Who should we Keep? Release? Sign?

[redwingfan19 293]

maltby gone, but let draper be the healthy scratch next year. He will get some games because injuries are bound to happen

[Yzerman191 37]

I'd like to keep all three. If we could get Bertuzzi for around the same cap hit, it's hard to say he's not worth it. I'm not sure what it would take to resign Eaves and Miller, both of whom are RFAs, but they'll come relatively cheap with a pretty high payoff over the course of a season. They kind of fit the mold for Draper and Maltby's replacements - good grinders, effective PKs, and able to chip in a few goals over the course of the season. Additionally, I'm sure the 'Wings will resign Helm and Abdelkader (both are RFAs).

Also, I'd like to see Holmstrom back, and I'm positive Draper will be back. Draper retiring does not relieve the Red Wings' cap hit for his salary (because he signed after the age of 35), so that does us no good anyways. On defense, I'd prefer Lebda to go and Lilja to stay, depending on their cap hits.

Maltby's contract is up, and I'd really prefer we didn't resign him. I think Holland should tell Maltby the same thing he told Chelios: thanks for everything, but we're going in a new direction. Williams is almost certainly gone, as well as Brad May.

[Octopus's Garden 147]

If I had to choose, I'd rather have Maltby in the lineup next year, because at least he's an annoying personality for the opposition and isn't afraid to mix it up. Drapes just doesn't have anything left -- he gets thrown out of every faceoff, he can't score, he's lost a decent amount of his speed, etc.

[BigWillieStyle 662]

We got a lot more out of him this year than I was expecting. If he'll sign for under 2mil I wouldn't be against it. Although it might have to come with a stipulation that he actually finishes a check every now and then to earn his pay. He'll always be first to a scrum, yet he'll let a guy off the hook instead of lining him up when they skate by. Maybe they should show him game film from 10 years ago and make him think he is still that player.

[Guest mjtm77]

Could Draper become the ref? He would do a better job then who ever was reffing this series

[redwingfan19 293]

Its a tough one Bert played well but do we want him back. I think we can keep either Miller or Eaves not both. we simple need more size

i'd like to see some more size on the back end. Let lilja, meech and lebda walk and let kindl, tollefsen and ericsson battle out for the 5th, 6th, 7th spots. Tollefsen plays a nasty game and ericsson and kindl both have size and mean streaks. I know ericsson was brutal at times but he has shown flashes of brilliance and im not ready to give up on him yet.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I agree with whoever said they'd take Malts over Drapes. Maltby was playing great this season, actually hitting, scoring a decent amount, agitating, then he's out for the playoffs and we get Drapes 12 games 0 points and a faceoff % under 50. I love him, but it's time. I know we're on the hook for his salary, and it's not the Wings style, but it'd be best for the team if we waived him, he cleared and then announced his retirement when he's off the cap.

[titanium2 867]

i'd like to see some more size on the back end. Let lilja, meech and lebda walk and let kindl, tollefsen and ericsson battle out for the 5th, 6th, 7th spots. Tollefsen plays a nasty game and ericsson and kindl both have size and mean streaks. I know ericsson was brutal at times but he has shown flashes of brilliance and im not ready to give up on him yet.

Tollefsen is LONG gone. I'm surprised no one here has mentioned it. He's already decided to play for the SEL or KHL or something like that.

Kindl has size but doesn't use it for s***. Surprise, surprise.

[redwingfan19 293]

Tollefsen is LONG gone. I'm surprised no one here has mentioned it. He's already decided to play for the SEL or KHL or something like that.

Kindl has size but doesn't use it for s***. Surprise, surprise.

disappointed to here about tollefsen

[king_malice 17]

maltby i think is done, Draper probably finishes his contract but as a 13th forward,i like Miller but i think Bertuzzi and Eaves did better then him this season, i wouldnt mind Bert on the 3rd line and Eaves on the 4th, i also agree with the guy that said bring some young guys in i said this before the season before Williams was signed, i think the Wings are the only team that rides guys out like this and has 26yr old rookies, dont get me wrong i like to let them develope but not for like 5-7 years.

Franzen-Zetterberg-Hudler

Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom/Bertuzzi

Cleary-Helm-Holmstrom/Bertuzzi

Eaves-Abdelkader-Ritola

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I feel Its time to let the obsession with Draper, Malts...etc go.. Bring in the young talent and turn the page.

Drapes was nowhere to be found this playoffs... (malts was hurt)

What do you think...

