Wings sign Drake for 1-year, $550K

[kindlwillbegreat 0]

i dont like this signing , hes 38 , got injured last year i believe .........he's so good that the blues bought him out , there captain no less lol

I would of rather went for chris simon or aaron asham , some of you bashed me for suggesting marty lapointe cause he was "old" and an ex wing and all this crap ( which is all about the salary i said) and now we get an ex wing and an ancient player compareed to marty lol ........i think this just has to do with the face that its a one year deal and kenny didnt wanna add guys with long contracts, but im sure simon could of been had for 1 year .

So we lost one player who was almost 40 ( schneider) and then brought in drake to replace him lol , i hope ill eat my words but i dont think drake was our answer for the grit we needed

So now that hes signed for 550k and we got meech to sign thats it ?? or do we get a depth defensemen ??, what do we have left after meech and drake ? 3 million after the 1 mill cushion?

[OsGOD 3]

Is there some imaginary line I dont know about between ages 37 and 38. Drake was dishing out big hits last year at 37, and suddenly just because hes a year older thats all going to stop?

I am glad you brought that up... I was not aware of said line either.

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

there are only a hand full of guys i would HATE for the wings to sign at the league min. so eh.

we'll see. if he's decent then were good to go and this was a good move. if he sucks. he sucked at 550k and it aint no thing...

[OsGOD 3]

Well there's a reason why he was only signed for $550,000.

I got nothing against the guy or the deal, but I'm sure the body is wearing down.

Its because he is already getting 2/3 of 1.1 milion from the Blues... so he is making up near 1.28 million with our 550,000.00 donation to his salary fund... where as last year he was making 1.1mill...

He is 1 year older and about 128,000.00 richer this season too boot!

$550,000.00 is a steal for him.

Edited July 9, 2007 by OsGOD

[Guest Canadian Wings]

If Drake was signed to replace Calder it's an upgrade. If Drake was signed to replace Lang or Bertuzzi it's a downgrade.

if u think dallas drake is better then calder your an idiot.

[OsGOD 3]

if u think dallas drake is better then calder your an idiot.

if idiot = realistic then yes you are bloody spot on

[Guest Lebda4Pres]

I wonder how Lebda is feeling about this after the dirty hit on him for Drake?

Edited July 9, 2007 by Lebda4Pres

[OsGOD 3]

I wonder how Lebda is feeling about this after the dirty hit on him for Drake?

They are grown boys.. they will be just fine.

Cheli and Bert got along just fine.

[Guest Canadian Wings]

1.1m cap hit for Dallas ******* Drake? That absolutely sucks. I was hoping we'd have as much as possible to add at the trade deadline. I'd be okay with this if he had signed for the league minimum. Ugh.

"Grit" is so ******* overrated.

we still have $4 million left, relax.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

And you know that Markov doesnt want to come back to Detroit how? And Forsberg and Yashin are hardly has beens. They were both on pace to be 70+ point players this year. Ill take those has beens any day.

What is your fascination with signing washed-up hockey players? You always come back with that rock-solid on pace argument, which is no indication ever of what the players actually do. I'm glad Lindros, Yashin, and Forsberg were all on pace for those point totals, but did any of the three get there? No, and they won't playing in Detroit either. Chris Shelton was on pace to hit 120 home runs last season, and how did that work out for him? Also, I have no idea whether Markov will re-sign here, but most indications are that he has no intention of doing so.

[WingNut199 0]

if u think dallas drake is better then calder your an idiot.

Then I guess most of us are idiots...?

[Guest Canadian Wings]

Well he sure isn't Michael Peca, but atleast he has some balls.

Then I guess most of us are idiots...?

guess so

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Kennys a smart guy. Drake is one of the grittest players to play the game and can still run people. Hes only a cap hit of 550k which is next to nothing. This has made me very happy!

[Kp-Wings 3]

What is your fascination with signing washed-up hockey players? You always come back with that rock-solid on pace argument, which is no indication ever of what the players actually do. I'm glad Lindros, Yashin, and Forsberg were all on pace for those point totals, but did any of the three get there? No, and they won't playing in Detroit either. Chris Shelton was on pace to hit 120 home runs last season, and how did that work out for him? Also, I have no idea whether Markov will re-sign here, but most indications are that he has no intention of doing so.

I love the Chris Shelton reference, since it's spot on. Everybody cried in their beers because Shelton was demoted, saying his home run hitting was just fine. While that part was, everybody was missing the fact that the rest of his game was something to be desired, and his defensive game especially was very bad.

It's the same with guys like Yashin. Sure, he can maybe put up 50 points a season. But he's also horrible defensivily, extremely lazy, and a cancer in the lockeroom. Just like with Shelton with the Tigers, everybody forgets the little details that make these guys like Yashin less then desirible pickups for the Wings.

[VM1138 1,921]

Great addition to the team, I'm really excited. Especially for that cheap. We just Bertuzzi-ed our team for virtually free. I'd say that if Kenny was done we'd be an awesome team as is.

But something tells me Kenny isn't done. I'm picturing two more signings, a big one, and a role player, both of which will probably make most people happy.

I was frustrated at first, but now I definitely feel we're upgrading and Kenny knows what he's doing. I feel kind of bad for bad-talking him, he obviously does have a plan.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I love the Chris Shelton reference, since it's spot on. Everybody cried in their beers because Shelton was demoted, saying his home run hitting was just fine. While that part was, everybody was missing the fact that the rest of his game was something to be desired, and his defensive game especially was very bad.

