LeftWinger

Dekeyser was never really going anywhere else but Detroit. I guess there was an outside chance, but he said himself that there never really was any other contenders. regarding Welsh, yes I do like all the other signings and I said Welsh could maybe be one if those signings next season when even more kids get promoted. He may only have 25 NHL games, but he us a solid AHL'r would could do spot injury time in the NHL. He would be very valuable within the organization as will be all of the signings this summer who may or may not see a Detroit uniform this season as well. Depth is a good thing.

I find it funny that after all the hoopla Justin Shultz is still unsigned in Edmonton. Has anyone heard any rumblings going on with him? Not that we could afford to add him to our roster, but I just thought it very funny that Edmonton "won" the sweepstakes and haven't yet tied him down for another 3 contract. I would, of course, rather have him than either Q or K... Also, I see that Jeremy Welsh signed a minor league two-way contract with St. Louis for $550,000. Damn, I sure would've liked to have him the organization. Its only a one year though, maybe he could be one of those depth signings next season that Holland likes to do. He would have been a nice invite to training camp as well if he hadn't signed in St. Louis. They got them a nice solid depth player.

Imagine is Tatar AND Nyquist BOTH get 25-30 goals this season! That would make Franzen VERY tradeable! Not that we'd get much in return, but if we got 50-60 goals from the two kids, Franzen could be dealt for a draft pick... I would definitely explore trades involving Franzen before the two kids... I still like him in Vancouver with the twins... Not that this is a Franzen thread, but I'd just like to see the future if they are outperforming him. IF by the trade deadline both Nyquist and Tatar are on a pace for 25-30 goals and Jurco is also on a pace for 20+ that would be enough for me to trade Franzen. Especially if he is still floating around most games. He can still get 20 goals floating, I know, and that would still make him a fairly attractive piece to a club that may be able to re-ignite his career. Not that we need to trade him, but maybe if he was a piece of a deal that involved a defenseman... Anyhow, I am excited to see Tatar and Nyquist here from day 1. I would even experiment with Tatar on the 1st line with Pav and Z. Z - Pav - Tatar Nyquist - Weiss - Franzen Jurco (or Abby/Alfie) - Sheahan - Glendening Miller- Helm - Abby (or Cleary) Cleary/Andersson I realize Jurco has exemptions left and will more than likely start the year in GR, so that means Abby could jump up or if Alfie returns and Cleary could be on the 4th slowing down Helm and Miller...but that is what we will have to deal with for at least 10 games...

The more I look at the NHL and think about this deal, I like it more and more. A lot of us ***** about not getting the UFA or being on someone's trade list and in the same sentence we ***** about not having our kids on the roster. I am VERY guilty of this! But, this guy qualifies as a kid last time I checked, if we would've gotten Kesler or Iginla, etc... there would've been no room for this guy. I like our direction more and more each day as well. I am also glad we didn't trade him for a defenseman. I think the focus now should be the kids and building a new core. Unfortunately for Alfie there is only $5M+ left in cap space, if Danny D gets $4M of it (which I believe he will) there won't be any cash left for him. Unless he signs a $1M deal. I am not beating a dead horse here, but I would rather have Alfie here than Franzen. I sure wish there was a way to trade Franzen and just sign Alfie to a 1 year deal. That would not only rid us of that contract, but open the door even more next season to add the other kids that will be out of exemptions and deserve to be here. I also believe that Tatar at $2.75M is going to be far better than Franzen at $3.9M this season and beyond. As of right now, without Danny D signed, the Wings have $15M in cap space next year, with Nyquist, Smith, Jurco and Pulkkinen to re-sign, along with whoever else will be brought up to the big club. This season the guys out of exemptions are marginal players (I would still hate to lose them) but next season, the likes of Jurco, Pulkkinen are guys that we CANNOT afford to lose for nothing. I still question a lot of things Holland has going on, and I still have very low opinions of Franzen, Kindl and Howard going forward with this team, but good thing is, better players are on the way! Again, I like this signing more and more everyday, he is part of our future core (for now, Holland could still do something crazy! ) and I believe he will prove this to be a bargain deal once its all said and done.