Draper and Maltby are washed up.Although they've played such a big part in championship teams past,its time for them to retire.Let Williams,Bertuzzi,Lebda,Lilja,Meech,and Miller go and bring in some guys with some real ******* passion.Find some way to get rid of Rafalski.I'm seriously sick of watching the constant turnovers.

[Hockeytown_Ryan 119]

well we have 7 forwards and 5 d-men under contract for next year ( and 2 goalies)

Who ever we keep and go get...better be decent we have around 13 mill I think.

[newfy 695]

Tollefsen is LONG gone. I'm surprised no one here has mentioned it. He's already decided to play for the SEL or KHL or something like that.

Kindl has size but doesn't use it for s***. Surprise, surprise.

I thought that he said he would not play in the AHL, but if it was NHL duty he would stay? Thats how I took it anyways.

We really only need one of Eaves and Miller and I say take Eaves. Eaves is more physical, faster and I think has more potential to score. Miller is an average bottom 6 player who doesn't really do much. He's good on the PK but we can find a bigger more physical guy who can play it just as well. Most bottom 6 forwards in the NHL can kill penalties well.

I think it was GMR who said we need some big bodies to wear down teh opposition? THIS IS FOR SURE WHAT WE NEED.

Add another guy who can play just as physical as Abdelkader to our bottom 6 and the face of our team could change very easily. We would have our skilled game as always but would still have guys keeping the opponents heads up and honest. A little feisty guy like Scott Nichol would really help this team or a huge hitter. Abs will make up all the lost scoring in Miller and Draper combined probably(assuming drapes is the 13th) then we throw a huge hitter on the 4th line and our team is suddenly mean to go with our skill. Maybe let meech and Lebda go and sign Janik as our number 7 could be a good move as well. Janik is just a steady guy.

Either way, this team does seem a bit stale and complacent and inserting a bit of energy producers iin the line up could be a good thing.

[Zeowingsfan 16]

If Draper retires, we still take the cap hit don't we?

Yes we do, his current contract started after he turned 35. So we do have his cap hit if he retires.

[king_malice 17]

Not sure how true it its or correct but i heard that after we sign Lids and Homer i think it was either Mckenzie or Dreger said both Lids and Homer will be back then said after we sign them we would have 15-18mill to spend on filling in the roster

[titanium2 867]

I think it was GMR who said we need some big bodies to wear down teh opposition? THIS IS FOR SURE WHAT WE NEED.

Still waiting for a set of players to replace all three of Lapointe, McCarty and Kocur.

[Yzerman191 37]

Does it worry anybody else that our team is going to look very similar next year, but a year older and a little smaller? I'm really not a guy that complains much about the need for a physical presence, and I generally don't rally to sign fighters, but it does sort of worry me. Ericsson and Lilja aren't really what I would consider a physical presence, and while Helm and Abdelkader are good for a few hits every game, neither really makes an opponent think twice about taking a cheap shot (say, for example, trying to take out Flip's knee, or giving a concussion-prone Franzen a headshot).

We currently have 7 forwards signed for next year: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Cleary, Hudler, and Draper. That, in itself, is a pretty solid top six with Draper as a likely 13th forward. However, I think it's likely that at least one of (and, IMO, probably both) Bertuzzi and Holmstrom will resign for next year. That takes us to 9 forwards. Add in the obvious: resign Helm and Abdelkader, and we're already at 11 forwards. We now have one spot left, and still have Eaves, Miller, and Ritola to think about before looking beyond the Red Wings organization.

Do we even have space for a physical presence? And is the lineup really going to change except for the addition of Hudler, the possibility of no Lidstrom, and a team that is one year older?

[newfy 695]

Still waiting for a set of players to replace all three of Lapointe, McCarty and Kocur.

Exactly. Having grinders that can't really grind is pointless and thats what we've had the last few years. The bottom 6 are supposed to wear down the defense and make it easier on the skilled guys instead of having the skilled guys do everything. The role players also gotta kill the penalties to save the skilled guys energy.

We've had old washed up Maltby and Draper, Hudler,and Miller as our bottom line players the last few years. These guys aren't going to wear down anything they just eat up minutes basically. Throw someone whose 6'4 with a mean streak out there on the bottom lines like Brad Winchester and those lines would be much more effective.

Eaves is a fast, solid hitter who will actually scrum it up and fight a bit so keep him but get rid of Miller

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Exactly. Having grinders that can't really grind is pointless and thats what we've had the last few years. The bottom 6 are supposed to wear down the defense and make it easier on the skilled guys instead of having the skilled guys do everything. The role players also gotta kill the penalties to save the skilled guys energy.

