Hossa just continues to amaze me...

[T.Low 1,011]

IMHO Sammy, & Hudler are not priorities.....I'd gladly give up those 2 if it helps signing Hossa to a long term contract...Franzen though is a different story; hard to say if he can keep up his current pace, but it's well known what Hossa can do.

I think my strategy (simplified) in the cap era would be to spend $ on an awesome top six, let the bottom six be young/energetic interns willing to eat the league minimuns for a few seasons for a shot at the top six or get traded or something. In other words, if there is no room for Sam and Huds when their contracts are up, well, shoot, that sucks but thats the math.

But i'm just a suddenly starving outside sales rep for construction supplies in the new world market, WTF do i know about capology in the new NHL. For real.

[hankzet40 233]

Outta curiosity, & to play the advocate - how are those 2 in your opinion the priority?

Hank to me is a top 15 player in the game and our future captain. Responsible all around and his wonky back is his only downside. Mule is quickly becoming a better version of Homer. A big body with sick hands and an increasing scoring touch. Again, I love Hossa but I don't see him taking another discount but Hank and Mule I definitely can, and they already have chemistry with the rest of the team.

[hankzet40 233]

Gotcha...Hope you're right on the home town discounts with the Mule, & Hank

Trust me, I do too. It scares the hell out of me to think of Hank in another jersey.

[Reilly 24]

I love Z as much as possible, but I'll take Hossa over him. It kills me to say, as Z is "the next Captain" and all, reigning Conn Smythe winner, etc etc. But Hossa is better.

lol

[b.shanafan14 733]

Hossa is awesome. Whenever I see him skate up ice, he seems like a brand new shiny car we're taking for a test drive. Damn you salary cap...

[Wing Across The Pond 196]

TBH theres no reason some people, maybe Hossa or Z, wont take a pay reduce come contract signing time. I mean Hossa did it intially to come here when Pitts offered him big money. Maybe if he's successful here and enjoys him time, he'll want to stay and do what he can to keep other players too. I mean everyone's being saying what a classy guy he is, doesn't seem like the type to grab money with both hands.

[b.shanafan14 733]

TBH theres no reason some people, maybe Hossa or Z, wont take a pay reduce come contract signing time. I mean Hossa did it intially to come here when Pitts offered him big money. Maybe if he's successful here and enjoys him time, he'll want to stay and do what he can to keep other players too. I mean everyone's being saying what a classy guy he is, doesn't seem like the type to grab money with both hands.

I agree with you that Hossa isn't all about the mighty dollar, but this team is going to change a lot next year no matter what because there are so many players who have raises coming, and its unrealistically optimistic to think that Hossa, Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, and Samuellson or all going to split whatever is left in the cap that many think will be going down. Even if you somehow convinced both Hossa and Zetterberg to settle on Datsyuk money, there is the cap right there, no Franzen Hudler or Samuelsson.

It sucks a lot, because its not like the Wings are throwing around $10 million contracts around and 'buying' players like they were accused of before the cap, its more that players want to play for the Wings even at much lower than free market price, but when you're only given 5 cents, even if everyone takes a penny and a half they all can't fit. Especially sucks because in Z, Mule, and Huds case they were all drafted and developed by the Wings when many weren't going to give them a chance, and now they deserve the money they've earned, but someone is going to have to get it elsewhere. Sad...

[Guest Shoreline]

There's a funny thing about the Hossa situation. Hossa being here I think puts pressure on Z to bring his demand down if he wants to stay a Wing. If he goes too low, then the Wings may be able to bring Hossa down and put pressure on Z. That being said, I'd much rather the team sign Z. Hossa does not have any consistency yet of staying with one team, and this team can certainly win without him. We should take a lesson from the Pens and not get too hung up on him simply because he can put up big numbers.

[thedisappearer 291]

Anyone know how the cap will look if we can get Z and Hossa to take Dats' contract, and Franzen to take $4mil per? I'm guessing either Z or Hossa will need to take a 1 year so Lids' contract can get off the books and he can take a reduced salary as well. And if so, it's Z's turn.

Face it, relying on all-world talent to take significant pay cuts just isn't that likely, especially when we are asking 4 dudes to do it. Somehow, we are gonna lose somebody.

[lets go pavel 2]

There's no way to keep Z, Franzen, and Hossa. Both Z and Franzen are due for significant raises - even with a hometown discount - and Hossa isn't going to take much less than what he earns this year. Even if we let everyone else go (Sammy, Huddles, etc.) and replace them with minimum wagers, it doesn't free up anywhere near enough $ to afford all 3, especially with the cap going down. The "Reality" thread has all the gory details ...

