Wings sign Brad May to 1 Year Deal, $500k

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

This is why I think Helm may very well go down to GR. Babcock seems really high on having May in the lineup

Helm is a full-timer in the bigs now. He wouldn't clear waivers if he were sent down anyways. If someone has to go because the Wings are out of cap space, it's going to be May, which is why he's on the two-way deal.

[esteef 2,679]

"Tough guys always play tough, I got no problem with that. But the guys that aren’t tough, when they play against you and are tough, that drives me crazy. So we’ve seen enough of that.’’

These are the guys that enforcers usually deter, the non-tough guys acting tough against the Wings (Jackman, etc.) Well said Babcock.

esteef

[ltgator333 3]

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

Brad May will play tonight if paperwork is completed, Red Wings need his toughness

By Ansar Khan

October 08, 2009, 11:27AM

DETROIT -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said forward Brad May will play tonight against the Blackhawks if he gets his work permit in time.

“I don’t know if May is playing yet because he’s got to go to Immigration,'' Babcock said.

When May does get in the lineup, Babcock knows the Wings could use his toughness. He didn't like the way the Blues threw their weight around in the first two games.

“We got the crap run out of us,'' Babcock said. "We had May in a couple of games in exhibition and no one got hacked or whacked or touched. We don’t have him and we get run. You get tired of watching that.

"Our guys do a real good job of competing hard, but we don’t have a team that twists off helmets at stoppages and when you start seeing it all the time, it’s just nice when you got someone to look after that stuff now.

"Tough guys always play tough, I got no problem with that. But the guys that aren’t tough, when they play against you and are tough, that drives me crazy. So we’ve seen enough of that.’’

If May can't play, Patrick Eaves, a healthy scratch the first two games, will make his Wings debut.

“He’s working hard, he’s competing hard, he’s trying,'' Babcock said of Eaves. "He’s going to get in the lineup here right away, either tonight or the next game, time will tell.’’

WOW!!!

I knew Babcock was a bright guy. Good bye Kirk Maltby.

[Guest E_S_A_D]

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

“We got the crap run out of us,'' Babcock said. "We had May in a couple of games in exhibition and no one got hacked or whacked or touched. We don’t have him and we get run. You get tired of watching that.

"Our guys do a real good job of competing hard, but we don’t have a team that twists off helmets at stoppages and when you start seeing it all the time, it’s just nice when you got someone to look after that stuff now.

"Tough guys always play tough, I got no problem with that. But the guys that aren’t tough, when they play against you and are tough, that drives me crazy. So we’ve seen enough of that.’’

Thank you, Mike.... you got Holland to see the light.

[Dominator2005 558]

These are the guys that enforcers usually deter, the non-tough guys acting tough against the Wings (Jackman, etc.) Well said Babcock.

esteef

Maybe our guys are going to be tougher (at least act tougher) with May in the lineup....

[deetroit dario 27]

Sad thing is I don't think it's anyone. It'll end up being May or Helm going down when Helm is healthy, maybe they will try to send Eaves down but I dunno. The comment below is why I don't think May will go down. I really think Helm might just because you can send him down and not lose him or anyone.

This is why I think Helm may very well go down to GR. Babcock seems really high on having May in the lineup

that is a bother, because i still think we really need helmer's speed and energy. babs sounds pretty high on eaves' work too, though...so maybe thats the balance?

ladies and gentlemen and whateverthehellclaudelemieuxis, start your waitandsee's!!

[Guest micah]

I like that Detroit has a coach who has the hockey sense to know that dirty play by other teams is discouraged when you have an enforcer in your lineup, and that not only were the Wings not tough - they were SO weak that even other notably non-yough players in the league were able to bully the wings. Babcock basically layed out three levels of physical toughness:

1) Enforcer tough.

2) Not tough. Average player.

3) Weaker than average. Red Wing.

I like that he has addressed the fact that the Wings were too weak to defend themselves and hired a policeman to help protect his weaker players. Good job, Babcock! it is clear to me that you have a great understanding of the game!

