Three players gone... what's next for Wings?

[titanium2 867]

What I am saying is that you trade for the rights no so Detroit can't sign him (like you said most teams knew that they probably couldn't) but rather so that you get a chance to negotiate with Hossa before the other 28 teams. Take Bouwmeester for example, everyone knew that he wasn't going to re-sign with Florida but Calgary didn't wait until free agency (in fact they gave up a 3rd round pick and Leopold) so that they could exclusively negotiate with him before the other 28 teams could and so that they could in fact sign him to a contract before free agency starts. They did just that, they got his rights Saturday and negotiated with him until Tuesday when they signed him without any other teams getting to make offers. You trade for rights not to get the player away from the team he is on but to keep him from getting offers from the other 28 teams.

Sure. It's just obvious that no team was willing to trade away a pick because it was fairly clear that Hossa was not going to re-sign with Detroit. It was so clear that they could risk not being the first in line.

[WingsCaptain 0]

Can somebody explane please what Wings will get for losing 3 players ???

It looks like we will lose 2 more.

Um, Hossa aside, we didn't really lose anything. Kopecky ... worthless. I liked Conklin, but he's just a perennial back-up goalie. So, we either keep him (and he wouldn't stay for his current salary of $750k, let's be real here) and lose Howard on waivers for nothing, or let him go. So, in goes Howard. I'm sure Holland knew all of this long before the season ended.

As for McCarty and Downey, I like them both. I remember the McCarty from his better years and Downey is a gamer through and through, but there's no room for either in the cap era.

~ Z

[Louisville 112]

Man, I would have really liked to see Knuble in a Wings jersey again. LAME.

[jvxp 0]

We've got some good young players who will fit right into the system (as we saw in the playoffs). Helm, Ericsson and Howard will all be playing next year and that is a great thing. Maybe Abdelkader and Leino will even be with the big club. 5 young guys in the lineup is exciting to me.

Good riddance to Hossa and his little buddy Kopecky. Conks was great with us this year, but we have so much invested in Howard, that we have to give him a shot. Sammy and Huds need to get their big paydays, so I wish them well. They will not flourish in another system the way they did here. It seems like that is the case with most of the people that leave Detroit for more money...

I'm excited about the opportunities that are opening up... would love to see Neil or Lapperiere in the Winged Wheel, but I am not holding my breath.

Very good post. I agree.

[RockyMountainWingGal 108]

We've got some good young players who will fit right into the system (as we saw in the playoffs). Helm, Ericsson and Howard will all be playing next year and that is a great thing. Maybe Abdelkader and Leino will even be with the big club. 5 young guys in the lineup is exciting to me.

Good riddance to Hossa and his little buddy Kopecky. Conks was great with us this year, but we have so much invested in Howard, that we have to give him a shot. Sammy and Huds need to get their big paydays, so I wish them well. They will not flourish in another system the way they did here. It seems like that is the case with most of the people that leave Detroit for more money...

I'm excited about the opportunities that are opening up... would love to see Neil or Lapperiere in the Winged Wheel, but I am not holding my breath.

Agree on most.

I'm glad I'm going on vacation so I can avoid the LGW meltdown. lol

Not sure I'd go so far as to say good riddance to Hossa, but I never got the feeling all season the Wings would resign him. Then I thought there was a chance depending on the PO outcome, but that soured. Really weird how Hossa and Kopecky are following each other around - kind of like the Sedin twins but odder because they are not brothers.

3 players lost? I think not.

Hossa = one year rental. Already made two very long term deals this year. Didn't exactly help us win the Cup.

Kopecky = no loss at all. Would rather see the other youngsters from GR get a spot.

Conklin = career backup. Limited PO experience. Did OK for the Wings last season, but time to test the GR guys.

Not sure what people are expecting here. The Hawks are suddenly Cup favs because they signed Hossa and a 4th line guy? Ask Pens or Wings fans if that is a curse or a blessing.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 122]

Agree on most.

I'm glad I'm going on vacation so I can avoid the LGW meltdown. lol

Not sure I'd go so far as to say good riddance to Hossa, but I never got the feeling all season the Wings would resign him. Then I thought there was a chance depending on the PO outcome, but that soured. Really weird how Hossa and Kopecky are following each other around - kind of like the Sedin twins but odder because they are not brothers.

3 players lost? I think not.

Hossa = one year rental. Already made two very long term deals this year. Didn't exactly help us win the Cup.

Kopecky = no loss at all. Would rather see the other youngsters from GR get a spot.

Conklin = career backup. Limited PO experience. Did OK for the Wings last season, but time to test the GR guys.

Not sure what people are expecting here. The Hawks are suddenly Cup favs because they signed Hossa and a 4th line guy? Ask Pens or Wings fans if that is a curse or a blessing.

OH Please.... Guys like Nick who are in the last year of their contract want to win one more Cup.....If Osgood

gets injured, do you trust Howard? I sure as hell don't ! If he shows up this year and puts up Steve Mason like numbers, Ill eat so much crow Ill s*** feathers for a month... Howard is NO - Good

[CenterIce 83]

this goes to my point that Hossa should have been traded before today

How many teams would trade for Hossa, when they knew they could probably sign him when he went to free agency. Also, what do you expect to get for negotiating rights?

[CenterIce 83]

I was asking if wings are geting any compensations draft picks???

Only if they are restricted free agents. The Wings could match or receive picks. However, Conklin, Hossa, and Kopecky were all unrestricted free agents. No compensation.