Zetts

The tone isn't quite as positive as I'd been hearing for the past few days, but basically nothing has gone wrong yet. Mlive

I've got to say, I really dislike the contract. For amount somewhat, but especially for term. First, his point totals are quite weak for that type of money. His career high was 70 points and that was back in 2006-2007. In the seasons since then, he's put up: 7 pts in 10 games 39 pts in 64 games played 52 pts in 73 games played 57 pts in 80 games played 64 pts in 81 games played 32 pts in 42 games played. Obviously he's a strong defensive player which increases his value, but it still seems high when you consider that it's an 8 year deal. With that sort of term, they should have been able to get the yearly average down more. Then look at the number of games played in each of those years. He's quite injury prone. Edit: However, I guess players like Filppula getting 5x5 would certainly suggest that Bergeron is worth this contract.

Two things: 1. That's exactly the situation we're in with Smith. He hasn't reached his hearing yet either. So, given the current situation, both Hudler and Filppula would be valid to include in the discussion even IF you were right. Which brings me to point 2: 2. Hudler did in fact take them to arbitration. He got 5.75M over 2 years from the arbitrator.

Agreed. I'd be willing to bet Parros barely touches the ice in the playoffs.

Maybe he just wants to expedite the process of getting a contract completed. There's nothing to indicate he's asking for a ridiculous amount. I really don't see the "ego" angle to this.

Could you explain why you believe that filing for arbitration means that he has a big ego? We don't know anything about the negotiations between Holland and Smith's agent to this point.

Dekeyser played unreasonably well for someone jumping into the NHL like that. Most defensemen when they enter the league play closer to how Smith did than Dekeyser. I'll fully admit I was hoping for more from Smith. I'm still confident he'll become a much stronger player over time though. As I've mentioned before, Jiri Fischer was despised on these boards for the longest time. You can't give up on players right away. (And by "you", I don't literally mean you, Kip, I mean the large group of people here that bash Smith.) There's frequently a huge lack of patience here.

St. Louis got robbed.

Actually, the legitimate point is how we played against them, as SaCkaveli20 suggested. The Wings have no control over how well Boston plays (i.e. the playoff success in '11 and '13 to which you're alluding). They only have control over how they themselves play against Boston, which, as was just demonstrated, has been exceptionally well.

I'm actually very happy. A little scared of how we'll ditch the extra players though. I just want Tatar and Nyquist on the team next year, that's all I ask for now. We could have a great team next year.

Hey, maybe he just read LGW and got pissed at how much crap he was getting for not signing people. I'd like to see someone make a joke about Kenny golfing now...

From Helene St. James' twitter:

The best part is that Helm is now apparently healthy, as per Helene St. James' twitter:

McKenzie just tweeted it - done deal. 5 years, 4.9M/yr. Great deal for us.

Ignoring the discussion of Fil vs Weiss for a minute, has anybody actually heard of any teams that are interested in Fil given his salary demands?

That's because you're taking Filppula's ONE good season in there. That's the whole point, nobody believes that that's the player he really is. He finally breaks through and then regresses. Here's some more telling stats of the top 5 seasons for each player (from best to worst): Filppula: 66 pts, 40 pts, 39 pts, 36 pts, 35 pts Weiss: 61 pts, 60 pts, 57 pts, 49 pts, 48 pts. And Weiss played on a crap team for most of those years. There is no way Filppula is better.

See this is what I want to confirm. Can anyone say whether we have the option to have the 2M bonus count for the coming season if we have the cap space (as opposed to letting it carry over to the year after)?

I don't know if that's necessarily any better. I believe we have the option though - I think that we can retroactively apply it to this season if the cap space remains. I could be wrong, but that was my understanding. Regardless, Capgeek currently lists it as 5.5M for this year.

It's being reported as 5.5M (that's due to the bonuses). I assume this means the bonuses are mere formalities and will be easy to hit. 3.5M would have been a good deal.

In other news, according to Jim Matheson's Twitter, Weiss is looking for 6M/yr.

You can't forcibly "grab" a player. Players make choices. What I take from this thread is that Holland is exploring many options in the FA market, which is exactly what a good GM should do.

Grabovski is reportedly being bought out (as per Bob McKenzie's twitter). I don't think I'd really want him, but having one more top 6 player on the market might drive down prices at little bit. Hopefully.

Our fourth liners aren't asking for 42 million.

I am so confused by our roster right now. Colaiacovo played well (when he wasn't injured, obviously) and gets bought out, leaving us with 7 defensemen. We don't buy out any forwards, re-sign Miller and plan on re-signing Cleary and Brunner. Including Andersson, Nyquist and Tatar that gives us 16 forwards and we STILL can't properly fill the top 2 lines. Lovely.

I feel like Bickell is being over-valued because of one good playoff run. If he keeps playing at this level, probably Bickell. I don't believe that he'll play that well every year, although only time will tell. Regardless, the Wings' lack of top 6 talent isn't a basis for arguing that players on other teams are being paid appropriately.