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

[NGKEIB 32]

I just hope Babs see the potential spark he brings with his intensity and physical play. My fear is he's gonna spend the year in GR like McCarty and Downey did last year. Not to speak against Babs but there were quite a few games last year Detroit could have benefited from a scrapper like May.

I actually think that Babs has wanted to get May for a while - I've read this somewhere, but I can't remember where so I can't give anyone a source.

Re May/Abdelkader, it does look like Abdelkader has been sent down, and that May will take his place - but I'm sure this is only until Helm gets back; I assume that May will go down to GR in a few games time...

[Guest GordieSid&Ted]

If May ends up spending his time with the Wings, there's only 1 thing I can ascertain from his signing.

That Babcock bitched enough...

that Holland listened enough....

and that the head honchos looked around and realized that they weren't physical enough, weren't tough enough and absolutely had ZERO intimidation factor.

Going 0-2 against a division rival will wake you up.

Consider this folks, the "intimidation" factor the Wings had was their potent offense and PP.

Not to say we don't have that but you look around at the Central, everybody is scoring.

Blues, Hawks, BJ's, all improved, all have better offenses these days, lots of youthful exuberance on those rosters.

And every single one of those rosters has some toughness.

We did not.

So if you take away our only form of intimidating other teams, or at least diminish it enough so that it essentially becomes a near non-factor, then you better be able to match up with teams on all fronts and be able to play a complete game and win any type of game. 2-1 defensive struggle. 6-5 offensive explosion and PP war.

The bottom line is you need toughness. This is the NHL. Not chess. Show me a roster in the NHL that is as small and weak as the Wings.

You won't find one. Not that it's something easily quantifiable, except maybe by counting fighting majors, but I for one don't want to be ranked dead last in team toughness and physicality. It makes absolutely no sense to hamstring yourself like that when you can go out and sign somebody to help in that dept.

Of course if May plays only in GR. Then apparently nobody in the organization sees it the way I do.

[96warrior 11]

Red Wings assign Justin Abdelkader to Grand Rapids

By Ansar Khan

October 08, 2009, 10:48AM

DETROIT -- The Red Wings have assigned forward Justin Abdelkader to Grand Rapids (AHL).

The move clears room for newly signed Brad May, who skated with the team this morning. Abdelkader, who centered the fourth line in the first two games, was destined to go back to the Giffins anyway, after Darren Helm (sprained shoulder) comes off injured reserve in a few days or early next week.

[NGKEIB 32]

The bottom line is you need toughness. This is the NHL. Not chess. Show me a roster in the NHL that is as small and weak as the Wings.

Does Montreal's top line count?

[Guest E_S_A_D]

This is the best headline I've seen on Detroit Free Press in quite some time... freep.com. For all of those naysayers that are against having an enforcer and have been consistently saying "Ken Holland knows what he's doing". I finally agree, Ken KNOWS what he's doing... unlike the naysayers, he signed an enforcer.

I can proudly say now, that through verified vote, LGW IS PRO-ENFORCER, KEN HOLLAND IS PRO-ENFORCER, AND OUR 2009-10 DETROIT RED WINGS OUR PRO-ENFORCER.

Eat crow anti's.

QUOTE

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Wings sign enforcer Brad May, send Justin Abdelkader to minors

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

Detroit -- The Red Wings signed veteran Brad May to a one-year, two-way contract Thursday. To make room for him, the Wings sent Justin Abdelkader back to Grand Rapids.

May, 37, had been on a professional tryout. He will reprise the role that Aaron Downey played the past couple of seasons -- an enforcer-type player the Wings can deploy against some of the more physical teams in the league.

May has played in 1,001 NHL games for six different teams. He's scored 127 goals and amassed 2,182 penalty minutes.

[Dimaline312000 51]

Awesome. I'm excited for him. I think he'll make a great addition to the roster(s).

[Pucks 66]

E_S_A_D your taking credit for something you didn't purpose. May is a hockey player that can fight. The exact type of player that every single person on this forum said they wanted. He's not a goon that tries to play hockey, BIG difference here. But I digress. Glad he's aboard :beerbuddy:

[uk_redwing 495]

This news is moderately pleasing to my ears.

[uk_redwing 495]

Actually, I'm kind of surprised your side of things is so thrilled with it. Pretty decent chance we see a replay of this at some point, except with the guy getting his face caved in wearing red:

You do realise before Downey came to Detroit he was a MASSIVE punching bag with St Louis getting KO'd tiwce?

[deetroit dario 27]

the thing i like about may signing is this....his gratitude. even in those interviews during his exhibition game, guy just looked like he was so stoked to be here, to even have a chance of playing for us. and when he was on the ice, he played like it...

i mean...here's a guy who was looking at being completely out of options in the NHL, and really nothing left in AHL either, and he was given an opprotunity to try out for the wings! before he even saw the locker room, this guy understood the meaning of "to whom much is given, much is expected"...because to him, the greatest thing he could be given was a chance.

so he came here, and played like he meant it. like he felt like the luckiest guy on earth. and he was...

now that he's got his spot, i hope he doesn't lose sight of this...much now is expected! my own expectation is that some of our other guys take a think-think about how he got here, and maybe they'll start playing like they're the luckiest guys in the world, because they get to play for the detroit red wings!!

so thats my little editorial.

[NGKEIB 32]

You do realise before Downey came to Detroit he was a MASSIVE punching bag with St Louis getting KO'd tiwce?

Check out Downey vs Norton. Amazing scrap.

Malik on mlive suggested that when Helm is healthy, he might be the one sent down. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

Kopecky vs May anyone?

