Jesusberg

I assume it'll be a short meeting when he offers a 3 year term. So... sign a "big name" for the sake of signing a big name? OK then.

It's a good signing. Mrazek gets the chance to be a monster (pun intended) in GR. I've said it in other posts, and I'll say it again - if there's a flaw that I see in Petr's game, it's his consistency. Giving him a full year in the AHL, playing 60 something games is going to test him mentality (He wants to be up now, can he make the best of his situation?), and physically (Is he a workhorse? Can he play a ton of games, night in and night out?) He's a great goaltending prospect, but there are still question marks surrounding him. Don't just look at stats - look at the overall picture and how goalies mature. Signing Gustavsson (in theory) is going to give a more clear picture of what kind of goalie Petr Mrazek is, playing as a starting goaltender at a pro hockey level. (not a guy who comes in and steals the starting job, and not a guy who splits the season with McCollum)

Honestly, I don't think it has as much to do with Almqvist "not being good enough" as him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They're all gaga over finding a RH shot right now, so Sproul and Marchenko already look markedly better than he does. Obviously his size works against him, and if he had better foot speed, it could be worked around. If the reports about him being unwilling to hit the gym are true, then he kind of kicked himself there. He's a skilled guy - great hockey IQ and works the blueline on the PP very well. Just didn't work out, as there are more appealing prospects in the system just behind him.

I've been pro-Alfie, but I would actually prefer Iginla over him - I think either one could have a place on the team. Realistically, Iginla would bring more of what the Red Wings need (shoot first player, grit).

That would involve reading beyond, "Alfredsson shows inter..." *RAGE* "God, I hate Kenny! He wants to destroy this team from the inside out!"

I think some of you gents need to just breeeathe. At lot of points that I agree with have already been made, but for me it comes down to this. Did Alfie help this team last season? Yes? Can he help them this coming season? Yes, I believe he can. Lastly, are any of the UFA's on the market this off-season "game breakers", who will inevitably bring us straight to the cup? Not that I believe any single ever player can, but definitely not. In my eyes, there's no one being pushed out of this line-up because of Alfie's inclusion that is going to have a drastic impact on this team in the future (no disrespect to Ferraro/Callahan). And even in their case, I believe that Andersson should be traded to make room for one of those two guys (we're good at center right now).

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

It probably suck at the moment from a Flyers fan's POV, but it'll help in the long run when guys like Simmonds, Read, etc need new deals. It seems like it's probably a part of something else, though. I don't imagine Hextall is done just yet.

Listening to the same interview, he also mentioned the whole Cleary signing process (compared it to Maltby's). Essentially, they're promising Dan a chance, not a spot. I'm against him getting any kind of contract, but I prefer this over him being given a spot for certain because of some verbal agreement.

If anything, that has been his one strength. Not that I want Richards, mind you.

Given the way their off-season relationship has gone, you'd really think would be the logical route. There have to be some underlying issues there - the whole thing is kind of bizarre to me. Cut ties and address a point of weakness (defense) on your team at the same time.

If it took Jarnkrok + a 2nd to land Legwand... sigh. I'll admit Joe has skill, but I'm sure most of us would be uncomfortable with the asking price/actual payment. Good to see Kenny kicking tires, though.

Washington is looking for veteran back-up, too. Could see him fitting there.

I am probably a little higher on the Tatar estimate than I should be. Killorn just got 2 years, 2.5 million per from Tampa, so I imagine Tatar will be slightly under/around there. If DK signs on for a little extra term, I can see him going up to that 3.5 area. The kind of deal where a player is going to grow into his deal - something similar to Kronwall's deal in 2007-08.

A lot of focus has been on who the Wings will add, but I'm curious what you guys/gals think some of the RFA's are going to get in in terms of cap and length of deal. My best guesses/hopes are something along the lines of: Sheahan: 2.2-2.4 million per, 3 years. Tatar: 2.8-3.4 million per, 3 years. DeKeyser: 3.5-3.8 million per, 4 years.

