H e arrived 10 years ago as the final piece, a bright, bold player who wanted to be here, and helped launch one of the great runs in Detroit sports history. And now Brendan Shanahan departs, one of the final links to an era we knew couldn't last forever, even if it seemed like it would.
Another day, another touchstone star gone, another reminder that change in sports is absolutely inevitable. The Red Wings, perhaps more than any franchise, had defied it for a while, but no more.
The Wings are different today, less complete today, now that Shanahan has left for the New York Rangers, signing a one-year deal Sunday. Someone else will take his spot and try to compensate for the loss of his team-leading 40 goals. The Wings won't fall apart but, suddenly, they have a lot to pull together.
Whether or not the Wings and GM Ken Holland were ready for it, it's here. Less than a week after captain Steve Yzerman retired, the Wings are in the throes of a full-scale transition. After three straight early playoff exits, some of it is necessary.
Without a trace of resentment, Shanahan recognized it, which helps explain why he left for the same $4 million the Wings were offering. The move also brings him to a major media market, closer to his offseason home in the Boston area.
"There is a changing of the guard in Detroit, but I don't see it as a bad thing," Shanahan said by phone Sunday. "It's not something I'm bitter about. It would've been an easier choice in some ways to come back. I loved playing there, loved living there. But I've always trusted my instincts, and I just felt, with the way the Wings are set up for the future, I was more associated with the past."
Shift is under way
Maybe, at 37, Shanahan is right. It's a sense Yzerman also detected, that a shift was under way.
This is how it works in sports, especially in the salary cap era. Memories get stowed, and the smart teams and players know when it's time to move. Ben Wallace left the Pistons last week for more money, but he also wondered how he fit into the future here.
The Wings and Pistons are being nudged perhaps quicker than they expected, or preferred, but I actually think fans understand it and accept it. Both teams had terrific regular seasons, the best in their leagues, and disappointing postseasons, and the calls for change were growing, especially for the Wings.
It's dangerous any time a 40-goal scorer departs, so don't kid yourself about that. But there's nothing sinister about this. How can there be, after a nine-season run since Shanahan's arrival that included three Stanley Cups and the rise of Hockeytown? It was a period never to be forgotten, a period Shanahan talked about with such reverence, you almost wonder how he could leave.
When it appeared his stay here might end after the 2004 playoff elimination, Shanahan sat at his locker, dressed in full uniform, and wept. This time, it was less somber. As with Yzerman, the realization struck Shanahan slowly.
"I can honestly say I didn't really expect this at the conclusion of the season," Shanahan said. "It has been strange watching players leave. And although my decision wasn't based on Steve's, it'll be a little weird not seeing him there.
"The Wings have drafted well and have great young players, so I don't believe they have to strip the car clean. With me and Steve gone, this allows some focus to go on younger players. There's nothing bad I can say about the Red Wings. This was about having a new challenge. I don't know how much longer I'll play, but you don't get many more chances to have this type of fear and excitement again, to play for another Original Six team.
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He had a great run, but I am more concerned what holland will do after he waited fifty years for these guys to make up their minds.. everyone knew shanny was outta detroit.. i just cannot believe they wanna dwell on this cause we have so much more that is important to teh team right now..

Now we all know I love shanny! i am a huge fan and supporter... he was a great leader in HockeyTown.

he will be sorely missed... and I know as a fan i wish him well with his life and all the best to his family.

