On getting back to practice after an “emotional” loss:
It’s a loss. What’s the difference, right? We didn’t get a power play last night, so we had to work on it today. I just think [we had to work on] a little bit of that skill stuff, the stuff that goes away when you don’t practice or don’t skate the day before – the skating and the shooting and that sort of stuff. It’s not that big a deal.
On whether he saw energy and attention to detail at practice:
Yeah, it’s fine. That comes from your top players and your older players, and those are the guys that sort of control that always, the level of it.
On memories of Joe Louis Arena:
Yeah, I remember mostly about the Joe the Norris Division. When we first started playing at Joe, Detroit was not a very good hockey team. It was probably just when Steve (Yzerman) was coming or just before, and they were still in that real old guard. We had a lot of high-scoring in our favor games in that, including playoffs, and then as it went along, in the coaching part of it, then when they had the great team, and we had a really good team in Chicago, too. The last time I coached in Chicago, we played Detroit in the conference finals, so that was a great series. Konstantinov scored in overtime against Belfour. I remember both teams had really good teams. We’d lost Roenick and I think Steve Smith during that, and it really hurt us.
On old arenas being replaced by newer buildings:
What’s [KeyBank Center]? [Reporter: ’96. Opened in 96. Anaheim opened in ‘93]. Yeah, that’s right, because it was the year after the lockout, this one. That’s right. [Reporter: Are there any emotions or anything that’s stirred in you knowing that the third oldest building will be friggin’ Anaheim next year?] Been in all the old building – Toronto, Montreal, Detroit. This is the third one now. They’re all great buildings, you hate to see ‘em go, but that’s what happens. It’s like going to a new house. It’s like leaving the old farmhouse, right? You hate to see it go. [Reporter: You just outgrow it sometimes, or a different part of your life or whatever.] Yeah, I think it doesn’t matter where you’re at in your career. When you go to places like that, and you’re going to remember it, and you should have good memories. I remember the press box. … The way Detroit’s booth is up there, the Red Wings, and then the visiting teams, so really, you’re both just standing there, right? I remember all those things well. Heck, I remember Gordie Howe had come to ask me because he didn’t have a seat, he said, ‘can I stand here?’ I said, ‘it’s your house.’ [laughs]
On whether Detroit plays a different style of play with personnel having evolved:
Well, for sure, when you start moving Lidstrom, Chelios, Datsyuk, as those guys get older, those guys were a great possession, slow-it-down, make-the-play game. And actually, as well as they’ve done over the years, when your team is always in the playoffs and always doing really well, you’re generally not drafting at the high end of the draft, which means that you have to wait for guys, you get a lot of role guys, you get checking, grinder, that type of guy, so your skill’s going to change. I’m sure that’s what they feel they’re going through now.
Rules for Blog Commenting
Repeated violations of the blog rules will result in site bans, commensurate with the nature and number of offenses.
Please flag any comments that violate the site rules for moderation. For immediate problems regarding problematic posts, please email zdooley@lakings.com.