in the spring of 3rd grade.  I played two spring seasons and wore #7 and #24, respectively (and this was before I really knew anything about Chris Chelios).

After my second spring season, I made it off the waiting list and got to join the 'apprentice' program, which was for kids of the 'squirt' level just beginning hockey.  I wore #33 that season (I liked Draper).

Then next year, in my first season of peewee hockey, I played for the Lakeland *gasp!* Avalanche (Yes, I wore the Avs logo and colors for a season. I had no choice).  That season I wore #10.  I wasn't very good my first year.  I was small, I wasn't the best skater, and I had no hands (still don't!).  My coach moved me back-and-forth between forward and defense all season. Never really found a grove.  I have no idea how many points I had.  Probably around 5-7 goals?  Most all were garbage goals in front of the net.  Highlight of the season that I'll always remember is scoring two goals in the opening shift of a game and then hitting the post on a wide open net on my very next shift.  Closest I ever came to a hat trick.  Honestly have no memory if I have had a two goal game ever again.

Second year of peewee,  I played for the Lakeland Rangers.  I wore #17 that year because in the offseason I went to Michigan Tech hockey camp and was given #17 for the week. I ended up scoring a goal on a penalty shot in the final game on the final day of camp.

Between this season and the season before, I grew like 8 inches and stood 6'1" (Which is my current height. Yes, I haven't grown since 7th grade). This is were my coach Bobby (and still my current barber back home today!) asked me what position I was.  I said I played both offense and defense.  He looked at me and said, "No. You'll play defense and you'll protect the net."  Worked for me.  They slapped an 'A' on the front of my sweater and I've been what I'd like to consider a stay-at-home-defenseman ever since.  Clear the front of the net and muck it up in the corners.  That's my game.  I still credit Bobby to this day for teaching me how to truly understand the game of hockey (but Coach Jeff gets the credit for teaching me my mean poke check).  If you're ever in the White Lake, MI area, stop by the White Lake Square Barber shoppe at M59 and Teggerdine and tell Bobby I said hello.

The next season, my first year of bantam, with the Lakeland Prowlers I wore #96.  This was the most successful team I've ever been on.  A lot of fun too.  I wore #96 in honor of Tomas Holmstrom.  Still played my defensive role.

My second bantam season I was back with Coach Bobby and the Rangers.  This time I wore #41.  It's probably my favorite number ever.  The story comes from running cross-country all my life.  I told my xc coach that I would run 309 miles in the summer before 8th grade...well I ran 41 that summer and my xc coach Mr. Stevenson decided to call my "41" instead of Jeff all season.  In fact, he still calls me "41" to this day. 

My final season of hockey was in midget.  A teammate from the year before, well, his dad owned the ice rink we played at.  When Mike didn't make the Brother Rice JV team, he still wanted to play, so his dad created a midget team for him and Mike called all his old friends and teammates to see if they wanted to play.  I joined it.  I wore #66 that year because it was the only jersey left that was my size.

So long story short, I need to decide on a new number for this upcoming season with Emerson College.  Originally, my thought was to go with #41.  But, I've never worn the same number twice...so why start now.  I've worn 7, 24, 33, 10, 17, 96, 41, 66...and ?????????????????  So please, leave a comment and tell my your number suggestion!  (So far I know that 16, 17, 18, 24, and 62 are already unavailable.)

Lets Go Red Wings

'Mo' than one year, eh?

Not too long ago Dan Rosen of NHL.com tweeted some interesting news.

I just spoke with Mike Babcock and he's convinced that Mike Modano will sign with the Red Wings, and play 2 years in Detroit.

Modano for two years, eh?  I know I was on board with the idea of Mo for one year and a final run at a Cup with his hometown team before he hangs up the skates, but two years? For a 40-year-old that isn't even sure if he wants to play this year?  Not so sure about that.

What else do Rosen have to say...

Babcock said he met with Modano in Detroit earlier in the week and now believes it's just a matter of time before he signs, but...

and

He also said he's been wrong before, so it wouldn't shock him if he is again. He doesn't think we'll know until Aug. 1 at the earliest.