H e arrived 10 years ago as the final piece, a bright, bold player who wanted to be here, and helped launch one of the great runs in Detroit sports history. And now Brendan Shanahan departs, one of the final links to an era we knew couldn't last forever, even if it seemed like it would.
Another day, another touchstone star gone, another reminder that change in sports is absolutely inevitable. The Red Wings, perhaps more than any franchise, had defied it for a while, but no more.
The Wings are different today, less complete today, now that Shanahan has left for the New York Rangers, signing a one-year deal Sunday. Someone else will take his spot and try to compensate for the loss of his team-leading 40 goals. The Wings won't fall apart but, suddenly, they have a lot to pull together.
Whether or not the Wings and GM Ken Holland were ready for it, it's here. Less than a week after captain Steve Yzerman retired, the Wings are in the throes of a full-scale transition. After three straight early playoff exits, some of it is necessary.
Without a trace of resentment, Shanahan recognized it, which helps explain why he left for the same $4 million the Wings were offering. The move also brings him to a major media market, closer to his offseason home in the Boston area.
"There is a changing of the guard in Detroit, but I don't see it as a bad thing," Shanahan said by phone Sunday. "It's not something I'm bitter about. It would've been an easier choice in some ways to come back. I loved playing there, loved living there. But I've always trusted my instincts, and I just felt, with the way the Wings are set up for the future, I was more associated with the past."
Shift is under way
Maybe, at 37, Shanahan is right. It's a sense Yzerman also detected, that a shift was under way.
This is how it works in sports, especially in the salary cap era. Memories get stowed, and the smart teams and players know when it's time to move. Ben Wallace left the Pistons last week for more money, but he also wondered how he fit into the future here.
The Wings and Pistons are being nudged perhaps quicker than they expected, or preferred, but I actually think fans understand it and accept it. Both teams had terrific regular seasons, the best in their leagues, and disappointing postseasons, and the calls for change were growing, especially for the Wings.
It's dangerous any time a 40-goal scorer departs, so don't kid yourself about that. But there's nothing sinister about this. How can there be, after a nine-season run since Shanahan's arrival that included three Stanley Cups and the rise of Hockeytown? It was a period never to be forgotten, a period Shanahan talked about with such reverence, you almost wonder how he could leave.
When it appeared his stay here might end after the 2004 playoff elimination, Shanahan sat at his locker, dressed in full uniform, and wept. This time, it was less somber. As with Yzerman, the realization struck Shanahan slowly.
"I can honestly say I didn't really expect this at the conclusion of the season," Shanahan said. "It has been strange watching players leave. And although my decision wasn't based on Steve's, it'll be a little weird not seeing him there.
"The Wings have drafted well and have great young players, so I don't believe they have to strip the car clean. With me and Steve gone, this allows some focus to go on younger players. There's nothing bad I can say about the Red Wings. This was about having a new challenge. I don't know how much longer I'll play, but you don't get many more chances to have this type of fear and excitement again, to play for another Original Six team.
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He had a great run, but I am more concerned what holland will do after he waited fifty years for these guys to make up their minds.. everyone knew shanny was outta detroit.. i just cannot believe they wanna dwell on this cause we have so much more that is important to teh team right now..

Now we all know I love shanny! i am a huge fan and supporter... he was a great leader in HockeyTown.

he will be sorely missed... and I know as a fan i wish him well with his life and all the best to his family.

To all My Wings.

Hmm its getting close to time to polish the skate blades, tape up the sticks and get ready to roll.
well, one of the question marks is goaltending. if we get belfour as number one goalie will he play to the high standards HockeyTown has? or will he choke..
Do we honestly think Ozzie is going to come in and save the day? i dont think we will see that from the Detroit BACKUP. hes a great backup no denyin it!
Im in support of whomever players for Detroit! I love my wings, wings hockey is a v ery important part of my winter or any diehards winter for that matter.
what are we going to do with out our offensive regular season power in Brendan Shanahan? well we are going to wish him the best. and we are going to lovingly send him off to the rangers. he is./ was one of the final pieces of '97 to win the stanley cup.. and Shanny, we cannot say thankyou enough!
Ozzie, you need to tighten up this season.. defense you all need to stay strong. we donot need any blow outs or ups. a well oiled machine is what we need. we need a hockey club/team that plays like a team. and has premier players of the game that are willing to stand on what this team was found on.
well , ya gotta love hockey and HockeyTown... To Belfour, please donot let us down,dude.. please show us a good game and time during the reg/ playoff seasons.
to all the nucleus thats left. thanks for staying with the team, although it may not have been easy cause of Yzerman's retirement, or Shanahan's departure.
there is a high cost in HockeyTown and the fans expectations are high assuming all goes well and they make it to better than just the first round.. I still believe in this Hockey Club... These boys could do some great things on ice...
But will the work ethic continue like it was a couple seasons ago... or will it suffer? will we get a taste at victory or will we sing... its either choke or sing.. you be the judge, you decide.. does this team have teh materials it needs or the ingredients so to speak.. to win a Stanley Cup?
well like i said, Ill let you judge all this.

Dear Brendan, *Shanny*

Dear Shanny,
Thankyou for all the memories, all the fun and great stanley cup runs. thankyou for coming to detroit and trying things out for the past nine seasons and being in michigan for ten years, I know youll be sorely missed.I hope you enjoy all your fun with the rangers.. im sure you will do well with your new found team.. just like mac said dont be sad its over, be glad it happened. and im glad for all that has happened.. and if this new contract makes you happy in NewYork then so be it!wishing you the best hockey season ever, and a strong playoff run.. I know the fans of detroit will really miss you.. so good luck with your future, and thankyou once again...you were apart of the well oiled machine we had for 9 seasons.. thankyou... good luck, and ill watch you when im not watching the wings..
all the fights and memories, the day you dawned the winged wheel.. ill always remember that day.. the time of the line of yzerman , shanahan, and fedorov.. i have that whole line in jersey form..
you will be missed alot.. you were/ are one of my favorite players and i wish you all the best and hope you have a great hockey season...
best wishes,
Amanda

hmmm what do ya all think?

do we need a new arena? and if so, where would you like it located.

