LeftWinger

#17, I like it. #25 for Green, like it even more! I am so glad they didn't choose outrageous odd ball numbers like 58 or 92 or 74. I know sometimes the numbers have to be that high, but it looks so much better with "normal" numbers, if I can call them that. Also, those #'s way up there just seem so temporary, like they're training camp numbers for tryouts. I still wish Danny D would've chosen a lower number, but its too late now! I even wished that Franzen would've gone back to #39 once Dom left us for good, it all seemed to look better, and even though Homer made the #96, I sure liked when he first came up and had #15 for a bit.

As I can see even my memory is clouded a bit when it comes to who traded him and when. He was traded in early 05-06 season (under Randy Carlysle, there was no 04-05 season due to lockout and 05-06 was Babcocks first in Detroit.

I think a ton of people will be pleasantly surprised by Richards. Whether he centers Z or Pav or on his own line, we all know the combos will be tweaked all year long, he will be used more than Weiss was and will be a positive on this team and help them move forward.

I know Euro_Twins, but they will get about $800,000 a piece which won't be available unless we trade folks or lose them to waivers. Franzen continues to haunt this team's development and hindering the kids from their rightful roster spot. I know Ferraro and Callahan are mid tier talent, if that, but no way do I want to lose anyone else (Nestrasil) for free. If they deal and get picks or something to make room, then so be it, but again, unless Franzen is absolutely free of any symptoms, he needs to stay on LTIR. Hate to trade a kid for one more body check that puts Franzen out again, for good this time. It's best to find a suitor who may want to take on the Franzen project in exchange for a conditional pick. Which could very well be anywhere from a 2nd to a 7th depending on his health and performance. If he got dealt, got healthy and had a 30 goal season for someone, then a 2nd would be nice compensation. If he never got healthy, then a 7th or cash, who knows.

Never said Babcock was solely to blame, but I did say he didn't want him here...as proven by your article saying it was VETOED by the coach. I knew Holland really wanted him, was VERY reluctant to give up Fil and a 1st, and when Babcock vetoed it (and apparently along with a few more) he decided not to risk it. Besides the info saying that a few people didn't want him here, I was not wrong whatsoever. I was right in saying Babcock vetoed it, Holland really wanted him back but was reluctant to play the price. But if everyone was on board, he would've done it. We still would've have won the Cup that year, we only would've lost out on a mediocre Filppula and Tom McCullom in the 1sr round that season. Hell, Feds could have been that one goal we needed to win in 09 as well. My point to this whole thing was the healing began when Holland wanted him back in 08. I think time has healed all butt rashes and his #91 will be retired. Buppy, it was said on HNIC that season that Babcock was getting frustrated getting Sergei to play 100% all the time and called to ask Scotty how to approach him differently. Obvious all efforts failed as early the next season, he was traded. I just assume he ended up in the famed Babcock doghouse we are all familiar with...

meanwhile, Andersson, Ferraro and Callahan are all lost to waivers...a trade must happen. I am pulling for Franzen (ya right you say) but unless he is out there dominating and not just floating, he needs to Pronger retire. kickazz - those vids are from their "prime" days, not saying they aren't great together, but watch them last season or even the season before. Not as electric.

SO 65 points was non-Wings like for Feds? Look at his last 5 seasons in Detroit before his first in ANA. He got above 70 points ONCE. The other four years was 62-69 points. I'd say 31 goals amongst 65 points for him at that point in his career was very Wings-Like. Babcock couldn't figure out his tendencies and once he fell in the Dog house, he was done....traded the next season (Only 5 games played for ANA) and Babs was on the side of "NO" for the trade, sure the asking price was Fil and a 1st (pretty high) but isn't that typical of a divisional trade? Reality is, sure Holland was VERY reluctant to trade that much for Feds, and when Babs gave his opinion, it cemented it. I blamed Babs way back then, not just now because he is gone. It's not like Holland has never overpaid for a proven vet even after that year, right? Just looking at some of the deals he has made since, I think a 2008 Fedorov for a 2008 Filppula and a 2008 1st (Thomas McCullom) would have been one of his better overpayments. In the section called "small world" one of the players Feds was traded for from ANA to CBJ is now our Director of Amateur Scouting, Tyler Wright. I see the player the Washington had to give up for Feds was well worth it! I seem to remember a ton of folks here saying Ruth was a better prospect than Fil...Hmmmm...more evidence of inner-divisional Holland rape!

