68 replies to this topic

[king_malice]

also, to think that lids would make less than rafalski is kinda funny

The funny thing is that both Stuart and Rafalski are overpaid!

[LeftWinger]

Marleau? Jesus H Christ. Marleau is a perenial playoff choker. He had 1 decent playoff and it was only 2 rounds. His team got swept in the 3rd round. 1 decent playoff does not make up for 5 or 6 terrible ones. Remeber that Hossa guy? 2 goals in 16 games this year...

Marleau makes 6.3 Million now... keep dreaming...

I say steal Andrew Ladd out of Chicago and/or Hjalmarsson. Sign Willie Mitchell,maybe throw some cash at Owen Nolan to try to bring in that "win it for the veteren" attitude. Lombardi, Torres, maybe Craig Conroy he's another one of the veteran players who are yearning for the Cup. One of my favs from last off season Malhotra could be a cheap veteran signing. I believe any of these guys could change the makeup a little of this team and maybe give them a little bit of an edge in the playoffs... Of course you'd have to be careful how much cash you throw at the RFA's. Let's say they sign one forward and one defenseman, definately go for Mitchell and then any of the UFA's I listed would be super on a third or fourth line. Cheap too!

[Swayze]

I don't think the issue is that Marleau is a playoff choker, I think that it's that someone thinks he'll get paid under 5 million next year. He just put up his 2nd best season AND did good in the playoffs (the only one scoring versus Chicago). This guy will get at least $6 million again.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Marleau makes 6.3 Million now... keep dreaming...

I say steal Andrew Ladd out of Chicago and/or Hjalmarsson. Sign Willie Mitchell,maybe throw some cash at Owen Nolan to try to bring in that "win it for the veteren" attitude. Lombardi, Torres, maybe Craig Conroy he's another one of the veteran players who are yearning for the Cup. One of my favs from last off season Malhotra could be a cheap veteran signing. I believe any of these guys could change the makeup a little of this team and maybe give them a little bit of an edge in the playoffs... Of course you'd have to be careful how much cash you throw at the RFA's. Let's say they sign one forward and one defenseman, definately go for Mitchell and then any of the UFA's I listed would be super on a third or fourth line. Cheap too!

I like the idea of Owen Nolan on the 3rd line.Bertuzzi isn't a 3d line player imo and with Cleary or Hudler probably alternating 2nd/3rd line spots,it looks like Bert would be on the 3rd line.Imo he's nowhere near gritty enough and Nolan would be awesome.I think Sheldon Brookbank would be a good cheap option for Ericssons partner.He hits,fights,blocks shots,plays well defensively,and I can't imagine he would cost more than 1 million.He's my first choice.

[LeftWinger]

I like the idea of Owen Nolan on the 3rd line.Bertuzzi isn't a 3d line player imo and with Cleary or Hudler probably alternating 2nd/3rd line spots,it looks like Bert would be on the 3rd line.Imo he's nowhere near gritty enough and Nolan would be awesome.I think Sheldon Brookbank would be a good cheap option for Ericssons partner.He hits,fights,blocks shots,plays well defensively,and I can't imagine he would cost more than 1 million.He's my first choice.

Ya, Mitchell would a *** bit expensive considering he made $3.5 last season. Derek Morris is another option, but he made $3.3. I agree that they will prolly (if not re-sign Lilja) go for a $1M to $1.5M defender to play on the third pairing, not unless they are going to give the jobs to Kindl and Smith...

[Z and D for the C]

Marleau? Jesus H Christ. Marleau is a perenial playoff choker. He had 1 decent playoff and it was only 2 rounds. His team got swept in the 3rd round. 1 decent playoff does not make up for 5 or 6 terrible ones. Remeber that Hossa guy? 2 goals in 16 games this year...

Marleau had 8 goals in 13 playoffs games this year. Thanks for playing.

Thornton is the choker, not Marleau.

I don't think the issue is that Marleau is a playoff choker, I think that it's that someone thinks he'll get paid under 5 million next year. He just put up his 2nd best season AND did good in the playoffs (the only one scoring versus Chicago). This guy will get at least $6 million again.

I'd give him up to 5.5 million.

[Konnan511]

The cap keep rising. The league keeps making record profits. Television ratings are soaring. ESPN is chomping at the bit to get a TV deal with the NHL. The warm weather teams are competitive. Talks of relocating teams to Canada and hockey thriving areas are red hot. And he still gets called Buttman... If you think Bettman is bad for hockey, take a management class. Bring on the hate lol.

