wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Someone brought up Ryan Kesler's name and contract up in another thread and it got me thinking. He is a RFA next year, and I was wondering if you guys think the Wings should try and sign him to an offer sheet. He is a Livonia native. I would suspect we could sign him for somewhere in the 3.5-4 mil range and hope Vancouver doesnt match. If they didnt match we would have to give up a 1st and 3rd round pick in next years draft. To me, this is a small price to pay for a 25 year old forward with the ability to score a point per game. To fit him under the cap we would obviously not have room for Jiri Hudler to come back which is fine with me. Kesler is alot better. Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / * Ryan Kesler ($4.000m) Johan Franzen ($3.955m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) Kris Draper ($1.583m) / * Todd Bertuzzi ($1.500m) / * Tomas Holmstrom ($1.500m) * Darren Helm ($1.000m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.750m) * Mattias Ritola ($0.511m) DEFENSEMEN Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / * Nicklas Lidstrom ($4.000m) Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) * Andreas Lilja ($1.250m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.149m; CAP ROOM: $0.651m I realize this is wishful thinking. Vancouver is in good shape in terms of the cap and Kelser will be a top priority of theirs in the offseason. I just think its something the Wings should consider. Whats the worst that could happen? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) . Edited March 11, 2010 by king_malice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 The players are just arranged in order of salary, highest to lowest, left to right. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) Johan Franzen ($3.955m)Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / * Ryan Kesler ($4.000m) Henrik Zetterberg($6.083m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.500m) * Mattias Ritola ($0.511m)/ Daniel Cleary ($2.800m)/ Todd Bertuzzi ($1.500m) * Darren Helm ($1.000m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / Kris Draper ($1.583m) Patrick Eaves ($0.750m) DEFENSEMEN Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / * Nicklas Lidstrom ($4.000m) Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) * Andreas Lilja ($1.250m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS ROSTER: 22; PAYROLL: $56.149m; CAP ROOM: $0.651m The players are just arranged in order of salary, highest to lowest, left to right. oh ok sorry didn't see that, how about these lines Edited March 11, 2010 by king_malice Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Kesler is a center. Flippula would be moved to 3rd line. I would love Kesler on the Wings, I just don't see Vancouver not re-signing him. He's too valuable on that team. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest mindfly Report post Posted March 11, 2010 No one goes after RFA's these days.. and Holland never wants to give up first rounders and s*** Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) No one goes after RFA's these days.. and Holland never wants to give up first rounders and s*** Haha that made me laugh. And yeah, I agree. I dont expect to get Kesler at all. I just think that it is a route the Wings might want to consider. After coming off a rough season, and anticipating a new season with pretty much the same cast of characters we've had the past 3-5 seasons, a shake up might be in order. Going the RFA route, you dont have to move any key parts, just draft picks. And if you can get an up and coming star for a first and a third, I think its definitely worth it. Theres really nothing to lose by signing a future stud to an offer sheet. The worst that could happen is the other team matching the contract and you wind up right where you were before. Kesler is a center. Flippula would be moved to 3rd line. I would love Kesler on the Wings, I just don't see Vancouver not re-signing him. He's too valuable on that team. Agreed. If we got Kesler, Id roll these lines Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Kesler - Bertuzzi Cleary - Filppula - Helm Abdelkader - Draper - Eaves Edited March 11, 2010 by wingsownnhl43 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Agreed. If we got Kesler, Id roll these lines Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Holmstrom Franzen - Kesler - Bertuzzi Cleary - Filppula - Helm Abdelkader - Draper - Eaves Top 6 would look the same But I would have Cleary-Flip-Eaves Abby-Helm-Draper Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cjm502 165 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Top 6 would look the same But I would have Cleary-Flip-Eaves Abby-Helm-Draper My thoughts exactly. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
