Free Agent Names to Look At

[GiantRobot 0]

I know I'll take heat for this, but:

Out with Lang and Draper (sorry but Drapes is simply not contributing like we need and we have plenty of leadership)

In with Drury and Gomez.

Datsyuk Filpulla Drury

Zetterberg Holmstrom Franzen

Bertuzzi Gomez Cleary

Now those lines clearly aren't set in stone, as there's a lot of overlapping at positions. But just imagine marching those 9 guys out there.

There is so much wrong with this post that I dont know where to start...

Draper isn't going anywhere, and to say that he doesnt contribute is INSANE. There isn't a team in the league that wouldn't love to have a guy like that. Us most of all.

Drury and Gomez would cost us a total of about 9-10 million. Where does that come from exactly? No chance on either of them coming here. Gomez isn't worth 5+ mil, and Drury is staying in Buffalo since Briere is most likely gone. For the record, he wont be coming here either.

Those lines arent even coherent enough to be set in stone. Flip and Franzen arent top 2 forwards yet, Dats doesn't play wing, Homer is a LW, And Bert/Gomez aren't 3rd liners. I know you gave the "Not set in stone" disclaimer, but those lines are ridiculous.

[Dominator2005 558]

Handzus would make more sense than Drury, Gomez or Briere...

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Personally id like to see the Wings stay away from the fancy Euro wingers. We have Dats and Hank, they are skilled enough and showed they can carry the team. What the Wings need are more Dan Cleary type players. Guys who go out every night and compete hard - unfortunately ( and i hate to say it ) but Europeans tend to have motivation problems and are soft. I know it might get me in s*** but I'd really like the Wings to grab a couple of hardworking Canadian boys.

Sydor or Sopel, amybe even Rivet on Defense, Peca, Smyth(though i think its a stretch to get him) up front, WHILE holding on to Bertuzzi or Calder. Im aware the Wings arent going to get all of these guys, but one out of each position would be nice.

Here is what i think the roster may look like next year.. ? indicate my predicted salaries...So there are alot of ifs.

Zetterberg (2.7) - Datsyuk (6.7) - Holmstrom (2.25)

Samuelsson (1.2) - Hudler (0.6?) - Filpulla (0.9?)

Calder (2.3?) - Franzen(0.9) - Bertuzzi (3.5?)

Maltby(0.883) - Draper (2.129) - Cleary (0.675)

Lidstrom (7.6) - Lilja (1.0)

Sopel (2.7?) - Chelios (0.85)

Kronwall (1.5) - Quincey (0.535)

Lebda (0.55)

Osgood (0.8)

Howard (0.85)

+

Ericsson @ .475

McGrath @ .650

+

Bootland @ .475?

Meech @ .450?

=43.172

leaves 1.828 under a 45 million dollar cap ( i think thats the expected cap...) Now if you subtract Bertuzzi and add Smyth on a contract for 5.3....that could be tempting.

I know i obviously am missing some costs of some minor league UFAs they MAY bring back...but i figure its got to be close to this. Goaltending could be a problem but we've got to get Howard in there SOMETIME...and this being the last year we have Osgood, a GREAT backup, under contract as a back fall if Howard stumbles.

While defense may LOOK weak, i think a Sopel, Sydor, Rivet could all help. Schnieder will be a big loss as will Markov, but i think we have some guys - Lilja, Lebda, and in particular Quincey who really impressed me, who can step up and its time for them to get some time.

EDIT: realized i left out Griggy...he will fit in under that 1.828 if Bertuzzi signs for under 3.5

Also Kopecky. To tell you the truth, i am REALLY not big on this guy. Did not impress me one bit in the reg. season and was just plain awful when he was called in for the Playoffs.

I know I'll take heat for this, but:

Out with Lang and Draper (sorry but Drapes is simply not contributing like we need and we have plenty of leadership)

In with Drury and Gomez.

Datsyuk Filpulla Drury

Zetterberg Holmstrom Franzen

Bertuzzi Gomez Cleary

Now those lines clearly aren't set in stone, as there's a lot of overlapping at positions. But just imagine marching those 9 guys out there.

Dude...did you forget we missed the whole 2005 season trying to work out a SALARY CAP!? How they HELL are we going to afford Gomez and Drury, both of whom will command salaries of 4+mill and 5+mill?

Edited May 24, 2007 by Yzerfan1999

[Matt 1,048]

A quick knee-jerk reaction would be this: Markov, Schneider, Chelios, Hasek and Bertuzzi will be back. Two free agents that intrigue me would be Ruslan Fedotenko and Michal Handzus. Slava Kozlov is interesting, but I think the other two "fit" better and will be cheaper.

[Bert44Wingsfan 0]

I wouldn't say we need to add a whole lot to our team. The most exciting thing after your team is out is looking who to go get and who get rid of. That's how you end up with people saying, "Let's get Drury, let's get Gomez, etc." If I could make one suggestion I would make an argument Scott Hartnell in Nashville. He's got some size that would add a physical presence and can put the puck in the net. I also wouldn't be opposed to Smyth but he may be too expensive. Alot of naysayers on this subject, but the Wings should definitely keep Bertuzzi who'll most likely be relatively cheap and hopefully back to health. Markov is promising, definitely a keeper. While others argue that Howard should get his chance to be the next goalie, the fact remains, he just isn't ready yet. Hopefully Hasek will be back b/c he gives us the best chance to be the most successful in net of the other two possibilities (Ozzie and Howard.) If he doesn't return, you're looking at having to get a FA goalie.

