Hossa's agent hints about contract possibilities

[Guest MrSandMan]

Sounds great. But I thought Fedorov was going to retire a Wing, bought him and his agent's stories that he wanted to stay in Detroit - then bam - he's a Duck.

So while it sounds good - the numbers don't make sense - so we'll wait and see...

^this

[eva unit zero 271]

Keep Hudler...bye bye to the other 2.

Find me a better player than Kopecky for under the $575 he'll be signing for.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

You think ANY of the goalies you suggested will outperform Osgood in the postseason? Khabibulin is the only possibility, and he is coming off a $7m contract...so the $3m range is a bit unlikely. The others are either proven chokers, career backups whose only "strong seasons" were behind great defenses, goalies coming off $3.5m+ contracts, and goalies-of-the-future who expect to resign in their current location. Give me an example of how any of them is an upgrade over Osgood and would cost the Wings about $3m. Seriously. Oh, and the blowing leads thing? That was the defense. Unless you think Osgood was telling the defense how to play when Conklin was in net, because it happened then too.

Almost anyone not on the Leafs is an upgrade in goal for the Wings. Osgood is near the end of his career. Wings need to look to the future and I think this year they've proved spending less than 2 mill on GTs can bite you in the ass. Goals went in when Conklin was in net because he is no better than Osgood. I don't know why so many Wings fans here are reluctant to move away from GT on the cheap - you get what you pay for.....

[clutchngrab 12]

Somehow I dont think Flip is going to be with us next season.

I absolutely love Hossa, but I'm not sure signing him is the best thing for the team. I really like Flip and Huds and would not want to lose them both - which I think is a given if Hossa signs. Apparently Cleary and Rafalski have NTs so what else can you do? Also, we are definitely playing for now and up to about 5 - 7 years from now with these term contracts. Things could be pretty ugly in 8 - 10 years or so. Some of these contracts could get as ripe as limburger cheese by then if they all have no-trades.

On the other hand, maybe we have another 2 or 3 cups and Holland cements his genius as the best GM of all time.

[Guest Murph]

The more I think about this, the more I think that it would be better for the Wings to let Hossa walk, as much as it pains me to say it. Hossa's 6M approx. caphit could be used to secure multiple lesser, yet still solid players in our team. A good percentage of Hudler, Sammy, Kopecky, Leino, Ericcson, Conklin, Lebda, Chelios could be retained in the lineup next year without Hossa, and that depth is what wins Stanley cups. I haven't crunched the numbers in a while, but I do recall that having Hossa and Franzen for modest amounts leaves practically no extra money. Someone might want to double check that to be sure.

Another thing that I've been thinking about is how the Wings are going to look ten years from now with 16M against the cap for 38-40 year old Zetterberg, Hossa, and Franzen, all of which certain degrees of health issues. I'm almost worried (and this will sound paranoid) that Holland is making one final push to secure the next three four years and retire, leaving the inherited mess-to-be with the next guy. Although I'm sure I wouldn't be thinking this had he not joked that the day Lids retires is the day he retires.

Anyway, this is Holland we're talking about, so I'm sure something unbelievable will happen where he ends up keeping the entire roster plus bringing in Broduer for another Stanley Cup, then locking everyone up longterm for 11 years.

Quoted for truth.

[clutchngrab 12]

You think ANY of the goalies you suggested will outperform Osgood in the postseason? Khabibulin is the only possibility, and he is coming off a $7m contract...so the $3m range is a bit unlikely. The others are either proven chokers, career backups whose only "strong seasons" were behind great defenses, goalies coming off $3.5m+ contracts, and goalies-of-the-future who expect to resign in their current location. Give me an example of how any of them is an upgrade over Osgood and would cost the Wings about $3m. Seriously. Oh, and the blowing leads thing? That was the defense. Unless you think Osgood was telling the defense how to play when Conklin was in net, because it happened then too.

...must....resist....urge....to....turn....into...goalie.....thread

[Ms_Hockey 0]

Why are we even discussing goalies? Wasn't it just the other day that Ken Holland was quoted as saying that the goaltending is something that has been brought up to him every season for 15 years? Do we really think he's going to suddenly decide that THIS is the year to start cashing in for a goalie? Because somehow... I just don't see it happening.

[Opie 308]

Maybe, just maybe, Holland has already told Hossa that he just doesn't fit under the cap, and out of respect he and Hossa are putting on this display to drive up Hossa's price tag?

Maybe, just maybe, Hossa really will stay in Det for 6 a year, I highly doubt it seeing as he had as good of a season as last year (if not better) and his value on the open market would be easily 8-9 mil. He could be LA's franchise player (or another team.)

IF Hossa stays here that is a huge kudos to him and his team/championship first mentality and he is cut from the Red Wing Cloth, however I would not blame him, nor will I hate him for leaving this offseason.