So let's get this straight, Uncle Mike believes that it's just a matter of time before Modano will sign with Detroit, it will possibly be for two years, and we won't know until August 1st at the earliest?  This news has certainly sparked a conversation on Twitter.  Could it be that the two year deal will be given to lower Modano's cap hit?  It makes sense, but Modano could retire after the first year and the Wings would be on the hook for his 35+ contract.  If the cap hit is small though it might not be a big deal.  Especially with the strong chance the Lidstrom finally hangs up the skates after next season.

I still like the idea of Modano centering that third line between Hudler and Cleary.  If Kenny thinks 2 years is a good idea, then I will not argue with that.  I have to say though, can we please get a real update on Abby and Helm?  I don't like the idea that Modano's indecision is preventing us/holding up the signings of two players that should be lifetime Red Wings.

Lets go, Mo!  Make a decision.  Sign on the dotted line, put on that Winged Wheel sweater, and go get your 2nd Stanley Cup.  I don't feel like waiting until August. 

UPDATE: Here is the full story from Dan Rosen over at NHL.com.  Check it out!

Lets Go Red Wings

It's 2:30am...do you know where your favorite hockey players is?

Well, apparently mine is at home.

I wrote my guest post at The Production Line last week about awesomely talented Brendan Smith.

Literally, that same day, I decided I was going all in and giving this blogging thing a shot.  I decided to use Smith as inspiration for my blog's name.  I've gone on record, and will gladly do so again, that I think Smith has some insane talent and ridiculous potential as a NHL player.

I had a blast writing the post and creating this blog.  Smith, I can easily say, is a player that I want to see succeed to his fullest potential.  Not just for the Wings' sake, but because I like the kid too.

This past week the Red Wings held their prospects camp and George Malik over at MLive did a fantastic job (as always) covering the events of the week.  Earlier this week, I wrote a post about Smith injuring his shoulder at camp. Well, just today I read that Smith was given the choice of staying at camp for the last few days or leaving early to go home.  I found George's take on the situation very compelling.

The first expletive, of course, involved the utterly ridiculously talented Brendan Smith, who, after a week's worth of playing a good citizen and insisting that he would take on a leadership role as he put his, ahem, list of indiscretions behind him, decided that the best thing he could do after suffering a slightly separated left shoulder on the fourth day of his fourth prospect camp--and the first in which he was under contract to the Red Wings and not playing NCAA college, and thus was finally staying in a nice Detroit hotel without paying for the privilege out of his own pocket--was to head home to enjoy another day's worth of hanging out with his buddies instead of sticking around and encouraging his teammates.  

I am really torn on this story.  Part of me wants to think it's really a non-issue and it may very well be.  We really don't know what goes on internally between the organ-i-zation and it's players.  I wish I could've been a fly on the wall during the discussion between Smith and Kenny and co.

My initial reaction, similar to George's, was 'Oh man, he should've stayed.'  Maybe that's just us though?  Throughout my lifetime, whether it was ice hockey or cross country, when/if I was hurt or unable to compete, I was always still at the game or race cheering on my teammates.  I was never required to be there, but it was my choice to do so.

Was this a test by the Red Wings front office?  On one hand, I think it was some type of leadership/character test, but on the other hand, if it was truly important to the Wings that he stay, I think they would have been straightforward enough with him and said so.  From what I've read, they gave him the option to go home, he didn't ask to go home.

And let's not forget, this is his fourth prospect camp.  He knows the ropes.  I don't want to sound like this camp isn't important, it really is a big deal for these kids, but he's been there and done that.  And maybe that is his attitude?  Maybe he feels like he's paid his prospects camp dues and if the big club said, 'hey kid, you're more than welcome to head home,' then why not?  Pretty soon, he's going to be on the road for the next year and living in Detroit or Grand Rapids.  He probably saw it as a chance to go home to Mimico, Ontario, Canada and visit his family.

I'm a big Smith fan and I want him to make the club this season, but I don't want to sound like I am going to be a person that will defend him at all costs.  He has shown with some of his off-the-ice behavior that he isn't perfect and I will gladly hand out criticism when and where it is due.  I just don't think this is an issue that needs to be overblown.  I could be wrong?  It's just my opinion and everyone will probably see this story differently.

At the end of the day, I just hope that when he was at the prospects camp, he took on that leadership role in the locker room and on the ice.  I can't wait to see Smith compete this preseason with the team and, hopefully, the regular season too.  I've said it before and I'll say it again, if he makes this team out of camp, I'll be the first person in line to buy my #2 sweater.