puckbags 863 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 If you think Lids is going to play next year for 3 million dollars you're nuts. Cmon give the guy some respect, I realize he is on the tail end of his great career but he is still top 5 in this league in terms of overall d men. If he decides to continue playing which I hope he will he won't make less than 5 a year and I would suggest that he will probably get a contract in the 6 million dollar range. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceebs 2 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Only way Vancouver doesnt match is on a gross overpayment (over 5.5) and it's not worth giving up 2 1st rounders and a 2nd to sign him for >5mill. Never going to happen Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Only way Vancouver doesnt match is on a gross overpayment (over 5.5) and it's not worth giving up 2 1st rounders and a 2nd to sign him for >5mill. Never going to happen I agree. My whole thing here is that I think this team might need a shake up and/or a fresh face. If you sign a Ryan Kesler, Nicklas Backstrom, or Bobby Ryan to an offer sheet, you really dont have much to lose. It's conceivable that a team will get frugal and let the player go. Those players are well worth the lost draft picks. I agree though, Ryan Kesler means too much to Vancouver. Additionally, Andrew Ladd is an RFA. If we can sign him to a contract that fits us, with 14 players signed and already over the cap, Chicago is in no position to match. This is something that should be considered as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 if not Kesler how about Loui Eriksson? RFA Player Pos Age 09-10 Salary Notes Kari Lehtonen G 25 $3,000,000 Loui Eriksson L 23 $1,700,000 Nicklas Grossman D 24 $1,050,000 Fabian Brunnstrom L 24 $875,000 Matt Niskanen D 22 $805,000 James Neal L 21 $720,000 Raymond Sawada R 24 $700,000 Tom Wandell C 22 $560,000 Dallas i believe has 1.8m Cap space now with alot of RFA/UFA coming up Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceebs 2 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 if not Kesler how about Loui Eriksson? RFA Player Pos Age 09-10 Salary Notes Kari Lehtonen G 25 $3,000,000 Loui Eriksson L 23 $1,700,000 Nicklas Grossman D 24 $1,050,000 Fabian Brunnstrom L 24 $875,000 Matt Niskanen D 22 $805,000 James Neal L 21 $720,000 Raymond Sawada R 24 $700,000 Tom Wandell C 22 $560,000 Dallas i believe has 1.8m Cap space now with alot of RFA/UFA coming up Eriksson signed a big extension a few months ago... in the range of 4-4.5 Don't mean to be a downer but there is no way the wings will be pouching any big name rfa's. If they do go after an rfa (which I highly doubt they will) it would be someone like Ladd or Hjalmarsson (sp) from a team that is extremely close to the cap Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Eriksson signed a big extension a few months ago... in the range of 4-4.5 Don't mean to be a downer but there is no way the wings will be pouching any big name rfa's. If they do go after an rfa (which I highly doubt they will) it would be someone like Ladd or Hjalmarsson (sp) from a team that is extremely close to the cap I agree. How much would you offer a guy like Ladd? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Johnny Diamonds 25 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 If the WIngs were gonna sign some RFA to an offer sheet it should be Nick Backstrom. He's the only one worth losing picks over. He's only 22 and he's going to be a superstar! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Oh ok my bad i missed that one, he would have been a beauty on the Wings. also i think depending on what lidstrom does will determine how much and who the Wings go after UFA/RFA Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ceebs 2 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) I agree. How much would you offer a guy like Ladd? Don't think we could afford to give him more than 2-2.5 (which IMO is high for him) and there are plenty of teams in a better cap situation than us who could match that. Before we played them on Saturday, Ladd had 12g in 64gp on a team that has no problem scoring. Given all of the s*** that Cleary has taken, Danny has 13g in 54gp. I was just throwing Ladd's name out there because I knew he was a RFA and wasn't making a whole lot of money (i figured he'd be making <1.5). Honesty I hope the wings don't go after any RFA's this summer unless they can sign them for 1-1.5mil (which in most cases their team would match). Poaching RFA's and giving up draft picks is an expensive way to build a team. Edit: Theres absolutely no way the caps let Backstrom go for a price we could afford. They would trade Semin for picks to keep him if they had to, he's ovie's setup man after all, and only 22! Theodore's contract is up this summer so I'm sure they'll find some cash for Backstrom Edited March 11, 2010 by ceebs Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mjlegend 155 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 I agree. How much