egroen

It's a 50% drop from the average of the first two years (each year, after the first two, could drop as much as $8.5m) -- that contract would be perfectly legal. I would take contracts like that in a heartbeat over a contract that paid $7m+ a year. If he is realy good about it, and reinvesting his interest, those front-loaded contracts end up getting him closer to $8m a year.

Here is my ideal contract for Zetterberg: 15 15 8 4 2 1 1 = $46 million ($6.57m per year cap hit) Investing a good portion of his first two years will earn him an additional $1m each year in interest, bringing his real contract value to close to $52 million or $7.4 million per year. Make it as obscene as you want, this is not a cash-strapped organization: 17 17 8.5 .5 .5 .5 .5 = $44.5m ($6.36m cap hit per year) With interest, that comes out to around the same $52 million in real return over 7 years ($7.4 million per year)

Whoa! Hold the phone... Has anyone stopped to consider Conklin's stats for the playoffs? 10.00 GAA and a .667 SV%

Bring back Millbury!!!

The first win in 97 was very significant to Michigan -- it was following almost a decade long drought in championships for all the franchises. Not only did the Lions suck (as usual), but the Tigers were close to bottom of the barrel and the Pistons were pretty awful too. Ilitch really took advantage of the timeing - people in Michigan were dieing for a good team to rally behind. "Hockey Town" was born and over a milion people came to that parade. There were flags all over the state -- it was pretty unusual. I was not alive during the Dynasty years, but I am sure there is a good study there as well. First one that comes to mind is Ted Lindsay forming the first Player's Union in the NHL and GM Jack Adams and owner Bruce Norris in that whole sordid affair. Quite a bit of history there. Adams and Norris actualy fed the papers false stories to turn the team and fans against Lindsay.

I was curious what Datsyuk's numbers might look like if he had the playing time of someone like Evgeni Malkin. Their playing time per game is a huge difference, and Malkin ends up playing essentially an extra 14 games a season (in ice time). Malkin has played 45 games, has 67 points and is on pace for 122 pts this year. Datsyuk has played 44 games, has 52 pts and is on pace for 97 points this year. Malkin has played about 86 more minutes of even strength time, which Datsyuk scores every 18:30 at (extra 4-5 points). Malkin has played 107 more minutes on the power play (over two minutes extra per game), which Datsyuk scores every 8 minutes on (extra 13 points). So with bumping up Datsyuk's even strength and power play minutes to equal Malkin, he would have an extra 17 points at 45 games putting him at 69 points to Malkin's 67 which would put Datsyuk on pace for about 126 points this year. This is still assuming Datsyuk continues to play a much more defensively responsible game at even strength than Malkin (where Malkin scores at a greater clip per minute). This is not an exact science and I am not claiming it to be... just thought it was interesting and that I would post it.

Malkin plays 1:21 per game on the PK compared to Datsyuk's 1:55 -- but their roles are complete different (Malkin has 2 points on the PK to Datsyuk's 1). Malkin will usuually come out at the end of a PK to be there for that sneaky outlet pass, though his defense has admittedly improved this year. Datsyuk has 56 takeaways (1st) to Malkin's 50 (3rd w/ 2 extra games) but Datsyuk has only 27 giveaways to Malkin's 46. Datsyuk has a 57.2% faceoff win to Malkin's 42.2%. Someone at Hfboards actually took my TOI stats and took it further, including the other top scorers in the NHL:

Love it when LGW.com gets results! Keep up the good work!

If Franzen is demanding close to $5 million and Hudler would sign for under $3 million, my mind is made up which way I would like to see Holland go. I just see Franzen, given his history, as a tough one to sign. I would prefer not to lose both Hudler and Filppula for him... especially when we already have Cleary locked up.

All Hudler has done consistently is surpass critcs' expectations: Too small to compete (Czech league; AHL, NHL) Too slow Can't put up points even strength Will not produce on top lines No defensive game Will crumple against top notch checkers I think he would do just fine on another team; though I really hope we never see it!

Datsyuk and Zetterberg are both currently averaging exactly 1:56 of PK time a game.

Draper could literally be abducted by aliens and the Wings are still on the hook for his salary towards the cap until 2011. He signed a multi-year deal after the age of 35 and has a NTC. Maltby does not fall into those categories, however.

He does indeed have a NTC -- But the extension he signed on October 25, 2007 (three-year, $4.75-million contract) went into effect July 1, 2008. So whether he is physically there or not, he will be factored into the salary cap until 2011!

Correct.

You're right, I forgot about that -- multi-year contracts signed after the age of 35 count against the cap, even if the player retires, is sent to the minors or misses an entire season due to injury. What a stupid rule.

I would assume most teams have awards like this they hand out each year - but the Wings no longer do? Don't they have a "hard hat" award they give to a player after each game -- I know a few teams have that, and thought the Red Wings did for a while, if they still do not.

I usually jump into these pretty quick and start defending the veterans (even Kopecky from time-to-time), but I am having a hard time doing so right now. The prospect of another year of Maltby and two more years of Draper is downright scary at the moment, and I find myself wishing they would both retire after this year. Last year during the playoffs we had an exciting and dangerous 4th line of Hudler, Helm and McCarty --> How about Leino, Helm and Maltby/Kopecky/McCarty this year?

Yup. Filppula and Kronwall are about the only big ticket players that can be traded at this point.

Holland has definitely been conserving cap space, and I think it is for flexibility towards the end of the season or for a small trade deadline acquisition. If he is not going to make a deal, I think we will start to see a lot more GR call-ups, with Maltby and kopecky taking turns as scratches. Meech has allowed him to get the most out of what little cap space Detroit has.

Small problem: Rafalski has a no-trade clause.

Thanks for the post! I'm actually curious which 6 trophies were awarded by the team. I wonder if there is a record of the recipients somewhere? Does the book actually list them?

Completely agree. I have nightmares that Holland will sign Samuelsson over Hudler. Samuelsson is an absolute steal at his current salary, but he has nothing on Hudler.

It's still not a "rule", though they do it every year now. You have nothing to base this on. Word from Ansar Khan (from Jimmy D.) is Lidstrom's number will be retired the second they get the opportunity. He may not be the franchise player Yzerman was, but he was a better hockey player and has spent his entire career with the Wings.

I'm torn - hated Roy with a passion that has worn off a bit over the years, but these New Jersey fans are really starting to bug me with all the talk of Brodeur being the greatest goaltender ever.

I wouldn't take Pronger over a prime Chelios either... no way.