Notable Restricted/Unrestricted Free Agents in 2011

[xtrememachine1 795]

This is a guy that I think Detroit would take a serious look at. Probably won't get an enormous salary/term and is our type of player from what I hear.

Ehrhoff is totally a Wings type of player. Via Hockey News:

ASSETS: Owns sound hockey sense, great skating ability and the talent to log big minutes. Can quarterback a power play and also be used in defensive situations.

FLAWS: Doesn't handle big NHL forwards too well, and is also a little passive. He can also make bad decisions under pressure from time to time.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Big-minute offensive defenseman.

[achildr1 255]

Ehrhoff is totally a Wings type of player. Via Hockey News:

ASSETS: Owns sound hockey sense, great skating ability and the talent to log big minutes. Can quarterback a power play and also be used in defensive situations.

FLAWS: Doesn't handle big NHL forwards too well, and is also a little passive. He can also make bad decisions under pressure from time to time.

CAREER POTENTIAL: Big-minute offensive defenseman.

Lol, sure you didn't pull Rafalski's info? I had the impression he better defensively...

[Konnan511 1,736]

Yes, because Konner knows everything

Well, I do know what's realistic and I'm not living in crazy land.

[Majsheppard 203]

The offer-sheet needed to sign Weber would cost the Wings four first round picks (two first round, a second, and a third if you believe Nashville won't match 6.5 million). Not only is this not a deal Holland would likely make because of how draft picks are valued, but Nashville would be crazy not to match any offer under 7 million. If anyone seriously believes Weber will be a Wing next year, I'll start taking that bet.

The only UFA/RFA's I'd like to see the Wings go after are gritty forwards/d. The talented players are going to be looking to get as much of that cap raise as possible, and there won't be many deals. Konopka and Peckham are two players I would like. As far as forward talent is concerned, Franzen would need to be traded.

True.

I am just going to say, I think the four picks would be worth it.

I want to offer him a one year sheet. Nashville will definitely take it, but then he would be UFA next year.

Not that I'm not in agreement, but doesn't Nashville also have a self imposed cap?

Yeah, but this guy is the franchise. They would sign him and cut someone else. Which is why, if I were him. I would be looking for a one year so I could get out.

[haroldsnepsts 4,826]

weber

gill

parise

doughty

There's no way the Predators are letting their captain go, unless they're scrapping that team. And even then the Wings fitting him under the cap would probably require Lids retiring. Any offer big enough to keep the Preds from matching would have to be huge, and cost the Wings a ton of picks. I'd love to have Weber, but he'd cost the Wings too much.

Doughty is the same thing.

And no thanks to Frolov, for those who are mentioning his name. Instead of a space in the Wings locker room they could just build him a doghouse, because that's likely where he'd end up given his questionable work ethic.

[cgenco1992 1]

Is there any team who would agree to take Rafalski? I mean he's still a strong scorer/assist generator but I think his Cap space of $6 friggen Mill is Hella too much. Zdeno Chara gets about that much now with the contract that he negotiated. Is there any team that desperate on defense that they'd be willing to trade picks or a young defensemen? (i.e. Toronto shopping Kaberle if they resign him for a deal like Rafalski and Miller for Kaberle and picks?)

[Konnan511 1,736]

There's no way the Predators are letting their captain go, unless they're scrapping that team. And even then the Wings fitting him under the cap would probably require Lids retiring. Any offer big enough to keep the Preds from matching would have to be huge, and cost the Wings a ton of picks. I'd love to have Weber, but he'd cost the Wings too much.

Doughty is the same thing.

And no thanks to Frolov, for those who are mentioning his name. Instead of a space in the Wings locker room they could just build him a doghouse, because that's likely where he'd end up given his questionable work ethic.

It's amazing how some people can't grab that concept.

[Guest Crymson]

Not that I'm not in agreement, but doesn't Nashville also have a self imposed cap?

They'll trade someone else away if they need the money to sign Weber.

[Guest Heaten]

The only way Kenny goes after a big name defenseman is if Lidstrom retires. I think Lidstrom will re-sign. But if he does retire, I don't expect Holland sign a BIG NAME guy, just a solid #3/4 guy at around $4 million (Brad Stuart caliber type-guy)

I think the big FA signing will be for a backup goalie.. and maybe a 7th depth defenseman. One of Draper/Miller will be re-signed (likely Draper) to fill the 13th forward spot. Abelkader will be moved up to the 3rd line, Mursak and Emmerton will fill in the 4th line.

BOOM! We have a full roster for next season. Holland will save cap space for trade deadline where he may opt to trade a low-end prospect to a non-playoff team looking to salary dump.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Yes, because Konner knows everything

He doesn't know everything.

Though he does know enough.

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Read an interesting article today stating Draper is seriously considering retirement. He is talking with his family to decide what is the best for the family, as a whole, which I believe is the right thing to do. He's got kids he would like to see more often, as well as a wife that he wants to spend more time with. I know i'll support his decision either way. I would welcome him back as a 13th forward, but at the same time, family does come before work.

[Guest stinky fish taco]

weber

gill

parise

doughty

gill is the only one even remotely realistic. get a clue.

might as well have added crosby and ovechkin...lol

[Guest Heaten]

gill is the only one even remotely realistic. get a clue.

might as well have added crosby and ovechkin...lol

While I agree that everyone on his list are highly unlikely to play on the Red Wings anytime soon, but you have to wonder what Parise is going to do. Devils will need to get very creative to afford to keep him. I was under the impression that the Kovy contract made it nearly impossible for Devils to afford Parise.

