LeftWinger

Yes, The Rangers are where players go for big paydays and no Cups.... but he has won a Cup already in Tampa, so maybe he wants the moon now too....God Bless him! Even though I worked up that roster above, I personally would rather see a Tanguay and a Jokinen here for a ton less Cap hit, that way Holland could easily sign the right players...

The thing is, and i know its 99.99999% fact that he wont be a Red Wing next year, BUT Holland does have enough cash next year to offer him a $9M contract. If the Cap goes up to the rumored $62.3M (third number I heard BTW) that will give the Wings $21.49M in Cap space before anyone is signed... Given that Lids will get at least $6, Wiz a generous $4.5M, they would then have to trade away Hudler's salary, giving them $4.8M to finish up the roster. Slight raises to Miller/Eaves and then add Mursak. That would leave $2.5M and they would have just enough for another $1M defenseman a 7th league minimum defenseman and a league minimum goalie... I know there has been a lot of talk about Jovo, but he made $6.5M last year, do you think he would sign for under $2M somewhere? Anyhow, I will leave the mopping up to Holland, but so far my pipedream roster looks like this... CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR FORWARDS Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Brad Richards ($9.000m) Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.954m) Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.950m) Drew Miller ($0.850m) / Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) Jan Mursak ($0.550m) DEFENSEMEN Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.000m) / James Wisniewski ($4.500m) Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) / ???????? ???????? GOALTENDERS Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) ???????????? CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter) (these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion) SALARY CAP: $62,300,000; CAP PAYROLL: $59,783,711; BONUSES: $0 CAP SPACE (19-man roster): $2,516,289 ...BUT, this all depends on Holland being able to move Hudler before July 1st, if he cannot dump his salary, then even this pipedream goes up in smoke... I sure hope the cap goes up the $5.1M that it has been rumored to (that would be $64.5M and would give Holland $4.7M to mop up,) that would help out alot! But, Richards it is not impossible, just improbable... (unless he does pull a Hossa for one year and then gets a multi-year deal next off season...)

...although I differ with most folks on how good Holland is in dradfting players, he is, by far, the best GM on the business standpoint and pretty much can judge how much talent is worth. And for the most part offes contracts that are above what they are worth. Look at Hudler, before he ran off to Russia, Holland offered him $3.5M a year and he said no and went to arbitration, well we see what the arbitrator saidhe was worth, and now he aint even worth that... If Holland believes Ericsson is worth $2M then odds are that he is in reality worth about $1.25-$1.5M. BUT if Ericsson (or his agent) thinks he is worth more than $2M, the go test the waters because there IS always someone out willing to overpay for potential or just because if the fact that he is a Champion. (Lebda) These players need to realize that Holland isn't out to screw them (yes, he is managment, and needs to make more money than he spends, but I don't think the Wings are in danger of being in the red none too soon,) they should know that he overpays his own players just to try to keep them. Ericsson should take the $2M and run with it... Any of you think that Holland could re-sign him with the notion of moving him back to wing? He would be a huge obstacle in front of the net... Just a thought...

I say no more than $1.8M... Our D would look nice with him back there along with any combo of the UFA's we all want, but I am not gonna lose any sleep if he goes elsewhere. Wouldn't be the first time we gave away a huge D-Man only to find out he wasn't worth it anyhow....see Kuznetsov...

Well, I DO hope Hudler is traded at the draft or before the season starts...I guess he could hang around to prove his worth, but even if he plays better this year, he will be the one going in a package at the trade deadline when Holland acquires his REAL top 6 forward...preferably he goes a the draft... anywho, how would you guys feel if Holland added three UFA D-Men along with re-signing Lidstrom? Let's say something like: Lidstrom - Stuart Kronwall - Wisniewski Babchuk - Jovo Kindl or skip one UFA from the outside and re-sign Ericsson... I have no problem with Ericsson as long as Holland doesn't overpay by too much. (just cause we have the cap space, doesn't mean we should overpay) Then I am gonna hold out hope and cross my fingers for Tanguay, Jokinen or maybe Cole...I know that is a lot of changes, and just like I would hate to overpay just to spend the cap, I would hate to spend it just cause we have it, although saving too much seems to be a waste... I am still not sure if a team can carry 14 forwards and 7 D for a total of 23 players (with goalies) or is 22 the max? If 23 is possible then I would like to see: Tanguay - Datsyuk - Filppula Jokinen - Zetterberg - Franzen Bertuzzi - Helm - Eaves Cleary - Abdelkader - Holmstrom Mursak/Miller Defense see above.... Howard Whoever...

