Question: Will the Wings sign a big name free agent?

[PaVel DaTsYuK fan13 0]

I could see Rolston fitting in here, but I am just nervous about messing with this teams chemistry. The wings top priorities right now have to be extending Mule, Flip and Hank. I'd also like to see them have enough cap room to make a trade deadline deal should they need to.

[Wings_Dynasty 267]

No big names, unless Stuart leaves then I think Kenny goes after a soild, physical top 4 blueliner. Especially if Lebda or Lilja are dropped/traded to give more money to Mule or Z.

I see Cheli seeing limited minutes next season in either scenario. Ericsson, Quincey, and Meech have all done their time in GR and one of them (probably Ericsson) will be on the 3rd pairing with Lebda/Lilja/Chelios. The way Babs talks about Big E tells me that he will be on the roster next season. He is a big body, has a hard shot, and can man the point on the 2nd PP unit.

Edited June 11, 2008 by Wings_Dynasty

[redwings1914 18]

I see one of the usual random signings that will cause a giant WTF here on LGW....

I also forsee a ton of whining about Lilja being resigned.

[superdeluxe 0]

Bring in a veteran, that needs a cup. Need to have urgency in that locker room.

[VM1138 1,921]

I think we will sign someone. By virtue of retirements, etc. We pretty much have to.

But I think we'll make a fairly splashy one year deal for a guy who's never won the Cup. You NEED fresh blood to keep the hunger alive in the team, and I think Holland knows that.

I expect us to pick up a consistent scoring forward.

[TheOctopusKid 19]

I think the Wings will add an additional player to their roster for several reasons (some of which have already been mentioned).

1) CAP SPACE - The Red Wings have plenty of cap room available this year to add another veteren to a one year contract while in 09-10 season they have both Frazen and Zetterburg (as well as Samuelsson) to contracts. Zetterburg would be around $7M, Franzen anywhere from $4-$6M which would palce their cap at $48M before they make any additions. The 08-09 season is the last season that they will have this kind of flexability ($39M) with all their key players already signed. If the cap is raised to around $56M - that leaves the Wings almost $15M to sign free agents. They have the money, why not?

2) BRAD STUART - If the Wings aren't able to sign Brad Stuart to a contract, the Wings will absolutely pursue a free agent defensemen to play the 4th slot. If for no other reason, the Wings cannot rely on Chelios to carry 18min a night, and none of the Wings prospects are ready to carry such a load at this point. This could ultimately lead them to pursue players like Redden, Norstrom, Numminem.

3) SECONDARY SCORING - Although the second and third scoring lines stepped up in the Stanley Cup Finals, they were inconsistent throughout the playoffs and many of their numbers were artifically inflated by the scoring explosive of Johan Frazen. Filppula, Samuelsson, and Frazen proved to be an effective line however a third scoring line still needs to be developed.

Helm played wonderfully in the playoffs however I don't imagine him to be a large scoring threat as must of his offense seems to develop around incredible speed through the neutral zone, out of the left wing and a staple average slap shot. I see incredible similiarities between him a Kris Draper. Amazing forechecking, incredible skating and accerlation, great motor. He is more likely to rotate along with the defensive players (Maltby, Draper, McCarty) than he is becoming a 20g 20ast player.

Drake will retire and that leaves Hudler and Cleary. Cleary has shown flashes of a strong all around game but doesn't excel at any particular aspect. Hudler is shifty and clever but lacks physicality. Both of them could benefit greatly from a veteren presence. A player who can provide a powerful shot to balance Cleary's aggressiveness around the boards to fetch pucks, and Hudler's playmaking and skating.

4) EMOTIONAL DRIVE

I think that you cannot undervalue the presence of a newly acquired veteren who has never won the cup to provide increased urgency in the locker room.

The playoffs are a grueling and arduous two month long process and there needs to be some type of emotional catalyst. To two most recent examples of this that I can think of are Ray Borque and Vlad. Both the Avs and the Wings those seasons possessed an incredible hunger to win - they played inspired hockey. I fear that repeat Cups are a very difficult accomplishment without some type of external and extremely intense presence driving them forward (insatiable desire for victory, tragedy, emotional inspiration).

With all of those reasons, I think the Red Wings would do very well for themselves to sign Brian Rolston. Brian is at the twilight of his career, so he will care about winning the Stanley Cup more than anything. He is 34 and should still have 2-3 years left of prime playing before there is a serious degradation of his talents. He could be signed for anywhere from $2-3M a year which would be acceptable if he could maintain 50 pts a season.

He his known for his ability to play both wings and center so he could move into the second line when necessary, as well as play alongside Cleary and Hudler as his principle duty. He is incredibly fast and skilled and has an very potent and powerful slapshot. His general weakness is seen as reluctance to bang around the boards, but Cleary would handle (happily) most of those duties.

