chaps80

Vanek on a cheap expiring contract only fetching a third from FLORIDA in the final hour last deadline shows that anything can happen. I hope Green fetches a first, but he probably won't.

No he doesn’t deserve anything more than that. He doesn’t even deserve the $4 million qualifier right now. But if he continues playing well and they want to keep him, maybe offer two seasons at $2 million per? Spread that qualifier out a bit, maybe with performance bonus incentives? If he hits the bonuses, good. If not, nothing lost. If he won’t budge on the $4 million, even though Holland, him, and his agent damn well know he doesn’t deserve it, then it should be a one and done thing. Don’t perform, were letting you walk July 1 without question.

I don't want to think about Howard still being around in two years after his contract ends. If he is kept for the rest of this season, he should be moved at the next deadline or let walk in the offseason after. Zero reason to resign him after his contract is up. I agree Howard might be hard to move, despite his improvement in play the past two seasons. Ten team list, one year left on his deal, injury history all factor in. I guess a team could pick him up for some insurance now and buy his last season out after if they didn't want to keep him. Holland would'nt get much in return beyond taking another goalie back and a low pick, but he'd get rid of his contract. At least Mrazek has shaped up at the right time though to make the decision on who to move, if either at all, more difficult. Going down swinging. I won't be surprised if both finish the season in Detroit though.

If Howard is gone though, Mrazek is their obvious in house option to keep, whether at $4 million or another amount. With Howard off the books there’s lots of space for him and to sign a journeyman backup or promote Coreau. Weird how Howard’s name is all of a sudden coming up in rumours as the guy they want to trade. Has Mrazek’s performance in only four games really made management reconsider his future with the team? As one writer said, if they did move him at his age with his skill set, it would be a disaster if he plays out of his mind on another team when the Wings need a solid young goalie in the rebuild. He’s got quite a few years left. Keep Howard and it doesn’t matter because he’ll be gone before the team returns to contention anyways. Maybe he can win a Cup elsewhere before he has to retire. This is true. Ten team list now, or no leverage next season. Could end up in Arizona. Lol

https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/what-exactly-is-a-restricted-free-agent/c-721878 Player does not have to take amount offered in a qualifying offer. After the offer is made they can reject it and remain an RFA, while negotiating for another amount. That being said, if a player does sign the qualifier at any time, it becomes binding at the qualifying amount. So there is a small loophole. If there is another amount discussed and agreed on, he can reject the qualifier and sign for that amount if he chooses. Not saying it’ll happen, but it’s perfectly legal under the CBA. Also, the part of my post above about accepting the qualifier then renegotiating was wrong. He can’t sign the qualifier without the team being on the hook for full amount.

Yeah, you never know if he’d take less, but from what I gather, he can. Maybe if Howard is moved and Holland says we want you to be the guy, but you haven’t really earned that $4 million since you signed the deal. Maybe we can work out something beneficial to both of us for one year, then go from there? He can’t really argue he hasn’t earned the money, unless he gets a lot of starts for the rest of the season and keeps his numbers up like he has been. Then the $4 million won’t seem like much.

I will look for the link. But I found it in the RFA section of the CBA. Players can reject a qualifying offer, but then agree to a different amount. Doesn’t state whether it can only go up. I figure it can go both ways, but maybe not.

I can agree with this, except the part of the qualifying amount. He can be “qualified”, then signed for less if he chooses to. The RFA has that option. It’s usually the other way around, where raises and extensions come into play if they’re earned. But if nothing is earned, it can become a cut in pay. I keep seeing $4 million owed to Mrazek. In principle, yes. But there’s no stopping deals after that to change the amount. He’s not getting close to $4 million per of he decides to hit the UFA market anyways. So why would Holland qualify him at that without having some prior agreement that it will be negotiated for less? But, don’t sign him if he’s going to ride the bench. Gotta commit to giving him fairly steady playing time or don’t bother. He’s clearly a guy who needs to play to keep sharp. He’s always been like that. Just think, NYI has Griess at $3.3 million for a few more years. One year of Mrazek at $2 million or so is nothing.

Guess I can’t disagree.

Ya, Blash often talks about riding the hot goalie. He should do it. Jimmy was excellent for the most part so far, but he did have his slumps. Everyone was so focused on his resurgence and improvement that they failed to notice them, or gave him a pass. He's been good enough to win games, but usually allowed a stinker or two in many. Which again, went unnoticed, weren't his fault, or got a pass. The minute one goal gets by Mrazek these days it's the end of the world. It's all his fault and he sucks.

