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Guest blueadams

Pros & Cons of potential Rafalski replacements

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Guest blueadams

I just put this together to get an organized discussion going about Rafalski's replacement. I don't watch a lot of non-wings hockey, so my knowledge of these guys is pretty limited. I just posted pretty brief pro's/con's alongside. If I'm wrong about this or that, don't go nuts...just correct me, I'll probably bow down quickly.

If I had to guess, I'd say that we sign Jovanovski to a one-year contract and then hope to get a chance at Doughty, Weber, Suter, Burns, etc. next-offseason. If we do sign someone long term, I'd like for it to be Bieksa, but I don't see him leaving...and see Pitkanen as the next best option. Would love to hear what everyone else has to say.

Christian Ehrhoff, 28, 6-2, 203, L, 3.1m - Probably the best offensive defenseman in this class, good size, solid defensively; not very physical though.

James Wisniewski, 27, 5-11, 205, R, 3.25m - Very skilled offensively; bad defensively..one-hit wonder?

Tomas Kaberle, 33, 6-1, 214, L, 4.25m - Very skilled offensively; very soft.

Joni Pitkannen, 27, 6-3, 210, L, 4.0m - Probably the best all-around defenseman in this class next to Bieksa; durability/consistency issues.

Kevin Bieksa, 29, 6-1, 198, R, 3.75m - Probably the best all-around defenseman in this class; might be hard to steal from VAN though.

Roman Hamrlik, 37, 6-2, 207, L, 5.5m - Might be willing to sign a one-year contract, solid all-around; not very physical.

Bryan McCabe, 35, 6-2, 220, L, 5.75m - Solid all-around; nothing special.

Ian White, 26, 5-10, 191, R, 3.0m - Solid all-around; nothing special.

Sami Salo, 36, 6-3, 212, R, 3.5m - He'd be great on the PP; not very physical for a giant...durability concerns.

Andrei Markov, 32, 6-0, 207, L, 5.75m - Very skilled offensively, might come cheap; not very physical...major durability concerns.

Niclas Wallin, 36, 6-3, 220, L, 2.65m - Solid defensively; not much offensively, soft.

Eric Brewer, 32, 6-3, 222, L, 4.25m - Solid defensively; not much offensively.

Ed Jovanovski, 34, 6-3, 218, L, 6.5m - Very talented, experienced...might take a one year deal; scumbag.

Scott Hannan, 32, 6-1, 225, L, 4.5m - Very solid defensively, physical; not much offensively.

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James Wisniewski, 27, 5-11, 205, R, 3.25m - Very skilled offensively; bad defensively..one-hit wonder?consistently tough defensman, sticks up for his teammates, has ALWAYS been a physical presence in front of the net, mean, dirty, rotten. Hometown player.

Wiz pretty much encompasses what the Wings lack on the blue line. Could his 51 points be a one hit wonder? He scored 30 last season with ANA, and he started out this season with the Isle, so that hurt him a bit, but he still scored 21 there and then 30 in Montreal. I don't think he is bad defensively, yes he was a -14 on the year, but he was a -18 while on the Isle (not many players are in the + on that team) but ended up a +4 with Montreal. I have a strange feeling that in Detroit, he would be a + player as well... $4M is well worth him being here. The other guys you mentioned outside of Jovo, would either cost too much or there is no chance of them NOT re-signing where they are right now...although I still hope for Pitkanen as well as Wiz...

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Christian Ehrhoff, 28, 6-2, 203, L, 3.1m - 2nd best offense at this point, a bit soft but not greatly so, unspectacular defense. Expensive.

James Wisniewski, 27, 5-11, 205, R, 3.25m - Good offense, might get paid more than he can live up. Good grit, but lacks defensive commitment. Bad penalties sometimes.

Tomas Kaberle, 33, 6-1, 214, L, 4.25m - Probably best of the bunch offensively, underrated defensively (still not that great), soft as wet toilet paper.

Joni Pitkannen, 27, 6-3, 210, L, 4.0m - Best overall upside of the bunch, consistency as OP notes. May just need change of scenery.

Kevin Bieksa, 29, 6-1, 198, R, 3.75m - Good season, contract year, overrated, bad penalties, expensive. Brings solid defense and grit with decent offense, though.

Roman Hamrlik, 37, 6-2, 207, L, 5.5m - Decent all-around play at this point, doesn't really fill a need for us.

Bryan McCabe, 35, 6-2, 220, L, 5.75m - Pretty good offense still, meh defense, lazy. Doesn't fill need.

Ian White, 26, 5-10, 191, R, 3.0m - Pretty good offense, decent defense sometimes punctuated by dumb mistakes. Could fill need if lack of better options.

Sami Salo, 36, 6-3, 212, R, 3.5m - Good offense, decent offense, warrior, but breaks down more often than a Chevy Vega

Andrei Markov, 32, 6-0, 207, L, 5.75m - Best all round of the bunch if he's healthy. Downside: IF he's healthy. Probably re-signs with MTL.

Niclas Wallin, 36, 6-3, 220, L, 2.65m - Good D, somewhat slow, not as physical as you'd expect. Brain farts. Doesn't fill a need.

Eric Brewer, 32, 6-3, 222, L, 4.25m - Brad Stuart with a little less physicality and a little more consistent PP ability

Ed Jovanovski, 34, 6-3, 218, L, 6.5m - Decent offense, questionable commitment at this stage, defense lacking, might want overpayment.

Scott Hannan, 32, 6-1, 225, L, 4.5m - Slow to the point it hurts his positional defense, grit has dropped off as well, offense has dried up.

More accurate imo.

Edited by Datsyerberger

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pitkanen & brewer

thats my vote!

one year deals.

tanguay, laich, and tim connelly

no miller,mo,hudler ericsson, salei, macdonald.

smith up and down to get feet wet, janik & kindl spare parts.

oz backs up

done.

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