Lilja re-signs w/2-year, est. $2.4M deal

[pinkprincess027 0]

From Mlive:

Quick update on the status of the Red Wings' free agents:

I spoke today with Ken Holland, who said Andreas Lilja is officially signed. It's a two-year deal for slightly more than his previous $1 million salary.

Holland is waiting to hear back from Brad Stuart's agent, Pat Brisson, after making the 28-year-old defenseman long- and short-term offers. He'll continue talking to Brisson tonight and right up until noon Tuesday, when free agency begins. If he isn't signed by then, he's more than likely gone.

Holland and Chris Chelios agreed to wait a few days before signing a one-year deal. Holland said Chelios is definitely coming back. They just need to settle on a salary, which will depend on how active the Wings will be in free agency.

He wants to sign both Darren McCarty and Aaron Downey but will wait until after the dust settles from free agency to see where they're at with their roster. This will give both an opportunity to find a better deal elsewhere. Ideally, he'd like both on two-way contracts.

He spoke briefly with the agent of restricted free-agent forward Valtteri Filppula but doesn't expect any deal to materialize until later in the summer.

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

[Dabura 12,232]

blah

[Cicada 4]

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

cue the hate

[Dominator2005 558]

Damn it...

[Cicada 4]

beat my thread by 10 seconds..

good deal, but i honestly believe we don't need him

[Rice 42]

s***. Stuart's gone.

[egroen 384]

I think it is pretty much a given Stuart will be gone.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Damn, this means no number 4 defenceman until the trade deadline. Wont say anything else, as I know Lilja has supporters on here, but I really dont see the need for him.

[Dabura 12,232]

Damn, this report is a major buzzkill.

[Dominator2005 558]

beat my thread by 10 seconds..

good deal, but i honestly believe we don't need him

I agree with you... Maybe this is enforcer that Holland was talking about...

[kylee 727]

i dont buy that the Wings resigning Lillypads means that Stuart is gone.....wellll maybe

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I cant believe, even if by a little, he got a raise.

Why 2 years? Quincey, Meech and Ericsson are all capable of handling Lilja's job now, let alone next season. Chelios and Lilja back, well, the Red Wings never really did care all that much about youth.

Edited June 30, 2008 by Detroit # 1 Fan

[redwings1914 18]

Overpaid sack of monkey s**t

[Konnan511 1,736]

Well we'll need the depth I suppose with Lilja and the competition hopefully will be there with the you younger guys battling for the 3rd pairing.

but this is a little disheartning "He spoke briefly with the agent of restricted free-agent forward Valtteri Filppula but doesn't expect any deal to materialize until later in the summer." I was hoping he'd have him signed before teams could make offer sheets towards him.

[HockeyCrazy3033 168]

STEWIEEE SAVE US.

[miller76 463]

Thanks for the update at least. I am not a huge Lilja fan, but we dont really have much say. I say let Stuart walk. The guy doesn't want to be here. He was a little bit of a liability, I thought during the playoffs. I am not understanding why everyone is so far up this guys ass to sign. Is it because the hole it leaves and the lack of quality D-men available?

[kylee 727]

i dont see how ANYONE could say that brad stuart was a liability in the playoffs. he threw huge hits, and was involved in one of the bigger plays in all of the playoffs where he held the puck in at the blueline and passed it off to Hudler right in front of the net where he scored and the Wings won that game. id MUCH rather have Staurt out there than Lilja, but who wouldnt? other than Lillypads himself...

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

He is great on PK, blocks tons of shots, is willing to drop the gloves and stand up for a team mate, isn't afraid to play the body, and when he plays within his abilities and doesn't try to be a hero is a solid defenseman. All of you haters out there need to look at the big picture. For the price and what he brings to the table, it is not a bad deal.

[Dabura 12,232]

"We're gonna paint a big ol' target on Val's back and see if we can't find him a more suitable situation with some other club. If no one hits him, we'll take him back. I guess. *zzz*"

[Doc Holiday 0]

i dont see how ANYONE could say that brad stuart was a liability in the playoffs. he threw huge hits, and was involved in one of the bigger plays in all of the playoffs where he held the puck in at the blueline and passed it off to Hudler right in front of the net where he scored and the Wings won that game. id MUCH rather have Staurt out there than Lilja, but who wouldnt? other than Lillypads himself...

Don't forget he is the same guy who passed it to Zetterberg's skates in game 3 (causing an easy goal for Crosby) and made some pretty bad passes that game.

I'd rather have Lilja than Chelios at least.

[kylee 727]

He is great on PK, blocks tons of shots, is willing to drop the gloves and stand up for a team mate, isn't afraid to play the body, and when he plays within his abilities and doesn't try to be a hero is a solid defenseman. All of you haters out there need to look at the big picture. For the price and what he brings to the table, it is not a bad deal.

^ well said.

he's everything everyone complains about wanting in a Wing. He will fight when he needs to, throws his body, in the time he's been here he has made ONE very noticeable and costly mistake to Selanne which everyone knows about.

Edited June 30, 2008 by kylee

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Don't forget he is the same guy who passed it to Zetterberg's skates in game 3 (causing an easy goal for Crosby) and made some pretty bad passes that game.

I'd rather have Lilja than Chelios at least.

Disagree there. I'll take Chelios awareness and smarts over Liljas size anyday.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

"We're gonna paint a big ol' target on Val's back and see if we can't find him a more suitable situation with some other club. If no one hits him, we'll take him back. I guess. *zzz*"

Here comes Brian Burke. Even if its only to drive up Vals price through an offer-sheet as Kenny already said he'd match. I'm guessing this means the Wings want to sign Zetterberg and then see where Franzen and Filppula fit in on the long-term.

[kylee 727]

Don't forget he is the same guy who passed it to Zetterberg's skates in game 3 (causing an easy goal for Crosby) and made some pretty bad passes that game.

I'd rather have Lilja than Chelios at least.

oh come on, dont you think thats a bit nit picking? yeah he made a mistake and made up for it in some big ways...

[Cicada 4]

"We're gonna paint a big ol' target on Val's back and see if we can't find him a more suitable situation with some other club. If no one hits him, we'll take him back. I guess. *zzz*"

if anyone offer sheets him they're going to be able to match no probs...

i'm really not worried about him not being in Detroit next year