Tough roster decisions ahead for the Wings

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

It will be interesting to see how the team will handle the cap issues. Any thoughts on how they should?

DETROIT -- As the Detroit Red Wings climbed back into playoff position Thursday for the first time in a month, the front office gathered in Naples, Fla., for the organization’s annual pro and amateur scouting meetings.

The management team will spend the next few days formulating strategy, short term and long term, while analyzing every player on their roster and in their system, as well as potential trade and free-agent targets around the NHL.

“It’s a good time to do a lot of analysis of where we’re at and what our options are,†general manager Ken Holland said.

The most pressing issue is what to do when four injured players are ready to return.

The club still will be under the salary cap after getting back Niklas Kronwall, Jason Williams and Tomas Holmstrom within the next two weeks. But they would be one player over the 23-man roster limit.

That problem can be solved by assigning Justin Abdelkader, who is exempt from waivers, to Grand Rapids (AHL). They could bring him back at the start of the playoffs, when there is no cap or roster restriction.

A more difficult decision must be made when Johan Franzen returns -- perhaps as soon as the first week of February -- no later than March 1, the first game following the Olympic break.

Assuming they have no additional long-term injuries and that defenseman Andreas Lilja (concussion) does not return, those four players will put the Red Wings over the $56.8 million salary cap by close to $1.5 million. Sending down Abdelkader and Brad May still would leave the club over the cap by a slim margin (roughly $130,000).

Somebody else would need to be traded or waived.

“We’re hoping we’re going to get healthy,†Holland said. “Let’s hope we got some tough decisions to make.â€

Holland is starting to get calls from general managers preparing for the March 3 trade deadline. The Red Wings, when completely healthy, will have no glaring needs. Nor do they have the cap space to acquire a player without moving an equal or greater salary.

“Any move has got to be dollar in, dollar out,†Holland said.

“We’ve got some decisions to make between now and the trade deadline. The hard part is we don’t really know what we got as a team. When we got our team together and are at the top of our game we got the makings of a real good team.â€

Important stretch ahead the Red Wings climbed into eighth place in the Western Conference following their 4-3 shootout win at Minnesota and Calgary’s 3-1 loss to Chicago. They haven’t been that high in the standings since Dec. 22.

Detroit can move into seventh place tonight with a victory against the Los Angeles Kings, the team that is one point ahead of them, at Joe Louis Arena. Their next three games -- Phoenix, Minnesota and Nashville -- are against clubs just ahead of them or slightly behind them.

“When you’re trying to catch teams and you’re going head-to-head, these games are even more important,†Holland said. “We’ve put ourselves in a (playoff) position now. Our record over the last 20 games has been OK (11-6-3), not like we’ve gone on a tremendous run. The key is we beat Colorado, Phoenix, L.A.

“We got to keep pushing forward. We’ve worked hard, we’ve hung in there.â€

Jimmy Howard will start in goal Saturday. He made 51 saves in the Red Wings’ 2-1 victory against the Kings on Jan. 7.

“They got some big guys offensively who have the ability to score and can hang onto the puck down low,†Detroit captain Nicklas Lidstrom said. “It’s very important you’re on the right side of the puck against big guys like that."

MLive

[DMAC 25 18]

this would be a perfect time to trade lebda for draft picks

[Drake_Marcus 890]

this would be a perfect time to trade lebda for draft picks

Not really because the Wings need to maintain defensive depth. While I'd love to get rid of Lebda they can't afford to dump a guy of his experience level without bringing a similarly experienced d-man back in.

Plus moving a guy like Lebda or Meech now doesn't make a whole lot of sense due to their tiny contracts. That being said, because Miller and Eaves have shown themselves to be so useful I can't see either being waived. It'll have to be some kind of deal with Lebda/Meech or even Leino. The only problem with moving Leino is his trade value is as low as it will ever be. He's worth more to the team as an asset if he stays and gets out of his funk.

Abdelkader is the obvious choice to go down. He's the least useful forward aside from Leino/May and it's obvious he needs another year of AHL time to get his offensive grove back. I hope his being used in a grinder role here in the NHL hasn't hurt his long term scoring potential. It's bizarre but Helm has better offensive instincts than Abdelkader right now-- and that speaks to just how serious Abs' confidence must be off.

