Holland talks about what he is looking for in free agency

[CenterIce 83]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/07/red_wings_waiting_for_second_w.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+mlive_sports+%28MLive.com+Sports%29&utm_content=Twitter

[Broken 16 381]

The Dallas Morning News reports that former Stars center Mike Modano, who is acting as his own agent, has spoken to the Red Wings. The 40-year-old Westland native might want to finish his career in Detroit, but would have to accept a bargain price, likely less than $1 million.

Cool. Hope it works out.

[blgillett 48]

Thanks!! Nothing new he has stuck with the same story over the last few weeks. That's what happens though when your up against the cap like we are! Everyone has big expects for the wings to make a big splash this off season but we can't ant don't really need to we are going to be a better team this year then last ( that is if we stay healthy ).

[WingsallTheway 383]

Holland has talked to the agents for Kirk Maltby, Andreas Lilja and Brett Lebda.

“I told them it’s in their best interest and our best interest if they explore the market,’’ Holland said. “We can have a conversation next week if they’re still out there. That doesn’t mean we’ll sign them.’’

Glad to see maltby and lebda won't be coming back, but i'll be kind of dissapointed to see lilja go.

[13dangledangle 968]

You know what, I've never, and I mean never ever been a Modano fan. However he's the kind of player that could put us in that "wow" class when ALL of our guys are healthy. A line of Franzen-Modano-Bertuzzi would be one BIG line!

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

The quotes about Maltby should ease some people's fears a bit.

Holland has spoken to the agent for Kirk Maltby.

"He's going to shop the market until early next week,'' Holland said. "If something doesn't come of it, we'll talk.

"I'm open to bringing him back. They also understand there's (Patrick) Eaves and (Drew) Miller and (Darren) Helm and (Justin) Abdelkader and (Mattias) Ritola and (Kris) Draper. If (Maltby) does come back, he's competing for a spot.''

If Maltby comes back, it might be on a two-way contract.

[55fan 5,133]

Why the veteran goalie? I had thought that Larsson was coming along well enough that he could do in a pinch. Am I missing something?

[redwingfan19 293]

Why the veteran goalie? I had thought that Larsson was coming along well enough that he could do in a pinch. Am I missing something?

larssson is going back to sweden..

[Majsheppard 203]

The quotes about Maltby should ease some people's fears a bit.

Yeah, I would gladly give Maltby a two-way deal. I find it odd that we might do to Maltby what Dallas did to Modano, in order to get Modano... Yeah Matls and Mike are two different animals, but he was a big part of alot of great squads for us. He has the right to come and compete for a job IMO.

larssson is going back to sweden..

This is a big mistake for him, I think he would have gotten Osgood's job this year if he came back. Babs straight up hates Chris, I bet he would have gone through waivers and would have been Thomas' backup in GR or retired.

[djdan 2]

veteran two way goaltender ...

1-yann danis

2-dany sabourin

3-joey macdonald

[redwingfan19 293]

Yeah, I would gladly give Maltby a two-way deal. I find it odd that we might do to Maltby what Dallas did to Modano, in order to get Modano... Yeah Matls and Mike are two different animals, but he was a big part of alot of great squads for us. He has the right to come and compete for a job IMO.

This is a big mistake for him, I think he would have gotten Osgood's job this year if he came back. Babs straight up hates Chris, I bet he would have gone through waivers and would have been Thomas' backup in GR or retired.

I think its a matter of him seeing the writing on the wall. He wants to play, can't blame him. But with the emergence of jimmy and mccolum in the mix he simply wasn't going to get any playing time with detroit. Maybe he was homesick or something, or maybe he just doesn't care and will be happy to play his career in europe. If he really wanted to play in the NHL he could have requested a trade and im sure kenny would have accommodated him considering he is not part of the future plans.

[55fan 5,133]

larssson is going back to sweden..

Oh, my. Thanks for telling me that. Am I correct that other prospects are too far away from NHL-ready to be two broken bones away from a starting position?

