Red Wings might opt to keep Ritola at the expense of Miller

[DSM 114]

http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/08/red_wings_might_opt_to_keep_ma.html

Makes sense atleast.

It would also free up a little bit of cap space.

The one question that is unanswered however, is who will be the odd man out for emergency call ups? Holland likes to either keep a space open, or waive a roster player (Downey/Ellis 07/08) for this. Who would they waive for this? Draper ?

[titanium2 867]

Kind of sucks that Drew Miller has a current video up on Red Wings TV of him answering questions on how the team and his role on the team can be better next season.

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I doubt this will be answered before they look at what has/hasn't been accomplished during the preseason.

[kylee 727]

I doubt this will be answered before they look at what has/hasn't been accomplished during the preseason.

the article makes some fair points about Ritola seemingly looking like a more long term investment (signing a 3 year extension) but he may survive going thru waivers w/o being picked up. Miller deserves to be on the team more than Ritola.

[seeinred 1,488]

It's just speculation on Khan's part. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense or that it won't happen, but there's no reason to believe this any more than the opposite scenario.

That said, I like Miller a lot, but I wouldn't be terribly disappointed to see us keep Ritola instead. We keep hearing about his potential, and it would surely be great to see him fulfill it here rather than elsewhere. Then again, it would be better to see him not live up to it elsewhere instead of eating up a roster spot to do it here

[stevkrause 1,247]

It's just speculation on Khan's part. I'm not saying it doesn't make sense or that it won't happen, but there's no reason to believe this any more than the opposite scenario.

That said, I like Miller a lot, but I wouldn't be terribly disappointed to see us keep Ritola instead. We keep hearing about his potential, and it would surely be great to see him fulfill it here rather than elsewhere. Then again, it would be better to see him not live up to it elsewhere instead of eating up a roster spot to do it here

I've thought all along that it would be Miller, as he has more "trade-ability" at this point really with the 09-10 season he had, but Ritola is younger and teams LOVE untapped potential, so I wouldn't be surprised either way... since either of them will basically be a 14th forward and see limited action, I'm really at the mindset now, that whoever gets us the better return via trade is the better choice...

[Guest best poster in LGW history]

dump both and get a dman that can PK.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

Don't want to see Miller go but I understand the logic here as Ritola is still a potential long-term protige.

[Swayze 81]

...and this is EXACTLY why I didn't want Modano here.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

...and this is EXACTLY why I didn't want Modano here.

In most cases, too much depth is never a bad thing (minus Chicago presently with cap/money). At present time, signing Modano only helps the Wings chances at a Cup. Hopefully we will be able to say this months down the line.

I'd love to keep them all, but if you have a chance to get one of the better players at his position throughout his career at a reasonable price, and he is still capable of scoring goals/points at a respectable amount during the final chapter of his career, you go for it.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

If he gets rid of Miller, it would mean Holland did a sign and trade, which is fairly out of character for the Wings, even for a guy lower on the roster.

[stevkrause 1,247]

If he gets rid of Miller, it would mean Holland did a sign and trade, which is fairly out of character for the Wings, even for a guy lower on the roster.

It's not really a "sign-and-trade" per se when the guy is an RFA and you're merely qualifying him... these are quite common, as they're all about retaining assets - if you sign an UFA and THEN trade them, that's what is looked down on and HIGHLY unethical in the NHL... the same will apply to Meech...

[The Secret 304]

Drew Miller is a great plug... I didn't mind having him on the team but I think we have seen the max of what he can do. We need to gamble now and then and I would gamble on Ritola at the expense of a plug like Miller without even thinking about it. Look at what happened with Leino... he was given time but perhaps not enough. I was one who wanted him off the team but its proven to be the wrong choice. At least give Ritola an opportunity, there will be other Miller types available if the gamble doesnt work.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

In most cases, too much depth is never a bad thing (minus Chicago presently with cap/money). At present time, signing Modano only helps the Wings chances at a Cup. Hopefully we will be able to say this months down the line.

I'd love to keep them all, but if you have a chance to get one of the better players at his position throughout his career at a reasonable price, and he is still capable of scoring goals/points at a respectable amount during the final chapter of his career, you go for it.

These are my thoughts exactly. Even if we lost miller or Ritoloa, Modano makes us a better team than either or both of them and gives us a better chance to win. Im not really sure why everyone is so hyped on Ritola. I dont really follow the griffins that much and have only seen him play when he gets called up and he wasnt all that impressive to me when he was here. I know that he is young and still developing so maybe there is something you guys know/see that i dont, so i wont throw to much judgement out on Ritola.