This just in from the "I Had No Idea" desk.... I had no idea that Pavel Kubina played 55 games with the Adirondack Red Wings in 1997-1998... I see he was drafted by the Lightning, I wonder why he played in Adirondack? Oh well..... back to topic...

FTW! I am glad I read the responses before I just threw Larionov out there! He would be awesome as an offense coach, who in the world has a better brain for Hockey that is not named Bowman? If Hitchcock goes the Jersey Shore then Boughner... I have always loved to see Larionov and Fetisov as our asst. coachs, now that would be a dream!

Well, I certainly hope you are wrong about the 0% chance.... You are right, usually when someone on LGW starts talking about how bad we want a player here, most the time it only makes sense to him/her and a handful of others here. But, Holland is looking for certain qualities in a d-man that would help his team. Most cases what Holland is wanting and what we are wanting are total opposites. This couldn't be more wrong in the case of Wisniewski, Holland needs a right handed shot on the point and the powerplay, he needs someone who is gonna be more of a physical presence in front of the net, plus he is looking to replace Rafalski's point production as best he can....The ONLY thing that is working against Wiz coming here is (and I am not being anit-Euro) that there are a couple Swedish Defense available as well and more times than not, Holland seems to target them first. But, other than that, Wiz seems to be exactly what the Wings need back there... Regarding his potential overpayment, it wouldn't be the first time Holland has overpaid a player after a breakout year (Draper) and with the available cap space, I see no problem in offering Wiz a $4.5M contract, maybe even $5M but if other teams bid it up over that, then I am not sure about it, I would say instead, give me Jovo and Babchuk and lets see what we can do next off season. I can see Wiz coming here because Detroit is one of the few teams that every training camp you can truthfully say this team has a legit chance at winning the Cup, not just making the playoffs, but actually winning. You cannot say that about Phoenix, LA, Carolina, NY Rangers, Florinda, Colorado et al... Just because a team has a ton of cap space and offers him $6M + at what point does he think he'd rather take less and have a legit chance at a Cup? Whether it be $4.5M here or San Jose or Pittsburgh or Philly, you would think he'd rather take the lessor contract for a Cup...In this case though, Detroit is a perennial Cup contender WITH a ton of Cap Space available, it's a win-win for Wiz and Wings, it should be a no brainer... I do hear you about the injuries, and that is not a very good average only two 70+ games seasons in seven, BUT just look at Franzen's games played the last 6 years, he has only played 60ish more games than Wiz and has been injured almost every, if not every, season of his career, if not in the regular season, then in the playoffs. Yet we still have him on this team for the rest of his career. Same goes with Kronwall, he has played 7 seasons and only topped 70 twice and has often been injured throughout his career thus far, and its a safe bet when his contract his up, he'll get $5-$6M... I do think Wiz is worth the same gamble we take on these guys every season. I just hope that Holland is actually looking at Wiz for the reason's that I mentioned above that makes him a great fit/need for this team. After all the crap I took for being mad and confused at to why Holland did NOT sign Malhotra for $1.5M instead opting for Williams at $1.5M because he was a right handed shot and (supposedly) great on the powerplay, if Holland opts to sign a lefthanded defensman instead of the right handed Wiz (for the same or similar price,) I will be even more mad at and confused as to what makes Holland tick. He says he needs a right handed shot, toughness, grit and points, lets see if he actually goes after Wiz on July 1st. Win-Win... Do It Kenny! Do It! Yes, a top six forward: Tanguay/Jokinen/Cole ...and yes Wiz would be awesome here, I say offer him a two year $4-$4.5M per and then if he actually improves this team and continues his offensive threat as well as remains the aggressive guy we lack, then give him a nice fat contract, heck in two year he will still only be 29 years old, so if he works out like Stuart or better, why not make Detroit his final stop? again, Win-Win...

