Brunner Contract Talks

[St. Michael (the Red Wing) 422]

Based on what exactly?

I concur I don't see the comparison at all...

[Guest The Axe]

Thank axe, thanks a lot

Sorry!

Big Emdog fan. He's fast and cheap.

[Opie 308]

Based on what exactly?

I concur I don't see the comparison at all...

Well based on the fact that both of those players came into the league for one year and then wanted or got bigger deals than they had earned.

Then in the subsequent seasons they shat the proverbial bed. (Brunner has not done this part yet).

And Brunner did it in a half season, I personally have a hard time putting much stake in a half season. Look at Howard's start this year.

Was that typical of his play, or is that due to the fact that he didn't play during the lockout?

How many guys had a goal on him early that padded their stats, because he had very little preseason?

None of us really know

There is a reason that in this day and age a player makes it to the age of 27 before he gets discovered, call it a late bloomer.

But with scouts from all teams being all over the planet there are few players that have not been evaluated.

Brunner made his bones playing with Z, I am pretty sure Z could make me look better than I am, notice I did not say he could make me look good!

There are a lot of similarities between Brunner and Leino/Brunnstrim.

To say that there aren't, IMO, is ignoring facts to support your fandom of Him. I am not bashing here, because I was victim to the same thing with Ray Whitney.

I wanted him to be great on this team, even bought a Whitney Jersey, I defended his play on this board, but really he was not as good as I wanted him to be.

Instead of ignoring bad play, you are ignoring the similarities that in this case would make any NHL GM very nervous to sign Brunner to long term money, especially with the way Leino Panned out!

[13dangledangle 958]

Leino Brunnerstrom

[Euro_Twins 4,475]

Axe Holland said it himself, our four centers this year are;

Datsyuk

Weiss

Helm

Andersson

Emmerton is 5/6 on center depth sorry buddy

[SwedeLundin77 460]

Emmerton will be a depth player, if he remains on the roster. He will be gone next season. Nothing against him, but we have better players that do what he does and more already, he's redundant.

Brunner still could come back, but I doubt it. He's chasing money, and I guess you can't blame him, but man, I wanted to see what he could do with a bit of rest and a full season.

[amato 3,210]

Think back to the last time Holland made a trade.

i remember it like it was last week....

[TheDetroitRedWings 286]

Another day passes and Damien Brunner has STILL not signed with any other team. I really don't know what to make of it. At first I assumed he was trying to decide which team would suit him best. But come on it's been 6 days now, what more does he need to figure out? I wonder if those other teams are also not willing to pay him 3.5-4M? Cause if that is the case, then maybe there still is a slight slight chance of him remaining with Detroit, if Kenny can pull of a trade and create more cap space. It just seems to me that if he has zero interest in re-signing, he would've definitely signed with someone else by now. Maybe he's waiting it out to see what Kenny does.

[Guest Crymson]

Another day passes and Damien Brunner has STILL not signed with any other team. I really don't know what to make of it. At first I assumed he was trying to decide which team would suit him best. But come on it's been 6 days now, what more does he need to figure out? I wonder if those other teams are also not willing to pay him 3.5-4M? Cause if that is the case, then maybe there still is a slight slight chance of him remaining with Detroit, if Kenny can pull of a trade and create more cap space. It just seems to me that if he has zero interest in re-signing, he would've definitely signed with someone else by now. Maybe he's waiting it out to see what Kenny does.

What it comes down to is that Brunner is a one-dimensional player with one decent season under his belt, most of it played with Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg and with ample power play time. This season saw him suffer from substantial spells of inconsistency, and he was the weakest defensive player on the team. Many teams may be hesitant to spend a substantial amount of money and years on such an unproven player. Bear in mind that Brunner entered the NHL at a far higher age than most players, and thus may be considered to have reached his peak already.

[kipwinger 8,520]

What it comes down to is that Brunner is a one-dimensional player with one decent season under his belt, most of it played with Datsyuk and/or Zetterberg and with ample power play time. This season saw him suffer from substantial spells of inconsistency, and he was the weakest defensive player on the team. Many teams may be hesitant to spend a substantial amount of money and years on such an unproven player. Bear in mind that Brunner entered the NHL at a far higher age than most players, and thus may be considered to have reached his peak already.