However, i REALLLY like Miller. He can make our 4th line and PK stronger with his play, not to mention that as soon as he got here in Detroit his game really picked up. Coming into to Detroit i think he only had 1 goal the entire season, but ended with i think 10 here in Detroit. I think we really started to see what he was capable of and i think remaining on the team and letting him continue to show us would only be fair. However, i know that his role will be super limited here with the signing of Modano and Hudler, so he might not be getting the ice time that is needed for him to be the same kind of player.

Either way, it seems like a lose lose since either we lose a guy with a ton of upside who seemed to be getting his career back on track and is a good short handed guy or you lose a guy that may very well be an untapped reservoir of potential in Ritola who could turn out to be the next Franzen. But we did gain Modano, and like i said he does make us stronger than either of the other two can.

With that said...i like Miller and would like to see him stay.

[stevkrause 1,247]

Drew Miller is a great plug... I didn't mind having him on the team but I think we have seen the max of what he can do. We need to gamble now and then and I would gamble on Ritola at the expense of a plug like Miller without even thinking about it. Look at what happened with Leino... he was given time but perhaps not enough. I was one who wanted him off the team but its proven to be the wrong choice. At least give Ritola an opportunity, there will be other Miller types available if the gamble doesnt work.

one hot playoff streak for Leino does not mean that was a mistake... time will tell the story about Leino and he flat didn't fit our system - just because a player does well somewhere else, does not mean they would have done well on a different team either... but I do agree, I like Ritola's intangibles and work ethic and the fact that he was a Wing's draft pick AND is a little younger, plus locked up for 3 years, makes me want to keep him, but I wouldn't be surprised or dissapointed either way they went, as I like Miller as well...

[The Secret 304]

one hot playoff streak for Leino does not mean that was a mistake... time will tell the story about Leino and he flat didn't fit our system - just because a player does well somewhere else, does not mean they would have done well on a different team either... but I do agree, I like Ritola's intangibles and work ethic and the fact that he was a Wing's draft pick AND is a little younger, plus locked up for 3 years, makes me want to keep him, but I wouldn't be surprised or dissapointed either way they went, as I like Miller as well...

I agree with you 100% on this, time will tell if Leino was having a hot streak or found a team he fit better... I suppose I am bitter that Leino looked like a house leaguer in Detroit and went onto look like a hero in Philly. You're absolutely right that he just didn't seem to fit our system which is very role based... in Philly he was able to do what he wanted, it seemed, where in Detroit he was asked to play a certain role and couldn't. Reminds be of Primeau and how I hated him in Detroit but went onto have a pretty good career in Philly also.

[13dangledangle 958]

I agree that this is most likely speculation on khans part...However I also think it would be a shame to see Ritola go, in the same way it hurt to see Leino play like he did for Philly (I was/am happy for Leino but come on thats the Leino we thought we had). As for Miller we picked him up when to be honest I dont think anyone would have. He came here and played for spot not only did he get one he became perhaps our unsung pk hero. Miller also will with out a doubt get a very decent contract somewhere as well if that is the case, so props to Drew if thats the case, he was awesome for us.

Is there no way Drapes can retire so they both can stay? Is there any other options anyone else can think of that make more sense?

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

It's not really a "sign-and-trade" per se when the guy is an RFA and you're merely qualifying him... these are quite common, as they're all about retaining assets - if you sign an UFA and THEN trade them, that's what is looked down on and HIGHLY unethical in the NHL... the same will apply to Meech...

Good point. I was thinking Miller was a UFA not an RFA.

that makes sense. It seemed out of character for Holland to do a sign and trade.

[Guest Heaten]

These are my thoughts exactly. Even if we lost miller or Ritoloa, Modano makes us a better team than either or both of them and gives us a better chance to win. Im not really sure why everyone is so hyped on Ritola. I dont really follow the griffins that much and have only seen him play when he gets called up and he wasnt all that impressive to me when he was here. I know that he is young and still developing so maybe there is something you guys know/see that i dont, so i wont throw to much judgement out on Ritola.

However, i REALLLY like Miller. He can make our 4th line and PK stronger with his play, not to mention that as soon as he got here in Detroit his game really picked up. Coming into to Detroit i think he only had 1 goal the entire season, but ended with i think 10 here in Detroit. I think we really started to see what he was capable of and i think remaining on the team and letting him continue to show us would only be fair. However, i know that his role will be super limited here with the signing of Modano and Hudler, so he might not be getting the ice time that is needed for him to be the same kind of player.

