frankgrimes

I think it is a combination of a lot of things: 1. Personal preference You can't do anything about that, see Parise, Suter 2. Develano and his stupid comments I'm not turning this into a lockout thread but I've said at the time his comments for sure won't be well received among his players nor leaguewide. 3. WoW Factor Let's face it, this team doesn't have upcoming superstars and the two reamining ones are aging, dealing with more and more injuries. Getting a chance to play on a young team with a lot of questionmarks isn't going to entice top UFAs to sign here, especially if the offers are lower than they expected. 38 vs 40 million may not be a big differense over the whole contract but 2 million are two million, add to that the familarity factor between Niskanen and his former coach and voila he signs with the Caps. Also this team is known as a very soft one which gets pushed around way too easily. 4. New CBA Now that even contract lengths are caped we can't even offer longer contracts, so basically our money will be equal or comparable to the ones other teams are offering and if one of those other teams is a top team ==> we won't get the player 5. Payback for the lowballs Holland expected players to take a paycut (be it slight or huge) in order to play for the RedWings, well this worked out when we've not only been a powerhouse but the team to beat..so players who wanted a chance at the cup gave up some money for their chance, now we are fighting for the playoffs and the tides are turning so Hollaand might have to significantly overpay in order to get the top UFAS, which coupled with point 4 isn't easy to do. 6. Amway Partnership I honestly believe this partnership has harmed the reputation of the Wings a lot more than people would have thought. At the end of the day, the best way to find out would be asking the agents why more and more UFAs are shying away from this team and then it will be Kenny's job to fix this in a hurry. He is getting paid the big bucks and now has to show everyone that he still has it -which I doubt after this UFA debacle and the last few years - but we'll see. ps: I've read somewhere - think it was Bleacherrport - that Ehrhoff would have come here with a 5 year contract a 5 per but Kenny only offered 4 and wouldn't offer the 5 one, then the Pens came calling and he accepted their offer. If that's true then...oh well

I don't know why they aren't coming here... Well maybe because of all the former lowball offers, the unknown future of the best coach in hockey and of course two superstars with more and more injuries Anyway Ken is the GM so he better finds out in a hurry you can't win without Ira's, especially when your best pick since almost a decade is number 15

Original 6 franchise, formerly known as the destination for UFAs and now the reality...so yeah this is really a no brainer. He has an eye for talent so let him move up become the VP and guide the new GM. We really blew it with Stevie and Jim. As for Babcock easiest decision ever, the guy will have half the league looking for him and he has the chance to coach Crosby and Malkin during their prime years, sadly for us this is also a no-brainer. Guy will be gone as soon as his contract is up and I don't blame him one bit, Holland hasn't given him the tools to succeed.

I'd rather stand pat and miss the playoffs by a longshot (hello top 5 pick), than trade for Mike Green. The guy has had injury problems and doesn't know how to spell defense, his PP QB qualities are "pass to OV and wait for something to happen" he doesn't have a great nor accurate shot. The Wings don't have a player like OV so whom should he pass to ? Knowing our genius GM he would give up Nyquist, a first and whatever for one year of green so it is not worth it. The only risk I would like at this point in time would be Tyler Myers but other than that there isn't one UFA of interest...

Lmao Giroux must have been extremely drunk hahah needed that *lol*

Guess what ? Good teams overcome adversity and if you expect wo win the cap, you have to able to beat everyone, period. IF's don't win you games or change the outcome, a good, hardworking well built team is what's going to win. IF's in my mind are a shorter term for excuse something we've been hearing since 2009 and then even more of it after King Lids retired. I'm for one sick of it and looking at the job Yzerman and Nil have been doing makes we wish, we could switch GMs, period. Just to make one thing clear, I know Holland has done a lot of great things for this organisation but I also feel he lacks the fire and willingness to take the much needed risks and trade some guys for help on the backend. So why not become the VP of hockey operations and help a young but coming GM out with your experience ?

Getting swept or wiped out against one of the top teams (i.e Pittsburgh, Boston)

Took the words out of me wanted to post exactly that. Bergeron played through a tremendous amount of injuries, Quick played with a wrist hernia guys it's the playoffs nobody is 100 %. Even in 2009 we lost against a better and grittier Pens team, they've had injuries too so no excuses. We have 2 aging superstars, lot's of questionable prospects with unknown updside and an atrocious defense don't even want to think about where they would be without Danny D. this team hasn't been good enough since our last stanley cup run, period.

