frankgrimes

They still have two buyout options, so they are going to lock up their core + supplement players and fill the rest with cheap ELC ones I guess.

The only player on that list who COULD help is Ference other than that, all are meh at best. Weiss is another undersized smallish center who doesn't fill a need for the Wings, Iginla and the others are over the hill or just not good enough to help return the Wings to glory. Just signing meh UFAs for the sake of it is not being smart.

Guy is a disgrace to the game with a bad lockerroom attitude he wouldn't fit in well.

Try doing it on a tablet when Tapatalk is crushing half the time. The only reason why it works for me is because I have bought a keyboard for it sorry for ot

But but Torres and Cooke are changed man ey Shanny? Best of luck to Stoll Sent from my BlackBerry

I think we all can agree that Clarkson is not worth 42 mil over 7 years but that is going to be his pricetag and the guy will get it from some team and I don't blame him one bit for that, it is his payday probably the last one in his career so he does need to cash in. The Wings fanbase has always talked about how cool it would be to get a Lucic type of player, well here we have one and most people are moaning over having to overpay in order to get him, the so called best GM in hockey is - once again - lowballing him... why is it so hard for some to understand where the frustration is coming from? Don't want to sign Clarkson or Horton fine than find another way to really improve this team (meh players aren't improvement they are replacements at best). Waiting for next years ufa class year after year, is like not buying or upgrading a PC because in 1 year there will be better hardware...it just doesn't work t hat way. So let us assume the Wings don't get Clarkson or Horton which of the remaining UFAs is going to help this team? Jagr, Iginala - nope 0 goals in the playoffs. Ryder, Ribiero (a guy with a very questionable attitude?) stay away please. Overpaying for Yandle? yeah great giving up assets is way better than overpaying with $ for some highly thought after UFAs. Comparing the new UFA prices to the ones before the lockout doesn't work also, with Getzlaf and Perry getting their new paydays as stars players a tier below them are going to command a bit less but not a lot...this is just the reality nowadays.

I wish the series against the Chicago would be seen in a different way. The Wings joked away a 3:1 series lead the Hawks played their 4 worst games of the season once they've turned it on the Wings didn't even have a chance - this team is not close to Chicagos level. Statements like the above are exactly why I would have been fine with missing the playoffs, because at least it would have shown the higher ups that changes are needed standing pat will not get the job done, period. Other teams a re improving getting better each season and the Wings are - like it or not - falling behind which also means it will get harder and harder to attract players in free agency. Holland has done a lot of great things and nobody will take it away from him, but the guy does have problems with overpaying you can't expect UFAs to go to a non contender and take a discount anymore, the current Wings edition is not close to the cup, so the only option to get these guys is to take the risk and sometimes overpay. It may or may not turn out but at least itshows the league, that the Wings are still a force to recognize come draft, free agency and trade deadline...something, this team hasen't been for almost 5 years now. It would be even longer if Hossa didn't take a paycut in order to get his chance at the cup. No this is not an overreaction its the pure and sad reality. Like others mentioned, there is still time but the top guys are getting signed soon so waiting and then sign some meh players will not make this team better or bring back the WOW or ROAR effect this team used to own.

The thing is Vanek has one year left on his contract according to cap geek and the guy will get a big raise and I don't think he is worth ~ 2 mil more than Clarkson who can play in all situations and provide a physical presence.

This team as it stands right now would get eaten alive in the eastern conference and part of a GMs job is to take some risks. Is there a guarantee that Clarkson won't be worth his contract? No he good be a late coming superstar and then the contract would be a bargain sure he could decrease also but at some point risks need to be taken. I really think this season has blindsided Holland thinking this team is close, they aren't and if the only aquisitions are Ryder and Weiss then I don't see them making the playoffs.

They aren't he will get it from someone, sadly once again it will be from the DRW

Is Vanek even on the market? If so he would cost a lot of assets and will be looking for a huge payday one year from now. It must nice having UFAs wanting to come Detroit and be part of a great team like mentioned and currently...? People should get excited about players like Ribiero or Weiss? Come on that is not Redwings style. Praising Holland for not overpaying is one thing but the other thing is: UFAs want to join winners they want to go to teams, which have and can attract stars the Wings being cheap and not willing to overpay won't induce them to join the opposite will happen --->top players are staying away and without them no chance of improving. At some point the Wings have to show them that they are still a top destination and are willing to pay, if Holland won't do it then by all means it is time for him to become the vice president of hockey operations and let some else run the show. Wasting Z, Pasha best years like that is a tough pill to swallow..

