mmamolo

Even though I think of the three Kane should be the guy to go I think the Hawks have built their team with both Kane and Toews being the faces of their franchise. I think Keith would be the odd man out

As bad as a lot of those signings were I dont think I was as shocked to see any of them as I was when I saw that Kopecky got $1.2M/yr from Chicago for two years. Nothing against the guy but in my mind he barely deserved a raise. If I were Holland I would have been offering him 2 years at 600k per. So to see him get double that I was shocked. As bad as the other signings were they were around what I had expected to see someone pay for them. Would I pay that money? Absolutely not but I knew someone would

Persoanlly Im not a huge fan of all these 40+ comebacks but that being said I was always a big fan of Fleury's...even during his ridiculous antics (which were entertaining at least). I think that he is at least going about this the right way. All he is asking for is a tryout spot at a camp and a chance to prove himself. He's not doing with Claude Lemieux did and sign with someone part way through the season. It'd be interesting to see someone give Theo a shot at camp and although Im pretty indifferent whether or not the Wings are that team on a tryout basis what could it hurt?

I think Lidstrom and Draper are back 100%. I feel like Holmstrom will be back too unless and injury forces him out. I think Maltby is most likely gone but we could see him back as a 13th forward role player for the league minimum. Also, to reference some previous posts in this thread, it's my understanding that if a player retires before his contract is up that cap number comes off the books. That's why you're seeing the long term contracts being dished out like that of Zetterberg, Franzen, Hossa, Pronger etc.

Yeah, you're definitely right. But camp is the time to make the right impressions on the right ppl. If he has a good showing (similar to Helm's last year where Babcock has a hard time sending him down and knows he's NHL ready) he'll solidify himself as the first forward to be called up (if he hasnt already done that). Plus it will instill that much more confidence in him from the coaches perspective. Plus, at the end of the day he may very well play a guy like Patrick Eaves out of a spot part way through the season. My point is even though it's all but decided Abdelkader will be in GR (as I think he should be) training camp is the time to set the tone of the upcoming season and he should be looking at this camp as a major stepping stone for himself.

It seems that Holland isn't flat out saying that ABdelkader will be sent down to GR because he is tryign to create some competition in camp. It's the same reason why he has said that if Lilja is healthy the Wings will only carry 7 D. That way no Abdelkader competes with Helm, Leino etc and Lebda and Meech compete it out as well. That way everyone earns their spot and it's easier to determine who to keep and where to place players. At the end of the day we all know if one D gets moved it has to be either Lebda or Meech. Both have such a minimal cap hit it's not much of a difference but Lebda's hit is about 150k more or so.

I really sincerely think Delmore is going to be in GR for the logn haul. I would be surprised if he gets anytime on the big club unless there are some serious injuries and we need a veteran pressence. As it stands, in my mind, Delmore is pretty far down the depth chart. Lidstrom Rafalski Kronwall Stuart Ericsson Lilja Lebda Meech Delmore/Janik/Kindl

As enticing as that Zherdev video really was, and I'll be the first to admit it was far better than I had expected out of him, I think the smart move is to sign someone to a one year deal, regardless of who you chose. We want flexibility next summer I think and adding another long term contract isnt the way to go with an outsider who hasnt proven he can fit the mold of the Red Wings. As far as Abdelkader goes if Holland leaves enough cap space he can call him up periodically throughout the season so he gets he wing experience while spending the vast majority of the season with GR. That way he gets his 20 mins a game with the griffins but also gets his taste of the NHL on the wing. That way come playoff time we've gotten the best of both worlds.

First, I wanted to know if anyone knew what time the hearing was scheduled for? Second I wanted to know what everyone thought the award would be for. We know that Holland and the Wings are asking for a two year deal. I feel like the contract that will be awarded to him will be in the $3.5-3.6M/yr range. Any thoughts?

If either one of those guys is signed for more than $1.25 I will be pissed. I really dont think either is worth more than that. In all hoensty I wouldnt even like to see it being more than $1M but I doubt either would even consider that offer so it must be a little higher.

I think it's kind of funny. Due to the insane depth we had as an orginazation last year we're able to remain contenders this year after losing the personel we did. We're still contenders and we will continue to replenish out depth this year while still remaining very competitive. Once Holland makes another move or two to shore up our roster for the season we'll be in very good shape heading into next summer. This team is only getting better. Guys liek Datsyuk, Franzen and Zetterberg are in their prime and hitting their peak. Guys like Cleary, Kronwall, and Stuart are hitting their stride and the young guys like Leino, Helm and Ericsson are getting the experience they need to move on up to the enxt level. Persoanlly I think we're going to have a very exciting young, fast team

I wanted to get some ppl's opinions on who they think will be the Wings stand out players of the regular season. Who will be their best rookie? Who will score the most goals? Who will have the best +/-? Thigns like that. Obviously don't answer who will be the best defensemen, we all know LIdstrom will be. Personally I feel like Leino could really break out, especially if he gets pp time. But Ericsson is probably the safe bet for the rookie nod. I think Franzen breaks 40 this year with Zetterberg close behind. I think Pav gets best +/-

I see your point for sure. I think the thing with Holmstrom too is that you know the guy is going to miss some time this season anyways, he always does. If he plays his 55-60 games that leaves 22-27 where Cleary can play with Zetterberg and Datsyuk (assuming they all play 82 but yo usee my point). Plus there will be the games where he is just coming back from an injury where he may only get PP time so Cleary will have a lot of opportunity to get top line minutes with D and Z. I just dont like the idea of sticking Holmstrom on the 4th line. I think his speed and poor puck movement would be even that muc more exposed. 4th lines exist and function based on speed and forechecking. Obviously Maltby isnt the fastest guy around anymore either and to match him and Draper up with Holmstrom could really sting at times I think. Holmstrom can still serve a purpose by creating havoc in the offensive zone and let's face facts, he still is one of the best puck retrival players beneath the goal line (so long as it's not a race from the blueline). Personally I'd like to see: Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Zetterberg Cleary - Filppula - Franzen Leino - Helm - Maltby - Draper - and plug whomever in those two spots. That way if you sign another top 6 type guy you can rotate Holmstrom/Cleary/and the new signed FA in various spots while keeping those four pairs of centres and wingers together.