for me it would have to be by the fox theature or near tigers stadium on the same side of the street. the seating needs to be spread out.. nothing against those suites that go to the game.. but if you have to get up there should be just a section for them.. you all block the freakin play.. next time ill bring a fog horn and blow it in your ear.. see how you like that..

maybe then you will be able and willing to sit down!! so hopefully we have a section just for them and them alone.

as for teh diehards, you all deserve the special seating.. if you are anything like me .. you deserve the best seat in the house.

heres to teh real fans, the true fans.. the fans that are up in the nose bleeds screaming to the top of their lungs for their home town team, the fans that paint their faces red and white and wear a wings jersey. The fans that are the real fans not some put on fan that doesnt even know the difference from chelios or maltby or what offsides is..

to the dancer of the Joe Louis Arena, MO Cheesee you deserve the best seat in the house. To all the players, you deserve the Stanley cup as many times as you can win it.. to all fans that sit at home. you know who you are, the ones that scream at the tv and throw popcorn. the ones that yell at the tv in their folk's basement, the diehards that refuse to drink pepsi on a game day, I salute you from my sweet little red and white winged wheel heart.. this ones for ya'll, GO WINGS and good luck this season.

Is Shanahan too Old.. well.. my thoughts..

Agree or dont, Brendan Shanahan is still a great player for the Detroit Red Wings.. hes an unrestricted free agent right now. will he stay or go?

He tried this leaving thing in '04 players have to keep their options open. besides there is a high demand in HockeyTown.

He had a great season.. about forty goals.. I mean who could cry about that.. but then again, you hear people bawling about how he doesnt score in teh playoffs. remember, older players do not always show up on the score board sometimes its in other ways.

hes not a powerforward and is not as effective in the playoffs as he used to be.. b ut we all must remember was all the other kids and players? nope, they were just as asleep. so im sick and freakin tired of hearing it!

lets come up with some facts here.

he helped win three cups, is a king clancy memorial winner, a gold medalist. has been in the allstar games several years... we must put all this into consideration.. who shoved in that statue of liberty goal against patty? well, it was none other than Brendan Shanahan!!!!!

so why in the heck can you say, with all his seasons of ten in Detroit.. that he sucks, hes too old, its time to trade him. think before you open your mouth or if your talking to me ill just roll my eyes and assume you know absolutely nothing about him or hockey.

im a big time shanny and wings supporter and i will not accept any bashing of any kind about him.. I heard it get ready for an arguement you wont win!

i defend players that i think that are capable of playing the game and that normally do well.. but if they suck four games people gripe and complain about them? well you better not do it in front of me or ill give you a speech four hours long about how you have to consider all angles ect.

Look at sergei fedorov! that boys season sucked last year. he had twelve goals or less? come on, and everyone grips about players that suck two and three games and thats all they suck.

I dont get some fans mentality. now if its osgood.. the name just mentioned.. well I understand.

the rest is garbage.. like a running sewer line. when we had Hasek it was great. I loved his '02 season. what happened after was not that great. but you know, thats hockey, players are a risk we chance.

look at Luc Robitaille, he didnt produce the second season with Detroit.. won a cup the previous and left.. he didnt get the dirty dog or son of a gun ripping by the fans.. because well, he deserved that stanley.. the true taste that only a champion experiences....

Look at Hull, I loved him, enjoyed the heck outta him. after his exit outta detroit he played like five games and hung up the skates! I loved that player, his confidence, the way he went up against the media, the way he talked about bettman, the officiating, the game, the way he played.. i idolized him.. I have a top ten players list and lets say hes in that list.

see what i mean.. the endings were bad.. they played well during some of it then lost some of their wind.. then everyone downs them.. thats not hulls case but its some of the others listed.

so for the sake of looking like an idiot.. please use some common sense people when you decide to speak to me about hockey.. would be much appreciated and would save you a gosh darn arguement that you wont win...

there will be beating and nashing of teeth. if ya all are thinking u can out argue me. believe me i have loved this game a long time.. and it would take alot for ya'll to win or change my mind. only one friend of mine has done that. so we will see.. try me.... LOL.. i love dares so heres a challenge to anyone.

my total thoughts may be a little clearer..

I dont understand why you would want to keep an engine that is going to have a melt down or a electrical burn out for another year.. thats what happened with my car this past thursday and that is what will happen with the Detroit Red Wings.

The reason being, the Wings will not do as well, is because..... we are running with the same parts and im sure sooner or later just like this past season we will have a leak in the head gasket.

and well, when the head is leaking the engine starts to stall and when that happens we just dont add some duct tape and think it will be alright.. we replace the leaky head and put back to gether the engine.

