Pat Caputo: Injuries And All, The Red Wings Remain The Envy Of Hockey
The All Star break this weekend couldn't get here soon enough for the Red Wings.
They are bruised and battered. Their roster has been injury-depleted.
The Red Wings have been without arguably their best forward, Pavel Datsyuk, who is certainly one of the world's best two-way players.
They haven't had Brad Stuart, who had been playing on their first defensive pairing so effectively with the Red Wings' lone all star, the great Nicklas Lidstrom.
Goaltending has become a major concern. Not because of regular Jimmy Howard, but backup Chris Osgood.
Ozzie may have already posted hall of fame caliber numbers during his career, but he has played precious little hockey the last two seasons because of illness, injuries and ineffectiveness. He is out until at least March because of a sports hernia. If something happens to Howard, the Red Wings would like be in trouble. Joey MacDonald is a journeyman - hockey's version of a 4-A player (between Triple-A and the major leagues) in baseball. Thomas McCollum, the Red Wings' first-round draft pick a few years ago, isn't nearly ready of the NHL, especially the prime time of the playoffs.
