Red Wings Making Play for Modano

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

And the Wings just went to 2 consecutive finals as being one of if the the least penalized teams in the NHL. Whats your point? lol

What's my point? I was directly responding to the comment below. Here, I'll connect the dots for you.

It's certainly not as important as it once was, 10 years ago. Live in the present. I'm not saying I like it that way, I'm just saying that's the way it's going and has been since the lockout. We can get our nasty on the defensive side. Remember, he may not be the most nasty, but Abdelkader didn't play a full season last year, so we'll have that in the lineup every night. We weren't overly physical in 08 and we won a cup. We have guys who can physically grind, that's more important than fighting and being one dimensional in todays game.

He's making it sound like physical play is some bygone era. I was pointing out that physical, gritty, nasty teams are still successful in the current NHL. Just because it's been 10 years since the Wings played that way doesn't mean that's true for the rest of the league.

And while the Wings weren't overly physical when they won the Cup, they were definitely more physical than the current lineup.

Edited July 6, 2010 by haroldsnepsts

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Meech?

I'm just worried that Holland is going to spend the money and roster spot on Modano, who we don't really need, at the cost of picking up a guy who can fight and play the game a little. Because to be clear, I'd rather Holland spend some money getting a good fighter who can play, rather than picking someone up that'll play 5 minutes a night 40 games for one season.

Which, we had Downey and Drake when the Wings won the Cup. Even though Downey only played 56 games, that made the Wings tougher than the current lineup.

God-willing, our 6th d-man will not be Meech, because Holland has already said he wants a tough stay at home guy/veteran to play alongside Ericsson.... this means someone outside the organization. Modano will displace Miller. Miller is redundant and brings absolutely nothing to the team that we don't already have. Modano is the same way but he brings secondary scoring, which we were SEVERELY lacking last season. We can still go out and get Hnidy, Exelby, McKee, Morrisson, Mitchell.... someone who can mentor Ericsson, be a strong stay at home guy, and be more tenacious than Lilja was.

I love how we keep talking about getting this "guy who can fight and play the game a little," and of who's available we have Asham who fits that bill, but there is no way in hell we're signing Asham for 1 million or less when other 3rd and 4th liners were getting contracts for 1.25 and up. Plus he would be coming to a system with a logjam of forwards - do you really think that would look appealing to a player like him when our history with those players the past few years has been spotty (playing maybe half the season) and MAYBE the playoffs if needed...

Hence getting Modano for ONE season does not hurt the team, it only helps.

[SwedeLundin77 460]

What's my point? I was directly responding to the comment below. Here, I'll connect the dots for you.

He's making it sound like physical play is some bygone era. I was pointing out that physical, gritty, nasty teams are still successful in the current NHL. Just because it's been 10 years since the Wings played that way doesn't mean that's true for the rest of the league.

And while the Wings weren't overly physical when they won the Cup, they were definitely more physical than the current lineup.

Bend my words all you want, but some people want the bruise brothers back and that's just not going to fly anymore. We will NEVER be the most penalized team in the league, that's not responsible hockey and Holland won't let it happen, so get over it. Do we need grit and a little bit of nasty, yes! Maybe Holland doesn't feel that the players on the market are the types of players to fit in with his system, and that's just being responsible. Who has changed since we won the cup? Drake, Sammy, and Chelios? Don't tell me we don't have grit.... Are we nasty? No, but we haven't been nasty since the mid to late 90's and we won 2 cups since then. We will have a strong chance to make a run this year too, Modano or no Modano. But don't try and tell me that Modano in and Miller out hurts our chances.

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

Evgeni Artyukhin

He's big, he can hit,he can skate, he can score goals, had 9g last season. And is willing to drop the gloves.

[Z and D for the C 712]

My thoughts exactly. People are getting a bit lost in romanticism here. He doesn't give us anything we lack, which is the important thing.

We lack a third line center who will give us a legitimate third line scoring threat.

[Guest Heaten]

Pretty much. This move would have been cool about 10 years ago, but I don't see many good arguments coming from people as to how this would benefit us now. What needs does it address?

People need to realize that if he was still any kind of impact player, Dallas would have acted differently with him.

He's not skilled enough anymore to be a great top 6 forward, and isn't physical enough to be some kind of grinding bottom forward.

He's just a famous name, and people are excited to have a future Hall of Famer added to the team, without thinking about how this makes us better.

Kenny makes the big bucks to think about what makes this team better... and I must say, he has quite the winning track record. IMO, grit and toughness is fine and dandy when nothing better is available out there. When you get a chance to add a world class player to center the 3rd line, you do it! Wings could arguably have the best 3rd line in the NHL and be one of the deepest teams in the league.