That's definitely a legitimate concern, but I think with a full training camp, offseason conditioning, and all the other perks that come along with being a player on a professional club in the NHL, Brunner is only going to improve. How much? I have no idea. But I don't think it's a long shot to assume he'll improve on his transition year. The guy's a good player, and a lot of this contract stuff has soured people on him, but he's not as bad as he's been made out to be by his defectors, and not as good as his supporters. I think tops you're looking at a guy who can basically play Michael Ryder's game. But he's not there yet, and therefore doesn't deserve the money he's asking. For the life of me I don't know why he didn't sign a one year deal and then cash in after a strong performance this season.

[Guest Crymson]

That's definitely a legitimate concern, but I think with a full training camp, offseason conditioning, and all the other perks that come along with being a player on a professional club in the NHL, Brunner is only going to improve. How much? I have no idea. But I don't think it's a long shot to assume he'll improve on his transition year. The guy's a good player, and a lot of this contract stuff has soured people on him, but he's not as bad as he's been made out to be by his defectors, and not as good as his supporters. I think tops you're looking at a guy who can basically play Michael Ryder's game. But he's not there yet, and therefore doesn't deserve the money he's asking. For the life of me I don't know why he didn't sign a one year deal and then cash in after a strong performance this season.

One never knows. Brunner came into the league in excellent condition, as he had been playing the entire lockout thus far in the Swiss League.

Anyway, I doubt he'll ever match Ryder. Ryder has better size, a better shot, and a better ability to find the juicy areas in the offensive zone. More, he can participate ably in the cycle, whereas Brunner has an unfortunate tendency to take a low-percentage shot when he is challenged.

[pucktividi 472]

Another day passes and Damien Brunner has STILL not signed with any other team. I really don't know what to make of it. At first I assumed he was trying to decide which team would suit him best. But come on it's been 6 days now, what more does he need to figure out? I wonder if those other teams are also not willing to pay him 3.5-4M? Cause if that is the case, then maybe there still is a slight slight chance of him remaining with Detroit, if Kenny can pull of a trade and create more cap space. It just seems to me that if he has zero interest in re-signing, he would've definitely signed with someone else by now. Maybe he's waiting it out to see what Kenny does.

Some swiss guy on HFboards wrote:

"For what I've read here in Switzerland he would prefer a top six spot at 3 millions. Detroit had other plans (Alfie). I don't think it was about the money, but we will see."

[poel 28]

He said at the weekend he will decide until the end of this week. Different franchises interested. So no panic. Just wait.

Said he wanted 2,5M from Detroit but as a FA he want 4,0M. I think he want to join the Stars but they only offer him 3,5M.

Reportedly also interested: Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Washington and Montreal.

[Rivalred 630]

Brunner needs a center who can feed him and the teams interested know that...

Brunner would of excelled here with Weiss...

[Guest Crymson]

As he demonstrated last season, Brunner isn't ready for top-six play. He cannot face up effectively against top defensive opposition, nor defend adequately against top offensive opposition. He works best as a secondary scorer.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

He said at the weekend he will decide until the end of this week. Different franchises interested. So no panic. Just wait.

Said he wanted 2,5M from Detroit but as a FA he want 4,0M. I think he want to join the Stars but they only offer him 3,5M.

Reportedly also interested: Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Washington and Montreal.

Link to where he said all this?

[poel 28]

As he demonstrated last season, Brunner isn't ready for top-six play. He cannot face up effectively against top defensive opposition, nor defend adequately against top offensive opposition. He works best as a secondary scorer.

Maybe. But he is improving very quickly. He's maybe not a hard hitter and will never be one but he collected a lot of takeaways. And he will improve a lot, specially after his first camp. And the muscles he will add over the summer will help, too.

He wants to play top 6. And if he get a 4,0M contract, he definitely will play top6. No question.

Link to where he said all this?

Different Swiss sources. I summarized them for you. Here is the one concerning Dallas.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/eishockey/nhl/es-geht-um-3-5-millionen-pro-jahr-id2366670.html

[Guest Crymson]

Maybe. But he is improving very quickly. He's maybe not a hard hitter and will never be one but he collected a lot of takeaways. And he will improve a lot, specially after his first camp. And the muscles he will add over the summer will help, too.

He wants to play top 6. And if he get a 4,0M contract, he definitely will play top6. No question.

He'll play a top-six role if he justifies it being given to him. If he plays poorly, he'll be demoted. Such is the way of things.

[BottleOfSmoke 5,965]

Different Swiss sources. I summarized them for you. Here is the one concerning Dallas.

http://www.blick.ch/sport/eishockey/nhl/es-geht-um-3-5-millionen-pro-jahr-id2366670.html

This continues to piss me off, and reminds me of why I vowed to stop posting in this thread. IF it is true that he was only asking for 2.5 mil from the Wings, WTF Kenny?! The reports have him asking for a lot of different numbers, though, so who the hell knows what to believe.

