Draper hopes to ink 3-year deal

[40#1Fan 0]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...3year_deal.html

by Ansar Khan

Thursday October 11, 2007, 1:01 AM

DETROIT -- Kris Draper has been a fixture in Detroit for 14 seasons. Only Nicklas Lidstrom, among current Red Wings, has been here longer.

And Draper's not going anywhere. He is destined to finish his career as a Red Wing and is on the verge of signing a three-year contract extension, possibly this week, certainly by the end of the month.

"It's certainly Kenny Holland (Red Wings general manager) showing a lot of confidence in me right now," Draper said Wednesday. "Hopefully, things can get worked out here sooner than later. It's no secret this is where I want to be and certainly where I'd love to finish my career."

Draper is in the final year of a contract that pays him $2.128 million a season. He was offered a one-, two- or three-year deal and prefers the security of a longer term.

"The one I'd be looking at would be a three-year deal. This year and three (more) would put me at (age) 40," Draper said. "Just an unbelievable run here in Detroit. We'll see where I'm at then and maybe do the same thing Cheli (teammate Chris Chelios) is doing, one-year deals and go from there, as long as the legs can still go."

Draper, 36, has been one of the top checkers and penalty-killers in the NHL for several years. He won the Selke Trophy as the league's top defensive forward in 2004 and represented Canada at the 2004 World Cup and 2006 Winter Olympics. The Red Wings acquired him from the Winnipeg Jets in 1993 for future considerations, which turned out to be $1.

"Being here for 15 years, I kind of have an idea of what my number (salary) can be," Draper said. "Being here is something I'm proud of. I certainly hope I can put myself in a situation to retire a Red Wing."

The Red Wings, during the course of the season, would also like to re-sign Lidstrom and Dan Cleary, both potential unrestricted free agents, as well as Valtteri Filppula, who would be eligible for restricted free agency on July 1.

The other players in the final year of their contracts are Chelios, Dominik Hasek, Chris Osgood, Andreas Lilja and Dallas Drake. The club is likely to wait until after the season to decide what direction to go with these players.

[WingsZR2 1]

As much as I love having a guy like Drapes on the team at some point we need to get the younger guys out of GR, I'd offer him a one year deal with a club option for a second.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Age if only a number ... look @ cheli 45 and still playing amazing hockey ... i'd give him a 3 year deal ... his been amazing past playoffs specially last years

[jenova0 0]

I have no problem with Draper coming back for 2-3 more years, as long as it's <= $1,000,000.

Edited October 11, 2007 by jenova0

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I have no problem with Draper coming back for 2-3 more years, as long as it's <= $1,000,000.

Good luck with that. Drapes will probably get somewhere in the ball park of $1.25 - $1.6 million over the course of a three year contract. If the Wings got him for $1 mil, it would be a steal......meaning it won't happen.

[Spongewingredpants 75]

4 years at 450K each

done

[toby91_ca 620]

4 years at 450K each

done

Impossible, the minimum salaries for the next 3 years would be $475k, $500k and $500k. Also, we won't get the minimum. I think the Wings will either pay him more than he deserves or he'll accept slightly less than he deserves, not sure why I think that, I just do.

I think he still has some left in the tank, but he certainly should not be signing for $2+ million.

Edited October 11, 2007 by toby91_ca

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Impossible, the minimum salaries for the next 3 years would be $475k, $500k and $500k. Also, we won't get the minimum. I think the Wings will either pay him more than he deserves or he'll accept slightly less than he deserves, not sure why I think that, I just do.

I think he still has some left in the tank, but he certainly should be signing for $2+ million.

Did you mean "should" or "shouldn't"?

[zata40 3]

I would love to have him for another 3 yrs! hope they give him that extension.

[toby91_ca 620]

Did you mean "should" or "shouldn't"?

Fixed

[Cicada 4]

3 years works for me..

he's still a great player

[Zion 93]

He's earned at least a million for his work. Maltby on the other hand...

[JayUp88 1]

He will be back for 3 more years.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

That'd be great, Drapes wants to be a Red Wing for life, I say let him. 3 years at 1.6-1.8 would be a good deal.

[Kutcher 0]

That'd be great, Drapes wants to be a Red Wing for life, I say let him. 3 years at 1.6-1.8 would be a good deal.

I'd agree with that. But i think he'll get a little extra for the first year, just because he has been so good to us over the years, and where else are you going to get the best defensive forward in the game.

[interminded 1]

His game hasn't taken a huge drop the last years.

Of course, he's not the wild hungry dog he was when he was 25, but he still is contributing in a big way.

If he takes care of his body & mind I can see him playing at 40 years old.

3 years, 1 mill a year... sounds about right.

Edited October 11, 2007 by interminded

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

Sounds fantastic to me!

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I love Drapes, and I'm all for this deal. It wouldn't make sense to have offered Maltby a deal, but not offer one to Drapes. I know we're loaded at center, but he gives us a lot in the way of PK and faceoffs. Not to mention, he's one of the hardest workers on the team.

[Opie 308]

I love Drapes, and I'm all for this deal. It wouldn't make sense to have offered Maltby a deal, but not offer one to Drapes. I know we're loaded at center, but he gives us a lot in the way of PK and faceoffs. Not to mention, he's one of the hardest workers on the team.

I agree 100%

This guys work ethic is great, a great example to set for the young guys coming up through the org.

Also he is willing to play wing, and he is the best Face off guy the team has.

It sounds like in the article that the wings are pretty much letting him make his mind up on the length of the contract.

[vangvace 12]

I have a feeling that the three year deal is for quite a bit less than the one year based on the article. It wouldn't surprise me if it broke down something like:

1 year $2 mil

2 year $1.7ish mil

3 year $1.5ish mil

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I love Drapes, and I'm all for this deal. It wouldn't make sense to have offered Maltby a deal, but not offer one to Drapes. I know we're loaded at center, but he gives us a lot in the way of PK and faceoffs. Not to mention, he's one of the hardest workers on the team.

Agreed.

Honestly, I just wish they didn't sign Maltby for those years, even though it's for cheap.

We do need to start getting younger bodies in the lineup and getting good ice time. Draper earns his position a helluva lot more than Maltby at this point.

Edited October 11, 2007 by haroldsnepsts

[Grittzkey 1]

3 years works for me..

he's still a great player

GREAT

your kidding right?

Above average at best.

[Draperfan 104]

I love Drapes, and I'm all for this deal. It wouldn't make sense to have offered Maltby a deal, but not offer one to Drapes. I know we're loaded at center, but he gives us a lot in the way of PK and faceoffs. Not to mention, he's one of the hardest workers on the team.

Plus hes my boy

[savaking72 0]

I believe Draper is one of the core guys on the team. He comes to play every night, and I would love to see him finish his career here in Detroit. I think the younger guys on the team look up to Draper for guidance. If it were up to me Draper would be wearing the 'C' instead of Nick. Draper deserves the 3 year deal, and the 'C'.

[Barrie 900]

It would be great to see Draper retire a Red Wing . I hope Drapes and Holland get something done.