Icesurfer

With Hudler gone we need to revisit our gritty forward free agent choices: Travis Moen: 925 K Scouting Report Assets Has good size and a sound work ethic. Possesses team skills and is a solid role player. Kills penalties with aplomb and adds toughness to the lineup. Flaws Lacks natural talent, so he tends to struggle in the National Hockey League when given too many responsibilities and extra ice time. Career potential Physical, checking winger. Chris Gratton: 1.25 M Scouting Report Assets Has a great combination of size and two-way savvy. Displays decent hands and a mean streak. Is solid on face-offs and sound defensively. Flaws Has questionable hockey sense, which limits him in the scoring department. Isn't as complete a player as his package suggests. Career potential Checking line forward. Jason Ward: 700 K Scouting Report Assets Works hard every shift and knows how to take care of his own end. Doesn't mind playing a crash-and-bang style. Is a quality teammate. Flaws Doesn't own top-end skating ability, which hurts his level of production. Has had trouble finding his niche in the NHL. Is too inconsistent. Career potential Checking line forward. Manny Malhotra: 1.5 M Scouting Report Assets Is an accomplished defensive forward. Has good size, speed, leadership qualities and face-off ability. Flaws Has not met offensive expectations. Lacks both confidence and polish in the offensive zone. Is somewhat prone to injury. Career potential Checking center. Marcus Nilson: 1.0 M Scouting Report Assets Has sound checking ability and plays with tremendous energy and grit. Uses his body effectively and is incredibly versatile in defensive situations. Flaws Is not a big goal-scorer, since his hands are below average. His work ethic has led to plenty of injury trouble throughout his NHL career. Career potential Checking line winger. Brad Isbister: 650 K Scouting Report Assets Possesses a tremendous physical package and plenty of pro experience. Is effective in the corners and can play either wing position if need be. Flaws Has not been able to shake the tag of chronic underachiever. Doesn't use his size nearly enough to maximize his offensive game. Misses too many chances. Career potential Reserve winger. Taylor Pyatt 1.575 M Assets Has a good combination of size and skating ability. Is a sound body checker. Defensively aware, he also displays flashes of offensive ability. Flaws He lacks the consistency needed to play a top-six forward role in the NHL. Struggles in the hockey sense department and doesn't use his size enough. Career potential Big-bodied, underachieving winger. Tom Kostopoulos 900 K Scouting Report Assets Likes to play a north-south game and is strong along the wall. Defensively responsible, he's also a great leader in the room. Flaws Has limited scoring ability at the NHL level, and doesn't do enough in other areas to see regular playing time in the big league. Career potential Fourth line winger. Mark Bell 2.5 M.... can be had for cheap Scouting Report Assets Is most effective when playing a very physical style. Has two-way ability and some offensive upside. Owns the versatility to play all forward positions. Flaws Was expected to put up bigger numbers. A lack of consistent play are at the root of Bell’s problems. Also lacks discipline, on and off the ice. Career potential Top six forward.

Travis Moen

I guess there wasn't much interest in terms of an offer sheet for Hudler.... and the teams know the Wings predicament.... so how many really think he is worth $3 - $3.5 mil. MLIVE

That's not what the scouting reports are on Vielleux..... he can play a physical game. This was one of my choices for the Wings to sign instead of Hudler..... oh well... Tampa Bay got a good checker for cheap..... STORY: The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed free agent left wing Stephane Veilleux today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. "Stephane is a prototypical two-way player," Lawton said. "He plays a gritty game and is responsible in the defensive zone while also adding scoring depth for us. This is a great signing for us as we continue to build our organizational depth." Veilleux, 6-foot, 190 pounds, has played in 361 career NHL games, all with the Minnesota Wild. He has amassed 43 career goals and 90 points. Veilleux was the eighth player in Wild history to play 300 games. He has also appeared in 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games. A native of St. Georges de Beauce, Quebec, Veilleux played in 81 games with Minnesota last season, recording 13 goals and 23 points. He established career highs in games played, goals, points, shots on goal with 146 and average time on ice with 15:47. Veilleux scored 10 of his 13 goals last season with his team trailing by one or with the score tied. He also ranked second on the Wild in hits with 98. Veilleux was drafted by Minnesota in the third round, 93rd overall, of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Good signing at a great price..... at least Leino understands the salary cap issues and really wants to play for Detroit.... we will see if the same holds true for Hudler. If Hudler is going to be greedy then he needs to go elsewhere. Hopefully Leino will make up for some of the lost production