Probably. But Holland seems content on holding onto Jimmy, for better or worse. When he was on the market awhile back he wasn't earning his salary and there wasn't interest, but I think if Holland had offered to retain salary, he could have found a taker. I got the feeling he wasn't trying very hard on it. Those NYI rumours keep circling, but Holland hasn't said anything about it. Plus, he doesn't often use buyouts. Buying out Errorsson would have been a smart move in the offseason, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He throws young guys around quite a bit, but when it comes to his vets, he has a problem parting ways. I did read somewhere he is looking to trade Howard by the deadline though. Maybe the NYI thing has merit. But i'll take that as bulls*** till i see it happen.

Goalies had better looking gear then than they do today imo. Back when the pads were just above the knee. Brodeur was the last one to wear those. Now every goalie his the extended pads that almost reach their waist. Some look ridiculous in them. I dunno how they can even move, that would bug the s*** outta me.

Howard starts. 3 goals on 9 shots. .667 sv% Mrazek comes in. 1 goal on 18 shots. .944 sv% WHAT is going on here? And yeah, this team sucks.

Almost moved him? Most the Oil would offer is a Fourth, with Holland retaining half salary. Or a Fifth with less or no salary retained. Holland wanted a third at least. Plus, he wanted to hang on him (unless there was an offer he couldn't refuse) in case he was needed while they tried to push for the playoffs. There were talks, but I don't think it was THAT close to happening. I know Mrazek's stock isn't high, but a fourth is kind of insulting. If Holland didn't care or didn't have some kind of "what if" moment, he would have taken it.

McCollum is an example. At the time he was one of the top goalies in the OHL, and i'm pretty sure the top goalie in his draft class. But when he got to the AHL he was pretty much stuck there because there was no room to move up in the contending years with Osgood, Howard, Conklin, Gustavsson all being around, then Mrazek leap frogging him on the depth chart. I don't think he ever started a game in Detroit, just called up as backup now and then and got to play a few periods. He basically stagnated while Holland kept him around for 8 seasons never getting a shot. Now his career is AHL or nothing.

Very true. Ranford wore #30 in Edmonton i think. Obv couldnt have it in Detroit cause it was Osgood's.

Oh yeah, had there been no cap, they'd still be among the elite. But so would Detroit if Holland still had Illitch's checkbook. Does Howard look THAT bad? It seems both goalies can psych each other out on this team. Howard steps up, Mrazek falls. Then vice versa. I don't think things are great between them. Easiest solution, move one.

He's gotta try to stay in Detroit somehow. I think he used up all his free pass cards already in his career though.

Long as they end up just outside the final wild card spot, i'd be ecstatic. If they finish low enough to get a decent shot at a top pick, that's just wrong. Chicago not being a contender and/or missing playoffs was bound to happen though. They had too many drafted stars to lock up to expensive deals, which kept the rest of the roster changing constantly to stay at the cap. Getting swept in the first round and then losing Panarin was a huge LOL. But they won three cups in 7 seasons. They didnt win one from 1961-2010. The Leafs draught wasnt even that bad. Any of their fans that arent satisfied with that and complain about the downswing obv dont understand the salary cap. It's designed to break up powerhouse teams. Pittsburgh isn't winning a third straight Cup. They've lost some guys and are just burnt out from 2.5 seasons and two Cup runs. That's a ton of hockey in short time, and Crosby/Malkin/Kessel aren't that young anymore. Plus the two goalie strategy they used so well is gone. Murray is the guy now. No help from Flower.

I dont see any interest in Oulette, unless Holland is willing to go CHEAP. I’d like to see him try to shop Errorsson, just to see if any offers come in. Good to see Turgeon back. It’s time to give these kids time in the NHL. Let them learn and make mistakes. There’s nothing to lose.

How dare Z steal that number from him! Not as a part of the Wings NHL roster. Alumni games, sure. But tons of former players have played in them.

Hex not in a psych ward? Sorry, his breakdown is classic. Played well during the season, offered a raise and extension. He balked at, wanting to wait until playoffs were over, hoping he’d get more money. Not only did he not get that, but he never wore a Wings jersey again.hahaha

From different articles I’ve read, teams aren’t exactly breaking down the door for Green, but he will be traded. Might not get what some of us expected though. XO hasn’t gotten any interest. Ditto with Howard (besides the NYI rumours) and Mrazek. Apparantly teams are feeling pretty set for goaltending help at this point. NYI is the one question mark. Lots of rumours about a trade with them floating around.

Yeah. That would be their typical response. Blash said he disagreed with their second goal, as Mrazek was interfered with. But he said the OT goal was “100% onside” and agreed with it. Both were questionable, but what’s done is done.

“The decision on the ice was the decision made by the referee on the ice who had a different view of the play, and from that view, the play was not offside.”