In-depth interview with Ken Holland

[Johnny Diamonds 25]

SIAP: Art Regner of Fox Sports Detroit recently had an in-depth interview with Ken Holland. Video can be found here Make sure to watch all three parts!

[P. Marlowe 748]

Thanks. Never seen him talk that much before.

[Mitchmac33 103]

Nick Lidstrom runner up for Norris? Does he know something we don't know, or simple slip of the tongue?

[P. Marlowe 748]

Nick Lidstrom runner up for Norris? Does he know something we don't know, or simple slip of the tongue?

NHL.com: "Norris nods go to Lidstrom, Chara and Weber"

[hooon 1,089]

NHL.com: "Norris nods go to Lidstrom, Chara and Weber"

He's referencing Holland's wording "runner-up", which means 2nd place.

[winger30 20]

runner up? I hope not I think he deserves it.

[hooon 1,089]

Yeah I'm guessing it was just a slip of the tongue and he meant "up for another Norris".

[P. Marlowe 748]

He's referencing Holland's wording "runner-up", which means 2nd place.

Whoops. Sorry, Mitchmac.

Edited May 21, 2011 by P. Marlowe

[Guest Heaten]

Don't expect a big offseason.

Another cool fact stated by Holland. Red Wings team is old because they had 4 parades, almost 5. A lot of picks and prospects were traded to bring in the pieces to make that happen, hence why the team is old. He's also not wanting to inject too much youth into the line-up. He didn't sound optimistic Emmerton will be on the roster, but Musak sounds highly probable. I got the impression that he really wants Ericsson, but isn't going to overpay. He brought up examples of home grown talent they lost (Lapointe, Fedorov), so Ericsson won't be a first.

He didn't give much hint to his plans otherwise, other than things will be slow til mid June thru mid July and don't expect anything more than what we saw last year. The 'blow your mind' offseason trades/moves are over in the nu:NHL.

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

yeah sounds like we are going to have the same exact team as last season except one year older and probably not as good. Good interview but nothing new happening. :/ Not surprised.

[Guest blueadams]

Reading in-between the lines a little bit, here's what I took from the interview...

#1) He mentioned that he wants to upgrade the defense ("need to shore up the back-end").

#2) He did NOT mention that he wants to upgrade the forward group.

#3) He made it sound like a significant upgrade might be more likely to come from a trade than from a FA signing..I thought.

#4) He said that Mursak is going to be a 4th liner next season, and sure sounded like he WANTS Smith to make the team. Brings up a question of numbers back there. 1) Lidstrom, 2) Rafalski, 3) Stuart, 4) Kronwall, 5) Kindl, 6) Smith, 7) Janik. I don't think that he'd make Kindl or Smith a 7th defenseman. Makes it seem like we're not expecting Ericsson to be back (or maybe we're shopping someone...Kindl, Stuart?).

#5) He said that he wants to bring Ericsson, Eaves and Miller back, but almost sort of seemed to be bracing himself (/us) to lose them to higher bidders ("Eaves and Miller came here to get their careers back on track, and did").

#6) It sounds like Ozzie's done - he went on about evaluating backup goalies on the market for quite a while - and that if Draper's brought back, it'll be sort of a "hey, we've still got a little cap space left for a 13th/14th forward" kind of thing.

#7) It sounds like Joey Mac will be 'considered' for the backup goalie spot, but, not really.

#8) He said he never spoke to ATL (regarding Bogosian or otherwise).

hmm...i guess this is sort of what i'm expecting to see prior to making significant moves.

Franzen-Datsyuk-Holmstrom

Cleary-Zetterberg-Bertuzzi

Hudler-Filppula-Abdelkader

Mursak-Helm-*?*

*?*

Lidstrom-Rafalski

Kronwall-Stuart

Smith-Kindl

Janik

Howard

*?*

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I wish he had talked/been asked more about possible changes coming up in the league with teams possibly moving and the effects on divisions.

Edited May 23, 2011 by CaliWingsNut

[T.Low 1,011]

I wish he had talked/been asked more about possible changes coming up in the league with teams possibly moving and the effects on divisions.

My guess is Atlanta goes to Winnipeg and therefore gets into the Northwest Div, Nashville replaces them in the Southeast, and Minnesota replaces Nashville in the Central. Pretty simple. But if it doesn't happen in the next two weeks, it will be too late for this season.

[Red Wings Addict 787]

Not liking that Holland said "runner up."

[T.Low 1,011]

Not liking that Holland said "runner up."