PS Great good America and Canada to raise those TV ratings! More viewers = more sponsers = more revenue!!! Can't wait for ESPN to get on board!

The funny thing is that both Stuart and Rafalski are overpaid!

Stuart was overpaid the day we re-signed him, Rafalski was a great steal when we signed him. Big difference.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros]

Ya, Mitchell would a *** bit expensive considering he made $3.5 last season. Derek Morris is another option, but he made $3.3. I agree that they will prolly (if not re-sign Lilja) go for a $1M to $1.5M defender to play on the third pairing, not unless they are going to give the jobs to Kindl and Smith...

Agreed.I think Lilja is a totally different ever since the concussion.Brookbank will sign for about half Lilja's contract.Morris,imo,isn't what were looking for in a 3rd defensive pairing.Shane O'Brien seems like a good option as well as Brookbank.

[Buppy]

FORWARDS
Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / * Tomas Holmstrom ($2.250m)
Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Johan Franzen ($3.955m)
Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / * Darren Helm ($1.000m) / * Patrick Eaves ($0.800m)
* Adam Burish ($1.000m) / * Justin Abdelkader ($1.000m) / * Eric Nystrom ($1.000m)
Kris Draper ($1.583m) / Mattias Ritola ($0.517m)
DEFENSEMEN
* Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.000m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)
Brad Stuart ($3.750m) / Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m)
* Andreas Lilja ($1.250m) / Jonathan Ericsson ($0.900m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)
GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($0.717m) / Chris Osgood ($1.417m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS
(these totals are compiled using the bonus cushion)
ROSTER SIZE: 23; PAYROLL: $58.480m; CAP ROOM: $0.320m BONUSES: $0.000m

Such a bad year for FA defensemen, all the decent ones will get overpayed. But we could definitely make our 4th line tougher to play against if the cap does go up that much.

[F.Michael]

because it would be an insult to offer him $4M/yr. when stuart makes just under 4. a 'hometown discount' for lidstrom would be $6M, maybe 5.5

Really?...$4 million for 1 more season is an insult?...I beg to differ.

I doubt Holland offers him anything but a blank check. Lids will determine what he makes.

I hope not...Lidstrom isn't playing the same way he was 3 to 4 years ago; age is apparently catching up with him...Me thinks $4 to $5 million is pretty fair for 1 last year.

The cap keep rising. The league keeps making record profits. Television ratings are soaring. ESPN is chomping at the bit to get a TV deal with the NHL. The warm weather teams are competitive. Talks of relocating teams to Canada and hockey thriving areas are red hot. And he still gets called Buttman... If you think Bettman is bad for hockey, take a management class. Bring on the hate lol.

PS Great good America and Canada to raise those TV ratings! More viewers = more sponsers = more revenue!!! Can't wait for ESPN to get on board!


Stuart was overpaid the day we re-signed him, Rafalski was a great steal when we signed him. Big difference.

I haven't heard/read anything about ESPN wanting to get the NHL back in it's stable...I'm fine with VS/NBC combo; it's not ideal, but at least they give the NHL it's due respect unlike ESPN.

As for Stuart - how much exactly do we pay a #3/#4 Dman who's been arguably 1 of our most consistent defensively these past few seasons?...To me $3.75 million is pretty reasonable for both the team, and the player.

[uk_redwing]

Wth this cap increase, we can definately sign Aaron Asham

[titanium2]

I hope not...Lidstrom isn't playing the same way he was 3 to 4 years ago; age is apparently catching up with him...Me thinks $4 to $5 million is pretty fair for 1 last year.

All true.

It's just that Nick would still be the best defenseman on the team if not the best player.

When Stevie took his paycuts during the dying years of his career he was nowhere near being the best forward.

[king_malice]

All true.

It's just that Nick would still be the best defenseman on the team if not the best player.

When Stevie took his paycuts during the dying years of his career he was nowhere near being the best forward.

I agree that Stevie wasnt the best but still one of the best, but hopefully Lids has the quality in him like Stevie had which was to take that pay cut at the chance to win another Cup, and Lids must know signing a 1yr-6mill contract with pretty much that same roster isnt going to get him that ring.

[eva unit zero]

All true.

It's just that Nick would still be the best defenseman on the team if not the best player.

When Stevie took his paycuts during the dying years of his career he was nowhere near being the best forward.

Yzerman was still one of the Wings' 3 or 4 best forwards his last couple seasons. Taking a big pay cut is not a requirement, but it sure as hell helps the team win. Yzerman was willing to cut his salary big time in the summer of 2001, even though he was a point-per-game Selke candidate who had been named a first-team all-star only a year prior having just put out a comparable performance that year.

