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With a team literally stacked with talent it comes as somewhat of a surprise that not one member of the Detroit Red Wings will be representing his team in an on-ice capacity this Sunday at the NHL All-Star Game in Montreal. Sure, there’s Wings head coach Mike Babcock, but he’s only serving as assistant to San Jose’s Todd McLellan for the boys from the West. The only two Wings who were slated to appear are both on the sidelines, one with a bum hip and the other with, well, some kind of injury. Datsyuk? Hip flexor. Lidstrom? At first the official word was that he’s still nursing a sore ankle from back in December, but now it’s being reported that he’s “suffering recurring elbow pain” and needs the rest. Such is life in the NHL.
According to Gary Meagher, NHL vice president of communications, the league attempted to secure another (only one?) Wing for this Sunday but attempts to contact GM Ken Holland were unsuccessful.
Datsyuk, one of the hottest players in the league the last few weeks, has 11 goals and 20 assists in 18 games. This will be the first time Lidstrom will miss the All-Star Game since 1997.
Some Other Articles That You May Enjoy:
Holmstrom to Have Groin Surgery, Will Miss 3-5 Weeks
Wings Bounce Wild 4-2, Lebda Out With Back Injury
Osgood Ready For Start Tonight Against L.A.
Holmstrom/Franzen Injury Update, McCarty Back On Skates
Lidstrom’s Late Power-Play Goal Lifts Wings Over Phoenix
Osgood Back To Form, Wings Drop Kings 2-1
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I’m quite surprised the Champs don’t have a representative. You’d think the coach could name a replacement just so that they ‘represent’. Lord knows there is plenty of talent to choose from. Too bad we don’t have a Historian writing here yet (we’re looking for one) or Stats man. It would be neat to know the last time a Cup champ had no on-ice reps at the all-star game.
Real nice few posts for you start here at THW, keep em’ coming Paul!
Thanks, Bruce. I’m having a blast already.
And in regards to your query, I did some digging and while I didn’t find anything about former cup champs having no on-ice talent at the All-Star game I did find this little nugget:
In fact, it’s the third successive mid-season classic in which no members of the reigning Cup champs were voted to the starting lineup in the annual fan ballot. The Anaheim Ducks (2008) and Carolina Hurricanes (2007) also came up empty. Since fan balloting began during the 1985-86 season, the New Jersey Devils (2001), Dallas Stars (2000) and Edmonton Oilers (1991) were other defending Cup champs who went without all-star starters.
I thought that was interesting in and of itself.