LeftWinger

2nd highest payroll in the NHL behind Chicago...not quite sure our payroll reflects where this team is right now. Andersson and Ferraro and Callahan will now be waived and more than likely lost for free. Sure wish Nyquist would've gotten about $1M less, but whatever. Hopefully Franzen is indeed done, then at least we won't be a cap team. Gotta get Jurco and Pulk both for under $2M together, still puts us way over...best scenario now is if Franzen is dumped to a salary floor team in need (New Jersey) just to not lose anymore of our talented kids for a concussed player. Trade him to NJ for Future considerations and call it done. Too bad Marchenko will also probably now flee to the KHL, he already said he does not want to be in GR for another year...Too bad we couldn't dump Q and Ericsson. Nyquist is not better than Tatar, they are two different types of players, they each bring different dynamics to the table. This most certainly means a huge raise for Tatar, especially when/if he outscores Nyquist again the next two seasons... For those of you putting Franzen on a line, you are hedging that he is 100%, I get it, but he is one hit away from another LTIR season, and you will have already lost your depth in Ferraro, Andersson and Callahan. Best thing to do is send Franzen to a cap floor team and have a nice day and hope he eventually gets healthy enough to play, just not here. His time is over in Detroit, the only thing he is doing now is taking up valuable cap space from kids getting into the NHL where they belong and will continue to do so for the next 5 years if not dealt.

https://twitter.com/AnsarKhanMLive/status/617801364580773889

so since when does Mantha suck?

Going to go out on a limb and make a bold prediction (ya ya just so I can say I knew it, when I am right! ) This will be Mrazeks backup when Howard gets traded. Not Patterson, not McCullom, but yes, Jared Coreau. (of course when I am wrong, I will deny ever saying this! )

Every team's state/city tries this, it's like they all want to jump on the Hockeytown wagon. Get over it, there is only ONE Hockeytown. Its just too bad you didn't coin a phrase first...now it just makes you look like you are trying to copy us, and failing miserably...thanks for playing...

#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