Yzerman scored 52 points in 52 games in 2000-01 and despite mising 30 games still finished 5th in Selke voting; which is remarkable because playes who miss large chunks of games typically don't get votes for awards. Had he played the full season, he would likely have won the Selke for the second year in a row, and would likely have taken all-star team votes from the centers who didn't get named to the all-star team, including such players as Sykora, Fedorov, Primeau, and Straka (who played left wing for Robert Lang and Alexei Kovalev that season, but that's for another episode.) While less likely, he might have taken all-star votes from Art Ross winner Joe Sakic, who was among the Selke leaders as well, or Mario Lemieux, who scored 76 points in 43 games and was named to the second team by a fairly hefty margin. Assuming Yzerman didn't take any votes from Sakic or Lemieux, he would have had to collect at least 26 of the remaining 31 second place votes awarded to everyone else. So while he probably doesn't make the all-star team that year, he still gets recognition as having had a damn good season.

The next season he posted similar offensive numbers, but was not given the same grace in Selke voting. He would have been among the top centers in scoring and would likely have been among the top Selke vote getters as well. He would have been only a mere 4 points behind the top center in points, Mats Sundin, giving him an excellent shot at a first or second team selection that season as well.

2002-03 was where it really went downhill. Yzerman underwent reconstructive surgery for his knee, having injured it repeatedly throughout his career, and it being the reason he was often missing chunks of games in recent seasons. Yzerman missed the first 66 games of the season, scoring 8 points over the final 16. During the playoffs, Yzerman was struck in the face by a deflected Mathieu Schneider slapshot, breaking his orbital bone and scratching his cornea. He would miss the rest of the playoffs and the World Cup, and would not return to playing until the 2005-06 season. He scored 34 points in 61 games, despite playing limited minutes and serving primarily as a defensive specialist.

So Yzerman could, aside from his injuries, be considered one of the league's top centermen every year due to the fact he was among the scoring leaders for centers (injury aside) as well as a consistent contender for the Selke award from 1995-96 through 2001-02.

And before that, Yzerman was one of the League's elite offensive talents and a solid defensive player.

Lidstrom is one of the League's elite defensemen, and like Yzerman he will likely take a noticeable discount to ensure that his team has the best chance to win. How much of a discount? Who knows. Hopefully he takes under $3m. That would be wonderful. Trade Ericsson or Kindl for Kaberle and Toronto's 2011 1st or 2nd pick? Why not. Think of a defense like this: Lidstrom-Rafalski, Kronwall-Stuart, Kaberle-Ericsson/Kindl/Meech... pretty nice if you ask me. Kaberle definitely fills that slot on the second PP unit pretty well, who CARES if he shoots lefty.

[Drake_Marcus]

This would be awesome. If it does we could potentially have 10 million to play with for the off season, depending on how much Lidstrom takes. PLEASE Holland bring in (a) new top 6 player(s).

Franzen (3.954) - Datsyuk (6.700m) - Marleau (4.750m)
Filppula (3.000m) - Zetterberg (6.083m) - Plekanec (3.500m)
Hudler (2.875m) - Helm (.900m) - Cleary (2.800m)
Abdelkader (.850m) - UFA (~1.50m) - Eaves (.850m)
Draper (1.583m)

Lidstrom (3.954m) - Rafalski (6.00m)
Stuart (3.750m) - Kronwall (3.000m)
Ericsson (.900m) - UFA (~1.50m)

Forwards: 39.345m
Defense: 19.104m
Total: 58.449m
Cap: 58.800m
Space: 0.351m


Cup please.


Edit: Oh, I forgot goalies.

Marleau and Plecky would laugh at those offers. And Lidstrom isn't going to take cut down to sub 4 million dollars.

[titanium2]

If he comes back, I just can't really see Lidstrom getting paid less than Rafalski.

I just have this perception that because of politics or whatever that it's simply "wrong" for a guy like Lidstrom to not be the highest paid player at least in his position.

[jeff48109]

Wth this cap increase, we can definately sign Aaron Asham

man crush eh? i do get to watch quite a few Flyers games, i certainly wouldn't mind seeing him with the wings.

If he comes back, I just can't really see Lidstrom getting paid less than Rafalski.

neither do I. aint going to happen

[Buppy]

Yzerman was still one of the Wings' 3 or 4 best forwards his last couple seasons. Taking a big pay cut is not a requirement, but it sure as hell helps the team win. Yzerman was willing to cut his salary big time in the summer of 2001, even though he was a point-per-game Selke candidate who had been named a first-team all-star only a year prior having just put out a comparable performance that year.

