who should Detroit target the most in free agency?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Hasek and Schneider are givens as long as they both want to return. If Hasek retires, I'd rather roll the dice with Howard, than pay Gigure a ton of money. Outside of Gigure, I can't think of another goalie on FA market who'd be an upgrade over Ozzie.

Schneider would be my top priority after those two. He's a perfect fit for the Wings system, and if they lose him, they'll end up paying a lot to replace him. Even better, because of age and other factors, Schneid's probably won't attract big bucks, so we'll get him for a relative bargain I'm sure.

If the cap goes up to $52 mill, then I'd make Smyth my #1 priority. Smyth fits on several levels. First, he's the protypical Babcock player. Also, he's a great playoff performer (proven over and over), and finally he'd help strengthen our rather pedistrian power play.

If we can't get Smyth, I'd only sign Bertuzzi if he's willing to do a 1 to 2 year deal at a discount. His injuries scare me too much for a long-term commitment. Kozlov is a underrated player, but he doesn't address the need for size upfront.

I'd also like to see Markov back, but again it'd have to be the right deal.

Agree on all points.

I don't know the that the Wings could make it happen, but I sure like the idea of having Homer on one power play unit and Smyth on the other.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

So what was your point in the comparison? Sammy played well in the SJ series, but no way he was the best player. Did you forget about Clearly, Hank, or Nick? Sammy wasn't the best player for even one game in that series. He was decent. I think what you are mixing up is that he wasn't his usualy terrible self, and he wasn't hitting the 'tender in the chest at every possible opportunity.

Didnt you watch Game 6 ?

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

How about we sign both Kozlov's and put them on a line with Dats.

[poolerman 0]

Signing Smyth will be a 5 year $30-35+ million, that's what they are looking for

by that time he will be 37/38 years old...alot of wear and tear on that body

should break down in 2-3 years... and that'sa six million a year!!!!

can't wait to see what the Isles Offer him..I doubt we can match.

and why would you give a two year contract to a guy with a bad back

and had a poor playoff..???

Agree on all points.

I don't know the that the Wings could make it happen, but I sure like the idea of having Homer on one power play unit and Smyth on the other.

While everyone thinks Jiggy is the goalie answer..I bring forward the name of C. Huet of the habs

Carey Price having a great year and playoff...they may be re-thinking their options at goalie

1 year left on contract..will need a trade

[Rice 42]

As others have said, it all depends on what happens with Hasek. I don't see the Wings management sticking with an Osgood-Howard tandem. I'd re-sign Schneider, Markov, Chelios, and Bertuzzi. Let Calder and Lang go.

Smyth would be great but I don't think it's very realistic that the Wings sign him. It would be a long term deal paying him a lot of money. Down the road, Zetterberg's going to be up for free agency and you'll have Lidstrom, Smyth, and Datsyuk already making around $18-20 million. Lock up Zetterberg for $6-8 million (cap increase) and you have about half of your cap space tied up in four players. No thanks. Signing Smyth ultimately depends on what Lidstrom is going to do down the road. If he tells management he's going to be gone by the time Hank is a free agent, it's a possibility.

I don't think Holland will take a run (get it?) at Hartnell. The Wings have maintained the reputation of a classy organization and I'm sure Holland wouldn't want to deal with the messes Hartnell consistently makes. After Hartnell, Kozlov and Zubrus would be my first choices. I like Handzus. Gelinas would be a good option too. The Wings inquired about Nolan at the deadline, I wonder if they'd sign him as a UFA. I wouldn't. Roberts would be good. Guerin is out there too. He probably can't command too much after such a s***ty playoffs. He could end up being a bargain with some time to gel.

On defense, again it depends if Schneider re-signs or not. If he does re-sign at $3.5-4, the cap is at the expected $52 million, and Bertuzzi signs for $2-2.5 million, there's probably still room for Markov. If Schneider ends up leaving, I'd look at Hannan, De Vries, Sydor, Preissing, Sarich, Hamrlik, Vishnevski, Rafalski, and Sopel. If Schneider leaves, I'd like to see the defense get bigger and younger.

[poolerman 0]

As others have said, it all depends on what happens with Hasek. I don't see the Wings management sticking with an Osgood-Howard tandem. I'd re-sign Schneider, Markov, Chelios, and Bertuzzi. Let Calder and Lang go.

