Andreas Lilja?

[diehardredwing19 11]

hey guys just wondering what you guys think on andreas lilja... would u want him back or no? me personally id love to keep him. he knows our system n is solid on the 3rd pairing n has won the cup with us. i would hate to see him leave or not be signed daym i love that guy!

[Guest mindfly]

Time for the young guns in GR to take his place instead

[Reds4Life 51]

Depends on salary, 1 million would be great.

[wingnut40 176]

I hope they keep him, but not for much more than what he's getting. He's a good mentor to Ericsson, he's still a beast on the PK, and he's not so much of a liability with the puck.

[Motown4013 350]

I think Lils has actually gotten better. For his salary, Id like to keep him. Lebda is gone so one of the young guys will get a shot.

[king_malice 17]

I like the 3rd paring to be Kindl-Ericcson, but i would also like having Lilja there as the 7th D just incase something goes wrong.

[redwingfan19 293]

lilja is not the same, he hardly ever plays physical and he wasn't effective blocking shots and on the PK. Time for a young guy to take his place, that or sign a tough stay at home d man for the 6th-7th spot

[VM1138 1,921]

Kindl-Ericsson will make a whole team of Lebda's look good.

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Stuart-Kronwall

Ericsson-Lilja

Kindl

That's how it's going to be.

[WorkingOvertime 536]

While I like Lilja (and don't want to see him on another team), I'm not sure he fits the team on a long term basis (after Smith, E, and Kindle are regulars). I've read that he wants to return to Sweden in a few years, so maybe he can do that sooner than planned. With that said, if he signs for a low salary, I would like to have him as the 6th/7th dman next year. Janik can also fill that spot in my mind.

[wings1110 184]

no thanks since he lost one of his best features, being able to fight

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I love Lilja, but no, time to get someone who can actually do his job. He doesnt clear the crease, hit, fight or shotblock like he used too. There are better options out there.

[MCleveland89 122]

It's funny how fast people changed. At the start of the season, everyone couldn't wait for him to come back, if ever. The guy didn't play hockey for a year and now all of a sudden everyone expects him to be the greatest thing ever. That just doesn't happen. Give the guy a break.

[redwingfan19 293]

It's funny how fast people changed. At the start of the season, everyone couldn't wait for him to come back, if ever. The guy didn't play hockey for a year and now all of a sudden everyone expects him to be the greatest thing ever. That just doesn't happen. Give the guy a break.

I love Lilja, but no, time to get someone who can actually do his job. He doesnt clear the crease, hit, fight or shotblock like he used too. There are better options out there.

We dont expect him to the greatest thing ever, but he is not the same player, time to get someone new to do his job i think

[WorkingOvertime 536]

It's funny how fast people changed. At the start of the season, everyone couldn't wait for him to come back, if ever. The guy didn't play hockey for a year and now all of a sudden everyone expects him to be the greatest thing ever. That just doesn't happen. Give the guy a break.

I think everybody wanted the old Lilja. The Lilja who fought, hit, blocked shots, etc. After his concussion he is unable (from what I've read) to fight, and this seems to have changed his game a bit, understandably.

[edicius 3,269]

lilja is not the same, he hardly ever plays physical and he wasn't effective blocking shots and on the PK. Time for a young guy to take his place, that or sign a tough stay at home d man for the 6th-7th spot

We must have been watching different games, because he was one of the most effective shot blockers on the team.

[redwingfan19 293]

We must have been watching different games, because he was one of the most effective shot blockers on the team.

lidstrom, rafalski, kronwall, and stuart all had more blocked shots than lilja. He was anything but effective in that category.

[Shady Ultima 40]

I like the 3rd paring to be Kindl-Ericcson, but i would also like having Lilja there as the 7th D just incase something goes wrong.

Kindl - Ericcson is a terrible pairing. Neither one are very strong in the defense category. Kindl makes Lebda look like Lidstrom.

I think if we let Lilja go, bring up Janik. He was a perfect piece when everyone was out, and we can sign him for next to nothing to be our 6th, and have Kindl be the 7th.

[Buppy 1,720]

lidstrom, rafalski, kronwall, and stuart all had more blocked shots than lilja. He was anything but effective in that category.

He also played less than half the minutes. He was effective. He was also second in hits for defenseman. He was solid on the PK as well.

I would definitely rather have him than Meech. But he is about to turn 35, and the concussion thing is always going to be a question mark I think. So I'd love to see us find an upgrade for him.

Cap space probably won't be there, and it's not a good year for FA defensemen (at least not under 35), but there's a few I'd like that could feasibly be affordable if Nick comes back at a good price. Michalek, Hamhuis, Leopold, Seidenberg, maybe Exelby. Michalek is the only one that really stands out to me (assuming Volchenkov is out of reach).

Ericsson and Kindl seem to be a given for two of the bottom 3. For the third I'd say FA > Lilja > Janik > Meech.