[RyanBarnes! 293]

He said at the weekend he will decide until the end of this week. Different franchises interested. So no panic. Just wait.

Said he wanted 2,5M from Detroit but as a FA he want 4,0M. I think he want to join the Stars but they only offer him 3,5M.

Reportedly also interested: Colorado, Calgary, Buffalo, Carolina, Florida, Winnipeg, Washington and Montreal.

He went from accepting 2,5 to want 4? That does not seem right. Anyway, any team that pays Brunner 3,5 after one season is truly desperate.

[kipwinger 8,520]

One never knows. Brunner came into the league in excellent condition, as he had been playing the entire lockout thus far in the Swiss League.

Anyway, I doubt he'll ever match Ryder. Ryder has better size, a better shot, and a better ability to find the juicy areas in the offensive zone. More, he can participate ably in the cycle, whereas Brunner has an unfortunate tendency to take a low-percentage shot when he is challenged.

Yeah but that's exactly what I'm saying. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that Brunner, with proper conditioning, could get up to around 190 lbs. and certainly get stronger. Which would help him on the cycle, help his defense, and help his shot, and help him when he's playing in the tougher areas. Certainly he was in good cardio condition when he came over, but there's a reason why almost every player gains ten pounds when they make it to the NHL. Obviously some of them are going to grow more anyway because they're young, but Pav and Z both put on about 20 lbs when they got here, and they weren't 18 at the time. Kindl did it too after coming up from GR...20 lbs his first full season.

Like I said, there are a lot of perks to being an NHL player and Brunner hasn't really had the opportunity to make good on them yet. So, I'd expect him to improve, though how much is anyone's guess.

[poel 28]

This continues to piss me off, and reminds me of why I vowed to stop posting in this thread. IF it is true that he was only asking for 2.5 mil from the Wings, WTF Kenny?! The reports have him asking for a lot of different numbers, though, so who the hell knows what to believe.

Maybe because he doesn't have 2,5M. He wanted to sign Weiss and Alfredsson so there's no room for Brunner. And don't forget it's time to give the youth a chance. He has to clear roster spots for them. Wings have 2,3M capspace without signing Smith, Nyquist and Andersson. And Holland also want to sign a right handed top defenseman. Even if he will give up some roster players like Franzen, Ericsson or Quincey in this trade he can't sign Brunner for 2,5M.

Problem is that he can't buy out Sammy because he's injured. That's the problem...

He went from accepting 2,5 to want 4? That does not seem right. Anyway, any team that pays Brunner 3,5 after one season is truly desperate.

Maybe he's lying. But I think it's the truth. He always said that he want to stay in Detroit for a long time. Rumors sake Holland offered him 2,5M but not over four years. And Brunner want a deal over at least four years.

Maybe Kenny want to save some roster spots for the prospects. I don't know. Because 2,5M isn't a risk if you ask me. Just trade him away if he's not worth it.

Edited July 10, 2013 by poel

[kipwinger 8,520]

Given how desperately Samuelsson is clinging to that extra million he'll make if he's not bought out, does anybody think there's a chance if we offered him 4 million dollars he'd go hide on that one island with Elvis, Bigfoot, and Tupac?

[dropkickshanahans 463]

I'm just going to assume he will not be resigned and the same goes for Cleary. There's not enough cap room right now, plus the Wings have to resign Goose and Andersson, and Smith went to arbitration. If the Wings were able to resign him, there's really no place to put him right now unless Tatar or Nyquist were moved.

[Guest Playmaker]

One never knows. Brunner came into the league in excellent condition, as he had been playing the entire lockout thus far in the Swiss League.

Anyway, I doubt he'll ever match Ryder. Ryder has better size, a better shot, and a better ability to find the juicy areas in the offensive zone. More, he can participate ably in the cycle, whereas Brunner has an unfortunate tendency to take a low-percentage shot when he is challenged.

I think as with most European players and most rookies for that matter, transitioning to the long season is difficult. While this was a shortened season, the condensed schedule and travel for a player who is not used to such a schedule is a challenge. I don't think it's a matter of physical conditioning, but going to the West coast and back several times over the course of a few weeks can throw off a player who isn't used to it. I would guess he would benefit greatly from the reduced travel being in the East. I would like to have Brunner back. I like having a player with a "shoot first" mentality. Not enough of those on the Wings. I think the availability of Alfredsson threw everyone for a loop. Don't think he was in the Wings plans and they had to sort of change on the fly after having him come available and Brunner became the odd man out.