krsmith17

This is what I was referring to.

Definitely not the worst, but I can't help but think about where we would be, how last trade deadline would have gone, how this offseason would be going, had Holland stuck around...

I'm torn on this. There's such a large gap between the SHL and J20. He's probably too good for the J20, and likely good enough for the SHL, but he just won't get the minutes up there. Especially on a loaded Frolunda team. I'm hoping he and Soderblom both stay down and continue to dominate. It's better than seeing them get called up and play 3 minutes a night with nothing to show for it...

Absolutely. That's why I said "backup". Assuming both can stay healthy, I think it will be a pretty even split. Maybe roll the hot hand for a few games here and there, but for the most part, back and forth between the two.

Hopefully he can put up similar numbers as a "backup" to Bernier this season.

And Yzerman still isn't done. Big news... I didn't think Yzerman would put in a claim, but with all the (dumb) speculation floating around, it's a huge relief to see he cleared...

Good signing.

Well yeah, that's how these things generally work, especially for bad teams... If not Fleury, we can always sign or trade for someone else. It beats overpaying for Markstrom.

I'm not sure if Barrie would have much interest in coming here, but yeah, I'd take him on a short-term (1-2 years) contract for sure.

McPhee is no longer the general manager. I think he's still with the organization in some capacity, but Kelly McCrimmon is the GM there now. Anyway, sure there may be other teams inquiring, but it's already been reported that there have been no takers on a 2nd round pick, and they're not giving up a 1st. If Fleury were willing to waive his NTC, I'm sure a deal could be worked out. And if they're serious about Pietrangelo, they're going to be forced to move Fleury one way or another. Yzerman should be all over that. A Bernier / Fleury tandem would be very good...

I assume you're referring to the modified NTC? If Detroit are on Fleury's 10 team no trade list, and he's unwilling to waive it, there are other options via free agency or trade. Yzerman's playing it smart. Bargain shopping on day one, and see what's available after the dust settles. There are still options out there.

Marc Andre Fleury .....

Yzerman got two quality UFA's *for what he was looking for*. Yzerman is smart. He knows this team shouldn't be investing big money to aging veterans on long term contracts. Thankfully, a lot more patient than a lot of trigger happy Wings fans...

Yeah, I guess it's hard to know what goes on behind the scenes, but I still think Pietrangelo at around $8.5M with a full NMC, would have been a better move, than Krug at $6.5M with a M-NTC. I'm not saying Pietrangelo is to St. Louis what Lidstrom was to Detroit, but I can't imagine how I would have felt if Holland let Lidstrom walk in free agency over a NMC vs M-NTC. Give your captain and best player, that you drafted and developed the f***ing NTC. He was a key cog in you winning the Stanley Cup last year, and could be again in the next few years. Anyway, it is what it is. I hope Pietrangelo goes somewhere else (Vegas) and wins another Cup in the next few years.

I agree. However, what confuses the s*** out of me, is why they couldn't come up with an extra $2M to give to their captain, and arguably best player... Pietroangelo is a much better all around defenseman, only a year older, and will probably age better. Really dumb move by Armstrong in my opinion.

I agree. Or even if Tampa were willing to trade him along with another asset, I'd consider it. To pick Johnson up off waivers and eat that entire $20M, helping a divisional rival get out of cap hell, would be an awful move by Yzerman. Johnson has been in steady decline, and it's only going to get worse over the next few years. Also, factor in the fact that he was putting up decent numbers on one of the best teams in the league, coming to one of the worst teams in the league, I think he'd be lucky to put up 35-40 points. If we're in the market for a middle six center, I'd rather give Galchenyuk and short-term prove it deal. He's still just 26, would likely come cheaper, and has the potential to be as good or better than Johnson.

Still an overpayment in my opinion, but that's par for course for just about any big name UFA signing. They're going to be paying for what Krug did in Boston, not what he will do in St. Louis. I can see Krug maybe living up to that $6.5M for another couple seasons, but I don't see that contract aging well. I don't think it was a good signing for the Blues, but it would have been an awful signing for the Wings. I'm glad Yzerman didn't pull the trigger. Not that I think Krug had much interest in going to Detroit anyway...

AKA wait for Vegas to sign Pietrangelo, and then strong arm McCrimmon into giving up a 1st round pick for Fleury...

Leafs - 4 years at $5M AAV.

I thought this was pretty cool, despite it being the Leafs...

I think the cap hit is a shade too high, but yeah, the term is definitely a couple years too long. Let him go through waivers, assuming no other team picks him up (they won't), wait for the buyout, and sign him for 2 years at $4M AAV. I'm not sure if he'd be a 45-55 point 2C here, but he would definitely be an upgrade over Filppula, and allow Fabbri to stay on the wing, where he should be. Johnson wouldn't be my first choice, but I guess he's as viable a option as anyone right now...

This would be such a terrible move. I don't see it happening.

Thank f*** Krug signed elsewhere. Another buyout candidate in 5 years.

What a f***ing day! Great low risk signings. No big money, long-term contracts. Bring on another cap dump trade now.