[under_par_00 45]

Michalek or Volchenkov would be great for this team, but I think both are too expensive, and will draw considerable interest from many teams. Michalek would be an awesome fit for this team, a little bit of skill, little mean streak, and tons of defensive awareness. One of the best shot blockers in the league.

I think Lilja will resign for the same money as his previous contract. That way we have one shut down guy to play with Ericsson or Kindl. That is a good 3 man rotation for the bottom pairing. Not to mention injuries....

I would love to see Michalek on this team. But he is going to get at least Brad Stuart money (3.75 mil) or more.

[dirtydangles 1,328]

lils deserves a spot well ahead of ericsson. he does everything better than ericsson (other than offense), so he shouldn't lose his spot to ericsson who gives pucks away and doesnt play d. lilja is a safe guy to put on the ice night in and night out. id like to see him back for a little less money.

if lids returns at a hometown discount, id love:

lids - rafi

kronner - stuart

volchenkov or michalek - lilja

Ericsson

That would be an unbelievable defense, not to mention there is no weak links like this year which was ericsson, meech, and lebda on the 3rd pairing. Then we get rid of mccrimmon, and we are solid, no more goals on jimmy.

[GMRwings1983 8,794]

I love Lilja, but no, time to get someone who can actually do his job. He doesnt clear the crease, hit, fight or shotblock like he used too. There are better options out there.

How could you, Brutus?

Keep Lilja and get rid of the crap like Meech and Lebda. If Ericsson sucks again next year, get rid of him too.

[ltgator333 3]

I really think this discussion hinges first and foremost on whether or not Lidstrom is back next season, it's the most important thing that's going to happen one way or another as far as defense personnel so first you have to clear that up.

If Lidstrom doesn't retire, I think Lilja has a lesser chance of returning because of the younger defensemen that are ready to pass or fail the test, and the prospects out there that aren't in the system yet.

If Lidstrom does retire, I think you'd almost have to keep Lilja even if he is the 7th defensemen because he's a known veteran quantity. The only way to not keep him at that point would be to bring in a FA of equal or greater ability than Lilja or gamble with guys who weren't playing regularly last season.

I'd like to see him stay, I would, but if Lids comes back I just don't see Lilja > young guns in the eyes of Holland, and I'm under the impression there's a mini-log-jam at the position below the NHL regular level. Some of that is remedied by certain pint-sized "defensemen" going away, but he's still just one body.

It's going to be interesting at least.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

lils deserves a spot well ahead of ericsson. he does everything better than ericsson (other than offense), so he shouldn't lose his spot to ericsson who gives pucks away and doesnt play d. lilja is a safe guy to put on the ice night in and night out. id like to see him back for a little less money.

if lids returns at a hometown discount, id love:

lids - rafi

kronner - stuart

volchenkov or michalek - lilja

Ericsson

That would be an unbelievable defense, not to mention there is no weak links like this year which was ericsson, meech, and lebda on the 3rd pairing. Then we get rid of mccrimmon, and we are solid, no more goals on jimmy.

While I agree that is a great defense on paper, there is no way Anton Volchenkov should or will sign as a third pairing guy. He's a shutdown, top pairing player, even on a team with strong depth on defense like the Red Wings.

Edited May 17, 2010 by GoWings1905

[newfy 695]

If he comes back really cheap then yes. I just can't see him signing for over a million after he was out for over a year and didn't do anything significant once he came back.

The old Lilja did everything a 3rd pairing defenseman should. He hit, he fought, he cleared the crease and was solid defensively.

The new Lilja doesn't really do any of that, he seems like Bertuzzi in a way. Shells of what they used to be.

I think the 1.25 million could get invested in a real mean number 5 or 6 guy like Matt Carkner. That would be unreal if we could bring him here.

I honestly think Janik for a really cheap salary at this point is just as good as Lilja. While everyone was hurt Janik played great. He just stayed home, hit and had a couple fights and will protect his goalie.

I say we either give Janik a shot at 6 or 7 or try to sign Carkner. Get an old time defenseman that will make people think twice about going anywhere near Jimmy.

[Buppy 1,720]

If he comes back really cheap then yes. I just can't see him signing for over a million after he was out for over a year and didn't do anything significant once he came back.

The old Lilja did everything a 3rd pairing defenseman should. He hit, he fought, he cleared the crease and was solid defensively.

The new Lilja doesn't really do any of that, he seems like Bertuzzi in a way. Shells of what they used to be.

I think the 1.25 million could get invested in a real mean number 5 or 6 guy like Matt Carkner. That would be unreal if we could bring him here.

I honestly think Janik for a really cheap salary at this point is just as good as Lilja. While everyone was hurt Janik played great. He just stayed home, hit and had a couple fights and will protect his goalie.

I say we either give Janik a shot at 6 or 7 or try to sign Carkner. Get an old time defenseman that will make people think twice about going anywhere near Jimmy.

Carkner would have been a decent option, but he's already been signed by Ottawa. This just seems to be a terrible year for defensemen, unless you want someone in their late 30s.

Janik would be better than Meech, but I'd rather have Lilly.