DETROIT – The acquisition of defenseman Rob Blake makes the
Colorado Avalanche a favorite to win the Stanley Cup, Detroit Red
Wings general manager Ken Holland acknowledged Thursday.
But don't count the Red Wings out with so much hockey left to
play, he said.
"Right now, Colorado is the favorite with the addition of Rob Blake," Holland said. "But it's February."
The Red Wings count the Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues among their main obstacles to a third Stanley Cup in five years.
Entering play Thursday night, Detroit finds itself a point behind the Blues in the Central Division and five behind Colorado for the best record in the National Hockey League. The Blues visit Joe Louis Arena on Friday.
Though the Avalanche have knocked the Red Wings out of the last two Stanley Cup playoffs – winning the 1999 series 4-2 and 2000 series 4-1 – Detroit has been dominant during the last two regular
seasons, outscoring Colorado 29-20.
Detroit and Colorado have met in four playoff series with the
Red Wings winning only one, the 1997 Western Conference finals _
the year Detroit won the first of two straight Stanley Cups.
The Avalanche have held the upper hand in the postseason since
the 1996 Western Conference finals created an intense rivalry.
Blake was dealt by the Los Angeles Kings to Colorado late
Wednesday night. Los Angeles, which included center Steve
Reinprecht in the deal, acquired right wing Adam Deadmarsh,
defenseman Aaron Miller and other considerations from the
Avalanche.
"They got one of the premier defensemen in the NHL," Holland
said. "One of the best teams in the league got better.
"Adam Deadmarsh is a big loss. ... They improved themselves immensely, but I think they're going to miss Deadmarsh."
Detroit was rumored to be in the running for Blake, but Holland
said only that any team would be interested in dealing for him.
As for the prospects of making a deal before the March 13
deadline, Holland said: "I don't know that we'll do a whole lot.
We're comfortable with our team. A lot of what we've done in the
past was to acquire depth. I don't know we need to do a whole lot
of that."
Detroit was last involved in a major trade when it acquired
Chris Chelios, Wendell Clark, Ulf Samuelsson and goalie Bill
Ranford shortly before the 1999 trading deadline. Chelios, who had
surgery on his left knee on Nov. 20, will return to the lineup no
later than Sunday when the Wings host Phoenix.
For now, Detroit is focusing on the Blues.
"It's gonna be real emotional. We always have great games with
St. Louis," Holland said. "I expect it to be low-scoring, tight
checking and with high intensity – like a playoff game."
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