I thought Lidsrom had a terrific year, but the reality is a lot of the guys voting for the Norris won't be able to get by his minus 2, so he very well may be the runner up.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Reading in-between the lines a little bit, here's what I took from the interview...

#5) He said that he wants to bring Ericsson, Eaves and Miller back, but almost sort of seemed to be bracing himself (/us) to lose them to higher bidders ("Eaves and Miller came here to get their careers back on track, and did").

Good summary, and I also took the same thing from the part about the free agents. To me it sounded like he's pretty concerned about Eaves and Miller and that they might not be back. I sure hope Eaves is.

[sputman 1,268]

Makes it seem like we're not expecting Ericsson to be back (or maybe we're shopping someone...

Kindl,

Stuart?).

nope,

uh-uh.

[BlakKy 58]

Good summary, and I also took the same thing from the part about the free agents. To me it sounded like he's pretty concerned about Eaves and Miller and that they might not be back. I sure hope Eaves is.

Am I the only one that thought for the dollar value Miller was excellent? I just felt he was never a liability or a slacker on the ice. Doesn't have a shot like Eaves but I seem to remember Eaves getting lazy here and there.

[hooon 1,089]

Good summary, and I also took the same thing from the part about the free agents. To me it sounded like he's pretty concerned about Eaves and Miller and that they might not be back. I sure hope Eaves is.

Agreed. If it were me, I would fill those forward spots with Mursak and Eaves, and maybe one of those 4th line Konopka types everyone is talking about.

Mursak-Helm-Eaves = Speed

Am I the only one excited to have almost the same lineup next year?

We were so close to advancing, scored the 2nd most goals in the regular season, our goaltender proved himself capable in the playoffs, our captain was nominated for a Norris trophy, McCrimmon is gone, we have a new defensive system to look forward to, and its the last year before a VERY different looking team in '12-'13. With a few other changes here and there, I think the Wings will be just as strong.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Mursak-Helm-Eaves = Speed

The potential for that being the 4th line is enough to have me excited. The rest of the forward lines will look basically the same with Drapes and Modo hanging them up. Miller probably comes back at the same salary although he was pretty replaceable as well. Good but not anything we can't bring in from GR. The defense is the point of emphasis and Salei and Ericsson are definitely the ones on their way out. If a trade is the way we make this happen, I am sort of hoping that Hudler is included in this deal. Just not all sure what we can get for him now.

Edited May 23, 2011 by HankthaTank

[ben_usmc 253]

I'd like to keep Eaves, but wouldn't be upset if Miller left. Also please do not put Minn. in our division, they are so boring to watch and are just an all around uninteresting team. Although I suppose Nashville would love it considering the divisional competition would be much weaker.

[HankthaTank 1,100]

Although I suppose Nashville would love it considering the divisional competition would be much weaker.

Nashville most likely wouldn't be affected as I see them going to the Eastern Conference; just speculation. I totally agree about the Wild's "watching grass grow" play though.

[wingsownnhl43 14]

Based on that interview and other articles I have read, this is the kind of roster I project. I have a hard time seeing Kindl or Smith as a #7 defenseman, however I really believe both players are ready to be apart of the big club, full time. I could see Osgood coming back as a backup. If not, we will sign someone else for around the price tag I have penciled in. Same thing goes for Draper.

With this, we have 21 players signed and have just over $5 million left over in cap space. It's impossible to project who Holland will sign, but we can bet itll be a couple players who didnt recieve the big money they had hoped for, and are still hanging around well after July 1st.

CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR

FORWARDS

Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Johan Franzen ($3.954m)

Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m)

Jiri Hudler ($2.875m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m)

Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Patrick Eaves ($0.900m)

/ / Kris Draper ($0.600m)

DEFENSEMEN

Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)

Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)

Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) / Brendan Smith ($0.875m)

GOALTENDERS

Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Chris Osgood ($0.800m)

CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)

(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)

SALARY CAP: $62,200,000; CAP PAYROLL: $56,733,711; BONUSES: $0

CAP SPACE (21-man roster): $5,466,289

Edited May 23, 2011 by wingsownnhl43

[sandyeggo wingnut 19]

Agreed. If it were me, I would fill those forward spots with Mursak and Eaves, and maybe one of those 4th line Konopka types everyone is talking about.

Mursak-Helm-Eaves = Speed

Am I the only one excited to have almost the same lineup next year?

I like this for another reason---line change into the first line.. Helm's speed kicks ass on breakaways with datsyuk. See the Phoenix game helm goal