frankgrimes

I like this a lot the Wings are one of the teams, which have given up the most amount of front office talent over the years. A third round pick doesn't sting too much but at least it is some form of compensation, good choice

Alfie signing a top UFA one? *lol* it was a good signing nothing more nothing less. Weiss signed after being out for almost 6 months.. Niskanen would easily be the biggest offseason signing, the defense needs to become better and not all of these GR guys are going to make it to the big club, some will get t raded others just aren't good enough. 6 years 33 million should get the job done, the cap is rising

Two elite players having won two Stanley Cups and knowing that the cap keeps rising. They would be stupid not to ask for it, Toews would get even more from Winnipeg and Kane more from Buffalo.

Na I don't think so the market dictates the prices and as the UFA classes keep getting worse, the price for the better guys is going to tise. As for the Clarkson contract I think the guy had a very bad season but will show them next year what he can do.

There is no point in those stupid lockouts, never was never will. Players are the product people want to watch and I'm glad hard and soul guys are getting to make good money too. Since GMs can't provide longterm contracts the average caphits were about to rise that's so simple. Also first line players like Toews, Kane are going to break the double digit numbers for sure. If Y thinks Cally is worth that and other GMs do too then so be it. One heck of a player who gives it all. Niskanen will make the same or maybe more.

Love the signing nice seeing him getting a raise and a chance to play for longer contract

Blindsided Sather like nothing although he didn't have much options ? Rebuilt Tampas AHL franchise ? I think he deserves a lot of credit even objectively speaking.

Not talking about Holland here just that some GMs are willing to do what needs to be done in their mind. Stevie is an outstanding GM he saw a need and fixed it so good for him and Tampa.

Leadership, intangibles, hard and soul guy and rolemodel for the younger players - some GMs are willing to make their team better even if it means overpayment (which is part of UFA). Hockey is about more than just points you also need hardworking guys who are willing to go through the wall for you, Cally is that guy.

Lombardi is heavily -challenging Chiarelli for the title of the best GM, first greene, than adding Gaborik and now getting him on a steal and Chia has made two mistakes in a row.

Good luck hopefully he bulks up a lot and tries the NHL after his khl stint.

Wow Stevie at it again, this guy is not only such an outstanding player, person but also a great great GM. He will have Tampa turned around in a hurry Guy fills a big need for them nice signing!

Don't worry Webers time will come, the guy is too god to not win a Norris but sadly Keith had a great season too, plus he is playing for the Pens West so that has to be expected. Personally I'm a big believer in two seperate Norris awards: one for the best DEFENSEMAN and one for a two way defender. To me it's a shame that neither _Suter nor Weber are having a Norris trophy so far. In terms of Chara it's a lifetime nomination same as Lids last one was, sure he still played great but that year Weber was better and it's not easy to admit it, but true. Can't believe I picked every winner right but at the end of the day most of these guys are very deserving. Far from a Crosby fan but the guy got voited by all NHLers as the best one in the game, so he certainly deserves it. If I were him I'd be giving more about that voting than the reporters one. Rask versus Bishop? Well Rask had an unbelievable season so he certainly deserves it. _Couldn't be happier for Moore nobody should experience what he went through. as for NBC they just don't and will never know what hockey is all about so hardly surprising...

Yeah but when a guy has the size, shot and maturity at 18 passing that up in an era where top defenders rarely make it to UFA I wouldn't pass up that chance. Forwards are easier to get in this day and age

Listen and watch the draft center to know what type of package this guy is providing, when someone gets compared to Shea Weber you gotta take him.

That's good because I feel even more confident then in my opinion, so it's a two way street thanks.

Can't go wrong with either one Bergeron really has cemented himself as one of the premier two way forwards what a player and warrior.