If the price is right, sign him.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

God-willing, our 6th d-man will not be Meech, because Holland has already said he wants a tough stay at home guy/veteran to play alongside Ericsson.... this means someone outside the organization. Modano will displace Miller. Miller is redundant and brings absolutely nothing to the team that we don't already have. Modano is the same way but he brings secondary scoring, which we were SEVERELY lacking last season. We can still go out and get Hnidy, Exelby, McKee, Morrisson, Mitchell.... someone who can mentor Ericsson, be a strong stay at home guy, and be more tenacious than Lilja was.

I love how we keep talking about getting this "guy who can fight and play the game a little," and of who's available we have Asham who fits that bill, but there is no way in hell we're signing Asham for 1 million or less when other 3rd and 4th liners were getting contracts for 1.25 and up. Plus he would be coming to a system with a logjam of forwards - do you really think that would look appealing to a player like him when our history with those players the past few years has been spotty (playing maybe half the season) and MAYBE the playoffs if needed...

Hence getting Modano for ONE season does not hurt the team, it only helps.

I disagree with that statement, because I think while it doesn't take a roster spot away from that D-man, it could take some of the money he could use to get a higher quality Dman than he otherwise might. How much is that 6th Dman going to cost, assuming it's not Lillypads? A tough stay at home guy who can kill penalties and mentor E. Those are all great qualities in a defenseman.

And while I agree Miller is replaceable, if we're swapping him with Modano, then the Wings lose their number 3 PK guy, because Modano doesn't do that anymore. If Maltby's gone too, he was right behind Miller in PK minutes. So now you're looking at Cleary, Flip, Dats or Z picking up more PK minutes, when we want them to be scoring. Abby may pick up some minutes eventually, but I dont' think it'll be soon.

As for the guy who can fight and play the game a little, that's a broader wish I have in terms of Holland's priorities. Once again, it's basically an afterthought with him so all the Wings can afford is someone off the scrap heap who will play half a season and limited minutes. If it were a priority, he could find that player and fit him into the Wings lineup, and I would believe it would make the Wings a better team.

Edited July 6, 2010 by haroldsnepsts

[eva unit zero 271]

Every team has at least one "enforcer" on their roster.I don't wanna hear that Abdelkader can be our enforcer.No.I don't wanna hear that our powerplay can be our enforcer.No.I'm sick of watching us get ******* knocked around night after night.GIVE ME A ******* ENFORCER!!!I KNOW I'm NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT FEELS THIS WAY.

Tell me the last Cup champion that won with an enforcer regularly dressing in the playoffs.

I'll give you a hint. It was Tampa Bay and Chris Dingman in 2004. Five Cups won with no enforcer? All of those star players left unprotected still won Cups?

Hmm....

Go watch some MMA if fighting is what you want. Otherwise, shut your yap and appreciate hockey, whether it's a physical game or a finesse game. Both things are still hockey, believe it or not.

Edited July 6, 2010 by eva unit zero

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Kenny makes the big bucks to think about what makes this team better... and I must say, he has quite the winning track record. IMO, grit and toughness is fine and dandy when nothing better is available out there. When you get a chance to add a world class player to center the 3rd line, you do it! Wings could arguably have the best 3rd line in the NHL and be one of the deepest teams in the league.

If the price is right, sign him.

Amen.

Obviously there are those of us who want to be gritty and tough without sacrificing offense and there are those who want to get nasty and mean like Anaheim or the Flyers when both of those franchises have seen a decline (besides the Flyers run this one season - other than that, they haven't been overly successful). Two opinions clash and we get this hot mess... oh well. Agree to disagree.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Well 2007,when Anaheim won.Parros,May..But every team that wins the Cup has a BALANCE of skill,speed,and grit.Its all about balance.I think we need more grit.That should be the top priority.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

Tell me the last Cup champion that won with an enforcer regularly dressing in the playoffs.

Because that proves what exactly?

It's the same tired old response. Just because they don't play in the Cup playoffs doesn't mean they're not relevant.

Time and time again, Babcock and Wings players have said how they appreciate having those guys on their team. No, not just because they're being diplomatic. It probably has something to do with the fact that when you have a guy like that dressed, a douchebag like Perry is much less likely to cheapshot you after the play. And over the course of an 82 game regular season, that's a lot less cheapshots you have to put up with.

I don't know how many different ways players can say they like that those guys are out there and have their back. Players play bigger when there's someone who can fight on the team. You can see it happen. They're less afraid to muck it up because they know they won't be out there alone.

zero games in the playoffs does not equal zero value to the team.