would you offer a guy like Ladd? I don't know that we're in a position to add any C-level free agent forwards like Ladd. I think the next Patrick Eaves might be the ceiling if we do add a forward or two, simply becssue we're going to either have to replace Lidstrom on the blueline with a decent D man or we'll have Lidstrom at a slightly reduced short term contract... and have no cap room anyway. I'm simply basing this opinion on what the Matt Stajans and Rene Bourques have been getting in terms of extensions. If these guys are in the $3.5 to $4 million range for four or five years, Ladd is certainly not all that far behind those guys. Maybe $2.5 to $2.7 million for three to five? Anyway, I don't think we're adding a 15 to 20-goal scorer unless there's other organizational changes made. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wingsownnhl43 14 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 (edited) I don't know that we're in a position to add any C-level free agent forwards like Ladd. I think the next Patrick Eaves might be the ceiling if we do add a forward or two, simply becssue we're going to either have to replace Lidstrom on the blueline with a decent D man or we'll have Lidstrom at a slightly reduced short term contract... and have no cap room anyway. I'm simply basing this opinion on what the Matt Stajans and Rene Bourques have been getting in terms of extensions. If these guys are in the $3.5 to $4 million range for four or five years, Ladd is certainly not all that far behind those guys. Maybe $2.5 to $2.7 million for three to five? Anyway, I don't think we're adding a 15 to 20-goal scorer unless there's other organizational changes made. I think we are in a position to add even if Lidstrom comes back for a reduced price. Figuring we re-sign Lidstrom, Holmstrom, Lilja and Bertuzzi we have 4.6 mil in cap room with 1 spot to fill. Hudler is rumored to come back, but I don think the Wings brass should settle. If we can find a player at 4 million that we feel is a better fit than Hudler, then by all means, upgrade. Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m) Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Kris Draper ($1.583m) * Todd Bertuzzi ($1.500m) / * Tomas Holmstrom ($1.500m) / * Darren Helm ($1.000m) * Justin Abdelkader ($0.850m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.750m) / * Mattias Ritola ($0.511m) DEFENSEMEN Brian Rafalski ($6.000m) / * Nicklas Lidstrom ($4.000m) Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) * Andreas Lilja ($1.250m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m) Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) GOALTENDERS Chris Osgood ($1.417m) / Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS ROSTER: 21; PAYROLL: $52.149m; CAP ROOM: $4.651m Edited March 11, 2010 by wingsownnhl43 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Haha, a friend who's a Leaf fan said Burke is interested in adding Kesler to the Leafs next year. I guess after seeing Burke throw away two 1st round picks on Kessel, I wouldn't put it past him to waste more 1st rounders on Kesler. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Kesler would be a dream. Vancouver would never let him go, but he's exactly the type of player we could use. Great 2-ways, good on faceoffs, physical, talented, great beard... Just wont happen, nice to dream though. Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom Bertuzzi-Kesler-Franzen Eaves-Filpulla-Cleary Abdelkader-Helm-Draper Wonderful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
king_malice 17 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 Haha, a friend who's a Leaf fan said Burke is interested in adding Kesler to the Leafs next year. I guess after seeing Burke throw away two 1st round picks on Kessel, I wouldn't put it past him to waste more 1st rounders on Kesler. when is there next 1st rounder ....2012/2013? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barrie 900 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 when is there next 1st rounder ....2012/2013? Yea I think so. I'll go on record saying Burke isn't going to turn the Leafs around. Last week at the deadline he said he doesn't want to take 5 years to make the Leafs a winner. Without a franchise player, or a 1st round pick for 2 years, there's no chance! He also went on to say it didn't take Anaheim 5 years. I guess he forgets Getzlaf and Perry were already drafted. All he did was trade for Pronger. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cupforwings 138 Report post Posted March 11, 2010 If the WIngs were gonna sign some RFA to an offer sheet it should be Nick Backstrom. He's the only one worth losing picks over. He's only 22 and he's going to be a superstar! wow, that would be awesome... that guy is good, and he is only going to get better over the next 8 years... i doubt Washington would let him go, but that would be sick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites