Holland making Schneider a priority

[Rice 42]

Ansar Khan:

The Wings appear to be making progress in contract talks with defenseman Mathieu Schneider. General manger Ken Holland said Friday that he spoke with Schneider's agent, Mike Gillis, earlier this week and will talk to him again next week.

The club has made it a priority to re-sign Schneider, who's coming off two of the best seasons of his career. And Schneider has said several times that Detroit has been the best stop in his career. So it looks like they'll find a way to get a deal done.

It doesn't appear as if the Wings will re-sign defenseman Danny Markov. Holland said Markov expressed an interest to return, but the club might not have enough salary-cap space to bring him back.

I really don't like this if it means the end of Markov in Detroit. Markov is as gritty as they come and was a great partner for Lidstrom. The Wings are sacrificing Markov's defensive ability and Kronwall's minutes for Schneider's pretty stats. Don't get me wrong, Schneider's great but how is Kronwall ever supposed to develop if he never gets the ice time?

Let Schneider go, keep Markov's edge and physical presence. Up Kronwall's PP time and watch him put up better numbers.

Edited June 2, 2007 by ARice89

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Kronwall should be fine with secondary minutes.

This good , Schnieder's PP contributions are great and hes a tough old man.

I hope we can get Markov re-signed , if not Hello Cory Sarich.

Kronwall wont put up PP numbers. Schnieder will , I'd rather we have a good powerplay then a bad one. Its what killed us agaisnt Anaheim.

Edited June 2, 2007 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[Guest bullocks]

Knonwall will be a #3 defensemen. He was third in ice time out of defense men this season, what are you talking about? It's a no brainer to take schneider over markov. If Kronwall stays healthy he'll provide that physical presence. Sucks that we have to lose markov, but he made the right decision.

[poolerman 0]

Kronwell doesn't have the size for presence

I'm guessing Markov saw what Markov got in MTL

and the real problem is money...he's was our toughest Dman

I could live with Sarich / or a Shark

[Rice 42]

Knonwall will be a #3 defensemen. He was third in ice time out of defense men this season, what are you talking about? It's a no brainer to take schneider over markov. If Kronwall stays healthy he'll provide that physical presence. Sucks that we have to lose markov, but he made the right decision.

I'm saying his powerplay time. When Schneider got hurt Kronwall started producing offensively. What I'm saying is the Wings can take a little less offensive output and have a better defense if they don't re-sign Schneider and keep Markov.

[Guest bullocks]

Kronwell doesn't have the size for presence

I'm guessing Markov saw what Markov got in MTL

and the real problem is money...he's was our toughest Dman

I could live with Sarich / or a Shark

markov doesn't have the size for presence either? markov said he wanted to come back so if he really wanted to i'm sure he can pass on a lil money. or i guess he didnt want to come back bad enough. but ya sarich would look nice back there.

I'm saying his powerplay time. When Schneider got hurt Kronwall started producing offensively. What I'm saying is the Wings can take a little less offensive output and have a better defense if they don't re-sign Schneider and keep Markov.

yah i know whut ur saying. but how bout if kronwall gets injured again this year and then what, our D in the post season wasnt offensively gifted to say the least. i'm sure we could get someone for cheaper to plug in markovs spot or give lilja a full time spot. maybe plug quincey in.

[Barrie 900]

Kronwall needs to stay healthy first.

[Guest Agalloch]

Why the f*** is everyone here so obsessed with Cory Sarich?! You'd think he's Bobby Orr by reading this forum. He's not even that good, honestly. Also, what makes you think we'll get Sarich if Markov leaves? They'll be making around the same money.

I think everyone loves Sarich so much simply because he hits people. That's the only reason.

Markov MUST come back, and if it's at the expense of Schneider, so be it.

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

we gotta bring back yzerman

[Yzermaniac192005 0]

Yeah I definitely don't get the Sarich talk around here. But this is smart by Kenny, you saw the Wings PP without Schneider on the point and it was definitely not as good as it could have been. His shot is incredible and aside from the stupid penalties he takes, he's physical and tough. Not like Markov of course but he has a strong presence on the ice.

Personally I never got all caught up in Markov. I guess I'm not into the whole hitting aspect of the game as I am into the finesse of it and I pay more attention to that. I see Markov get burned here and there and not always playing like he could.

Personally, Schneider > Markov in my book.

[zata40 3]

good news

[Kp-Wings 3]

Good news. I want Schneids to stay.

I don't want it to be at the expense of Markov though. Hopefully Markov does want to stay enough to possibly take a pay cut. Not a big one, but good enough for the Wings to re-sign him.

I don't really get how the Wings are so strapped for money though. The Cap is raising to 48 million this year. The Wings should be able to afford both Schneider and Markov. Now, this comes at the expense of signing someone big in free agency, but the Wings have enough valuable pieces up front to sacrifice that. And theres always Grigorenko.

The Wings have considerable players up front already, so they should be able to keep both Schneider and Markov. I don't see who is really strapping them for money. Bertuzzi can hit the road for all I care if he thinks he's going to make what he made this year. His back is a major issue, and if he isn't willing to negotiate, then he can leave. I like him, but he can be replaced.

