Ilitch Gives Update On New Arena; Holland, Babcock Discuss Team's Recent Success
By Ashley Dunkak
@AshleyDunkak
CBS DETROIT - Chris Ilitch, the son of Detroit Red Wings owners Mike and Marian Ilitch, provided an update Monday about the team's new arena, on which construction will begin this spring.
At a meeting of the Detroit Economic Club, Ilitch said the district surrounding the Red Wings' new arena will include five "walkable, livable neighborhoods, all with unique personalities, anchored by the country's most robust grouping of world-class sports and entertainment venues in very close proximity." Ilitch, the president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings Inc., also noted the district will be constructed by local workers and with materials made in Michigan.
Ilitch said the group charged with designing the Red Wings' new home visited arenas all around the country to determine what elements fans value most.
"We're convinced that what makes the fan experience special is proximity to the playing surface, feeling very close to the actions, amazing sight lines, where every seat is a good one, and an immersive experience that's engaging, exciting, loud - an intimidating place for the opposition to play," Ilitch said. "That's what we have planned."
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and head coach Mike Babcock also spoke Monday. The team has won nine of its last 10 games and is tied for second place in the Eastern Conference with 71 points.
Special teams has been a strength for the Red Wings this season, with their power play ranking first in the NHL and their penalty kill ranking ninth.
"You've got to give a lot of credit to our players, they've done a real good job," Babcock said. "Our coaching staff, we have a brand new coaching staff except for Jimmy Bedard, they've done an excellent, excellent job. Tony Granato has come in here and really helped our penalty kill. We got off to a great start ... won games off our penalty kill.
"It took us longer on the power play," Babcock continued. "Jim Hiller came in and really gave us some ideas to improve, and we've adjusted what he was using to our group, and our group's bought in, and we have a dangerous, dangerous, dangerous power play night in and night out. We seem to be on the attack for two straight minutes, which is real positive."
If the Red Wings make the playoffs again this season, they will have done so in 24 straight seasons.
Put on the spot to talk about the impact of Babcock on the consistency of the franchise, left wing Justin Abdelkader spoke about the standard Babcock has set.
"The preparation is unmatched," Abdelkader said. "Whether it's video or we have the sheets before the game that give us our forecheck, our breakouts ... we know everything on ice. When you're on ice, sometimes you get tired, you start to forget things, but it's so ingrained in you, you have no choice. You're going to be in that spot; it's where you're going. He expects to win each and every night, demands excellence. I've had a lot of great coaches, but he's definitely the best that way, and there's a reason why we made the playoffs last year with all the injuries."
With 11 Stanley Cups, the Red Wings have an impressive history, but Holland noted that staying ahead of the curve is harder than it used to be since Detroit cannot simply outspend opponents anymore thanks to the implementation of the salary cap in 2005.
"We were one of seven or eight teams that would spend 60 million dollars," Holland recalled. "I think in 2004 when we beat Nashville, I think we were $70 million, they were $25 or $30 million. We had a massive advantage. Those days are done. It's a cap world now. There's a ceiling, there's a floor ... It all adds up to parity."
The trade deadline this season is March 2, and Holland would not give any hint as to what the Red Wings - who have plenty of solid young players that other teams could use - may be planning.
"You try to figure out if there's the right piece there that can make your team better at a price that you can live with," Holland said.
The Red Wings next play Wednesday on the road against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