Edit: I realize someone other than Abs and May will have to go eventually, I'm just not sure who should go.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Drake_Marcus

[rage 24]

Hmm. Didn't know we were playing the Kings tonight.

[gcom007 1,465]

Not really because the Wings need to maintain defensive depth. While I'd love to get rid of Lebda they can't afford to dump a guy of his experience level without bringing a similarly experienced d-man back in.

Plus moving a guy like Lebda or Meech now doesn't make a whole lot of sense due to their tiny contracts. That being said, because Miller and Eaves have shown themselves to be so useful I can't see either being waived. It'll have to be some kind of deal with Lebda/Meech or even Leino. The only problem with moving Leino is his trade value is as low as it will ever be. He's worth more to the team as an asset if he stays and gets out of his funk.

Abdelkader is the obvious choice to go down. He's the least useful forward aside from Leino/May and it's obvious he needs another year of AHL time to get his offensive grove back. I hope his being used in a grinder role here in the NHL hasn't hurt his long term scoring potential. It's bizarre but Helm has better offensive instincts than Abdelkader right now-- and that speaks to just how serious Abs' confidence must be off.

Edit: I realize someone other than Abs and May will have to go eventually, I'm just not sure who should go.

I'm no Lebda fan but I agree, it's real tough to ship off a defensemen right now. As much as Meech or Lebda is the obvious choice in a perfect world, we need them too much right now and neither makes much money.

However, if something were to go down involving one of them...

I think what's likely to happen if anything is Meech attached to a forward for a goal scorer, and possibly a Leino-bonus thrown in if they're already fed up with him.

I know there will be at least a few posters who will gasp, scoff and retaliate over this, but I think if Flip doesn't start scoring more goals and continues at a 40-45 point (adjusted for 82 games), he could be moved as he's redundant and relatively expensive proportional to his output. Even once Franzen, Holmstrom and Kronwall return, we still could use more goals and Flip hasn't shown himself to be capable of putting them up. We're solid enough on D without him as well.

I still think it's unlikely though given our money situation, though if they packaged Meech in and were comfortable having Kindle or Janik as the spare 7th if needed, it could work. You're still talking about a hair over $4 million in return max if Leino's in the mix, but if we were able to find a guy who could score some goals, I'd feel pretty good with Helm/Williams/Draper sorting out centering duties for the 3rd and 4th lines and Abs mixed in again once the playoffs start. I have no problems with Miller or Maltby in the lineup over Leino and I like our 3rd line better with another goal-scorer as opposed to Flip's lack of goal production and average playmaking ability.

I'm not holding my breath though...

It's going to be a tough decision any way it goes.

[Icesurfer 75]

I am not sure a whole lot of teams will want to take a chance on Leino and his two year contract.... so his trade value is not as high as say someone like Lebda. Just about all teams at the trade deadline look for defensive help. With that being said the Wings could probably could get the best return for Lebda. I think everyone realizes that the Wings will most likely want to keep Miller. If they could swing a deal for Leino then he would be the first choice to go. If not .... then it is Lebda. I think the Wings have seen enough of Janik to realize he has some benefit and that would ease the blow of trading away a defenceman. Wings have ZERO cap space left because cap space is always used first before cap relief is applied.

The estimated 130,000 they HAVE to clear (if everyone else is healthy and back) is a prorated amount based on the number of paid hockey days left. If the Wings keep Miller they have to clear someone who has the same salary or more because there is no cap space. That excludes Meech. So it is Lebda or Malty or Leino. Maltby is not going anywhere. Personally I hope the Wings can trade Leino.... because you never have enough defencemen. But they may have to trade Lebda. I also like Janik because he is a stay at home defenceman who can cover up for Ericsson's mistakes when he rushes up the ice.

Someone most likely will get injured before Franzen comes back anyway so that will make this all a moot point! LOL.

Edited January 23, 2010 by Icesurfer

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Leino. Please.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

[Icesurfer 75]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

LOL!

You just flunked capology class 101.

[seeinred 1,488]

LOL!

You just flunked capology class 101.

We'll just put Lidstrom on LTIR until the playoffs start.

[gcom007 1,465]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

LOL! I mean, that'd be great, but umm, very much impossible.

[LeftWinger 5,153]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

Wow! What version of NHL are you playing right now? You better turn the cheat codes off...