Smyth would be great but I don't think it's very realistic that the Wings sign him. It would be a long term deal paying him a lot of money. Down the road, Zetterberg's going to be up for free agency and you'll have Lidstrom, Smyth, and Datsyuk already making around $18-20 million. Lock up Zetterberg for $6-8 million (cap increase) and you have about half of your cap space tied up in four players. No thanks. Signing Smyth ultimately depends on what Lidstrom is going to do down the road. If he tells management he's going to be gone by the time Hank is a free agent, it's a possibility.

I don't think Holland will take a run (get it?) at Hartnell. The Wings have maintained the reputation of a classy organization and I'm sure Holland wouldn't want to deal with the messes Hartnell consistently makes. After Hartnell, Kozlov and Zubrus would be my first choices. I like Handzus. Gelinas would be a good option too. The Wings inquired about Nolan at the deadline, I wonder if they'd sign him as a UFA. I wouldn't. Roberts would be good. Guerin is out there too. He probably can't command too much after such a s***ty playoffs. He could end up being a bargain with some time to gel.

On defense, again it depends if Schneider re-signs or not. If he does re-sign at $3.5-4, the cap is at the expected $52 million, and Bertuzzi signs for $2-2.5 million, there's probably still room for Markov. If Schneider ends up leaving, I'd look at Hannan, De Vries, Sydor, Preissing, Sarich, Hamrlik, Vishnevski, Rafalski, and Sopel. If Schneider leaves, I'd like to see the defense get bigger and younger.

[poolerman 0]

Why do U want to keep Bertuzzi...do U think he played well for us ??? I don't

Hartnall..my only objection is his injury time...tough dirty player..good we need some

Ducks are winning..they have tough dirty players and playoff rules are apparently different

We can't really sign anyone for $4 million + forget Smyth too expensive

Kozlov (ATL) short term fix Max 2 years but not the typeof player i want

Zubrus..i like except he wants a 5 yr deal at $3 +

Like Handzus...Not Nolan..too slow..died 2nd half of season

Gelinas a last resort

J. Stumpel make 2nd line centre..toss Bertuzzi...trade for Torres or sign Guerin less that $3

roberts will stay in Pittsburg...otherwise it's a matter of Price

Dmen I 'd love Hannan..rafalski we couldn't afford

besides if markov goes we need toughness / meaness

we have no mean dirty guys on defence except Markov

[Rice 42]

Why do U want to keep Bertuzzi...do U think he played well for us ??? I don't

What were you expecting? He hadn't played all season and had multiple injuries. As Chelios, Draper, and Holland have said, give him a couple months of off-season and he can be a force. A healthy Bertuzzi is better than Hartnell and the Wings can get him at a bargain price.

[poolerman 0]

What were you expecting? He hadn't played all season and had multiple injuries. As Chelios, Draper, and Holland have said, give him a couple months of off-season and he can be a force. A healthy Bertuzzi is better than Hartnell and the Wings can get him at a bargain price.

Backs never get healthy..that'smy problem with Bertuzzi

they turn a big guy like Todd into a little old man..with just a tweak sometimes

and a cripple at other time...want to waste a year on that gamble!!

[canadienhater 0]

a possibility.

I don't think Holland will take a run (get it?) at Hartnell. The Wings have maintained the reputation of a classy organization and I'm sure Holland wouldn't want to deal with the messes Hartnell consistently makes. After Hartnell, Kozlov and Zubrus would be my first choices. I like Handzus. Gelinas would be a good option too. The Wings inquired about Nolan at the deadline, I wonder if they'd sign him as a UFA. I wouldn't. Roberts would be good. Guerin is out there too. He probably can't command too much after such a s***ty playoffs. He could end up being a bargain with some time to gel.

i like bertuzzi but your saying they can t sign hartnell because of what he has done but you can sign bertuzzi remeber steve moore

[eva unit zero 271]

ozzie was also playing in front of some great wings teams look what happend when he went to the islanders or legace with st louis

You mean when he went to the Islanders and was the team's MVP? When he was the most important player in turning the last place team in the NHL the prior year into a team that lost a tough division by a point?

[/font]

And how does Legace's performance in St. Louis have anything to do with Osgood?

Osgood was on some pretty good Wings teams, this is true. But Osgood is far from the only goaltender to ever play on good teams. Grant Fuhr is the prime example of a mediocre goalie who had success on great teams. One remarkable thing Fuhr did Osgood never did: Had a losing record within a season of winning the Cup, for the same team. In fact, Osgood has never had a losing season.

The thing that somehow always gets left out of it is....yes, the mid 90s Wings were great teams. But a huge, and often underrated reason those teams were great, is the fact they had a goalie like Osgood.