Z - I agree with you, and I hope the cap hit stays somewhere around Tatar's, that way there is money left over for a trade deadline acquisition... Did I just say that? Anyhow, I do hope it is close to Tatar, but I got a feeling its going to be more towards Gardiner... I guess if he signs for 4-5 years @ $4.2Mish I could be ok with that, considering the money Holland has given Quincey. I know Q has more seniority in the league, but Danny is better already. I hope that Danny signs one of those homer discounts to remain here forever and be part of (hopefully) a core that is going to grow into the next Dynasty.

not sure if anyone posted that Gardiner re-signed with Toronto for $4.05M...he was a RFA defenseman. So, this will probably be the starting point for DeKeyser. He will more than likely get a similar contract.

I would invite Penner and Morris for sure...if we are inviting FA's to camp.

but seriously, the definition of clutch is Johan Franzen. He does, afterall, lead the team in GWG all the time. FWIW, Chris didn't tell me anything about Helm. I was just using him as an example that people know people and its not out if the realm for a common fan to know someone in the NHL on a personal level.

if they had kept Vernon, not only would they still have won in 98, they more than likely would've won again in 99. Ozzie got hurt and Ranford was past his prime. Plus I believe Ranford got hurt as well... I still never understood the reason behind that trade.

he just may be the next ******* all-star!

ok, ok, no more Diesel... I said its too much so he better get 20-30 goals to prove he is worth it. If he never gets 20 then its way over payment. Closer to 30 and he is worth it for sure! In the end I am glad he is still a Red Wing! Go Tatar!

too much money. He best get 25-30 goals in each of his years...this is the reason the salary cap was put in place. There is no way a sub twenty goal scoring RFA should be anywhere near this amount. But it is Ken Holland. He hasn't changed anything in his approach. This means Diesel will get at least $4M.

What we should do is change the subject of the topic to "If the Wings stay relatively healthy all year, what are you predictions?" Like I said, if the oft injured players all play 70+ games, it can be nothing but a better year. If that indeed happens, then I can see a 4th or 5th place playoffs spot for sure, if not higher. Jimmy has to be pushed to higher expectations though...he has to carry us.

I too would love to have everyone play 70+ games. It is not out of the question, and I really hope it happens. IF it does happen, I can see a lot of your predictions happening, bcause a full 100% healthy team makes this team a top 5 Eastern Conference team. Minus the suppression of the kids that is... Zombo...tsk tsk tsk, so just because someone works for the Wings, means that no one is allowed to know them on a personal basis? Ya, ok, as soon as they get hired or play for the Wings or any NHL team they are supposed to ditch their friends. I am personal friends with Manny Legace's father-in-law, who is personal friends with tons of former, current players, trainers, coaches, JLA employees along with similar people in the St. Louis Blues, Carolina Hurricanes association. And even if it was just one person's opinion of Helm that I was told about, that doesn't mean that it's true or untrue, it just makes it someone within the organization personal opinion, who is closer to the players and the NHL than you are. So yes, when lets say for example, a trainer may play pick up hockey at the JLA with someone who isn't part of the organization expresses his personal opinion, that would be info from a Red Wings insider, as compared to all the rose colored homerism from most Wings fans. Keep in mind that for every trainer you see on the bench there are about 20 that are behind the scenes that work with the players. So instead of just trying to knock someone down, think about what you are about to say. Just because you don't know anyone, doesn't mean nobody does. Helm has that rep. Sorry to burst you love bubble over him.

$7M? Overpayment.... No more than $1.5M per please. Maybe $5M for the term.

