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

[YoungGuns1340 1]

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

The mind can only do so much if the body can't catch up. The agility just isn't there anymore.

[FinRedWing 172]

I was kind of hoping he'd get a 1 year deal,but 2 years isn't the end of the world.

Good depth signing.

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.

Well,trust doesn't seem to be an issue.

[Superman54 91]

With the money Holland is offering to Lilja, I think Kenny knows that this guy can't be our #4 defensemen. I won't be suprised if we someone else in a winged wheel before the summer is up.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

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

I don't think losing him is what people care about. The nature of offer-sheets is to overpay a player to lure him away. The Wings are fortunate to not have a single bloated contract on the payroll as of now. Filppula's paycheck could get kinda ugly...at least in terms of what I personally think hes worth.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

The mind can only do so much if the body can't catch up. The agility just isn't there anymore.

True, but Lilja is as slow, or slower then Chelios, he's just got younger legs.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I don't think losing him is what people care about. The nature of offer-sheets is to overpay a player to lure him away. The Wings are fortunate to not have a single bloated contract on the payroll as of now. Filppula's paycheck could get kinda ugly...at least in terms of what I personally think hes worth.

Anything over 2 mil will get ugly fast, and I could see tons of GM's offering at least that much.

[DaWingsin071 4]

What is with the love fest for this guy in the organization. Christ Lilja is garbage. Basically most of our youth is better than Lilja. Hopefully he has a horrid season, so maybe they can trade him. God I hate this deal. Hopefully the Wings grab Rolston tomorrow to make might day better.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

i agree, good depth signing.

[miller76 463]

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.

thank you. I know all the D-men make mistakes, but this guy made a couple costly ones in the Finals. I know he laid down a couple hits, but big deal. Hell Lilja can hit. Brad Stuart is not a top D-man. I live in the LA area, and have seen him play many times, and I am not impressed.

My opinion though of course.

[HenryMalredo 2]

I don't think losing him is what people care about. The nature of offer-sheets is to overpay a player to lure him away. The Wings are fortunate to not have a single bloated contract on the payroll as of now. Filppula's paycheck could get kinda ugly...at least in terms of what I personally think hes worth.

If he's given a big offer sheet..........let him go. He's replacable. The Wings could use the extra picks either for drafting or to trade for someone else.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I don't see why everyone is so hyped up about this. All in all its a decent signing. A Dman who was poised to be a UFA got barely over 1M? Thats pretty much unheard of these days, even for a bottom pairng Dman. Liljas the kind of guy you like to having on the roster going into the playoffs anyways.

I don't understand how people can be so upset about an incredibly tradeable contract and player. There are a ton of teams in this league that would jump at the chance to land a big shot-blocking PK specialist on a nearly non-impact contract, even if its only for a mid-low round pick.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

If he's given a big offer sheet..........let him go. He's replacable. The Wings could use the extra picks either for drafting or to trade for someone else.

Trust me, thats exactly how I feel. But its Ken Hollands "we'll match anything" quotes that have me worried.

[Dabura 12,232]

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

It shouldn't have even gotten to this point, especially if Flip genuinely wants to stay a Wing. All this ("this" being Holland saying, "We'll wait all summer") does is, like I said, paint a target on him and make it much more likely that he'll be earning more than what he's really worth.

I can't help but wonder if Flip isn't really as intent on staying with the Wings as people have said he is....

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Anything over 2 mil will get ugly fast, and I could see tons of GM's offering at least that much.

Like I said, If Ken Holland wants to offer Flip 2.5M, I could see a GM coming around and offering him 3.5M, knowing that Holland would match that offer. I dont see all 30 GMs holding back from driving up someone elses payroll even if by a little. It only takes one GM to screw you over, says Darcy Regier.

[miller76 463]

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...

whats your love fest with this guy. He made up with it in big ways how. A good hit?

ye

yeah he looks real happy to be with this team, hours after winning the cup!

but then again so does Chuck Norris a.k.a Draper.

