Leaderboard

13 years, 98 millions of dollars.

Come on people.he's been here like 20 games or so and we are throwing him under the bus already. I'm not saying he's going to be a stud,but definitely want to see him playing more to judge him.

What a pain in the ass. Cant believe we traded a first for this s***

Are we sure that semin isn't from the twin cities and has always wanted to play with suter and parise?

Nash is worth whatever we need to give up.

Probably will go done as the most important signing off the offseason for the Wings. Now whether that's a good or bad thing....I'll let you determine that for yourself.

I'd take Semin for 4 years 20 million. Very fair for a player with 40 goal potential.

if we give him 4 years at a low cap hit we can at least trade him to like dallas or florida at some point. we didn't give up assets for him. cap space isn't going anywhere else at this point.

Yesss. I want semin with Pav so bad. I'd take him over parise

The purpose of the salary cap was to encourage parity. It succeeded in this for a few seasons. Now it is ruining the NHL. The cap is giant, and contracts have become absurdly inflated as a result. Teams almost always have the cap space to re-sign their UFAs, so few big-name players ever hit the open market; as a result, those who do go to the open market are given gigantic, ridiculous contracts. What's more, the low-budget teams--those teams to whom the cap was meant to give a legitimate shot at winning--must now dole out ridiculous contracts to remain above the salary floor. Hilarious. This all needs to be dealt with in the CBA. The cap needs to be fixed or reduced, and contract length needs to be limited. I think that eight years is a decent number, or perhaps less.

Again, maybe with the exception of White, it didn't sound to me like he's calling anyone out. That implies that they have tried and failed and are getting taken to task for it. It sounded more like a statement of what will be required of the Wings defense this coming year to make up for the loss of Lidstrom and Stuart. Not any slam on any of the defensemen. Honestly I don't think his season being a complete success has anything to do with points. Sure it'd be great if he put up 30, but that's not going to make or break his season. He needs to continue to be a force on the PK, play solid even strength minutes, and knock the hell out of guys anytime they're around the net or in the corners. If he does that, I consider his season a success.

Hmmm 50 seems like it could be a gamble on our part....

Jonathan Ericsson. Knock, knock, it's destiny calling. A quote is a simple thing. It has no physical form but for the movement of lips or the vibration of air, perhaps even the paper or screen on which it is recorded, yet at it's heart it is entirely simple. It is but words strung together. Different words for different means. Poetic words, strong words, abusive words, kind words. Words that question, words that rally, words that challenge or accept. But simple words none the less. There is a famous quote, one that many of you may have seen numerous time before, even in this very place, that consists of words in equation: 'To whom much is given, much is expected'. A sort of Yin and Yang if you will. Action and reaction. Yet still a quote of simple powerlessness. For a quote can only acquire strength and meaning through situation. A moment in time where mere words define action in such a way as to have been meant. To have been written in the stars. Some people in this world believe strongly in things that others may cast aside as legend or myth, believe in structure and purpose against chance and coincidence. Fate. I cannot say I am one of these people, yet I do believe in opportunity to design your own fate. To control a personal destiny if you so choose to take your chances. Jonathan Ericsson? His time is now. I was talking with a friend earlier today about the less than promising situation facing us this year following the departure of Lidstrom and Stuart, and whilst big things were said about the future of Smith and his potential to be a great of the future I couldn't shake the idea within my head that this could be the single greatest opportunity that Ericsson's life will throw his way. Something inside me seems to be wishing him to be the replacement for Lidstrom that we've all been searching for. Wishing for! Yes, I can't deny he's a whipping boy at times, yet I struggle to think of such a time in recent history. Yes, he's made mistakes on the ice, yet again I struggle to think of others who hadn't also. As a player drafted and trained by this single organisation, moulded into the player that they entirely wanted him to be, cannot simply be put down to chance. There must be a reason for his journey through this team. A young Swede who loves the game and has worked hard in the shadow of possibly the greatest defenceman of all time, a countryman and icon whom he wills to be like one day. A player who has grown to be strong defensively, in his own zone, much like the icon he once used to watch. He isn't near that level yet but there are many years left in the tank and he can only move forward. Whereas some see a hole on the blue line in the vacated space left by Lidstrom, a void that cannot be filled entirely but partially patched over in the hope that nobody will notice, I cannot help but see an opportunity. Following a solid season from Ericsson, earning ice time in a variety of situations designed to test his skill and nerve and desire, his "metal", I do not look at the coincidence of an ever-improving player and a newly-retired legend. Yin and Yang again. Two sides to the same coin. I instead look towards the opportunity. A chance for a young player to provide the situation for which the quote can draw meaning. A young player to whom much has been given and now has the chance to pay back in full. In retirement, as in much of his career, Nick Lidstrom is incomparable, yet if it had to be done with this Red Wings roster I see no better candidate than Ericsson. He's not flashy. He's stable. He's not devastating. He's smart. His offensive game lacks a little something but nothing that cannot be gained with practice. He could have the skill set and the personality to be another truly great defenceman in the mould of the Red Wings system, not simply a spare part brought in with the hope that it fits. After all, these can be notoriously hit and miss (White as a potential Rafalski replacement springs to mind). Perhaps nothing of this has sunk in with anyone who happens to read it. Perhaps Ericsson will be nothing more than what I have outlined: a solid, sensible, and smart 2nd pairing D-man. Perhaps my tiredness has got the better of me and has rendered me delirious, yet something inside of me cannot shake this feeling that this year, with a little confidence and a bit of belief, Jonathan Ericsson could start to pay back a little of all that has been invested in him. Oh well, at the very least one can hope.

