Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 If the Wings have a mediocre season, stumble into the playoffs, and go out early, do you guys think its going to be harder to lure guys to Detroit? Lets not kid ourselves, the Joe is old, Detroit as a city is not doing well, and it doesn't look like guys are going to be taking paycuts to come here anymore, especially if they buy into this theory that the Wings are on the downturn. What do you guys think? Is this going to be an issue if the Wings really do have a bad season? They still have a great history of winning, great management and staff - but is that going to be enough? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Heroes of Hockeytown 694 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Most guys follow the $$$, I can't imagine that it will be a problem. Hossa is the exception, not the rule. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) Most guys follow the $$$, I can't imagine that it will be a problem. Hossa is the exception, not the rule. Understandable, but my worry is that in the past (Hossa is a good example actually) guys would play in Detroit for 6.5 rather then 7 somewhere else, because they had a shot at the cup. Wouldn't a player rather take similar pay somewhere else if he had a chance to win? I just fear that players around the league might start seeing Detroit as a team on the downturn, and avoid signing with the Wings. Edit - and i am not talking about B- free agents like Bertuzzi and Williams, I am talking about big game players who can really impact a teams chances of winning. The Kovalchucks, Prongers, and Luongos of the league. Edited October 26, 2009 by Yzerfan1999 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egroen 384 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 That does not change overnight. As long as ownership and the front office remain stable Detroit is going to remain a top destination for free agents. Even with a mediocore or bad season, this is still a team that spends to the cap and ices as competitive of a team as it possibly can each and every year; it is a team that treats veterans perhaps better than any other in the NHL; and Detroit is still a "hockey city" without reaching the fanaticism and ridiculousness of canadian markets. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedArmy 4 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 getting Kovalchuk would be pretty sweet, but I am sure his price tag will be really high. I would also consider a goaly since I think the wings will have some issues in net... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Wow... the Wings are bad enough all of the sudden to not be able to attract free agents? I had no idea a 3-4 start would send such lethal shockwaves through the entire organization. What's next? Talking about moving the Wings to Hamilton? Some of you guys are hilarious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rage 24 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 getting Kovalchuk would be pretty sweet, but I am sure his price tag will be really high. I would also consider a goaly since I think the wings will have some issues in net... I'll stop ya right there. He'll be resigning in Atlanta. No to the OP. I doubt the Wings will only be able to attract the "ben gorons" on the NHL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thedisappearer 291 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 That does not change overnight. As long as ownership and the front office remain stable Detroit is going to remain a top destination for free agents. Even with a mediocore or bad season, this is still a team that spends to the cap and ices as competitive of a team as it possibly can each and every year; it is a team that treats veterans perhaps better than any other in the NHL; and Detroit is still a "hockey city" without reaching the fanaticism and ridiculousness of canadian markets. This is what I would have said, but probably not as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ComradeWasabi 109 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Wow... the Wings are bad enough all of the sudden to not be able to attract free agents? I had no idea a 3-4 start would send such lethal shockwaves through the entire organization. What's next? Talking about moving the Wings to Hamilton? Some of you guys are hilarious. Thank you. One bad season - and that's assuming this is actually going to end up a bad season - is not going to doom the entire franchise to mediocrity. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SDavis35 140 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 Wow... the Wings are bad enough all of the sudden to not be able to attract free agents? I had no idea a 3-4 start would send such lethal shockwaves through the entire organization. What's next? Talking about moving the Wings to Hamilton? Some of you guys are hilarious. I hear Balsillie has already made an offer Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Yzerfan1999 81 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) Wow... the Wings are bad enough all of the sudden to not be able to attract free agents? I had no idea a 3-4 start would send such lethal shockwaves through the entire organization. What's next? Talking about moving the Wings to Hamilton? Some of you guys are hilarious. I am responding to media chatter - most notably the Off the Record episode last week where all the guests claimed the Wings were past their prime. Nowhere in the thread did I say I had given up on the season. Regardless of where the Wings are right now in the standings, its obvious this is a weaker team than they have had in a long time. Considering that, I posed a question. You can respond to it, or you can move on to the next thread. It was a concern that I wondered if anyone of you have shared. Trust me - I have been around long enough in these forums to not give into the doom and gloom at the first sight of trouble mentality. Edited October 26, 2009 by Yzerfan1999 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Buppy 1,720 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) Can't see this year being much worse that 98-99 (43-32-7, 2nd round loss), and that didn't hurt us. Granted, that was only 1 year removed from back to back wins in the finals, and we still won the division. But not a wholly dissimilar situation. I don't think 1 year can hurt us, unless maybe it's truly awful. Aslo, most of the teams that might be more 'fashionable' destinations have cap issues... Edited October 26, 2009 by Buppy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