Says who? He played 9 while he was called up this season. He'll play the majority of the games down in Grand Rapids (as he should), and if need be he'll come up and play a few in a Wings uniform. I don't know where this whole, "he's got nothing more to prove in the AHL" thing came about. He stole McCollum's job in his first year - while he was supposed to be the full-time starter this season, McCollum played the brunt of the games. I truly believe that Petr needs a full season of 45-50 games as the Griffins starter, maintaining his numbers over that time. He shows great spurts of talent, but if I had to knock one thing about Mrazek it's his lack of consistency. He'll get a shutout one game, let in 4-5 the next. I'd like to see him get into a nice rhythm, personally.

I'll do the same as far as numbering goes. #1: I don't think he's got leaps and bounds more knowledge than Kronwall does, but I think that if you look at both careers, Boyle is superior offensively. Now is that in part because San Jose has been an offensive juggernaut for years/Kronwall was playing on a second pairing? More than likely, but I still think he's got some great offensive knowledge that can be passed onto the kids, namely Smith, Sproul, Ouellet and Jensen. #2: I think we look at defense cores differently. Maybe it's just me, but I see teams using a balance going forward now, with all the parity in the league. While I do think there can be monster top pairings, (Keith-Seabrook, Bouwmeester-Pietrangelo, Markov-Subban) I think that the league in general is getting away from stacking players, and going more for balance. In our case, while I think DeKeyser has a lot to offer going forward, I'm not sure he should be counted on for his own pairing. I think balanced minutes and balanced pairings are the way to go in the league, now. Kronwall-Smith, DeKeyser-Boyle, Ericsson-Sporul/Marchenko. I don't think that's a demotion to Ericsson - rather, I feel like he's being put in charge of his own pairing and helping to balance out a rookie. Boyle would be doing the same for DeKeyser, as Kronwall does for Smith. #3: I can see the argument in the second year of Boyle's (potential) deal. I wouldn't want to see a NHL-ready Ouellet, Sproul, Marchenko sitting in GR, either. I think someone (Dickie Dunn?) has mentioned that Lashoff is essentially the perfect 7th guy. He's cheap, still young and not good enough that he should be threatening for a top 6 spot with any merit. I wouldn't want to see any of those guys with potential wasted, either. That being said, we have another problem without factoring Boyle into the mix. We've got Kronwall, Ericsson locked up, and Smith and DeKeyser as probable keepers moving forward. Trying to shove Sproul, Ouellet, Backman, Marchenko, etc into the mix... there's clearly a logjam. In a perfect world, I'd move Smith as part of a deal for a legitimate top pairing guy in his prime, but that's another story and pipe dream in my estimation. #4: I'd have no issue with Robidas, if that's what I thought this team needed. To be totally honest, I'm not even that high on Dan Boyle (believe it or not). I just think that given our set of circumstances, he's the most beneficial and realistic option for this off season. Niskanen is going to cost too much (term and salary), Gilbert is a poor man's PP specialist, the kids aren't there YET, etc. The team needs a PP boost, a right-handed shot and someone to help get the puck up ice. Right now I think Dan Boyle fits that need. I don't think we're that far off on the logic here, either. I can see your argument, and I agree with our differing opinions on Boyle value. I also think we have differing philosophies when it comes to the next step for the team, but as you've said, I can see both sides of it.

So then C) Acquire Boyle and allow him to pass on knowledge (not just faith) to the kids, helping along their ability to become impact players isn't an option? Ok, I guess. It's easy to say there's no combination of Boyle + prospects that help us compete for a Cup, but I don't feel that to be true. At the very least, I'm not going to write off a team that suffered all the injuries that they did this past year. Nor do I think that signing Boyle would be conceding to failure - rather, it would be preparing the kids better. I feel like the argument being presented is working in extremes. "We go for the cup, or we let the kids sink/swim. Signing Boyle means we're giving up." I can kind of see the basis for your argument, but at the same time I don't see at all how singing a PP specialist, vet is going to hurt the process of creating solid defenders out of Ouellet, Sproul, Marchenko, etc. I personally think that having two of those three guys in the line-up, next season, is rushing things a bit. They've all had one year in GR. As far as the whole 5 million tag, the last thing this team needs to worry about is the cap. They're comfortable, and the RFA's who need to be signed aren't going to take up that big of a chunk.

