Red Wings Rumblings and Commentary

[JeeSpot82 10]

http://insidethecode.blogspot.com/

According to Code, who hasn't really been too far off on most things this off-season, The Canadiens have offered Sheldon Souray to the Red Wings in exchange for Robert Lang and a prospect (supposedly Jiri Hudler, but that's not definitive).

I'm happy to shed the salary belonging to Lang in exchange for that of Souray, especially since we have a surplus of centers at the moment. But Souray doesn't really fill the winger void we're experiencing at the moment. I know a lot of people around here are high on Souray, but I'm not positive we need another defenseman. But that's because I like Brett Lebda and want him to play a lot next season. And I don't see the Wings trading commodities for a 7th defenseman.

Code goes on to say that other teams have also been in the running for Souray, so take it as you will.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=2401

Tim Panaccio of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes in his blog on Eklund's site that the Flyers will be looking for a center to fill the slot left behind by Keith Primeau, if he is unable to return. He doesn't explicitely say anything about the Red Wings being players in that deal, but admist the trouble they're having re-signing Simon Gagne, I'd love to drop one of our centers off on the Flyers and take him off their hands. Again, I'll bring up the aforementioned Lang. Given that Gagne will probably command 5-5.5M, and they're becoming strapped, any cap relief will do, even if it is only a 1M because they're still filling a void that needs filling. And shedding another 4M will leave a nice huge cap gap for the Wings to sign Gagne to a longER-term deal.

Again, this is just me talking, but if we can somehow fool the Flyers into thinking Lang uses his size the way that Primeau did/does, it may be a steal in the trade market. Not to mention, Lang isn't at all a bad hockey player - he can still put the puck in the net and any team would be lucky to have him. The only reason I feel he's expendable is because guys like Datsyuk and Zetterberg (assuming one isn't moved to Wing) will eat up most of the ice-time on the dot, so it may be in our best interest to strike while the iron is hot and move a center when one is needed -- especially to the opposite conference.

Is Gagne = Lang? Obviously not. However, given the reasons mentioned above (can't quite come to terms with Gagne, his higher price than Lang, the Flyers need for a C, the Wings need for wings, etc), do you think that it is a feasable plan for either or both teams?

[Lou_Siffer 1]

The Flyers would NEVER trade Gagne for Lang, I dont care how much of a problem theyre having re-signing him. If they decide to trade him, they could do a hell of alot, and i mean hell of alot better than Lang in return. They would go the prospect route (which they could get a couple good ones), before entertaining the thought of a 36 yr old center making almost 4 mill.

[ShreddedRed 0]

I like Gagne, but he's a bit over rated. He had a great season playing with Forsberg, but before that he was barely a top 3 winger. He's good and he's young, but there are much better wingers in the league. He just happens to be one of their better wingers.

They'd still never trade him for Lang straight up, but perhaps if the deal was sweatened a bit with picks or prospects something like this could happen. Doubtful though.