Wings sign Ruslan Salei

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

I like the signing. To me it's more of a commitment to develop players and I like that. The Wings obviously feel that it is worth it to go with a more budget player in order to hang on to as many prospects as possible. I really don't think health is an issue. He'll be getting third pair minutes. He's mean as hell. Meaner than Mitchell imo. Just the guy you want hanging around Ericsson and Kindl.

Huh? He's physical, and fearless, but he aint mean. He got the piss pounded out of him by friggin Steve Ott. I'll welcome the big hits, and the PK ability, but he makes us no tougher or meaner.

[Zeowingsfan 16]

I'm with you on this one. I'm not sure this is an improvement. At least with Andreas, we knew pretty much what we were getting and what we had. This is an unknown quantity, injury wise and otherise. I'm kinda scratching my head on this one.

Meantime, I'm gonna miss Lils...he was always a hard worker, good attitude, worked hard to make his way back, and he gets kicked to the curb. Wherever he lands, I wish him nothing but good fortune, and good journeys.

Lilja wanted more money and top 4 ice time, something he was not going to get here. He decided to go into free agency and not take the offer Holland sent to him which was more then what we are guaranteed to pay Salei.

[Broken 16 381]

Huh? He's physical, and fearless, but he aint mean. He got the piss pounded out of him by friggin Steve Ott. I'll welcome the big hits, and the PK ability, but he makes us no tougher or meaner.

I don't agree. I've seen Salei play a lot through the years and I've seen him get pretty nasty in front of the net and around the goalie. Howard will even benefit a little from his presence (ok, I'm reaching a little there, but you get the point).

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

He missed 56 games last year with a back injury. Also he's 36 years old.

I wouldn't call him a soft player, because he is physical, but he never fights and is coming off a serious injury.

I guess the Wings figured he's cheap and they didn't want to sign anyone else for some reason. This seems like more of a Babcock move than a Holland one.

Also, it's funny how people here are attacking anyone who's willing to disagree with this signing. Apparently we can't have opinions around here anymore. It's not a terrible signing, but not a good one either. Hopefully it'll turn out better than it looks. Kind of like Markov in 2007.

The main issue is his health and his age. Those are good issues to worry about.

That's where I'm at with it.

He's basically another Lilja, but for cheaper. so I guess that's good. But instead of Lilja's noggin we've got Salei's wonky back, and he fights just as poorly. I'm also curious if he'll play with as much of an edge on a Wings team that doesn't have as much sandpaper as a team like the Ducks did (which is where he was playing the last time I really saw him play much).

Thinking positive, hopefully he'll stay healthy, play with a mean streak, clear the crease and teach Ericsson to do the same.

I can't say I'm that excited, but I'm glad Holland made a move so we can cut ties with Meech.

[swedishconnection 36]

Hmmm. Not sure I liked this signing on first reading about it when I ft home tonite. After reading about it here I gotta say I feel more confident about it. At first my reaction was "why the hell are we signing a broken defensman ?"

Few questions: righty or lefty? I hope he's a righty.

Is ritola on a two way contract which would allow him to play in the minors without being subject to waivers, ala abdelkader last year?

Is kindl out of minor league options? Or can he be sent down without waivers too?

If ritola can be sent down with no issues, then look for Kenny to put him there (which is what I thought it was for ritola). I haven't read one thing on the boards this summer that pinned these issues down. If kindl is out of options, what's the point of having salei? I'm hoping for some informed responses...

[Broken 16 381]

That's where I'm at with it.

He's basically another Lilja, but for cheaper. so I guess that's good. But instead of Lilja's noggin we've got Salei's wonky back, and he fights just as poorly. I'm also curious if he'll play with as much of an edge on a Wings team that doesn't have as much sandpaper as a team like the Ducks did (which is where he was playing the last time I really saw him play much).

Thinking positive, hopefully he'll stay healthy, play with a mean streak, clear the crease and teach Ericsson to do the same.

I can't say I'm that excited, but I'm glad Holland made a move so we can cut ties with Meech.

The biggest difference between Lilja and Salei is the nature of injuries they are recovering from. There's a pretty big gap between back surgery and concussion syndrome. That kinda gives Salei the edge imo. Seems like players recovering from concussions are never quite the same.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Broken 16

[VM1138 1,921]

He missed 56 games last year with a back injury. Also he's 36 years old.

I wouldn't call him a soft player, because he is physical, but he never fights and is coming off a serious injury.

As a player, I'd be more intimidated by a big hitter than a fighter. I could always choose not to fight. It's much harder to avoid getting leveled. Thus, a hitter > fighter in my eyes.

[Zeowingsfan 16]

Hmmm. Not sure I liked this signing on first reading about it when I ft home tonite. After reading about it here I gotta say I feel more confident about it. At first my reaction was "why the hell are we signing a broken defensman ?"

Few questions: righty or lefty? I hope he's a righty.

Is ritola on a two way contract which would allow him to play in the minors without being subject to waivers, ala abdelkader last year?

Is kindl out of minor league options? Or can he be sent down without waivers too?

If ritola can be sent down with no issues, then look for Kenny to put him there (which is what I thought it was for ritola). I haven't read one thing on the boards this summer that pinned these issues down. If kindl is out of options, what's the point of having salei? I'm hoping for some informed responses...

