frankgrimes

I know sad right ? Thornton is as bluecollar as they get, he will go through the wall for his teammates and also tell them to shut up or fight their fights for themselves at some point (i.e Marchand). Chiarelli now has to get another tough as nails fourth liner or otherwise Toronto with McLaren and Orr will have a field day with their team soon. Chara is getting up in age and McQuaid, Lucic can't do the fighting stuff all the time.

Get him add Gazdic to the mix and the softish Wings are finally a thing of the past

Realistically I'd be asking for Gazdic guy is exactly what the Wings need and can play the game.

Wings need size, grit this guy seems to be the opposite of our needs

6,5 is not close to 7 million. Calgary and others were willing to pay him that so his market value is 6,5 million. The Avalanche may not like it, fine then don't pay him and let him become UFA not that hard to figure out.

Good question I think the Avalanche are trying to set the "Landeskog cap" which will never work with guys like O'Reilly. They don't want to pay him his 6,5 million per but he now knows that other teams are willing to pay that for his services so why should he settle for less ? The Penguins should be all over this can you imagine O'Reilly as a Winger for Crosby or Malkin? That's unbelievable scary

It's a lose lose situation for the Avalanche, O'Reilly will be extremely pissed no matter what the arbitrator awards him, takes the shortest contract lenght and then decides to walk away from arbitration next year basically making him an UFA. The Avalanche brought this to themselves. So yeah it will be very interesting that's for sure newport is not going to like this, niether will O'Reilly or his dad.

The Sky is the limit for this kid, big, unbelievable talented, hard worker (on the ice and gymfreak) if the Avalanche aren't willing to pay him another team for sure will and rightfully so. If guys like Nash and Vanek are woth 7 + O'Reilly is easily worth 6,5 per

Just found out, that this doesn't prevent the player from offer-sheets anymore so even less usage for doing something like that. Yeah I agree with that, the guy is a very rare talent very dangerous winger and can play defense too soI think 6,5 is a fair asking price. I guess it will play out like this: he doesn't like the award, will sign the shortest possible deal and go to UFA asap which is not a bad thing I'd love to have him as a Wing.

Wow hard to like that move for the Predators, guy did wonders for Rinne - one of my favorite goalies in the NHL - I hope his replacement will be as good for you guys.

OT: Really Werder Bremen? Ever since they took the championship away from Bayern Munich I've liked them back in the days. For me it is always about the mixture I want to see local boys, some national veterans and foreigners - but not more than a handful - who can help the club win and teach the young players on what it takes to become succesful at "the next stage". Ya I guess a team like the Wings has a lot of scouts everywhere and if there is no local talent available it is sad but can't change that. The question now is, what did Fisher - who I really love as a scout - see in this kid? Don't know if his old club was good or just average but if the guy can translate his game into the NA style he could be a nice stopgap for the Rapids, till the younger kids are ready. Like I said nothing against him :-)

Niskanen has emerged as the top Ufa so it must be a very nice contract. The question is how much are Gms willing to pay for him I think something like 5,4 with an nmc for 6 years could be a starting point

Ot: Since you are from Europe too I am annoyed by the exact opposite. Fans who don't care about identification and local heroes, same goes for nationalism there is nothing wrong with wanting to be proud of your club by expecting less foreigners and more homegrown boys, especially in soccer where everyone knows there are around 8 clubs worldwide who will get the best of the best.. People who only want to see points, points and success at all costs are the typical gloryhunters and event fans who have helped turning European soccer into what it is today, a business first industry, suit driven industry instead of a sport. In short not even worth watching, following anymore As for VM; I fully expect our scouts - who are one of the best in the business - to also look at Michigan boys but there really is a pattern with the Wings and all I expect is a different mixture of players. I know this worked great when others where behind the curve but nowadays almost every team has scouts worldwide so finding gems is a lot tougher. Maybe the kid will be good maybe not but personally I would have prefered another Dekeyser story just at the center position this time. like you said I think it would be important for Michigan boys to have that special feeling come draft time. I mean every kid dreams of playing for their local club once they are on the cusp of becoming pros.

For me and some very good friends (both male + female) this is very important, because it helps building that "us" feeling with a club. Just look at how much people are already liking Dekeyser and it will only get better as he improves. I didn't want to mention the Habs because for them it's not "doing the right thing" driven its politically driven and thats hugely different to just wanting some local heroes on your team. Anyway I guess the michigan boys on this forum will know better how important that is for them :-) As for non of the local boys being as good well how do you/we know if they aren't getting a chance?

Detroit local I'm not saying all guys should be local because that would be almost impossible even at the AHL level but a better mix between euros and detroit area players would be nice. Like I said I'm a euro myself and I absolutely can't stand what my hometown (foreigners are getting contracts endlessly while local guys are begging for a contract....) team has become, don't want the same thing happening to the Wings

Nothing against him and my local team has done something similar and I hated it. Why not give the job to good ol Michigan boy ? I think the Wings are running the risk of becoming a very european dominated organisation, where are - save for Dekeyser - are the upcoming local heroes?

Well I think every GM is making some decisions all the time, people are often forgetting that they aren't onlly responsible for the big club they also have to follow the development of the prospects, "sell" a plan to the owners and judge the coaches all the time. Would I like Holland to finally admit the obvious ? Yes, do I think it will happen hardly so I expect nothing that way I can only be surprised in a positive way.

I have nothing against them and to be honest they could be on the verge of becoming a dynasty soon, the team has it all: elite goaltending - check elite defense - check elite two way center - check physicality, toughness and size - check Lombardi has done an unbelievable job this team was destinated after beating the sharks being down 0:3

Thank you I think a lot of people aren't even reading the full description of a commissioner's job. Owners making money has come from the explosion of HD + FULL HD TVs, mobile plattform and highspeed internet allowing things like streaming, official NHL services and a very loyal - more than in any other sport - niche fanbase. My confidence with the leagues front office has already been low but after the TV deal it's at an alltime low and I don't think it will be good for hockey.

Perfectly said just wanted to add it all starts at the top and Melnyk doesn't want to spend, so next in line will be Ryan.

Canadian fans and media alike are taking it way too far and its not like Ottawa and their fans are league wide known for loud support. Spezza doesn't like the spotlight fans plus media have to accept that, period. If you can't even walk into a grocery store in peace something has to give and I would want out too. Add to that a crying poor but also media hungry owner and everyone should understand Spezza.

Last pizza liner wanting out goof job Murray and fans. Spezza would be the perfect fit for the Blues there is no way he waives for Toronto. Canadian fans are often asking whzly free agents don't want to play there well noe they know why. High pressure market, poor owner and some fans that think players should deal with this crap 24/7... Best of luck to Spezza guy is ridiculously underrated

Happy for the Rangers they certainly didn't deserve to get swept and now they can go into LA without any pressure.

so BM is throwing the next guy under the bus by going publically with his demands ? Way to screw over your pricetag now everyone knows Spezza wants out. Great player and sadly another one getting run out of town because the Canadian media is out of control.

Free agency just like Trade Deadline is a weapon the GMs have in order to improve their team. You can't build a winner solely with draft picks you can't build a winner on UFA either so the perfect balance is key here. Is Niskanen the next Suter ? No way but he certainly is a guy that could help the Wings defense out a lot more than let's say a guy like boy could. Nobody - except our scouts, Blashhill - knows if the GR defenders are ready or not. As for overpaying well that's the nature of UFA, these players have the choice on where they want to play it's basically for most of them their last big contract so yes overpayment is part of it. I would be fine with 5 mill per for 6 - 7 years for Niskanen.