Free Agency Next Year

[stud_defenseman 1]

This will probably be merged with the post from last week about Eklund's Free Agent List, but oh well. Does anyone honestly see us doing anything at all on the free agent market next year?? We have the best Defence in the league with guys like Ericsson, Quincey and Meech all fighting to get positions, we surely don't need to pick up an over priced Dman on the open market. This summer we are going to have to sign filppula to a contract, which I expect will be significantly higher than the entry level dollars he is pulling in this year (I'm hoping he will sign for around $1.5 or less for 3 years. Then next year we will have to sign Zetterberg for top dollar (I expect him to sign for an amount right around what Pav is making, which would be a steal for both of them). Depending on how well Franzen plays next season, he will also be making a big dollar. I obviously don't expect him to keep up the same pace as this year, but I don't think it would be a stretch to see him pop 40 - 45 goals and get 65 points or so. This could put him in the range of even up to $4 million a year. Signing these guys is a priority, and while it would be nice to bring in a guy like Ryan Malone, I would rather stick with the guys who know our system and have proven they can succeed within it. Our recent history with FAs is pretty atrocious.

Other than that, do you see Holland attempting to address our goaltending situation? I doubt Hasek will be back, but does Howard have what it takes to move up to the next level? I would think it would be best for us to move him up to save some money for the next few years for our forwards, we don't have the luxury to pick up someone like Ryan Miller or Christobal Huet.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

This will probably be merged with the post from last week about Eklund's Free Agent List, but oh well. Does anyone honestly see us doing anything at all on the free agent market next year?? We have the best Defence in the league with guys like Ericsson, Quincey and Meech all fighting to get positions, we surely don't need to pick up an over priced Dman on the open market. This summer we are going to have to sign filppula to a contract, which I expect will be significantly higher than the entry level dollars he is pulling in this year (I'm hoping he will sign for around $1.5 or less for 3 years. Then next year we will have to sign Zetterberg for top dollar (I expect him to sign for an amount right around what Pav is making, which would be a steal for both of them). Depending on how well Franzen plays next season, he will also be making a big dollar. I obviously don't expect him to keep up the same pace as this year, but I don't think it would be a stretch to see him pop 40 - 45 goals and get 65 points or so. This could put him in the range of even up to $4 million a year. Signing these guys is a priority, and while it would be nice to bring in a guy like Ryan Malone, I would rather stick with the guys who know our system and have proven they can succeed within it. Our recent history with FAs is pretty atrocious.

Other than that, do you see Holland attempting to address our goaltending situation? I doubt Hasek will be back, but does Howard have what it takes to move up to the next level? I would think it would be best for us to move him up to save some money for the next few years for our forwards, we don't have the luxury to pick up someone like Ryan Miller or Christobal Huet.

40-45 goals for Franzen seems kind of high, but not totally unrealistic of he can play the way he played the last month of the regualr season and how he is playing now in playoffs. Im thinking probably around 30-35 is more reasonable, but 40-45 would sure be nice! If he keeps getting paired on the 2nd line or even the 1st line depending on how they mix up lines, he could have a career best year next year.

[stud_defenseman 1]

40-45 goals for Franzen seems kind of high, but not totally unrealistic of he can play the way he played the last month of the regualr season and how he is playing now in playoffs. Im thinking probably around 30-35 is more reasonable, but 40-45 would sure be nice! If he keeps getting paired on the 2nd line or even the 1st line depending on how they mix up lines, he could have a career best year next year.

ya, I admit it does seem a bit high, but considering that he only starting going in the last month and change, and he still endd up with 27 goals, I think there certainly could be room for some improvement. On the other hand this could be a fluke, but a 26 game fluke does not seem likley to me. At the minimum I think he will finish with 30 goals, which would certainly be good.

[Yemack 1]

I don't know about Wing's cap situation well but I think it is safe to say that we shouldn't go after anyone else than Stuart this offseason. Franzen and Z's big payday is coming up and it could be 7~9 mil addition to current cap hit.