Again, if indeed he is looking in the $4M range, will ok with that (like I have a choice! ) as long as Franzen stays on LTIR. I don't want to see Nyquist get $4M of our $5.4M and then we have to low ball Jurco and Pulk, PLUS be forced to send players down to GR that most likely will not clear waivers again. If Franzen is not 1000%, then his $3.9M will help tremendously!

Total depth signing for the Griffs. Remember, GR is losing Pulk this year, Ferraro and possibly Callahan. Aubry has yet to re-sign and Porter already sign in Pit. They need these kind of signings. Not saying he will never see Detroit, BUT, I have a feeling he will be way down on the depth chart. Now unless he comes in to camp and pulls a Dan Cleary, then maybe it'll shake thing up a bit.

I remember when we had a one trick pony named Hull. Slow, no PK skills, hardly played D, but hey he had something, a absolute ROCKET of a shot! Not saying he is the next Hull, but as long as he plays with defensively responsible line mates, what's wrong with having this one trick on our team?

Pulk needs to be utilized correctly. Put him with Jurco and Sheahan and use him in the slot in the PP. Rocket shot, needs to stay out of the checking role. Calder candidate if he is used correctly. I believe Blash will do so.

I think the healing started when Ken Holland was very interested in re-acquiring him from Columbus at the trade deadline in (was it 07 or 08?) But rumor had it that our former coach, who couldn't figure him out in Anaheim, voted NO for the trade. In hindsight, we now know how he treats players that he doesn't really want on this team or once they get in his doghouse....Fedorov in Anaheim, Commodore, Modano, Weiss, Legwand, Smith, Jurco just to name a few. Also a huge step was taken when he was invited to play at the Winter Classic.

lets see, the reason Ferraro got as much playing time as he did is because of Babcock. If Holland waived Ferraro, Toronto would claim him, if they got the chance, because of Babcock. 99.99999% positive. Callahan would probably get claimed as well. Andersson would also not make it past Toronto, Babcock loves him. So lets just give all our players to Babcock for free, there's a grand idea!

The source was that it was well known when It happened, but as time goes on, folks memory gets more and more clouded and just choose to remember that he left for the same amount of money.

I still don't think he has earned that money yet, but as I said, the market dictates differently. So, playing devils advocate, I think that IF they know Franzen will be LTIR, they are going to dump Q for the kids, and maybe they have trade idea for Howard (I am reading this more and more around the web, that he is indeed being shopped) then if you have to overpay Gus now in order to secure him on this team for 5+ years, then at least we'd still have cap room for the raises Danny D, Mraz, Tatar and the rest will need. Heck, just dumping Franzen and Q alone would open up $8M. You'd have to be getting something well needed in a Howard trade, plus you'd have to put together a better package than just Howard. Howard and a pick and a prospect for something needed.

If I could trade Nyquist in a package for a player like Taylor Hall, I would do it. $6M for Hall WILL be a bargain I two years, $6M right now or Nyquist is overpayment. Nyquist is good and could be a huge part of our future, but right now, he is not in Taylor Hall category and for $6M, I'd rather trade his potential of being in that catagory to have someone that is there now. Taylor Hall is just an example. I would also trade Nyquist in a deal for David Backes...and I am not knocking down Gus, I just don't think he has earned $6M yet. I know the market says different, but that is because even these other $5M to $6M recent signings aren't even worth it. It NO world is Saad worth $6M a season at this point in his career, that's insane.

Well, just because of where it comes from doesn't mean it isn't speaking some truths...we do need a bigger player up front, and for the first time in a long time, we actually have some trade assets that could bring us that player. Trade assets that are expendable.