Since Bertuzzi is the only one I can see who'd need considerable money to be kept, I don't know why this is such an issue. Unless both Schneider and Hasek want huge raises, if indeed Hasek does come back. We'll wait and see how this all unfolds.

Edited June 2, 2007 by Kp-Wings

[Booster313 138]

This is bitter sweet news. If forced to make a choice however Schneider is the obvious choice. We have 3 defensemen in the system who could successfully adapt Markov's style, Lilija, Kronwall, and Quincey. No one in our system (Lidstrom aside) has the rocket from the point that Schneider has. Besides obviously Holland and co believe that Kronwall is something special. If he steps up the way he's supposed to we may all not miss Markov at all.

Edited June 2, 2007 by Booster313

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

I really, really hope the Wings can re-sign Markov.

I think he is more of a priority to sign than Schnieder.

I'm trying not to knock Schneider. It definietly wouldn't have killed me if this was his final season if we were talking and debating prior to this seaaon starting. He played well esp. this postseason, and while I certainly won't mind if he returns, we already have a guy who plays a similar game like him, and he is Nicklas Lidstrom, and we all know how good he is.

I want Markov's snarl first, then worry about re-signing Scheider. I don't want getting Schneider back as an excuse or crutch not to re-sign Markov.

[Booster313 138]

I really, really hope the Wings can re-sign Markov.

I think he is more of a priority to sign than Schnieder.

I'm trying not to knock Schneider. It definietly wouldn't have killed me if this was his final season if we were talking and debating prior to this seaaon starting. He played well esp. this postseason, and while I certainly won't mind if he returns, we already have a guy who plays a similar game like him, and he is Nicklas Lidstrom, and we all know how good he is.

I want Markov's snarl first, then worry about re-signing Scheider. I don't want getting Schneider back as an excuse or crutch not to re-sign Markov.

You're right, we all do know how good Lidstrom is, and so does the rest of the NHL. So in order to shut down our PP all you have to do is lay down in front of Nik's blasts from the point, and keep someone in the shooting lane to block passes in front of the net. This forces us to cycle down low and take bad angle shots that Jiggy can stop all day. Having Schneider gives us to options from the point and it causes openings down low as well. Trust me they wouldn't leave Matthew open like they did Sammy. Schneider stays healthy and we win the cup this year, period.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Tha'ts fantastic. He should definitely be on the Wings top priority list. Schneids is a very important, key part of the Wings D. I really hope the deal is around 3-4 years.

I think the Wings can get Markov to re-sign if he takes a pay cut. I don't think they are just going to let him go. Especially after how great he was in the post season.

Edited June 2, 2007 by HockeyCrazy3033

[Guest bullocks]

Tha'ts fantastic. He should definitely be on the Wings top priority list. Schneids is a very important, key part of the Wings D. I really hope the deal is around 3-4 years.

I think the Wings can get Markov to re-sign if he takes a pay cut. I don't think they are just going to let him go. Especially after how great he was in the post season.

I'd say the deal is going to be worth about 2 years.

[kylee 727]

i was very impressed by Markov's play this entire season and post season.

right from the get-go when he completely de-railed some edmonton player that led right to a datsyuk goal.

love his play.

[Izzy24 44]

I really don't like this if it means the end of Markov in Detroit

Markov MUST come back, and if it's at the expense of Schneider, so be it.

I agree with this completely.

[rivieraillusions 0]

Tha'ts fantastic. He should definitely be on the Wings top priority list. Schneids is a very important, key part of the Wings D. I really hope the deal is around 3-4 years.

I think the Wings can get Markov to re-sign if he takes a pay cut. I don't think they are just going to let him go. Especially after how great he was in the post season.

I really don't think they need to be re-signing Schneider to a 3 - 4 year deal, considering his age. A two year deal would be stretching it, IMO. We've got quite a few young d-men waiting in the wings and if Kindl continues to blossom, Schneider becomes expendable in a year or two at the most.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I love Markov just as much as everyone else, but I really think Schneider is much more important to the team than Danny is, and I think the last series proved that.

I really don't think they need to be re-signing Schneider to a 3 - 4 year deal, considering his age. A two year deal would be stretching it, IMO. We've got quite a few young d-men waiting in the wings and if Kindl continues to blossom, Schneider becomes expendable in a year or two at the most.

Yeah, but I just get the feeling that he wants to finish his career as a Wing, and that they in return feel the same way.

[Guest bullocks]

It's easier to replace a Markov, then a Schneider.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

It's easier to replace a Markov, then a Schneider.

Yep. Much easier.

[brutus 0]

Yep. Much easier.

WAY WAY WAY fuc&*$# easier. anyone who would take markov over Schneider is a tard! Any moron can throw his body around and get burned not so many have Schneider's cannon of a shot from the point.

brutus

[Guest REDWINGS4LYFE]

im so bored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HELP ME IM BORED AT WORK