(Here is the video from the Red Wings' Facebook page of Smith talking about the injury, going home, and prospects camp. Enjoy!)

Lets Go Red Wings

It's all just part of Kenny's master plan

After my Food Network adventure today, I headed to work (sitting at the media desk in Emerson's empty library) and began my normal routine of surfing through the latest news in the hockey world.

To my surprise, and I'm sure to most everyone's, the Chicago Blackhawks matched the 4 year, $14M offer sheet that the San Jose Sharks gave defenseman Nicklas Hjalmarsson.  Of course, this now means that the Hawks have 15 players under contract for next season and a gigantically awesome $113, 410 in cap space left.

I immediately did as I also do with any big or interesting hockey news, I sent a text to my Uncle Leon and my good pal, Gannon, back home in Michigan. They both responded with the expected 'wow they're screwed' text. But it was a second text from Uncle Leon that made me ponder.

Can't believe this is going so awry with Scotty in the background.

BAM!

It hit me like a bag full of hockey pucks.

What if this is all going awry BECAUSE of Scotty in the background?

Now hear me out.  Maybe when Scotty left Detroit it was all part of Kenny's master plan. He sent Scotty to ruin Chicago.  But they won a Cup, Jeff?  All part of the plan.  Kenny knew the Hawks were on the rise and saw the perfect opportunity.  Last year, everyone in the front office knew it would be a down year for the Wings and the Hawks winning was just to throw people off Kenny's tracks. Plus, it motivated the troops after seeing the little brother win the Cup.

What if Scotty was behind the whole Faxgate with the RFAs last offseason?  He brought down Tallon in order to get Stan in the GM position to do his and Kenny's bidding.  Hossa was in on it too and got himself a lifetime contract.  So was Kopecky...wait...no...Kopecky sucks.

So now because Kenny sent Scotty to Chicago, the Hawks have lost basically all of their depth and will be forced to possibly trade Patrick Sharp too or send Huet down to the AHL, which is a dick move and would never be done by a top notch classy organ-i-zation.  Because, as of right now, the Hawks are screwed, and by now, even those second city bandwagoning hockey fans that are in denial about it, know it's a fact. 

Now, of course, none of this is probably true anyway, but it's July, I badly miss Red Wings hockey, and I am bored out of my mind at work right now. 

But we can dream, right?


Lets Go Red Wings

Iron Chefs, Double Dare, and the Detroit Red Wings

This post isn't so much about hockey or the Red Wings really, but since this is my very own blog I figured I can write about whatever I want, right? Plus, if you're reading this anyway, it means you clicked the link on Twitter (@RedWingsFeed is awesome, if you're not following yet, do it) or some of the other awesome Wings' blogs out there added me to their blog roll or you like the Brendan Smithsonian Institution so much that it's now bookmarked on your web browser. Regardless, thank you for reading.

So today the Food Network of all people decided to drop by good old Emerson College here in Boston...

(NOTE: Emerson is the most dangerous school in America according to this website. But no worries Wings fans, your favorite new blogger is in no real danger. Emerson is in the heart of Boston across the street from the Common and around the corner from Chinatown. Thus, every single crime reported in those two areas must officially be counted by Emerson in statistical data because it's considered "our campus." This really isn't relevant to this post, I just like to share the fact with people because they're like "wow. oh my god. really?!??" Boston is a really cool place. Come visit. I'll give you a tour. We'll go to Fenway Pahk.) 

...okay back to the post.

The Food Network came to my school to tape a segment for one of their new shoes this fall called 'Food Feuds.'  I found out about this on Twitter.  The crew was looking for like 10 students to eat some pizza and meet Iron Chef Michael Symon.  I figured what the heck, it's free pizza, I'm in. And that was that.

The show takes two local food establishments in a select city and pits them against each other.  Symon told us he toured both pizza places and went into the kitchen for some behind the scenes goodness and they filmed some other stuff too.  But at Emerson, it was our job to blindly taste each pizza and pick the best slice. Because, you know, who knows pizza better than college kids, right?