Geez KRS, you start a thread asking for predictions and then when some users try to be realists and not just say "Everyone will be healthy and bounce back and we will win" you call them negative nancy's and tear down their post. Fact is KRS, Pav, Z, Franzen, Kronwall, Ericsson, Howard will NOT be healthy all year. They haven't been healthy all year for a while now. They are older, slower and more prone to injury. Ever had a blown disc? or a pull muscle in your back? The slightest movement in the wrong direction can and usually does re-injury it. Surgery or not. I am not going to predict that they will all be injured by November or maybve even all at the same time, but they will be injured. Howard will continue to be average, he has never been anything but average. Franzen will float around most the season showing very little interest (he should have been the buyout and will drag our team down for the next 6 years, if he makes it that far.) I can see Weiss having a better season, there is nowhere to go but up. Helm is a ***** (from a Wings Insider) and will sit each time he breaks a nail, its fact, don't hate me for it. Kronwall always sits some games, but he will be good as usual, minus his kronwalling though, he just doesn't seem to be brave enough to do it anymore. Ericsson is hurt every year, no need to think he won't be again. Even when he is healthy, he is no more than a #4 d-man. Pav and Z, when healthy will continue to carry this team even though Holland, yet again, failed to provide them with the help they need by refusing to make deals that are necessary. The kids will shine! But some will sit in place of Cleary and Quincey, because loyalty "works" in Ken Holland's world and vets have to lose the spot, not earn it. Kindl will not be traded, nobody wants him. He will continue to play because "he knows our system" and once again, the vet gets the spot. This is not negative, this is reality. Everybody in the world knew that the Wings needed a top 3 forward and needed a top 2 defender and better goaltending. Holland failed to get it via UFA and has no balls to deal roster players to change the direction of this team. He sat back and let better players go elsewhere for whatever reason "he don't know why they aren't coming here." Me either. I am fine with that, because UFA's choose where they go, screw them if they don't want to come here. That's fine. Holland tried, but for some reason he is failing. I believe its because of his past tendencies to low-ball UFA's and his failure to keep Detroit an attractive place to play. Whatever, he can't get everyone, but he is definitely failing in his job. Follow that up by the Cleary and Quincey re-signings, soon to be followed by Alfie and there is no reason to believe the season will not go the same way, if not worse. Goaltending needed to be upgraded. Monster isn't horrible, but he isn't good, face it. He has no way of pushing Howard to be better, and Howard needs to be pushed. He is too comfortable in his spot and he also makes too much money. If Holland didn't want to sign a UFA to push Howard (wishfully out of a starting job) he should have just promoted Mrazek to push Jimmy, he is better than Monster and Jimmy. I would love to predict that they will win the Atlantic and seriously challenge for the Cup. I will be the first one in line to eat crow if that miracle happens and they do. But as long Holland doesn't make the moves to make this team better, and keeps suppressing the kids by having useless Vets and average players here, I cannot see that happening. I will predict another sub-standard Red Wings season, riddled with injuries, chasing that last playoff spot and barely making it. I hope I am wrong, but then again every year I hope for the best, even in the Dead Wings era, I hoped for a Cup, but when it was all said and done, I was not surprised by what happened. I hope for a 180, I really do, but honestly and not just being negative to make people angry, the sun isn't shining on the Wings right now, and it could be a long tough year.

crossing my fingers he clears waivers. We cannot lose him for nothing...

Ya, there is no way you can compare a rookie to a 12 year vet. Who would do that? Especially the best two way forward in the NHL...C'mon! KRSMITH17, if you take Tatar and Datsyuk and put them as rookies together, they are VERY comparable. When Pav started, he was FAR from the player he is today, he was a 3rd line center playing with Hull and Boyd. He actually had a stigma about him that he couldn't score in the playoffs (he had 15 points in 4 years.) It wasn't until 5 years into his career that he shook that off his back (16 points in 18 games.) And it wasn't until that same year that he got his first votes as a Selke candidate, finishing 20th in voting. No one is saying he is as good as Datsyuk today, what they are saying is Datsyuk started out similarly and it is not out of the realm of possibility to foreshadow Tatar maybe taking same path to greatness. No one knew in 2002 that Pavel would be the player he is today. They knew he had potential and showed some flash of something special, but to become a near Hart trophy winner, nobody could see that. Tatar could very well be as good as, or even better than Pavel after he is in the league 12 years from now. Nobody knows...but it isn't way off base to compare both of them as rookies. That would be like comparing Pavel in 2002 with Fedorov in 2002.

Zombo, there is nothing wrong with being disappointed in Holland. I simply said Booth was a hometown kid, more than likely gave Holland a call because most hometown kids do dream of playing for their childhood team. But Holland is happy with his team and won't do another thing until he signs Alfie. BTW David Friggin Booth is tons better than Dan s***stain Cleary. Booth has proven to have chemistry with Weiss and that kind of chemistry is valuable around this league. I was not saying that Booth was going to be the savior of this team, but I'd rather have Booth and 30-40 points at $1.1M than Cleary and his 10 games at $2.75M and probably 0-5 points. Just saying. And btw, where in my post did I say Holland is a bad GM? So, when you decide to comment on someone's quote, make sure you are quoting the correct post.

