LeftWinger

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...

how can we afford $4.5M? We only have $5.4M left to sign 3 players, Nyquist, Jurco and Pulkkinen. They would have to know already that they are keeping Franzen on Pronger retirement AND trading Quincey. No way if Nyquist gets $4.5 no way do Jurco and Pulk come in together for $900,000 combined. Its all about finances.

I don't think Feds was banging his teammates wives either as Lindros was...hell he had Anna. Lindros burn way more bridges in Philly than Feds ever could here.

here is the problem, Saad is not worth $6M, even hockey insiders were taken aback at that contract. If Nyquist gets awarded anything over $3M, especially north of $5M, walk away. If Nyquist gets $6M, then so will Tatar next contract, then what happens when Pulkkamania runs wild and he scores 30? Its outrageous to think that he has earned $4M, let alone $6M...

did someone post somewhere that both Yzerman and Lidstrom think Feds AND Ozzie's numbers should be retired? A couple of pretty influential opinions if so...

if he gets awarded $6M, Holland must walk away, no question about it. Has not earned anywhere near that.

We have $5.4M left. I think a nice 3 year $3M per bridge contract should be fair. Jurco and Pulk should cost less than $2M together. If Franzen goes LTIR and Quincey gets traded that'll open up $8M more in cap space to save for next years RFA's...

another spot taken, almost complete!

there is no big body for the second line. Why wouldn't Abby play with pav and Tatar? Do you think line remain from year to year? That first line would be perfect. Setup man, scorer, dirty job player. Z & Nyquist have great chemistry, they scored even with power puff Franzen on their wing. He plays softer than Hudler in a hen house. Richards is a natural center who is a huge upgrade over Franzen.

With Richards, I still think the best top 6 would be: Tatar-Pav-Abby Nyquist-Richards-Z

nah, only 90%, replace Nyquist with Tatar, now we're talking 100%!

I agree with the Franzen idea, I just don't think, unless he is as healthy as a newborn baby, that he should even step on the ice in full contact participation. I'd also switch Tatar and Z. I think Tatar will shine even more with Pav. Plus Z and Nyquist have a great chemistry together, Gus seems to have a better confidence out there with Z and he seemed to get the majority of his points while playing with him. I am not sure if this deserves its own thread, if someone wants to make one go ahead, but now that Holland seems to be done with UFA's and needs to focus on his RFA's, and when he signs them all, the roster is pretty crowded up front and in back. Especially at D. We have 7 NHL defensemen and 4 kids ready to come up. All 4 kids have exemptions and could all start the year in GR in needed. BUT! But Marchenko said that even though he doesn't want to be a whiner, he DOES NOT want to spend another season in GR. He may just opt for the KHL. We would still retain his contract and he would remain Red Wings property, and Blashill has already said that he love Jakub Kindl. So this leads to my question and possible topic for a thread, with the log jam on this team, especially at D, who do we sacrifice? How much influence does Blash have on the personnel? Can Blash and Holland convince Marchenko to start in GR and he will be up within the year? I would think that Marchenko would be just as upset to come up here and be #7. We will have 15 forwards under contract not including Callahan who is out of exemptions. That makes 16 forwards to deal with...if Franzen in LTIR, still have ONE too many. I would try to trade either Andersson or Callahan along with Quincey. FWIW, I think Kindl fits in better at D than Quincey at this point. I know that Q only has the one more year left on his contract and will gone after this year, but I just think Kindl fits in the program better. OF course Ideally, you get rid of two of them by next season in order to make room for the kids. I think one of Sproul or Ouellet gets traded because there just won't be any room for all 4 of the kids on the 16-17 roster with Smith re-signed here for 2 years. Not even enough room for 3, or even 2 if Kindl stays. 16-17 D roster Kronwall-Ericsson Dekeyser-Green Smith-Kindl If Kindl is traded you still only have 2 spots for 4 kids. Something has to give. Ideally if you want at least 3 out of your 4 kids on your roster in 16-17, you need to NOT re-sign Q, have Kindl and another traded (Smith or Ericsson.) I honeslty think if they traded Ericsson, Quincey this summer and promote Machenko and Jensen, they would have a better D NOW and not have to deal with all 4 at once next season. Kronwall - Green Dekeyser - Marchenko Smith - Kindl Jensen(Sproul) I still believe that one of the kids will be packaged, although we have no room for more players, but if we got one essential part or a few assets, it may work.

Franson still weighing options...hey Cody join us, we can dump Q and give you his money for a year, then you can try UFA again next July!

#97 is cool, anything but #90. I am pretty sure they won't let him wear #91, he may not even want to do so. But remember, #11 is also opening up...#17 is open, #22, #23 (I am sure Lashoff won't be back) There's always #24, #25, #28, #32, #33....along with a plethora of higher numbers... SAY NO TO 90!!!

Well now that R. Smith has been traded to FLA, maybe we can trade Brendan+ to FLA for a draft pick. I am sure the bros would love to play together! Boy, Boston is having a fire sale this summer...sheesh!

We need a Blue Adams line combo thread...STAT! Who is betting that Weiss ends up back in FLA?

...or maybe he trades Smith, Quincey and Sproul to TO for Phanuef...

Thread Title needs to be change to: NOW Holland Doesn't Expect To Be Busy... ...until he signs Franson tomorrow. Wouldn't that be the sheet? (I know, I know, no Cap Room, just kidding anyhow!)

I recovered. I was personally getting angry that a lot of teams were getting better and it seemed we were just going to go with the kids. I was really angry that Pit got better, but with our two signings, I do believe we got significantly better than we were last season. ESPECIALLY if the roster is filled out by the kids and not Franzen and Cleary. Still a log jam all over, but could be very good for us! The streak will live for sure and maybe even more! We'll also have Mrazek here all season stealing Jimmy's job and Jimmy (hopefully) staying focused because he knows if he slips, his job is gone. Win win for us! Better forwards, better D, better goalie situation....(plus a Jack Adams finalist behind the bench! (Hey, I see it happening!))

So with Green here, there is definitely a move coming or a waiver or two. Kronwall-Ericsson Dekeyser-Green Smith-Quincey Kindl Sure, I guess the kids can go to GR, but Marchenko already said he doesn't want to spend aother whole year in the A. I honestly think a great idea would to be move K and Q and give a spot to two of the kids. You may be able to get a pick for each of them. Kronwall-Ericsson Dekeyser-Green Smith-Marchenko Jensen

Well with Richards on board, that makes 14 forwards (with Franzen still being hurt) Tatar-Datsyuk-Abdelkader Nyquist-Richards-Zetterberg Jurco-Sheahan-Pulkkinen Miller-Glendening-Helm Andersson/Ferraro Callahan may beat out Ferraro, unless there is a trade upcoming to make room. I am not so sure Ferraro would clear waivers again, I am not even sure Callahan would either.