When Lidstrom and Draper Retire

[skyphoenix 153]

I would like to see Rafalski retire before his contract runs up. He's signed at 6mil a season until he is 39 and that is just ridiculous.

[thedisappearer 291]

The 'A' stands for alternate, not assistant.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

"C" Zetterberg

"A" Datsyuk

"A" Cleary

[newfy 695]

First off, anyone suggesting Filpulla for an A is crazy. Z is the clear future captain and no we will not rotate letters. The wings have as far as I can remember never done that and won't start now. Z with the C Kronwall an A, Cleary an A and Pav obviously. Cleary has shown how he can lead in playoffs by stepping up his game and brings some other elements of hockey to the table unlike the skill guys.

[Echolalia 2,961]

First off, anyone suggesting Filpulla for an A is crazy. Z is the clear future captain and no we will not rotate letters. The wings have as far as I can remember never done that and won't start now. Z with the C Kronwall an A, Cleary an A and Pav obviously. Cleary has shown how he can lead in playoffs by stepping up his game and brings some other elements of hockey to the table unlike the skill guys.

I may be mistaken, but I believe Filpulla has already worn the A before. Although personally I would prefer to see a couple other people wear it before him, but who knows what kind of person he is in the lockerroom.

[newfy 695]

I may be mistaken, but I believe Filpulla has already worn the A before. Although personally I would prefer to see a couple other people wear it before him, but who knows what kind of person he is in the lockerroom.

Yea but he wore it in preseason when he was one of a very few players who have any NHL experience, that doesn't really mean much. He may be great in the dressing room but if that was the case we should have given Downey an A. He just hasn't shown it on the ice really yet, if he breaks out this year I might change my mind.

[Theophany 110]

First off, anyone suggesting Filpulla for an A is crazy. Z is the clear future captain and no we will not rotate letters. The wings have as far as I can remember never done that and won't start now. Z with the C Kronwall an A, Cleary an A and Pav obviously. Cleary has shown how he can lead in playoffs by stepping up his game and brings some other elements of hockey to the table unlike the skill guys.

Wings rotate the A as it is right now between Dats and Draper. Draper wasn't wearing an A tonight and Dats was; the game before, Dats had no A and Draper did.

Zetterberg is the clear choice for the C after Lids hangs 'em up. Since Fil has worn the A before, we'll probably see him and Dats as As in the future; Fil is likely going to stay a Wing for life, and they're probably grooming him already to take the spot that Z is in right now.

Dats is an exception because he's a star of the team, though his English isn't great. That's why he'll always be a rotating A, not a full-time (even if he wears it more often than not).

[robb himself 143]

Wings rotate the A as it is right now between Dats and Draper. Draper wasn't wearing an A tonight and Dats was; the game before, Dats had no A and Draper did.

Zetterberg is the clear choice for the C after Lids hangs 'em up. Since Fil has worn the A before, we'll probably see him and Dats as As in the future; Fil is likely going to stay a Wing for life, and they're probably grooming him already to take the spot that Z is in right now.

Dats is an exception because he's a star of the team, though his English isn't great. That's why he'll always be a rotating A, not a full-time (even if he wears it more often than not).

Datsyuk, Draper AND Zetterberg rotate the A...not just dats and drapes

[Theophany 110]

Datsyuk, Draper AND Zetterberg rotate the A...not just dats and drapes

I have never seen Z without the A.

[Dave 324]

I have never seen Z without the A.

The Canucks game on Thursday.

[eva unit zero 271]

Well, Let's look at it this way.

If those two players retire at the end of their contracts:

Lidstrom will retire after this season.

Draper will retire after next season.

So next season, it would be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Draper

And for 2011-12 and 2012-13 at least, it would probably be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Cleary (remember, he is younger than Datsyuk)

After that, there is too much speculation about what players would be developed into, what players would be on or off the team, etc.

[Theophany 110]

The Canucks game on Thursday.

Yup, you're right.

Well, Let's look at it this way.

If those two players retire at the end of their contracts:

Lidstrom will retire after this season.

Draper will retire after next season.

So next season, it would be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Draper

And for 2011-12 and 2012-13 at least, it would probably be:

C: Zetterberg

A: Datsyuk

A: Cleary (remember, he is younger than Datsyuk)

After that, there is too much speculation about what players would be developed into, what players would be on or off the team, etc.

That doesn't make sense. Why would they have already had Filppula as an A and then award an A to Cleary when they have one open up full-time?

Filppula is already being groomed into being the next Captain of the Wings. Of course, things can change, but Cleary will never be that guy. Filppula, Dats, and another guy will probably rotate Alternate duties as Draper, Dats, and Z have.

Edited November 15, 2009 by Theophany

[blankrap 9]

Lidstrom should play until he is 140.

[Theophany 110]

Lidstrom should play until he is 140,000.

Fixed that for you, bro.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

Shouldn't Bryan Rafalski get some consideration ?

No.

It's pretty obvious Z is the next captain barring unforeseen issues, he's been promoted as a face of the team (attention, spotlight, etc... it's not all by chance).