With Hossa joining the team in 2008, the Wings, I thought, played more of an offensive game. After all, they did score 38 more goals last year than the previous cup winning year. BUT the Wings also did give up 60 more goals last year than the previous cup winning year. Now, I don't know what others think but that doesn't seem to be an improvement to me.... that is -22. So you sacrifice good defense to score a few more goals...go figure. Good offense is shut down in the playoffs... as we all watched... while the defense is still coughing up pucks. Last year I thought we saw more losing of the battle for pucks along the boards especially in the Wings own end of the ice than the previous year. We all saw the turnovers in the defensive end that led to the cup loss. In 2007-2008 we saw a very good defensive team. But with McCrimmon this last year I think that changed. With the loss of Hossa, Sammy and maybe even Hudler we know the Wings may not make up that loss of production. We will be depending on Filppula to finally become what the Wings think he can, Datsyuk and Zetterberg to turn it up a notch, Franzen to add a little more and Homer to turn it around. I think we all expect Leino and Helm to add scoring punch... but how much is anyone's guess. With the loss of production I think the Wings will have to really pay more attention to the defensive side of the game.

So the question is if Lilja is on LTIR to start the season can Ericsson be on the opening day roster or does he officially have to start the season on the AHL roster then be brought up to satisfy cap compliance on opening day?

So Lilja would have to be healthy first and cleared to play to be waived. If he is not healthy the Wings are screwed. They would get cap relief but can't use that to become cap compliant at the start of the season.

So if Lilja is healthy and he is bought-out the cap hit would be 417,000 for the next 2 years.

here it is Illustration #1: Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Year 4 Year 5 1. Original SPC Amount $4.0M $2.5M $2.5M 2. Original Averaged Amt. $3.0M $3.0M $3.0M 3. Buyout Amount (2/3 of $5M) $1.666M $1.666M (Total = $3.333M) 4. Buyout Amt. Over twice 833,000 $833,000 $833,000 $833,000 Length of original SPC 5. Buyout "Savings" $1.666M $1.666M - - (Line 1 minus Line 4) 6. Amt. Included in $1.333M $1.333M $833,000 $833,000 Averaged Club Salary (Line 2 minus Line 5)

When he is waived a portion of his salary counts against the cap..... I use to know how to calculate that but I have forgotten.

YES.... so the Wings can NOT use the cap relief to become cap compliant. Because cap relief would be only for a player's salary of 1.25 mil or less.

Playing these games with Hulder until the arbitration hearings begin, July 20th or so, could cost the Wings a chance at getting a good gritty forward..... guys like Moen, Veilleux and Gratton won't be on the market that long. The max the Wings can give Hudler is 2.9 mil if Leino gets a 5% pay raise and that's only if Lilja salary doesn't count. After that the Wings have to dump the extra defensemen... so they are down to 6 defensemen and 12 forwards and 2 goalies. NOT gonna happen. So if Hudler wants more than 2.9 mil he is gone..... plain and simple.

That's the defense I am talking about!!! Defense first man... defense first. Defense wins championships ..... not offense. This year certainly proved that!

And why then when they won the cup in back to back years 96-97 & 97-98 they had nearly identical GA at 196 & 197? Where was that poor excuse attitude then???? In the words of Babcock...... "I don't buy it." McCrimmon had the defense worrying more about jumping up into the play rather than thinking defense first. They were so in a hurry to get the puck out of the their defensive end they made too many bad passes.... and thus coughed up the puck in their defensive end to cost them the cup.

Maybe if they would have been paying more attention to detail and to defense during the regular season they might not have coughed up the puck in their defensive end to lose the cup. Laziness during the regular season can carry over into the playoffs. Enough with that old excuse.

How can you say giving up 60 more goals than the previous year is over-analyzing???? The Wings gave up 244 goals!!!! Do you know the last time the Wings gave up anywhere near that level????? 1993-1994 !!!!! They gave up 275.... WOW.. The highest goals against since 1993 was 210. 244 GA is with a defense that was SUPPOSE to be pretty good! The Wings average BELOW 200 since 1993 until this last year. In that 12 year span the Wings averaged 196 goals against..... last year they gave up 48 more goals than their previous 12 year average. Obviously something changed last year... and you can't put all the blame on Osgood.

