Is Brad Richards an option?

[Guest blueadams]

I'm not sure that we'd even be interested in signing Richards, as Holland, Babcock and co. didn't put him on team Canada for some reason, but let's see...

Free Agents:

-If the rumors of the cap increasing by 5-6m are true; +5m (I'll air on the side of caution)

Released:

-Modano(1.8m, *FA*)...He's not going to be back next season; +1.8m...6.8m total

-Draper(1.6m, *FA*)...He's not going to be back next season; +1.6m...8.4m total

-Salei(1.1m, *FA*)...He's not going to be back next season; +1.1m...9.5m total

-Osgood(1.4m, *FA*)...He's either going to be replaced by a league minimum goalie (0.5m-ish), or become one; +0.9m...10.4m total

Resigned:

-Lidstrom(6.2m, *FA*)...He's going to be back at around the same price next season (I assume); -0.0m...10.4m total

Promoted:

-Mursak(0.6m, 2yrs)...He's going to be added to the roster next season; -0.6m...9.8m total

-Smith(0.9m, 2yrs)...He's going to be added to the roster next season; -0.9m...8.9m total

...That'd leave us with 8.9m in cap space and three holes to fill (12th forward, 13th forward and 7th defensemen); and these are the best in-house candidates to fill them:

-Eaves(0.8m, *FA*)

-Miller(0.7m, *FA*)

-Ericsson(0.9m, *FA*)

...Even if we brought all three back (or others at similar prices), that'd leave us with 6.5m in cap space to spend on an upgrade, and probably more like 7.3m, as we wouldn't resign all three. That'd be more than enough to sign Richards, wouldn't it?

2011/2012 Detroit Red Wings:

Forwards:

#1) Datsyuk(6.7m, 3yrs)

#2) Zetterberg(6.1m, 7+yrs)

#3) Franzen(4.0m, 7+yrs)

#4) Filppula(3m, 2yrs)

#5) Hudler(2.9m, 1yr)

#6) Cleary(2.8m, 2yrs)

#7) Bertuzzi(1.9m, 1yr)

#8) Holmstrom(1.9m, 1yr)

#9) Helm(0.9m, 1yr)

#10) Abdelkader(0.8m, 1yr)

#11) Mursak(0.6m, 2yrs)

#12) *(?)Eaves(0.8m, ?)...or...Miller(0.7m, ?)

#13) *(?)Richards(6.0m-ish, ?)

Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Franzen-Richards-Bertuzzi

Hudler-Filppula-Cleary

Abdelkader-Helm-Eaves

Mursak

Defensemen:

#1) *Lidstrom(6.2m, ?)

#2) Rafalski(6.0m, 1yr)

#3) Stuart(3.8m, 1yr)

#4) Kronwall(3.0m, 1yr)

#5) Kindl(0.9m, 2yrs)

#6) Smith(0.9m, 2yrs)

#7) *(?)Ericsson(0.9m, ?)

Lidstrom-Stuart

Kronwall-Rafalski

Smith-Ericsson

Kindl

Goalies:

#1) Howard(2.3m, 2yrs)

#2) *(?)Larsson(0.5m, ?)

Edited May 9, 2011 by blueadams

[Guest Crymson]

Even if he's available under the cap, he's another assist-heavy player. He's not a primary goal scorer.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Crymson

[Nevermind 363]

Is you being able to stop making threads like these an option?

It's not even the off-season.

[BigWillieStyle 662]

Which Richards? The contract year, Richards? Or the I got a nice juicy contract for the next couple of years so I'm going to coast, Richards?

No way. And as someone already mentioned, we need a scorer not a set up man. I wonder if Hossa is available???

[luvmnger 125]

we need a bona fide...true blue, died in the wool kille, ahem goal scorer.

but they dont grow on the cheap tree.

nah...i'll pass on the brad richards thing.

[xtrememachine1 795]

No Brad Richards. Use the extra cap space (assuming the rumor is true) to build up the blue line. Lidstrom and Rafalski aren't going to be here forever.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I don't see any big changes like that this offseason. We'll hopefully grab a scrappy 4th liner that can play a regular shift and a stay at home defenseman.

[Konnan511 1,736]

To answer the question in the title:

NOOOOOOOOOOO. NNNNNOOOOOOOO. NOOOOO.

I don't see any big changes like that this offseason. We'll hopefully grab a scrappy 4th liner that can play a regular shift and a stay at home defenseman.

