813 replies to this topic

[Red Wings Addict]

Sorry, I keed, I keed.

Haha. You probably shouldn't be.

[eva unit zero]

Raffy didn't play in the Duck's series and we won that one (barely) in 7 games (he may have come back the last game or 2?) - he played in the WCF and SCFs. I fail to see how his injury hurt the Wing's chances of winning the Cup then. Pavel's injury (and perhaps Nicks) was far more devastating. (or just revert to Hossa not showing up).

It's tough to say - I think he played a big part in the Wings having a successful regular season (1 seed) and phenomenal Cup run in 2008. Maybe we don't win if another D-man is signed and doesn't quite work out. He, like several other Wings now, seems to be injury prone in the last years of his contract. Let's see what we are sayin about Franzen in 10 years.

Hossa was also injured. He was playing through a shoulder injury which required him to have surgery and ultimately miss the first eight weeks of the following seasons. Or did you miss that part? He took a lot of flak for not scoring. It's difficult to shoot when one of your shoulders is wrecked. Maybe Datsyuk should have been taking faceoffs against the Sharks, and then we could all rail on him for losing 80% and then later find out he was injured?

[HankthaTank]

Any way we can make Franzen a little more like Ryane Clowe?

Trade him for Clowe then maybe

I do really like Clowe's heart and game an awful lot so if Mule could figure that out, I'd be quite pleased. A move we have needed is toward youth next year and that's with the emergence Muskrat (Mursak). I saw a ton of speed, grit, and even a snipe at times. I like his game a lot and will be a great 4th line addition. Mursak-Helm-Eaves? I mean, yes, that's a damn good 4th line assuming Helmer doesn't move up to the 3rd. The addition in FA I want is Kevin Bieksa. Brings all things to the table that this team needs back on the blue line and his quote about diving that came out recently even hammered that fact home more.

[LeftWinger]

Hossa was also injured. He was playing through a shoulder injury which required him to have surgery and ultimately miss the first eight weeks of the following seasons. Or did you miss that part? He took a lot of flak for not scoring. It's difficult to shoot when one of your shoulders is wrecked. Maybe Datsyuk should have been taking faceoffs against the Sharks, and then we could all rail on him for losing 80% and then later find out he was injured?

This I agree with! I would love to have a healthy Hossa back in our lineup....

Edited by LeftWinger, 17 May 2011 - 03:54 PM.

[RockyMountainWingGal]

Hossa was also injured. He was playing through a shoulder injury which required him to have surgery and ultimately miss the first eight weeks of the following seasons. Or did you miss that part? He took a lot of flak for not scoring. It's difficult to shoot when one of your shoulders is wrecked. Maybe Datsyuk should have been taking faceoffs against the Sharks, and then we could all rail on him for losing 80% and then later find out he was injured?

Remember that guy named Steve Yzerman? How did he look in 2002 skating on one knee? Or how did Datsyuk just look playing with a wrist injury? I don't give a #$%& about Hossa's shoulder - the guy was AWOL for most of the playoffs and certainly against the Pens when it counted the most. He didn't show up for the most important game of his career. Screw Hossa - he bailed so he could ride his way to a cup with the Hawks. Nuff said. Need to focus on future wings not past failures.

[mmamolo]

Trade him for Clowe then maybe

I do really like Clowe's heart and game an awful lot so if Mule could figure that out, I'd be quite pleased. A move we have needed is toward youth next year and that's with the emergence Muskrat (Mursak). I saw a ton of speed, grit, and even a snipe at times. I like his game a lot and will be a great 4th line addition. Mursak-Helm-Eaves? I mean, yes, that's a damn good 4th line assuming Helmer doesn't move up to the 3rd. The addition in FA I want is Kevin Bieksa. Brings all things to the table that this team needs back on the blue line and his quote about diving that came out recently even hammered that fact home more.

This is exactly what I think. So much so I had to give you a +1. I rarely give out pluses to any posts but this was perfect.

Vancouver won't easily give up Bieksa but it will come down to how much loyalty they'll show to Salo and then who they want more, Ehroff or Bieksa. The fact they have Ballard tied up long term (with a NMC) and he is a similar player to Bieksa who had an off year you'd have to think that Bieksa is the odd man out if their cap situation doesn't work.

Vancouver has $13.7M in cap space for next season. Assuming the cap goes up $3M that would give them $16.7M. Their unrestricted free agents include Chris Higgins($1.6M), Raffi Torres ($1M), Tanner Glass ($.6M), Jeff Tambellinni ($.5M), Sami Salo ($3.5M), Kevin Bieksa ($3.75M), Christian Ehroff ($3.1M) while their restricted free agents include Maxime Lapierre ($.9M) and Jannik Hansen ($.825M).