Your wish is my command....LOL. Last year's salary indicated. Travis Moen: 925 K Scouting Report Assets Has good size and a sound work ethic. Possesses team skills and is a solid role player. Kills penalties with aplomb and adds toughness to the lineup. Flaws Lacks natural talent, so he tends to struggle in the National Hockey League when given too many responsibilities and extra ice time. Career potential Physical, checking winger. Stephane Veilleux: 862.5 K Scouting Report Assets Has good size, defensive instincts and the ability to play a physical game. Also owns some offensive upside and can play both wing or center. Flaws Could use more bulk for his 6-1 frame, since he isn't a naturally gifted player. May be a limited offensive contributor in the big league. Career potential Checking line forward. Chris Gratton: 1.25 M Scouting Report Assets Has a great combination of size and two-way savvy. Displays decent hands and a mean streak. Is solid on face-offs and sound defensively. Flaws Has questionable hockey sense, which limits him in the scoring department. Isn't as complete a player as his package suggests. Career potential Checking line forward. Jason Ward: 700 K Scouting Report Assets Works hard every shift and knows how to take care of his own end. Doesn't mind playing a crash-and-bang style. Is a quality teammate. Flaws Doesn't own top-end skating ability, which hurts his level of production. Has had trouble finding his niche in the NHL. Is too inconsistent. Career potential Checking line forward. Manny Malhotra: 1.5 M Scouting Report Assets Is an accomplished defensive forward. Has good size, speed, leadership qualities and face-off ability. Flaws Has not met offensive expectations. Lacks both confidence and polish in the offensive zone. Is somewhat prone to injury. Career potential Checking center. Marcus Nilson: 1.0 M Scouting Report Assets Has sound checking ability and plays with tremendous energy and grit. Uses his body effectively and is incredibly versatile in defensive situations. Flaws Is not a big goal-scorer, since his hands are below average. His work ethic has led to plenty of injury trouble throughout his NHL career. Career potential Checking line winger. Brad Isbister: 650 K Scouting Report Assets Possesses a tremendous physical package and plenty of pro experience. Is effective in the corners and can play either wing position if need be. Flaws Has not been able to shake the tag of chronic underachiever. Doesn't use his size nearly enough to maximize his offensive game. Misses too many chances. Career potential Reserve winger. Taylor Pyatt 1.575 M Assets Has a good combination of size and skating ability. Is a sound body checker. Defensively aware, he also displays flashes of offensive ability. Flaws He lacks the consistency needed to play a top-six forward role in the NHL. Struggles in the hockey sense department and doesn't use his size enough. Career potential Big-bodied, underachieving winger. Tom Kostopoulos 900 K Scouting Report Assets Likes to play a north-south game and is strong along the wall. Defensively responsible, he's also a great leader in the room. Flaws Has limited scoring ability at the NHL level, and doesn't do enough in other areas to see regular playing time in the big league. Career potential Fourth line winger.

Taylor Pyatt 1.575 M Assets Has a good combination of size and skating ability. Is a sound body checker. Defensively aware, he also displays flashes of offensive ability. Flaws He lacks the consistency needed to play a top-six forward role in the NHL. Struggles in the hockey sense department and doesn't use his size enough. Career potential Big-bodied, underachieving winger.

My final list for gritty checking type forward with some size and maybe some scoring ability and cost less than Hudler: Travis Moen Stephane Veilleux Chris Gratton Jason Ward Manny Malhotra Marcus Nilson

Brad Isbister Assets Possesses a tremendous physical package and plenty of pro experience. Is effective in the corners and can play either wing position if need be. Flaws Has not been able to shake the tag of chronic underachiever. Doesn't use his size nearly enough to maximize his offensive game. Misses too many chances. Career potential Reserve winger.

Marcus Nilson Assets Has sound checking ability and plays with tremendous energy and grit. Uses his body effectively and is incredibly versatile in defensive situations. Flaws Is not a big goal-scorer, since his hands are below average. His work ethic has led to plenty of injury trouble throughout his NHL career. Career potential Checking line winger.

Jamie Lundmark Assets Has enough versatility to fill in anywhere up front. Has good hands, which complement a well-rounded game. Is creative with the puck and still owns untapped scoring potential. Flaws Needs to add more consistency in order to emerge as a quality NHLer. Must start burying his chances. Can he fulfill expectations? Career potential Fourth line forward.

Junior Lessard Assets Oozes hockey sense and natural offensive ability. Is also an industrious worker and sound team player. Flaws Needs to prove he can produce in the NHL at 6-0, 195 pounds. Must overcome the burden that comes with being a Hobey Baker winner. Career potential Reserve right wing.

Mathieu Darche Assets Has produced points at all levels, except the big league. Displays sound offensive instincts. Is a good-sized winger for the NHL level. Flaws Skating issues have prevented him from securing a regular spot in an NHL lineup over the years. Still needs more work in the defensive zone. Career potential Reserve winger.