[MaynardJKeenan 1]

I'd keep Hossa and Mule. Zetterbergs back scares me. Even if he didn't have back issues, it would be a tough call.

[VM1138 1,921]

I'd keep Hossa and Mule. Zetterbergs back scares me. Even if he didn't have back issues, it would be a tough call.

Never thought I'd see the day when Red Wings fans would be calling for the departure of Zetterberg.

[Nev 1,085]

There's no way to keep Z, Franzen, and Hossa. Both Z and Franzen are due for significant raises - even with a hometown discount - and Hossa isn't going to take much less than what he earns this year. Even if we let everyone else go (Sammy, Huddles, etc.) and replace them with minimum wagers, it doesn't free up anywhere near enough $ to afford all 3, especially with the cap going down. The "Reality" thread has all the gory details ...

Quite frankly we're going to struggle to keep 2 of the 3. The combined cap figure for Sammy, Huds and Mule is only $3.15M - to resign Z & Hossa we will need to find at least $5M in cap space. And don't forget the players that leave will still need to be replaced on the roster. If the 3 above are let go and we call up Leino, Helm and Abdelkader they will eat up $1.5-2M so we won't even be creating that much cap room.

Add in Ericsson and his $1M salary and to me it seems the only way to keep Hossa AND Z is to trade Kronwall or Filpulla (as the only players without a NTC whose departure will create enough cap space) and you still need to let Sammy, Huds, Mule, Kopecky and Chelios go.

[Barrie 900]

This is why the salary cap sucks!! We should be able to keep Zetterberg, Franzen, and Hossa, but thanks to Gary Bettman, Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix, Nashville, Columbus, etc. we can't.

I'm all for keeping Zetterberg and Franzen. Hossa's been great, but he can go after this year.

[This Is Bida 0]

Like I said in my original post, priority number one is Z. No doubt. Anyone who says he should go over the Mule and Hossa is completely kidding themselves. This guy is the next face of our franchise. The next Lidstrom. And you guys are talking about shipping him out? You do remember he was MVP last year when we won the Cup, right?

As for the Mule, I don't understand how some of you people are so quick to sign the Mule and toss out Hossa. How do you guys know that Franzens not gonna get paycheck happy and demand large amounts of money? I mean, I would totally understand if you were at a toss-up between Franzen and Hossa as for who should stay but to to say it should be the Mule, no exceptions.... I don't know, I guess we'll just agree to disagree on that.

Now, as for the people who said the Hossa signing is less of a priority than Sammy and Huds is down-right taking crazy pills. If giving up both Huds and Sammy gives us a 10% better chance of signing Hossa, I don't think any GM on the planet would think TWICE about that decision.

I'll admit, my personal man-love for Hossa does come into play with the whole Hossa/Franzen debate, for the simple fact that I've been a HUGE Hossa fan ever since he joined the league, but to say we should keep Franzen and kick Hossa out the front door is downright preposterous.

Like I said, the priority list for Holland should be (given these players aren't asking for ridiculous money)...

Zata

Hossa

Mule

Huds

Sammy

Now, with all that said, lets watch one of the most amazing goals I have ever seen, and probably the most creative (up there with Dats' goal on Turco)... Yours truly...........

MARIAN HOSSA!!!

Edited December 21, 2008 by This Is Bida

[Yzermania 156]

This is why the salary cap sucks!! We should be able to keep Zetterberg, Franzen, and Hossa, but thanks to Gary Bettman, Atlanta, Florida, Phoenix, Nashville, Columbus, etc. we can't.

I'm all for keeping Zetterberg and Franzen. Hossa's been great, but he can go after this year.

I like having the cap. Last year's cup was MUCH more gratifying than the 2002 cup. Having mostly home grown players makes victory much sweeter.

[Earthhuman 8]

Does anyone else feel like Piggy from Lord of the Flies? This thread just feels wrong!

1st, how do you not keep Zetterberg? He's done everything for this franchise. If he's asking for $6.5 million like Datsyuk, or even close to $7 million, then keep him for sure. I could not look at myself in the mirror if I said Hossa over Zetterberg.

Speaking of Hossa, I would take Franzen and Hudler together over Hossa and Samuelsson for the simple fact that they're worth more goals combined than Hossa and Samuelsson. Probably Holland could fit Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, and Samuelsson under the cap and let Hossa walk next year. Signing Hossa next year means that Franzen is gone, and so is Hudler (more than likely). I'll take the offense that will score more goals any day.

