Filppula signs 5-Year, $15M contract

[dicksmack 33]

Well that's great news. I've been coming back to this offseason wasteland daily to see if we bagged us a Flip... The length is surprising but I'm happy! The wings will have 150 pts. this season! lol...

[octopusonice 0]

I am totally impressed with what KH has done this offseason. Pretty much everyone that we needed to sign has been signed.

[redwinger4747 6]

0.5-1 mil too much now. 2 mil discount in 2010-2011.

goodbye andreas.

another cup=Hossa resigning at a discount again? Doubt it, but i can dream.

For everyone who thinks we are in cap trouble, and will have to trade a forward, lets analyze:

12 forwards: Dats, Z, Hossa, Homer, Franzen, Cleary, Flip, Hulder, Draper, Maltby, Sammy, Kopecky = 30.923 mil

7 defenseman: Lids, Rafa, Kronwall, Stuart, Lilja, Lebda, Meech = 22.583 mil

2 goalies: Ozzie, Conklin = 2.167

GRAND TOTAL = 55.673 mil

CAP SPACE = 1.027 mil

We need a 13th forward, and an 8th defenseman, since Ericsson will get sent down and his 900K will NOT count against the cap. We can get each of these 2 players for 500k, which would put us right at the cap. So, add Qunicey at 500k and a 13th forward at 500k and we are all set, OR trade Lilja to keep Quincey and Cheli, and we have even more room. In other words, WE ARE FINE, we only need to get down to 8 defensemen, no one else needs to be traded.

[Frozen-Man 144]

I wouldn't be surprised if Hossa did feel this way, and I'm not saying its completely impossible that he signs with us after next year.

I just think its a long shot. A lot things have to take place for us to have a shot at it.

He has to know that he could get offers anywhere from to 8mil to potentially even 10-12 a year from some teams out there and he has already turned down a multi-year deal from Holland that wouldn't jeopardize our future. I can't see Holland offering him anything other than that again next year.

I could be wrong here but I think that we have around 15mil next year to re-sign Z, Franzen, Hossa, Sammy, Hudler, Lilja, and Kopecky. Thats assuming the cap doesn't go up. Even assuming that Z takes a paycut and plays for around 7mil that only leaves us 8mil to re-sign everyone else. Hossa could probably get more than that on the open market. Franzen could get potentially 4mil if he plays well next year anyway. And I don't think we should assume that the cap is going to go up 5mil and that some of our guys will take paycuts so we can fit Hossa in too. Even if the paycuts and the cap going up again happend we would still have to let a few guys go unless Hossa is willing to play for significantly less than what other teams will be offering him.

Its not out of the question, like you said no one expected him to sign a one year deal with us this year, but I don't think we should get our hopes up.

I agree that it may not happen and that we shouldn't get our hopes up. I'm just not so sure that Hossa only wants to be here one year and then after a year with a great team and organization will want to go somewhere else for a couple million more each year. If the cap raises over $6M as it has the past two years I think their is a shot (although not probable) that he stays taking a pay cut and a contract roughly matching Z's. I guess to me it is more the fact that I doubt Hossa will want to leave at the end of the year (although the lure of more money will always be appealing). I just think that a guy who turns down the offers that he did may realize that when you make as much money as he does (no matter where he plays) other things may be more important and I don't think Yzerman was making the comments without at least some insight into what Hossa's motive was and what is going on behind the scenes. BUT I agree no need to get our hopes up too much.

.

[Matt 1,049]

TBH, I don't feel I am blowing this out of proportion. ..but players do frown on teams that sign and trade. ...I understand that situations change, and with the log-jam on D along with the Cap crunch Lilja makes the most sense, but I'd also like to look at some other alternatives before just saying, "lets dump Lilja".

I'm not just saying "lets dump Lilja" for the sake of it -- I look at what he's likely to contribute, the minutes he'll play, cap cost, etc., and it makes the most sense to deal him at this point. Believe me, the Red Wings will "look at alternatives" -- that's what they do -- but I get the strong underlying feeling that they're going to camp to see how Lilja does with the kids and if he doesn't absolutely blow them away, he's gone.

There's no point in trading him right now. Lilja's value will be at its highest near the end of the exhibition season when teams can assess what they have (or don't) or there's an injury to replace. Lilja's a package of NHL-size, veteran experience and solid shot-blocking and penalty killing, and for just $1.25M per season. He's a deal, and he'll be very easy to trade come October.

Perhaps Kenny was forward with him, but who's to say Kenny didn't have anything finalized with Stuart at the time Lilja signed? Perhaps he brought Lilja back thinking his chance of getting Stuart 5 minutes before the free agency period began was slim.

I believe that was the case 100%. I think the Wings and Lilja had a deadline on what was happening with the Stuart negotiations. They passed it and had to get an insurance policy (Lilja) under contract.

If the Wings had equally viable NHL level talent to Lilja, they wouldn't pay twice the price to Lilja as they are those kids.

Apples and oranges at this point. Lilja has a half-decade of NHL experience under his belt, the kids either don't or had their contracts market-driven in relation to the time they signed them.

