Holland: Free Agent Shopping is Probably Done

[ShanahanMan 473]

Associated Press:

Holland suggests that the Red Wings simply can't replace Todd Bertuzzi's impact with the players left in the free agent marketplace (Bill Guerin signed a 2-year deal with the Islanders today), so KH claims he's looking for a "depth" guy:

"We would like to add a top-six forward, but we're probably not going to be able to because of what's on the market, our cap space now and our plans for the future," Holland said. "Henrik Zetterberg can be a free agent in two years, so we're not looking to add anybody significant for more than a two-year deal because we want to keep Zetterberg."

[Hockey13Playa 240]

ughhhhhhhhhhhh

I don't like that one bit.

We need someone else.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Depth forward you say?

*builds giant neon sign* Arron Asham Kenny! Sign Arron Asham!

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

What shopping?????

Im still holding out for Gelinas and Asham, I dont care what anyone says they'll help our team out.

[Rice 42]

Im still holding out for Gelinas and Asham, I dont care what anyone says they'll help our team out.

Good luck with that.

I can see it now, "OMG WTF KENNY! THEY'RE GRITTY!!"

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Depth forward you say?

*builds giant neon sign* Arron Asham Kenny! Sign Arron Asham!

Yep. Once he uses a word like "depth", that talks about a 3rd/4th liner. So now that he's confirming theyre in the hunt for somebody, there is no excuse now.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Good luck with that.

I can see it now, "OMG WTF KENNY! THEY'RE GRITTY!!"

That they are. Which is exactly why they should be signed.

But, I have lost faith in Ken Holland. Instead, I see him making another Greg Johnson type signing. Aka player that the Wings don't need at all.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Good luck with that.

I can see it now, "OMG WTF KENNY! THEY'RE GRITTY!!"

Gelinas will cost 1.5 or less. Asham will cost 1 mil or less , so why is that so out of the question?

Ugh , I've had enough of people overlooking the fact this team needs SOME grit. You cannot win without it.

[alienanxiety 23]

so basically he is admitting he f***ed up. at the onset of fre agency he specifically said he wanted to resign all of our own guys, plus maybe add another top 6 forward. then it turned to, well, we might only be able to resign two of our free agents. then we end up losing everybody (except hasek). we replace schnieder with rafalski (not a huge upgrade). and now he says we're done??? howis this team better than last year's team. we lost beturzzi, lang, calder, schneider, markov. and we've replaced them with rafalski, grigorenko, and ??? *crickets chirping* who? ellis? hussey? *crickets chirping*.

if he thinks waiting till the trade deadline is a plan, he is nuts.

[rwfan007 18]

well, that says that they were hoping to get a top 6 guy, but he waited too long and now the well is dry... he really needs to find a good 3rd or 4th liner now.

[Rice 42]

Gelinas will cost 1.5 or less. Asham will cost 1 mil or less , so why is that so out of the question?

Ugh , I've had enough of people overlooking the fact this team needs SOME grit. You cannot win without it.

I'm not saying it's not out of question. You guys just get your hopes up for random players. I think grit would be good for the team too, but I'm not going to get all hung up on two guys that Holland probably won't sign.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Gelinas will cost 1.5 or less. Asham will cost 1 mil or less , so why is that so out of the question?

Ugh , I've had enough of people overlooking the fact this team needs SOME grit. You cannot win without it.

Same here. I can't believe the amount of people here that think Asham would be a horrible signing and would rather give the ice time to someone like Samulesson or Hudler.

I have a good mine to say that the Wings "***** montra" has began to rub off on the fans. Christ. You need your head checked if you don't think Asham will be a good fit on this team.

[Rice 42]

That they are. Which is exactly why they should be signed.

But, I have lost faith in Ken Holland. Instead, I see him making another Greg Johnson type signing. Aka player that the Wings don't need at all.

Where would they play? There's no room for these guys. Asham is not a top six winger. Sorry, but he's not. Gelinas is an option, but how much can one guy do?

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Gelinas will cost 1.5 or less. Asham will cost 1 mil or less , so why is that so out of the question?

Ugh , I've had enough of people overlooking the fact this team needs SOME grit. You cannot win without it.

Gelinas & Asham sound great to me.

I agree about grit as well.

[Rice 42]

I have a good mine to say that the Wings "***** montra" has began to rub off on the fans. Christ. You need your head checked if you don't think Asham will be a good fit on this team.

Yeah, you're right. Inserting Aaron Asham into the lineup would do wonders for the team-wide grit. Give me a break. Grit is a philosophy that starts at the draft and grows in the system. Signing Asham isn't all of a sudden going to turn the Wings into the Ducks.

But go ahead, cry because Holland won't sign Aaron Asham.

Think about it this way: Would Asham have been a difference maker in the Ducks series? IMO, absolutely not. The Wings showed tons of grit. Sure, they got pushed around a little bit. Asham's not going to stop that and he's most definitely not going to score the clutch goals that the Wings so badly needed.

Edited July 6, 2007 by ARice89

[Kp-Wings 3]

Where would they play? There's no room for these guys. Asham is not a top six winger. Sorry, but he's not. Gelinas is an option, but how much can one guy do?

Why should it be automatic that guys like Grigorenko get a roster spot (which is what I assume your saying)? He has done nothing to prove himself in North America.

