from Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News,

Question: Chris, I can’t imagine you’ve ever played in an NHL game in an empty rink, and especially a playoff game. How strange do you think it’ll be for these guys competing in the playoffs?

Answer: It would be real difficult (to play in that situation). You talk about series in the past, and one of the main things was the atmosphere in the rink and how difficult it was to win a game in a place like Chicago, or in Colorado, with the fans were packed on top of you.

I remember all the teams coming into Joe Louis Arena and those opposing teams saying how difficult it was to play in there because the fans were right on top of you.

That’s what makes it all different for these playoffs. For me, who is going to win is the team who is going to adjust to all that and bring up their emotions to where they need to be, the fastest.

Q: I have to ask you about the Red Wings, though their next game is still months away. What did you think about the draft lottery disappointment (dropping to fourth in the lottery)?

A: There’s some good players out there, still. You obviously wanted the first overall pick, and now you go three consecutive years falling pretty substantially down the draft. This one hurts, but in the end, there are plenty of first overall picks that haven’t panned out, so you never know. They’ll get a good player (at four) and they’ve done their due diligence on these players.

Q: Is this long stretch between how last season ended and whenever the next season begins, hurt the Wings?

A: You know, when we do get fired up again, they’ll be one team that will benefit from the break. They needed it. The way last season went, it will be long forgotten and it will be a completely fresh start.

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