Holland: Wings won't deal unless prices come down

[Mighty Wings 0]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/stories/inde....xml&coll=1

"There are prices we won't pay," Holland said before the Red Wings hosted the Edmonton Oilers at Joe Louis Arena.

"We'll just sit on the sidelines and do nothing. I'm hearing that Monday or Tuesday as we get closer to the deadline and teams are sitting with players, prices will come down. If the prices don't come down, we're just going to sit on the sidelines and go into the playoffs with this team. It's ridiculous right now."

In a move that could clear some salary cap space for a possible trade, the Red Wings put third-string goalie Joey MacDonald on waivers Friday. If MacDonald isn't claimed by this afternoon, he can be sent to the minors where his salary won't count toward Detroit's cap.

Holland denied that the move was made to pave the way for a future trade.

"This is really the first time since November that all the goalies in the organization are healthy," Holland said. "(Dominik) Hasek and Chris Osgood basically take the net for the entire practice. He sits on the sideboards and gets about 10 minutes at the end of practice.

"To think if we need a goalie down the stretch that he's going to be ready to play, I don't see how that's going to happen. We know we're taking a risk that he could be claimed."

Holland said it would be difficult for MacDonald to get playing time with Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League. The Red Wings will try to get MacDonald hooked up with another AHL team before the league's Thursday roster deadline or look for an opening in the East Coast Hockey League.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article...037/1053/SPORTS

“I’m doing lots of talking, we have lots of irons in the fire,†Holland said. “Nothing is imminent. Are we going to make a deal? I don’t know. It depends if the price is right. We’ll see.

“If we don’t do anything, we don’t do anything. If we find a deal we think improves our team, we’ll do it. But we’re not going to make a bad deal just because everybody thinks we need to do something.â€Â

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/artic.../702240411/1128

"Obviously when someone starts talking numerous draft picks and prospects in the same deal, that's too much for me," he said. "We're in a (salary) cap world and we've got probably 10 players who will be NHL players. You start unloading those players this year, and next year's deadline, and we'll empty the rink over the next five years.

"The goal is to be a playoff team every year."

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

that sucks. i can't say i blame him. prices are ridiculous. he should have done something last summer when he could have.

[Louisville 112]

Good

Don't let 'em screw you Kenny!

[Lou_Siffer 1]

At the risk of sounding redundant...i'll say it again anyway. Shouldve filled your major needs last offseason, genius!

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Let the bitching begin...

Honestly though, Holland speaks about the matter intelligently and it would be rediculous to sacrifice our future for a rental player who more than likely won't stay here. I still believe Holland will get someone before Wednesday's deadline, but you can't blame him for saying what he's saying - prices are out of control for these players.

At least he's being upfront about the issue and letting the media and fans know that a deal may or may not be coming, instead of saying he'll get someone. The prices need to come down though. I just read that Phoenix is asking for a 1st round pick and a prospect for Laraque.... BULLs***. What are these GM's thinking?

Edited February 24, 2007 by SwedeLundin77

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I'm guessing there will be a lot of complaining about Holland in this thread based on those comments, but I'm withholding judgement until the deadline passes.

These could be throwaway comments as he continues negotiations, or there could be truth to them. who knows.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

I'm guessing there will be a lot of complaining about Holland in this thread based on those comments, but I'm withholding judgement until the deadline passes.

These could be throwaway comments as he continues negotiations, or there could be truth to them. who knows.

they'll be truthful if prices don't come down. and he's right. this isn't a team that can just hand draft picks and prospects away for one player who'll probably be gone after this season. he should have signed somebody last summer. either way i don't want to give away our future for this year.

[Mighty Wings 0]

At the risk of sounding redundant...i'll say it again anyway. Shouldve filled your major needs last offseason, genius!

And he even had 3 options in guerin, sykora or dumont last summer.

[Guest Crymson]

At the risk of sounding redundant...i'll say it again anyway. Shouldve filled your major needs last offseason, genius!

^^^ Utterly worthless comment.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

they'll be truthful if prices don't come down. and he's right. this isn't a team that can just hand draft picks and prospects away for one player who'll probably be gone after this season. he should have signed somebody last summer. either way i don't want to give away our future for this year.

True.

As many have said, adding one guy is not gonna solve Detroit's problems, especially as a rental. It'd likely help in this years playoffs, but next season we'd be right back to a team lacking grit. Holland needs to make more long-term moves to replace the toughness Detroit has lost.

[Mila 0]

The fact is that Holland has obviously nothing to offer in any trade except draft picks.

He doesn't want to offer prospects Filpulla, Hudler or Kopecky. Other teams wouldn't be interested in washed up players like Williams or Lilja.

