Detroit's centers next year

[Datsyerberger 279]

Well, what with Modano and likely Draper gone next year, is this the point where we see both Abdelkader and Helm as full-time centers? Babs has little reason to break up Datsyuk and Zetterberg except in special situations, as Flip has been proving himself to be a more than adequate 2nd line center. Does that make our center line up D/Z, Flip, Abdelkader, Helm?

I'd suspect the lines to start off looking something like:

ZDH/C

BFF

Hudler? - Abdelkader - Cleary

Mursak - Helm - Eaves

Miller

With a lot of possible rotation on those bottom 2 lines. There's some scary possible combos, such as Mursak - Helm - Eaves, Mursak - Abdelkader - Cleary, etc. I'd like to see Hudler keep doing well, of course, and hope he does well enough to stay, but even without him those lines could be sick. Both the situation at center and the overall look at the bottom 6 looks really interesting next year; I honestly can't think of a combination of players in the bottom 6 that wouldn't have a potential to look reeeeally good (as long as Hudler keeps up his recent work).

Edited December 31, 2010 by Datsyerberger

[evilzyme 769]

Seriously though, why are we concerned about this right now? Ask this question after the season or atleast when its almost at closure. Theres too much time to show whos worthy of anything.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Seriously though, why are we concerned about this right now? Ask this question after the season or atleast when its almost at closure. Theres too much time to show whos worthy of anything.

Where's your spirit of long-term speculation?

Seriously, there's not a lot else to talk about right now.

[Konnan511 1,736]

I agree, except no Miller at all and iFlip and Emmerton will be up as the 12th/13th forward. I also think one of Hudler or Holmstrom will be gone due to either a trade or retirement. But down the middle you'll have Datsyuk, Filppula, Helm, Emmerton

[Datsyerberger 279]

I agree, except no Miller at all and iFlip and Emmerton will be up as the 12th/13th forward. I also think one of Hudler or Holmstrom will be gone due to either a trade or retirement. But down the middle you'll have Datsyuk, Filppula, Helm, Emmerton

Hm, I hand't considered Emmerton, though I do know he's having a solid year in the AHL this year (finally!)... is this his last year of waiver ineligibility?

[Booster313 138]

I am not so sure that Modano won't be back. If he comes back in March and plays well he might feel like he doesn't want his career to end this way.

[eva unit zero 271]

I am not so sure that Modano won't be back. If he comes back in March and plays well he might feel like he doesn't want his career to end this way.

Modano, Draper, Eaves, Miller, Lidstrom, Salei, Ericsson, Howard, and Osgood are the UFAs. That's $14.67m in cap space being opened up from four forwards, three defensemen, and two goalies out of a 14-7-2 roster. 10-4-2 signed for next year from the current roster, not including prospects/minor leaguers.

Modano won't be back. Given the hand injury and his age, his chances of being back are about equal to the chances of Joey MacDonald winning the starting job next year.

Draper will probably also be retiring.

Eaves will most likely be back, given his play at both ends. Holland is not going to want to lose him.

Miller is a good PK specialist with OK offensive talents. He's a good grinder and fits well on the fourth line with Helm.

Lidstrom is having one of his better seasons, so I don't see him leaving this year; maybe after next season.

Salei has been inconsistent, having some terrible games and some good games. He likely won't be back.

Ericsson has played well and the team will do everything to keep him; same for Howard. Osgood is very likely to come back unless his second half turns dramatically worse than his first half.

So figure that two forwards and one defenseman are gone, and a total of 13m is spent on retaining the returnees. This leaves a spot for a 7th defenseman, a 13rd forward, and another spare skater. So a couple ways the lines could work out as are:

Zetterberg/Datsyuk/Holmstrom

Franzen/Filppula/Hudler

Bertuzzi/Abdelkader/Cleary

Miller/Helm/Eaves

Hudler/Zetterberg/Cleary

Holmstrom/Datsyuk/Eaves

Franzen/Filppula/Bertuzzi

Abdelkader/Helm/Miller

[Guest mindfly]

Jarnkrok!

[Shaman 713]

I think Detroit goes after a legit second line center in the offseason, with the cap going up and players retiring their should be enough space to bring someone in to balance the scoring better than it is now.

[Datsyerberger 279]

Jarnkrok!

Not yet.. but damn, am I looking forward to him in a few years.

The Wings actually look like they could be ridiculously deep, say, 5 years from now:

Possibly still here:

Zetterberg: 35

Datsyuk: 37

Franzen: 35/36

Cleary: 36/37

Hudler: 31/32

Filppula: 31/32

Abdelkader: 28/29

Helm: 28/29

Eaves: 31

Miller: 31/32

And possible top-9+ graduations, just from current prospects:

Tatar: 25

Mursak: 27/28

Pulkkinen: 23/24

Andersson: 26/27

Emmerton: 27

Jarnkrok: 24

Sheahan: 23/24

Nyquist: 25/26

And that's not even counting some of the more longshot but interesting guys we have as grinder possibilities

Doesn't that look rather similar to the age range of our present group of forwards? Damn, it's good to be a Wings fan.

[Datsyerberger 279]

I think Detroit goes after a legit second line center in the offseason, with the cap going up and players retiring their should be enough space to bring someone in to balance the scoring better than it is now.

Why would we do that when we already have one locked up for 2 more years? I'd prefer to spend on a solid #3-#5 d-man (depending on how guys play this season), even if Lids is back.

Pretty certain:

Kronwall

Stuart

Ericsson

Rafalski

Kindl

Maybe:

Lidstrom

Smith

I'd feel much more comfortable with a guy who's capable of being a respectable mid pair or good bottom pair guy in that group, even if Lidstrom is back. Center is one of the last things I'm worried about for a FA pickup with this org's depth at the position and with our current guys. Consider how our cup year looked on the back end. We essentially had a #1, 3 guys who could be a great #2 or #3 in Raffi, Kronwall, and Stuart, 2 solid bottom pair guys in Cheli and Lilja, and usable filler in Lebda (and Meech, if a call up was necessary). I'd like to load up on D if the opportunity is there.

Edited January 1, 2011 by Datsyerberger