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High-scoring Red Wings trade for top scorer Lang
ap ^ | 2-27-04 | Mike Householder

Posted on 02/27/2004 7:34:18 PM PST by Dan from Michigan

High-scoring Red Wings trade for top scorer Lang

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER, Associated Press Writer
February 27, 2004

DETROIT (AP) -- Robert Lang should fit in well with the high-scoring Detroit Red Wings.

Lang, who shares the league lead in points, was acquired by the Red Wings from Washington on Friday in a deal that sent Tomas Fleischmann, a first-round draft pick this year and a fourth rounder in 2006 to the Capitals.

The 33-year-old Lang is enjoying one of his finest seasons. He has 29 goals and 45 assists and is tied with Tampa Bay's Martin St. Louis with 74 points.

``We felt it was a move we had to take and couldn't pass up,'' Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. ``And it's at a price we could live with.''

Detroit is the second-highest scoring team in the NHL and is tied with Philadelphia for the best record in the league heading into Friday's games.

Lang's $5 million salary is reasonable, Holland said, especially with the player averaging a point per game.

``To have a guy locked in at $5 million a year made sense for us financially, made sense for us competitively,'' Holland said.

Even with a talented lineup, the Red Wings still felt the need to add a big forward, preferably a center, and Lang fit.

Lang had been rumored to be heading to Detroit for months because the Capitals were rebuilding and trying slash payroll.

``This is no offense to anybody in Washington, but it's always great to go from team that doesn't really have a bright future to go to a team with bright horizons,'' Lang said.

Holland said he had talked with Capitals general manager George McPhee about Lang as early as August.

``We could not have asked for more from Robert Lang over the past two seasons,'' McPhee said. ``He has been a terrific player for our club, and we consider him as the best free-agent signing in the team's history.''

Washington acquired Lang from the Pittsburgh Penguins two years ago and, at the time, he was given the richest free-agent contract franchise history -- five years for $25 million.

Lang, in Florida for Washington's game with the Panthers on Friday, was expected to practice with Detroit on Saturday morning and play in Sunday's game against the Flyers at Joe Louis Arena.

Holland said he was pleased to get the deal done before the March 9 deadline, giving Lang more time to get used to his new teammates before the playoffs begin.

Lang and All-Star Pavel Datsyuk are expected to give the Red Wings a solid center combination for years.

With the Penguins, Lang was often paired with Mario Lemieux, so he is used to playing the fast-paced style favored by Detroit.

``Everybody's been watching them for a while now,'' Lang said of the Wings. ``If you're a player, you feel like you want to go and play that style.''

Lang has 173 goals and 289 assists in 640 games. The native of the Czech Republic won a gold medal at the 1998 Olympics, and he had a career-best 80 points in 32 goals and 48 assists in 2000-01.

Lang spent four seasons with the Los Angeles Kings. In 1996-97, he played in a Czech league and then played for Boston and Pittsburgh in 1997-98.

The 19-year-old Fleischmann is playing in his second season with Moose Jaw of the WHL. He ranks second on the team in goals with 28, assists (41) and points (69) in 53 games.


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Michigan
KEYWORDS: hockey; nhl; redwings
Let's GO RED WINGS!!!!!
1 posted on 02/27/2004 7:34:19 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
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To: Dan from Michigan
This is great news. Now Hatcher and Cujo need to get healthy. We'll be hoisting the cup yet again!
2 posted on 02/27/2004 8:39:19 PM PST by MichiganCheese (I am intolerant of tolerance.)
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To: Dan from Michigan
Lang and All-Star Pavel Datsyuk are expected to give the Red Wings a solid center combination for years.

Great move by the Red Wings, I think. But this sounds like a curious statement, when you consider that Lang is 33 years old.

3 posted on 02/27/2004 8:46:59 PM PST by Alberta's Child (Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
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To: Alberta's Child
That's probably the average age for a Red Wing!

Hull, Chelios, Yzerman, Cujo, Hasek......

