GoWings1905

I want Weiss to sign with the Red Wings. Really the only one of the bunch I would be disappointed not to get. I would rather pursue Clowe than Iginla if the Wings are going the winger route instead of center. Ference would be nice, but no thanks on Zidlicky. He's atrocious defensively. Could have just held on to Colaiacovo for less money.

Not sure how that benefits the Red Wings. Saving it for the trade deadline never works, between the prices to obtain players and Holland's inability to make an impactful trade recently.

Allowing both Brunner and Cleary to walk is extremely risky with no guarantee of signing either Clarkson or Horton, let alone both. It's pretty clear the Red Wings have no intention of paying for Clarkson's demands (rightfully so) and there have been reports stating Horton wants to play somewhere warm. What happens when neither comes to Detroit? Then you end up signing roster filler again like Samuelsson or sitting on a ton of cap space.

If the Wings make any moves on defense, it should be for a top-pairing quality player. Their depth otherwise is pretty strong. That's why the Edler rumor was particularly intriguing. A top-four of Kronwall, Edler, Ericsson and DeKeyser would be among the league's best.

I agree to an extent. The price and term for me is the biggest factor regarding Cleary. I think he's valuable enough to the team to bring back, provided he plays in a lesser role. However, that requires Holland making moves in free agency to shore up the top-six and that doesn't appear very likely right now. The Red Wings are getting younger regardless, though it's asking a lot to throw Nyquist and Tatar in major roles right away expecting production. Despite Cleary's flaws physically, he's still reliable on the ice against the opposition's skilled forwards. The Wings' third line was largely successful in the playoffs because they were matched up against other third liners. I'm all for the youth as well, but you gotta be careful about putting them in positions to succeed.

Flawed logic. You gotta give credit to Cleary where it is due. Franzen and Filppula both spent significant time playing with Z and Pavel during the playoffs and neither of them did anything offensively.

At this point, the only free agent target I see the Red Wings pursuing is Weiss. Between the prices and Holland's unwillingness to "overspend", it's a recipe for nothing happening again this summer.

"We kicked the tires and decided a healthy Mike Samelsson and our comfort level with Val Filppula at five million worked best for our team."

That could be, but Holland has said since missing on Suter last summer he would like to add a top-pairing d-man, but there aren't many available. Getting DeKeyser changes that necessity probably to an extent, but I still think the Red Wings could use someone to play alongside Kronwall and slide Ericsson down to the second pairing. Nothing against E, but it's not like there is a ton of certainty on the defense beyond him and Kronner. Kindl improved a ton, now he needs to repeat that consistency. We all love DeKeyser, but there's still a learning curve over a full 82 games. Quincey is pretty much just there (replaceable) and Smith is developing. If you can get an Alex Edler, it makes the defense very formidable in front of Jimmy Howard. I'm glad the Red Wings are at least showing interest, though I suspect the ultimate asking price will be too much.

One of my favorite players not on the Red Wings. I think the defense is better than most of us anticipated after missing on Suter, but the Wings could still use a top pairing d-man. That necessity is probably less crucial with DeKeyser around, though.

Maybe, but that's rather speculative. Filppula is 29 and has one solid season of production in a larger role. That came on the wing playing with Henrik Zetterberg. I think we can all agree that paying Filppula (again) for "potential" isn't ideal, especially at 5.5 per season. This is a track record contract and unfortunately Filppula doesn't really have much to show for his demands.

That was playing wing on Z's line, no? There's a difference between that and carrying your own line offensively at center.

When has Filppula ever proven so far to be a legitimate second line center?

For the most part, I respect the Blackhawks players and the organization. Hell, it's hard not to because their blueprint is modeled after the Red Wings. It is their fans that make me despise the team. Most obnoxious and juvenile fanbase maybe in professional sports. Their obsession with hating the Red Wings has to be unhealthy.

No worries. I generally forget about him too when he's playing.

Because the roster you just proposed stinks? That forward group is atrocious, even if you include the missing Franzen. Clarkson, Horton, Clowe, Bickell are available to name a few. I don't know that tough qualifies for all of them, but they would provide size and skill.

I think the thing that stands out to me more than anything in this discussion is the coaching job Mike Babcock did this past season. I'm not knocking Holland here because he tried for Suter/Parise, but otherwise last summer was a failure. Every signing (minus Brunner) is being mentioned as a buyout candidate (Samuelsson, Colaiacovo, Tootoo) and the other move in Gustavsson couldn't perform well enough to even see the ice. In a sense, the patchwork roster was probably beneficial going forward because of the valuable experience gained for the young guys. Holland has to be aggressive this off-season. The Red Wings are only a couple pieces away from serious contention, but the best players on the team aren't getting any younger. I think adding at least one top-six forward (ideally a winger with size) is imperative and that means no more Filppula for starters. I get the sense Weiss is the main target right now.

I do wish they could find a way to end the playoffs earlier. Obviously this season is later than usual, but it's warm outside in June and watching the SCF on slush is somewhat foolish. Fewer exhibition games and start the regular season in September.

Can we instead do the logical move and just ban the stupid skills competition altogether?

Small, aging and declining in production. Everything the Wings don't need this summer.

5.5 million for one outlier season of offensive production and a solid defensive forward? I feel bad for whoever pays Fil that. Thankfully I am quite confident it won't be the Red Wings.

I doubt they would try to drive a free agent's price down with a championship at stake. With all the skill the Blackhawks have at forward, they can afford to shuffle guys around up front.

This certainly extends the Wings window to win a championship. Not that they can't contend beyond Datsyuk's time, but he's a once in a lifetime talent. Thrilled we get to watch his magic for four more years. Now get him some wingers!

Weiss would be a nice fit. Gives the Red Wings the luxury of playing Z and Pavel together, while Weiss centers the second line. I never felt like Filppula was enough of a threat offensively on his own to handle that role. Weiss has a more consistent history of producing.

I think you are selling Hossa way short with that analysis. If Marian Hossa isn't scoring goals, do you notice him on the ice? I would say absolutely yes. If Johan Franzen isn't scoring goals, he's useless. The faceoff part is largely irrelevant. Hossa has always been a winger, while the Red Wings attempted Franzen at center this past season and it failed because Franzen can't carry a line offensively nor does he skate hard enough to play the position. Hossa is far superior defensively and uses his speed/size to his advantage. Franzen did go to the net more with Holmstrom gone, but he was still invisible in the playoffs circling around the perimeter with Filppula. The one decided area that was in Franzen's favor for awhile was playoff performance and that's practically gone since Franzen hasn't produced in three years now there. No one has ever questioned Marian Hossa's work ethic and effort. That alone is worth the additional money, especially factoring in all the other areas which make Hossa more valuable. Franzen is still a decent value, but Hossa is a better one comparing the two.