Tanguay or Jokinen Datsyuk - Filppula Bertuzzi - Zetterberg - Fanzen Eaves - Helm - Cleary Miller - Abdelkader - Holmstrom Mursak ...Tanguay or Jokinen will cost way less than $4M a piece, spend the money on the defense, even if it means giving Ericsson a one year $2.5M contract to prove he deserves more next go round. (re)sign Lids ($6M) Ericsson ($2.5M) Wisniewski ($4M) if you wanted to keep Smith in GRR for another season, then add a Jovo for ($1.5 - $2M) or a higher end player like Pitkanen, but Joni is gonna cost more like $5M since he already makes $4M... Lids - Stuart Kronner - Wiz Ericsson - Jovo Kindl that would be a nice solid lineup that I would be happy with....(not that Ken Holland is too worried about what makes ME happy) just a question for anyone out there, can teams carry 14 forwards and 7 defensmen or is it only 13 forwards? If they can have 14, then you could try to get two forwards and keep Mursak and Miller to rotate in and out of the top 12...

Did I miss something? I find it hard to understand that if Rafalski does anything while retired (including but not limited to, breaking a bone,) it would have any kind of affect on the Wings... To the OP, seriously? Bertuzzi as the 13th forward? If the Wings sign three $4M players, two of them will be on the defense... Eaves and Miller are pretty much locks to re-sign, Mursak cannot be sent down without clearing waivers and Hudler is going to be traded... I don't get where that makes Bertuzzi #13 on the list... Even if Holland pulled Brad Richards out of his ass (not intended to sound that way, pervs) Bertuzzi would still be AT LEAST on the third line...

Legace is far from terrible...

Wiz pretty much encompasses what the Wings lack on the blue line. Could his 51 points be a one hit wonder? He scored 30 last season with ANA, and he started out this season with the Isle, so that hurt him a bit, but he still scored 21 there and then 30 in Montreal. I don't think he is bad defensively, yes he was a -14 on the year, but he was a -18 while on the Isle (not many players are in the + on that team) but ended up a +4 with Montreal. I have a strange feeling that in Detroit, he would be a + player as well... $4M is well worth him being here. The other guys you mentioned outside of Jovo, would either cost too much or there is no chance of them NOT re-signing where they are right now...although I still hope for Pitkanen as well as Wiz...

ya, he should, wherever he ends up playing... Anyhow, Stuart, very valuable to this team and he deserves and probably will re-sign to end his career as a Detroit Red Wing...

Here is a guarantee, if Lidstrom signs with Tampa, then Weber will sign with Detroit... this COULD happen, but I think I would win the mega-millions before either happened (which also COULD happen) I believe that you have a better chance of the United States Government confessing the truth behind 9/11 than any of that happening though...sorry... edit: The question wouldn't be if you will still like Lidstrom, the question would be would you still like Yzerman for poaching our best defensman of ALL TIME...

...how many points did Wisniewski have last season again? Andrew Ladd has always been a favorite of mine. I remember when he was in Chicago I was hoping the Wings would pull something to get him. Fast forward to this year, I didn't know he may $2.3M, it would probably cost at least $3M for him to even consider an offer sheet from any team, and that is too steep in draft pick compensation for him...oh well... My wish list still remains: Wisniewski, Pitkanen (although he'd be pretty expensive,) J. Jokenin and/or Tanguay. (and Maybe a cheap Jovo to replace the greedy Ericsson) Jokenin(Tanguay) - Datsyuk - Filppula Bertuzzi - Zetterberg - Franzen Cleary - Helm - Eaves Miller - Abdelkader - Holmstrom Mursak Lidstrom - Wisniewski Kronwall - Pitkanen Stuart - Jovo Kindl Howard Legace ( I put him down, because all we really need is a competent cheap back-up, and I happen to personally know he would sign for the absolute minimum, MINIMUM!) If PItkanen would prove too expensive, then maybe Anton Babchuk who would be considerably cheaper...

I wouldn't mind Rocco in a later round....but for the first and second, I wouldn't mind any of these: (but what do I know?) any of these guys in the first and/or second (or further down if they are around) would make me a very excited fan. Since it usually takes 3-4 years of developing before they make the big club, any small flaws these kids have SHOULD be worked out before they make the jump...