It's the same with guys like Yashin. Sure, he can maybe put up 50 points a season. But he's also horrible defensivily, extremely lazy, and a cancer in the lockeroom. Just like with Shelton with the Tigers, everybody forgets the little details that make these guys like Yashin less then desirible pickups for the Wings.

Exactly. We just got rid of Robert Lang, and now people want to bring in a guy (Yashin) that has the exact same bad qualities that Lang had. Sure Yashin has some decent career totals, but like you mentioned that doesn't hide his horrid work ethic. The logic for anyone to honestly want Yashin to come play here blows my mind.

[norrisnick 1]

Useless signing. If Kenny wanted to pursue a 3rd/4th line rabble rouser he should have gone after Ville Nieminen. 8 years younger, bigger, and better than Drake at pretty much everything. Plus with him over in Europe he might not be all that expensive to lure back over.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Useless signing. If Kenny wanted to pursue a 3rd/4th line rabble rouser he should have gone after Ville Nieminen. 8 years younger, bigger, and better than Drake at pretty much everything. Plus with him over in Europe he might not be all that expensive to lure back over.

I highly doubt we would've gotten Nieminen for as cheap. Drake hits as hard, and he will actually drop the gloves. Age isn't really an issue because this isn't a long term signing.

We've already got Maltby, we don't need another agitator who won't back up 99% of his actions. Besides, Matlby is tame compared to the garbage that Vile pulls.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

I highly doubt we would've gotten Nieminen for as cheap. Drake hits as hard, and he will actually drop the gloves. Age isn't really an issue because this isn't a long term signing.

We've already got Maltby, we don't need another agitator who won't back up 99% of his actions. Besides, Matlby is tame compared to the garbage that Vile pulls.

I feel the same way.

The thought of Ville in a Wings jersey makes me disgusted.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

What is your fascination with signing washed-up hockey players? You always come back with that rock-solid on pace argument, which is no indication ever of what the players actually do. I'm glad Lindros, Yashin, and Forsberg were all on pace for those point totals, but did any of the three get there? No, and they won't playing in Detroit either. Chris Shelton was on pace to hit 120 home runs last season, and how did that work out for him? Also, I have no idea whether Markov will re-sign here, but most indications are that he has no intention of doing so.

And whats up with you spouting off about s*** you dont know anything about?

Washed up hockey players? Lindros, yes. Roenick, yes. Forsberg and Yashin? Hardly. Forsberg comes in and dominates whether hes been playing for 50 games straight, or its his first game back after a 3 month injury. Yashin, on the other hand, is only 33, has no recurring injury problems, and has put up points like nobodys business over his entire career at a .92 ppg rate. Just because he was overpaid for the majority of that time doesnt make him washed up.

[Zeke 5]

Mule-Drake-Cleary sounds like a solid physical line that we need (think playoffs)

I was hoping we would have picked up Drake for the last playoff run.I'm sure his style would have helped us,and he probably could have been picked up cheap.

We need his attitude on the ice,but still should be looking for a top 6 winger.

Good minor upgrade Kenny.

Now wait for Avery to be rejected by the Rangers after salary arbitration,and you're done.

[Dabura 12,232]

I highly doubt we would've gotten Nieminen for as cheap. Drake hits as hard, and he will actually drop the gloves. Age isn't really an issue because this isn't a long term signing.

We've already got Maltby, we don't need another agitator who won't back up 99% of his actions. Besides, Matlby is tame compared to the garbage that Vile pulls.

Agreed -- although I don't know if I'd go so far as to say age isn't a factor. But then, his job is pretty straightforward: play the body, piss people off. Even at 38 (or however old he is), he's still capable of doing that effectively night in and night out. The only thing that concerns me about him is the potential for injury. It's a low-risk signing, though, so no big deal.

I should add that to say he's a "useless" pickup because we could have had Nieminen doesn't make much sense to me. I suppose the argument could be made that Nieminen would have been a better all-around choice, but that hardly means Drake doesn't bring anything of value to the fold.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

if u think dallas drake is better then calder your an idiot.

Dallas Drake was signed to be a physical presence. In that respect, Drake is better than Calder.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

And whats up with you spouting off about s*** you dont know anything about?

Washed up hockey players? Lindros, yes. Roenick, yes. Forsberg and Yashin? Hardly. Forsberg comes in and dominates whether hes been playing for 50 games straight, or its his first game back after a 3 month injury. Yashin, on the other hand, is only 33, has no recurring injury problems, and has put up points like nobodys business over his entire career at a .92 ppg rate. Just because he was overpaid for the majority of that time doesnt make him washed up.

First off, I think most people would put Forsberg in the washed-up category. Yashin has a bigger problem than injuries anyways - it's called chronic laziness and a total lack of work ethic. Putting on a Red Wings uniform doesn't magically change someone. There is a reason the Islanders bought him out, and it's the same reason no other team has signed him as a free agent to this point. No one wants to pay for a lazy, unmotivated player with diminishing skills. You can claim I don't know anything, but I have faith that Holland feels the same way I do about Yashin. My favorite day of free agency will be when Forsberg and Yashin either retire or sign in any place not called Detroit.

Edited July 9, 2007 by GoWings1905

[Superman54 91]

Im so happy we got a gritty guy, That makes my day. The fact that we got hijm for soo cheap is great too.