Red Wing scouts in ATL again

[wingfan40 1]

Wings still scouting Thrash

Posted by George James Malik February 26, 2009 20:18PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Mike Knobler reports that the Red Wings' scouts are watching tonight's game between the Atlanta Thrashers and Washington Capitals.

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As Deadline Draws Near, Atlanta Thrashers May Move Significant Pieces

by Jim Neveau (Analyst)012 readsSportsFebruary 26, 2009

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With less than a week to go before the NHL trade deadline, the Atlanta Thrashers are continuing to look for ways to improve their team.

Having already moved Mathieu Schneider, the Thrashers are still interested in moving Ron Hainsey and his contract, which will pay him $4.25 million for the next five seasons, and Niclas Havelid, who will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

Rumors are also swirling today that the team is having difficulty in its negotiations with the agent for netminder Kari Lehtonen, and are seriously considering moving him before Wednesday's deadline.

"In my opinion, I'd like to re-sign him," Thrashers coach John Anderson told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "I've seen what he can do. That's more of (Lehtonen's) decision than ours. I can't speak for (GM Don Waddell). I haven't sat down particularly to talk to him about Kari. I'm sure Don would love to re-sign Kari."

Teams rumored to be interested, according to the report on ESPN.com, include the Senators, the Flyers (but probably only if they can move Martin Biron), and the Red Wings (the most likely destination according to a couple of sources).

The reason for the trade rumors are based on Lehtonen's contract status, which makes him a restricted free agent at season's end. He also would be arbitration eligible and negotiations have not been going well up til this point.

The natural pick to replace Kari in goal should he be traded is youngster Ondrej Pavelec, who at the age of 20 just won AHL Player of the Week, going 3-1 with a 1.25 GAA and .963 save percentage for the Wolves.

This comes on the heels of a stretch where Lehtonen has played some of his best hockey of the season, beating the Ducks in Anaheim and holding teams like the Blackhawks and Sharks in check in the process.

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I am still really interested to see what, if anything, comes of this.

Edited February 27, 2009 by wingfan40

[Jersey Wing 1,521]

Quick Kari Lehtonen stats

6'4" 200 25 yrs old

12-18-3 3.15 .908 1so

Edited February 27, 2009 by Jersey Wing

[puckbags 863]

His stats I'm not too concerned about...he plays for an awful team. I would be more concerned about the fact that he has been very injury prone in his career hasn't he?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

"I wonder what Detroit is like..."

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

All I can say is WOW. Lehtonen? Really? Only Holland could land a franchise goaltender on this team.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Doesn't make sense to trade for him, we'd have to move roster places for him and probably picks and he also probably wouldn't re-sign with us if we plan to keep Hossa or Franzen.

[KronwallCRUNCH 5]

Doesn't make sense to trade for him, we'd have to move roster places for him and probably picks and he also probably wouldn't re-sign with us if we plan to keep Hossa or Franzen.

It doesn't make sense to trade for a franchise goalie that was drafted 2nd overall?

[Echolalia 2,961]

So long Hudler if this is the case.

[Echolalia 2,961]

And, perhaps, Kopecky

(filppula too?)

Out of all our free agents to be, Kopecky is more likely to be back next year than anyone else.

[RedStormRising 7]

Man he's only 25? Seems like we've been hearing about him forever... I'd take him for the right price of course.

[Guest MrSandMan]

double

Edited February 27, 2009 by MrSandMan

[Yellowknife Redwing 57]

Filppula for Lehtonen straight across.

1. Wings bolster shaky goaltending with a great backup for Ty whose contract expires at the end of the run

2. Slip Leino up to "Fil" in

3. Make Helm a permanent fixture on the roster as the 4th line center

4. Free up 3 million in salary for 2010 to increase the chances of signing Hossa, Franzen or both

wishful thinking?

[Konnan511 1,736]

It doesn't make sense to trade for a franchise goalie that was drafted 2nd overall?

No. Not when we've been making our killing off having a solid starting goaltender who gets paid cheap so we can afford 4 very good offensive lines and three very good defensive pairings. Not too mention he has a Hasek like groin which isn't the best thing for a franchise goalie you are pouring money into during a cap world. Think about it, we pour some heavy money into this guy, say bye-bye to both Franzen and Hossa and forward depth for next year. Not too mention the over-paying we'd do to even trade for him.

[TheOwl 77]

He's a RFA, so he could be got for cheap next season. I don't see anything like this happening until next season, the Wings are owned by the cap, even though it might be a good idea!