Although I do see what you're saying, I don't think it applies here. Lilja isn't some free agent we plucked off the market and guaranteed a spot on the team, he's a guy we re-signed (and gave a moderate raise) not fully knowing how this summer was going to play out. And I don't think a third-pairing/depth defenceman like Andreas Lilja can expect the same level of commitment as, say, Brian Rafalski when we signed him to a 30 million dollar contract last summer.

Although Lilja at 1.2 million isn't that bad of a deal, I feel we can save ourselves around half a million in cap space by replacing him with either Chelios or someone within the system.

^ This. Prospective free agents should be more worried about what's gone on in Anaheim than Detroit shipping off a No. 6/7 defenseman.

[Fireside 0]

I agree that it may not happen and that we shouldn't get our hopes up. I'm just not so sure that Hossa only wants to be here one year and then after a year with a great team and organization will want to go somewhere else for a couple million more each year. If the cap raises over $6M as it has the past two years I think their is a shot (although not probable) that he stays taking a pay cut and a contract roughly matching Z's. I guess to me it is more the fact that I doubt Hossa will want to leave at the end of the year (although the lure of more money will always be appealing). I just think that a guy who turns down the offers that he did may realize that when you make as much money as he does (no matter where he plays) other things may be more important and I don't think Yzerman was making the comments without at least some insight into what Hossa's motive was and what is going on behind the scenes. BUT I agree no need to get our hopes up too much.

.

I'm not sure he only wants to be here one year either, but is he willing to leave 2-5mil+ per year on the table to stay here? The guy has already made a ton of money so I hope so.

I don't know. You make some good points. We'll just have to wait and see what happens with the cap I guess.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

...Cool! Chelios WILL re-sign, Downey WILL re-sign, and BYE BYE McCarty! YEEEEEEHAAAW!

[Hiei 192]

I'm slightly nerved about our goalie situation if Oz goes down.

Conklin looked good in PIT last year, but we know he can be streaky.

Howard, why we don't ******* play him yet, idk

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Although I do see what you're saying, I don't think it applies here. Lilja isn't some free agent we plucked off the market and guaranteed a spot on the team, he's a guy we re-signed (and gave a moderate raise) not fully knowing how this summer was going to play out. And I don't think a third-pairing/depth defenceman like Andreas Lilja can expect the same level of commitment as, say, Brian Rafalski when we signed him to a 30 million dollar contract last summer.

Although Lilja at 1.2 million isn't that bad of a deal, I feel we can save ourselves around half a million in cap space by replacing him with either Chelios or someone within the system.

Actually, put this way...I can get on board with.

I'm not just saying "lets dump Lilja" for the sake of it -- I look at what he's likely to contribute, the minutes he'll play, cap cost, etc., and it makes the most sense to deal him at this point. Believe me, the Red Wings will "look at alternatives" -- that's what they do -- but I get the strong underlying feeling that they're going to camp to see how Lilja does with the kids and if he doesn't absolutely blow them away, he's gone.

There's no point in trading him right now. Lilja's value will be at its highest near the end of the exhibition season when teams can assess what they have (or don't) or there's an injury to replace. Lilja's a package of NHL-size, veteran experience and solid shot-blocking and penalty killing, and for just $1.25M per season. He's a deal, and he'll be very easy to trade come October.

I believe that was the case 100%. I think the Wings and Lilja had a deadline on what was happening with the Stuart negotiations. They passed it and had to get an insurance policy (Lilja) under contract.

Same here.

Apples and oranges at this point. Lilja has a half-decade of NHL experience under his belt, the kids either don't or had their contracts market-driven in relation to the time they signed them.

Which is also part of what went in to his salary *this* season. To say that the kids can do everything Lilja can for half the price I feel is inaccurate because of the veteran and big-game experience Lilja brings. The kids can't say that and as a result the comparison is not simply a matter of ability.

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

I'm slightly nerved about our goalie situation if Oz goes down.

Conklin looked good in PIT last year, but we know he can be streaky.

Howard, why we don't ******* play him yet, idk

Did you mean to reply with this post in this thread?

[Matt 1,049]

To say that the kids can do everything Lilja can for half the price I feel is inaccurate because of the veteran and big-game experience Lilja brings.

Like Game 5 of the 2007 WCF?

(Couldn't resist.)

[weGotTheCup89 41]

Great signing! had a great playoffs and a Bobby Orr goal to go with it. Really nice thinking we won't have to worry about re-signing again until after the next President gets run out of office...

[Zion 93]

You gotta love being a Red Wings fan. We have the cup for the 4th time in 11 years, and by July 30th, we've got everything ready for the up coming season. We can just sit back, enjoy the rest of the Summer and wait for Training Camp.

/thread

[russianswede919293 95]

I could see that happening. Personally, if this is the case I would also think that Kenny would sit down with Lilja to again go over the situation and the log jam. To top it off, if this is the move that takes place it would be great to see Lilja moved to a team that he doesn't have a problem with even though he has no say in it (due to not having a NTC). Generally, when a player is moved they talk about what they're looking forward to, and briefly touch on the time with their previous team. It would great if he was moved on good terms and let the media know about it.

This is what I think would happen. Ken Holland is a classy guy, and I think that Lilja is better served for his career playing every day at this point, so I could see him saying, Andreas you would be our #7 D-Man and 1.25 is too much to pay for that, we'd like to trade you to a team where you can play every day, and honestly I think if I were Lilja I would be happy about that, but we can still fit under cap by trading a Lebda or a risking Meech to waivers as well, so I don't know. Plus day 1 of camp somebody could get hurt, then nobody goes...Ericsson in the minors frees up enough cap to keep everyone, it will all be a matter of who wins the role of #6,7,8 D-Man and #13 forward come September. Also Howard v Conklin will be fun to watch this September too. We have some good young players fighting with some veterans in camp and it should be a fun pre-season this year.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Like Game 5 of the 2007 WCF?

(Couldn't resist.)

Low blow...low blow

Even Lidstrom has tripped over his own feet that has lead to a goal in the playoffs...

POI: I don't like Lillypads, at all.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I'm slightly nerved about our goalie situation if Oz goes down.

Conklin looked good in PIT last year, but we know he can be streaky.

Howard, why we don't ******* play him yet, idk

Goalies are so weird.

[MidMichSteve 1,115]

Yessssssssssssss! I haven't felt this good about our chances to win the cup since we were going for the threepeat. Oh, wait....

[NeverForgetMac25 483]

Like Game 5 of the 2007 WCF?

(Couldn't resist.)

Oh good God, Matt........them's fighten' words!

[clutchngrab 12]

I dunno, assuming this is a 3 mil cap hit per year(?) for a guy that is solid defensively but has yet to show any real offensive spark could turn out pretty bad for us. Kronner had at least shown that he was fulfilling his potential by the time we signed him

The only problem with Flip to date has been his ruluctance to shoot. He works as hard on both ends of the ice as anybody and is a pretty good playmaking center. I think Holland is correct in his anticipation of his upside. If we assume he is centering the 2nd line with the likes of Hossa and an emerging mule, I would not be surprised to see 50 - 60 pts.

This guys all around game is well past Hudlers.

[egroen 384]

I'm not too thrilled about the signing.

Guarantees Franzen will ask for quite a bit more, Hudler for around the same and Samuelsson for slightly less.

Tells me Hudler is gone, and I think he is a much better player than Filppula (on a team where two-way forwards are a dime a dozen). If there is not another large cap jump Hossa or Franzen will be gone as well.

I am probably just bitter about what this means for Hudler, as he is one of my favorite players, and in the end this will probably be a very good deal, just because management has a pretty damn good track record lately, but I just do not see that much offensive potential from Filppula.

[Konnan511 1,736]

The only problem with Flip to date has been his reluctance to shoot. He works as hard on both ends of the ice as anybody and is a pretty good playmaking center. I think Holland is correct in his anticipation of his upside. If we assume he is centering the 2nd line with the likes of Hossa and an emerging mule, I would not be surprised to see 50 - 60 pts.

This guys all around game is well past Hudlers.

Sounds like Datsyuk when he was at the same point Flip was

[SweWings 45]

Beautiful.

[norrisnick 1]

Like Game 5 of the 2007 WCF?

(Couldn't resist.)

Lilly scored our only goal and it was a s***ty call on Pavel coupled with Franzen's limp-wristed backhand clearing attempt that let the Ducks control the puck and score. Franzen had the time and space to go to his forehand and rip it off the endboards on the far side. He didn't. He did the same thing in game 5 THIS year against Pittsburgh.

[Doggy 130]

Lol. Filppula is earning more than Zetterberg this year.

[gcom007 1,465]

I certainly don't think this is a really bad deal, but I would hardly call it a very good deal. With guys like Holmstrom and Cleary who have proven more pulling in $2.25 million and $2.8 million respectively, I was really thinking anything over $2.5 million would be overpaying in the context of the Wings system. I would've thrown that $3 million towards the cause of keeping Hossa if it was me. I just don't see the upside of this guy like some do. Sure, maybe he's worth more on the open market but again, in the context of the Detroit Red Wings, I don't think this guy is worth a 5-year deal at $3 million yet. I would've given him 2 years at $2 million at best I think to be honest.

What scares me the most is how this will affect the Franzen negotiations. I was hoping for something closer to this for Franzen. Or maybe $3-3.5 million/year for 2-3 years. I think that's going to be tougher now and again, it's going to make it all the tougher to sign up Hossa. And sure, Hossa wasn't brought up in the organization, but for the love, he's a franchise player. I really think the Wings need to do whatever they can to get him locked up long term and a deal like this for someone like Flip makes that a lot harder to do.

So, unless Flip comes up big in the future, I'm really not a fan of this deal. It's not bad enough to bite us in the ass but it's hardly optimal. I'm thinking Hudler will be packaged up and sent on his way sooner than later now as well.