Wings To Make Another Move This Week?

[Guest Howard He Do It?!]

Late night talk... Wings might be making another move this week to free up more roster space

Twitter:David Pagnotta

The Red Wings traded forward Ville Leino yesterday to make room for Johan Franzen, a move GM Ken Holland may have to complete again, reports the Detroit Free Press.

Veteran defenseman Andreas Lilja is nearing a return to the ice after spending several months recovering from a concussion.

Holland is looking to make room under the salary cap to accommodate Lilja by Friday, a decision he doesn't take lightly given he was forced into dealing Leino.

"With Johan coming back, we had to make a tough decision on how to fit him in under the cap world," Holland told the Free Press.

The Wings are also believed to be in the market for a top-six winger, though it's uncertain if they can swing a deal that makes sense under the cap.

TFP

It likely won’t be the last tough decision Holland makes this week. The Wings successfully petitioned the NHL to have defenseman Andreas Lilja, who is attempting a comeback after spending nearly a year recovering from a concussion, play two more games during a conditioning stint in the minors. That would take Lilja to next Friday. Holland said the Wings are trying to figure out if they then have to decide about clearing him before the Olympic break begins Feb. 14.

If they activate Lilja, they’ll have to clear out another body and a little more than $1 million in salary.

Freep

Down the road, if it looks like Lilja will return, the Wings might move Brett Lebda, because odds are he won't return next season since Jakub Kindl figures to be the sixth man in Detroit. It's also possible that Brad May might be put on waivers because it's unlikely he'll be claimed by another team.

Freep

All of this trade talk and it isn't even March yet. It would be great if the Wings could add a top-6 winger, but chances are the cap will prevent it.

[ltgator333 3]

Well we all *should* know it's gotta happen, I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop since Ville went bye-bye. Going to be interesting to say the least.

[Lonewuhf 47]

Well we all *should* know it's gotta happen, I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop since Ville went bye-bye. Going to be interesting to say the least.

If they got another top 6 forward, who would they trade? There's no one that they would likely trade that gives them enough cap space to bring a real top 6 forward in. I'm not entirely sure who has NTCs on offense anymore, but I think Cleary still does. They wouldn't trade Dats or Z. I highly doubt Fil would be traded, and we know Franzen won't (think he has a NTC also). That leaves Holmer (who I don't think they'd trade either), Bert, and Williams. The last 3 wouldn't clear enough space for another top 6 player. The only one that they could trade and realistically get enough cap space if Fil, and again, I highly doubt he's going anywhere.

Edited February 7, 2010 by Lonewuhf

[VM1138 1,921]

If they got another top 6 forward, who would they trade? There's no one that they would likely trade that gives them enough cap space to bring a real top 6 forward in. I'm not entirely sure who has NTCs on offense anymore, but I think Cleary still does. They wouldn't trade Dats or Z. I highly doubt Fil would be traded, and we know Franzen won't (think he has a NTC also). That leaves Holmer (who I don't think they'd trade either), Bert, and Williams. The last 3 wouldn't clear enough space for another top 6 player. The only one that they could trade and realistically get enough cap space if Fil, and again, I highly doubt he's going anywhere.

Filpulla MIGHT be. I think he's probably the most obvious choice if the WIngs were angling for a real scoring threat, but they probably think FLip is developing nicely and they're not likely to hurt the team long term, so Flip would probably only be traded for an extremely talented younger player. Which, let's face it, isn't going to happen.

Other than that, I don't know what combination could land us anyone significant. Lebda will be gone, and May, too probably, I do agree with that part of the article.

[wingsfaninMA 3]

On hnic last night pierre lebrun said that KH denied going after Ponikarovski because he had no money to spend. take that fwiw

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Artyukhin, Evgeny for Lebda and Williams ?

[Atariboy 0]

Nobody is going to want our 3rd line and 3rd pairing players for a top six forward. Gonna have to be someone like Stuart or Rafalski. Teams would be lined up to take Stuart, actually.

[newfy 695]

Nobody is going to want our 3rd line and 3rd pairing players for a top six forward. Gonna have to be someone like Stuart or Rafalski. Teams would be lined up to take Stuart, actually.

With Lids and Rafalski getting old I dont think KH will trade Stuart.

[clutchngrab 12]

Rafalski to a contender? Possibly if he waives his no trade. That would be tough, but might be the only way to get a top 6 guy without trading Flip who is probably untouchable.

[kylee 727]

i wouldn't move ralfalski. he gets throw under the bus way too much.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

i wouldn't move ralfalski. he gets throw under the bus way too much.