We've had old washed up Maltby and Draper, Hudler,and Miller as our bottom line players the last few years. These guys aren't going to wear down anything they just eat up minutes basically. Throw someone whose 6'4 with a mean streak out there on the bottom lines like Brad Winchester and those lines would be much more effective.

Eaves is a fast, solid hitter who will actually scrum it up and fight a bit so keep him but get rid of Miller

Jason Chimera plays his heart out,game in and game out.Winchester would be a legit addition too.He can do it all.Chris Thorburn would be a good pick up as well.

Does it worry anybody else that our team is going to look very similar next year, but a year older and a little smaller? I'm really not a guy that complains much about the need for a physical presence, and I generally don't rally to sign fighters, but it does sort of worry me. Ericsson and Lilja aren't really what I would consider a physical presence, and while Helm and Abdelkader are good for a few hits every game, neither really makes an opponent think twice about taking a cheap shot (say, for example, trying to take out Flip's knee, or giving a concussion-prone Franzen a headshot).

We currently have 7 forwards signed for next year: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Cleary, Hudler, and Draper. That, in itself, is a pretty solid top six with Draper as a likely 13th forward. However, I think it's likely that at least one of (and, IMO, probably both) Bertuzzi and Holmstrom will resign for next year. That takes us to 9 forwards. Add in the obvious: resign Helm and Abdelkader, and we're already at 11 forwards. We now have one spot left, and still have Eaves, Miller, and Ritola to think about before looking beyond the Red Wings organization.

Do we even have space for a physical presence? And is the lineup really going to change except for the addition of Hudler, the possibility of no Lidstrom, and a team that is one year older?

This team is way way too soft.I hear ya.The west does nothing but get bigger and tougher every year and were getting smaller.

[Grim 5]

I don't feel the Wings need huge sweeping changes... however I do believe they'll accomplish more of what they need via trades rather than FA.

[Zenith 2]

I may sound a bit off but I hope Lidstrom does not come back for the next season. He may be a good piece and still play good but now we need the time to develop young talent. Lidstrom's contract can bring up some new blood like Volchenkov and some other prospects on our D line.

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Helm, Abdelkader, Cleary are the guys I guarantee to be Wings next season for sure. At the same time, I want Bert and one of Eaves and Miller being gone because we actually need to have some physical players who can also score some goals. The Wings have been rooting for the experience but now is time to say good bye to experience and develop young talents for the bright future.

This off-season must do something with clearing the old players and get young players.

[Guest mjtm77]

Bert played well but the question is should he be back

[pitchfork 0]

Bert and Willie out, Miller in.

Bert is as slow as Lilja is. His powerdribbling gave nothing, in 99% it ended with a turnover.

I'd like to get out from Holmstrom too. This guy is valuable only in one spot, at the net, and that value can give something only in PP. Would like to see Frolov in team. Hope that Kindl can step up.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I may sound a bit off but I hope Lidstrom does not come back for the next season. He may be a good piece and still play good but now we need the time to develop young talent. Lidstrom's contract can bring up some new blood like Volchenkov and some other prospects on our D line.

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula, Helm, Abdelkader, Cleary are the guys I guarantee to be Wings next season for sure. At the same time, I want Bert and one of Eaves and Miller being gone because we actually need to have some physical players who can also score some goals. The Wings have been rooting for the experience but now is time to say good bye to experience and develop young talents for the bright future.

This off-season must do something with clearing the old players and get young players.

I'm also leaning torwards letting Bert walk.He,as well as Draper and Maltby,are getting old.I wouldn't mind keeping Eaves,but i think we should let Miller walk.Decent player,but not the banger i want for our bottom six.I'm thinking more along the lines of Brian Sutherby,Jason Chimera,Shawn Thornton,etc. for the bottom six.I'm thinking Draper,if he doesn't retire,will be a healthy scratch and fill in as injuries come and go next year.I really don't want Hudler here next year,but it seems guaranteed now.I think our defense needs to get a little bigger.Let Lebda,Meech,and Lilja walk.Sign a guy like Sheldon Brookbank,Steve Staios,or Shane Hnidy to take the 6th spot.If Lidstrom retires,I'd like Ian White.He's a solid,durable d-man.

[Guest Heaten]

I would take Bertuzzi back in a heartbeat for $1.5 million. He creates space and can be a force when he's 'on'. Granted he is a streaky player, but that's what you get for $1.5 million. Who else could Holland get for the price that can put up 40-45 points?