Wings sign D Ian White to 2-year, $5.75m contract

[VM1138 1,921]

I agree he's only had 1 season of 30 plus pts (had 38 pts 2 seasons ago, and 2 seasons of 26 pts)- he'll get his chance on the 2nd pp unit since he's now 1 of 2 Dmen Holland just signed that's right shooting (the other righty being Commodore).

With the talent on this team he'll get 30 plus pts...That may sound crazy to some, but I'm certain he can do it.

Agreed. With the role and support he would have here, he could really turn into an even more solid defenseman. Honestly, I feel our defense is worse offensively but better defensively, so if Holland can lock up a reliable top 6 scorer I think it'll be a wash, but the increased physicality and the new coaches could push the team farther than last years.

The problem last year was consistency and injuries. I think Holland has fixed that on the defensive end but with all the injuries at forward the past two years it's important he pick up another top 6 guy. It's just become too frequent that Cleary and Franzen are injured at the same time.

[Aussie_Wing 354]

Very solid signing, and a very fair dollar amount.

I wouldn't say I'm pumped about this signing, but I'm not disappointed either.

[ben_usmc 253]

Im happy with the signing, and with people stating about the comparison with Rafalski, he is paid about half Raffy's contract

[ben_usmc 253]

Although I'm not confident in our defense, I am content with what Holland has done at the end of the day. He obviously knew the defense needed to improve, he massively overpaid Ericsson, his additions of Commadore and White at there prices seem good. I just hope he grabs a heavyweight 4th liner for cheap and we go into the season with the money. I was really pissed about the Big Rig signing but I'm hoping with a good defensive coach all 3 regain form.

Edited July 3, 2011 by ben_usmc

[Hockeytown0001 7,652]

HUGE fan of this signing.

[9-HoweFan 2]

Okay thats better, thank you Kenny.

Well said. You gotta love a guy that's 5'10" and fights....that's heart and character.

[Trapt1307 81]

Love the signing.

If it wasn't for that lousy Ericsson deal, I would love this offseason so far. I think they got great value for both him and Commodore.

[pucktividi 472]

I really like this signing,actually he was my 'if everything else fails' pick and for this money I definitely approve

[Konnan511 1,736]

Great signing Kenny. Our back end is much faster. I'm fine with our defense now. Lids, Kronwall, Stuart, White, Commadore64, Kindl, Ericsson are a solid top 7. Now all we need to do is dump Hudler and I will consider this summer a success with all things cnsidered. I don't see Holland signing anymore defensemen unless he plans on trading Kindl or else we'll have 8 DMen and there's zero chance Kindl AND Ericsson would sit because of that massive Ericsson deal.

I see a possible top 9 forward being signed, probably someone who can play with pavel, otherwise all i see are GRap signings if Hudler isn't traded.

[cjm502 165]

Whoever doesnt like this signing now will LOVE it by the end of this season.

[DatsyukianDangles122 16]

Ian White has a lot of heart. I think our D is looking pretty good now. I still think that the trade with Winnipeg for Bogo would be beneficial, but at this point we're pretty set. I think we do need a top 6 forward though. Holland should look into what's left over once the RFA window has passed. Maybe Kostitsyn? Or try and make a trade with Hudler for a respectable guy that maybe scores less but has more heart and grit. That's something that the Wings severely need.

[Cali-Wing-Nut 102]

Ian White disappeared in the playoffs for the Sharks. Sounds like a Hossa signing, promising player that cant play when it matters.

Holland is a carp.

[Agalloch93 28]

Ian White disappeared in the playoffs for the Sharks. Sounds like a Hossa signing, promising player that cant play when it matters.

Holland is a carp.

Funny you say this because every single Sharks fan said one of the best things about him is how he plays his hardest every game and stepped up big time in the playoffs. I guess you'd know better though. Guess you forgot he scored on us also.

[plopster 136]

Who else thinks that another positive from this is he would be a safe bet on someone who would know the weaknesses of the sharks?

[Cali-Wing-Nut 102]

Funny you say this because every single Sharks fan said one of the best things about him is how he plays his hardest every game and stepped up big time in the playoffs. I guess you'd know better though. Guess you forgot he scored on us also.