[Redline 0]

It's good to see on any given night we can put two sets on the ice instead of just the pair that Datsyuk brings.

[hockey23 79]

Helm is a full-timer in the bigs now. He wouldn't clear waivers if he were sent down anyways. If someone has to go because the Wings are out of cap space, it's going to be May, which is why he's on the two-way deal.

Helm is on a two-way deal too and can be sent down without having to clear waivers, just like Abdelkader today.

[Guest Shoreline]

As for the signing, am interested to see how much May plays. I think, if anything, the first two losses sent a message. Wings have carried enforcers before, but like every "enforcer" that gets signed.. how much he plays and is an actual impact on the team (preferably in a good way) is the determinant of how useful he was. Downey wasn't useful, hardly played, and was let go. Mac wasn't useful, hardly played, and was let go. Simply carrying an enforcer does not mean a team gets "tougher". Never has, never will.

As always, Kenny knows what he is doing (GS&T's post about Kenny being forced to is hilarious and ridiculous at the same time), and like any Wings signing there's really only one thing as a Wings supporter you should do, and that is "go May!". The criticism can come after when we've seen how it plays out.

Edit: And to the enforcer-nutjobs who only talk about fighting and enforcers, how about let's see how much he plays first before having a good ol' fap like ESAD up there?

Edited October 8, 2009 by vladdy16

[esteef 2,679]

As for the signing, am interested to see how much May plays. I think, if anything, the first two losses sent a message. Wings have carried enforcers before, but like every "enforcer" that gets signed.. how much he plays and is an actual impact on the team (preferably in a good way) is the determinant of how useful he was. Downey wasn't useful, hardly played, and was let go. Mac wasn't useful, hardly played, and was let go. Simply carrying an enforcer does not mean a team gets "tougher". Never has, never will.

Downey played a lot the year we won the Cup. Just sayin'...

esteef

[Guest Shoreline]

Downey played a lot the year we won the Cup. Just sayin'...

esteef

A lot? Hardly. And he didn't play in the playoffs, where it counts most. Then played even less the following season, and the Wings just about won another cup -- back to back. Kinda hard to attribute something to an enforcer when there's no evidence it was much of any factor beyond entertaining. Oh wait, that's a common theme here in a certain circle of posters. Reminds me of the 9/11 conspiracy theorists who overlook every logical reason 9/11 wasn't done by George Bush and this government and only, selectively, look for any reasons they were responsible, and equally sound ridiculous doing so.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Shoreline

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

Helm is on a two-way deal too and can be sent down without having to clear waivers, just like Abdelkader today.

Abdelkader is an injury call up. The team is free to move players up and down to fill Helm's spot until he's healthy.

Helm isn't on a two-way deal, but whether or not he was isn't really important anyways, because it doesn't excuse a player from having to pass waivers. Helm would not clear waivers, May would.

EDIT: Clarity.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[Doc Holiday 0]

Abdelkader is an injury call up. The team is free to move players up and down to fill Helm's spot until he's healthy.

I don't think that he is, but whether or not Helm is on a two-way deal isn't really important anyways, because it doesn't excuse a player from having to pass waivers. Helm would not clear waivers, May would.

Babs and Holland have no reason to bring Helm down again anyways. He has proven he belongs on this team for the past two years. No way does he deserve to be brought down a third year.

[esteef 2,679]

A lot? Hardly. And he didn't play in the playoffs, where it counts most. Then played even less the following season, and the Wings just about won another cup -- back to back. Kinda hard to attribute something to an enforcer when there's no evidence it was much of any factor beyond entertaining. Oh wait, that's a common theme here in a certain circle of posters. Reminds me of the 9/11 conspiracy theorists who overlook every logical reason 9/11 wasn't done by Bush and only, selectively, look for any reasons George Bush or the government was responsible.