Because he's a great asset on the PP, even in his diminished state. Outside of Kronwall, who is really effective on the powerplay on this team? Seriously? Even then, it's been mentioned by Wings' brass on several occasions that they sorely miss Lidstrom's ability to get pucks through on the PP. I'm a huge Kronwall fan, but that's something he struggles with - a year ago, Kindl was doing it better than he was. I don't think Dan Boyle is the answer, but I do think he has a place and role on this team. I don't believe he's the useless void that many feel he would be on this team. At worst, the guy is a powerplay specialist, a right-handed shot and someone who can get the puck up the ice better than most of our defenders. I understand he's long in the tooth and has certainly lost a step, but I feel like he can help this team and its young players more than most people think.

If Weiss is healthy, I would assume Helm will be on the 4th line - especially considering his injury issues. Datsyuk-Weiss-Sheahan-Helm. Unless you're thinking the team is going to play Helm above Sheahan, in which case, perhaps. Additionally, it still doesn't address the fact that Drew Miller is a very effective 4th liner. And "this team" because that's this team's philosophy. Holland's not going to go after a "pure" enforcer - it's not his M.O., it's not this team's M.O. Maybe Boston could have a Thornton BECAUSE they're more skilled, overall. It's hard to argue that they're not a better team - whether that's because of overall structure, or skill... it is what it is. They can afford to have a guy in that role, but they're also letting him go for a reason. This Detroit team needs as many contributing players as possible - they can't afford to have someone whose sole responsibility is to patrol the ice. I don't dislike hockey fights, but the days where guys scrap to scrap are clearly being weeded out.

I don't think we'll ever agree on this one, but signing Boyle (in my eyes) run against two of your arguments. #1: I don't think signing Boyle would be "doing something just to do it". I think his experience would help Sproul, Marchenko, Ouellet, etc. Whichever one of the kids makes the team this coming season, especially with their work on the PP. Which brings me to... #2: One of those kids is going to make the team this year, in my opinion. They've (Holland and Babcock) discussed it several times - they like the kids. My best guess is that one of Kindl and/or Lashoff is out with the Wings. I would love for Detroit to be able to move Kindl to a team fighting to hit the cap floor. I think Kindl has certainly played himself off this team, and someone will be willing to ship over a 4th or 5th for him. Having a defensive core of Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Boyle, Smith, Sproul and Lashoff looks good to me - at the very least, it's an improvement over last season's.

Come on you guys... Emmerton and Tootoo are gone. Good chance that Grant and Evans are probably gone from GR, too. We need some vets down there. Leadership. Hoo-rah. 'Cause that's where Dan-o's going. GR, right? Right?

I've been of the same mindset, only I wanted that shot to come as the Wings' back-up. I know it would be risky, but I thought it would be worth a look for one year, especially if Monster wasn't willing to sign for one year. The thing is, if you're giving Tom a contract, it's because you believe in him as a goalie again. At this juncture, I think he would need to start the games that he did this past season to be effective. Mrazek and McCollum might end up pulling a 40-36 split or something again, which I don't think benefits either goalie. Both goalies should be looking to start the majority of games - be that workhorse at the AHL level.

Who says McCollum is going to sign with GR again? If anything, that would run against the idea of Mrazek going back to GR because he's going to be their workhorse, and get in plenty of games. This past year, McCollum showed he can play at the AHL level (46 games) and would only serve to complicate Mrazek's situation down there (32 games). You want Petr getting in about 50ish games if he can - to dominate down there. I think it would be in the best interests of the Red Wings/Griffins and McCollum to let him go start for another AHL club, or see if another NHL club will give him a shot as a back-up. Having Paterson/Coreau battle over the back-up position makes sense, with the other one playing in the ECHL.

Personally, I like the move. Maybe someone who paid more attention to the Griffins can chime in, but to me it seemed as if with McCollum having the year that he did, Mrazek didn't really get a chance to take the ball and run with it. With Coreau and Paterson serving as back-ups in GR, Mrazek is going to be the workhorse down there and should get 45-50 games. Worst case scenario for Detroit is that one of the guys goes down with an injury, and Pete comes up to play. I don't see an issue with giving him a full season being "the man" in the AHL, regardless of how ready he thinks he is. He'll wind up challenging Howie for the starting spot before you know it.