GM: Wings did shopping during season......

[HudlerFanatic 4]

Updated: June 30, 2009, 2:44 PM ET

GM: Wings did shopping during season...... Share Associated Press

DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings general manager says the team won't be a big player when free agency opens on Wednesday.

GM Ken Holland said Tuesday the Red Wings did most of their shopping during the season by extending the contracts of center Henrik Zetterberg and right winger Johan Franzen.

Holland said the team has received no signs from potential free agent Marian Hossa about his plans.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?i...scoreboard:nhl:

[WhiteLightning91 105]

I still cannot believe they have not received any indication of Hossa's plans. Why doesn't he atleast let them know whether or not he is planning on making his decision after seeing what kind of offers are going to be out there July 1st?

[dat's sick 1,002]

"Marian Hossa disappeared shortly before Game 1 of the SCF and has yet to be found."

[henrik40 76]

I think the point of the article is that they aren't going after any big name players ie first and second liners.

[HudlerFanatic 4]

Not another "no change" please?.. nothing happend during the trading deadline either, and see what happens, wings end up losing the cup... you freakin need change in the lineup if you dont reach your goal, that is to win the cup... say goodbye to hossa and a few others like samuelsson, hudler etc and sign some new players, or sign hossa and say good bye to others and play some at the trade deadline.

That just may be the opposite, if they don't sign Hossa, and Sammy, Cheli...Kopceky doesn't come back, no Conklin is gone and a defensivemen later...there will be some change. (yes, im still hopeful for Huds.....)....They brought in change.....Hossa....and that didn't work for the Cup...you can't count on players....you want to...but there are good days, bad days, injuries....the Wings know what they're doing. I think that if they could sign Huds for a 3yr contract for $1.5 1st yr-$2 2nd yr-$2.5 3rd yr...it will still give them some wiggle room for this year. Besides, what good is it to trade Huds if we don't get a draft pick til the NEXT year.....??????

With the way it's looking now...they couldn't even sign Hossa for 4mil cap.....taking this quote from MLive

".............But they don't have much money to spend. They have 19 players signed -- including nine forwards -- for roughly $53.5 million. The salary cap for 2009-10 is $56.8 million.

That leaves about $3 million to spend on three forwards. Hossa alone would cost them between $4 million and $4.5 million a year -- if he accepts their take-it-or-leave-it offer of a long-term deal............"

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/20...nswer_from.html

I just can't believe Hossa hasn't said anything yet....unless he has, and the Wings just aren't letting it be known......

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I dont expect Detroit to sign anyone outside of a gritty guy that can chip in the odd goal. Anything more then that will surprise the hell out of me.

[bonan78 1]

I hated when Holland said this at the trade deadline, and I hate it even more now. It should be obvious by now that Hossa intends to test the market come Wednesday, and by doing so has effectively told the Red Wings that he values the money more than the opportunity to sing a long-term deal with a perennial title contender. I bear no ill will towards Hossa, he is well within his right to do so and I cannot say I am surprised, but Holland should know better than to limit himself in this way. Holland will have to face the possibility that none of our current FA's will return, and there are not enough Griffins who are ready to step in full-time should that happen. To just stand pat after coming so close to repeating is not a wise move, and I hope that this is just posturing for the press and that he does plan to throw some offers out there to some guys who are willing to take a discount to play for a winner. Bring in some fresh legs from GR, and a new body or two to add some fresh blood, the rest of our veterans will be even more hungry after tasting defeat with the Cup in the balance.

[soonboomer 31]

Great strategy by Holland. Wait until February when better deals can be had. This team, under any circumstances, isn't in danger of not making the playoffs. Teams will get desperate in February and at that time management brass will know what needs improvement. Either way, as long as they have the best team on the ice that they can in April, that's all that matters. Anaheim showed this year (just as Calgary, Edmonton and Anaheim a 2nd time in previous recent memory) that even a 7 or 8 seed can get to the promised land. Foolishness now will cause magnified damage down the road. Keep the faith.

[Probie 7]

I hated when Holland said this at the trade deadline, and I hate it even more now. It should be obvious by now that Hossa intends to test the market come Wednesday, and by doing so has effectively told the Red Wings that he values the money more than the opportunity to sing a long-term deal with a perennial title contender. I bear no ill will towards Hossa, he is well within his right to do so and I cannot say I am surprised, but Holland should know better than to limit himself in this way. Holland will have to face the possibility that none of our current FA's will return, and there are not enough Griffins who are ready to step in full-time should that happen. To just stand pat after coming so close to repeating is not a wise move, and I hope that this is just posturing for the press and that he does plan to throw some offers out there to some guys who are willing to take a discount to play for a winner. Bring in some fresh legs from GR, and a new body or two to add some fresh blood, the rest of our veterans will be even more hungry after tasting defeat with the Cup in the balance.

Exactly what i was going to say. They had better do something to fill the holes and trim some of the dead weight thats slowing the team down. Why have we not traded Hossa's rights if we are not going to sign him?

Edited July 1, 2009 by Probie

[RedWingedKitten 9]

Imagine if we went into 09 with the cup winning team from 08, then added a 40 goal winger at the deadline! We would have done soooooooo much better. [/sarcasm]

Holland has been perfect these last few years. We lost the SCF because our 290 goal offense could not score more than 2 goals in 2 games. I read this on another board - 8 months of "Osgood will let the team down", and one week of the team letting Osgood down.

We have a great roster right now. Probably the best D in the league, and a verrry potent offense. Holland works with paper, Babcock works with players. (both have done a damn good job)

[YoungGuns1340 1]

I'm actually more excited about having an energetic third line, and a physical fourth line. How long has it been since we had either?

I'm sick of 3 skilled lines, and then the Line of Futility.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I'm actually more excited about having an energetic third line, and a physical fourth line. How long has it been since we had either?

I'm sick of 3 skilled lines, and then the Line of Futility.

I had forgotten until Drake and Helm the last two postseasons respectively what physical players that are effective are like on the Wings. Now we get a full season to see how that works.

[VM1138 1,921]

I love having Holland as GM, but you can believe what he says abuot as far as you can throw him.

Last week: Our defense is set, no moves.

Today: We will trade a defenseman.

Last year: We won't make any big moves.

A few days later: Hossa lands in Detroit.

See what I mean? He's the master of misdirection. We might not sign a big name (there really aren't that many truly great UFAs) but we'll have to sign a few.

[dat's sick 1,002]

I love having Holland as GM, but you can believe what he says abuot as far as you can throw him.

Last week: Our defense is set, no moves.

Today: We will trade a defenseman.

Last year: We won't make any big moves.

A few days later: Hossa lands in Detroit.

See what I mean? He's the master of misdirection. We might not sign a big name (there really aren't that many truly great UFAs) but we'll have to sign a few.

I think the Hossa thing was just Kenny jumping at an opportunity. That Hossa would go to the Wings was a real long-shot, and probably not something Kenny even believed would happen.

I've always gotten the impression that he is a straight-shooter and tells it like it is. But at the same time he knows when he has to change his strategy or when there's a chance to make something happen.

[ben_usmc 253]

I think the Hossa thing was just Kenny jumping at an opportunity. That Hossa would go to the Wings was a real long-shot, and probably not something Kenny even believed would happen.

I've always gotten the impression that he is a straight-shooter and tells it like it is. But at the same time he knows when he has to change his strategy or when there's a chance to make something happen.

agreed as I stated in another thread, when they were to skill and not enough grind, holland changed it up both in the mid 90's and in 08. I'm sure he knows whats slowing us down "cough"maltby"cough"draper"homer"cough"