56 games is "hardly" for an enforcer on the Wings? Whatever man. Put it this way:

Downey 56 games regular season = Wings win Cup

Downey 4 games regular season = worn down Wings lose Cup

Fact.

esteef

[Guest Shoreline]

56 games is "hardly" for an enforcer on the Wings? Whatever man. Put it this way:

Downey 56 games regular season = Wings win Cup

Downey 4 games regular season = worn down Wings lose Cup

Fact.

esteef

Okay, let's play your game then.

Wings won the cup because they carried Chris Chelios.

Chris Chelios plays 69 regular season games = Wings win cup.

Chris Chelios plays 29 regular season games = Inexperienced Wings team lose cup because they didn't play Chelios more.

Fact.

[Mors 201]

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

Brad May will play tonight if paperwork is completed, Red Wings need his toughness

By Ansar Khan

October 08, 2009, 11:27AM

DETROIT -- Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said forward Brad May will play tonight against the Blackhawks if he gets his work permit in time.

“I don’t know if May is playing yet because he’s got to go to Immigration,'' Babcock said.

When May does get in the lineup, Babcock knows the Wings could use his toughness. He didn't like the way the Blues threw their weight around in the first two games.

“We got the crap run out of us,'' Babcock said. "We had May in a couple of games in exhibition and no one got hacked or whacked or touched. We don’t have him and we get run. You get tired of watching that.

"Our guys do a real good job of competing hard, but we don’t have a team that twists off helmets at stoppages and when you start seeing it all the time, it’s just nice when you got someone to look after that stuff now.

"Tough guys always play tough, I got no problem with that. But the guys that aren’t tough, when they play against you and are tough, that drives me crazy. So we’ve seen enough of that.’’

If May can't play, Patrick Eaves, a healthy scratch the first two games, will make his Wings debut.

“He’s working hard, he’s competing hard, he’s trying,'' Babcock said of Eaves. "He’s going to get in the lineup here right away, either tonight or the next game, time will tell.’’

WOW!!!

It's a relief to hear Babcock's comments on this issue, he knows the situation.

[egroen 384]

56 games is "hardly" for an enforcer on the Wings? Whatever man. Put it this way:

Downey 56 games regular season = Wings win Cup

Downey 4 games regular season = worn down Wings lose Cup

Fact.

esteef

I grew out my playoff beard = Wings win Cup w/ fully bearded Zetterberg winning the Conn Smythe

I remained clean-shaven = Wings lose Cup w/ cleanly shaven Malkin winning the Conn Smythe

Fact.

May is a guy that we might actually see play in the playoffs - so far he has looked a hell of a lot better than Eaves.

Abdelkader is the only player currently waiver-exempt on the team, I believe.

[hockey23 79]

Abdelkader is an injury call up. The team is free to move players up and down to fill Helm's spot until he's healthy.

Helm isn't on a two-way deal, but whether or not he was isn't really important anyways, because it doesn't excuse a player from having to pass waivers. Helm would not clear waivers, May would.

EDIT: Clarity.

They're both on entry level two-way deals. Which means they can go up and down without clearing waivers.

from capgeek

F Darren Helm (DET)

Birthdate: January 21, 1987 Age: 22

Contracts

Start: 2007 End: 2010 Total Salary: $1,798,332 (breakdown)» 2007-2008: $663,500

» 2008-2009: $630,000

» 2009-2010: $500,000

Cap Hit: $599,444 (RFA)

Contract Drilldown

START YEAR: 2007 END YEAR: 2010 TYPE: ENTRY LEVEL EXPIRY STATUS: RFA

SEASON TYPE AHL SALARY SALARY BONUSES CAP HIT

2007-2008 TWO-WAY $60,000 $663,500 — $599,444

2008-2009 TWO-WAY $60,000 $630,000 — $599,444

2009-2010 TWO-WAY $55,000 $500,000 — $599,444

[esteef 2,679]

Okay, let's play your game then.

(translation: avoid your point entirely)

esteef

Edited October 8, 2009 by esteef

[StevieY9802 6]

Helm is a full-timer in the bigs now. He wouldn't clear waivers if he were sent down anyways. If someone has to go because the Wings are out of cap space, it's going to be May, which is why he's on the two-way deal.

