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Red Wings say they are ready
for the playoffs to start
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
From
left to right: Christopher Illitch (President and CEO of Illitch
Holdings, Inc.), Mike Babcock (Detroit Red Wings Head Coach), Ken
Holland (Detroit Red Wings GM) and announcer / former Red Wing Mickey
Redmond at the Detroit Economic Club.
Three representatives
from the Detroit Red Wings and a sports announcer spoke about the
upcoming NHL playoffs at a Detroit Economic Club meeting Tuesday
afternoon at Cobo Center.
Christopher
Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. was the presiding
officer at the meeting. Ken Holland, General Manager of the Detroit
Red Wings was the first speaker. Head coach Mike Babcock was the
second speaker at the meeting. Mickey Redmond was the master of
ceremonies at the meeting.
Ilitch says
the meeting comes at a great time for the team. Last year, he came
and spoke at the meeting for the Tigers. Just days after the meeting
ended, the Tigers were winning games and became division champions.
This meeting took place with only a few games left in the regular
season for the Wings. The Red Wings are in great shape to do well
in the playoffs.
"Join
the Red Wave. Our fans have been outstanding. Our goal is to turn
Joe Louis Arena into an advantage. Our intention is to turn Joe
Louis Arena into a sea of red," said Christopher Ilitch.
"I'm
here to tell you this group of Red Wings has proved the entire hockey
world wrong," he added.
The Red
Wings have finished with 100 points or more in the last seven consecutive
seasons. Ilitch attributes the success to his players including
the Dominator's defense of the net, Lidstrom's leadership, Chelio's
longevity in the league, among many others.
Mickey Redmond,
a former player on the Red Wings, has been announcing games on TV
for the last 21 years. He says that teams who accumulate more than
100 points makes his job easier as a broadcaster.
"My
job is fun. I like to use 'Bingo Bango.' Fortunately, no referees
in the crowd. Hockey has always been a lot of fun,"
said Redmond. "Players really love to come to Detroit."
Ken Holland
has been the general manager of the Red Wings for the last decade.
"It's still sold out every night. Exciting time in
the NHL. Exciting home in Detroit," said Holland.
The GM is very happy with his team and its prospects are high for
doing well in the playoffs.
The Red
Wings have been able to make lots of trades with its available payroll,
according to Holland. The team acquired Chelios for a chance at
a Stanley Cup three-peat. The GM enjoyed his time working with former
head coach Scotty Bowman.
Seven NHL
teams are expected to go into the playoffs with 100 points or more.
The 2007 NHL playoffs will begin in about two weeks from now. Holland
says you got to be very good and play your very best to succeed
and win.
"I
felt we had the nucleus of a good team. We lost Yzerman and Shanahan.
Young kids came in and played well," said Holland.
The GM explains
how the trade deadline works. From October until the trade deadline,
the general manager assesses players and teams for possible trade
options. He brought everybody to Chicago and worked the phones.
The Red Wings acquired two players during the trade including Todd
Bertuzzi and Kyle Calder.
Mike Babcock
has been coaching in the NHL for the past 19 years. He attributes
the success of his team to his all-star line up of players and their
accomplishments.
"They
are great people. When you surround yourself with great people,
you win. It separates us from the best players on the other team,"
Babcock said.
Chris Chelios
has been playing in the NHL for 23 years. He's played 1,542 games,
more than any other player from the U.S. Chelios has won the Norris
Trophy three times. "He sets the battle level for our
team," Babcock said.
As for Dominik
Hasek, "I can't get the guy off the ice. He loves it,"
said Babcock.
In regards
to Zetterberg, the head coach said he "brings it everyday."
Babcock
believes that his team can win the Stanley Cup this year. He says
that talent is not enough to win it. It's important to do it right
everyday. "I think we have a much better team than
last year. We have a great opportunity," he added.
The head
coach said last year's playoffs were painful for him.
Babcock
loves the support of fans at Joe Louis Arena. He says that a long
playoff season will benefit the city by creating extra revenue.
Babcock said, "I'm real proud to be coach of the Detroit
Red Wings."
Ken
Holland belives his team would fit better in the Eastern Conference
of the NHL. He says road games are on better times. The Red Wings
are currently in the Western Conference.
Head
coach Babcock believes that tough players are essential to winning.
"Toughness in players is important. We kept the players
we had." He said it makes it harder for other teams
to play the Red Wings and win.
Announcer
Mickey Redmond closed the meeting by saying "If you're
in the hockey business, this is the place to be."
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Detroit
Red Wings GM Ken Holland speaks to members of the Detroit Economic
Club at Cobo Center.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Red
Wings head coach Mike Babcock addresses the crowd on the team's
high expectations for the playoffs.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Babcock
explains why his team this year is better than last year.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Former
Red Wing and current announcer Mickey Redmond is the master of ceremonies
for the meeting of the Detroit Economic Club.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / AMERICAJR.com
Current
Red Wing players are attending the meeting of the DEC.
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