Or Kopecky for that matter. What exactly has he done to earn himself a roster spot on this team? Tell me, what? 1 point in 26 games. At that same time, his so called gritty play is a complete myth by all sense.

Yep. Once he uses a word like "depth", that talks about a 3rd/4th liner. So now that he's confirming theyre in the hunt for somebody, there is no excuse now.

Yeah, but you see, he won't. If he signs anybody (I have a feeling anyways) it'll be a Greg Johnson type player.

[Matt 1,049]

Honestly, with what's on the market right now I'm not surprised. Khan said tonight in his blog that one official doesn't think Detroit will even talk to Yashin (probably the best of what's left on the market at this point).

Am I disappointed they haven't landed a Top 6 forward? Yes -- but only to an extent. Some of the price tags being thrown around for certain players ($4.5M for Guerin? $4M/2Y for Bertuzzi?) would make me hold off, too.

So we've got a few extra mil in the piggy bank when the season starts. So what? There *are* some kids that have to go out there and play, so let's let them. There's always the trade deadline and certain things can develop as the season goes on.

I'd rather still have options and see what the kids can do than lock up cap space on players I didn't really want but "settled" for.

[Rice 42]

Why should it be automatic that guys like Grigorenko get a roster spot (which is what I assume your saying)? He has done nothing to prove himself in North America.

Or Kopecky for that matter. What exactly has he done to earn himself a roster spot on this team? Tell me, what? 1 point in 26 games. At that same time, his so called gritty play is a complete myth by all sense.

Yeah, but you see, he won't. If he signs anybody (I have a feeling anyways) it'll be a Greg Johnson type player.

Because Grigorenko's ceiling is a top six winger. He's home-grown and needs time to develop -- but hey, let's never give him that time and just keep inserting Aaron Asham's ahead of him in the depth chart.

They obviously see something in Kopecky, so I have nothing to say about that.

[Kp-Wings 3]

Yeah, you're right. Inserting Aaron Asham into the lineup would do wonders for the team-wide grit. Give me a break. Grit is a philosophy that starts at the draft and grows in the system. Signing Asham isn't all of a sudden going to turn the Wings into the Ducks.

But go ahead, cry because Holland won't sign Aaron Asham.

Did I say it would turn the Wings into the Ducks? Did I? I don't seem to remember doing so.

One decently gritty player is better then nobody. Which is exactly the kind of situation the Wings are in right now. I mean, these guys like Kopecky and Samulesson are just wasted space. A player like Asham would be a huge step up for those spots.

I never said one signing would change everything around. For that to happen, Holland would probably need to be removed as GM, since he never drafts gritty players anyways. But signing Asham would give the Wings somebody that would actually stand up to an opposing player that decides to take liberties to someone on the Wings. Who do the Wings have that will do that now? Nobody.

[HenryMalredo 2]

Yeah, you're right. Inserting Aaron Asham into the lineup would do wonders for the team-wide grit. Give me a break. Grit is a philosophy that starts at the draft and grows in the system. Signing Asham isn't all of a sudden going to turn the Wings into the Ducks.

But go ahead, cry because Holland won't sign Aaron Asham.

Smartest thing I've heard all day. Adding some scrubs who will hit and drop the gloves won't significantly effect this team. Its all about attitude. The team this past spring was the grittiest group of players to wear the winged wheel for the last several years. Was it because of naturally gritty players like Bertuzzi and Calder. No, in fact the teams "grittiest" players were non-factors in the playoffs. This Wings team was grittier than its predessecors because the team, especially guys like Dan Cleary, shifted in attitude.

[Lou_Siffer 1]

Where would they play? There's no room for these guys. Asham is not a top six winger. Sorry, but he's not. Gelinas is an option, but how much can one guy do?

I dont understand why there isnt room for Asham! Holland is saying they arent going to sign a top 6 winger, so it doesnt matter that Asham isnt one. Right now, unless im forgetting somebody, i count 11 forwards....and thats including Kopecky who I would make the 13th if they were to sign 2 guys. None of the GR guys are going to make it, so why is there not room for him?

[theman19 47]

i've always been one of hollands biggest supporters. That won't change, i'm going to hang on to the belief that he has something up his sleave here. It may not be a huge signing, but a trade could happen and it could be for someone you don't expect.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Smartest thing I've heard all day. Adding some scrubs who will hit and drop the gloves won't significantly effect this team.

Asham is NOT a scrub. Hes a slighty worse version of Chris Neil, now if you think Neils a scrub then ..... I dunno what to tell you. Anyone who contributes on the score sheet and protects Zetterberg and Datsyuk is welcome on the Wings anyday , or should be.

[Kp-Wings 3]

I dont understand why there isnt room for Asham! Holland is saying they arent going to sign a top 6 winger, so it doesnt matter that Asham isnt one. Right now, unless im forgetting somebody, i count 11 forwards....and thats including Kopecky who I would make the 13th if they were to sign 2 guys. None of the GR guys are going to make it, so why is there not room for him?

You're probably forgetting Grigorenko, whom everybody insists should be given a roster spot given his stats in Russia.

[Rice 42]

I never said one signing would change everything around. For that to happen, Holland would probably need to be removed as GM, since he never drafts gritty players anyways. But signing Asham would give the Wings somebody that would actually stand up to an opposing player that decides to take liberties to someone on the Wings. Who do the Wings have that will do that now? Nobody.

Bertuzzi stood up to other players. Did that stop Pronger? Did that stop McLennan?