I was told to wear 'normal attire' so I decided to wear my Red Wings shirt to the taping.  Figured I'd represent some Hockeytown: No Limits.  I should send a thanks to Petrella for the heads up after he tweeted (after I had already left and was on the subway headed to school so I couldn't change) that they'd blur out the shirt as it's deemed a corporation of sorts or something.  So I get there and I'm sitting in the student lounge as the crew arrived to begin and who else walks into the room than Marc Summers, the former host of one of my favorite childhood shows, Nickelodeon's Double Dare.  Summers says hello to everyone, looks at me and says, "Guy in the Red Wings shirt, nice, but we need you to turn that inside out, please."  So maybe Marc Summers is a Red Wings fan? Who knows? He's from Indiana and they don't have an NHL team last I checked (Let's get on that Gary. It's almost a sunbelt state. Maybe? No? Okay never mind.)

The Iron Chef Michael Symon is awesome.  He was such a nice, cool, down-to-Earth type of guy.  He seemed just genuinely happy to be there and talking to us. He seemed like the kind of guy you'd like to go grab a beer with.  They asked everyone where we were from and most were from Boston.  He asked me, I said, "Michigan."  He responded with "MICHIGAN?!?!??? Really?  Nice. We're good old Midwestern boys together then."  Throughout the taping, on camera, he continued to just refer to me as 'Michigan' during the segments..."Hey Michigan! Which pizza did you like better and why?"  Between takes he was cracking on me for being a Lions fan.  I asked him where he was from, he said Cleveland.  All I could do was apologize and tell him I was sorry.  I hate Cleveland and the rest of Ohio as much as the next Michigander (Michiganian? Michiganite?), but I didn't have the heart to rag on him for LeBron leaving.  I actually feel a bit bad for that city.  LeBron was a huge part of that economy too.  Man, can you imagine Stevie leaving pre-1997 on live TV and going to play with like Joe Sakic and Jeremy Roenick down in Phoenix? That would suck.

Nonetheless, the taping was awesome. I continued to get ragged on by Summers and Symon for have my shirt on inside out.  The show will be on in October and, no worries, I will certainly be informing everyone of the exact air date and time.  You could still kind of see the backwards Winged Wheel and SGNIW DER YEKCOH. It just looked like one of the purposely faded 'vintage' shirts.  So it's all good Hockeytown!  The Red Wings will be very well represented on the Food Network come this fall!

Lets Go Red Wings

What Kind of Tree is Brendan Smith?

Before finding out what kind of tree Mr. Brendan Smith would be, there is a little bit of unsettling news from prospects camp. According to Detroit Freep Press via George Malik over at MLive, the namesake of this very blog, Mr. Smith, left the ice at prospects camp due to a potential shoulder injury.

July 11, Detroit Free Press: Wings general manager Ken Holland said he didn't think the injury was serious and Smith agreed.  "I'm not really sure what happened, Smith said. "I think it's more of a bump and bruise."

Holland said Smith will have X-rays on Monday. "Slight shoulder separation," Holland revealed as the initial diagnosis. "He's obviously done for the camp." 

Smith, the 27th overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, suffered the injury when he was checked into the boards by St. Cloud State forward Nick Oslund, a seventh-round pick in 2006. Smith skated over to the bench in obvious pain, then left the ice.  "Sometimes the littlest hits or the weirdest kind of hits are the most deadly," Smith said.

Hopefully, it does not turn out to be anything too serious.  If Malik is correct and Smith did aggravate an injury that would have hit him sooner or later, it's a good thing that it happened now and not farther down the road.  We can all hope that he will be healed up and ready to go soon.  In fact, Malik believes he'll attempt to hit the ice again on Tuesday.  If so, I will breathe a huge sigh of relief.

I'm a big believer and a big fan of this kid.  Hell, I named my very own blog after Smith.  I would truly hate to see him suffer a serious injury just days after I started a blog named after him (I'd feel like such a horrible jinx).  Whether he's ready or not come Tuesday, I've got to image he'll be ready for training camp.  The kid has stated before he wants to make this team THIS season and I damn sure hope he does.