Edited June 30, 2008 by miller76

[HenryMalredo 2]

It shouldn't have even gotten to this point, especially if Flip genuinely wants to stay a Wing. All this ("this" being Holland saying, "We'll wait all summer") does is, like I said, paint a target on him and make it much more likely that he'll be earning more than what he's really worth.

I can't help but wonder if Flip isn't really as intent on staying with the Wings as people have said he is....

Thats how negotiating works. Why should a player agree to the first offer they get?

[Doc Holiday 0]

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

I cannot stand it when Chelios makes rookie penalties. I know the guy plays scrappy but seriously the guy needs to understand retirement and realize he isn't the same defenseman he used to be. I could honestly want him more if the guy didn't make dumb plays everytime I watch a game. (that doesn't mean every time he plays, just every time I see him he crosschecks a guy multiple times in the back or blatantly trips someone).

[Frozen-Man 144]

Anything over 2 mil will get ugly fast, and I could see tons of GM's offering at least that much.

Flip has to accept the offer sheet for it to even matter and maybe they have discussed it and he won't take any other offers.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

whats your love fest with this guy. He made up with it in big ways how. A good hit?

yeah he looks real happy to be with this team, hours after winning the cup!

Using an image like that is pretty baseless.

I like Stuart, but I'm definitely of the party that thinks he looked a better with the Wings than he actually is. Detroit's system has a way of doing that, as long as you can fit into a puck-possession game.

[kylee 727]

whats your love fest with this guy. He made up with it in big ways how. A good hit?

ye

yeah he looks real happy to be with this team, hours after winning the cup!

hey you're trying to bring up two issues and melt it into one. yeah i dunno why he seemed so... blase after winning the Stanley Cup. My "love fest" with Stuart is simply this: id MUCH rather have him out there all of the time, than Lillypads and Cheli out there all of the time. Stuart is quicker than both, throws his body around and is a great pairing with Nik Kronwall, Chips in a few goals, and like i mentioned in a post before, he made a huge keep in and assist to Rex Hudler. To be fair you have to know that anyyone could have done. Would you have torn into say, Lidstrom, the say way you are doing to Stuart? Of course not, even i woudnt, he's a hometown guy, and one of the greatest Defensemen ever. But i just think that the game 3 turnover is something that any dman could have committed,.

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Thats how negotiating works. Why should a player agree to the first offer they get?

Who said hes only gotten one offer?

The problem is that Filppula's young and impressionable when it comes to contracts and money, and his agent is none other than Pat Brisson.

[Guest mindfly]

Damnit LILJA!!! go back and play for Malmö where you belong!! I HATE YOU

[Heaton 1]

Good deal, we need to keep guys like Lilja around.

The kicker of the attitude about this signing is funny, if Holland lets Lilja go and we let Quincey take his spot or some other veteran FA and plays the exact same way, people would sing their praises. It's a grass is greener type of situation, if the kids were able to do everything Lilja does at his level or higher, he wouldn't be re-signed.

After Lilja's 3 seasons, some team would've gave him at least a 2m contract, he's not a great defensemen or even a very good defensemen. There's no love fest, there's just the realization that Lilja isn't as bad as some people make him out to be.

[miller76 463]

Using an image like that is pretty baseless.

I like Stuart, but I'm definitely of the party that thinks he looked a better with the Wings than he actually is. Detroit's system has a way of doing that, as long as you can fit into a puck-possession game.

Baseless how? I am showing an image hours after the cup being won. Sitting alone and all. It just adds to me thinking that he was a temporary player in Detroit.

It's fairly simple to say that any player looks better when they are on the ice with players from the Wings. I am aware he is a talented D-man. I have just not been completely sold on his comittment to this team. it seems as since they first signed him, the rumors were that he wouldn't stay long, and he was happier in California. I just don't believe he is as good as teams typically pay him.

[russianswede919293 95]

good move, for the price we pay for him Lilja is great. He is a great shot blocker and a good penalty killer. I take this deal any day of the week, no matter how much i love to hate him.