Wings to have face to face with Matt Niskanen

[brett 1,029]

hes too young. not going to happen

[Guest midnightpulp]

Won't happen.. Holland stands pat for the 5th consecutive offseason

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Won't happen.. Holland stands pat for the 5th consecutive offseason

We signed two of the biggest UFAs last year...

[Guest DeGraa55]

We signed two of the biggest UFAs last year...

Really shows just how bad free agency is when injury prone Weiss and 67 year old Alfie are two of the biggest LOL

[kipwinger 8,756]

Won't happen.. Holland stands pat for the 5th consecutive offseason

I'm as frustrated as anyone about Holland, but I'd hardly say he's stood pat. He's made a lot of moves. They've just been moves that had a higher than average probability of failure.

I don't think you mean that Holland has done nothing. But rather that he's not been willing to spend the assets necessary for acquisitions whose success is not dependent on a large degree of chance (e.g. this will help IF so and so gets healthy, or IF so and so bounces back, or IF so and so is played in the right role).

[turbowhistle86 155]

What exactly do we have that we can sell him on?

Gentleman agreements?

We have pylons of success such as Cleary and Samuelsson, great work ethic as demonstrated by Franzen, and are only a few short years away from a likely GM and head coach change.

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

Really shows just how bad free agency is when injury prone Weiss and 67 year old Alfie are two of the biggest LOL

Not really... If anything it shows you don't rely on UFAs to build your team. They're complimentary pieces. Not 'the answer".

[VM1138 1,921]

IMO, Niskanen is a product of Pens "all offense no defence" system. We will get another Quincey..

I don't know much about Niskanen but I do know we need an offensive defenseman more than anything else. Quincey was not. He was just a middling suckhole. We need Niskanen to generate offense. Not be the ultimate defender. We are already stacked with defensive guys. Sooner or later we need to control the puck, move it and help set up the offense, which Niskanen seems to do.

We get better defensively just by subtracting Quincey and Kindl. Then we get better by adding Niskanen or some other offensive, puck control guy. It makes us a more dangerous team to play against.

Niskanen is not the final piece, but he gets us back into making the playoffs easier. Back to where we have been for 20 years. Then, with him added to the core, add your pieces.

Bottom line, we need someone like him to be more than a bubble team. Then, the additional pieces are gravy.

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[marcaractac 3,963]

Would be great to get him here for 7 years at 6 million per. Sure that sounds like a lot of money, but the cap is only gonna keep going up. A couple seasons from now that turns into a great contract if his production doesn't drop off.

[martinezsvsu 240]

I assume it'll be a short meeting when he offers a 3 year term.

So... sign a "big name" for the sake of signing a big name? OK then.

it's a sign that top free agents would actually want to come here again. also it means holland is capable of doing anything big. plus hes only 27 which is 10 years too young for holland.

[VM1138 1,921]

I'm sure they've already talked tentatively about cost/term, etc. Nisknanen's agent isn't going to waste his time. Whatever Holland offered they'e at least considering, which means it isn't absurdly off the mark.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

If they really do decide to sign Niskanen to any kind of term, then I would expect them to flip some defenders in a package deal for a forward. There's just simply no room on the back-end for all these defenders.

[wings4thecup06 504]

If they really do decide to sign Niskanen to any kind of term, then I would expect them to flip some defenders in a package deal for a forward. There's just simply no room on the back-end for all these defenders.

Exactly. Which means that Kindl is probably expendable and part of any deal we make, along with a young guy from GR.

[Jesusberg 1,256]

Exactly. Which means that Kindl is probably expendable and part of any deal we make, along with a young guy from GR.

Kindl's is definitely expendable, but if I had the choice, I'd keep Ouellet over Smith. I think Niskanen represents what Smith is aiming to become. I feel as if Ouellet has the potential to become a more well-rounded defender.

[arag 308]

IMO, Niskanen is a product of Pens "all offense no defence" system. We will get another Quincey..

Niskanen's defensive skills are far more superior from Quincey's. Also he plays more physical than Q. Iam not talking about offense. He should do well in the Wings system.

[derblaueClaus 1,668]

I did say it in another thread. Of course there is a risk to sign a guy like him to 49 million / 7 Years but very good D-Man are scarce. No GM would trade or let walk an already proven #1 D-Man. If we want to be a Cup contender we have to take a risk and if this risk is t get an #4 D-Man at 7 Mil. a year then so be it. It would be a good signing in my opinion.

[dragonballgtz 273]

But they're not likely to get into a bidding war for Niskanen and surely will take into consideration that their best defenseman, Niklas Kronwall, is earning ($4.75 million per season).

Wings can't take that into consideration IMO. Wings got lucky with Kronwall by locking him into a 7 year contract, before the new CBA, in which the last two years he is only make $3.5M and $1.75M. Any defenseman worth it will have a higher cap hit, there is just no way around that.

[VM1138 1,921]

With these long-term contracts, a GM can't worry about not paying someone more than your captain, for instance. Everyone panicked about Ericsson and Kronwall's prices, and now Kronwall is an absolute steal. I'm sure if we landed Niskanen for 5.5 or 6 we'll all be worried, but if he remains consistent in three years it'll be a steal, too. Remember, when the cap goes up, salaries go up for new free agents, too.

[arag 308]

Niskanen has a potential to be next Rafalski in the Wings system. I hope Holland makes this happen. If Holland can overpay for Q and many others that were overpaid and failed big time. Why not go for an much needed overpaid D man that has pretty much what we need on the blue line and power play. Iam positive in the next few years the UFA class will be filled with underachieving players that no one wants. All the good players will be signed long term deals. I say get Niskanen and get Orpik if possible. All of a sudden our D is in a great shape.

[marcaractac 3,963]

In the end, Holland needs to make sure money is not the reason Niskanen signs elsewhere (within reason, of course). Sure he will have to overpay now. But the cap will keep going up.

[arag 308]

Better overpay for him, than run out options and over pay and resign Q. They are not ruling him out. Not a good sign.

[Guest Playmaker]

When did top free agents ever not want to come here?

[Guest DeGraa55]

When did top free agents ever not want to come here?

Last umm what 8 years? 6 years?

[GoWings1905 2,694]

While I do love most of our kid Dmen I think signing Niskanen would give us a lot of options when it comes to trading some of them to better our team.

Personally I would keep the righties (Marchenko and Sproul) and attempt to trade Bäckman and/or Ouellet in a package for someone like Kesler or E.Kane. OR to move up to the top of the draft and get ourselves a future #1C.

Tats+Helm+Ouellet for Kane/Kesler

Kronner-Dekeyser

Niskanen-Smith

Big E-Marchenko/Bäckman

That D is a TON better than last year. No Kindl, Lashoff or Quincey in the top 6.

Good post and I completely agree. If the Wings are serious about signing Niskanen long-term and they get him, then it makes sense to move some of the surplus defense prospects. With Niskanen, Smith, DeKeyser, and ideally Ericsson all around going forward, there is just not enough space in Detroit for what appears to be four potential NHL quality d-men in Grand Rapids. If they opt for the stopgap veteran move (Boyle, Gilbert) then it's less necessary to trade any of the young guys.

Personally, the only player I hope the Wings absolutely hang on to is Sproul. His skill set is so unique and something the organization has been lacking for years.

[Datsyukian-Deke 722]

When did top free agents ever not want to come here?

When Holland became satisfied with making us a first round exit team. People wanted to come to Detroit because we were committed to winning championship every year. Since the Salary cap era, Holland and Illitch can't monopolize the league anymore.