It should be there and will. Fedorov was offered virtually identical contract in DECEMBER of 2002. He asked Holland if he could wait to decide because he was in the middle of a divorce and looking for a new agent. Wben all that settled and Fedorov WANTED to sign the contract that was offered to him in DECEMBER, he was told it was no longer on the table and was offered a contract with less term and worth less money. The organization slapped Feds in the face because he didn't want to make the decision in the middle of very personal issues going on in his life. Feds left and signed nearly exact contract (from December) with Anaheim. In NO way can you compare Fedorov with Yashin...apples and oranges when it comes to production and honoring contracts. When Fedorov was making league minimum ($285,000) at the time, he never ONCE asked to be paid more or held out to renegotiate anything. The Wings gave him a raise before his contract was up, along with an extension. Then when 1997-98 come around, the Wings told him to field offers from other teams if he felt like it, they were going to match whatever was offered anyhow. The ONLY reason Karmanos offered Feds so much up front is because (as it is known) he and Ilitch are bitter rivals and near enemies and Karmonos would have loved to have poached this prized possession from his rival. You cannot blame Feds or accepting such an offer because he knew that Wings would match and he would pretty much be guaranteed all that money up front...he wouldn't have gotten it from Carolina, they would have never made the conference finals. BUT for the rest of the contract, from 1998-2003, Feds only may slightly over $2M, which is what he was making basically from his raise he got from Detroit in the mid 90's. So for nearly 10 years (outside of his bonuses) Feds was making $2M or less per season for all he did for this franchise and all the accolades he was getting in the NHL. So be pissed at him because he actually wanted to sign the original 5 year $55M offer and he left when it was lessoned to 4 years $40M? Be pissed at Holland or whoever pulled the offer, because if the offer still stood at 5 years $55M, he would've never left the organization and this would not even be up or debate. They pissed each other off, sure, no argument there, but the number deserves to be recognized and put up in the rafters with the rest of the Wings Elite. It's time, it's deserving and needs to be done. Sergei Federov - Hart, Selke, All-Star, All Rookie, Hall of Fame, Stanley Cup Champion. Its a no brainer, if the number doesn't go up, its because this organization is nothing but a crybaby grudge holding hunk of garbage when it come to this subject. Honor your ELITE, Fedorov helped build this team to its greatness, he bled for it, he suffered for it, he left his family for it. You pulled the offer from him, its time to atone for that mistake. Put #91 up there next to #5 and #19, perhaps the THREE reasons that this team achieved such greatness throughout the 90's into the 2000's, alone they could not have done it, but together they made this franchise Elite.

I'd welcome a trade if it came down to it, but now since he filed, doesn't that block him from being traded? And if he is signed after SA, aren't we stuck with him for at least 1 year? If we could trade his rights now and IF that is something Holland was thinking about, I would package him and our 1st (and more) for a legit top line sniper like Taylor Hall. Not suggesting any scenarios, but Edmonton loves 1st round picks, who wouldn't love Nyquist and maybe throw a D man their way with experience to help bring along their youngsters. Totally not going to happen, but if he were to be traded, I think it should be for a sniper. Because yes, I do believe, Nyquist is more along the lines of Filppula, not Z. Even though I did compare him to be more Z-Like than Tatar, doesn't mean he is the next Z. I'd welcome a player like Hall here for his $6M rather than give $6 (or even $5M) to Nyquist.

couldn't agree more. http://www.theoaklandpress.com/sports/20150706/pat-caputo-detroit-red-wings-badly-need-to-add-size-and-grit

Hey until these UFA's are signed elsewhere, they are out there for anyone to have. Didn't say it was going to happen, but if you were able to land Franson, and all you had to do is dump a few players for a pick or even to GR, why not try it? If you cannot trade K and Q, waive them, if no one snags them, let them play out in GR. Your 4 kids can and probably will play in GR this season, its just business (especially if you cannot make room for them now.) Instead of being stuck with Q and K, and while Franson is still available, why not throw an offer of $5M at him and see if he signs? He sure isn't getting his initial asking price from teams, so his demands should be coming down a bit. Hell, really all you'd have to do is dump Q and keep the kids in GR for another season, or until you can deal with getting one of them up here somehow. What lineup looks better? Kronwall ($4.75M) - Green ($6M) Dekeyser ($2.18M) - Ericsson ($4.25M) Smith ($2.75M) - Quincey ($4.25M) Kindl ($2.4M) totaling $26.58M OR Kronwall ($4.75M) - Green ($6M) Dekeyser ($2.18M) - Franson ($5M) Ericsson ($4.25M) - Smith ($2.75M) Kindl ($2.4M) totaling - $27.33M ...if Franson won't take $5M, then cool, but if you could land him for basically a slight raise over Q, its a no brainer. REALISTICALLY this is very doable if Franson would agree to $5M. The team D would be better, and its not like Holland doesn't already have decisions to make by October, this would just make one them easier. Replacing Q with Franson would be an upgrade. (so would replacing Q with Marchenko, but I was simply responding to the news that Holland may be still dabbling in free angency.)

in 13-14 Nyquist had 48 points and was a +16, Tatar had 39 points and was a +12 in 14-15 Nyquist had 54 points and was a -11, Tatar had 56 points and was a +6 In the playoffs last season, Gus had 2 points, Tats had 4. They are pretty even stats-wise, so statistical history doesn't prove anything otherwise. Tatar is more of a sniper than Nyquist. Nyquist will be more like Z and Tatar will be a Hossa type player. I just hope that we aren't forced into choosing one or the other. So lets hope Nyquist agrees to a nice cap-friendly contract.