He was an extended rental that I hoped the passion that flows through the winged wheel would infect him and have him here long term. And until he signs it is still that, a hope that Holland and Lids, Z, Dats, Babs, Yzerman, Nill, Illitch's can all make him want to stay.

IF Hossa stays here at lets say 6. Lets add up the POTENTIAL numbers that players have left on the table. (Leaving Dats out because while he is worth more than he is paid, at the time I am not sure he "left" money on the table.)

Z 2 m (at least)

Lids 1.5m +/-

Hossa 2 m (at least)

Ralf 1m (there are rumors he had an 8 mil offer not sure how true, but for this exercise in futility why not)

That right there is almost enough money to sign a star player not superstar, but a damn talented player.

Crazy and it all starts at the top, the Illitches do a great job in running a hockey family. Congrats to them!

[Dawgs 0]

Id try and trade Filp but it may be hard to find a suitor for that money at his current level of production. Im not sure he will ever grow into his salary with Detroit. Maybe with another team with less depth where he can get 20 a night and play on the PP/PK.

Save Hudler til last in FA and see if he gets an offer sheet. If its more than 2 million let him walk. If he doesnt get one sign him for 3 years at 1.5 million. His production is off the charts as a 10 to 12 mpg PP specialist but expand his role and his production suffers accordingly. Any more than 2 million per is insane for Hudler.

Kennys modus operandi with the goaltending has always been cheaper, homegrown talent and spend the money saved on defense. The obvious exception was Hasek but those were different times. I think the Wings believe Thomas McCollum is the man. Larrsen and/or Howard may surprise. Its likely that the team bides thier time with Osgood and Larssen/Howard until the end of Ozzies contract then he retires a Wing or becomes a cheap veteran backup for McCollum.

Sammy and Lilja are cheap players who provide good production at their current salaries. Id like to see the wings move/release/retire Lebda, Chelios, Maltby, Kopecky, Conklin and Filpula. Cleary is clearly not performing to his salary either offensively or physically and Id love to see him traded but with the NTC that aint happening. I had really hoped hed take on more of a Dallas Drake type role as the Wings big hitter but he must not have it in him to play that way every night. That hit on Phanuef in the playoffs a couple years ago was spectacular. Id put Kronwall out there too and see if he can fetch a bigger return than what hes worth. Id only trade him though if the other team is willing to overpay to get him.

Lets not forget that Rafalski and Lidstroms contracts are huge and will be coming off the books soon. Lidstroms game has definately slipped this season. Could just be a bad year but the writings on the wall at his age. If he wants one more contract, and its not inconcievable that he doesnt, I believe it will be at a reduced rate similar to Yzermans last contract. Rafalskis next contract will probably be his last, and being a Detroit boy playing in his hometown, I can see him taking a big pay cut to stay. If not they let him go. Drapers contract is probably his last. I see him retiring when it expires.

I see significant cap space being available over the next two years. We will have to replace those guys but hopefully cheaper alternatives from our system break through. The cap after next season is likely to begin to grow again. By the time Zetterberg and Franzens contracts expire we could see 65 or 70 million being the ceiling. Maybe even more. My first thought with these long term contracts was Kenny was painting himself into a corner, but the more I look at the team and factor in the likely growth of the league when the economy turns, the less pessimistic Im feeling.

Sign Hossa for 10 years. If anyone can make it work and keep us competitive for the life of the contracts its the Wings braintrust.

Obviously playoff performance will factor into any decisions they make between now and June. Just as obvious not all these moves will be made or even be needed. These are just my random thoughts on how I think they could manipulate thier roster to get younger and stay under the cap.

Addendum: You can bet your ass this loophole is closed on the next CBA.

[VM1138 1,921]

Unless he has a monster playoffs, I think Flip needs to be let go to free up some cap space. His development seems to have stagnated the past two years.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Unless he has a monster playoffs, I think Flip needs to be let go to free up some cap space. His development seems to have stagnated the past two years.

I don't agree with this, and I have been a Filp hater in the past (I rallied big on here hoping for a Filp for Hossa trade at last years deadline) . He has shown some decent development here this year. In my opinion he is still tradable, but someone I would rather keep than lose.

[under_par_00 45]

Unless he has a monster playoffs, I think Flip needs to be let go to free up some cap space. His development seems to have stagnated the past two years.

I also do not agree with this.

Filppula has shown great potential, he has good speed, good skill with the puck, and is pretty solid defensively. He has improved his production this year, despite averaging about a minute less per game, and less PP time. He is also good on faceoffs. I wouldn't want to see him traded.

[DMAC 25 18]

Somehow I dont think Flip is going to be with us next season.

they just signed him didnt they? maybe i'm thinking of someone else but sammy and hudler are gonna be gone. hate to see hudler leave but its part of the business