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One year deal, absolutely zero risk. Worst case scenario is he sucks (which I doubt, playing on Pav's wing). Best case scenario is he returns to being a 40 goal scoring sniper. Sure is going to suck sitting on all of that cap space with nobody to sign (even if we do sign Doan which we probably won't, we still could have afforded both). The fact that we showed almost no interest is baffling given Semin's potential. I know Holland has pursued all the top guys this summer and unfortunately struck out on all of them. The thing that pisses me off is the lack of foresight for the seasons leading up to this. Did he really think Nick was going to play forever? If all of us knew that Stuart was going back to California after this season, I'm sure Holland had some sort of idea. I really hope I'm wrong because I love this team but as it stands now I just don't see us as a contender. We're pretty much the same team as 08 just 4 years older with no Lidstrom and Stuart. It sucks.

That's my biggest problem with this and the previous off-seasons BY FAR: D and Z are special, special players who have gotten no help and have put on some hard miles of the last few seasons because Holland has failed to provide them with dangerous wingers, or even decent work horses. Their prime has come and gone during a period of stagnation, and that stagnation continues...

That's exactly what I was arguing: your idea that he could be a reclamation project the likes of Holland's others, such as Cleary, Samuelsson and the sort; the likes of those players are Holland's typical reclamation projects, not high-skill players who need to be reclaimed from subpar effort and poor attitude. Semin is not a player who is struggling to maintain a career in the NHL. He is a player who is trying to secure himself a fat contract. A $7m deal would have instantly made him the highest-paid player on the team. That's no reclamation project, and handing that sort of salary to a guy who has such a poor reputation and so much to prove would have been an insult to others on the team, not to mention that poison in the locker room is always a terrible thing. And Semin's potential to be a cancer in the locker room is almost certainly why Holland avoided the guy; Holland does not sign players who are risky in that area. Giving Cleary a small contract after a tryout is very different from giving a fat paycheck to a guy who has a well-known history of laziness and petulance. One is no-risk. The other is not.

"We kicked the tires"

So, no Doan, no Semin, no Suter, no Parise. Engaging or considering trading within the division where he had no chance to make a deal happen. This offseason so far has been a resounding failure for Holland. Hes so far is basically standing pat, or regressing in areas of concern on this team (namely the top 6, Samuelsson is not better than Hudler, remember, his best season was playing with 2 players that had 200 points). Even if he manages a trade, the way things are going (based upon track record of trades over the last few seasons) he will have to overpay. Holland finally gets a chance to show he can roll with the punches and sustain the team, and he sits on his ass. And to all the slappies who defend Holland, ask yourselves 'How has this team actually improved since last season?' No baseless speculation of everyone overachieving, no unrealistic trades that you can't justify, and no saying 'this team hasn't played one game' because it played 87 games last season and regressed since then.

Remember how everyone felt OK after the Nashville loss, because we'd have plenty of money to spend on all these big free agents left and right?

I'm almost hoping for a lockout.

Exactly. Of course it could go bad. But no one is even interested or excited at the possibility of Semin on Datsyuk's wing? I wasn't dying for Semin to be a Wing, I'm just a little surprised Holland wasn't even interested. Like I said, I'm hoping it's because he still has a trick or two up his sleeve.

Anyone's stance on any political issue is no longer a topic of discussion at LGW. Please keep any discussion limited to the game of hockey and all that entails.

The very simple fact is that $7m was just given to a fellow who has scored in the mid-50s in the past two seasons, had four points in 14 games last postseason, and has a history of laziness and poor attitude.

Someone tell Kenny that no one on this team has scored 30 goals in 3 years......

But the Suter deal could've been exactly that, and Holland made the offer. A one year deal for Semin is among the lower risk contracts you could get. Like I said, I'm just surprised and a little confused Holland wasn't even interested. Just seeing what Semin could do with Datsyuk and on the PP seems like enough incentive to at least kick the tires a little. If he stinks it up, then it's money lost and some cap room that right now looks like it's not getting used anyway. Unless Holland's still got a trick up his sleeve.

I think it's time to reinstate the "Neg" button.

I'd take Semin for a year over Doan. Doan is a great player and a warrior, but the guy's 35. His help to this team is limited, especially given how he plays. A 28 year old Semin on a one year deal, you hope he turns it around and then the Wings can lock him up for a handful of years next season. So hypothetical situations you couldn't possibly know are true are ok when used to dismiss a signing? I'd have to think getting Semin away from Ovechkin and around a player like Dats could only help.

We definitely didn't have to. It would've been fun to see what he'd do with Dats though. Of course, there's also the risk that the Wings would've added another extremely talented player with a questionable work ethic. For one year though, that's not a huge risk. Not heartbreaking, but the one-year deal would've made it more attractive. I figured Semin would be looking for longer term headed into the CBA. And with a one year deal, you'd have to think he's more likely to bust his ass to prove his doubters wrong and get the big payday next year.

One year, zero risk. Nothing but upside and instead Kenny is sitting on his $13m, watching Dreger waiting for him to tweet that Doan has resigned with Pheonix. I knew the Wings weren't interested in Semin, and I didn't expect him to sign here, but watching him sign a one-year deal elsewhere burns my ass. Stagnant offense. Defense takes a huge hit with no replacements.... but hey, we improved our backup

This is my official F U to Ken Holland

Other than the part about being effectively below the radar, how does Semin not fit that category? He's a guy with a ton of talent who's career has basically reached it's low point, relatively speaking. He's being trashed in the media and has a questionable reputation in terms of his work ethic. A one year deal gives him everything to prove. Either he busts his ass and earns a good contract next year, or he does more of the same, his star continues to fall and he either runs to the KHL or accepts an even smaller contract. If he joined the Wings for a year and turned it around, then they have the chance to sign him for more years. It's not that unlike what Holland has done with Cleary, Bert and Sammy. It's just a star player version of it.

Poor Pavel. He'll never have the sniper unless you count Franzen. When it's all said and done I'll always wonder how much better he would have been with a Kovy or Semin type player on his wing. I miss Hossa!

Like I said, I wasn't referring to the players really. Though even considering that in context of the cap, if for some reason they were to rachet it down without allowing rollbacks or buyouts, the Suter deal would still have had much greater implications. Semin would be a lousy deal for a year. Suter's could've crippled the team for over a decade, yet Holland was willing to get involved. So I don't think his avoiding Semin had to do with the CBA negotiations is my point.

Cool. Who is next to stay away from Detroit?

Boo.

7 bills? Glad he's not coming. It was just like a, let's pull the trigger on this guy because we can, not because we have to. Ride that cap space Kenny, we'll get something done!

Got my whistle in the mail last week lol

#20 BARRY SANDERS!!!