[dragonballgtz 273]

This is a big mistake for him, I think he would have gotten Osgood's job this year if he came back. Babs straight up hates Chris, I bet he would have gone through waivers and would have been Thomas' backup in GR or retired.

That would suck though as we would still be on the hook for his cap hit.

[mackel 763]

That would suck though as we would still be on the hook for his cap hit.

I'm not a big Osgood fan by any means... BUT I see him playing more and better this year. I think he'll play 30ish games and he'll be far better than the last couple of regular seasons. I have no proof of this obviously, its a gut feeling.

[hooon 1,089]

I'm not a big Osgood fan by any means... BUT I see him playing more and better this year. I think he'll play 30ish games and he'll be far better than the last couple of regular seasons. I have no proof of this obviously, its a gut feeling.

I agree with this, because I also think Jimmy won't be as hot as last year.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Osgood HAS to be better this year because Jimmy cannot shoulder another season like this. It is proven quite often what happens to guys who have to go out and play 65-70 games consistently. See Nabokov or Luongo.

Edited July 2, 2010 by HankthaTank

[irishtemper14+25 11]

I am calling it right now....J-Ho and Ozzie will win the Jennings as a tandem next year.

[Grim 5]

If Lebda and Lilja are being ditched, Kenny definitely needs to look at defensemen...

[titanium2 867]

I still have some hopes for the off-season for Kenny and his team.

I'd like for them to get some stability within the bottom six. Someone who can keep the flies off is necessary even if he's a healthy scratch for 30-40 games. The bottom six according to Babs' lines has Hudler, Cleary and once they get signed, Helm, Eaves, Abdelkader, Miller, Draper and Ritola. That's already eight guys for six spots but I'd still like for them to get some old fashioned toughness. Abdelkader shouldn't have to carry that load by himself. I would most definitely trade away Miller and Ritola for one player who can provide toughness if it were that simple. I like both of those guys but you have to give up something.

They desperately need a veteran #5-6 defenseman. I don't think they can count on Janik to be that guy. At this point, they absolutely cannot count on Meech, Ericsson or Kindl for that kind of veteran stability. Ideally these days I hope for Lilja to come back and they trade away Meech or something like that.

That's what I'm hoping for. Hell I think that's what a lot of people on here are hoping for. In all likelihood though it doesn't seem like the team will change that much from what it is now and Kenny is fine with that. We'll just have to trust his vision.

[Broken 16 381]

I still have some hopes for the off-season for Kenny and his team.

I'd like for them to get some stability within the bottom six. Someone who can keep the flies off is necessary even if he's a healthy scratch for 30-40 games. The bottom six according to Babs' lines has Hudler, Cleary and once they get signed, Helm, Eaves, Abdelkader, Miller, Draper and Ritola. That's already eight guys for six spots but I'd still like for them to get some old fashioned toughness. Abdelkader shouldn't have to carry that load by himself. I would most definitely trade away Miller and Ritola for one player who can provide toughness if it were that simple. I like both of those guys but you have to give up something.

They desperately need a veteran #5-6 defenseman. I don't think they can count on Janik to be that guy. At this point, they absolutely cannot count on Meech, Ericsson or Kindl for that kind of veteran stability. Ideally these days I hope for Lilja to come back and they trade away Meech or something like that.

That's what I'm hoping for. Hell I think that's what a lot of people on here are hoping for. In all likelihood though it doesn't seem like the team will change that much from what it is now and Kenny is fine with that. We'll just have to trust his vision.

Modano

[rage 24]

I am not suprised they are letting Lilja walk. He missed a year because of the injury and he isn't worth the risk at this point and he can probably find more money elsewhere.

[BigWillieStyle 662]

Osgood HAS to be better this year because Jimmy cannot shoulder another season like this. It is proven quite often what happens to guys who have to go out and play 65-70 games consistently. See Nabokov or Luongo.

Or Brodeur... Oh wait, that doesn't help your argument, does it. Nevermind.