Well 2007,when Anaheim won.Parros,May..But every team that wins the Cup has a BALANCE of skill,speed,and grit.Its all about balance.I think we need more grit.That should be the top priority.

Exactly. We don't need to be the 07 Ducks. But right now we have less grit than the 08 Wings.

And to say for the thousandth time, I'd prefer the Wings get a guy who can fight and play the game. But right now they don't even have anyone who can fight really. E is big, but not a fighter. Abby is scrappy and shows heart, but hasn't really shown a lot. Lillypads is likely gone and he was never that great either.

EDIT: I'm trying to remain civil, but this is probably the wrong night for me to be discussing the need for toughness on the Wings.

R.I.P. Probie. I miss the days of those Red Wings.

Edited July 6, 2010 by haroldsnepsts

[SwedeLundin77 460]

I disagree with that statement, because I think while it doesn't take a roster spot away from that D-man, it could take some of the money he could use to get a higher quality Dman than he otherwise might. How much is that 6th Dman going to cost, assuming it's not Lillypads? A tough stay at home guy who can kill penalties and mentor E. Those are all great qualities in a defenseman.

And while I agree Miller is replaceable, if we're swapping him with Modano, then the Wings lose their number 3 PK guy, because Modano doesn't do that anymore. If Maltby's gone too, he was right behind Miller in PK minutes. So now you're looking at Cleary, Flip, Dats or Z picking up more PK minutes, when we want them to be scoring. Abby may pick up some minutes eventually, but I dont' think it'll be soon.

As for the guy who can fight and play the game a little, that's a broader wish I have in terms of Holland's priorities. Once again, it's basically an afterthought with him so all the Wings can afford is someone off the scrap heap who will play half a season and limited minutes. If it were a priority, he could find that player and fit him into the Wings lineup, and I would believe it would make the Wings a better team.

I respect your opinion and the way you go about discussing it, unlike some on these boards...

Anyway, as far as our PK goes, you are missing a few names: Helm, Eaves, Draper (when he plays). So that makes the list of PK guys as follows: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Filppula, Cleary, Eaves, Helm, possibly Abdelkader (like you said)... That is plenty to roll given how responsible a team we are when it comes to penalties.

As far as a 6th defensemen goes, if we are spending more than 1 million on him, then we are spending too much. Especially when we roll with 7 d-men. So signing Modano to a million doesn't hurt our chances when you consider we won't sign Miller, in this case, and will more than likely trade one other forward, depending on how Holland wants to roll things.

It all works out cap-wise. And with Miller out, we still have approximately 500K like Holland said for injuries and the like.

Again, it's just my opinion, I'm not caught up in the "romanticism" of having a future hall of famer and a hometown boy here, I just think he could do good for our team and help in an area we were seriously lacking in last season: secondary scoring.

Edited July 6, 2010 by SwedeLundin77

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

I respect your opinion and the way you go about discussing it, unlike some on these boards (Bring Back The Bruise Bros)...

Anyway, as far as our PK goes, you are missing a few names: Helm, Eaves, Draper (when he plays). So that makes the list of PK guys as follows: Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Filppula, Cleary, Eaves, Helm, possibly Abdelkader (like you said)... That is plenty to roll given how responsible a team we are when it comes to penalties.

As far as a 6th defensemen goes, if we are spending more than 1 million on him, then we are spending too much. Especially when we roll with 7 d-men. So signing Modano to a million doesn't hurt our chances when you consider we won't sign Miller, in this case, and will more than likely trade one other forward, depending on how Holland wants to roll things.

It all works out cap-wise. And with Miller out, we still have approximately 500K like Holland said for injuries and the like.

Again, it's just my opinion, I'm not caught up in the "romanticism" of having a future hall of famer and a hometown boy here, I just think he could do good for our team and help in an area we were seriously lacking in last season: secondary scoring.

Sorry, I probably could've been clearer. I skipped Helm and Eaves because they're our #1 and #2 guys. Miller and Malts were three and four. Drapes only averaged 27 seconds a game on the PK, even with all the injuries. So if last season were an indication, Babcock would put Flip, Cleary, Z and Dats all in before him.

With secondary scoring, Hudler is back and needs to step up. And assuming the Wings stay healthy, they need more scoring from the guys they're paying to do that. Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Flip, Hudler, Franzen. So I'm just saying with the money that's left, I think the things the Wings need more than a guy like Modano is that Dman and physical winger. They've already got a lot of cap money tied up in scoring. It just wasn't there last year, largely due to health.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

My guess he's wearing 91

Never!

[eva unit zero 271]

zero games in the playoffs does not equal zero value to the team.