Maybe after next season, we can go crazy again in offseason. It would give ample time to evaluate Howard too.

Edited May 2, 2008 by Yemack

[Rice 42]

The only need is one top-four defenseman (Stuart, Norstrom, Hainsey). Franzen's emergence doesn't leave room for anything else. I think it's time for Chelios to hang them up. Let go of Lilja and maybe Lebda too. Ericsson, Quincey, or Meech will round out the third pairing.

[sinbin 3]

The only need is one top-four defenseman (Stuart, Norstrom, Hainsey). Franzen's emergence doesn't leave room for anything else. I think it's time for Chelios to hang them up. Let go of Lilja and maybe Lebda too. Ericsson, Quincey, or Meech will round out the third pairing.

Agree! It's a great way for Capt'n A & The Dom to exit....with the Cup by their side!

[Z and D for the C 712]

Providing he doesn't cost us the cup this year, I'd like to see lilja resigned. Stuart would be nice but isn't necessary, but we'd need to sign someone else.

I would however like to sign a top 6 winger. (Prospal *crosses fingers*)

[VM1138 1,921]

The Wings are going to play the free market (or trades) for sure. I see us picking up a Top-4 Defenseman, maybe two if Stuart goes back to LA. Stuart is the big question mark, I think. If he stays, we wont' do as much. If he leaves, his place will need to be filled.

A top 6 scorer as well. Hudler and Filpulla are developing so...streaky. Though Hudler is doing fantastic now! Just picture:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

WINGER-Franzen-Sammy (if he stays)

Cleary-Draper-Hudler

Drake (if he stays)-Hudler-McCarty

And that's without Filpulla, who I like, but just don't see him in the lineup. Ever since the trade deadline he's been sort of expendable.

EDIT: Jeez, I totally forgot about Kopecky and Maltby. It sure looks like we'll be even deeper next year with those guys hanging around!

Of course, Drake could always retire, Sammy, Filpulla, or Hudler could all be trade bait, but those are the lines I'd like to see.

Edited May 3, 2008 by VM1138

[stud_defenseman 1]

The Wings are going to play the free market (or trades) for sure. I see us picking up a Top-4 Defenseman, maybe two if Stuart goes back to LA. Stuart is the big question mark, I think. If he stays, we wont' do as much. If he leaves, his place will need to be filled.

A top 6 scorer as well. Hudler and Filpulla are developing so...streaky. Though Hudler is doing fantastic now! Just picture:

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

WINGER-Franzen-Sammy (if he stays)

Cleary-Draper-Hudler

Drake (if he stays)-Hudler-McCarty

And that's without Filpulla, who I like, but just don't see him in the lineup. Ever since the trade deadline he's been sort of expendable.

EDIT: Jeez, I totally forgot about Kopecky and Maltby. It sure looks like we'll be even deeper next year with those guys hanging around!

Of course, Drake could always retire, Sammy, Filpulla, or Hudler could all be trade bait, but those are the lines I'd like to see.

Whoa, one minute everyone hates hudler and the next someone has TWO of them in the lineup. I would assume that the second hudler you have in there is going to be filppula, I can't see the Wings letting him go yet, he still has lots of time to grow.

If we do sign Stuart, which is a possibility I can't see any reason why we would have to sign another Dman... TBH I can't see us going out to get a Dman even if we don't sign Suart, we have way too much talent in our system. I wouldn't be surprised if Ericsson starts seeing regular time. Meech and Quincey are more than enough to make up for injuries.

And don't forget about Brunnstrom, I have a really good feeling that he will sign here. That would be the best solution I think because it would cost us absolutely nothing except the entry level contract. We won't have to go out and pay a guy like prospal $4 million a year. A little too expensive for the most inconsistent player in the league. One year he will get 70 pts, the next he gets 40, its become quite the pattern.

I can't even begin to think of a forward lineup because who knows what will happen with Drake, Downey, Sammy, but TBH if the lineup was exactly the same as right now I would not mind at all.