Thats what Detroit needs to do.. if they arent going to get some gritty players for that line with datsyuk its time to kiss pavel goodbye instead of paying un needed amounts of money on a player that cannot penetrate the center ice.

then we have some youngsters like lijia that cannot play for crap.. why do we keep flunkies like him? or rivers... man , that boy sucks... lets surround ourselves with players like hudler and others.. goaltenders like liv. according to the management hes too young as of right now. but i cannot wait to see this rising star come into the NHL..

we have some great young talent.. like zetterberge and samuelsson and others. they need to produce.. we have older players, like chelios and shanahan that mediate things and keep the team in good running order. not to meantion chelios linemate schnider: he has developed in to a great defenseman over the years and he and cheli paired are the perfect combo.

i could go on and on about how baggage like chris osgood needs to leave detroit. but whats the sense since i have two blog posts on it already. Manny Legace needed to move on. If we would have kept him at backup I think that would have been better.

And in NO freakin way am i saying ozzie should have been number one goalie.. if you all think that.. put your head to the ice and listen.. youll hear a puck go woosh and right in the Detroit net if you think that I love that guy. he has done nothing.. trust me we will be better without him.. id rather have cujo in net than freakin osgood. at least cujo gave you a decent game.

but i was hoping for gerber, doesnt look like thats happening. lets just cross our fingers and mend the teams broken wings or the monkey wrenched engine in which i referred to at the beginning.

we need some grit on that offensive line.. defense is pretty well covered. offense needs grit.. and the goaltending.. oh, buddy do we need help. well we will see what good ol' kenny comes up with in the next couple of weeks. he has had some great players come here.

But really its not the money, its all in that prize the ultimate prize, the whole enchalada, the big cheese, the big piece of the pie, THE STANLEY CUP!

its all guts and not very much glory, its playoff beards and unwashed socks.. thats HOCKEYTOWN.. grit, honor, history, and the fans love all describe this great hockey club and everything it stands for, and I as a fan could say to the other wings fans... are you all ready HOCKEYTOWN? or did we as fans fall asleep.. well you be the judge of this season..

as far as resigning.. glad to see lids back.. now lets get shanny signed up.. i know hes testing the waters. but in the end he will be back.. he loves this place and has said he considered it home. Id love to see him retire a wing! if not no matter where he goes.. as a fan of his play i will always cheer for him as long as he does not play against Detroit.

well all i am ready to say .. is.... LETS GO RED WINGS, and I miss that Irish Jig!

via detroit news::: by Ted Kulfan
DETROIT -- One day after re-signing defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom, and keeping him off the free agent market, the Red Wings Saturday afternoon kept Chris Osgood in the fold.
Osgood signed a two-year contract. Terms weren't immediately available.
Osgood, 34, will likely serve as a back-up to a goalie the Wings are still to acquire in the next couple of weeks, either through trade or free agency.
The lone key free agent the Wings have yet to re-sign is Brendan Shanahan, who decided to test the free-agent waters.
Then there's Steve Yzerman, who is a free agent, but he’s deciding whether to retire to play one more season with the Wings.

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I guess we have to be realistic and keep ozzie for another season.. hopefully we can find a great number one goaltender soon and get him signed. this really has me worried cause its july and we only have a certain amount of time.

Im not thrilled about ozzie being back for the simple reasons his past is terrible all but the cup season if you wanna be realistic about all this. he had to have mike vernon pick up the pieces in '97 and was gotten rid of a little after all that.. ya so what.. one cup in '98.. what does that prove? proves that hes good on riding the coat tales of his teammates cause there were some games where the forwards and defense never let it in the wings end for in fear that Osbad would let this puck in the net..

he gets soft shots and cannot even stop them.. has a good glove hand but let me tell ya, thats the only thing that got him into the NHL!

I love hockey.. but i cannot stand osgood.. we were in lurches several seasons because of his lack of showing up for the game.. he was too busy on coffee break.

I hope Yzerman does return. id like to see this be his final season.. Im thankful for all hes done in hockey on and off the ice hes a great leader and captain..

maybe we could see one more cup? who knows.

TIME DEFINITELY DOES TELL

Detroit Red Wings fan small oppinion

I thought id start out slow here and do a small formation of my oppinion...


so here goes::: if your an ozzie lover do not read this!

Ozzie, in my oppinion is one of the worst number one goaltenders ever.. he has proved hes backup material. hes a good backup but i could never see him as anything else.

Look at what he did against the kings when we faced them in the playoffs.. we didnt advance in the playoffs.. all do to ozzies under and over arm let ins. he lets in some pretty soft ones.

now everyone says he won a freakin cup in '98 but thats not the case.. look at who all he had in front of him.. wasnt a bad line up.

I know this sounds like a rant.. but i think both goaltenders need to go and well, we need to revamp the team and only keep a few core players... like zetterberg, chelios, schnider, shanahan. ect...

thats just my short not in order thoughts.... ill write something better later.