The argument was more to disprove the "you need an enforcer to win the Cup" idea. If that were true, we wouldn't have seen five in a row and counting that played a playoff run without an enforcer and won the Cup.

Yes, those teams may have had enforcers who dressed regularly or semi-regularly (Carolina didn't, actually) in the regular season. But none of them dressed those enforcers in the playoffs, when the game is tougher, tighter, and more physical with the refs putting away their whistles. I'm sure enforcers are appreciated, but don't you think if they were as valuable as claimed by the pro-enforcer crowd on LGW, that the more successful playoff teams would actually be dressing one or even two to discourage rough treatment of star players?

Now, to give a different thought to it.

Say we define enforcer a little more loosely, as a tough, gritty player who plays physical and stands up in defense of his teammates. Throw the 'fighting' requirement out, whether it simply be he has to be a tough fighter, or he has to fight X number of times per season, etc.

It is this looser definition that is why teams win Cups. Gritty players who are willing to stand up for each other. Abdelkader. Stuart. Drake. Errey. Macoun. Rouse. Gallant. Burr. Having a Boogard or a Parros might be entertaining, but it's a waste of space.

The Wings might not be the biggest, meanest or grittiest of teams, but the players they do have, while smaller than other teams, are not squishy marshmallows. Well, maybe Bertuzzi, but only because of his diet of marshmallow sandwiches.

If someone can provide me a serious VALID reason why a goon is necessary on the roster, I will give that person my next paycheck.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

He will look strange if he takes a number longer than a single digit.

[ShanahanMan 473]

Boo.

hope the douchebag doesn't break a hip.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

He will look strange if he takes a number longer than a single digit.

Offer him number 3 since 3x3 = 9

Edit: This assumes Lilja is gone.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Drake_Marcus

[ShanahanMan 473]

I just read they're willing to offer him a TWO year deal? Come on now....

[Reilly 24]

"We badly want him" - Jim Devellano

http://www.freep.com/article/20100706/SPORTS05/7060382/1354/SPORTS/Modano-to-visit-Wings-then-Tigers

Well, you can consider this a done deal.

[Joseph Franks 17]

It's not stone, but when the media is covering it so closely, it's usually a done deal.

Both the Wings organization and Modano seem excited. The wings have already suggested they want a 1-2 year contract and have even listed an amount they're willing to pay. Toss onto that it's completely common knowledge that Modano is coming to center a 3rd or 4th line.....

Modano, knowing all of this in advance, and still coming up to Detroit.....is about as "Sure Thing" as you can get, without actually being a sure thing yet.

I'll be really surprised if Modano ISN'T a Wing by the end of the week.

Until then, I get the feeling this will be the most suspense we see all postseason.

Edited July 6, 2010 by Joseph Franks

[StayClassy 38]

Hey, let's get Sergei.

I'm sure if that actually happened Lidstrom would feel like he's seeing ghosts hah.

[Nhurdi 42]

Personally I think we have enough of a veteran presence on the team.

It's time to see what the young guys can do. So I would Pass.

[stevie12 5]

Hahah funny article about what number he would wear if we do sign him.

"Modano has worn #9 for his entire NHL career. That number is synonymous with the Dallas Stars/Minnesota North Stars franchise, but it won't be the case if he comes here. That's because #9 has already been retired by the Red Wings in honor of Gordie Howe---the NHL's second all-time leading scorer.

Modano can't add a "1" to #9, at least in front of it. The legendary 19 is also up in Joe Louis Arena's rafters for "The Captain" Steve Yzerman. However, he could go with 91, which was worn for a long time by Sergei Fedorov. Fedorov departed the team rather unpleasantly and there is still some animosity between him and the organization. But, there might be some Red Wings fans that have a problem with it, since Fedorov contributed a lot in his time here.

The easiest way to change his 9 would be to double it to 99, but Wayne Gretzky and the NHL might take issue with that. Gretzky's 99 has been retired league-wide, and rightly so.

Why not just add a number up to 10, like Brett Hull did when he signed on in 2001? Well, Alex Delvecchio is the owner of #10, and is currently residing next Howe and Yzerman's jerseys. Flip the scenario around and subtract a number and you arrive on #8, which Justin Abdelkader currently wears.

Of course, let's use his birthday, June 7! Wait, nevermind, 7 is gone too. Sorry Ted Lindsay. Although, 6/7 could translate into 67."

[stevie12 5]

Today is the day that the deal gets done. They will meet in early afternoon, Mike will talk it over with his wife, and then he will give the okay in the early evening.

DETROITTT GOALLLLLL scored by number _ Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiike Modannoooooooooooooooooo.