Ritola and Kindl are out of options and are subject to waivers. Ritola has a 2-way on the first year of his contract, but like any 2-way deal it only affects how much he gets paid in the minors and nothing to do with waivers. Salei is meant to be a steadying force on the 3rd pairing and to make sure that our 3rd pairing does not start out as Ericsson and Kindl. He is a stay at home defenceman which is something we needed to get to replace Lilja.

Edit: Salei is a lefty.

Edited August 10, 2010 by Zeowingsfan

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Hmmm. Not sure I liked this signing on first reading about it when I ft home tonite. After reading about it here I gotta say I feel more confident about it. At first my reaction was "why the hell are we signing a broken defensman ?"

Few questions: righty or lefty? I hope he's a righty.

Is ritola on a two way contract which would allow him to play in the minors without being subject to waivers, ala abdelkader last year?

Is kindl out of minor league options? Or can he be sent down without waivers too?

If ritola can be sent down with no issues, then look for Kenny to put him there (which is what I thought it was for ritola). I haven't read one thing on the boards this summer that pinned these issues down. If kindl is out of options, what's the point of having salei? I'm hoping for some informed responses...

[swedishconnection 36]

Thank you. This helps immensely. Except for the fact that ritola and kindl are screwed warming the bench, or that Miller is gone. Either way we have a metric s*** ton of players for bottom lines. I take it that this is all going to be ironed out in camp. Sad to see either ritola or Miller go, but don't let the door hit ya meech.

[Z and D for the C 712]

Kronwall, Franzen (coming off mega injuries), Zetterberg, Rafalski... the latter two also had problems with their backs, rafalski had an herniated disk but that was in the offseason so we didn't notice it as much and he's been healthy since, zetterberg with his yearly backspasms...

He's 35, 36 later in this year, he's old but it's not like he's 38/39...

Give it a rest.

WHO ARE YOU?

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

But as Chicago has proven, you can never have too much depth.

[swedishconnection 36]

Edit... double post. And thank you for the image... easy enough to see he's lefty. Its hard for those of us who are so addicted to the boards that they check them on mobile phones... not so easy to get that info.

Edited August 10, 2010 by swedishconnection

[titanium2 867]

The biggest difference between Lilja and Salei is the nature of injuries they are recovering from. There's a pretty big gap between back surgery and concussion syndrome. That kinda gives Salei the edge imo. Seems like players recovering from concussions are never quite the same.

Partially because one concussion makes you more vulnerable for another one right? At least that's what I remember Brad Stuart saying.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

The biggest difference between Lilja and Salei is the nature of injuries they are recovering from. There's a pretty big gap between back surgery and concussion syndrome. That kinda gives Salei the edge imo. Seems like players recovering from concussions are never quite the same.

I hear ya. There's definitely nothing more serious than a brain injury, but hockey takes so much core strength that back problems can ruin a guys game too.

[Seraph 240]

He is now just the 3rd player ever to wear a Wings and Avalanche jersey in his career. Who can name the others??

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

He is now just the 3rd player ever to wear a Wings and Avalanche jersey in his career. Who can name the others??

Uwe Krupp and Kyle Quincey. All d-men, go figure.

[cjm502 165]

He is now just the 3rd player ever to wear a Wings and Avalanche jersey in his career. Who can name the others??

Uwe Krupp, Brad May, Kyle Quincey, Todd Gill. He is the 5th.

[robb himself 143]

oh snap!

[crotty99 302]

Well this was...unexpected.

[newfy 695]

WHO ARE YOU?

I'm thinking mindfly got laid recently................. A LOT

[Doc Holliday 1,888]

Uwe Krupp, Brad May, Kyle Quincey, Todd Gill. He is the 5th.

6th.

Andreas Lilja wore a Colorado sweater for a short time.

[WMUCarGuy 8]

Hmmm. Not sure I liked this signing on first reading about it when I ft home tonite. After reading about it here I gotta say I feel more confident about it. At first my reaction was "why the hell are we signing a broken defensman ?"

Few questions: righty or lefty? I hope he's a righty.

Is ritola on a two way contract which would allow him to play in the minors without being subject to waivers, ala abdelkader last year?

Is kindl out of minor league options? Or can he be sent down without waivers too?

If ritola can be sent down with no issues, then look for Kenny to put him there (which is what I thought it was for ritola). I haven't read one thing on the boards this summer that pinned these issues down. If kindl is out of options, what's the point of having salei? I'm hoping for some informed responses...

Unfortunately Ritola will have to clear waivers to be sent down (which means we'd most likely lose him if we did so).

[Guest mjtm77]

im confused i do not know much about this guy. iv been hearing a bunch of diff stuff from people on here like hes such a *****

His he a hitter?

his he an offencive or defencive defencemen?

is he an upgrade on lilja if they were both the same price and both stayed heathly

around how manny points will he get?

thx

[Drake_Marcus 890]

As a player, I'd be more intimidated by a big hitter than a fighter. I could always choose not to fight. It's much harder to avoid getting leveled. Thus, a hitter > fighter in my eyes.

Plus big hitters make a much larger impact in the playoffs where fights are pretty scarce. Kronwall's hits are capable of swinging the momentum of a playoff game and that's a valuable asset to have.