YoungGuns1340

Unless youre really dense, the connection is clear. All I was saying is its no more reasonable to expect Rolston to sign for 1 year at 5M or 3 years at 2.5M - i.e. the only circumstances under which we would sign Rolston - than it is for Hossa to sign at 1 year for 3M.

Rolston really isnt a "secondary" scorer. Hes a legit 2nd liner. Its hard for us to conceive of 2nd liners as being primary scorers, since we barely have a 2nd liner that can break 45 points (which by nature of the offensive production negates the status as a 2nd line player, but I digress), but he is very good for 25-30 goals and 55-60 points. Not to mention hes solid in all other aspects of the game. As much as people on this board have a bone over Franzen and Filppula, and think they'll score 40 goals and 80 points, respectively, next year, Rolston would be our #3 producer up front. Hank, Datsyuk, Rolston. Look at the numbers (and that sick wrist shot) and its pretty evident. That said, signing Rolston makes ZERO sense unless it were a HUGE discount (2.5-2.8M) or 3-5M on a one year contract. Neither of those I would mind, but since both those scenarios are similar to expecting Hossa to sign a 1 year, 3M contract with us, its not going to happen. So really, any debate on a Rolston addition is a moot point, as much as I hate to say it. Ive wanted this guy in a Wings jersey since his years in Boston...

Thats not saying much. Pronger and Beauchemin had beyond mediocre years, and Niedermayer waited out half the season. So I guess Schneider was better than O'Donnell. Oh boy, he should be proud of himself.

Its not just that they have to trade Schneider. They have to trade Schneider AND one of Bertuzzi or Marchant. With Niedermayer + Bonuses, they are at 53M. Thats 3.7M left to re-sign Selanne, add a 2nd line center, and re-sign Perry. Perry alone should cost 5M (especially if Burke is forced to match a reasonable offer sheet. Whos to say some GM won't offer Perry 5.25-5.5 just to drive up Burkes re-signing costs?) That puts them at a good 1M over the cap, plus the league isn't going to allow the Ducks to sign Selanne to a pittance. He should come in at at least 1.5. Theres no way Bert or Schneider are going to add anything of value to their roster in a trade, unless it was a salary dump from another team, which defeats the purpose, they'll have to sign a low-paying Dman to replace Schneider to begin with, which should cost them 700k if the guy is remotely respectable. That puts them at nearly 3.5M over the cap, and signing a 2nd line center is going to cost them a lot more than 2M. And this is all assuming they find a taker for Schneider ASAP, sign Selanne and Perry to well under what theyd make on the market, and find a 2nd line center that will cost them sub 2M. I am so excited to see how Burke handles this.

I agree. I don't see how Lecavalier's deal has anything to do with Zetterberg. And frankly I think the logic of one player directly impacting every similar players contract negotiations has gotten out of hand. Hank is not the best player on his team, Vinny is. Hank's team is designed to compete year after year for the big prize, Vinnys team isnt. Hank isnt the captain, Vinny is. Vinnys team isnt filled with veterans who have taken discounts to wear the Winged Wheel, Hanks is. And Feaster isn't Holland. Just because Lecavalier and Zetterberg are similar players doesn't mean they'll get paid similarly.

Thats why I liked D and D too. Typically the enforcer role is conceived to be a dirty, goonish role. But all things considered, DMac and Downey are pretty classy fighters. They don't spend their time throwing cheap or dirty hits or pick on smaller players when they're on the ice, and when they are throwin' down, its never when the opponent doesn't even have his gloves off a la Tootoo, with a non-fighter a la Pronger, or with a visor on a la Iggy (although hes gotten better about that).

For whoever asked, Brashear isnt on the market. Washington tied him up pretty quickly once he reached UFA status. Ovechkin is a big boy so you know only the toughest of guys would come after Ovy. As such, they re-signed the guy thats been keeping Ovy home-free for his career so far. Very smart move by GMGM.

I dont know why on earth people are even debating that hed look good in a Red Wings jersey. The guy is a great hockey player, but its pretty clear that Detroit has spent the last few years - or maybe Babcock has been the motivation - clearing their space of any players whos egos far outweight their worth. The Red Wings will absolutely not sign any player they think will cause even the slightest of fissures amongst their tightknit group.

That would be insane if 5 of our 6 regular Dmen came up through our system.

Well, you kind of are comparing him to Z if you think he'll get 35 goals in 80 points. Thats what Zetterberg got in his third year. At any rate, I wasnt necessarily aiming at you, when I said a lot of folks are homers on here for comparing Flip to the next Zetterberg. Its just that Ive heard that comparison a lot around the internet and I think its simply outdated, the same way saying Kronwall is the next Lidstrom is. As for Flip, my point with listing his numbers in comparison to Datsyuks (17 pts to 35 points, 36 points in 78 games to 51 points in 64 games, etc) is that Datsyuk hit 68 points in his third campaign and so far Flip has been nowhere near Pavels numbers at any time if you parallel their careers.

Thats my issue with Filppula, hes got skills, and hes got talent in all areas of the ice, but his offensive smarts - not really there. He has trouble choosing when to shoot, when to pass, and where to be on the ice. His offensive positioning is actually pretty poor for a 2nd liner. Hudler doesnt have half Filppulas game, but Hudler has by FAR the better offensive intelligence. Thats something that should be inherent to all guys that are going to put up "70-80" points. Hell - even 60 points. Its very possible - and I know Im going to get hosed for even suggesting this - buts theres a possibility we could have the next Handzus on our hands, rather than a lesser Zetterberg. Not saying he is, just throwing it out there since it seems everyones convinced he'll be Detroits next great offensive threat.