[eva unit zero 271]

Already signed:

Datsyuk 6,700,000

Zetterberg 2,650,000

Holmstrom 2,250,000

Draper 2,128,000

Samuelsson 1,200,000

Franzen 942,000

Maltby 883,000

Grigorenko 858,800

Filppula 733,000

Cleary 663,000

Kopecky 450,000

11 Forwards 19,457,800

[/font]

Lidstrom 7,600,000

Kronwall 3,000,000

Lilja 1,000,000

Lebda 650,000

4 Defensemen 12,250,000

Osgood 800,000

1 Goaltender 800,000

That totals to 32,507,800 under the expected 48m cap, leaving 15,492,200 to spend on two forwards, three defensemen, and a goaltender.

Start with the likely returnees.

Jiri Hudler 750,000

Mathieu Schneider 3,500,000

Danny Markov 2.75m

Chris Chelios 900k

That knocks out 7.9m, bringing us down to 1F and 1G needed and 7.5922 to do it with.

Add one more guys who might be coming back, or a replacement who would make a similar amount:

Todd Bertuzzi/Physical top-six winger <4.25m

That cuts our cap space down to 3.3422m, and fills out our roster to 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and one goaltender.

Now note; The only players missing from this year's team would be Calder, who was a no-show in the playoffs, Lang, who was invisible except for occasional bright spots until the last three games, and potentially Bertuzzi, if he were replaced by a Hartnell or Smyth (yes, Smyth would cost more than the allotted 4.25). Bertuzzi himself was a nonfactor in the first two rounds just like Lang. Schneider's absence was sorely obvious in the third round, and he would be returning.

The only question here is what to do about goaltending, and the answer is ultimately this:

1) Does Hasek want to return?

If Yes, the answer is to sign him. Howard needs another year in Grand Rapids.

If No, then the answer is to explore who is available on the market as a goaltender. There is likely no goaltender that will cost less than 3.5m available that would be an upgrade over Osgood.

So, explore backup situations. Howard's best situation is in Grand Rapids starting. Is Liv ready to back up? If not, should Howard? If the answer is still no, then the Wings have to find themselves an affordable backup capable of playing as many as 25 or 30 games during the regular season should they need to.

Ultimately though, If Hasek reitres, I think it will be either Liv or Howard who is in the backup spot. Ozzie was not a huge step down from Hasek during the regular season, and the Oz has always thrived on getting consistent starts. He might just surprise everyone if given a shot.

[Duckette 0]

Teemu will retire before he EVER plays for another hockey team other than the Ducks. No way he's picking up his family to move somewhere else. Big disaster in Colorado from what people have said.

Exactly. The only reason he only signs one year deals is so that he doesn't tie up the Ducks with money in the event he gets injured and ends his career or something like that.

Corey Sarich please

I'm pretty sure Mr. Feaster is going to have to let one of his D-men go, and after the playoffs I think it will be Sarich (Just my opinion) You might have your wish But I personally am not a Sarich fan. He's not that great IMO.

[Xduff83X 0]

Both Drury and Gomez?? Add 2 more centers? I will never understand this.

uhhhhhh why not? name me one good center that isnt on the hank dats homer line? lang? lmfao a-buh-bye! we need a good 2nd line centerman... either onw of those two would fit, and own... hell sign em both and ya got centers for ur first 3 lines! but it isnt going to happen getting both. id bet my life one of them will be a wing, but not both. id put all my chips on chris first to.

[Donohue75 17]

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstom

Franzen - Drury - Grigorenko

Bert - Filpulla - Cleary

Pyatt- Draper - Kopecky

Sammy

Lidstrom Markov

Souray Lilja

Jackman(moves puck well and is physical) Lebda

Meech

Quincy

Howard/Osgoode or Hasek

Trade Kronwall to injuy prone, i like the guy but i think he is curesed in Detroit lol and sammy for a big young defence or a goalie who is a bit older but not a acujo who can mentor howard

[Kp-Wings 3]

This is funny. Grigorenko doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of stealing a roster spot over Samulesson. Not because Samulesson is any better, but because Babcock likes Samulesson. In reality, that's what really matters.

I'd like to see Grigs get a spot, but it won't be at the expense of Samulesson. Just because the fair amount of us here at LGW (myself included) don't really care for Samulesson, doesn't mean he'll be traded. It's who Babcock likes, and Babcock likes Samulesson. Face the facts: We're stuck with him.

[Donohue75 17]

This is funny. Grigorenko doesn't have a snowballs chance in hell of stealing a roster spot over Samulesson. Not because Samulesson is any better, but because Babcock likes Samulesson. In reality, that's what really matters.

I'd like to see Grigs get a spot, but it won't be at the expense of Samulesson. Just because the fair amount of us here at LGW (myself included) don't really care for Samulesson, doesn't mean he'll be traded. It's who Babcock likes, and Babcock likes Samulesson. Face the facts: We're stuck with him.

I have nothing against sammy either, i am just looking at what holland has to work with trade wise... he isnt going to deal grigs lol no matter what babcock thinks

[BeeRYCE 2]

I think realistically, and we aren't going to do anything too drastic. The only thing I can see us doing is going after another defenseman in case Schneider leaves, but even if that happens, the d-men (notably Kindl and Quincey) we have in our system will perhaps be good enough.

[Elshupacabra 0]

I think realistically, and we aren't going to do anything too drastic. The only thing I can see us doing is going after another defenseman in case Schneider leaves, but even if that happens, the d-men (notably Kindl and Quincey) we have in our system will perhaps be good enough.

Yeah, I doubt they will do much of anything as far as FA are concerned, I think Holland will take the "Why mess with sucess?" approach, which is fine.

Edited May 26, 2007 by Elshupacabra

[dats13 0]

Teemu will retire before he EVER plays for another hockey team other than the Ducks. No way he's picking up his family to move somewhere else. Big disaster in Colorado from what people have said.

i dont know i dont think it would be a bad idea getting him, him and val are really good friends they would be great together