On a brighter Brendan Smith note, the Red Wings have posted some interviews with the prospects at camp.  Questions were submitted by fans.  Here's Smith's interview:

Some of the highlights:

• Smith biggest hockey superstition is always getting dressed in his hockey equipment left side to right (I always lace up my skates left side first.  Glad Smith and I have some things in common).  
• His guilty pleasure that the trainers might not like is his love for chocolate cake.  
• He's looking forward most to playing near home in Toronto against Brett Lebda's Maple Leaf. 
• If he was a tree...he'd be a maple.
• Favorite vacation spot is his cabin in Nova Scotia
• His pump up song is 'Remember the Name' by Fort Minor (below for your listening pleasure)

Lets Go Red Wings

These are a few of my favorite things...

As a life long Red Wings fan (albeit a short life so far), I've compiled a lot of great memories following the Wings.  Since this is a new blog for me and I may be new to some of my readers, I figured I'd take the opportunity to use this as a platform to share some of my finest memories as a Red Wings fans and just some plain old good things I love about the Winged Wheel.

(Note: these are in no particular order of favorite to most favorite.  I'm just adding items as I go and as I remember them. Also, obvious awesome moments like anytime Stevie or Nick raised the Cup are not included in this list...but no worries, they are without a doubt four of the greatest memories I have as a Wings' fan)

The Grind Line:

I absolutely loved the Grind Line when I was young. I loved when Scotty would throw them out on the ice to start a game against the oppositions best line. Mac, Drapes, and Malts could cycle the puck like no other and muck it up in the corners with the best of them.  Loving them for the grinding ability though brings me to the moments I still vividly remember to this day. And ironically, it's the big goals from these guys that I remember the most (except for Maltby...sorry Kirk!).

Jumping back to the 1997 Stanley Cup finals. I don't think anyone can argue that Darren McCarty's Cup clinching goal was a thing of beauty. I'm pretty sure every Wings fan remembers this one



And of course, sticking with Mac, I'll always remember his hat trick in game one of the 2002 Western Conference finals against Colorado.



Good Old Kris Draper deserves mention here as well. His OT goal in game 2 of the 1998 Stanley Cup finals against the Capitals was a moment to remember. Especially after the Wings made a brilliant comeback in that game. I remember being terrified of Olaf Kolzig that entire series.



Sticking with the grinding type player...

Joey Kocur:

I love anything and everything Joey Kocur.  He lived in the neighborhood where I grew up (still does).  I remember always seeing him at the Looney Bakery with his kids getting a doughnut for breakfast on the weekends, but I never wanted to both him and his time with his kids.  He would come into Colasanti's Market (I worked at the butcher shoppe there) and I would help him with his meat orders (Dave Lewis is a frequent visitor too).

Anyway, I loved Kocur the player and the person. Extremely nice guy every time I spoke with him.  I remember when he was playing in the beer leagues at my old rink, Lakeland Ice Arena, before he joined the Wings for the second time.  He was scheduled to play in the championship game against my neighbor and old assistant hockey coach, Mr. Snook, but he missed the game because the Wings picked him up.

Everybody should love Joey Kocur.

Doug Brown:

I always liked Dougie Brown. No true real reason why that I can precisely pinpoint. I just liked the guy.


Mickeyisms:

My two favorite: "Bingo bango" and, of course, "This ain't no place for nervous person."

Sergei Fedorov:

Man, I looooovved Sergei as a kid. I was too young to fully understand the entire holdout contract situation back in the day, but man, I just wanted him to stay so bad.  I loved watching him play.  I was almost crushed when I thought he was going to Carolina and I was still extremely upset when he left for Anaheim.

His jersey was the first I ever bought.  I loved the fact that he played defense for a period of time too.  I thought it reeked of awesomeness that he was talented enough to play both positions.

I really had hoped that Sergei would've come back last year or the year before at the trade deadline. One last run with the Winged Wheel on his sweater to redeem himself for the way he left that left a lot of people with a sour taste in their mouths.  It's a shame too.  #91 probably had a great shot to hang in the rafters one day, not so much anymore.

The Statue of Liberty:

I'm just going to let the video do all the talking here.



The first time I ever say Pavel Datsyuk in person:

May 2, 2002  - Game 1 of the conference semi-finals against the St. Louis Blues.