Yes, but he was selected before Detroit picked in the second round, so Holland would have needed his first pick to select him.... OH and Crymson, the idea is knowing what we know now, Holland would use a time machine to go back and CHANGE history and draft Weber, since that is the only way he will be able to acquire him. Didn't you watch any of the movies?

I suggested this a little while ago. People should have to comment on why they negged someone. But with the mentality of some of the folks here that neg just because someoneisnt a fan of acertain player (cough cough, Hudler, cough) there would probably be explanations like: "You Suck!" or "EAD" Hardly anyone would leave legit reasons that they left a negative... anyhow... I would love to move up in the draft, but not if he is gonna grab that Swedish d-man that some of the mockers have him taking. Jonas Brodin....BLECH! But, the guy I would love to have in the organization is projected at #27 Joseph Morrow... I read this and thought if they are so high on this guy and the fact that they made reference to Rafalski retiring, why wouldn't they mention him for Detroit? The other defensmen mentioned above are all projected to go before Detroit's pick, so all that leaves is Brodin and Morrow, but it sounds like they are higher on Morrow than Brodin. They just must be used to Holland taking Swedish defensmen....

Los Angeles traded Matthieu Schneider to Detroit for Maxim Kuznetsov, Sean Avery, a 1st round pick in 2003 and a 2nd round pick in 2004. You had a nice thought there, but he'd have to go a little further back and NOT make this trade...

I love all the Hudler hate! Priceless! I do agree about Stuart, if everyone remembers he turned down deals for $4M+ to re-sign here. He is worth every bit of the money he makes and is vastly underpaid when it come to comparable players...that being said, he will most likely get a raise next time around, and if Holland throws $4M at Wisniewski (who is worth it IMO) Stuart will definitely get over $4M, just by being one of the players with the most seniority on the team and we all know how Holland rewards that!

not many folks agree, but I think Alex Tanguay would be wonderful on Datsyuk's wing...sure he is not as good defensively, but how many players are as good defensively as Datsyuk? but we don't have to look too far back to comapre, take Kozlov for instance, he wasn't the best defending forward, but he didn't have to be, he played with Larionov and Fedorov, whose defensive skill would never being questioned. Tanguay would be on a top line with Dastyuk and either Zetterberg or Filppula, again, who are all very, very good on that side of the puck... and the Wings would welcome 70+ more points from the forward unit...

"enforcer" is really a outdated term. Wings don't need a Marty McSorely, but a Dallas Drake would suffice... other than being on defense, Wisniewski would fill that role just fine....plus he would score a lot more than Miller...

just a question for you, just how many Detroit Red Wings players do you think live in Southeast Michigan in the off season? Sure, a good portion of them do, but there are some that don't. Just because someone doesn't uproot his family, doesn't mean he won't be a Red Wing for a long time... Exactly what I was referring to, there will be day in Detroit when Kronwall/Stuart are the top paring on the blueline. Even if Lidstrom keeps coming back for more and more, his minutes will dwindle (ala Chelios) and Kronwall/Stuart will increase...

If the Wings make the right tweeks this year and STAY HEALTHY(!!!!) they could be making another trip to the finals WITH Stuart on this team. It's no secret that once a player comes here, more times than not, they finish their career here. Once Lids retires and if they can remain a playoff team, there is no reason why Stuart will not re-sign his final contract here. Not many teams can start training camp with a realistic chance of competing for the Stanley Cup EVERY season. Detroit is one of those teams... can LA say it? Anaheim? Sure they can have realistic goals of making the playoffs, BUT, do they really stack up against a healthy Detroit/Vancouver and San Jose if they could rid themselves of some dead weight... I am sure if Stuart felt that it was time to give way to the next era, he would move on, but like someone mentioned above, as long as he wants to be here, Detroit will keep him. The feeling is likewise I am sure. Stuart will retire a Detroit Red Wing... Besides, there is no reason not to expect, when Nick retires, Brad Stuart won't be the #2 guy behind Kronwall...

I agree, there is nothing wrong with Mursak having to earn that spot. Emmerton may come in and do the right things and earn that spot. Can the Wings have 14 forwards and 7 defensmen? If so then Mursak/Emmerton/Miller can all rotate that 12th spot...