Zetterberg denies report of rejecting 10yr, $75 million deal.

[rage 24]

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/blogs/2009/01/own..._of_longte.html

Even Detroit, the model franchise when it comes to drafting, developing and getting players to take hometown discounts, has team-altering decisions to make. Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler (restricted) are all up, and Zetterberg is testing the Red Wings' limits. (They gave Hossa a one-year deal equal to Nicklas Lidstrom's $7.45 million, and a 10-year, $75 million offer to Zetterberg has apparently been rejected.) The Lightning themselves are in this situation because of the Stanley Cup gifts awarded to three players, Lecavalier being one

[ilmickeyli 40]

In before the "zomg let him walk we'll talk hossa instead"

[Reds4Life 51]

wow thanks god it didn't happen. 10 year @ 7.5 is WAY too much for Hank. 5 years max. please

[Yzermania 156]

if he wants more than that, I say let him walk, try to keep hosa and mule.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Before everyone starts ripping Z, keep in mind that Hossa is going to get/demand at least 7.5 million as well. It isn't like Z turning down this contract suddenly makes Hossa a better, cheaper alternative.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

I'd rather have Zetterberg than Hossa. I don't see Hossa staying anyway. I like Hossa because of his goal-scoring ability, but I definitely don't think he's worth all the money that Pittsburgh was willing to throw at him.

He just seems slow to the puck, he loses it a lot... I don't know. I wouldn't pay him as much as these other teams are willing to. Plus, he only came to Detroit to win the Cup and then move on. I just don't see him returning.

Zetterberg, I think, would be a bigger loss.

[uk_redwing 495]

This is going to make the offseason interesting...

[Mors 201]

In before the "zomg let him walk we'll talk hossa instead"

Unfortunately this is the response most people SHOULD have...$7.5 million is fair, if he doesn't want it then he can go play in Columbus or LA. That's certainly worked out well for players who've left the Wings in the past

[Yzermania 156]

I'd rather have Zetterberg than Hossa. I don't see Hossa staying anyway. I like Hossa because of his goal-scoring ability, but I definitely don't think he's worth all the money that Pittsburgh was willing to throw at him.

He just seems slow to the puck, he loses it a lot... I don't know. I wouldn't pay him as much as these other teams are willing to. Plus, he only came to Detroit to win the Cup and then move on. I just don't see him returning.

Zetterberg, I think, would be a bigger loss.

slow to the puck?

while mostly both teams were in slow motion last night he was the only one racing past people getting pucks and backchecking his ass off.

Also, it's nice to see a guy with muscle, hank needs to hit the gym, he got pushed around all night last night.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

slow to the puck?

while mostly both teams were in slow motion last night he was the only one racing past people getting pucks and backchecking his ass off.

Also, it's nice to see a guy with muscle, hank needs to hit the gym, he got pushed around all night last night.

Last night may have been the exception, but most games Hossa doesn't really hustle. At all.

He's not worth anywhere near what people are shouting that he is.

[DYags 0]

Last night may have been the exception, but most games Hossa doesn't really hustle. At all.

He's not worth anywhere near what people are shouting that he is.

Uh oh. Get ready for a bashing.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Uh oh. Get ready for a bashing.

Haha, I can handle it. I'm older than 12.

[Opie 308]

Last night may have been the exception, but most games Hossa doesn't really hustle. At all.

He's not worth anywhere near what people are shouting that he is.

Are you serious, the man is a beast on the puck and very rarely gets pushed off of it, is a great defensive forward, has all of the tools that Z has, to me they are very comparable players.

Slow to the puck, doesn't hustle??????

Am I out of place or does this post make no sense???

[Yzerfan1999 81]

Who knows if the article source is legit or not, but if it is...thats disheartening. I can't think of any reason why Zetter wouldn't take 10 years at 7.5. Its longer and more money then Pavel. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If I am Zetterbergs agent, I am jumping all over that, especially with the prospect of the cap going down.

I am starting to wonder if signing Hossa for one year has put a bad taste in Hanks mouth. He has less playing time with Dats and is not doing nearly as well offensively this year. Don't get me wrong, I love Hossa - but I would take Zetterberg over him any day.

I still think they get a deal done, but I am getting nervous.

[PuckFace 1]

I really feel that Z should not make anymore then Dats, Dats is way better. And remember how injury prone Z seems to be... 10 years seems too long as well.. But it is Holland so whatever we all know he knows what he is doing.

[titanium2 867]

Probably because the deal wasn't originally front-loaded or whatever. I thought he's looking for a deal that pays him a lot at first and then dwindles down.

[Konnan511 1,736]

if he wants more than that, I say let him walk, try to keep hosa and mule.

Agreed. He hasn't shown the ability to play a full season either only averaging about 70 games a season (may be off by a one or three game average). I hope this report isn't true and that an offer like that wouldn't be rejected by a man who said he wants to finish his career in Detroit. With a 10 year contract at 75 million, if they frontloaded the crap out of that contract he could be making something like:

1-20

2-15

3-10

4-7

5-5

6-5

7-5

8-3

9-3

10-2

75 million, year to year <50% reduction per CBA contract rules.

Then again it could look something way different lol.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Are you serious, the man is a beast on the puck and very rarely gets pushed off of it, is a great defensive forward, has all of the tools that Z has, to me they are very comparable players.

Slow to the puck, doesn't hustle??????

Am I out of place or does this post make no sense???

Rarely?

I can't tell you the number of times that Hossa has had the puck and either given it away or had someone take it away from him.

Clearly, we have differing opinions on the guy. I'm not saying he's a bad player. I just don't think he's worth as much money at teams are willing to give him.

[P. Marlowe 748]

Where did this blog writer get this "fact"?

[Echolalia 2,961]

Ouch. 75 million dollars on the table. This may soon turn into keeping Zetterberg and Hudler vs Hossa and Franzen.

[Heaton 1]

Apparently? Or allegedly? I'm not saying Z hasn't rejected any offers but this is an awfully nonchalant way of bringing it up. You'd think it'd be a bigger story.

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Apparently? Or allegedly? I'm not saying Z hasn't rejected any offers but this is an awfully nonchalant way of bringing it up. You'd think it'd be a bigger story.

I tried looking it up. Couldn't find any reputable sources.

[Swede40 0]

I'll worry more if its not done by the time the playoffs start.

Edited January 15, 2009 by Swede40

[GoWings1905 2,694]

Who knows if the article source is legit or not, but if it is...thats disheartening. I can't think of any reason why Zetter wouldn't take 10 years at 7.5. Its longer and more money then Pavel. It just doesn't make a lot of sense to me. If I am Zetterbergs agent, I am jumping all over that, especially with the prospect of the cap going down.

I am starting to wonder if signing Hossa for one year has put a bad taste in Hanks mouth. He has less playing time with Dats and is not doing nearly as well offensively this year. Don't get me wrong, I love Hossa - but I would take Zetterberg over him any day.

I still think they get a deal done, but I am getting nervous.

Good post. I was very confident Z would get a deal done too, but if this report is true, I am beginning to get somewhat nervous as well. I don't know about all the details behind the financial situation, but 7.5 million seems more than fair for Z.

[Mors 201]

Ouch. 75 million dollars on the table. This may soon turn into keeping Zetterberg and Hudler vs Hossa and Franzen.

That's a tough call, but honestly I'd go for Hossa/Franzen. I really don't like the idea of losing Franzen as a side effect of all this, he's a beast and only seems to be getting better.