My Uncle Leon took me to the game.  We sat in the corner of the upper bowl probably about half the way up.  It was the first period and in the corner right where I was sitting, Brett Hull passed Pavel the puck and he did one of those Datsyukian Deke moves that you can't really describe in words but everyone just kind of nods and knows what you're talking about because we all know about Pavs ridiculous hands.  Well, he undressed the Blue that was covering him and ripped a shot top shelf past Brent Johnson. It was just pure freakin' Datsyuk awesomeness.

And of course, any Pavel interview deserves to be part of my favorite things. This video is by far my favorite:



I'll wrap these these next few up pretty quickly since they are much more recent favorite things.

Helm's PK:

Stuff of legends



Hating Mikeal Samuelsson:

I hate Mikeal Samuelsson.  These is no true real reason for this.  I've just never liked the guy.  No, I do not miss him since he left for Vancouver and exploded offensively.  I loved to hate Samuelsson

Jimmah vs. Sid:

I think all Red Wings fans found a new deep love for Jimmah on this night.




I hope everyone enjoyed some of my favorite Red Wings moments and memories.  This post ended up being way longer than I originally thought it would be, but it's all good.  Always great to remember good times.  Hopefully, I'll be able to add some Brendan Smith moments to this list in the upcoming season.

Lets Go Red Wings.

Welcome to the Brendan Smithsonian Institution!

Well, I've finally done it.

I created my own Red Wings' blog.

I feel like this has been a long time coming.  After spending the past year reading classic blogs like The Production Line, Nightmare on Helm Street, Fight Night at the Joe, and of course many more, I've decided to give this blogging thing a shot.

I've dabbled in it a bit over at The Good Old Hockey Show and did some radio too, but over there I'm required to be an unbiased hockey guy. Well, over here at the BSI (Brendan Smithsonian Institution...for those who are unfamiliar with acronyms) I can be as unbiased and the biggest Wings' homer that I want to be.

And now for those of you who may not know me via Twitter, here is a little bit about myself...some background history qualifying me to blog about the greatest organ-i-zation in all of sports.

I'm a 22-year-old native Michigander (Michiganian?) born and raised in the great township of Highland.  I played the game of hockey for seven years as a defenseman. I retired after my sophomore year of high school to better dedicate my time to cross country.  I'm an avid runner. My high school team won back-to-back state championships in 2003 and 2004 (I was a reserve those years).  I completed my first marathon in Philly last November. I'm currently living in Boston, MA and studying broadcast journalism at Emerson College. I'm the captain of the cross country team and will be unretiring from hockey to play for the Lions this fall. I'm pumped.

Enough boring stuff though, time to talk Red Wings. Spark notes version of the first time I ever heard about the Red Wings was when I was seven-years-old. It was the 1995 Stanley Cup finals. I was at my neighbors' house and they had the game on.  I've been hooked ever since.

Moving away from Michigan two years ago did something I didn't think was possible....it made my love for the Red Wings grow stronger.  You don't know how much you miss something until it's gone.  My first year in Boston I didn't have Center Ice.  I longed for the nights of listening to Ken and Mickey (here in Boston, Jack Edwards is crazy).  This past season I saved up the dough to watch my boys, started reading blogs, joined twitter, I did whatever I could.  And what a wonderful surprise, I stumbled upon the internet Red Wings community and was blown away that there were people out there just like me.  I've read people on twitter call each other 'fake friends'...well I love all my new 'fake friends.'  I'd personally like to thank Petrella and Andy for making me feel the most welcome into the Red Wings world that I'm now a part of. This season is going to be one hell of a ride.  I can't freakin' wait for H2H2.

And real quick before I wrap this up.  Just today my guest post over at TPL went up about Brendan Smith.  Well, thanks to the Red Wings blog world, I've been following Smith over the course of the past year. He's quickly become one of my, if not the number one, favorite Red Wing of mine (and he's not even on the damn team yet).  I was on the subway today heading home from work reading Kyle's post at BDS and thought "hmmmm...Brendan Smith...what's clever with Smith?....I know! *LIGHTBULB* Smithsonian Institution!"

And thus the Brendan Smithsonian Institution was born.  My very own Red Wings' blog (with a soon to be designed awesome banner by my girlfriend Jillian; STAY TUNED).  I hope everyone enjoys my thoughts on the team this upcoming season.  And there may or may not be a bunch of stories/references about my Uncle Leon and my pal Gannon, two of the biggest Red Wings fans I know.

Lets Go Red Wings.