The defence is pretty easy for me though...

lidstrom - rafalski

stuart - kronwall

chelios - ericsson

let lilja walk, he probably wants upwards of 1.5 million which he is not going to get, and trade lebda for low draft pick. That leaves guys like Meech and Quincey to make up some time here and there. Well, actually who knows what cheli will do he may retire for all I know.

Edit: Prospal's stats:

07/08 - 71 pts

06/07 - 55 pts

05/06 - 80 pts

03/04 - 54 pts

02/03 - 79 pts

01/02 - 55 pts

maybe I exagerated a bit, but I still don't want to pay someone $4 million a year for 50 points. Sounds very Todd Bertuzzish to me. Am I wrong in thinking that he will make that much? Keep in mind that he is due for another crappy season.

Edited May 3, 2008 by stud_defenseman

[Dano33 41]

I definately think the wings should concentrate on the players already in our organization. I wouldn't mind to see chelios play another year, but i wouldn't be sad (looking at our lineup, not his career) if he hung them up. Hasek can take a hike. Lilja i don't see getting a contract from us. I just wanna see some of the young guys get steady playing time.

[stud_defenseman 1]

I definately think the wings should concentrate on the players already in our organization. I wouldn't mind to see chelios play another year, but i wouldn't be sad (looking at our lineup, not his career) if he hung them up. Hasek can take a hike. Lilja i don't see getting a contract from us. I just wanna see some of the young guys get steady playing time.

sounds wonderful to me

[WingMachine91 0]

i think with the right trade with philly, we can pry jeff carter from there. they are most likely trading him anyways, because they already have their top two centers of briere and richards, so it would seem like a waste having carter on the third line.

DZH

franzen - carter- filppula

maltby-draper-cleary

hudler-kopecky-mccaty/helm/downey/drake

assuming we include sammy in the trade

the flyers need puck moving dmen, and the wings have plenty of them. it would seem like we could be good trading partners, orrr just sign Ryan Malone and ill be happy

DZH

franzen -filppula-malone

etc.

or we could switch up the lines and be equally as deadly. these are the moves i hope we make

[Z and D for the C 712]

Whoa, one minute everyone hates hudler and the next someone has TWO of them in the lineup. I would assume that the second hudler you have in there is going to be filppula, I can't see the Wings letting him go yet, he still has lots of time to grow.

If we do sign Stuart, which is a possibility I can't see any reason why we would have to sign another Dman... TBH I can't see us going out to get a Dman even if we don't sign Suart, we have way too much talent in our system. I wouldn't be surprised if Ericsson starts seeing regular time. Meech and Quincey are more than enough to make up for injuries.

And don't forget about Brunnstrom, I have a really good feeling that he will sign here. That would be the best solution I think because it would cost us absolutely nothing except the entry level contract. We won't have to go out and pay a guy like prospal $4 million a year. A little too expensive for the most inconsistent player in the league. One year he will get 70 pts, the next he gets 40, its become quite the pattern.

I can't even begin to think of a forward lineup because who knows what will happen with Drake, Downey, Sammy, but TBH if the lineup was exactly the same as right now I would not mind at all.

The defence is pretty easy for me though...

lidstrom - rafalski

stuart - kronwall

chelios - ericsson

let lilja walk, he probably wants upwards of 1.5 million which he is not going to get, and trade lebda for low draft pick. That leaves guys like Meech and Quincey to make up some time here and there. Well, actually who knows what cheli will do he may retire for all I know.

Edit: Prospal's stats:

07/08 - 71 pts

06/07 - 55 pts

05/06 - 80 pts

03/04 - 54 pts

02/03 - 79 pts

01/02 - 55 pts

maybe I exagerated a bit, but I still don't want to pay someone $4 million a year for 50 points. Sounds very Todd Bertuzzish to me. Am I wrong in thinking that he will make that much? Keep in mind that he is due for another crappy season.

Unless I misread something, he's getting paid 1.9 right now. I wouldn't give him more than 2.5-3. Is he asking for 4m?