Another interesting thing to note is how Bieksa's last contract was structured. It was a 3 year deal broken down as follows:
year 1: $4.25M
year 2: $3.5M
year 3: $3.5M

So ultimately you've got to assume he'd be looking at that $4.25M-4.5M range.

On the other hand, Ehroff's contract was broken down as follows:
year 1: $2.75M
year 2: $3.15M
year 3: $3.4M

So you'd assume he'd want about $3.75M or so.

[Shaman464]

Remember that guy named Steve Yzerman? How did he look in 2002 skating on one knee? Or how did Datsyuk just look playing with a wrist injury? I don't give a #$%& about Hossa's shoulder - the guy was AWOL for most of the playoffs and certainly against the Pens when it counted the most. He didn't show up for the most important game of his career. Screw Hossa - he bailed so he could ride his way to a cup with the Hawks. Nuff said. Need to focus on future wings not past failures.

At worst a guy like Hossa on the Wings would give Z and Dats a bit more room and the other team a bit more to worry about. Not saying I want him back, but a 40 goal scorer would be awesome.

[HankthaTank]

Yes, I'd take Hossa back. I mean, come on people, I realize it's really tough to grasp but let go of 2009 already.

[F.Michael]

I don't think he was even overpaid at the time of his signing. Sure the term was a little longer than I'd want, but it's likely what Holland had to do to bring him here. He was not in a strong negotiating position.

At the end of the 07 season Schneider jumped ship for $5.6 million with Anaheim, leaving a major hole in the Wings defense. Holland was scrambling for a #2 D-man and found Rafalski who similar to Schneider was a puck-moving defenseman good for 40-50 points (which is what Schneider was until he was paired with Nick and had two career seasons), who fit into the defense puck-moving system in Detroit, was younger than Schneider, a two-time Cup winner, and a local boy to boot.

Everyone wants to kill Rafalski when he makes a bad turnover, but for every one of those there's the tremendous outlet passes and quarterbacking the power play. More than even Lidstrom, Rafalski stretches the Wings offense and keeps the other teams defense honest. Because skating in front of his own net he's capable of rocketing a pass to a forward headed towards the offensive blueline.

Yes the contract looks less good now that we're in the last two years and his play has tapered a bit. But it's unfair to just look at him now and call him overpaid. At the time it was a good signing, and considering how 2008 worked out (and even 2009), it was worth it.

IMHO Rafalski is/was an upgrade over Schneider.

[haroldsnepsts]

IMHO Rafalski is/was an upgrade over Schneider.

Agreed.

Especially when you consider that Rafalski is on the Wings averaging over 20 minutes a night and had 48 points in 63 games, and as far as I know after problems in Montreal and Vancouver, Schneider's career is basically over.

[Shaman464]

Agreed.

Especially when you consider that Rafalski is on the Wings averaging over 20 minutes a night and had 48 points in 63 games, and as far as I know after problems in Montreal and Vancouver, Schneider's career is basically over.

I think Schneider got traded to Phoenix after that and now serves some role in the NHL.

[Datsyukian Geek]

If Lids takes a $1M or more pay cut to stay on another year, buying out Hudler's remaining year makes this work:

3.00M Hudler ( C )
1.25M Ericsson ( D )
0.75M Salei ( D )
1.25M Modano ( C )
1.10M Osgood ( G )
1.25M Draper ( C )

$8.60M Cap space cleared

3.25M Wisniewski ( D )
0.85M Kindl ( D )
2.40M Laich ( C )
0.60M Konopka ( C )
0.70M Tatar ( C )
0.80M McCollum ( G )

TOTAL: $8.60M*

Just thought I'd throw something together to add to the talks.
*Numbers are rounded off at the ten-thousands, so not 100% exact, but very close.

Edited by Datsyukian Geek, 18 May 2011 - 12:47 PM.

[Shaman464]

If Lids takes a $1M or more pay cut to stay on another year, buying out Hudler's remaining year makes this work:

3.00M Hudler ( C )
1.25M Ericsson ( D )
0.75M Salei ( D )
1.25M Modano ( C )
1.10M Osgood ( G )
1.25M Draper ( C )

$8.60M Cap space cleared

3.25M Wisniewski ( D )
0.85M Kindl ( D )
2.40M Laich ( C )
0.60M Konopka ( C )
0.70M Tatar ( C )
0.80M McCollum ( G )

TOTAL: $8.60M*

Just thought I'd throw something together to add to the talks.
*Numbers are rounded off at the ten-thousands, so not 100% exact, but very close.