IF Holland is indeed combing for another UFA forward, I think I'd prefer Chris Stewart over Semin, but I do agree, unless there is a deal in the works to shed some players to open a spot, I don't see where a forward will fit. Unless they feel they may walk away from Nyquist if he gets too much awarded to him in SA. If Holland is still looking to get his hands wet in the UFA market, the price for Franson has to be coming down, if Holland could move all 3 of Q, K and Smith for picks, Franson would look very nice with the remaining guys and a couple of kids... Kronwall - Franson Dekeyser - Green Ericsson - Marchenko Jensen I would like that D corps. Give Franson $4.5M to $5M and deal with the logjam before October. re: Shattenkirk, Edmonton will give up its 1st rounder, but it will be lottery protected just in case are a lottery team again...and they are Edmonton, so they may never have to give up that 1st rounder, it would just keep getting pushed back year by year!

You have to ask yourself, what would Dats, Z or Kronner get on the open market? Exactly! Either Nyquist wants to stay in Detroit and be a part of this or he wants top market value money around the NHL. None of these 25-30 goals scorers are "worth" $5M+, yet because of the cap floor and desperate teams to "win" signing sweepstakes, these non superstar players are garnering contracts that are unearned. Nyquist is not worth $5M-$6M especially not on this team. I am sick of players having a couple good years and then getting "paid" and then falling into obscurity. This is the problem with not having to "prove" that you are constant enough to earn that kind of money. IMO, Nyquist should get a two year deal between $3M-$3.5M to prove he is a consistent 30 goal scorer and even prove he can be in that elite status like Dats and Z, then after 2 years, give him Z and D money (or more.) I'd hate to lose him, but with the contracts due up next season, and even "better" prospects set to come up within the next few seasons, $6M right now would seriously handcuff this team...seriously. Lets say Nyquist gets awarded $5.5M and goes on to score 30 goals for the next 2 seasons, fine, but also Tatar scores 30 the next two seasons again, then what? Obviously Tatar will garner $6M+ right? He outscored Nyquist already last season, there is no reason to believe that he won't also continue to play just as well. What if when Pulk re-signs a small contract this year for 2 years and he scores 25-30 also? $6M? I understand Nyquist is good, and he should be one of the next leaders of this team after Pav and Z, BUT, lets come together on a nice bridge deal that gives you a HUGE raise from $1.05M last season to $3.5M for the next two years. Prove to the team that you are consistent enough to get superstar money. Plus help the team out by taking less to be part of it, don't be "that" player who milks the market and then never performs up to the contract expectation, like a ton of players do in this league. Besides, with the likes of Quincey being gone soon, Franzen going the way of Pronger, most likely Howard being traded before his contract expires, there will more money available within 2 years and the team won't be handcuffed or forced to trade or waive players that they really want to keep. re: Jensen and Callahan, they both have to get signed, sure the cap hit will be minimal, probably less that $1.75M combined, but Callahan is out of waiver exemptions and WILL count against the cap until he clears waivers. It's very little, but it all adds up. I know the market calls for it, and if you compare other players to Nyquist, $5M-$6M is market value, I just hope that Nyquist would prefer to take a little less for a couple of seasons to allow this team to be the best it can be. Nyquist is good, but good enough on his own to lose the likes of Tatar, Pulkkinen or the next 50 point scorer just so we can pay him $6M right now. But, when it comes to this type of situation, logic never wins. He may very well get $6M in SA, or even $4.5M from Holland, but guarantee if he does, you can kiss a couple of our prized prospects goodbye when they are RFA's because of cap issues. Then we will be stuck with another "choice" to make...and Tatar is better than Nyquist, so you'd know my choice.

plus you still need to sign Jensen and I believe Callahan...