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

So what does this mean if the Wings acquired Lehtonen? That Ozzie would be the new Grand Rapids goalie?

[Echolalia 2,961]

So what does this mean if the Wings acquired Lehtonen? That Ozzie would be the new Grand Rapids goalie?

Ozzie would be backup and Conklin would probably become a no. 1 for a team in need next year (I'm looking at Ottawa). Howard might be shipped out of the organization by then.

[jjd06e 10]

Havelid IMO

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Ozzie would be backup and Conklin would probably become a no. 1 for a team in need next year (I'm looking at Ottawa). Howard might be shipped out of the organization by then.

Thats assuming that Lehtonen re-signs with the Wings if he is traded here. I'd rather lose Howard that Conks personally.

[Majsheppard 203]

Guys guys guys, 3 million for Kari.

Simply put Jiri and someone would have to go for him, or Filppula.

Unless they were going to take Osgood, and then the wings would still have to swing another 1.4 million.

I am completely puzzled about this. There is nothing that I see there of value to us that we can get.

Kari is too expensive for a reclamation project.

[eva unit zero 271]

Brett Lebda and Valtteri Filppulla for Niclas Havelid and a 2009 1st round draft pick.

[martyrme19 73]

Really? Some of you guys dont see it? Look, what are our two biggest problems right now? Too high of salary for certain players (to sign Franzen and Hossa) and Goaltending. So um....can we dump a little bit of salary for a *rental* goaltender for this year?? A couple guys come to mind: Maltby; was the contract extension neccessary(filled by helm)? Sammy; he's up this year anyways right(filled by leino)? Draper; i love the guy but is it time (filled by helm)? Lebda; not making a killing but having chelios/meech/prospect might be just enough salary to help out.

Some of you guys wanna see flip out of here cus of his contract size....but whatever happens i see him being a staple on the second line because lets face it, we cant live in fantasy land forever. (flip, hudler, leino sounds like a good line to me). but we dump SALARY to acquire a RENTAL goalie for a REPEAT. Then in the offseason....we decide what we do in goal. Lehtonen would not be a priority in the offseason.

[Icesurfer 75]

Filppula for Lehtonen solves a lot of problems. If Osgood stinks tomorrow expect a trade to be made. Detroit will need a backup for Conklin in the playoffs. Filppula WILL have to be dumped anyway in order to sign both Hossa AND Franzen. Who wants a forward who has a problem finding the net??? Frankly, I am tired of watching Filppula make more "backward passes" than forward passes. Plus his backward passes get picked off. Leino is ALREADY ahead of Leino in terms or ability and skill. Fil and Kari have the same salary cap hit. Kari is a RFA so the Wings would get a draft pick for him anyway.

[frederick9125 0]

Filp and a 2nd or 3rd for Kari

Get-R-Done

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Filppula for Lehtonen straight across.

1. Wings bolster shaky goaltending with a great backup for Ty whose contract expires at the end of the run

2. Slip Leino up to "Fil" in

3. Make Helm a permanent fixture on the roster as the 4th line center

4. Free up 3 million in salary for 2010 to increase the chances of signing Hossa, Franzen or both

wishful thinking?

Sold!

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Really? Some of you guys dont see it? Look, what are our two biggest problems right now? Too high of salary for certain players (to sign Franzen and Hossa) and Goaltending. So um....can we dump a little bit of salary for a *rental* goaltender for this year?? A couple guys come to mind: Maltby; was the contract extension neccessary(filled by helm)? Sammy; he's up this year anyways right(filled by leino)? Draper; i love the guy but is it time (filled by helm)? Lebda; not making a killing but having chelios/meech/prospect might be just enough salary to help out.

Some of you guys wanna see flip out of here cus of his contract size....but whatever happens i see him being a staple on the second line because lets face it, we cant live in fantasy land forever. (flip, hudler, leino sounds like a good line to me). but we dump SALARY to acquire a RENTAL goalie for a REPEAT. Then in the offseason....we decide what we do in goal. Lehtonen would not be a priority in the offseason.

Everyone you listed has a tiny salary. Lebda- not going to find a cheaper d-man. Maltby- again, dirt cheap. Draper- best face off man in the league, he's not going anywhere. Sammy- best deal on the team aside from Z.

You seem to forget that everyone in your list needs to be replaced by another player if they're traded (aside from Lebda who can be filled in for by Meech?!? Definitely a downgrade there).

There's a reason why everyone talks about Filppula as a salary dump target- he's the only replaceable player with a huge contract.