My 2010-11 Detroit Red Wings Roster

[RedWingsFan1003 1]

I'll try to play the role of Ken Holland. Here's the way I'm really hoping to see what Holland does this offseason.

First, the major moves I'm hoping to see.

The Wings need to upgrade their defense core. By that, I'm hoping they go out and sign Dan Hamhuis from Nashville. Hamhuis is a top 4 defenseman. He's 6'1", 203 pounds, and he's 27, and will turn 28 December 13th. His stats over the past five seasons are 25 goals and 110 assists for 135 points. He's also a plus 15 during that time and had 318 PIMs. Over the past five regular seasons, Hamhuis has played in all but seven(403/410) games for the Predators. In 22 playoff games, Hamhuis has one goal and seven assists for eight points. However, he did post a Minus 10 in those games. Just entering his prime, he can play quality minutes that a guy like Andreas Lilja cannot. This also would take pressure off Lidstrom and Rafalski, therefore keeping them healthier. Hamhuis will want a deal in the four year, $13 Million range. That comes out to a $3.25 Million cap hit.

After the defense core is upgraded, I believe the Wings need a 3rd Line forward with speed to compliment Helm. By that, I'm hoping they go out and sign Matthew Lombardi. At 6'0", 198 pounds, and 28 years old, Lombardi is another guy just entering his prime. His stats over the past five seasons are 73 goals and 134 assists for 207 points. He's also a plus 24 and had 243 PIMs. He has played in 365/410 games over the past five regular seasons. In 27 playoff games, Lombardi has two goals and eight assists for 10 points. However, he did post a Minus 5 in those games. But just entering his prime, another speedster to compliment Helm will end up putting immense pressure on opponents' defense, tiring them, and will indirectly score another 20-25 goals during the course of the season. Lombardi could be a $3.0 Million guy. He made $2.35 Million last season, but I think he'd take a deal around five years, $12 Million because he would have a chance to win the cup every year. That would come out to a $2.4 Million cap hit.

I cannot imagine Lidstrom retiring for the simple reason that he has so much left in the tank. So if I'm Holland, I know(or at least am hoping) Lidstrom will play one or two more seasons. Lidstrom is still worth the money he was paid last season ($7.45M). But Lidstrom is one of the classiest guys one will ever meet and he'll take a bit of a pay cut. So what you do is sign Listrom to a five year, $14 Million deal. Listrom would still make $6 Million per season, but he would be only a $2.8 Million cap hit, allowing the Wings to sign guys such as Hamhuis and Lombardi.

I would let Williams and Bertuzzi go. You caught lightning in a bottle with Bertuzzi this season, and Williams wasn't worth a penny of his $1.5 Million deal. Maltby will most likely retire and take a job within the organization, similar to Larry Murphy. And you also have the return of Jiri Hudler.

With that being said, here's how I have next season's roster figured.

#/Player/2010 Salary---Contract---Cap Hit

2/Dan Hamhuis $3,500,000---4 yr, $13M---$3,250,000

5/Nicklas Lidstrom $6,000,000---5 yr, $14M---$2,800,000

8/Justin Abdelkader $750,000---3 yr, $2.7M---$900,000

11/Dan Cleary $3,000,000---3 yr, $9M---$2,800,000

13/Pavel Datsyuk $6,700,000---4 yr, $26.8M---$6,700,000

*14/Derek Meech $500,000---2 yr, $1.2M---$600,000

15/Matthew Lombardi $2,000,000---5 yr, $11.5M---$2,300,000

*17/Patrick Eaves $500,000---2 yr, $1M---$500,000

*20/Drew Miller $500,000---2 yr, $1M---$500,000

23/Brad Stuart $3,750,000---2 yr, $7.5M---$3,750,000

26/Jiri Hudler $2,875,000---2 yr, $5.75M---$2,875,000

28/Brian Rafalski $6,000,000---2 yr, $12M---$6,000,000

30/Chris Osgood $1,100,000---1 yr, $1.1M---$1,416,666

33/Kris Draper $1,250,000---1 yr, $1.25M---$1,583,333

35/Jimmy Howard $800,000---1 yr, $800K---$716,666

40/Henrik Zetterberg $7,750,000---11 yr, $65.6M---$6,083,333

42/Mattias Ritola $500,000---2 yr, $1.1M---$550,000

43/Darren Helm $700,000---5 yr, $8M---$1,600,000

51/Valtteri Filppula $3,500,000---3 yr, $10.5M---$3,000,000

52/Jonathan Ericsson $1,250,000---1 yr, $1.25M---$900,000

55/Niklas Kronwall $3,500,000---2 yr, $7.25M---$3,000,000

93/Johan Franzen $5,000,000---10 yr, $38M---$3,954,545

96/Tomas Holmstrom $1,500,000---1 yr, $1.5M---$1,500,000

Average Age: 29.95 $62,425,000

2010 Salary Cap: $56,900,000

20 Players Signed For: $55,929,543

Remaining Cap Space: $970,457

Bold: Players actually signed.

Italics: Players not signed.

* - two way contract, begin in Grand Rapids, does not count against cap unless on Wings Roster.

Projected Red Wings Lines with new signings:

Line 1: Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula

Line 2: Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Cleary

Line 3: Helm, Hudler, Lombardi

Line 4: Draper, Abdelkader, Ritola

DP 1: Lidstrom & Rafalski

DP 2: Kronwall & Hamhuis

DP 3: Stuart & Ericsson

G: Chris Osgood

G: Jimmy Howard

I would also like to see a possible trade of Cleary to unload his salary. Trade him to an Eastern Conference team for a draft pick. Then the Wings would be able to sign another free agent on July 1, Tomas Plekanec. He'll cost the same as Cleary, but he'll score more and has more years. It's not that I don't like Cleary, but Plekanec is better.

Plekanec is 5'11", 197 pounds, and 27 years old. He is another guy entering his prime while Cleary is five years older. His stats over the past five seasons are 103 goals and 151 assists for 254 points. He was also a plus 25 and had 214 PIMs. He has played in 391/410 games over the past five regular seasons. In 35 playoff games, Plekanec has eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points. However, he did post a minus five in those games.

But another guy entering his prime would give the Wings three guys in their primes added to their roster, one a 1st or 2nd Liner, another a 3rd Liner, and the third a defenseman who will eat up minutes otherwise taken up by Lidstrom and Rafalski, absolutely will be huge for the Wings. Plekanec and Lombardi accounted for 44 goals and 79 assists for 123 points in 2009-10. I guess we'll wait and see what they do.

But here's a dream team that can also be reality.

Line 1: Datsyuk, Franzen, Filppula

Line 2: Zetterberg, Holmstrom, Plekanec

Line 3: Helm, Hudler, Lombardi

Line 4: Draper, Abdelkader, Ritola

DP 1: Lidstrom & Rafalski

DP 2: Kronwall & Hamhuis

DP 3: Stuart & Ericsson

G: Chris Osgood

G: Jimmy Howard

[Jedi 1,865]

Your original post was merged here, as we already have a discussion thread for this kind of topic going on.

http://www.letsgowings.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=65117&view=findpost&p=1984030

Thanks!