[13dangledangle 968]

How about a trade with the Trashers, we ship them Leino (800000), Lebda (650000) and Meech (483333)...we take Afinogenov (800000) and Anssi Salmela (612500) this would put us under by about 2mill (assuming Abby and may go to GR)

Franzen•Dats•Holmstrom

Afinogenov•Z•Bertuzzi

Williams•Flip•Cleary

Eaves•Helm•Drapes ~Miller~Maltby

Lids•Ralfi

Stuart•Kronner

Ericcson•Janik ~Salmela

[titanium2 867]

The idea of a Cleary-Filly-Willy line is intriguing except that it just sounds like a much worse version of the Hudsy-Filly-Sammy line that was too quiet in last year's playoffs.

[GORM19 0]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

I think you should step back and put down the peace pipe your smokin, because your clearly hallucinating

[KrazyGangsta 79]

Kovalchuk won't be a Wing

#1 Ken Holland won't empty the tank for him and Atlanta doesn't really want a Lebda / Leino so it won't be that easy to get rid of them.

#2 The only way he will be a Wing is if he signs in the off season which I highly doubt because Kovalchuk wants the big bucks and Ken Holland won't want that because Wings got a system and he can't just back stab his own players.

#3 Do we really need him? ... Rather keep the draft picks and there might be another gem in there. We're in the middle of injuries.

Franzen and Williams come back this team will shape up much better then it's doing now.

[rage 24]

Kovalchuk won't be a Wing

#1 Ken Holland won't empty the tank for him and Atlanta doesn't really want a Lebda / Leino so it won't be that easy to get rid of them.

#2 The only way he will be a Wing is if he signs in the off season which I highly doubt because Kovalchuk wants the big bucks and Ken Holland won't want that because Wings got a system and he can't just back stab his own players.

#3 Do we really need him? ... Rather keep the draft picks and there might be another gem in there. We're in the middle of injuries.

Franzen and Williams come back this team will shape up much better then it's doing now.

NO.

#1 is it'd have to be a dollar for dollar trade. So something like Dats or Lids salary going the other way. That's #1.

[LidsFan 68]

I really like Miller, so I hope that he stays a Wing and is not waived or traded. How can the Wings get rid of a player who gives his all each game?

[titanium2 867]

I really like Miller, so I hope that he stays a Wing and is not waived or traded. How can the Wings get rid of a player who gives his all each game?

Loyalty to Jason Williams apparently.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

The idea of a Cleary-Filly-Willy line is intriguing except that it just sounds like a much worse version of the Hudsy-Filly-Sammy line that was too quiet in last year's playoffs.

The Filly Willy Bear line... HA!

[titanium2 867]

The Filly Willy Bear line... HA!

Hehehe... Oh... I really shouldn't come on here after a night of drinking.

[KrazyGangsta 79]

So we're both agreeing that it won't happen correct lol?

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He're what we'll look like after the trade deadline, imo.

Kovalchuk - Datsyuk - Bertuzzi

Franzen - Zetterberg - Holmstrom

Cleary - Fillpulla - Williams

Abeldalder - Helm - Eaves

Lidstrom - Rafalski

Kronwall - Stuart

Lilja - Ericsson

That's a pretty good lineup right there, that can compete with anyone in the NHL in terms of raw talent.

Oh, in case you're wondering, we'll obtain Kovalchuk for Lebda, Meech, Miller, May and Leino.

I can see Atlanta taking this deal. They'll get two checkers (including an enforcer who has good leadership), two young defensemen (with great speed which is important in today's NHL), and Leino (I can't think of anything clever to say here). In any case, it's a good trade for both teams.

Hilarious.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

LOL!

You just flunked capology class 101.

Congrats- you just failed "joke detection " class 101.

[russianswede919293 95]

So apparently waiving May and sending Abdelkader down still leaves the team 130 k over cap...

issue...

In all honesty swapping Lebda for Janik is the cleanest way to do that in my personal opinino but I doubt it will happen. the only other waiver exempt player on the team is helm and there is no way I could see him going down.

Eaves has earned a place here. I think Miller has earned a place here.

They are to loyal to lose Maltby, and to stuck on Leino to move him.

SO I have no idea what is going to happen.