Nine Red Wings Olympics bound

Nine Detroit Red Wings will join teams competing in the Turin Olympics in February.

"You want guys selected for those teams," Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Thursday. "It means you have good players."

Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk was chosen for the Russian team, which was announced Friday. Four Red Wings were picked for the Swedish team — Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson.

"For people in Sweden, this is a big deal, a bigger event than the Stanley Cup or the world championships," Lidstrom said. "There is nothing bigger for players than playing for your country."

A 2000 Detroit draft pick who now plays in Sweden, goalie Stefan Liv, also made his national team, The Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press reported.

Chris Chelios and Mathieu Schneider made the U.S. team, Kris Draper made Canada's team, and Robert Lang made the Czech team for the third time. Lang said he has enjoyed each of his previous Olympics.

"Every one of them has been different, but they're all fun," he said. "It's something to treasure for a long time."

Red Wing goalie prospect Stefan Liv was also named to the Sweedish roster. Former Red Wings Dmitri Bykov, Dominik Hasek and Derian Hatcher will also be representing their countries (Russia and Czech Republic and the US, respectively).

I am a little bit suprised at the selection of Kronwall but it will be a good experience for him. Also suprised at the fact that Shanahan did not get elected.

Vancouver Canucks captain Markus Naslund will miss the Olympics because of a lingering groin injury, dealing a blow to Sweden's chances for a gold medal.

Naslund, one of the leading goal scorers in the NHL during the last few seasons, will be replaced by Detroit Red Wings forward Tomas Holmstrom, Sweden's hockey federation said Thursday.
http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=153316&hubname=

I thought Kronwell was not going.

He's going to be in Grand Rapids.

Nope. Kronwall is headed to Torino.


As Swedish insurance, Wings' Kronwall hustles to Torino


Niklas Kronwall is headed to the Olympics after all, and may get to play in the tournament.

Wings general manager Ken Holland confirmed Monday that Kronwall was to head to Torino that night and expected to arrive in Torino on Tuesday morning. Sweden plays Slovakia at 8 p.m. Torino time.

Kronwall is coming over to join the taxi squad, but might play because there is some question as to the status of Niclas Havelid, who has tweaked a knee. Swedish coach Bengt-Ake Gustafsson said that Havelid would play Tuesday, but that Kronwall was the first defenseman substitute.

“Niklas is going to come down here and be ready if we have some injuries,” Gustafsson said. “He was the best defenseman at the World Championships last year; he came in and played really well for us. He has a lot of skill. Unfortunately he got hurt earlier this season, and he had a tough time, but he worked so hard to try to make this team. Now he is catching up. We hope that if we have any injuries, he is here and can help us.”

Kronwall, a physical and skilled top-four defenseman, was selected to Team Sweden when the original roster was announced in December. At the time, Kronwall was still rehabbing the left knee he blew out during an exhibition game Sept. 27 at Colorado.

Although Kronwall was able to return Feb. 1, he opted to decline playing for Sweden because he suffered from tendinitis in his right knee, and there was some concern about the possibility of having to play eight games in 12 days.

Now, Sweden has at best has four games left. The quarterfinals are Wednesday, semifinals Friday and the medal games Saturday and Sunday.

Kronwall cannot live in the Olympic Villiage with his teammates, but he is allowed to practice.