Helm is on a two-way deal too and can be sent down without having to clear waivers, just like Abdelkader today.

Abdelkader is an injury call up. The team is free to move players up and down to fill Helm's spot until he's healthy.

Helm isn't on a two-way deal, but whether or not he was isn't really important anyways, because it doesn't excuse a player from having to pass waivers. Helm would not clear waivers, May would.

EDIT: Clarity.

I'm pretty sure Helm is still waivers exempt. He will not have to clear waivers if he is sent down. Not saying he will or should be sent down. Just saying he can be.

Edit:

“The waiver status of a player is determined by whether he has a 1-way or 2-way contract.”

Answer: False. Whether a player has a 1-way or 2-way contract has absolutely no effect on his waiver status – it has to do with the number of years since the player signed his first NHL contract and the number of NHL games he’s played since signing. In fact, there are ten (10) players who have 1-way contracts for 2007-08 and are exempt from waivers.

http://www.nhlscap.com/waivers.htm

It also shows a chart of when a player is still exempt. Helm being 22 would have to have signed his first NHL contract more than 3 years ago and have played in 70 games. He ain't close.

Edited October 8, 2009 by StevieY9802

[egroen 384]

They're both on entry level two-way deals. Which means they can go up and down without clearing waivers.

from capgeek

F Darren Helm (DET)

Birthdate: January 21, 1987 Age: 22

Contracts

Start: 2007 End: 2010 Total Salary: $1,798,332 (breakdown)» 2007-2008: $663,500

» 2008-2009: $630,000

» 2009-2010: $500,000

Cap Hit: $599,444 (RFA)

Contract Drilldown

START YEAR: 2007 END YEAR: 2010 TYPE: ENTRY LEVEL EXPIRY STATUS: RFA

SEASON TYPE AHL SALARY SALARY BONUSES CAP HIT

2007-2008 TWO-WAY $60,000 $663,500 — $599,444

2008-2009 TWO-WAY $60,000 $630,000 — $599,444

2009-2010 TWO-WAY $55,000 $500,000 — $599,444

That has nothing to do with whether or not he is waiver exempt or not.

It takes a bit to figure out, but it looks like Helm has one more year of waiver-exemption:

He signed his first contract at the age of 19 (September, 2006) which gives his 4 years of waiver exemption, provided he does not play in more than 160 NHL games. He has not played in that many (nor any at 18 or 19, which can also decrease it), so he should be waiver-exempt throughout this 2009/10 season, which will be his final year of exemption.

[Heroes of Hockeytown 694]

They're both on entry level two-way deals. Which means they can go up and down without clearing waivers.

I stand corrected on the two-way thing, but that status still doesn't protect them from having to clear waivers.

EDIT: I'm glad egroen is here to be smart and figure this sort of thing out for me.

Edited October 8, 2009 by Heroes of Hockeytown

[StevieY9802 6]

They're both on entry level two-way deals. Which means they can go up and down without clearing waivers.

from capgeek

F Darren Helm (DET)

Birthdate: January 21, 1987 Age: 22

Contracts

Start: 2007 End: 2010 Total Salary: $1,798,332 (breakdown)» 2007-2008: $663,500

» 2008-2009: $630,000

» 2009-2010: $500,000

Cap Hit: $599,444 (RFA)

Contract Drilldown

START YEAR: 2007 END YEAR: 2010 TYPE: ENTRY LEVEL EXPIRY STATUS: RFA

SEASON TYPE AHL SALARY SALARY BONUSES CAP HIT

2007-2008 TWO-WAY $60,000 $663,500 — $599,444

2008-2009 TWO-WAY $60,000 $630,000 — $599,444

2009-2010 TWO-WAY $55,000 $500,000 — $599,444

you beat me to it.

[Mors 201]

Even if Helm is waiver exempt, unless he comes back and plays nothing like he did in the playoffs, there's 0% chance they'll send him down.