I'm trying to remember exactly how it works but that's a good point. By filing arbitration, doesn't that prohibit any other teams from extending offer sheets, essentially committing him to the Wings? (Short of running to the KHL after filing arbitration of course) EDIT: Just did a little homework and it's true, by filing for arbitration, Quincey cannot sign an offer sheet from another team.

Quincey was bad with us, but he's got the potential to be a very good defenseman. Something just wasn't clicking. Quincey can do everything, hit, shoot, pass, and skate, just a matter of putting it together. I have a good feeling about him this season.

Ok, there are two of these threads, which one do we starting talking in and which one is gonna be deleted? Anyhow, I hope that Q gets awarded a lessor contract than he was offered! Just like Hudler did in 2009, Holland offered Hudler $3.5M and he went to arbitration (before bolting to Russia) and was awarded $2.8M.. Holland does have to option to refuse the awarded contract and let Q become a UFA...or he can trade his rights, RIGHT NOW! If Holland accepts the arbitrator's contract he cannot be traded for a year...

Didn't know where to put this... didn't think a new thread was necessary. From Helene St. James: #RedWings defenseman Kyle Quincey files for salary arbitration.

I think Semin for 4 years at a decent cap hit is a better option than 98 million for 13 years for Parise. If Semin didn't pan out in Detroit, there are teams that would take him on in a trade if the term isn't too crazy. Low risk, high reward IMO. I think him playing with Datsyuk would be great. If not, trade him toa team who needs to hit the cap floor in the off season and get assests for him. At least signing Semin would leave the Wings with their own assets to trade for a d man.

I loled.

I wouldn't mind seeing: Cleary-Helm-Bertuzzi Abby-Sheahan-Tootoo I think that 4th line could be a terror cycling in the offensive zone & on the forecheck. Doubt it will happen this year though.

Missing out on Carle wouldn't be too big a deal. A stop-gap like Hannan or Roszival might be better anyway if we can't swing a trade. Depends on how much Carle would take. $4M or less for 2-4 years? Probably not now that he's the "best" one left. And he's not good enough to make a big difference in how far we can go. Regarding the bold: I see Kenny taking a lot of flak the last few years for expressing confidence in our players. It's like people see comments like that and completely forget what he's tried to do or the circumstances we've been in, and also ignore anything he says about considering other options. Seriously, what do you expect him to say? You think he should act like a fan and say, "This f'in sucks! We suck now and we won't make the playoffs ever again!!!1! Franzen's an A-hole!!one! I'm trading everyone!!?/! I'll trade Joe Louis for that Rocky statue!!! Next guy that walks through that door is getting a blank check just so we can say we did something!!exclamation point!" The last few years, either because of the cap or lack of available players, our options have been very limited. Sucks that we haven't landed any of those few as of yet, but there's no reason for even fans to be as negative as they have been, much less for Kenny to be.

It really isn't. Our farm is overrated by the fanbase here.

Those two have more talent than the 2007 Predators....

I really hope Wings fans don't boo these dudes.

wish i was a wild fan. gonna be a fun year for them