Rafalski is the ideal choice. It would be nearly impossible to find any takers however, being that his cap hit is way higher than what he is worth.

[brett 1,029]

i like the top six forward talk.

but whats with this rafalski trade talk? i must be the only one here that likes him. hes good.

[Guest ZetterbergFourty]

Rafalski has a NTC and he's a hometown ****, so unfortunatly i dont see him going anywhere. Even though he's as or more useless than Leino was.

Waste of 6 million bucks, and HAHA some think this goof is worth MORE.

Edited February 7, 2010 by ZetterbergFourty

[InKennyWeTrust 126]

I strongly believe that if we make another trade, it'll be Lebda for picks unless we can convince Atlanta that Lebda + Picks/Prospects = Afinogenov or some similar deal. The only problem that anyone of value with a low salary isn't going to be had that easily.

[rage 24]

Max Afinogenov is a top 6 forward. Look for the Wings to have interest in him due to his cheap salary and UFA after this year.

That's what I hope and think anyway!

[titanium2 867]

Rafalski has a NTC and he's a hometown ****, so unfortunatly i dont see him going anywhere. Even though he's as or more useless than Leino was.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

i like the top six forward talk.

but whats with this rafalski trade talk? i must be the only one here that likes him. hes good.

I think this is part of our problem. I lot of fans are in disbelief that this team is struggling. Part of it is injuries, and part of it is that some of our players are running on name recognition. Brian Rafalski is still pretty solid offensivly but is terrible in his own zone. Another one showing his age is Lidstrom, but I wont go there on LGW.com.

[LIDDYGIBBY5 1]

With Howard's play, does that mean that Holland can sweeten a deal with a prospect goalie?

McCollum, Lebda, 2nd and 5th for.........

That still leaves Larsson and Pearce in the system with a draft coming up in June.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

I'm hoping to see Williams, Lebda, and/or a pick for a second liner.

[brett 1,029]

why does everyone hate on raffy so much? hes not the one minus 15 or 16. hes plus 16 2nd best on the team.

stuart 79 goals against

ericsson 55 goals against

lids 46 goals against

rafalski 39 goals against

lebda 32 goals against

[wingsownnhl43 14]

why does everyone hate on raffy so much? hes not the one minus 15 or 16. hes plus 16 2nd best on the team.

stuart 79 goals against

ericsson 55 goals against

lids 46 goals against

rafalski 39 goals against

lebda 32 goals against

Its his cap hit. I dont know why people dont realize this. If he was making 3 mil/per, no one would complain about him.

[McAwesome 754]

Artyukhin, Evgeny for Lebda and Williams ?

Pretty please with a cherry on top

Doesn't exactly give us a top 6 forward, but I would definitely like to have Artyukhin on our team, he's a tough Euro and he gives Pavs someone to говорить руÑÑкий with. I was calling for this all off-season.

[cjm502 165]

1.) We can not trade Rafalski. He has a NTC, and he is not going to waive it. He was born and raised in Michigan people.

2.) We are not trading a top 6 guy. There is no one in our top 6 to trade. Dats, Hank, and Mule are pretty much guaranteed safe. I can not see Filp being traded, and I cant see Homer having a very high trade value due to his injury problems of the last 2 years, and his age. Cleary has a NTC. Bert is a steal at 1.5m, he is not leaving.

3.) Our bottom six is iffy. Eaves, Miller, and Helm perform very well for their salary. There is not way Drapes will be traded. I don't think we could give Malts or May away, they would have to be waived. The only guy here that I could see being traded is Williams.

4.) We have an abundance of depth defenseman in out system. Janik, Kindl, Lebda, Meech, Lilja, Ericsson, Tollefsen. This is where the move will most likely be made. Many of these guys are already in the minors. You can count Ericsson, and Lilja out. Ericsson has shown what he can do and we can not pass that up. Lilja is getting old, and he has not played in 11 months. He has no trade value. They will not be traded. Lebda and Meech are our weak links here. Expect one of these guys to be gone.

Edited February 7, 2010 by cjm502

[miller76 463]

Its his cap hit. I dont know why people dont realize this. If he was making 3 mil/per, no one would complain about him.

And I cant realize how people don't acknowledge, you get what you pay for. His cap hit is high, but so are the people around here whining about this.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

And I cant realize how people don't acknowledge, you get what you pay for. His cap hit is high, but so are the people around here whining about this.

I dont understand your point? The fact is, the Wings overpaid Rafalski, big time. Fans have a right to complain about this.