On the other hand, loosing draft picks for a player like Tkachuck isn't too good because of a lack of talented and skilled young players that we have now.

[Mighty Wings 0]

Let the bitching begin...

Honestly though, Holland speaks about the matter intelligently and it would be rediculous to sacrifice our future for a rental player who more than likely won't stay here. I still believe Holland will get someone before Wednesday's deadline, but you can't blame him for saying what he's saying - prices are out of control for these players.

At least he's being upfront about the issue and letting the media and fans know that a deal may or may not be coming, instead of saying he'll get someone. The prices need to come down though. I just read that Phoenix is asking for a 1st round pick and a prospect for Laraque.... BULLs***. What are these GM's thinking?

I like the fact that he's very firm right now. But he had a chance at taking care of it 8 months ago.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

And he even had 3 options in guerin, sykora or dumont last summer.

With the exception of Guerin (coming off a horrid season in Dallas), the other two guys would not have solved any of our problems. Dumont is as streaky as they come and he's playing on a good line in Nashville. Sykora is good in Edmonton, but he wouldn't solve any issues of size that we need to address. While your points seem valid, they really aren't. I would not have picked up Guerin, considering that most people around the league considered him to be washed up after his performance in Dallas. Holland has two players in Williams and Samuelsson who were 20 goal scorers last season, if they were both performing up to par, we wouldn't be having the discussion about scoring right now, but they aren't. Both for different reasons, Sammy is hurt of course, but still - that is a big part of the scoring being down this season.

Holland may have made a mistake by not signing anyone this past offseason, but the record and standings sure do not reflect any mistakes.

[Guest Crymson]

And he even had 3 options in guerin, sykora or dumont last summer.

^^^^ Another utterly worthless comment, and one which STINKS of hindsight. Let me lay this out to you:

Guerin's 2005-2006 season was terrible. Nobody really wanted him. Also, he signed with the Blues before Shanahan chose to resign with the Rangers.

Dumont was pursued by several teams. I think it likely that the Red Wings were amongst them. He chose to sign with Nashville. Things are not so simple as "Hey, come to the Red Wings." "Okay!"

As for Sykora, I don't know--but I imagine the case was the same as with Dumont. Again, I doubt Holland wasn't trying.

I don't get what you hope to accomplish by bringing up the past.

I like the fact that he's very firm right now. But he had a chance at taking care of it 8 months ago.

Again, I fail to see how this bears any relevance whatsoever at the present time.

With the exception of Guerin (coming off a horrid season in Dallas), the other two guys would not have solved any of our problems. Dumont is as streaky as they come and he's playing on a good line in Nashville. Sykora is good in Edmonton, but he wouldn't solve any issues of size that we need to address. While your points seem valid, they really aren't. I would not have picked up Guerin, considering that most people around the league considered him to be washed up after his performance in Dallas. Holland has two players in Williams and Samuelsson who were 20 goal scorers last season, if they were both performing up to par, we wouldn't be having the discussion about scoring right now, but they aren't. Both for different reasons, Sammy is hurt of course, but still - that is a big part of the scoring being down this season.

Holland may have made a mistake by not signing anyone this past offseason, but the record and standings sure do not reflect any mistakes.

Good post--way to keep things in perspective!

[SwedeLundin77 460]

^^^^ Another utterly worthless comment, and one which STINKS of hindsight. Let me lay this out to you:

Guerin's 2005-2006 season was terrible. Nobody really wanted him. Also, he signed with the Blues before Shanahan chose to resign with the Rangers.

Dumont was pursued by several teams. I think it likely that the Red Wings were amongst them. He chose to sign with Nashville. Things are not so simple as "Hey, come to the Red Wings." "Okay!"

As for Sykora, I don't know--but I imagine the case was the same as with Dumont. Again, I doubt Holland wasn't trying.

I don't get what you hope to accomplish by bringing up the past.

Again, I fail to see how this bears any relevance whatsoever at the present time.

Good post--way to keep things in perspective!

Spot on Crymson, my thoughts exactly.

[sixer 37]

Hopefully Holland watching us lose to Edmonton again maybe changed his mind!

[Mighty Wings 0]

With the exception of Guerin (coming off a horrid season in Dallas), the other two guys would not have solved any of our problems. Dumont is as streaky as they come and he's playing on a good line in Nashville. Sykora is good in Edmonton, but he wouldn't solve any issues of size that we need to address. While your points seem valid, they really aren't. I would not have picked up Guerin, considering that most people around the league considered him to be washed up after his performance in Dallas. Holland has two players in Williams and Samuelsson who were 20 goal scorers last season, if they were both performing up to par, we wouldn't be having the discussion about scoring right now, but they aren't. Both for different reasons, Sammy is hurt of course, but still - that is a big part of the scoring being down this season.