Yzerman scored 52 points in 52 games in 2000-01 and despite mising 30 games still finished 5th in Selke voting; which is remarkable because playes who miss large chunks of games typically don't get votes for awards. Had he played the full season, he would likely have won the Selke for the second year in a row, and would likely have taken all-star team votes from the centers who didn't get named to the all-star team, including such players as Sykora, Fedorov, Primeau, and Straka (who played left wing for Robert Lang and Alexei Kovalev that season, but that's for another episode.) While less likely, he might have taken all-star votes from Art Ross winner Joe Sakic, who was among the Selke leaders as well, or Mario Lemieux, who scored 76 points in 43 games and was named to the second team by a fairly hefty margin. Assuming Yzerman didn't take any votes from Sakic or Lemieux, he would have had to collect at least 26 of the remaining 31 second place votes awarded to everyone else. So while he probably doesn't make the all-star team that year, he still gets recognition as having had a damn good season.

The next season he posted similar offensive numbers, but was not given the same grace in Selke voting. He would have been among the top centers in scoring and would likely have been among the top Selke vote getters as well. He would have been only a mere 4 points behind the top center in points, Mats Sundin, giving him an excellent shot at a first or second team selection that season as well.

2002-03 was where it really went downhill. Yzerman underwent reconstructive surgery for his knee, having injured it repeatedly throughout his career, and it being the reason he was often missing chunks of games in recent seasons. Yzerman missed the first 66 games of the season, scoring 8 points over the final 16. During the playoffs, Yzerman was struck in the face by a deflected Mathieu Schneider slapshot, breaking his orbital bone and scratching his cornea. He would miss the rest of the playoffs and the World Cup, and would not return to playing until the 2005-06 season. He scored 34 points in 61 games, despite playing limited minutes and serving primarily as a defensive specialist.

So Yzerman could, aside from his injuries, be considered one of the league's top centermen every year due to the fact he was among the scoring leaders for centers (injury aside) as well as a consistent contender for the Selke award from 1995-96 through 2001-02.

And before that, Yzerman was one of the League's elite offensive talents and a solid defensive player.

Lidstrom is one of the League's elite defensemen, and like Yzerman he will likely take a noticeable discount to ensure that his team has the best chance to win. How much of a discount? Who knows. Hopefully he takes under $3m. That would be wonderful. Trade Ericsson or Kindl for Kaberle and Toronto's 2011 1st or 2nd pick? Why not. Think of a defense like this: Lidstrom-Rafalski, Kronwall-Stuart, Kaberle-Ericsson/Kindl/Meech... pretty nice if you ask me. Kaberle definitely fills that slot on the second PP unit pretty well, who CARES if he shoots lefty.

Don't mean to 'piss in your Chelios' regarding Yzerman, but he didn't take his big paycut until after the lockout. Of course, pre-lockout his salary didn't matter (to anyone besides Ilitch I suppose) so it's not really the same situation anyway.

I really wouldn't be surprised if Nick did take something ridiculously low, like 3 or 2 even, but I wouldn't be surprised if he gets 6.7 or more either. Holland will let Nick know our cap situation, what kind of options we'll have depending on what Nick takes, then let Nick decide what he wants.

[Berry]

FORWARDS
Pavel Datsyuk — $6,700,000
Henrik Zetterberg $6,083,333
Johan Franzen — $3,954,545
Valtteri Filppula $3,000,000
Jiri Hudler — $2,875,000
Daniel Cleary — $2,800,000
* Tomas Holmstrom $2,250,000
Kris Draper — $1,583,333
* Todd Bertuzzi $1,500,000
* Darren Helm — $1,000,000
* Patrick Eaves $900,000
* Justin Abdelkader $850,000
Mattias Ritola — $516,667

DEFENSEMEN
Brian Rafalski — $6,000,000
* Nicklas Lidstrom $5,500,000
Brad Stuart — $3,750,000
Niklas Kronwall $3,000,000
Jonathan Ericsson $900,000
Jakub Kindl $883,333

GOALTENDERS
Chris Osgood $1,416,667
Jimmy Howard $716,667

ROSTER SIZE 21
SALARY CAP $58,800,000
PAYROLL $56,179,545
BONUSES $0
CAP SPACE $2,620,455

If Holland trades Drapes to Tampa and lets Berts walk, he would have about 5.6 M cap space! What do you propose? Thomas Plecanek and??