Sorry, Tatar and McCollum aren't NHL ready, and Konopka would be a 13th forward at best.

[Datsyukian Geek]

Sorry, Tatar and McCollum aren't NHL ready, and Konopka would be a 13th forward at best.

The bottom three are mostly fill-ins that make it dollar for dollar, so I have no problem looking elsewhere on them, except that Konopka is apparently a freak on the face-off. Was something like Top 5 in won face-offs at one point late in the season, I believe.

[Crashnburnluder]

If Lids takes a $1M or more pay cut to stay on another year, buying out Hudler's remaining year makes this work:

3.00M Hudler ( C )
1.25M Ericsson ( D )
0.75M Salei ( D )
1.25M Modano ( C )
1.10M Osgood ( G )
1.25M Draper ( C )

$8.60M Cap space cleared

3.25M Wisniewski ( D )
0.85M Kindl ( D )
2.40M Laich ( C )
0.60M Konopka ( C )
0.70M Tatar ( C )
0.80M McCollum ( G )

TOTAL: $8.60M*

Just thought I'd throw something together to add to the talks.
*Numbers are rounded off at the ten-thousands, so not 100% exact, but very close.

I agree that Tatar and McCollum are still a little ripe for the NHL but like you stated there money could go elsewhere for the same price range player that isn't really counted on.

I do disagree on the buying out Hudler. I think that should only ever be used if there is no other options. I rather trade a player for a late 7th rounder because something is better then nothing... I think Hudler is tradesble and if he isn't a wing next season. That will be the only reason why...

Crash

[luvmnger]

konopka is the defining NEED the wings are after.

centerman faceoff specialist

fists o' plenty

heart

cheap price tag

can skate!

[VM1138]

konopka is the defining NEED the wings are after.

centerman faceoff specialist

fists o' plenty

heart

cheap price tag

can skate!

And will hardly play.

We don't need any changes to the bottom 6. We need a second line scorer and possibly a second line center who can play on the third if necessary. It's time the Wings load up as best they can under the Cap.

Honestly, I'm getting nervous because I keep hearing more rumors about Kaberle possibly coming here. Holland wouldn't be that dumb, would he?

[HankthaTank]

fists o' plenty

I'm sold!!!!!!

[MGreenberg]

Make it happen Kenny (THIS IS A JOKE)

FORWARDS
Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Alexander Ovechkin ($9.538m)
Daniel Sedin ($6.100m) / Henrik Sedin ($6.100m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m)
Thomas Vanek ($7.142m) / Steven Stamkos ($7.000m) / Corey Perry ($5.325m)
Patrick Sharp ($3.900m) / Jonathan Toews ($6.300m) / Patrick Kane ($6.300m)
Eric Staal ($8.250m) / Milan Lucic ($4.083m)

DEFENSEMEN
Shea Weber ($7.000m) / Zdeno Chara ($6.916m)
Kevin Bieksa ($5.000m) / Christian Ehrhoff ($5.000m)
Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Nicklas Lidstrom ($5.000m)
Duncan Keith ($5.538m)

GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Tim Thomas ($5.000m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $145,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $132,528,114; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $12,471,886

Edited by MGreenberg, 19 May 2011 - 11:44 AM.

[Konnan511]

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR

FORWARDS
Henrik Sedin ($6.100m) / Daniel Sedin ($6.100m) / Ryan Kesler ($5.000m)
Mason Raymond ($2.550m) / Mikael Samuelsson ($2.500m) / Manny Malhotra ($2.500m)
Alexandre Burrows ($2.000m) / Chris Higgins ($1.600m) / Raffi Torres ($1.000m)
Jeff Tambellini ($0.500m) / Andrew Peters ($0.500m) / Tanner Glass ($0.625m)
Jonas Andersson ($0.675m)

DEFENSEMEN
Dan Hamhuis ($4.500m) / Keith Ballard ($4.200m)
Alexander Edler ($3.250m) / Aaron Rome ($0.750m)
Kevin Bieksa ($3.750m) / Christian Ehrhoff ($3.100m)

GOALTENDERS
Roberto Luongo ($5.333m) / Cory Schneider ($0.900m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $59,400,000; CAP PAYROLL: $57,433,333; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $1,966,667