Trade deadline-ish look ahead to the off-season:

[Guest blueadams]

Forwards:

1) P. Datsyuk-6.7m, 3yrs

2) H. Zetterberg-6.1m, 10yrs

3) J. Franzen-4.0m, 9yrs

4) V. Filppula-3.0m, 2yrs

5) J. Hudler-2.9m, 1yr

6) D. Cleary-2.8m, 2yrs

7) T. Bertuzzi-1.9m, 1yr

8) T. Holmstrom-1.9m, 1yr

9) D. Helm-0.9m, 1yr

10) J. Abdelkader-0.8m, 1yr

11) J. Mursak-*0.6m?*, 1yr

12)

13)

Free Agents: M. Modano-1.8m; K. Draper-1.6m; P. Eaves-0.8m; D. Miller-0.7m

Defensemen:

1) B. Rafalski-6.0m, 1yr

2) B. Stuart-3.8m, 1yr

3) N. Kronwall-3.0m, 1yr

4) J. Kindl-0.9m, 2yrs

5) B. Smith-*0.6m?*, *?years*

6)

7)

Free Agents: N. Lidstrom-6.2m; R. Salei-1.1m; J. Ericsson-0.9m

Goalies:

1)

2)

3)

Free Agents: C. Osgood-1.4m; J. Howard-0.8m; J. Macdonald-0.6m

So...

The salary cap is going to be set at about 59.4m next season, and we have about 45.8m committed already (including what I'm guessing is about 0.6m for Mursak, and about 0.6m for Smith); so, that should leave us with about 13.6m in cap space.

#1) N. Lidstrom should be brought back - we hope - at about the same price. 13.6m - *6.2m?* = 7.4m.

#2) J. Howard should be brought back at a somewhat significant raise. 7.4m - *1.4m?* = 6.0m. (For those thinking about signing I. Bryzgalov, he makes 4.3m right now).

#3) J. Ericsson should be brought back at a slight raise. 6.0m - *1.1m?* = 4.9m.

#4) P. Eaves should be brought back at a slight raise. 4.9m - *1.1m?* = 3.8m.

#5) If C. Osgood has a nice last third of the season and wants to come back at a lower price - about 1.0m I'm thinking - that'd be great. If not, we'll have to sign a replacement at about the same price (who, I don't know). I wonder if something could be worked out with E. Nabakov...? 3.8m - *1.0m?* = 2.8m

#7) That leaves us with some options for our 13th forward - and our 2.8m in remaining cap space. If M. Modano has a nice last third of the season and wants to come back, that'd be great. If not, D. Miller's not a bad option - and that'd give us some wiggle room at the trade deadline. I wonder if someone like T. Selanne would be interested in one last shot...?

#8) In my dream world, we'd trade B. Rafalski for a draft pick(s), and use the extra 6.0m in cap space on restricted free agent S. Weber.

R. Salei-1.1m - probably not brought back if B. Smith is ready.

J. MacDonald-0.6m - probably signs a two-way contract.

K. Draper-1.6m - probably retires.

...Dream Lines:

Holmstrom-Datsyuk-*Selanne

Franzen-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Hudler-Filppula-Cleary

Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves

Mursak

Lidstrom-*Weber

Kronwall-Stuart

Smith-Ericsson

Kindl

*Nabakov

Howard

MacDonald/McCollum

Edited February 18, 2011 by blueadams

[Hiei 192]

i'll take the 2nd option on this thread.

*aims his 50 Cal rifle toward your computer....*

[wingfanatic4alltime 32]

Id love to see Weber here but no way Nashville lets him go especially to us of all teams because i believe he is a RFA not a UFA. Nabakov I would be shocked if he wasnt a Red Wing on July 1st. Since we signed Mursak, Miller or Eaves are gone. I see Brandon Smith making it full time to the Show as Salei will be gone. I bet its Nabby and Howard i think Ozzie retires hopefully im wrong about that.

[Guest blueadams]

Id love to see Weber here but no way Nashville lets him go especially to us of all teams because i believe he is a RFA not a UFA. Nabakov I would be shocked if he wasnt a Red Wing on July 1st. Since we signed Mursak, Miller or Eaves are gone. I see Brandon Smith making it full time to the Show as Salei will be gone. I bet its Nabby and Howard i think Ozzie retires hopefully im wrong about that.

Forgot about Smith. Him, Ericsson and Kindl will probably battle it out for 5,6 and 7. Too bad about Salei leaving - if Smith is indeed ready - though. I really like him.

Edited February 18, 2011 by blueadams

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Forgot about Smith. Him, Ericsson and Kindl will probably battle it out for 5,6 and 7. Too bad about Salei leaving - if Smith is indeed ready - though. I really like him.

Smith won't battle for the 7th spot. He'll either make the team's top 6 or play 25mins a night in GR.

[Konnan511 1,736]

Stop it! Just stop it! Two threads in one day?

Don't forget, there are reports that the cap may even rise as much or more than 4mil this offseason due to improved marketing, the HBO series, and overall record profits.

[Guest blueadams]

Smith won't battle for the 7th spot. He'll either make the team's top 6 or play 25mins a night in GR.

agreed - sorry, i could have been more specific.