Don't have to read it if you don't like it, problem solved. I think it isn't so much negativity and more concerns - for all the right reasons - since 2009 this team hasn't even come close to anything near cup contention. Then Lidström retired and there was no plan B because we didn't get Suter. The problem is, Alife and co. aren't what the Wings need longtermwise a young team at some point needs to build chemistry in order to go forward and know the in and outs of their defensive or offensive linemates. Look at the Kings they grew together and even then, Lombardi saw his team needed a broader leadership group brings in Richards, sees the team isn't scoring enough brings in Carter --> first cup for the kings, two years he sees a top 6 need brings in Gaborik ----> cup #2. And what are the Wings -- a team that isn't even close the talent level of the powerhouses -- doing ? Sign one patchwork player after another instead of maybe risking the streak and build for the future. If the mojo around the league is really that the Wings aren't willing to overpay well then good luck getting any top ufa to sign here, it's not going to happen. Unless of course you are 34+. The needs for improvement have been evident since 2009 and that to me is enough time to make the neccessary move especially after losing an alltime top 4 defender. Armstrong has build a very good Blues team and yet he saw a chance/need and brought in Miller yeah it didn't work out but at least he tried. Thats what great GMs do they are willing to take risks, the Wings aren't a small market team and they shouldn't be run like one, our owner is willing to pay everything just to win with an almost blank cheque I simply expect better than bringing back Alfie and some patchwork signings come July 1. Holland once was regarded as the best GM in hockey time to prove it.. Also capspace is useless if you don't use it, is Niskanen worth 5,5 to 6 per ? Probably not but overpaying is part of UFA and trade deadline other GMs like Chiarelli, Lombardi and Bowman are ok with it, but Kenny seems to have a hard time adopting to this. Like some others I'm starting to believe Lidström did not even make the team as a whole better he also made Holland better than he might be. The leadership on this group is more than fine, when you have Z, Pasha, Kronwall that's enough to show the young kids how stuff gets done and how to handle themself. Alfie at least for me deserves to retire in Ottawa this team isn't going to compete for the cup anytime soon..so I don't understand this signing at all.

It will be 90 % Roy maybe with Babcock a close second but it doesn't really matter everyone knows the guy is the best coach in the NHL. Jack Adams: Roy Vezina: Rask or Price Norris: Keith Calder: MacKinnon Masterton: Moore Hart Trophy: Crosby who else.. Foundation: Burns Ted Lindsay: Crosby Mark Messier: Toews Byng: O'Reilly

Alfie like many other of the over the hill Holland signings would have been fine and a very good addition to stacked roster, which is supposed to compete fro the Stanley Cup. The Wings on the other hand are looking at twilight, rebuildphase soon. Once this team is ready to compete again, Alfie will be gone and the team will still struggle with chemistry if we keep adding these "patchwork" players. Would I want a guy like Vanek? For sure not but there are other options outthere or at least test out some younger GR players (i.e Jurco), it's not like this team is a surefire one to make the playoffs anyways so why not give the youth a chance ? Also the Alfie signing does nothing in terms of adressing two of the biggest holes this roster has. 1. plan going to forward ? I really don't see a plan here I honestly thought after last season we would be done with signing, bringing back players that will soon retire. 2. defense why not fix the defense wfirst and then decide what to do with the forwards ? It's not like Alfie is a must sign. _Another thing I wanted to mention is why not allow him to end his legacy where it begun? Let him go back to Ottawa, get his number retired there and enjoy a well earned wealthy retirement. Either Kenny has become too emotionally to his roster or he really lacks the fire he used to have..remember when the Wings needed goaltending ? Boom we sign Hasek...we need a physical presence alongside DMac and Probert ? Boom Shanahan, make the defense even stronger? Boom Stuart..that's the way to get things done and nowadays ? The last top UFA this team has signed was Hossa and only because he offered us a 1 year contract. I get it, Niskanen will get overpaid by a team but there is a reason why this thing is called free agency sometimes you have to take a risk and overpay if you expect to fix a team. Also there might be a guy like Callahan available so it's not like Alfie is the best UFA option, also he doesn't make our team bigger or tougher to play against.

Save for Danny D I would trade every young player for a top 6 center yes that includes Mantha Btw. Ritchie is now a top tweak which is just great one week before the draft, he will be gone before we draft damn. Hopefully its now Parking, Tuch or Preliminary but please NO undersized guy

If you are Niskanen or his GM this message hardly a week before July 1 has to be gold. If Markov can get 5,75 per watch Niskanen going into the middle 6 per range (Thats AP type of money..).

I hope the July 1 headline will be "Alfie signs a day contract with Ottawa Senators for his retirement ceremony..." but my fear is obviously a return to the Wings.

As a good as Nyquist was last season let's put things into perspective here, O'Reilly is the more proven better player. Are people honestly expecting Goose to keep up that unreal stamkoslike PPG pace? I hope not, if so some of you will be disappointed. If Goose adds 20 more pounds and still produces at such a great pace, then we can revisit this debate but so far ROR is the better player. Guy also plays an almost perfect clean game 2 penalty minutes in a whole season? _Wow

I like this trade a lot for Columbus, Umberger wanted out and got his wish. Columbus adds a big bodied veteran to a team that plays a heavy and hardworking style. As for the Flyers I wouldn't like that trade if I were a _Flyer fan.