Ansar Khan Breaks Down Detroit!

This week TheNeilShow sits down with Ansar Khan, beat writer for the Detroit Red Wings.

TheNeilShow – Are you surprised with Aaron Downey making the team over the likes of hot rookie Igor Grigorenko?

Ansar Khan – I’m surprised Downey made the team because I don’t see him cracking the lineup anytime soon, if at all. They like his toughness, but they’re not going to dress someone who plays 3-4 minutes a game just for some muscle. They tried with Brad Norton last season and it didn’t work. But they like Downey’s character. He’s a good teammate and a good locker room influence on the young players, the way he works on and off the ice.

As for Grigorenko, he reported to camp out of shape, not a good thing when you’re slow to begin with. He’s struggled with the faster pace in the NHL and clearly needed some time in Grand Rapids to get his game in gear. He’ll be back on Oct. 22, but unless someone is injured or slumping badly, Grigorenko isn’t going to see much action in Detroit this season.

TheNeilShow – With Nik Lidstrom already anchoring the d line the Red Wings brought in former Devil Brian Rafalski.What will Rafalski bring to this Wings squad?

Ansar Khan – This team generates much of its attack from a mobile, puck-moving defense, that’s why it was important to replace Mathieu Schneider with a player of similar skills. Rafalski doesn’t have Schneider’s booming shot and isn’t as gritty as Schneider, but he’s four years younger, and he’s a right-handed shot, something the club has lacked on the point on the power play. It’ll make controlling the puck on the blue line during the power play much easier.

TheNeilShow – With Dominik Hasek seeming never to age he does have some
history with injuries,are the Wings and their supporters confident he can make it through another season?

Ansar Khan – They’re much more confident in his ability to stay healthy this year after he made it through last season relatively unscathed. He made a few slight changes to his routine, getting a massage before games, stretching more before and after games and practices. And, most importantly, he’s maintained his weight at 165, which he said is important for his groin.

TheNeilShow – Who do you see on the Wings rosters turning heads and surprising people?

Ansar Khan – They have a number of younger players capable of stepping up. The one guy I’d keep an eye on is Johan Franzen, kind of their jack-of-all-trades. He’s big, can play physical down low, provide a net-front presence on the second PP unit, he’s a good penalty-killer, he can fill a number of roles. This year, he’s playing on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom, and he should score at least 20 goals, after averaging 11 in his first two seasons.

TheNeilShow – How important is ageless wonder Chris Chelios in the dressing room and on the ice? And after his playing days do you see Chris Chelios joining the coaching staff?
Ansar Khan – He’s a terrific leader, someone the young players and the veterans look up to, not only for his amazing workout routine but also for his solid performance on the ice at age 45. He’s really a marvel. He’s got so much going on off the ice that I don’t see him getting into coaching after he’s done.

TheNeilShow – Last season the Wings acquired Todd Bertuzzi at the deadline,how did Bertuzzi fit into the Wings locker room?

Ansar Khan – I don’t think he was a problem in the room. It’s almost like he wasn’t here, though, because he only played eight regular season and 16 playoff games. However, many in the organization weren’t pleased with his off-ice work habits.

TheNeilShow – How high do you see the Red Wings placing in the Western Conference this season?

Ansar Khan – I think they’ll finish first in the West again and probably win the Presidents’ Trophy. I don’t think this division is any better than last season and the Wings should feast on these teams.

TheNeilShow – Does Red Wings management like Detroit in the Western Conference? It seems Detroit would fit better in the Eastern Conference with more games against Original Six foes then in the west. Also do you think the Wings will ever move over to the Other conference eventually seeing how Mr.Ilich has a strong voice in the NHL.

Ansar Khan – They badly want to move to the Eastern Conference and are confident they’ll be shifted there after Las Vegas is granted an expansion franchise in a few years. The problem is, the West teams don’t want to lose the Wings because they fill their buildings, so they’ll lobby hard against any such move.

TheNeilShow – I have heard some rumors the Wings could be looking at bringing Sergei Fedorov back for an encore. Any chance that could happen?

Ansar Khan – Yes, that’s a possibility. They like him, think he can fill a couple of roles (secondary scoring, checking center). I think he realizes he made a mistake leaving in the first place and would like to come back, even though he gets booed here every time he does. His dad, Viktor, hates the Wings, though, ever since they took him off their payroll, so I’m sure he’ll do whatever he can to sabotage such a move.

TheNeilShow – Does Vladimir Konstantinov still keep a close relationship with the Red Wings organization? Does he attend games?

Ansar Khan – Yes, he comes to most, if not all the games and still has a close relationship with the players who played with him.

TheNeilShow – Wednesdays game against Anaheim snapped a 396 consecutive
regular season sell out streak. Considering it was opening night and against last years best team is it still a “hockeytown USA”?

Ansar Khan – No, it’s not. If they can’t sellout opening night against the Cup champs it doesn’t bode well for when Columbus, Chicago and St. Louis come to town. They might be starting another streak — of non-sellouts. The problem is a combination of high ticket prices and the bad local economy. They need to adjust their prices to the economic climate.

TheNeilShow – in your opinion who is the greatest Red Wing of all time?

Ansar Khan – I think most people would say Gordie Howe. Certainly the top three have to be Howe, Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

TheNeilShow – Nik Lidstrom is a UFA at the end of the season. Do you know if the Wings are speaking to his agent at all? Could this be his last hurray in the Motor City before heading back to his home in Sweden?

Ansar Khan – No, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon. He still has a few great years in him and he plans on sticking around. They’ll sign him to an extension, perhaps during the season, maybe in the off-season, before July 1, but I don’t see him playing anywhere else but Detroit, and that includes Sweden.

TheNeilShow – Who would you compare rookie Defenseman Derrick Meech too
playing wise?

Ansar Khan – They hope he turns into an Andrew Ference-type of defenseman. But I think he’s the most likely player to be traded off the roster simply because of their surplus of good, young defensemen. They have Kyle Quincey and Jonathan Ericsson, who are NHL-ready. Next season, or maybe the year after, Jakub Kindl, their top prospect, should be ready as well.

TheNeilShow – Can you tell our audience here at nhldigest.com what you do and where we can read your work.

Ansar Khan – I write for Booth Newspapers in Michigan. You can read me at www.mlive.com

Look for more from TheNeilShow throughout the season as he interviews various sports media members as well as coaches and players from around the NHL.

If you have any questions or comments, please share a comment on the site or email Neil at theneilshow(@)nhldigest.com