mmamolo

I just gave a pity +1

There's got to be a reason he didnt receive a QO. As I said above, I dont get why some of these players were qualified. If he's that good then something has to be wrong

Couldnt you all see Florida just taking on the contracts of Commodore, Redden, and Souray. With the recent addition of Campbell that's one bloated blueline

Assuming that Lidstrom does retire after next season the Wings will look for another top 4 - if not a top 2 type guy. Although prices for defenseman seem to be going up we haven't really seen any of the massive deals that were given out a few years ago (in the 7ish range). Maybe that's a product of those players being unavailable but I think most teams are also transitioning the distribution of cash on their teams. I think they're seeing teams who are built with a more well rounded and cash dispered blue line have more success (typically). The other good thing next season is that the Wings will have some additional (beyond Lidstrom) money coming off the books that they potentially will/could use. Currently they only have $26M commited to 9 players. Obviously that will go up with some of the contracts they sign this summer. But notable names that will be UFAs next summer include the aforementioned Lidstrom, Stuart and Kronwall plus Hudler, Bertuzzi, and Holmstrom.

Now that's funny. You're also probably right about several teams having interest in Stewart. It'd be kinda cool, if the Wings couldn't have him, if he signed in St. Louis with Chris. It seems weird Winnipeg didn't qualify him. I can't understand why they wouldn't

I would say that pretty much hits the nail on the head ha

I think Carcillo finds a home as well. But no way would I rather him than Stewart. To me I think a team could get Stewart for ~1M or so. I'd take that in a heart beat. But then again, who knows. Maybe Florida wants him back on a 5 year, $25M deal.

Wisniewski may want to settle down too. He's moved a ton of the last few years. He may also find some teams appealing if they are teams that don't typically trade players away.

That's a good point too. Although I dont know the roster space they have. I guess the problem as well is that we don't know the inner workings of these situations. Maybe they thought he didn't work hard enough, or he had a bad attitude, or some other intangible like that was off. There seem to be quite a few surprising naems on this list - more than years past

Personally, I don't know if I would agree with saying that Filppula had comparable linemates but on the assumption that he did I think you also have to consider the roles the players played and who they played against. Filppula plays a very strong defensive game and is clearly more of a set up guy than a goal scorer. I think because of the style Filppula plays he is consiedred a 2nd/3rd liner where as Kopecky plays a grinding, scratchy, in your face style which is generally decribed as a 3rd/4th. But in all honestly, I personally believe that right now Filppula, Bertuzzi and Kopecky are 3rd line guys who can step up into the 2nd line for short durations when needed. Also, I dont have the stats but I'd wonder how much PP time each player had and more importantly who were they playing the PP with.

Yeah, the vast majority of that list wouldnt get more than a 2-way from the Wings because of their depth. Jake Dowell and obviously Rat Boy Tyler Kennedy are two other surprising names. But they're probably still negotiating with CHI and PITT and may never see UFA Status

That's really the biggest problem - setting a poor precedent. To me, based on the current landscape of the NHL defenseman like Wisniewski, Stuart, Kronwall, Bieksa etc are $4.5-$4.75 per year guys when they hit free agency. Even Ehroff, who is probably the most likely to get an overpayment is really only like a $5M guy (tops) because of the offence he brings. If you go $5M to Wisniewski and by the end of the season he's clearly you're number 4 behind Lidstrom, Kronwall, and Stuart then next summer Kronwall and Stuart should really stick it to you.

I think some one like Anthony Stewart is beyond a 2-way deal. At 40 points last year, I think he could fit on the Wings 3rd line. Stewart/Filppula/Bertuzzi seems like it could be a very effective line. I also like that's he a right hand shot, 6'3" and like 230 lbs.

I like Brooks Laich and think he can do a lot for any team. But man, that is a ton of money. That is crazy. I can see players upping their asking price since the cap is so high.

A lot of the time people like to say that various 3rd/4th liners could put up huge points playing with top tier players but it just doesnt happen. I think he did pretty well for where he was last year but maybe you're right, he could have produced more. Ultimately, I think he's better than people here give him credit for being. I had taken a job assignment that had me working in the field a lot so I wasn't in the office as much as before. The times I was in the office I was slammed with work so I had no time to mess around. I just started a new assignment now that's entirely office work so I should be around a lot more.

Yeah, there are some guys that would fit well on the bubble between the Wings and Griffins rosters. The only problem is there is a max on how many player contracts a team can have. So sooner or later you're pushing someone out to take flyers on project players. But that being said, that doesn't mean there aren't 1 or 2 to like enough to try and acquire. Plus, honestly I think Stewart would fit well on the Wings now.

The funny thing is as much as everyone here likes to rip him he actually had a good year last season. Put can claim his numbers are inflated and that very well may be true. But the fact is in all the Hawks games I saw he was an effective player. Provided the money isn't outrageous he can be a useful player. Although seeing what Florida is doing they probably just gave him a 4 year, $16M deal or something absurd.

He's a decent player and will find a home. I just would rather it not be here. I'd be much more interested in Anthony Stewart. He scored 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points in 80 games last season with the Thrashers. He's 6'3", 230 lbs, shoots right and his -10 rating for last season is deceiving as he was a -5 in 4 games as the Thrashers crumbled.

Kopecky just signed for 4 years with FLO. Cash hasn't been announced yet

The problem with him is that he is so defensively liable that you almost always see 7 defensemen in the line up when he's playing. He gets minimal ES ice time. Although he can definitely be effective on your second PP unit he definitely comes with some pretty glaring drawbacks.

That's definitely possible. I just dropped names in for salary levels.

Despite some word that Bieksa took a 'home town discount' you've got to wonder if this is the true benchmark for UFA defensement in terms of salary. Personally, I don't think Markov set the tone with his 3 year $15.25 deal. If word that the Wings are interested in Ehroff and/or Wisniewski is true the Wings could conceivably attain both (assuming those players want to come here) while still have money for a back up goaltender and a forward. Kopecky and Harding are just random names for rough dollar amounts that could still be distributed differently. Plus, adding in Ericsson at $2.4M/yr is sure to get a rise out of a lot of LGW members. CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR FORWARDS Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Johan Franzen ($3.954m) Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Tomas Kopecky ($2.000m) Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.950m) / Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Cory Emmerton ($0.533m) DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / James Wisniewski ($4.250m) Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($2.400m) Christian Ehrhoff ($4.500m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) GOALTENDERS Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Josh Harding ($1.400m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter) (these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion) SALARY CAP: $64,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $63,592,044; BONUSES: $0 CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $707,956

5 years, $4.6M/yr as per Capgeek

This is why no one takes you seriously. You try to subtly slide in your biased opinions into every thread even when it has absolutely no business being in there. There is no logic to this statement what so ever. Why on earth, after a year when the Wings have big holes on their blueline would they move one of the few players returning? Just because you have a bias against Stuart doesn't mean the Wings will move the player you dislike.

I think he's sick but there is zero chance he becomes a Wing