Tuesday, August 23, 2005

Daniel Maurer / The Associated Press Andy Delmore of Adler Mannheim takes a pop from Berlin's Tobias Draxinger in a German League game.

Delmore could cross the river to give Wings stability on ice

Defenseman grew up in Windsor and followed the careers of Yzerman, Probert and Kocur.

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

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DETROIT -- Many youngsters dream of playing for their hometown team someday.

Andy Delmore might realize that dream with the Red Wings this season.

Delmore, a 28-year-old defenseman who signed a one-year, $450,000 contract with the Wings last week, has a good chance to land on the opening-night roster.

If he doesn't make it, he would head to the Wings' minor-league affiliate in Grand Rapids and be a phone call away.

Either way, Delmore is enthusiastic. He is a Windsor native who grew up a Wings fan and still lives there.

"Let's face it, a lot of players don't get an opportunity for their hometown team," Delmore said. "The chance to come back home, and play for the Wings, it really is exciting."

Delmore had a list of favorites in his youth.

"Definitely a guy like Steve Yzerman, for everything he's accomplished in his career, the way he carries himself on and off the ice," Delmore said. "Then guys like Bob Probert (another Windsor native) and Joe Kocur. There were so many good memories and moments. But I was always a Wings fan, not the (Toronto Maple) Leafs."

The Wings see Delmore as an experienced player with offensive ability who could revive his career in Detroit, especially with new rules favoring offense.

"He's got skill, and he gives us depth," general manager Ken Holland said. "He's a guy who could help us."

Defensemen such as Fredrik Olausson, Steve Duchesne and Jason Woolley found success with the Wings late in their careers. Delmore is a similar player in many ways.

He is a good skater and passer, moves the puck quickly and is effective on the power play.

Defensive shortcomings have been his downfall in places such as Nashville, Buffalo and Philadelphia.

For his career, Delmore has 43 goals and 58 assists in 276 games. He had seasons of 16 and 18 goals in Nashville.

Delmore played in Germany during the NHL lockout last season and found the experience enlightening.

His Adler Mannheim team also featured NHL players Jochen Hochet (Buffalo) and Rene Corbet (Calgary).

Delmore had seven goals and 16 assists in 50 games.

"No doubt, it was a little different," he said of having games twice a week, on weekends.

"It really was like a college (hockey) schedule. We'd play on Friday and Sunday, have Monday off, and practiced the rest of the week. The atmosphere and intensity was real good because you'd only (have) those two games, and the crowds were really into it.

"It was good hockey, as good as any of the other leagues (in Europe). Our team made it into the finals, and there were quite a few NHL players (in Germany). It was a good experience."

He will try to parlay that experience into a spot with the Wings.

Nicklas Lidstrom, Jiri Fischer, Mathieu Schneider, Chris Chelios, Niklas Kronwall (an unsigned restricted free agent) and Jamie Rivers are expected to begin the season on defense for the Wings.

If another rugged veteran becomes, or remains, available, Holland would take a look at him. But salary-cap limitations would make it difficult to sign anyone.

The Wings want to keep at least seven defensemen. So if Woolley has a good camp, he likely would remain with the team.

"They're giving me an opportunity," he said.