[WhiteLightning91 105]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Filppula - Franzen - Rolston

Maltby - Draper - Cleary

Hudler - Kopecky - McCarty

(Abdelkader - Helm - Downey)

The defense is too hard to tell until we figure out what Stuart, Lilja, and Chelios' plans are.

Bring in Rolston at 2 years, no more than $4M per, and I bet he can easily pot 30 goals in our system, maybe 40 playing on the #1 PP. McCarty and Downey shoudl be signed for the same amount as they are receiving now. Filppula should be re-signed for no more than $2.5M, and even at that amount it better be for a contract around 5 years. As for Brunnstrom, love to bring him in. I just don't feel he is going to have as big of an impact as the media is building him up to have.

Osgood and Howard next year for the goalie tandem.

[VM1138 1,921]

I'd like Rolston to come here.

Frankly, I think they go after a forward simply because you can never have too many. But we're set on centers, I think. We need some scoring wingers.

But does anyone else think it's a little unlucky for us to start talkign about the offseason halfway through the playoffs? Seems like bad karma to me...

[stud_defenseman 1]

Unless I misread something, he's getting paid 1.9 right now. I wouldn't give him more than 2.5-3. Is he asking for 4m?

I'm not exactly sure what he's asking. but coming off off a 71 point season combined with the playoffs he is having I think that would be somewhere around the going rate for a player with those stats, maybe a bit less. I certainly wouldn't give him that much, but look at the Ducks this year, they gave Bertuzzi $4 million. Robert Lang also got signed for $4 million. Maybe that was just the market last season, but I would think that Prospal is going to try to get a big payday this year.

[stud_defenseman 1]

I'd like Rolston to come here.

Frankly, I think they go after a forward simply because you can never have too many. But we're set on centers, I think. We need some scoring wingers.

But does anyone else think it's a little unlucky for us to start talkign about the offseason halfway through the playoffs? Seems like bad karma to me...

Yea, maybe this is bad karma, but I just can't seem to help looking ahead to next year.

[Systemfel 33]

If we can't re-sign Stuart, I'd love to see Norström in the Winged Wheel. Him and Kronwall would make for a phenomenal d-pairing.

Edited May 3, 2008 by Systemfel

[vangvace 12]

Datsyuk - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Filppula - Franzen - Rolston

Maltby - Draper - Cleary

Hudler - Kopecky - McCarty

(Abdelkader - Helm - Downey)

The defense is too hard to tell until we figure out what Stuart, Lilja, and Chelios' plans are.

Bring in Rolston at 2 years, no more than $4M per, and I bet he can easily pot 30 goals in our system, maybe 40 playing on the #1 PP. McCarty and Downey shoudl be signed for the same amount as they are receiving now. Filppula should be re-signed for no more than $2.5M, and even at that amount it better be for a contract around 5 years. As for Brunnstrom, love to bring him in. I just don't feel he is going to have as big of an impact as the media is building him up to have.

Osgood and Howard next year for the goalie tandem.

Indications are that Chelios will be back next year as well. Lilja's contract negotiations are on hold for the playoffs. His performance, stat wise, may shave a little off his asking price. Stuart I have the feeling will be leaving after the season's over.

It pains me but I think that Downey won't be back, or will be relegated to the Griffens for most of the season. Simply because of lack of space on the forward lines. The fourth line will have some heated competition again at training camp. More so if another forward is brought in via free agency.

[lidstromfan5 3]

Hopefully this will be the summer of 2 R's................Redden and Rolston. If we can get Redden for a good price then he and Kronwall or even Nick would be phenominal. And Redden would easily become our most Physical dman, if you dont think Red isn't physical ask the Kostitsin(sp) kid who he knocked out with one punch if he is(sure not exactly a tough guy to nail but that just looked bad). And Rolston and Z on a PK line would be awesome and having him man the point with Nick on the PP is almost illegal with Rolston's shot. He would easily get 40 goals in Detroit.

Edited May 4, 2008 by lidstromfan5