Don't get me wrong, Hossa is a great player, has won games for the Wings this year, and set a great example by signing for less than he's worth. However, he's worth even more now than he was in the offseason, and I think Franzen will appreciate the Wings giving him a shot in the NHL that has put him up there with some of the elite scorers, when he thought he would be working in a glass factory all his life. I think he'll sign a classic more-than-fair Wings contract. Ditto Hudler, the guy who was passed up all first round despite have more skill than most of those players, and then getting a shot on the Wings and now playing with great players and getting PP time.

Please try to keep in mind when dismissing him easily that he now has 28 points in 32 games, is a +2, and has committed-wait for it- 1 penalty this season! All with 13:00 per game. That's ridiculous. Before this game, he was 9th in the league in goals per minute, right behind Hossa. I think this game he just passed him. Hudler alone is scoring more per minute than Hossa, and that's not taking into account that Franzen is 11th in the league in goals per minute. Face it, Hossa is just not worth these two players combined.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

After this season, as long as he doesnt become a Duck or Av, I'll be a Hossa fan for life. It sucks that the salary cap is in affect.

Because I've said this to my Dad about a million times, if there were no cap, we'd have Hossa, Sundin and Bertuzzi on the roster right now. But instead, just Hossa (which is sick) but only for a year (not so sick)

[lets go pavel 2]

Probably Holland could fit Zetterberg, Franzen, Hudler, and Samuelsson under the cap and let Hossa walk next year.

We're at the cap now ... next year it drops 2 million. If Z signs in the ballpark of what Hossa makes now, that leaves approximately 1 million dollars to give raises to Franzen, Sammy, and Huddles ... there's no way we keep them all unless we trade Flip or Kronner, and even then it will be tough ...

[Doc Holiday 0]

We're at the cap now ... next year it drops 2 million. If Z signs in the ballpark of what Hossa makes now, that leaves approximately 1 million dollars to give raises to Franzen, Sammy, and Huddles ... there's no way we keep them all unless we trade Flip or Kronner, and even then it will be tough ...

Z won't be signing that much. Mark my words.

[under_par_00 45]

I think Z will sign for very close to Dats money.

[Nev 1,085]

Anyone else here think Holland could potentially move Rafalski by the deadline to create cap space for Hossa?

No, he has an no-trade-clause.

As for Huddles remember he's an RFA - below is the compensation Detroit would receive for him

$863,156 - $1,307,811

3rd round pick

$1,307,811 - $2,615,623

2nd round pick

$2,615,623 - $3,923,434

1st and 3rd round pick

$3,923,434 - $5,231,246

1st, 2nd, and 3rd round pick

Is any GM in the league really going to give up a 1st & a 3rd AND pay him more than $2.6M per year? Which obviously gives you an idea of what Holland would be prepared to pay him.

[rage 24]

We could always trade Datsyuk.

I kid, I kid!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest lnvincible]

Well im just hoping for a maricel that both Hossa And Zetterberg stay.

But prob wont happen.

..In that case Zetterberg =/

[chrisdetroit 189]

Like I said in my original post, priority number one is Z. No doubt. Anyone who says he should go over the Mule and Hossa is completely kidding themselves. This guy is the next face of our franchise. The next Lidstrom. And you guys are talking about shipping him out? You do remember he was MVP last year when we won the Cup, right?

As for the Mule, I don't understand how some of you people are so quick to sign the Mule and toss out Hossa. How do you guys know that Franzens not gonna get paycheck happy and demand large amounts of money? I mean, I would totally understand if you were at a toss-up between Franzen and Hossa as for who should stay but to to say it should be the Mule, no exceptions.... I don't know, I guess we'll just agree to disagree on that.

Now, as for the people who said the Hossa signing is less of a priority than Sammy and Huds is down-right taking crazy pills. If giving up both Huds and Sammy gives us a 10% better chance of signing Hossa, I don't think any GM on the planet would think TWICE about that decision.

I'll admit, my personal man-love for Hossa does come into play with the whole Hossa/Franzen debate, for the simple fact that I've been a HUGE Hossa fan ever since he joined the league, but to say we should keep Franzen and kick Hossa out the front door is downright preposterous.

Like I said, the priority list for Holland should be (given these players aren't asking for ridiculous money)...

Zata

Hossa

Mule

Huds

Sammy

Now, with all that said, lets watch one of the most amazing goals I have ever seen, and probably the most creative (up there with Dats' goal on Turco)... Yours truly...........

MARIAN HOSSA!!!

You are ignoring the biggest part of this. Hossa is gonna command at least what he is making this year $7.45M + while Mule is gonna go for 3-5M depending on who you talk to so to say we should keep Hossa over Mule is meaningless. You need to compare Hossa with Mule + Huds and or Sammy. When you do that it is alot less cut and dry.

Nobody is going to say Mule is better than Hossa so stop with the comparisons.