Carman

Or the more likely reason is that he's just playing the media, and you always say you are happy with your team no matter what. Holland can't go out in an interview and say we NEED a top 6 forward and top pairing defensemen!!!! That's just going to hurt him in the trade market.

I agree for the most part, but i feel it's a little hypocritical to call Parise/Suter contracts ridiculous when Holland was offering them close to those offers. In my opinion those two where the only players worth that long term investment in this free agent class and I would not have had a problem with Holland doing it. You are going to spend more in free agency, that's the trade off for not having to give up assets. Good contract deals are mostly due to ELC's not really free agent signings, there are a few but they are rare. As long as you invest wisely, which I believe Parise/Suter are pretty good bets to continue having very good NHL careers you are looking good for the future. Suter/Parise where the only pieces I was sold on this offseason to sign for the long term, Semin would have a be a max 4 year deal even then I'd be hesitant. Doan is 35+ so his deal should be short. I just don't get why people are freaking out, Holland is doing what he can, and the team has a ton of assets, cap space, and very good core of NHL pieces with Stanley Cup experience. This is far far from a bad situation. I don't get what people wanted him to do, you can't just make a move to appease people for the short term. There hasn't been a defenseman switch a team other than Brent Burns/Ryan Suter who I would want to make a commitment to for a long period of time, and the former cost the Sharks their best prospect (Coyle), Setoguchi who is on a very good deal and solid top 6 forward, and a first round pick. I would have rathered the Red Wings gamble on the free agency first than shuffle the team while Lidstrom is still playing and hasn't announced his retirement. Now the Red Wings are exploring the trade market, they have the assets, they have the cap space, it's just a matter of time and finding the right move, not just any move. /late night rambling off.

The other time he had money at Free Agency he brought in a 40 goal scorer.

Can I talk about Sidney Crosby yet

Thought the Red Wings sucked since Holland started making decisions?

I really wouldn't want to give up Nyquist for Jbow. Jbow would be a decent minutes eater, but I really don't think that the Wings will be better in the long run.

So every bad personnel decision is Hollands fault, and every good one is Scotty Bowman's. Got it.

Lidstrom is so awesome.

Repeat after me. Red Wings have 17 million dollars in cap space. That is all.

It's a business decision, Quincey holds must of the power right now, he knows the Red Wings need defensemen, and he knows they have plenty of money. Not a big deal, just his agent looking out for his player's best interest.

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.

Drake, Abdelkader has better face off numbers than Filpulla, can play wing, skates and hits? What is up with your crusade against him?

Good move, coaching was an issue last year.

Holland can't say, "WE NEED TO GET THE GOOD PLAYERS THAT ARE ON THE BLOCK RIGHT NOW IF WE DONT WE WILL NEVER MAKE THE PLAYOFFS AGAIN" That wouldn't go over too well in terms of getting a good deal, you can't bid against yourself.

Carle is an ok player, but he's going to get overpaid for many years which could handcuff the wings in the future. Holland doesn't have to make a move here, it's much more important to make the right move, then make the wrong move. It might be worth it to just wait it out and explore trades, and finally give a chance to the young kids we've got(Tatar/Nyquist/Smith). If the Wings don't make a big move this offseason then they have a chance to improve next offseason, if we make a big move and it backfires the Wings are screwed for many years. I still believe the Wings are a playoff team with their current roster. Don't forget a lot of the struggles last season can be attributed to two rookie coaches, that should be a big improve this year. Our forward situation is better this year, goaltending should be better as Howard is still improving and Gust has more potential than Conk/Mac, but our defense is going to be hurt Smith/Ericsson/Quincy will have to step up huge, and I think they can.

We haven't signed any big names since Hossa because we didn't have the cap space to sign any free agents. Suter/Parise didn't chose Detroit because it's a bad situation, they chose Minnesota because they wanted to play in Minnesota. Holland is fine, he needs to spend his money wisely, we don't have any terrible contracts(Franzen is the worst, but he's not grossly overpaid in other words.) We aren't in a Calgary situation where we are against the cap. Holland can't make a move here just to please fans, he has to make the right moves. It's not about having a team that's good for one year, it's about having a team that is good for the long haul. We have prospects, we have cap space, we have very good pieces(Z+Dat+Kron+Howard) this is not a bad time for the Red Wings.

This guy has got to be trolling.

Bowman was great in 07-08

Tank for Nathan MacKinnon

Now, I disagree I think it's much more likely that Quincy becomes a Norris winner and Nyquist scores 100 than Franzen actually playing hard every shift of the year.

What you have to hope for is big steps in production from the young guys. People wanted the Wings to get younger, and they will be next year.

We would need huge leaps for young kids like Nyquist/Brunner/Quincy/Smith and even Ericsson. But I'd say the same if we got Suter/Parise. The most important thing about next year isn't who we get in free agency, it's going to be how our players develop. Because one player isn't going to make a difference if none of those pieces step up and become good NHL players, we aren't going to win it all. It's not about having a playoff team, it's about having a Stanley Cup team. I'd be ok with it, I'm not the biggest Semin fan, but his rewards outweigh his risks, and I like the idea of him playing with Datsyuk. Carle is a very good puck moving defensemen, pretty young too. I'd be content with it going into the season. Also have some capspace for the trade deadline.

It's Detroit, people don't know goalies.

Howard is much better than Backstrom. Better SV% and GAA. Howard will never get the credit he deserves, it's unbelievable. Do people forget he put up top 5 numbers his first full season?

Just a very solid back up goalie that won 8 games, had a GAA of 2.16 and .912 SV% I would of welcomed him back as a back up if his back wasn't such an issue.