That's exactly what I see happening. If the Wings trade Hudler at the draft, I can see the Wings pulling in a 3mil caliber winger for Filppula or the Second line who can pot 25+ goals and has some decent wheels and hands.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

To answer the question in the title:

NOOOOOOOOOOO. NNNNNOOOOOOOO. NOOOOO.

That's exactly what I see happening. If the Wings trade Hudler at the draft, I can see the Wings pulling in a 3mil caliber winger for Filppula or the Second line who can pot 25+ goals and has some decent wheels and hands.

As much as i'd like to see Hudler dealt, i'm not getting my hopes up. Hudler has proved he's nothing like he was before he left for the KHL.

Edited May 9, 2011 by Bring Back The Bruise Bros

[grwingfan 21]

I would rather see the Wings sign one of these D Men.

Bieksa

Ehrhoff

Wisniewski

And one of these forwards.

Jussi Jokinen

Radim Vrbata

Ville Leino

[grwingfan 21]

So lets say we sign Vrbata and Wisniewski.

Franzen-Datsyuk-Homer

Vrbata-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Cleary-Filppula-Abdelkader

Mursak-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Stuart

Rafalski-Wisniewski

Kronwall-Ericsson

Howard

Budaj (2 years @ $1.20m per year)

Would you guys be happy with this?

[VM1138 1,921]

I'd rather make a play at St. Louis, he'll be available, won't he? Although I doubt he leaves Tampa with Yzerman in charge and a deep playoff run under his belt.

[wingsdiehard13 33]

I'd rather make a play at St. Louis, he'll be available, won't he? Although I doubt he leaves Tampa with Yzerman in charge and a deep playoff run under his belt.

Doubt it. He signed a 5 year extension last summer if I recall correctly. I don't have a link readily availible, I'm on my phone.

[toby91_ca 620]

I'd rather make a play at St. Louis, he'll be available, won't he? Although I doubt he leaves Tampa with Yzerman in charge and a deep playoff run under his belt.

He has another 4 years after signing an extension last July 1st. His extension will bring him within a couple months of 40 years old, it's paying him about $5.6M. Looks good now, but we'll see how long his legs hold up.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

No. We need to get tougher and we need a top four defenseman. And if we do go after a top six forward, it had better be a goal scorer.

[Bryguy 103]

Brad Richards would be great, that means we could be done with watching Filppula try to become a 2nd line center. But it wont as some others say I think holland stands pat and gets a 4th liner. Maybe something at the trade deadline.

[Guest blueadams]

here's a decent list of the 2011 ufa's. http://www.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/feature/?ID=33370

if you don't like richards, you'll probably have to get your 'stud' scorer via trade. and that'll be hard given the board's high standards (thinking we'd be getting ripped off trading abdelkader and ericsson for semin, and all)

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

I would rather see the Wings sign one of these D Men.

Bieksa

Ehrhoff

Wisniewski

And one of these forwards.

Jussi Jokinen

Radim Vrbata

Ville Leino

I doubt Leino returns.

[Konnan511 1,736]

This is what Michael Scott think fo these ridiculous threads about Brad Richards and Shea Weber coming to Detroit.

LGW: "Hey Michael, what do you think of the chances that the Red Wings could..."

Michael:

[HankthaTank 1,100]

This is what Michael Scott think fo these ridiculous threads about Brad Richards and Shea Weber coming to Detroit.

LGW: "Hey Michael, what do you think of the chances that the Red Wings could..."

Michael:

But he's not on The Office anymore so I don't really give a sheeeeeeiiiiittttt!!!

[grwingfan 21]

I doubt Leino returns.

I agree but it would be an interesting get.

[LeftWinger 4,962]

Which Richards? The contract year, Richards? Or the I got a nice juicy contract for the next couple of years so I'm going to coast, Richards?

No way. And as someone already mentioned, we need a scorer not a set up man. I wonder if Hossa is available???

I am telling you, Chicago dosn't want that LONG ass contract, not sure he'd get traded here since it would help us keep Chicago going down the spiral...

anyone know what Chicago would be responsible for and how long if they bought him out?

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

I agree but it would be an interesting get.

I'm sure someone will throw a fat contract at him and overpay him. Wonder if he wants to stay in Philly, where the "Night life" is so much better than the Motor City

Either way, I don't want him back.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

what was wrong with Leino anyways, did he not want to play here or was it the system.

[Ozzie30 170]

what was wrong with Leino anyways, did he not want to play here or was it the system.

It was the latter then the former. Plus Babcock, did I say Babcock?

Leino doesn't come back. Don't need. - been there, done that.

Build from the blueline out - that's the key to success. Pay Howard first.