Brain Rolston and Fabian Brunnstrom

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Alright, i just wanted to throw this stuff out there and see what kind of feedback i could get back. I was wondering if anyone knew how much longer rolston has left on his contract with the wild. I've read numerous posts about the wings trying to trade for him at the deadline the last 2 seasons in a row, and i havent heard anything about a contract extension or anything, so i was wondering when he was going to be a free agent or if anyone has heard anything about a deal in the works for the offseason. Ive always been a huge fan of rolston and im sure he would love to come play in his hometown, so just seeing whatever everyone else knows and feels.

Also i have been hearing alot of talk of this fabian Brunnstrom kid. I know he is playing over in sweden but is he under contract by the wings or anyone for that matter? Also does anyone know anything about him? Is he a big guy? a scorer? forward? defensemen? I could look it up, but i am a really lazy person and rather hear it from the horses mouth.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

Brian Rolston isnt the player he was just a couple seasons ago. Look at the wild's bored for proof. I still wouldnt mind him as a cheap second liner with defenseive awareness but id rather get a 30 goal scorer, which Brian is not anymore.

Fabian Brunnstrom was supposdly signed by the wings already but this was a faulty rumor. Hes been compared to as the next Daniel Alferdsson but this is premature and likely wont amount to very much. All in all though could be a good second liner.

[awingsincebirth 0]

Brian Rolston isnt the player he was just a couple seasons ago. Look at the wild's bored for proof. I still wouldnt mind him as a cheap second liner with defenseive awareness but id rather get a 30 goal scorer, which Brian is not anymore.

Fabian Brunnstrom was supposdly signed by the wings already but this was a faulty rumor. Hes been compared to as the next Daniel Alferdsson but this is premature and likely wont amount to very much. All in all though could be a good second liner.

I would love Rolston (and his shot) too, playing on a line with Dats, that could really work well. However, I'm not sure how cheap he would come. Unless he really wants to come home to play (and I know nothing about him so I'm not sure if he's the kind of guy that would do that), I could see him getting more money than the Wings would be willing to pay him from some crap team. I don't know though.

As for Brunnstrom, I wasn't aware of the rumour that we had already signed him. I just thought he had made it quite clear himself that he was leaning towards playing in Detroit. I still feel somewhat confident that he will be in Mo-Town for the start of training camp.

[BeeRYCE 2]

I'll take both please.

Oh, Rolston is a 30 goal scorer still. I mean he has 27 this season, and with 11 games left, he is more than likely to get 30 or more.

Brunnstrom is good, but let's not overhype him like a certain Igor Grigorenko.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Rolston would be a guaranteed 30-goal scorer if he has Pavel setting him up and Holmstrom screening the goalie. I say sign him in the offseason for no more than $3.75M.

Brunnstrom is a guy I've read a lot about ubt without seeing him play live, I can't really make a decision on him. I'll leave it up to Lord Hakan.

[Majsheppard 203]

These are actually the two guys I think they will get, I actually had a discussion with a friend of mine in Virgina about this a couple of weeks ago.

Rolston only for the right price and that means like 3mill, so hometown discount.

Fabin would be great reguardless of what he does just because its such a boost to your Farm system to get someone like this for free. It would allow us more options at trade deadlines if nothing else. I would also like us to try and sign that Fin who is in the same boat as Fabin.

I believe his name is Vilos or something... I really should take notes or something

Edited March 16, 2008 by Majsheppard

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Brian Rolston is a UFA at the end of this season.

His best friend on the Wild was Todd White, who centered him for the majority of his tenure with the Wild. Todd White now plays for the Atlanta Thrashers

By Rolston's own admission, his line this season has not been clicking. They're lacking chemistry. Rolston has not meshed particularly well this season with his new linemates, and particularly his centerman PM Bouchard. He did, however, have good chemistry with Todd White.

By the looks of it, it doesnt appear as though Rolston is going to re-sign with the Wild, which makes him one of many players (and fans) who are becoming disenchanted with the organizations apparent unwillingness to take the next step towards being a bona fide contender.

"He was the quintessential Wild centerman, I thought. He was the perfect Wild centerman," said Rolston, referring to the fact Wild centers must think defense first. "Whitey was really good defensively. He played in his zone so well and bailed me out of a lot of situations defensively."

"He was always looking for me," Rolston said. "And I knew that. And that makes a difference. It makes a difference when you have somebody like that giving you the puck. He knew every time he got the puck that I'd be opening up somewhere to get the shot. And he got it to me. And I knew he'd get it to me."

"Our line pretty much stayed together, but this year, we haven't found that consistency and Jacques has had to change our line a lot trying to find the right mix," Rolston said. "With Whitey, we jelled well as a line."

Brian Rolston has one of the best slappers in the game (to the point where he uses it in the shootout effectively). And from the sounds of those comments, hed go well with a guy like Datsyuk or Filppula, who are always looking to pass first.

[Guest Crymson]

Rolston would be a guaranteed 30-goal scorer if he has Pavel setting him up and Holmstrom screening the goalie. I say sign him in the offseason for no more than $3.75M

Dream on.