Edit to add:

Gill wouldn't be a good fit for Detroit.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Heaten

[Konnan511 1,736]

gill is the only one even remotely realistic. get a clue.

might as well have added crosby and ovechkin...lol

Normally I'd neg you for being a condescending prick, but you are spot on, so you get a +

[IllinoisRedWingsFan 49]

I can't see the Red Wings signing Weber especially with losing all those draft picks. As much as I'd love to have Weber it simply isn't happening. I would like to see us get Alex Tanguy.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Ovechkin-Datsyuk-Smyth

Clowe-Zetterberg-Franzen

Lucic-Jo. Staal-Cleary

Pyatt-Helm-Eaves

Lidstrom-Weber

Kronwall-Seabrook

Ehrhoff-Rafalski

Kiprusoff

Howard

[brett 1,029]

gill is the only one even remotely realistic. get a clue.

might as well have added crosby and ovechkin...lol

obv theyre unrealistic. theyre just players i would love to see on the wings. didnt know putting a thumbs up next to a plyers name meant it was realistic and it was going to happen

[mmamolo 287]

I would love to see Ehrhoff in a Detroit sweater.

He definitely fits in with the Wings, there is no question. He could fill Rafalski's spot once he's done as well so it could be a good signing now to think for the future as well. For me though, I think I'd rather see Kevin Bieksa. He's way more punishing and his puck moving/offensive skills are underrated (and I'm not saying that because he scored on Sunday night).

[VM1138 1,921]

Honestly I don't think we'll see free agent signings. Most of the changes will be through trade, I think. The cap world has just eliminated a lot of talented free agents.

[Motown4013 350]

One of the guys that I think could add some size to the third line and who has an offensive upside is Scotty Upshall. The guy has been plagued by injuries so his market value is poor but he could be a diamond in the rough. He was the 6th overall pick and he kinda reminds me a bit of Cleary coming to the wings. Other guys i would like to see in the Winged wheel include WIZ, Kaberle, Jose Theodore (great tandam back there!) and Laich. These are all realistic picks...of course I would love to have Weber, Doughtey and Richards but that is not going to happen.

[Guest Crymson]

One of the guys that I think could add some size to the third line and who has an offensive upside is Scotty Upshall. The guy has been plagued by injuries so his market value is poor but he could be a diamond in the rough. He was the 6th overall pick and he kinda reminds me a bit of Cleary coming to the wings. Other guys i would like to see in the Winged wheel include WIZ, Kaberle, Jose Theodore (great tandam back there!) and Laich. These are all realistic picks...of course I would love to have Weber, Doughtey and Richards but that is not going to happen.

Kaberle? Really? You want a soft defenseman without defensive skill, one whom Leafs fans didn't even like? If you dislike Rafalski, then why would you want Kaberle? The latter is far worse defensively.

[pucktividi 472]

Right handed D man who can play on the PP...Wis,Bieksa or I.White

[eva unit zero 271]

The only way Kenny goes after a big name defenseman is if Lidstrom retires. I think Lidstrom will re-sign. But if he does retire, I don't expect Holland sign a BIG NAME guy, just a solid #3/4 guy at around $4 million (Brad Stuart caliber type-guy)

If Lidstrom retires this offseason and Holland only signs a Brad Stuart-caliber defenseman, the Wings will instantly have the worst defense in the league. Unless you are talking Brad Stuart of two-three years ago and not Brad Stuart this year, in which case the Wings' defense will still be significantly worse at both ends.

I think the big FA signing will be for a backup goalie.. and maybe a 7th depth defenseman. One of Draper/Miller will be re-signed (likely Draper) to fill the 13th forward spot. Abelkader will be moved up to the 3rd line, Mursak and Emmerton will fill in the 4th line.

BOOM! We have a full roster for next season. Holland will save cap space for trade deadline where he may opt to trade a low-end prospect to a non-playoff team looking to salary dump.

The big FA signing will be backup goalie? So what happens on defense? Ericsson is almost certainly not coming back, Salei basically lost his spot to Kindl, and wasn't terribly effective, so he probably won't be back. Osgood intends to come back, so the only way Holland signs a new backup is if Osgood simply can't play due to his injury. The Wings have ten forwards signed, with perhaps two checking line forwards. Eaves, Miller, Mursak, Emmerton, and possibly Draper are vying for those last three or four forward spots, so a new forward is unlikely. Which leaves a fair amount of cap space to load up on the defense, which was the team's biggest weakness these past couple of seasons. Also, after this coming season, our entire current top four (including Lidstrom) will go UFA, so having an Ehrhoff, Pitkanen, or Bieksa locked down would be a good start on the 12-13 team as well; Rafalski almost certainly won't be on that team, probably no Lidstrom either. So having Kronwall/Ehrhoff/Pitkanen already established would be better than spending a year fumbling around with the defense.

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

Ryan Callahan.

[e_prime 1,936]

The big FA signing will be backup goalie? So what happens on defense? Ericsson is almost certainly not coming back, Salei basically lost his spot to Kindl, and wasn't terribly effective, so he probably won't be back. Osgood intends to come back, so the only way Holland signs a new backup is if Osgood simply can't play due to his injury. The Wings have ten forwards signed, with perhaps two checking line forwards. Eaves, Miller, Mursak, Emmerton, and possibly Draper are vying for those last three or four forward spots, so a new forward is unlikely. Which leaves a fair amount of cap space to load up on the defense, which was the team's biggest weakness these past couple of seasons. Also, after this coming season, our entire current top four (including Lidstrom) will go UFA, so having an Ehrhoff, Pitkanen, or Bieksa locked down would be a good start on the 12-13 team as well; Rafalski almost certainly won't be on that team, probably no Lidstrom either. So having Kronwall/Ehrhoff/Pitkanen already established would be better than spending a year fumbling around with the defense.

How much are these two going to command in salaries now? $900,000 each? Tops?

If you want to talk about guys who should/need to give a hometown discount at this point or a two-way deal these are prime examples.