White was harped on a constant basis in my area of the country... Oh thats right NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Hes far from stellar. Like any player he has his moments. Ericcson had his and depending on which article you read hes the best thing since sliced bread. I know better. Our team is literally grabbing up the table scraps after everyone feasted on the good Dmen.

Holland is picking up anyone he can to fill out the roster. Granted a few will be traded off during or after training camp but the fact we havent locked down anyone of signifigance is plain worrying.

The diamond in the rough thing isnt gonna get us a cup this year or next year for that matter. Hell there arent even plans of playing Jurco for at least 2-3 years at the very earliest. That is mind boggling. Maybe thats why we are so streaky in our year to year play, its Hollands decision to actually put some fresh players in. This over ripe thing has me banging my head against ever door, wall and post I can see.

Im praying we have a decent chance next year, cause on paper we are lookin g like half Red Wings half The Replacements.

We havent bolstered our D at all, in fact with our losses we are worse off than last year.

[Guest Heaten]

Ian White disappeared in the playoffs for the Sharks. Sounds like a Hossa signing, promising player that cant play when it matters.

Holland is a carp.

Ian White: 9 points in 17 games ($2.8 per year)

Brian Rafalski: 3 points in 11 games ($6 million per year)

You were saying?

[winger30 20]

people still complaining? wow not alot to pick from in this FA class I'm ok with this and the Commie signing.

[Shaman 713]

White was harped on a constant basis in my area of the country... Oh thats right NORTHERN CALIFORNIA.

Hes far from stellar. Like any player he has his moments. Ericcson had his and depending on which article you read hes the best thing since sliced bread. I know better. Our team is literally grabbing up the table scraps after everyone feasted on the good Dmen.

Holland is picking up anyone he can to fill out the roster. Granted a few will be traded off during or after training camp but the fact we havent locked down anyone of signifigance is plain worrying.

The diamond in the rough thing isnt gonna get us a cup this year or next year for that matter. Hell there arent even plans of playing Jurco for at least 2-3 years at the very earliest. That is mind boggling. Maybe thats why we are so streaky in our year to year play, its Hollands decision to actually put some fresh players in. This over ripe thing has me banging my head against ever door, wall and post I can see.

Im praying we have a decent chance next year, cause on paper we are lookin g like half Red Wings half The Replacements.

We havent bolstered our D at all, in fact with our losses we are worse off than last year.

Bandwagon now making stops in Sacramento. Feel free to get off at any point.

Seriously though, I have watched the Leafs and the Sharks a lot in the past 4 years, their fans and I agree hes a good player, maybe not Rafi 2.0 but, still a solid pick up at a good price. Just because the wings didn't steal Weber, Suter, Doughty, Hedman and stole a Delorean, invented the flux capacitor, and kidnapped Bobby Orr doesn't mean the Wings don't have a solid Defense.

As for the Wings' prospect the only one in GR ready to step into the line up is Mursak, Tatar and Smith both would benefit another year in the AHL. Pulu and Ironhook are still under 20 and both are going to stay in Europe for one more season at least and dominate, and the other prospects in the wings system aren't even close to the big squad. Next season you will see a lot of youth both from within the organization and outside of it making the team, but that isn't today. For this season the Wings have a good team to ice, some youth, a few vets, some new faces, and a good core. If you don't like it, the Flyers overhauled, feel free to root for that.

Edited July 3, 2011 by Shaman464

[Cali-Wing-Nut 102]

Yet you didnt name Kindl.

Im well know for hating Ericcson. And we signed him

I actually made comments about picking up Wiz back in January thinking that would be a good grab, wouldnt pay him.

Im no bandwagon fan sir. What Holland is picking up now is a result of his lack of dealing earlier on.

RFAs are overpriced ie: Weber. UFAs need a bit of wooing and at the very least a good reason to consider the job. Holland isnt doing a good job of wooing .

We shall see how things play out but I have a bad feeling about our defense.

[Shaman 713]

Yet you didnt name Kindl.