4 posted on 02/27/2004 8:49:55 PM PST by Dan from Michigan ("Here I go, again on my own. Goin' down the only road I;ve ever known")
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To: Dan from Michigan
Geez -- you're right. And I thought the Devils were bad in that regard last year! They had three defensemen -- Stevens, Daneyko, and Albelin -- who were 37 or older.
5 posted on 02/27/2004 8:55:02 PM PST by Alberta's Child (Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
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To: Alberta's Child
"They had three defensemen -- Stevens, Daneyko, and Albelin -- who were 37 or older."

Honorable as hockey guys are, I would suggest basketball as an exercise. I am 48 and think I sweated 2 litres(sp?) today. I am the best shot-blocker in town!

6 posted on 02/27/2004 9:14:31 PM PST by BobS
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To: BobS
LOL.

I'm pretty sure that ice hockey is one of the most intensive popular sports out there today.

For whatever it's worth, I once lost 12 pounds playing roller hockey -- in a single day. Do not try this at home, kids.

7 posted on 02/27/2004 9:24:58 PM PST by Alberta's Child (Alberta -- the TRUE North strong and free.)
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To: Dan from Michigan
He Shoots He Scoooores(/Mickey Redman)
8 posted on 03/01/2004 2:05:46 PM PST by Moleman
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To: Dan from Michigan
If you think this team is old, you should have seen the team of the early 1970s. I remember seeing Bruins/Red Wing games as a kid at the old Boston Garden and the Red Wings had players like Gordie Howe and Alex Delvechhio still playing. I think both those guys played well into their 40s for the Red Wings.
9 posted on 03/01/2004 2:08:24 PM PST by SamAdams76 (Had a "cafe latte" for the very first time and I liked it. Should I be worried?)
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To: Dan from Michigan
The Wings organization does a great job in managing their personnel. With only a few recent notable exceptions (Hatcher, Hasek & Krupp) they consistently acquire useful free agents. What's most amazing though, is their eye for young talent.
10 posted on 03/01/2004 2:17:19 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: FourPeas
Now if the Pizzaman can do the same for the Tigers....
11 posted on 03/01/2004 2:19:35 PM PST by dakine
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To: FourPeas
I'm not a wings fan, but I am a huge Darren McCarty fan. That guy does everything but run the scoreboard for his team. I love that guy.
12 posted on 03/01/2004 2:19:58 PM PST by lawnguy (Those who beat their swords into plow shares, are destined to be ruled by those who don't.)
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To: Alberta's Child
Though hockey is a fast-paced physical game, it seems that being 'long in the tooth' isn't necessarily a detriment. The Wings have been 'older' for years, yet still consistently play exceptional hockey.
13 posted on 03/01/2004 2:22:14 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: lawnguy
...and, he looks great with his shirt off, too. :)
14 posted on 03/01/2004 2:22:47 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: dakine
The who?
15 posted on 03/01/2004 2:24:15 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: FourPeas
"The who?"

You know, Mike Ilitch...





(I know you are talking about the Tigers!)
16 posted on 03/01/2004 2:27:27 PM PST by dakine
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To: Dan from Michigan
And with Lang's help they kicked the crap out of Philly.

Watch out for the unsettled situation in goal during the playoffs. Teams with goaltending controversies have trouble making runs at the Cup. They've been denying they have a goaltending controversy, but the denial just proves they do.
17 posted on 03/01/2004 2:27:43 PM PST by discostu (but this one has 11)
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To: FourPeas
eeeeewwwwwwwwww!
18 posted on 03/01/2004 4:46:27 PM PST by lawnguy (Those who beat their swords into plow shares, are destined to be ruled by those who don't.)
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To: lawnguy
LOL! I guess it's a 'chick-thing', eh?
19 posted on 03/01/2004 4:49:01 PM PST by FourPeas
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To: Alberta's Child
Great move by the Red Wings, I think. But this sounds like a curious statement, when you consider that Lang is 33 years old

Not if you consider that there probably won't be a hockey season next year......

20 posted on 03/01/2004 5:06:37 PM PST by Hot Tabasco (I've dealt with stupid people for over 32 years. Haven't I earned the right to just shoot them?)
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