[esteef 2,679]

the thing i like about may signing is this....his gratitude. even in those interviews during his exhibition game, guy just looked like he was so stoked to be here, to even have a chance of playing for us. and when he was on the ice, he played like it...

i mean...here's a guy who was looking at being completely out of options in the NHL, and really nothing left in AHL either, and he was given an opprotunity to try out for the wings! before he even saw the locker room, this guy understood the meaning of "to whom much is given, much is expected"...because to him, the greatest thing he could be given was a chance.

so he came here, and played like he meant it. like he felt like the luckiest guy on earth. and he was...

now that he's got his spot, i hope he doesn't lose sight of this...much now is expected! my own expectation is that some of our other guys take a think-think about how he got here, and maybe they'll start playing like they're the luckiest guys in the world, because they get to play for the detroit red wings!!

so thats my little editorial.

Tru dat. And the first guy he'll motivate is Bertuzzi.

esteef

[StevieY9802 6]

I like the way he plays more than his fighting. His fighting will be/could be a bonus. A gritty guy who plays tough. The way I liked how Drake played a year ago. I think May can fit that role. Malik's point about Helm is a good one. Babcock seems high on having May in the lineup so maybe Helmer goes down. I would hate to do that but might as well, while you can.

[deetroit dario 27]

I like the way he plays more than his fighting. His fighting will be/could be a bonus. A gritty guy who plays tough. The way I liked how Drake played a year ago. I think May can fit that role. Malik's point about Helm is a good one. Babcock seems high on having May in the lineup so maybe Helmer goes down. I would hate to do that but might as well, while you can.

i'd buy someone getting benched before helmer gets sent down...unless we're maybe talking cap issues? and if its cap issues, helm being sent down is only for as long as it takes to trade/deal someone-who-will-remain-nameless-but-it-ends-with-ebda.

or am i totally off-base here? i'm genuinely asking (never did get my mind around the whole of the CBA/cap thing)...

oh and esteef....you read my mind about bert!

[chrisdetroit 189]

If May ends up spending his time with the Wings, there's only 1 thing I can ascertain from his signing.

That Babcock bitched enough...

that Holland listened enough....

and that the head honchos looked around and realized that they weren't physical enough, weren't tough enough and absolutely had ZERO intimidation factor.

Going 0-2 against a division rival will wake you up.

Consider this folks, the "intimidation" factor the Wings had was their potent offense and PP.

Not to say we don't have that but you look around at the Central, everybody is scoring.

Blues, Hawks, BJ's, all improved, all have better offenses these days, lots of youthful exuberance on those rosters.

And every single one of those rosters has some toughness.

We did not.

So if you take away our only form of intimidating other teams, or at least diminish it enough so that it essentially becomes a near non-factor, then you better be able to match up with teams on all fronts and be able to play a complete game and win any type of game. 2-1 defensive struggle. 6-5 offensive explosion and PP war.

The bottom line is you need toughness. This is the NHL. Not chess. Show me a roster in the NHL that is as small and weak as the Wings.

You won't find one. Not that it's something easily quantifiable, except maybe by counting fighting majors, but I for one don't want to be ranked dead last in team toughness and physicality. It makes absolutely no sense to hamstring yourself like that when you can go out and sign somebody to help in that dept.

Of course if May plays only in GR. Then apparently nobody in the organization sees it the way I do.

Yea, that's the ONLY possibility. I'm guessing that there is a little bit more to it than that...

[Guest Lidstromboli]

could they put maltby on waivers?

Edited October 8, 2009 by Lidstromboli

[StevieY9802 6]

i'd buy someone getting benched before helmer gets sent down...unless we're maybe talking cap issues? and if its cap issues, helm being sent down is only for as long as it takes to trade/deal someone-who-will-remain-nameless-but-it-ends-with-ebda.

or am i totally off-base here? i'm genuinely asking (never did get my mind around the whole of the CBA/cap thing)...

oh and esteef....you read my mind about bert!

Cap issues is exactly what it is. But trading Lebda gets rid of 600k so you can bring Helmer back up but then you only have 6 dmen. Which they won't do I don't think.

could they put maltby on waivers?

They could but won't. One, I don't think anyone would take him and two if they did that the Wings would become every other franchise. And while they are loyal to a fault sometimes I want the Wings to remain the team that people look at and say they really take care of their guys and let them play out their contracts. It makes guys want to come here.

Also though, the sad thing is, Maltby has been one of the Wings best players the first 2 games. If it wasn't fora great leg save by Conklin Maltby is the Wings leading goal scorer.

[egroen 384]

could they put maltby on waivers?

Yes. He'd get claimed and Holland would never do it.

Maltby's great, but I really hope this is his last year. It's getting ridiculous holding all these players in GR.

[Doc Holiday 0]

Jesus, ESAD never gets off his soapbox.

Give it a rest. May has been signed and that is great. No need to get political about it and talk smack to fans of the same team.

[esteef 2,679]

Jesus, ESAD never gets off his soapbox.

Give it a rest. May has been signed and that is great. No need to get political about it and talk smack to fans of the same team.

No s***. Gloating is never pretty.

esteef

[Doc Holiday 0]

No s***. Gloating is never pretty.

esteef

Not much to gloat about, honestly.

[deetroit dario 27]

Cap issues is exactly what it is. But trading Lebda gets rid of 600k so you can bring Helmer back up but then you only have 6 dmen. Which they won't do I don't think.

so its a forward on the chopping block then...

i mean, lebda's gone too...but probably a lateral for another d-man. one that, you know...plays d.

feeling inspired yet, bert? j-dub?

[Dominator2005 558]

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!!!

[Chunkylover 26]

Does Montreal's top line count?

No, they're actually smaller and weaker.

[StevieY9802 6]

so its a forward on the chopping block then...

i mean, lebda's gone too...but probably a lateral for another d-man. one that, you know...plays d.

feeling inspired yet, bert? j-dub?

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.

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!!!

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