[Majsheppard 203]

Oh and Fabin is a quick guy, can play any forward position and is a pure scorer.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Dream on.

Care to expound that?

[BeeRYCE 2]

Care to expound that?

I'm thinking the same thing.

Signing him at 3.75M is not a dream at all. It actually might be a hefty amount for Rolston.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Dream on.

As in him being a 30 goal scorer? Pavel setting him up? Holmstrom screening the goalie? Signing him for $3.75?

I want to commend you on your great response. It was a well-thought out post that really got the discussion going.

[Guest Crymson]

Care to expound that?

Rolston will get greater than $3.75m on the free-agent market.

Apologies for the lack of specification.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Rolston will get greater than $3.75m on the free-agent market.

Apologies for the lack of specification.

Lidstrom will get more than $7.45M on the free-agent market. Rafalski will get more than $6M on the free-agent market. Cleary gets more than $2.8M on the free-agent market.

The point is, if Rolston doesn't want to play for the teams that are offering him more than what the Red Wings are willing to offer him, the money is irrelevant.

[HenryMalredo 2]

The point is, if Rolston doesn't want to play for the teams that are offering him more than what the Red Wings are willing to offer him, the money is irrelevant.

There seems to be a common misconception that every player wants to take a paycut to play for the Wings.

[WhiteLightning91 105]

There seems to be a common misconception that every player wants to take a paycut to play for the Wings.

I wasn't implying that Rolston has any desire to take a pay-cut to play for the Red Wings. Crymson said that Rolston will get more than $3.75M on the free-agent market, which he probably will. My point was, again, that if a player doesn't want to play for those teams that are offering him more money (I have no idea whether or not he does, I'm just saying) then the money is irrelevant. No where did I say he would take a pay-cut in order to wear the winged wheel.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Rolston will get greater than $3.75m on the free-agent market.

Apologies for the lack of specification.

Brian Rolston isnt going to get that much more than 3.75M, and if its on a contract that is 3 or more years, yeah the cap hit is going to be around 3.75M. Hes 35, and hell be lucky if he hits 60 points this season. Unless hes getting offers from a desperate team, he wont get anything more than 4. And if hes looking for some security I could see him taking something around 3.5, if not less.

Edited March 16, 2008 by YoungGuns1340

[YoungGuns1340 1]

There seems to be a common misconception that every player wants to take a paycut to play for the Wings.

First of all, 3.75M isnt a paycut. Second of all, if theres anyone on this years market that would take a paycut to play with the Red Wings, I imagine it would be a Michigan native in the twilight years of his career.

[HenryMalredo 2]

Brian Rolston isnt going to get that much more than 3.75M, and if its on a contract that is 3 or more years, yeah the cap hit is going to be around 3.75M. Hes 35, and hell be lucky if he hits 60 points this season. Unless hes getting offers from a desperate team, he wont get anything more than 4. And if hes looking for some security I could see him taking something around 3.5, if not less.

Why would he not get more than that? Have NHL GMs suddenly started being financially prudent? Rolston puts up a good amount of points on a defensive team. He could easily get a hefty pacycheck from another team.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Why would he not get more than that? Have NHL GMs suddenly started being financially prudent? Rolston puts up a good amount of points on a defensive team. He could easily get a hefty pacycheck from another team.

Like I said, hes not going to get that much more than 3.75. The most Id be hes gonna get is 4M over two years. And anything more than a 2 year contract will be 3.75 or less easily. Rolston is a reliable guy, but hes far from a dominate offensive threat, and most GMs arent going to be paying him 4M when hes 38 years old.

Not to mention, hes showing his decline. He had a rough first half, and his stats have gone down a good 10 points each year since 3 years ago. And as was metioned at the beginning of this thread, Wild fans are not happy with his play. Hes not having a typical contract year.

GMs actually have learned some lessons in the new NHL Brian Rolston is going to get significantly over 3.75M just like Brad Stuart was going to cost us a good defensive prospect and a 1st round pick

[SweWings 45]

Rolston will likely be a lot more affordable than other players that would fit Detroit's needs so I'm all for signing the guy. Remains to be seen if he'll go with the hometown discount and a solid chance at a Cup or if he'll go looking for a big final pay-check.

Brunnstrom will likely only sign with the Wings if he's guaranteed a spot on the roster. It's extremely doubtful he'll agree to any significant time in the AHL.

[2probert4 8]

I would love Rolston (and his shot) too, playing on a line with Dats, that could really work well. However, I'm not sure how cheap he would come. Unless he really wants to come home to play (and I know nothing about him so I'm not sure if he's the kind of guy that would do that), I could see him getting more money than the Wings would be willing to pay him from some crap team. I don't know though.

As for Brunnstrom, I wasn't aware of the rumour that we had already signed him. I just thought he had made it quite clear himself that he was leaning towards playing in Detroit. I still feel somewhat confident that he will be in Mo-Town for the start of training camp.

This is probably posted elsewhere in the thread, but the Wings can't sign him until his season is over.