Pretty sure thats illegal under the new CBA.

I dont see how Dallas can miss. They'll have almost the exact same roster as this season, only with a full year of Brad Richards. If a team is missing the playoffs that was in it this year, its easily the Wild. They'll lose Rolston, and it looks like Demitra too. Who on earth is going to score their goals? Chris Simon and Todd Fedoruk? Sucks for Gabby...

No offense, but you guys are homers. Filppula is a great player, dont get me wrong, but its time to step away from the Zetterberg comparisons. Pavel Datsyuk had 68 points in his third season. And he was a year older than Flip will be in his third seasons, with a good 20 pts on Flip in you compare Pavel and Flips first and 2nd seasons. 70-80 points for Flip? Good one...

I would think he would. Quincey won't be down there, and Ericsson possibly won't either.

You edited at 7:44. I posted at 7:42.

Doan, Jovo, and Turris is the best you can come up with? What about Morris, Michalek (Zybnek that is...very underrated), Vrbata, Hanzal, and Mueller? Carcillo, Weller, and McGrattan?? Then of course jokinen and Bryzy? I'll admit though. They are pretty weak on defense. But they should be an offensive juggernaut, assuming Hanzal and Mueller dont have a sophomore slump.

Yeah but you can tell in the article that that number is pure inference from whoever wrote the article. Watch this: Look for Filppula to sign a 16 year deal in the neighborhood of 9.6-11.8M per year. See? I can do it to. Check the source anyways. Its from Bleacher Report. Basically its some guy spouting off nonsensical salary projections. Thats what I hate about the internet today. Anyone can post anything and all the readers stamp it with sort of official title.

I think we should have more threads like this! You know...threads to discuss what to discuss.

Definitely Grand Rapids bound. The fact that hes a Dman just reinforces the fact that we're gonna have a logjam on defense in the big leagues.

The articles also retarded in that its talking about the Wings being worried about what they're signing two years from now. Sure. As if the cap is going to again be 56M when its projected to possibly reach 68. Sign Franzen and Zetterberg and you shouldnt look past it. At 40 years old, Nick shouldnt be asking for another 7M payday (Dmen do go downhill fast towards the end) and Homer will be what? 38?

I've noticed that reporters are usually idiots when they estimate what players will get. 4M long term for Filppula is not a good deal, not matter how you slice it. I like my players to have at least 10 NHL points to the million before they earn a big pay day. If Filppula gets 4M long-term, what do you pay Franzen? 5.5? Thats retarded. I'd expect the deal to be 5 years/15 million. Anything else Im going to be real disspointed in, unless of course its 6 years/18M.

Hordichuk will NOT be re-signed by the Canes. They traded for his rights and he basically told the Canes "whatever, Im going to free agency." Don't feel like finding the link, but Im sure its on google somewhere. Hordy will definitely test the market.

Ruutu was traded for Ladd at the deadline last year. It was actually a good deal for both sides as Ruutu and Ladd both played considerably better on their new respective teams. That said, Id still take Ladd. Funny thing is, Ladd is the better of the two and signed to 1.55. Naturally, Ruutu had to be a punk and threaten to walk (I wouldve let him) and ended up earning 2.25. I feel bad for Ladd in general, as Carolina seriously effed up his development. It was VERY clear he shouldnt have stayed in the big leagues, yet they prodded him along where he wound up on the lower lines. The kid is barely 23 and hes already a 4 year veteran. Unless youve got talent coming out your years, its unlikely youre gonna thrive as a teenager. Let alone as a big physical forward, which typically takes you longer to develop. I wouldnt be surrprised to see Ladd take off with Chicago...

The Flyers are reportedly looking to pare down their payroll, since Richards, Carter, Eminger, Cote, Jones, and Thoresons contracts are going to be on the books, and they already have some big names on the roster. The Flyers are incredibly deep on RW, with Hartnell, Knuble, Upshall, Downie, and Lupul on the line. Of those guys, both Hartnell and Knuble are getting paid the most. It is expected that Holmgren is going to move one of his RWers. Their key target in free agency is a puck-moving Dman, and even the mid-level UFA puck-movers are going to cost around 4M and none of the RWers theyre looking to move are going to nab a puck-mover with big point potential in a trade, so its expected that Holmgren is going to move one of them, and Mike Knubles name seems to be at the top of the list, given that hes older and in the last year of his contract. I know Kenny is looking for a guy to replace Drake and only wants to give out or take on players with one year deals. So why not Knuble? The Flyers main motive for moving a player at this point would be to cut down on payroll, so they likely arent looking for a roster player in return, and the going rate for a 35 year old in the last year of his contract isnt much, especially when other GMs are aware that the Flyers wont be able to address their needs if they dont move a guy like Knuble. To me, Mike is the kind of guy that could kill two birds with one stone. He's a gritty vet AND he can still put up points. Instead of going out and grabbing two guys like Peca and Rolston (not that we would), we could strike a balance. He's also originally a Red Wing and would be a good player in the lockerroom to keep the guys excited for the next cup.