Either way, it seems like a lose lose since either we lose a guy with a ton of upside who seemed to be getting his career back on track and is a good short handed guy or you lose a guy that may very well be an untapped reservoir of potential in Ritola who could turn out to be the next Franzen. But we did gain Modano, and like i said he does make us stronger than either of the other two can.

With that said...i like Miller and would like to see him stay.

Ritola does not have the nack for finding the back of the net, but man is he amazing and such a smart player. He sees the ice almost as well as Datsyuk. He has crazy puck handling skills, and can do take-aways as good or better than Datsyuk. His work ethics are off the charts and he isn't afraid to go in the corners and dig the puck out... and win.

Did you watch him in some of the games he played last season? I can remember several key plays that was just 'PURE STUD' written all over it. I think he made Datsyuk say "Wow" from the bench. Even Babcock had a big smile as Ritola was getting back on the bench. I particularly remember after Ritola sat down, Babcock walked over to him and give him a big pat on the back like "that's my boy!".

He single handedly owned the other team. he did an amazing take-away in the defensive zone, skated the puck by 3 opposing players and skated in the offensive zone. They took away his pass so he took the puck to the corner, allowing the rest of his team to skate in and get in position. He had 3 players against him fighting him for the puck and miraculously, Ritola somehow did this amazing back pass to get the puck Helm (I think) who was standing in front of the net all alone and unrivaled because Ritola was the focus by all the opposing players on the other team. He was amazing! That shift was ungodly.

The kid is definitely, without a doubt in my mind, will be the guy Holland will want to keep. If Holland loses him, I guarantee LGWs will melt down next year when they see what kind of stud he turns out for some other team. He's the perfect 3rd line center, and I wouldn't doubt that he could develop into a 2nd line center if he finds his scoring touch like Franzen. The kid has all the skill in the world, they just need to tap into it. He reminds me of Filpulla with better puck skills, stronger work ethics, more determination, better one-on-one and sees the ice better. Filpulla is a better goal scorer. You put Ritola between Hudler and Cleary, and I think Red Wings have a stud line.

The decision should be easy for Holland, keep Ritola.

Edited August 9, 2010 by Heaten

[Swayze 81]

In most cases, too much depth is never a bad thing (minus Chicago presently with cap/money). At present time, signing Modano only helps the Wings chances at a Cup. Hopefully we will be able to say this months down the line.

I'd love to keep them all, but if you have a chance to get one of the better players at his position throughout his career at a reasonable price, and he is still capable of scoring goals/points at a respectable amount during the final chapter of his career, you go for it.

Depth is great, but when you push Grit and potential Scoring out of the line-up (and possibly out of the system) for possible Scoring, it's not a good move IMO. They should waive Draper before they move Miller/Ritola. I love the guy, but both of those guys are of more value right now, and we have other faceoff masters that can teach the young'ns.

[13dangledangle 958]

Ritola does not have the nack for finding the back of the net, but man is he amazing and such a smart player. He sees the ice almost as well as Datsyuk. He has crazy puck handling skills, and can do take-aways as good or better than Datsyuk. His work ethics are off the charts and he isn't afraid to go in the corners and dig the puck out... and win.

Easy now let's not get to carried away here, Datsyuk is perhaps the best take-away artist of all time and the latter is Ritola.

[Guest Heaten]

Easy now let's not get to carried away here, Datsyuk is perhaps the best take-away artist of all time and the latter is Ritola.

Stages of their career, sure. I'll agree. It was an extreme point to begin with, and I somehow knew some LGWers would ignore the entire post and desperately pick out one piece, never fails here at LGWs.

Anyhow, tt's hard to say one is better than the other (at the same age) when they are both so relentless and do take-aways so handidly. In 7 minutes of ice time I can remember three great takeaways by the rookie in just one game. The kid is absolutely relentless... that was the point that you clearly missed.

The kid has mad skills.

[Guest mindfly]

How come Ritola doesn't own up the ahl?... he could have been a full time wing by now had he done that...

[redwingfan19 293]

take it for what it's worth but if khan speculation turns out to be true, I got an update on twitter that mitchell is close to his decision. Chew on that for a while.

[Hank Dats 'N Homer 81]

take it for what it's worth but if khan speculation turns out to be true, I got an update on twitter that mitchell is close to his decision. Chew on that for a while.

Does that mean that you think they are ganna dump Miller and use the extra cap to throw at mitchell?