Im well know for hating Ericcson. And we signed him

I actually made comments about picking up Wiz back in January thinking that would be a good grab, wouldnt pay him.

Im no bandwagon fan sir. What Holland is picking up now is a result of his lack of dealing earlier on.

RFAs are overpriced ie: Weber. UFAs need a bit of wooing and at the very least a good reason to consider the job. Holland isnt doing a good job of wooing .

We shall see how things play out but I have a bad feeling about our defense.

If you read the forums you might have seen that Wiz probably wouldn't have signed with Detroit for 10 million a season. Seems the Wings Org wronged his kin and now hes all fussin and feuding. But wait, everyone must want to play for the wings. So now that I got him off the list, who else? Ehrhoff? hes not any better defensively than White, he might be somewhat better offensively, but hes making 4 million next year plus a 8 million dollar bonus, really think hes worth 12 million next season? Yeah right. Kaberle? Hes good offensively, but he would make Ericsson look like a defensive Stalwart. So the wings lost some points on the back end, thats not the end of the world, if they get a good defense coach and reduce the number of GA that shouldn't be an issue. Remember kiddo it wasn't because Ozzie and Hasek were Vezina candidates that they won the Jennings in 07-08. The biggest issue the wings have coming into this season now is durability in the forward corp, if Franzen can make it 75+ games hes going to score over 35G and if Flip is healthy all season and plays on Dats wing he easily could have a 50 point season. But this isn't going to change if the Wings signed Bobby Orr in his prime, or a really really high Brett Lebda.

Edited July 3, 2011 by Shaman464

[sleepwalker 512]

Good signing at a good price. No complaints here.

I can't believe we're giving Ericsson more money than White... lol Ridiculous.

[Cali-Wing-Nut 102]

We have Bobby Orr. His name is Nick Lidstrom

Nicky, Kron and Stewie need some real pairings.

Kindl is a solid bottom pairing and could be a 2nd pairing in an emergency.

Merzzy is a bottom pairing but we could run him a full season and be happy.

As far as Erhoff is concerned, I never wanted him.

As far as the bad blood goes with Wiz, every man hs his price and his snub sounded to me like he was offered a joke of a contract. Conjecture about his family being let go with a pink slip stapled to his last check is one thing but hockey players first need a job and second want to win at their present job. He knew he had a good chance to win here but also knew that hes a pro hockey player that deserves a good paycheck.

Nobody even talks about trading with other teams just FAs. We have a deep list of forwards that are definitely worth something to another team. Not just the starters but our GR guys as well. Culling the herd and grabbing up a signed player or two isnt that bad of an idea.

Holland reminds me of my dad, stuck in a certain decade and stuck in his routine. Thats when you know you need to retire and let the kids play without you.

White is an affordable guy but he is doing nothing for our team to replace Raffy. Ericcson is definitely not replacing Raffy even if he gets his spot on the rotation. We are grabbing up a lot of bottom or third pairing players, no one that is a starter or someone that will fill anyones shoes as Nick retires and other guys move up to newer spots.

So Ill say it again Holland is a carp. Hes bottom feeding all the leftover Dmen. Its a waste of money and makes me question how well our D is going to be.

We woulda won the cup last year if we had healthy Dmen. The injuries to our Forwards could have ben dealt with but we had too many GA due to shoddy D which was a result of injuries and sub par replacements.

Im expecting similar results this season, I hope I wrong.

[UKWING 8]

good signing by holland and a great price too.

white is not as good as a healthy rafalski, but he is much better than the rafalski that we saw in this year's playoffs.

now if the wings could just manage to shift hudler, they would have the space (and plenty of $$) for the top 6 forward they need.

[Jusek 437]

[Heinz 1]

I am quite happy with our Free Agent activities so far. Obviously White and Commodore don't replace Rafalski, but both come at a very good price with short term contracts. So not much risk there. The FA Pool didnt really offer much this year, so there is no sense at all in signing a and badly overpaying an average guy to a 6 or 7 year contract and thereby making us unable to act in next years free agency, where we might find someone worth to spend big $ on and who would a much better fit than the top FAs this year.