If tanking would mean we have a 100 % chance at MacDavid or Eichel, then yes but I don't think we are going to outtank the Sabres, Islanders, Flames - that team will be so damn funny to watch - or Oilers.

That's exactly my fear and personally I know - I'm alone with that mindset - I'd rather miss the playoffs and start a rebuild instead of getting bounced in 4 or 5 games against Boston, Pittsburgh.

If he isn't that bad why would the Leafs get rid off him then ? Or is he in Carlyles famous doghouse?

Cody Franson and others...All I can say at least stay pat and don't make a bad situation worse. It is what it is and maybe if we finally miss the playoffs things are going to change..

Imagine the sound of his voice when he ripped the team another one during one 24/7 special and than multiply it 2 times and add some glass shattering...that might come close to what he is really thinking right now.

Pasha, Z and Kronner basically said after game 5 that making the postseason and not going far isn't good enough for them. Babcock was even quoted after the Nashville series stating, how the Wings have gone backwards instead of forward and he came out saying the same thing again. So there you have it, the coach plus C + 2 A's are getting impatient but thats all they can do despite asking for a trade and at this point I wouldn't blame either one. Our stuff especially Holland has to figure out, why we aren't a destination anymore and if going into rebuild mode might be the way forward. Alfie should sign with a contender and finally get his Stanley Cup

Well some source is reporting 38 million and another 42 million so what is it now ? Also don't ever underestimate your first offer if it's too much of a lowball one, you might piss off the agent and his client. The only positive I can take away from this whole thing is the chance of it being a huge wake-up call for the whole organisation. Guess what ? The streak doesn't mean anything to the top free-agents anymore when a highly convented defender is quoted "My first priority has been playing on a good team" and he doesn't come here all alarm bells should be ringing. Agents and players aren't stupd, they have seen that this team hasn't been competitive in the playoffs and isn't perceived to go deep, in fact the team had to battle extremely hard for the last 3 years to even make the playoffs. The "perfect" offseason would be bringing back some patchwork players and continue the ever so important streak instead of basically rebuilding this thing. Do I want a cup for Z and Pasha ? You bet but guess what the guy I mostly want the cup for is our g reat owner Mr. Mike Ilitch and I think Holland hasn't been able to get this ship into the right direction. But now - after cooling down even more - I have to ask who do you replace him with ? It for sure can't be that Develano guy, someone who thinks players are only cattles... like I said before I would ride a boat load of money to Chiarelli or Lombardi and talk about the possibility of them coming over to get this ship back on track again. This - sadly - is another wasted year for our two superstars. Anyway so far I would think Winners + Blues - Statsny gave them one heck of a deal + Panthers they are much better than they were and added a stud defenseman (Ekblad) + grit and leadership in Thornton + Sabres brought in leadership, scoring and shotblocking + Ducks - when you bring in Kesler without giving up a first, DSP, Etem, Fowler that's one heck of a deal + Stars - Nil you are a boss this top 6 is just wow now + Penguins - getting Ehrhoff on a 4 million deal is a steal + Wild - adding Vanek on a great shortterm deal Vanek might be the finisher Parise needed (if he decides to get in shape and works hard) So-So ~ Capitals - heck of a deal with Niskanen but that Orpik deal has buyout written all over it ~ Canucks - their goaltending is improved but they've lost a pretty good second line center ~ Leafs - didn't give in to the ridiculous Bolland demands and added some grit in Komarov (although a bit overpaid) ~ Flames - getting Hiller on a very nice contract has been a great move by Burke, also adding Engelland gives their defense more depth and especially an the possible toughest team in the NHL. They should be fun to watch next year ~ Predators - Poilé blindsided JR with the Neal deal but if he doesn't get a center for him this is not going to work Losers - Red Wings ... not on the final lists or offers not being good enough to entice the top of the top to come here tough pill to swallow and changes are needed no more sugarcoating or patchwork players please - Islanders ... Snow has a big mouth and that's about it I really feel bad for Tavares, Halak, Grabner, Okposo and Strome such a talented young group and yet their GM and owner fooled them again - Bruins ... can't believe I'm going to rank them as losers but when you lose the leadership qualities of Iginla and Thornton thats a huge downside. Also Iginla had almost flawless chemistry with Looch replacing that - while not much capspace - is going to be extremely hard - Canadiens ... Bergevin should have known better you don't trade a player with a NTC, NMC to a team on their no movement list, show some class Gorges has given this franchise a lot and that's the reward he gets ? Screw you, also the Canadiens are going to be much softer without Parros. Once again Prust will have to do most of the fighting against Orr and the boys - Avalanche ... yes, they've added leadership but at the end of the day they've lost a great young center in Statsny and I don't think Iginla's style is fitting them as good as he did in Boston - Senators ... trading Spezza away for spareparts and then calling him and Alfie somewhat out in the media is just classless and they haven't signed anybody to replace him and his qualities. - Blackhawks ... I love it the Ducks, Blues, Wild became better and the Kings are the Kings so the competition just got harder for them again NICE

