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Man, I don't care if the guy's 42, 45, 58 1/2 - it's one less spot for Dan Cleary.

You sound like a troll, thank god you don't run the team. We would probably miss the playoffs 23 years in a row. You might want to do some research, Holland was the director of scouting for 7 years before he was a GM, I will believe him and the scouts over your opinion of what you think goes on. Alfie before the Olympics was 10 points under a PPG. When everyone was healthy he was a huge asset no matter what way you slice it. The season is starting already? Wow, didn't know that.

Not pumped about this at all. He was extremely ineffective for long stretches of the season and now hes just a year older, with a bad back. This off -season is looking more and more like its going to be the same old stuff. Excited to see which fringe NHLer 6th pairing defenceman we will be signing next

According to Helene St. James Twitter: Helene St. James ‏@HeleneStJames 56s Daniel Alfredsson has told #RedWings he wants to play another season. Sides will talk again later this week. Really glad to hear it! Alfie showed that he's still a productive player and leader. Hopefully he'll hoist the Cup before he eventually calls it quits.

Pavel Bure. We could go racing sportscars and picking up hot girls in Russia. It would be epic.

I'd take a 40-something Alfie over a few of the forwards on our team (Emmerton, Andersson). I just can't understand people sometimes. Detroit had a terrible year last year, not just Alfie, He never got to click with the team because the team was never fully healthy. It was just a lousy year for the team. And Alfie still put up 49 points in 68 games.

Long overdue.

Right but we all know that free agency is like an overpriced market. You don't have to go there and you can buy your groceries somewhere else, but if you do go, you'll either get ripped off, or get something really good. In this case it's a win win as far as I'm concerned because what Alfie brings is a known commodity. His play last year was pretty solid and provided us with some extra offense, added to our veteran leadership and was important when guys started dropping like flies. While not in his prime, I think it's a safer bet having him for one more year at a cap friendly contract than get in a bidding war and end up paying $7 million for someone who we don't really need and will be overrated from day 1. This way, if Alfie hangs them up at the end of the year, Mantha will be primed and ready to go in his place. You can't win with all youth, just like you can't win with all veterans. What KH appears to be doing is trying to find the right balance. Alfie worked well for us last season, so why wouldn't you bring him back if its at the right price? He is, at the end of the day, just another piece in the puzzle. You can't win the cup based on signing one player, so why the f*** is everyone freaking out? Free agency hasn't even begun yet, but lots of people here are throwing their toys out the pram and all for what? Because we re-signed a good player? KH might pull off a surprise at the draft, or he might not. He might get Alfie signed, get a solid D man like Gilbert or Stralman and be happy at that, safe in the knowledge that we've got NHL ready youth right in our lineup that has gone through a season of experience last year and are ready to contribute more. You can't expect to be cup contenders every year, and rebuilding like this definitely takes time. It'll be worth the wait when it comes. I'd rather at least be competitive every season where we've got the chance to put it all together or add a couple of pieces here and there, rather than tear the entire thing down and start over.

So a couple guys more straight out of grand rapids won't change that... And as you recall z dats Ericsson and franzen were all injured for stretches during the year, which was my point

Leadership, experience, good work ethic. You can't build a team with 22 year olds, look at Edmonton. Alfie was solid last year when healthy. And when our leaders were injured the team didn't do so well. Nyquist was the only player stepping up, now you want to entrust that responsibility to not only the same players who disappeared when times got tough, but a couple extra even younger ones? And you honestly see nothing wrong with that mentality?

If gets injured then Mantha or Pulkkinen play. That's doesn't sound like too big a risk to me. Holland's not building a team with "all these old players." We'll actually be a pretty young team next year.

Seriously, why are so many people down on the fact that Alfie is potentially returning? Yes he's old, but he's still good, and he won't cost us anything (minus some cap room). If he stays healthy for the entire year he's practically good for 20 goals

Hope he comes back for less money and he isn't the only acquisition the Wings make this off-season.

So very well deserved congratulations to the Dominator and all the other inductees strong class.

@RedWingsFeed: Brett Hull is planning on attending the HHOF induction and will have one foot on the stage during Hasek's acceptance speech