Holland may have made a mistake by not signing anyone this past offseason, but the record and standings sure do not reflect any mistakes.

^^^^ Another utterly worthless comment, and one which STINKS of hindsight. Let me lay this out to you:

Guerin's 2005-2006 season was terrible. Nobody really wanted him. Also, he signed with the Blues before Shanahan chose to resign with the Rangers.

Dumont was pursued by several teams. I think it likely that the Red Wings were amongst them. He chose to sign with Nashville. Things are not so simple as "Hey, come to the Red Wings." "Okay!"

As for Sykora, I don't know--but I imagine the case was the same as with Dumont. Again, I doubt Holland wasn't trying.

I don't get what you hope to accomplish by bringing up the past.

Again, I fail to see how this bears any relevance whatsoever at the present time.

Good post--way to keep things in perspective!

Guerin was bad in dallas, but you can't tell me $2 Mil + incentives wasn't feasible.

Dumont or Sykora aren't gonna add toughness, I'll give you that but at least if you'd put them on the 2nd line, it wouldn't be as atrocious as it is today.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

^^^ Utterly worthless comment.

How so?

THEN-

"We're going to save our cap space for the deadline to address our needs then" (was this NOT the strategy that everyone talked about?)

NOW-

"The prices are too high for what we need, we may do nothing".

Doesnt sound like the right stategy, does it? Whatever the result, it'll prove that it was wrong. Either they'll do nothing or they'll end up overpaying.

[Guest Crymson]

Hopefully Holland watching us lose to Edmonton again maybe changed his mind!

Changed his mind how? Changed his mind such that he'll pay outrageous prices, prices that no other buyer will pay? I don't quite understand your logic.

Oh, and FYI, we're 1-1-2, shootout losses are meaningless.

How so?

THEN-

"We're going to save our cap space for the deadline to address our needs then" (was this NOT the strategy that everyone talked about?)

NOW-

"The prices are too high for what we need, we may do nothing".

Doesnt sound like the right stategy, does it? Whatever the result, it'll prove that it was wrong. Either they'll do nothing or they'll end up overpaying.

Why is it worthless, do you ask? Because Holland's actions in the offseasons are in the past. Nobody can go back and change what happened. Thus, criticizing those actions in the context of today's events reaches the pinnacle of worthlessness. Worse, in addition to accomplishing nothing, it creates a negative air.

Of course, it might not seem so worthless to you if destructive complaining makes you feel better somehow--if that's the case, then just register the complaints with a wall.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Oh, and FYI, we're 1-1-2, shootout losses are meaningless.

not exactly meaningless. it's a point. i don't like that we resort to such arbitrary means to decide games, but we do. either way a so los is a point

[Guest Crymson]

Guerin was bad in dallas, but you can't tell me $2 Mil + incentives wasn't feasible.

Dumont or Sykora aren't gonna add toughness, I'll give you that but at least if you'd put them on the 2nd line, it wouldn't be as atrocious as it is today.

See my above post.

[Heaton 1]

And he even had 3 options in guerin, sykora or dumont last summer.

Dumont is overpaid, meh on Sykora he's not what we need and Guerin would've been nice.

[datsyukismyfriend 4]

Changed his mind how? Changed his mind such that he'll pay outrageous prices, prices that no other buyer will pay? I don't quite understand your logic.

Oh, and FYI, we're 1-1-2, shootout losses are meaningless.

Why is it worthless, do you ask? Because Holland's actions in the offseasons are in the past. Nobody can go back and change what happened. Thus, criticizing those actions in the context of today's events reaches the pinnacle of worthlessness. Worse, in addition to accomplishing nothing, it creates a negative air.

Of course, it might not seem so worthless to you if destructive complaining makes you feel better somehow--if that's the case, then just register the complaints with a wall.

annalyzing and criticizing the past are the only ways we learn anything. you, as a science major, should know that. it is important to criticize last summer as it is a way to better prepare for next summer. hopefully holland now realizes you can't necessarily wait for the trade deadline like you could before the lock-out. needs need to be better met in the off-season post-lockout.

* grammer

Edited February 24, 2007 by datsyukismyfriend

[GuloGulo 0]

Well there ARE other players than Guerin and Tkachuk...

[Mighty Wings 0]

See my above post.

can't change the past, but I can definitely say that the strategy of putting your problems in the backburner has been a bad one. He needs to learn that slightly overpaying for someone in the summer is the way to go, than giving up high picks/young players at the deadline

Edited February 24, 2007 by Mighty Wings