I'd rather have Engelland - even at the same caphit - than Q...

Mike I we need you to move a certain guy to the VP position very, very soon

Maybe the top guys are really concerned about our future. Let's face it our two superstars are getting older and nobody knows how Zetterbergs back is going to hold up. Jurco, Tatar, Nyquist, Sheahan are nice players but they certainly won't wow players the way Crosby and Malkin or even OV can. Nobody knows if Sproul, Marchenko and others are going to turn into regular top 4 pairing guys. So from that point I understand why the players would be hesitant but: one sources is reporting we've offered Niskanen less (38 < 40,25) and others are saying we offered more so what is now true ? If we indeed offered more than well the problem is much bigger than we all might have thought. Maybe it is a way for agents and their clients to pay back for all the lowball offers and expecting players to sign here with an almost given discount ? Whatever it is Holland has to share some of the blame - if he underpaid all the blame - here. It's a GMs job to make the team a destination but I also think (after cooling down a bit) that the new CBA is screwing us over, we can't sign players to longterm contracts we can't offer them more money because of thef****** parity. How come original 6 franchises are ok with this ?! Maybe this was the much needed kick in the center and our frontoffice stuff now realizes that we aren't a premier destination anymore and works their **** off for us to become one again and yes, this includes overpaying. I'm still surprised Niskanen chose Washington over the Wild I'd rather play at home and build a great pairing with Suter or mentor Brodin instead of going into a team, that doesn't know how to spell defense. My 2 word answer to the ever so important streak: screw it

I feel like a kid who only wanted to replace his former dog with another one and at least not a mouse....but then your parents buys of course a mouse... btw. I hope we outtank Buffalo for Mac David

Not a fan of Burke but the man gets things done, Calgary went from a small soft team to now the toughest team in the NHL: McGrattan, Engelland, Westgarth and Bollig wow

Well looking at the positives, Mike Ilitch is not going to watch Holland running this team like a small market one for much longer. Offer Lombardi or Chiarelli a blank check and let's see if Anschutz or Jacobs are matching..

More like Dats, Zetterberg and Mantha for Timonen maybe if we add a first Hextall will bite...

If you aren't a desirable destination anymore you know sometimes overpaying is going to get the job done. Offer him 45 million over 7 years and let's see if you aren't a destination again. But our GM rather gets outbid over 2 million or whatever... Love Nil now trolling the Wings with Eaves signing lol If I wanted to see no action I'd be watching the soccer cup right now..

Wow that's a VERY reasonable pricetag for a guy like Niskanen glad we didn't do a whole lot of nothing to fix this team. This team went from being the elite of the elite to behind the pack to a trainwreck ,. thanks Holland...move up already and stop running this team like a small market team, we are the DETROIT RED WINGS ORIGINAL 6 FRANCHISE WE WANT A PLAYER we should get him ! god I wish we had Nil, Yzerman, Lombardi, Chiarelli...This will for sure be Babcocks last year behind the bench and I don't blame him one bit, even he signs with Pittsburgh kick your own f****** Ferrari tires

If we don't get Niskanen fine, as long as we our offer was a good as the one he is going to sign, which means he liked another team or another city better BUT if Holland low balled him term and or capwise I'd say move up and let a GM with more fire takeover. Not overpaying in order to fix a damn BIG need will lead to another meh-season, at least sign an enforcer to bring some entertainment to this team...