He is from Flint, Michigan and has ties to the community.

I see the Wings making two significant pick ups. They will sign either Stuart or a comparable defensemen and then will add another forward.

Here's hoping it's Rolston

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

I would love to see Rolston here, but please no Naslund!

Hell yeah! Rolston would be a perfect fit to replace Drake. Though Rolston has had a nice scoring touch the last couple seasons. Not to mention a Flint boy, maybe they could get a bit of a home town discount like Rafalski last season. I also wouldn't mind Avery coming back to the Wings.

[The Enforcer 13]

Didn't Rolston play for Lake Superior State?

[brutus 0]

We can talk of extension July 1st same when free agency starts this year.

they can negotiate anytime but why would you, as an organization, take a cap hit any earlier than you have to? Especially with it increasing every year...

brutus

[Opie 308]

i think if drake retires, avery could take his spot. plus he played on the second line for the rangers and when you get past his nonsense , hes actually a pretty good player that can make plays and put the puck in the net

Don't get confused, Avery and Drake play very different games, Drake will run a defenseman, hit a guy.

Avery will act like a clown and do stupid s*** to get the other team off of their game. He doesn't care if what he does embarrasses him, the org, the coach, or the captain.

As far as I am concerned he can win the Conn Smythe and he is not welcomed back in the winged wheel. But that is my opinion.

Stuart will be their first choice IMO!

I see Det making a play at Hossa, only because why not, but not landing him, not even coming close.

I also see them making a play at Malone and maybe Rolston but other than that it will be depth additions, a Dallas Drake type player. Gritty, checking forward to play with the youngsters on the 4th line.

[Texas Wingnut 0]

I doubt that there will be any big names signed by the Wings over the next few years, at least not until Lids retires or the Wings need to get a new #1 goalie. I see Kenny looking for a solid 2nd/3rd line winger or possibly a #4 D-man depending on who resigns. Some of the guys in GR are ready to make the move to the big club and show that they deserve to stay on either the 2nd or 3rd line. While some of the young guys need consistent minutes, some need to show what they can do and then earn more ice time (Bab's MO for all players, not just the young ones).

[VM1138 1,921]

Now that we are unlikely to resign Stuart the odds of the Wings signing a decently big name just skyrocketed.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

Now that we are unlikely to resign Stuart the odds of the Wings signing a decently big name just skyrocketed.

Wait, what happened to stuart?!?!?!?!

[VM1138 1,921]

Wait, what happened to stuart?!?!?!?!

They're asking him to take a pay cut. That on top of his family loving California and all his roots being there, it's unlikely he'll take less. It would be awesome if he did, but I doubt he will now.

[blgillett 48]

Wait, what happened to stuart?!?!?!?!

The Wings need to resign Stuart, But it doesn't look good if the paper rumours are true. They want him to take a cut. He makes 3.5 and I think that is a bargin!! He was our 2nd or 3rd best Dman. Someone will offer him more money and he is going to be gone.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

The Wings need to resign Stuart, But it doesn't look good if the paper rumours are true. They want him to take a cut. He makes 3.5 and I think that is a bargin!! He was our 2nd or 3rd best Dman. Someone will offer him more money and he is going to be gone.

I think he was our 4th best D-man at best. (6th if you count Zetterberg and datsyuk defensemen now). dont get me wrong hes a great D-Man with his size and all, but he has some bad lapses where he really looke bad. Rafs Lids and Kronner were all stronger than him throught the regualr season and the playoffs. I dont think he is worth 3.5 and if he wont take a pay cut i say let him walk and let our young guys play. Use that left over money to go after a second line scorere like Rolston, or just hold on to that cash till Z and Franzens contracts. I dont see any need to pay the guy that much if A)he really doesnt want to be here and B) he honestly thinks so highly of himself that he cant take a discount to play with the most dominant team the past decade. If thats the case, let him take his stanley cup ring and walk and let Ericsson play or just have Quincy or meech fill that spot with Cheli. Cheli plays most of our PK minutes anyways so i dont think its going to hurt that badly. Dont get me wrong i love Stuart, but not for that kid of money and not if his heart is back on the coast. Bring in a guy like rolston born and raised in Flint, we know where his heart is.

[DRW Dominance 255]

Maybe they are asking Stuart to take a paycut because they don't think he is that #4 guy.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I can actually see them signing Sundin on a fat one year contract. Sundin's old enough that he's a one year at a time player anyway. The Wings showed real interest in him at the deadline (had a deal in place before Sundin decided he didn't want to waive his NTC). Sundin's really hungry for a cup and the Wings offer him his best chance to get it and his only chance to get it alongside so many Swedes.

Sundin's a proven clutch perfomer who can put up impressive offensive numbers, especially alongside decent linemates. I'm sure he'd put some fire in that locker room next year.