miller76 463 Report post Posted October 26, 2009 That does not change overnight. As long as ownership and the front office remain stable Detroit is going to remain a top destination for free agents. Even with a mediocore or bad season, this is still a team that spends to the cap and ices as competitive of a team as it possibly can each and every year; it is a team that treats veterans perhaps better than any other in the NHL; and Detroit is still a "hockey city" without reaching the fanaticism and ridiculousness of canadian markets. I think you make great points. But I think we may see slight drop off of the 'hometown discount'. Players are always chasing the money! But as long as the ownership, front office, and coaching staff is what it is, the destination of playing in Detroit is still a goal for free agents. Also a good core of European players in this organization will continue to attract players in the other leagues. Even though everyone is bracing here for the worst, players like Z, Datsyuk, and Franzen are locked up for the better part of their careers. There maybe players that need to be moved and traded for and so on. But the basic core is here, and fortunately people want to come here for the chance of playing with these guys alone. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
brett 1,029 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 getting Kovalchuk would be pretty sweet, but I am sure his price tag will be really high. I would also consider a goaly since I think the wings will have some issues in net... id be shocked if kovalchuk signs anywhere but atlanta Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedArmy 4 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 id be shocked if kovalchuk signs anywhere but atlanta well this was a hypothetical question... It would be nonetheless sweet to sign him in Detroit... Given that he is up for contract renewal... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryMalredo 2 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 It could effect the Wings a little, but I don't think it will be a problem unless the Wings become absolutely terrible. Michigan's economy is in the toilet, and Detroit is an awful city, but the suburbs are nice, and the schools are top notch. As long as ownership and management still has a good reputation, players will still play, but I don't expect to see the discounts we've seen in the past. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 Most guys follow the $$$, I can't imagine that it will be a problem. Hossa is the exception, not the rule. The exception to the rule that players follow money, right? If you think Hossa is a money first kind of guy you're a ******* idiot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted October 27, 2009 Hossa is a money guy first like 99% of the players in the NHL are, he didnt take a paycut to play here, just gambled with security accepting that 1-year deal. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 Thanks for proving my point. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) I sure as hell wasn't, if he wasn't a money-first-guy he would have said.. "no ill take a few millions less than lidstrom (4-5million per year)" not "ill have what lidstrom makes (7.45 which is his market value but not close to a hometown discount)" Edited October 27, 2009 by mindfly Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
HenryMalredo 2 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 I sure as hell wasn't, if he wasn't a money-first-guy he would have said.. "no ill take a few millions less than lidstrom (4-5million per year)" not "ill have what lidstrom makes (7.45 which is his market value but not close to a hometown discount)" Hossa is one of the few players in the NHL right now who's skill is much higher than his cap hit. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Z and D for the C 712 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) If Hossa was a money first guy he would have yes "Yes Edmonton, I will accept your 9 million per year/80 million dollar offer". Go to bed. Edited October 27, 2009 by Z and D for the C Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clutchngrab 12 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 I think you make great points. But I think we may see slight drop off of the 'hometown discount'. Players are always chasing the money! But as long as the ownership, front office, and coaching staff is what it is, the destination of playing in Detroit is still a goal for free agents. Also a good core of European players in this organization will continue to attract players in the other leagues. Even though everyone is bracing here for the worst, players like Z, Datsyuk, and Franzen are locked up for the better part of their careers. There maybe players that need to be moved and traded for and so on. But the basic core is here, and fortunately people want to come here for the chance of playing with these guys alone. I'm not really sure what home-town discount you all are talking about. Yes, Yzerman at the end of his career and Hossa last year - but who else? Maybe Franzen could have played the market and made more - but look at Sammie, Hudler and even Kopecky. We've lost our fair share of players due to cash over the years. Datz and Z negotiated great long-term deals for themselves. Lids will sign for less if he continues to play basically on a year-to-year basis. Lids and Yzerman don't really count though. $$$ count the most in modern sports. Good teams and management are a factor, but to lesser extent. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VM1138 1,921 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 I actually think that this will make the Wings MORE desirable. On paper, they're fantastic. And everyone knows the WIngs are going to get it going sooner or later. Very few intelligent hockey people think they're on their way in a downturn. Even a rough season won't convince people of that, except rabid fans and the media. Next season the cap situation improves and the Wings are right back on top. Anyway, my point is that the Wings are just missing something to push them over the top. Now, imagine you are a skilled player offered a chance to be that missing piece and be a hero while making money on a legendary team? I think a lot of players would take that chance. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 27, 2009 I am responding to media chatter - most notably the Off the Record episode last week where all the guests claimed the Wings were past their prime. Nowhere in the thread did I say I had given up on the season. Regardless of where the Wings are right now in the standings, its obvious this is a weaker team than they have had in a long time. Considering that, I posed a question. You can respond to it, or you can move on to the next thread. It was a concern that I wondered if anyone of you have shared. Trust me - I have been around long enough in these forums to not give into the doom and gloom at the first sight of trouble mentality. First off... we all know how much the media in general knows about hockey... As far as them claiming we are past our prime... which prime are we talking about? Are we talking about the Stevie Y, Russian 5, Vladdy prime? Or the Stevie Y surrounded by all-stars prime? Or the euro-twin, salary cap era prime? We've had 3 "primes" in the past 15 years. No reason to believe we aren't on our way towards another one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