Regardless of the NHL (and idiot GMs who sign goalies to 15 yr contracts), he's got the longest contract awarded a Red Wing player in history. Z has stated his intention to play for Detroit for his career. If they don't have plans for him..... wow.

[skyphoenix 153]

Rafalski's contract was signed before he was 35 right? So if he retires, his salary comes off the books? Just wondering for my own personal knowledge. He hasn't been that solid this season and his play seems to be going down since he's getting up there in age. I don't see him playing to 39.

[blankrap 9]

Fixed that for you, bro.

Thanks!

[eva unit zero 271]

Yup, you're right.

That doesn't make sense. Why would they have already had Filppula as an A and then award an A to Cleary when they have one open up full-time?

Filppula is already being groomed into being the next Captain of the Wings. Of course, things can change, but Cleary will never be that guy. Filppula, Dats, and another guy will probably rotate Alternate duties as Draper, Dats, and Z have.

Cleary is more of an on-ice leader for the Wings than Filppula is, so he is more likely to get that A.

Neither Cleary nor Filppula will never be the captain of the Wings. Flip's 25, Zetterberg is 29, Cleary is 30, and Datsyuk is 31. Filppula is not one of the team's leaders right now. Z and Dats are. Barring SERIOUS injuries or stupid trades, Filppula doesn't even have a chance at the C until he is in his mid to late 30s. At that point, if he's even still a Wing, he would likely be passed over for a younger player who is serving as the team's on-ice leader at that time. Perhaps a Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, or Darren Helm might be that guy, or perhaps someone yet to be drafted.

But the fact is, Zetterberg will be the captain once Lidstrom retires, and will be so until the end of his career.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Zetterberg - C

Datsyuk - A

Cleary - A

Rafalski will probably get a letter if he's still here after Draper and Lidstrom.

[Theophany 110]

Cleary is more of an on-ice leader for the Wings than Filppula is, so he is more likely to get that A.

Neither Cleary nor Filppula will never be the captain of the Wings. Flip's 25, Zetterberg is 29, Cleary is 30, and Datsyuk is 31. Filppula is not one of the team's leaders right now. Z and Dats are. Barring SERIOUS injuries or stupid trades, Filppula doesn't even have a chance at the C until he is in his mid to late 30s. At that point, if he's even still a Wing, he would likely be passed over for a younger player who is serving as the team's on-ice leader at that time. Perhaps a Jonathan Ericsson, Justin Abdelkader, or Darren Helm might be that guy, or perhaps someone yet to be drafted.

But the fact is, Zetterberg will be the captain once Lidstrom retires, and will be so until the end of his career.

That doesn't make any sense at all, looking at the past.

Stevie Y retired in 2006; who's been the Captain since then? Lidstrom. How old was Lidstrom when he got the C? 36.

If Zetterberg retires at the age of 40 (which would be a great career for him), Filppula would still be 35; younger than Lidstrom when he got the C.

I see no issue with Filppula getting the C when/if the time comes; granted, we're probably 10 years from that point, so who knows what may change.

[WpgMikos 17]

Watching Draper during the warm up skate before the Ducks game makes me wonder if he will ever retire. He was smiling the entire time as well as laughing, joking and having a good time. Love the way he plays the game.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I don't think filp will get the C at any point, and doubt he's being groomed as anything but an alternate (as the center's typically are not on the ice at the same time).

I would speculate plans are Z, then Datsyuk after Z retires, if still playing (if only for the honor).

Someone they pick up in the next 1-5 yrs will be groomed for Z's replacement (aka... no one on the current roster - GR, elsewhere... is currently seen imo as the next captain after Z, too soon anyways).

Edited November 15, 2009 by CaliWingsNut

[NGKEIB 32]

This conversation isn't mentioning Mitchell Callahan enough.

Also, Franzén will get an A, but only during the playoffs.

[eva unit zero 271]

I don't think filp will get the C at any point, and doubt he's being groomed as anything but an alternate (as the center's typically are not on the ice at the same time).

I would speculate plans are Z, then Datsyuk after Z retires, if still playing (if only for the honor).

Someone they pick up in the next 1-5 yrs will be groomed for Z's replacement (aka... no one on the current roster - GR, elsewhere... is currently seen imo as the next captain after Z, too soon anyways).

The C to Datsyuk after Z retires? Datsyuk is two years older than Z and Z is in better physical shape for the long-term. If anything, not only will Z retire after Dats, but Z will play a career three or four years longer than Dats.

The next Wings captain after Z, if in the system right now, is probably Abdelkader. But that all depends on when Z retires. If Z retires at the end of his contract, it will be 2021; Abby would be 34 at that point, and the C would more than likely go to a younger player who is one of the team's better players and an on-ice leader.

[newfy 695]

Flip has done nothing at all to show he is getting an A, he wore an A in preseason. He doesn't put up crazy amounts of points to earn a letter for his skill and on the ice he doesn't show leadership. A guy like Cleary will get it before Flip does.