Scouting the Detroit Red Wings: Kirk Maltby

September 5, 11:51 PMDetroit Red Wings ExaminerMike Mouat

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Kirk Maltby

Today's profile: Kirk Maltby

Height: 6'0"
Weight: 193
Birthdate: December 22, 1972 (36 years old)
Position: Left Wing
Shoots: Right
Uniform #: 18
Contract status: Signed through 2009-10
Salary Cap Figure: $750,000
Salary in 2009-10: $833,333

2008-09

Kirk Maltby played in his 1,000th NHL game on February 27th against the Los Angeles Kings in front of the appreciative fans at Joe Louis Arena. 2008-09 was a typical post-lockout season for Maltby. It is the third time he has recorded 11 points and was -9 in the four seasons since the lockout. The other season he scored 10 points and was -8. Last season was also the fourth consecutive season that his penalty minutes (28) and icetime (9:08) decreased. He missed one game due to an ankle injury and was a healthy scratch in three games.

Maltby is a grinder and most effective when he is physical, quick on the forecheck and agitiating the opponent. He remains physical but at 36 years of age and entering his 16th NHL season, he is no longer quick on the forecheck, and as his ice time decreases, he is less agitating. He is going to be pushed in training camp this season to hold onto his spot in the Red Wings top 12 forwards. The addition of Todd Bertuzzi gives the Red Wings 13 NHL caliber forwards, not counting Justin Abdelkader. In a poll conducted in a previous article (Bertuzzi signing generates more questions), Maltby was the forward voted most likely to lose his spot on the roster receiving 60% of the votes. The free agent most likely to take his role is Patrick Eaves. While Eaves is less physical than Maltby, he has speed to burn, is dogged in his puck pursuit, kills penalties and as a former 20-goal scorer he has more offensive potential.  While Maltby played his 1,000 NHL game last season he has played 856 games for the Red Wings and ranks third among left wingers in franchise history. He is just five games behind Nick Libett (861) and six behind Ted Lindsay (862) for most games played by a left winger in Red Wings history. He has scored 103 goals as Red Wing (13th among left wingers, five goals behind Frank Mahovlich); his 113 assists as a Red Wings ranks 14th among left wingers (nine behind Parker MacDonald); his 216 points as a Red Wings ranks 13th among left wingers (tied with MacDonald and seven back of Petr Klima); and his 651 penalty minutes as a Red Wing ranks fifth all-time by a left winger behind Bob Probert, Gerard Gallant, Lindsay, and Brendan Shanahan.

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• Dan Cleary  Pavel Datsyuk  Kris Draper  Patrick Eaves  Jonathan Ericsson  Valtteri Filppula  Johan Franzen  Darren Helm  Tomas Holmstrom  Niklas Kronwall   Brett Lebda   Ville Leino  Nicklas Lidstrom  Andreas Lilja  Kirk Maltby  Derek Meech  Chris Osgood  Brian Rafalski  Brad Stuart  Jason Williams  Henrik Zetterberg