possible 4th line grinder signings?

[Guest blueadams]

I think Modin would be perfect...if he's willing to take a bit of a discount

Filppula-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Hudler-Zetterberg-Franzen

Modin-Helm-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Abdelkader-Eaves/Miller

Draper

[uk_redwing 495]

There was already a thread on this not long ago.

You say Modin as a 4th line grinder, then put him on your 3rd line? You have an obsession with lines. The answer to Modin is NO. Mlive says Holland said 4th line grinder or enforcer. Think more in terms of guys like Asham, Shelley, Barch and the likes.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Modin is not a 4th line grinder.

Plus, he's declined as a player and I don't see how he'd fit in on the 4th line.

[newfy 695]

If he could hit, fight or be physical whatsoever then maybe. But the guy you said is Modin, so no

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

I can't believe people have such a hard time understanding what a 4th line grinder is.

Has it been that long since we last had one?

[newfy 695]

I can't believe people have such a hard time understanding what a 4th line grinder is.

Has it been that long since we last had one?

Well its been since 2008 I guess when we had Drake, but he was invisible most of the season except for a few fights.

Next year we'll either sign a more Drake type guy like Nystrom, Burish or Winchester

or more of an enforcer type like Konopka, Jackman or Barch

Those guys are grinder tough guy types, not Freddy fricken Modin.

[Guest blueadams]

I was just using the term "4th line grinder" in reference to what we know will be our last forward signing. Obviously, I see him being more of a 3rd line player if we sign him.

I think he'd give us some size. Some scoring on the third line. He'd probably fit in well as a Swede.

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

Well its been since 2008 I guess when we had Drake, but he was invisible most of the season except for a few fights.

Next year we'll either sign a more Drake type guy like Nystrom, Burish or Winchester

or more of an enforcer type like Konopka, Jackman or Barch

Those guys are grinder tough guy types, not Freddy fricken Modin.

We had May last year.

He was a 4th line grinder.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Good lord, blueadams is trying to turn as into raging alcoholics with all these line combo threads!

[Booster313 138]

Can I throw this one out there? How about Georges Laraque? sp?! I know he is being bought out by the Canadians he is in Haiti now... I am not sure the reason. He might be a cheap enforcer option that can chip in with some O from time to time. I have always thought he fits the Red Wings idea of an enforcer.

[LeftWinger 5,152]

Here's the issue, With Hudler coming back, Holmstrom & Bertuzzi being re-signed and all RFA's being given qualifying offers, there just isn't any room on the forwards roster for anyone else. Lets say, Helm and Abby are guarantee's (which they are) and both Miller AND Eaves re-sign, throw Ritola in there and that is 14 forwards. Someone at work today mentioned that Abby MIGHT have another year of GRR option, but I am not sure, but even still that is a full forward roster. We'd have to bet on one or both of Eaves and Miller to not accept their offers and then we'd be able to get another forward. To me, it looks like this is going to be the same Wings forwards plus Hudler, minus Maltby (although I saw a thread on here that Holland might offer Malts a contract? For what, to carry the puck bags around?) Anyhow, if everyone re-signs up front, that'll probably leave around $1.2M for a 6th defenseman (whether it be Lilja or not) then that leaves NOTHING for injury call-ups or trade deadline acquisitions...

Same team, plus Hudler. I will give Hudler his 25-30 goals, but I am not so sure that he will be the missing piece to get us back the the Finals. I know Holland is going to let Lidstrom play as long as he wants to, but unfortunately we have too much money wrapped up in only a few people. Rafalski being another. Guess we will see what the off season of 2011 brings us for change, because it looks like there won't be much if any changes in 2010...

[newfy 695]

Can I throw this one out there? How about Georges Laraque? sp?! I know he is being bought out by the Canadians he is in Haiti now... I am not sure the reason. He might be a cheap enforcer option that can chip in with some O from time to time. I have always thought he fits the Red Wings idea of an enforcer.

Laraque refused to fight guys smaller then him when Montreal said he needs ts tart policing more. He's a guy who just fights off faceoffs against other goons in meaningless fights. We need a guy who will fight anyone that throws a cheapshot not someone like Laraque who will only fight other goons off a faceoff.

If laraque qould fight smaller guys and just people who deserve it then he would be perfect.

[DMAC 25 18]

We had May last year.

He was a 4th line grinder.

for about 10 games last year, we need to find someone who can still get a goal once in a great while but will drop the gloves. in my opinion i think bert should drop them

[WorkingOvertime 536]

We need someone who is always willing to drop the gloves to police the game for us- not Modin. IMO the players needs to be tougher than Drake. Personally, I think Abby fits the Drake mold very well at this time in his career and someone tougher would be great to compliment him.

[InKennyWeTrust 126]

Can I throw this one out there? How about Georges Laraque? sp?! I know he is being bought out by the Canadians he is in Haiti now... I am not sure the reason. He might be a cheap enforcer option that can chip in with some O from time to time. I have always thought he fits the Red Wings idea of an enforcer.

I was debating whether or not to crack open a bottle tonight. Off to the fridge!

[newfy 695]

We need someone who is always willing to drop the gloves to police the game for us- not Modin. IMO the players needs to be tougher than Drake. Personally, I think Abby fits the Drake mold very well at this time in his career and someone tougher would be great to compliment him.

Yeah a guy like Konopka for a 600k salary maybe. In 08 we were respectably tough and never really got pushed around with Downey and Drake. With Abby and someone like Konopka we would have a respectable 2 guys to stick up for the team again.

Plus if Ericcson would man up more this year our team wouldn't be ran at at all.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I'd take any of the following:

Jared Boll

Zenon Konopka

Brad Winchester

Eric Nystrom

Adam Burish

Derek Boogaard

Eric Boulton

Ben Eager

Tim Jackman

Nick Tarnasky

Brandon Prust

Tanner Glass

I don't want Laraque.Lamest excuse for an enforcer in the league.

[Buppy 1,720]

With a $2 mil cap increase, we have about $4.6 million left to sign Helm, Abby, a 13th forward, a 7th defenseman, and possibly a 23rd player. Also seems that neither Kindl nor Ritola have secure spots, so that's another $1.4 that may be available with two more spots open.

Helm and Abby are a given, and I can't see them costing much under $2 million.

Let's be generous and say 1.85, and take Kindl and Ritola out for now, leaving ~$4.15M left.

Looking at the defense, we have the following options for the last two spots:

Kindl $883,333

Janik $512,500

Meech RFA, est. $500-550K

Lilja UFA, est. $1-1.5M

Or some other UFA, at probably no more than $1.5M

So we're looking at anywhere from ~$1-2.4M. I would lean strongly towards keeping Kindl, and getting either Lilja or someone similar. So that would put us at the low end of that scale. But again being generous, let's say we're left with $2.2 for two forwards, and possibly a 23rd player. I wouldn't want to lose Ritola either, before we see what he can do. So that puts us down to $1.7. I'd really want to see Eaves back, and that probably pushes us under $1M left, with 1 open spot on the roster. I think we really need to keep something in reserve, even if just a few hundred thousand.

If we bring in someone else, it almost has to be in place of Eaves or Ritola, or, if we get good deals for everyone else, some goon playing for minimum wage. In other words, nothing worth getting excited about. I guess I'd be ok with Nystrom in place of Eaves if he came for a similar price, but I'd prefer Eaves. Other than that, I'd just hope we can at least save something for the deadline.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

I like drinking games and all but FFS!!!!