[Dabura 12,232]

Like I've been saying, I don't see the Wings signing any big names this summer, unless Stuart walks. Kenny's reluctant to make big moves even when this team gets owned in the playoffs -- so what makes anyone think winning a Cup (in convincing fashion, no less) is going to force his hand in that regard, especially when most of the current roster is locked up for at least one more season?

Hank is priority #1; Kenny won't do anything big until Hank is locked up long-term. Franzen is the "big scoring winger" Kenny was looking for. Sammy's pretty much untouchable for reasons that escape me. Flip will be a Wing for a long time. Drake will probably retire, but that doesn't really leave an opening, as it will be Kopecky's spot next season. Mac has made Downey pretty much expendable. Helm will probably make the roster out of training camp. The blue line is more or less set. In net, we'll have an Ozzie-Howard tandem.

I'd love to see a guy like Sundin in the Winged Wheel next season, but that's looking like a major pipe dream at this point in time.

Stuart is the only question mark, as far as I'm concerned. I suspect he won't be back, as he just won the Cup and will surely want to focus on caring for his new kid -- i.e., he's going to want lots of $ and lots of years. Should he walk, Kenny will probably sign Brian Campbell.

[weGotTheCup89 41]

If Stuart won't take a pay cut, what do you say we sign him to a 3 year deal and send him back to Boston with a first and second round pick from 2009 for Zdeno Chara? This is kinda farfetched seeing that Chara makes $7.5 million per year and is Boston's captain... but wouldn't it be great to have Lidstrom & Rafalski on our first defensive pairing, and Chara & Kronwall on the second! Haha but I'm dreaming though.

[Probert 5 For Fighting 0]

Maybe they are asking Stuart to take a paycut because they don't think he is that #4 guy.

Bull. Brad Stuart would qualify as a top pairing defenseman on quite a few teams in this league. He is by far the top #4 guy in the league, and is a more fundamentally sound defender than Kronwall.

They're asking him to take a paycut because they'd rather not be paying their 4th guy so much money, but they'd really like him back.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

If Stuart won't take a pay cut, what do you say we sign him to a 3 year deal and send him back to Boston with a first and second round pick from 2009 for Zdeno Chara? This is kinda farfetched seeing that Chara makes $7.5 million per year and is Boston's captain... but wouldn't it be great to have Lidstrom & Rafalski on our first defensive pairing, and Chara & Kronwall on the second! Haha but I'm dreaming though.

Wow, talk about no chance in hell. haha. theres no way boston would trade its captain for a guy that they lost to free agency a few years ago. Not to mention Chara is worth much more than a Brad Stuart combined with a first and second round pick. Also this is more of a trade that a team that is looking to make a big move in order to improve their team so that they can make it to the cup. the wings are the top seed in the NHL and have no need to make a trade like that for a #1 defenseman when we already have 2 of the best dman in the league. Plus i trust Hollands drafting and would hate to see us losea first and second rounder for a guy that is not needed. I think our D is set with or without Stuart. Its just a matter if we are going to have some extra money laying around to sign a second line scorer, that is if holland even wants to...seeing as Franzen stepped up big and took that role it may not even be necessary. but ill say it again and again....Brian Rolston. He can play every forward position so you can play him with just about any two other forwards, and he can play the point on a PP (so we can finally stop putting sammy the Logo Hunter out there). The guy wants to come home Kenny. forget Stuart, we have depth at the D and i want another Hometown BOY.

[Barrie 900]

i think the Wings will focus on resigning/extending their own players.

Agreed, I think locking up Zetterberg, Franzen, and Stuart are the first things the team wants to do before they look at UFA.

I think we're fine to start the season. We can use the cap room at the trade deadline for a crack at a 5th Championship in 12 seasons.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

Once Kenny signs Z and Franzen to extensions I think he'll make a splash and sign Sergei Fedorov

Actually Feds might not be a bad idea at the right price but I'd like to see Sundin here. Expensive or not, he's motivated to win and with the Swedes he'll fit in. I like the idea of having him on the second PP too

...let the record show, I was not the first one to mention Fedorov...

...I think they should take a crack at Rolston. Not only does he have local ties, but he also has Devils ties in Rafalski. You know, if asked, Rafalski would call Rolston up and just paint a Picasso about how niceit is playing in Detroit...

...Drop McCarty, re-sign Stuart, sign Rolston, call it an off-season. If Stuart wants more money, let him go and let Ericcson come up to the party. Brian Rolston definately should be the UFA priority...

...and then there's always Fedorov, which probably sounds more like something Holland would do, considering he wanted him at the deadline PLUS he won't cost anything near what he was making last contract...

...either way, the Wings look good going into the next season...

Edited June 11, 2008 by LeftWinger

[KDDRWINGS1 9]

Yeah his name is Darren McCarty.