The Mark Graham Sports Blog's posts tagged Chicago Blackhawks

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• Minnesota Wild Land Parise, Suter

  July 04, 2012

  The Minnesota Wild has had a very productive Fourth of July to say the least.

  The Wild has agreed to terms with two of the top free agents in this year's NHL free agent pool. Former New Jersey Devils winger Zach Parise and former Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter both agreed to sign 13 year, $98 million contracts.

  

  Parise, a Minnesota native, spurned the Devils among many others to go back home and play for the Wild.

  

  Suter, whose wife Becky is a Minnesota native, turned down a 13 year,$90 million offer from the Detroit Red Wings to join Parise in Minnesota.

  The Chicago Blackhawks made runs at both players along with the Detroit Red Wings. The Wings were most interested in Ryan Suter to replace the recently retired Nicklas Lidstrom.

  The Nashville Predators offered a 13 year, $90 million deal to keep Ryan Suter in the Music City, but, according to Predators general manager David Polie, the Preds never got a chance to match the Wild's offer.

  The Red Wings made a presentation to Ryan Suter, but didn't have a chance to make a similar presentation towards Zach Parise.

  With Suter and Parise now gone, the focus now shifts on Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle and former Washington Capitals forward Alexander Semin as the second tier NHL free agents.

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• Big House To Host NHL's Winter Classic

  February 08, 2012

  Canadian sports network, TSN, is reporting that Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Michigan will be the venue for next year's edition of the NHL Winter Classic. TSN is also reporting that the Detroit Red Wings will play host to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the first Canadian team to play the Winter Classic.

  Michigan Stadium, also known as "The Big House", can hold more than 100,000 fans. The stadium set the record for largest attendance for a hockey game back in 2010, when the University of Michigan defeated their in-state rival Michigan State University, 5-0. More than 104,000 fans attended the game.

  Michigan Stadium was chosen over Comerica Park due in fact because it can hold more people and it could raise TV ratings for the game. Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch originally wanted the game to be held at Comerica Park, home of the Ilitch owned Detroit Tigers, because he wanted to make a commitment to the city of Detroit. Comerica Park will stay play a huge part in the Winter Classic, holding many festivities leading up to the game.

  The Red Wings have previously played in one other Winter Classic back in 2009. The Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks, 6-4, at the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.

  The NHL record for attendance in a single game came back in the inaugural Winter Classic back in 2008. 71,217 fans packed into Ralph Wilson Stadium and saw the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Buffalo Sabres, 2-1 in a shootout.

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