Cleary is making more than Booth too? Hey Holland, Booth is a local kid, has some chemistry with Weiss, he just signed for $1.1M... I am just baffled. Baffled. Why the hell wouldn't Holland give Booth a 1 year try? All these guys that are getting bought out are signing 1 year deals for the cheap to earn the next big deal. You have to figure Booth's camp called Holland. Holland could have had him for pennies, now when he is a UFA next season, he will get a huge raise...He obviously didn't go to TO to win a Cup next year (like Heatley is trying to do and Richards as well.) He was looking for a job to earn a fatter paycheck next season and Holland isn't even answering phone calls he is happy with his team and waiting to sign Alfie. I get more and more mad everyday watching quality (not high end, but quality) talent go elsewhere for less money than Cleary and #KFQ signed for...and ALL better than Cleary and #KFQ... Sorry guys, its just so hard not to get frustrated and confused...

...nah, if he were the new wunderkid (the kid in TO) then he'd be in Pittsburgh...oh wait, could Pittsburgh role as the golden franchise come and went? Is TO going to be the new face of the NHL? Hmmm..... On subject, no thanks to GM's that couldn't get it done...we already have one that is struggling a bit right now.

I hope they do clear waivers, because there is no room here for them. Problem is now, when it comes to injury call ups, it will be guys that don't have to clear waivers, so it will look like the non-exempt guys are pretty much screwed out of a NHL job, unless they do get called up and play so well that Holland can't send them back...Sheahan, Jurco, Tatar. We didn't land anyone in UFA land, so I just want to see what our kids are ready to do. But I do kinda understand Holland not wanting 50%+ kids and turn into Edmonton. I like depth signings, especially since they pretty much act as extra draft picks.

These AHL signings are nice depth, especially when Holland dinks around and loses his players with no exemptions to waivers. Someone has to take those spots in GR. We've signed 4 new guys for GR and will probably lose Aubry, Callahan, Nestrasil, Ferraro, Fournier, Parkes, Coetzee, and Emmerton. Almqvist already bolted to Europe. All these guys are UFA's or RFA's or already signed, but have to pass waivers in order to stay in GR.

Yes, but the question remains...what to do with Ferraro, Callahan & Nestrasil...I do think Nest is out of exemptions as well. I would like to see Alfie signed, or I would like to see Penner signed. So there needs to be some roster room made. Trade or waive Andersson, give Cleary his ten games and then send him to GR. But we need to address our guys out of exemptions. I know they haven't turned into gangbusters, but I would hate to lose them for nothing. Especially since I haven't even seen Nest play yet. Any way you look at it, there are two too many forwards on this team. Even with Andy and Cleary gone (GR or waived.) I guess we can only hope the 3 kids can squeak through waivers... Must get rid of Andy and Kindl though. Promote Marchenko to be the #6 guy and keep Lashoff the #7. On topic, I'd take Alfie for $3M NO bonuses. And give Penner $1.5M. He may be able to help the PP get better.

I think Diesel should get about $3M max. I would prefer $2.5M. Lets consider the possibility that Kindl may likely be gone, so that would free up $2.4M. If Diesel was going to get $3M, then if Holland gave him a bit more, it wouldn't hurt the cap too much. I would like $2.5M to $3M, but I would be upset if he got $3M to $4M. We have to get him locked up. He chose Detroit over all the other teams who were throwing offers to him, Holland needs to exercise his well known loyalty contract and show his appreciation for choosing Detroit. No lowballing, no this is Detroit, no we are farmers...none of that. Its time for a change in philosophy. Start showing the FA's out there that you are willing to pay quality players, quality money and they may start taking notice. Stop paying your below average players the same amount of money you are offering the high end UFA's and things will change. If we dumped Kindl, I wouldn't mind seeing Diesel and Tatar getting a combined $5M-$6M...with Diesel getting the bulk share of course.