Looking at this from a players point of view it is very easy to answer: Supply + demand UFA classes are thanks to the damn cap short and the few remaining top UFAs want a big-day. GMs aren't allowed to use creative contracts anymore, because the league is more a dictationship than anything else so what are they expected to do? Answer is easy, their annual caphits have to rise and thats why guys like Bozak, Clarkson...can command such high salarie are they worth it? Debatable but if teams want them, thats the price they have to pay.

Rather have Clarkson than Vanek who will cost way more to re-sign AND at least a first round pick, roster player + good prospect

Wow this shortened season run really hasn't done too much good things looking back at it.The Wings are FAR away from being stanley cup contenders, they would be lucky making the playoffs this year. Sure there is young blood coming but a lot of them are boom or bust gambles. Nobody knows how Brunner (if he stays), Dekeyser, Smith and Tatar are doing in a full season. The last time Detroit made a huge UFA signing was 5 years ago! If ehe offers are equal and a player decides he doesn't want to play here fine but always offering less than other teams and expecting players to take a paycut, is not going to get the job done! Last offseason the Wings tried didn't work out, fine but the season before an it is shaping to be so this season also, standing pat and signing some MEH at best players isn't Wings style. Pasha Z and Babs deserve better fcrom the so called best gm in hockey Sent from my BlackBerry

How is it overreaction to expect the best franchise in all of hockey to get the players they want? The top UFA players next year will want to cash in too...! So at some point the Wings have to show their financial power again. Heck the Flyers don't have enough capspace but yet are finding ways to land UFAs. Building from within is nice but you have to surround the only two remaining superstars with other pro ven guys and this not willing to overpay mantra will not get the job done. Sent from my BlackBerry

No problem losing out on. Vinny but David just hurts, he would have filled a ton needs. I am not impatient but this isn't what Wings fans are used to. Instead of just being in the mix DRW should be the frontrunners. Weiss, Ribiero and Ryder? That would be a very disappointing offseason given that guys with size are available. Sent from my BlackBerry

Although Holland is a mastermind, I loved his reckless approach way better before 2005. Wings got things done and if the DRW wanted a player, they got him *gr*

false tab sorry

Yeah he is 6,1 and 201 lbs which is pretty good. Clowe is 6'2 and 225 lbs so in terms of weight better but I don't think he will come cheap either.

Horton will get it, enough teams are looking to improve and reach the cap floor.

Well if Bickell can get 4 mil don't you think Clarkson should at least be in the same ballpark or a little bit higher?

He was under the impression, Vinny wanted to play under the radar? But 4,5 is a very loveable caphit the term is a bit llong but other than that very solid signing. Will be funny to see how the Flyers are going to re-sign B. Schenn and Giroux next year.

I understand not overpaying for Lecavalier but passing on Clarkson? The guy has size, is physical, brings leadership and will drop the gloves, is going to crush the net he brings everything one would want in a center. 6 million per year seems like a lot right now but keep in mind, the cap will go up soon again. Nothing against Weiss and others but compared to Clarkson they would be pretty much MEH at best signings.

Agreed I wish him nothing but the best success although I think a team trying to reach the cap floor is going to overpay for him. This is his payday and I don't blame him for wanting to cash in.

Sometimes it is better, to know a little bit about the people posting stuff. I have intended and also studied economics and I know the view of some economists I just don't agree with them, because no matter how you slice it, there is always a bigger picture one. Amway is a pyramid scheme, period. Schemes like that are built to create a huge income for the founders/co-founders and early starters by milking all the people who join later. There is a reason why such schemes are often targeted by laws. Also there is difference between having a team presented by .... or just paying to show up on the bill boards, megatron or wherever. Naming the new arena after some famous persons just would show the rest of the league, how to do things the right way. Tell me you wouldn't love a name like "The Geordie Howe Palace", "The Yzerman Dome", Lidströms Plaza or the "Mike Illitch Arena" I really think Mike deserves to get his name on it he has done so much for this team and the city of Detroit.