Shaved Ice – September 14

MiHockey editor Michael Caples here with you on a lovely Friday afternoon.

Quick hits

Well, Free Press writer Helene St. James tweeted a picture of the ice coming out at the Joe. Guess the maintenance guys down there don’t have much faith in things getting fixed by that Saturday night midnight doomsday countdown thing.

In happy Detroit Red Wings news, the club signed hometown kid Justin Abdelkader to a four-year extension, and finally completed that long-speculated deal with Carlo Colaiacovo. The most frustrating thing about that one? Having to learn how to spell that name…

And then back to the sad stuff…Ted Kulfan writes about how the players are bracing for the inevitable lockout.

Highlight reel

Abdelkader, the Muskegon native and former Spartan, talks about his new contract with the Wings.

Outside the Mitten

Wondering how this lockout stacks up to the last one? Here’s a timeline by SI’s Adrian Dater.

Here’s a take on the impending lockout from Pierre LeBrun, who says the owners should fear Donald Fehr’s ultimate trump card – making the salary cap the point of focus in negotiations moving forward. Remember, Fehr led the MLBPA, and they are now the only league of the big four that doesn’t have a salary cap in place.

The NHLPA is filing an application to the Quebec labor relations board in a quest to have the lockout deemed illegal in the Canadian province.

Apparently Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar have already practiced with a KHL team, and could play for them Thursday.

Check it out

Puck Daddy offers up how to explain to your non-hockey friends what’s going on in the NHL. It should help brighten up your day – a day that’s looking pretty gloomy if you’ve been following hockey stuff all day.

Next up

See you Monday. We’ll have some stuff for you over the weekend, as well.