Ken Holland: Hello Daniel, I am calling to personally thank you for your many years of great service. You have been an integral part of the Detroit Red Wings since you signed on with us. However, despite earlier promises, I must regretfully inform you that we will not be offering you a contract for the upcoming season. Daniel Cleary: Wow, Kenny… I mean… where did this come from?!? I've devoted the last ten years of my life to the Detroit Red Wings. I left money and term on the table last year in Philly so I could play here with the promise of another contract to come... KH: I know Daniel, and we thank you for that, but based on you performance last year, and how well our prospects played filling in for you and other while the injury bug hit, we feel this is the direction we need to take as a franchise. DC: C’mon man, you know I only played poorly last year because I was injured. There’s still plenty left in the ol’ gas tank. I know I can get back to my old form, and deep down inside, you know it too Kenny! KH: That may be the case, Daniel. However we are simply not in a position where we can afford to bring you back on. I’m sorry. DC: Wow!, what happened to you, man? You use to be cool. KH: What?!? I’m still cool, Daniel. DC: No, you’re not. You've changed man, and not for the better. Loyalty use to mean something to you. I guess it doesn't anymore. KH: Loyalty is very important to me. DC: Whatever, man. You’re all talk. Take your lies and broken promises elsewhere. Talk to you later… KH: Wait! Don’t hang up! Let me see what I can do, Daniel. I’ll prove to you that I’m still cool. I’ll call your agent and see if we can’t work something out right away; perhaps a two-way contract? DC: Two-way contracts aren't cool, man. KH: You’re right, you’re right… I knew that. Definitely not cool. I can do better... just let me talk to your agent, ok? We’ll work something out, don’t worry Daniel. DC: Cool, man. I’ll see you when camp opens. Ciao. KH: Yeah, yeah… Ciao!

I'm so pleased for the Dominator, easily my favorite goalie of all time. Well deserved.

"I approve this deal".

I understand what you're saying. I don't think Cleary Sammy Bert fell of a cliff, though. We've seen their decreased effectiveness over the seasons leading up to last. And think it's rare to truly go from hero to zero. Alfie still put up 18g and 49pts in 68 games. That PPG might slide a bit, but the situation is quite different than Cleary, Sammy and Bert. We get him without giving up our young prospects. I just hope he is better at controlling the puck on the PP. There was so may times during the year he would bungle a hard pass.

I have mixed feelings about this. Alfie was the only free agent I really had interest in the Red Wings retaining. He was pretty good overall last season, but seemed to slow down quite a bit (or was playing hurt) after the Olympics. That being said, I thought it might be a more suitable move for the Red Wings to explore other younger options through free agency. I guess depending on Alfie's contract and other plans, they could still have the flexibility to add another top-six winger. If Alfie stays healthy, he should be a solid contributor again for the Wings. Always risky though banking on a 41-year-old to keep up with the pace of an NHL season.

This. I would trade Nyquist for O'Reilly every day of the week. O'Reilly is taller and heavier than Nyquist O'Reilly is a C and Nyquist plays wing We desperately need top 6 young C's and have surplus of young (and old) wingers O'Reilly (91) is 2 years younger than Nyquist (89) They both put up similar goal totals I love Nyquist a lot - but if it took Nyquist + 1st to get O'Reilly I'd do it all day.

@Bill_Roose: Hasek on playing w/ '02 #RedWings: "It was one of my best years that I played hockey. From Day 1 I never played with so many great players."

@THNKenCampbell: Hall of Fame inducts best American (Modano) and first-ever Czech player (Hasek) today. Well done. Bold statement.

One thing this story didn't cover is how much value prospects have in trade. In the cap era CHEAP young talent is gold. Prospects have great value, even though most never turn out. using the LAK as an example, yes they have drafted and developed well, but they have also traded well and sign key UFA's. Half of their team was not drafted by the Kings: Carter, Richards, Williams, gaborik (spelling), Greene, Mitchell, Muzzin, etc... were all picked up via trade and UFA signings-mostly trade. Yes their big name younger stars were all drafted: Kopitar, Doughtry, Quick, etc... Several of which were top 10 picks in their respective years. Point is, there is no one way to build a team. You need to use all avenues to build a winner.

Ah...eff it. I debated about whether I would post one of my usual unfunny sarcastic comments about this, but I'm going to venture into these murky waters for the purpose of stimulating discussion. Look, while I agree that the entire situation was blown out of proportion, I can't help but feel a little...uncomfortable... about the whole situation. Let me tell you why. Anyone who has ventured onto Twitter or any other social media site knows the type of bulls*** dumbass people spew into the ether. Most official accounts are inundated with ignorant, sometimes downright offensive tweets containing openly racist, homophobic or whatever other disgusting tripe some turd burgler farts out that day. These tweets, maybe rightfully so, go unresponded to. But today, the issue the Red Wings official twitter decided to address was a vapid but lighthearted, inoffensive tweet that looked to be sent out by a teenage girl that disparaged no one but maybe herself. While the Wings' tweet wasn't offensive, the litany of comments **** shaming this young woman WERE. Any social media person worth his/her salt knows how the internet works, and was aware of the attention that would be brought to this girl. Maybe *I'M* overly sensitive to this issue, because female fans are still held to a standard of "proving themselves" that male fans are not. We (those of us who swing that way, anyway) are expected to turn off our sexuality in order to be accepted as "true fans." God forbid I, as a straight woman, appreciate an attractive, fit, talented man while watching a game I love. I must not be a "real fan" . I must be a puck ****. Hell, I made a post about Fedorov's underpants today FFS. TL;DR. Short version? Blown out of proportion, but I can definitely understand why someone could have a problem with the situation. Also, I know that everyone's mileage may vary--the challenges I've faced as a female hockey fan may not be every female hockey fan's experience. Now I'm going to go back to my Laga and thinking about Fedorov's underwear. Is it October yet?