Someone finally mentioned the name of someone I want on the Wings roster even less that Jason Williams...and that's Raffi Torres. No thank you

It really depends on how much ice time Holmstrom gets. If he is used primarily on the PP and then with some fourth line minutes or something then yeah Cleary should be plugged into the Datsyuk/Zetterberg line but if Holmstrom is healthy and moving all right I cant see him being affective on any other line. Personally I think I'd rather see: Holmstrom - Datsyuk - Zetterberg Cleary - Filppula - Franzen That will balance the attack a little bit more in my mind.

Out of everyone on that list I truly feel like Williams brings the least to the table and wouldn't even be the cheapest to bring on board. I would gladly take Shanahan at 700k than Williams even at $1.5M. Maybe Im biased against Jason Williams but I really dont want him on this team.

I have one thing to say and I know a lot of ppl here will hate it...Im not even sure if I would want it in the NHL....but Luxury Tax seems to be the solution to your dilema

With bonified 2nd line minutes and second unit PP minutes I really think Filppula is gonna put up some numbers. He got his 40 pits last year so I dont think 55-60 is out of t he question. I guess we'll have to wait and see but I think playing with Franzen and most likely Cleary will go a long way (for Cleary's point production as well). This is also assuming the Wings dont get another top 6 caliber guy...which they basically will

Obviously you cant compare Sundin to Jason Williams. Maybe Sundin wants more money than we can afford or maybe he doesnt even want to play here. But that doesnt change the fact that a $2.5M/yr contract offer to Williams is bad. I think the true offer must be more like $1.5M/yr. In my opinion I wouldnt even be too happy with that. It's clear that Williams, who made $2.2M last season, isn't too thrilled with the offer otherwise he would have accepted it. I would much rather have: Sundin Shanahan Sykora Bertuzzi Lang Comrie R. Niedermeyer Grier Pyatt Malholtra over Jason Williams at their appropriate salaries. But that's just my opinion

Yeah it seems like everyone is panicking a little too much. In a cap world every team is going to have years where they are loaded with talent at less than or equal to market value and you're going to have years where you have veterans eating up more cap space than you'd like. Considering the Wings are basically looking at this season as the only season where we really have any cap trouble before getting some breathign space we should be looking at it as an oppotunity to let some of our young guys grow and mature while our superstars lead the way. We are still a contender and will prove it throughout the season. If this year is our 'off year' and we come back even stronger all of us shoudl be thanking god that even in our off year we're still better than the vast majority of teams in this league. Not many teams would be able to plug 4+ rookies into their lineup and be competitive let alone a contender. That is the luxury we as Wings fans have. Our depth is our saving grace this year and as we move forward it is up to the organization to rebuild that depth while our young players transform into mainstays on this team for years to come. Helmd, Leino, and Ericsson are part of a very bright future for this club and Howard and Abdelkader have a good shot at being strong contributers as well. No other team has this luxury

Isnt a qualifying offer simply mean he intends to negotiate with the Wings and that the Wings aren't just walking away from him? A qualifying offer is not a full contract and shouldnt be honoured as such right?

Even though the Wings don't fight much, if at all, doesnt mean they aren't tough. Because certain players choose not to fight doesn't mean they are scared too. I've been in my share of hockey fights but I also turned down my share. When I drew a penalty from another player and he wanted to drop the gloves I'd be a ******* moron to engage with him and end up evening the penalties out. It's true though that in those situations players on the other team would want to call me names like 'coward' and '*****' but I would just shrug it off and laugh while we went and scored on the powerplay. At the end of the day the point is there is a time and a place to fight. The Red Wings see it as the time and place it on the scoreboard and between the whistles where they can hurt you most. Dropping the gloves and fighting, although entertaining, does very little most of the time to the outcome of the game itself. THe only thing it can ever really accomplish is swing the momentum a little bit. But when you have a system like the Wings do that breaks the other team down and punishes them in every other facet of the game other than fighting there is no need to fight. Correct me if Im wrong but it's not like the Wings get out hit and out muscled on a nightly basis...far from it. As far as Williams goes there is no way the offer was for $2.5M otherwise he would have jumped. THe fact he is even mulling it over means it was substantially lower. Personally I don't think it's a good mvoe for the Wings to make even at a decent price but maybe none of the other FAs are biting.

I actually just brought this point up in another thread. Just because the Wings own Hudler's rights doesnt mean he is under contract. To me that means that Moscow Dynamo and the KHL wouldn't really be breaking the no poaching agreement by signing HUdler and the IIHF shouldnt really give them problems with a transfer card.

One thing that I don't really get is the poaching agreement. Technicallty speaking when this season ended Jiri Hudler was no longer under contract. It's true the Red Wings owned his rights but that's a little different than being under contract. Did the KHL really break the no poaching agreement by signing Hudler? In a way I don't really think so. Im not sure how the IIHF will see it but I guess we'll all see how it plays out over the next couple of days.

yeah, of course this whole conversation is based on the assumption he would even want to come here and play. If the Wings dropped Abdelkader to GR and traded Lebda they would have nearly $3.2M to use on some FA. You could easily sign Shanahan at 800k and then use say $2M for another player and be comfortable with 400k of cap space. Or any combination there in