Official 2016 Detroit Red Wings Offseason Thread

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Helm currently makes. 2.125 on a deal he signed 4 years ago as a RFA. You really think he's only going to get a 375 000 dollar raise, with 4 years of rising nhl salaries, and given that he's poised to be an UFA? It's a UFA contract and he's not Drew Miller, he'll definitely get at least 3 mill.

He's a checking line player. Checking line players shouldn't get that much money, regardless of what they want or howuch of a raise it would be. It's still a hell of a lot more than he'd be making back in Canada working a 9 to 5 gig or working a farm.

[PavelValerievichDatsyuk 1,935]

He's a checking line player. Checking line players shouldn't get that much money, regardless of what they want or howuch of a raise it would be. It's still a hell of a lot more than he'd be making back in Canada working a 9 to 5 gig or working a farm.

Unfortunately for Holland, those won't be the relative comparables that Helm's agent will bring to negotiations.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

He's a checking line player. Checking line players shouldn't get that much money, regardless of what they want or howuch of a raise it would be. It's still a hell of a lot more than he'd be making back in Canada working a 9 to 5 gig or working a farm.

there is no comparison someone is going to pay him upwards of 3 mill and judging by his comments he is as good as gone too.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Let him go, just like he let Lapointe go when the Bruins tossed money at him and like he should have done when Abdelkader demanded that contract.

[kliq 3,755]

Let him go, just like he let Lapointe go when the Bruins tossed money at him and like he should have done when Abdelkader demanded that contract.

You're obsessed with the Abby contract, get over it.

I do agree about Helm though, if he wants anything over 3mil per, we need to let him walk.

[Son of a Wing 1,644]

1. Abby is a power forward.

2. Losing Abby would make us even smaller and easier to play against.

3. The contract really isn't that bad at all. In fact the AAV is pretty good.

Get over it and find something legitimate to complain about. He's the last thing we need to change/fix.

[marcaractac 3,963]

If anything we could use a couple more Abdelkader in the lineup. Having a guy like him on each of the top 3 lines opens up space for guys like Goose and Tats.

Why do you think they've both had down years? They've been stuck playing together too much, giving the team an easy line to play against. That's why the line centered by Sheahan was much better with Jurco on it in the past.

[marcaractac 3,963]

In the end, this is the summer to make a trade for a dman. Players will be available due to expansion draft next summer. Teams will be looking to get something for their players while they can. Trouba is the perfect target.

[WingedWheel91 271]

Let him go, just like he let Lapointe go when the Bruins tossed money at him and like he should have done when Abdelkader demanded that contract.

I'm not saying you're wrong about Helm - but Abdlekader was arguably our best forward this postseason... He's a guy you need to have to win in April.

You wanna talk about contracts that keep people awake at night? Zetterberg and Ericsson might top the list.

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm not saying you're wrong about Helm - but Abdlekader was arguably our best forward this postseason... He's a guy you need to have to win in April.

You wanna talk about contracts that keep people awake at night? Zetterberg and Ericsson might top the list.

His 1 point and -3 rating was the 2nd worst amongst forwards. He hit a dude a bunch of times while on ice but that's about all he did this post season.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

If anything we could use a couple more Abdelkader in the lineup. Having a guy like him on each of the top 3 lines opens up space for guys like Goose and Tats.

Why do you think they've both had down years? They've been stuck playing together too much, giving the team an easy line to play against. That's why the line centered by Sheahan was much better with Jurco on it in the past.

Amen brudder, not surprised another Newf would point it out! Tatar-Sheahan-Jurco was much more effective than Nyquist-Sheahan-Tatar ever was. Gotta have a different element on the line, two little guys on the 3rd line can't get it done. Truth be told, I'm not gung ho about size at any cost, but if we could add a defenceman by trading Nyquist+ in a package and then add a Troy Brouwer type I'm not sure anyone would be complaining about it.

[WingedWheel91 271]

His 1 point and -3 rating was the 2nd worst amongst forwards. He hit a dude a bunch of times while on ice but that's about all he did this post season.

When you have a 5 game sample size, you can use statistics to spin an argument pretty easily.

Here's my version: Abdelkader lead the team in goals, hits, and was our only forward to be among the "3 Stars Selection" in multiple games on CBC.

Long story short, he is one of our only forwards who made an impact this postseason.

[krsmith17 7,191]

"One thing that we want to do, we want to help our guys get better," Blashill said. "That doesn't always mean production wise you're going to improve from year to year. Sometimes it has to do with minutes, and there are only so many minutes to go around, and that can affect a lot of things including production. But part of what we want to do here is make sure we help our guys get better and make sure that we get better as a team."

I'm hoping this is Blashill's way of saying that he will be relying more heavily on the kids next season to "help them get better". I'd rather lose some games with the kids at the beginning of the season than lean heavily on the vets again. The only way they'll learn is to learn from their mistakes in game situations.

I'm hoping Zetterberg is 2nd line winger or 3rd line center, and Kronwall is 3rd pair defenseman, both getting around 12-15 minutes a game...

[kickazz 5,459]

When you have a 5 game sample size, you can use statistics to spin an argument pretty easily.

Here's my version: Abdelkader lead the team in goals, hits, and was our only forward to be among the "3 Stars Selection" in multiple games on CBC.

Long story short, he is one of our only forwards who made an impact this postseason.

It would be spinning an argument to say he led in goals when nobody on the team had more than 1 goal. However the +/- stat had a wide range from -4 to +3 of which Abdelkader fell into -3 (2nd worst) while is linemate was +3. Not to mention his possession metrics were one of the worst on the team at 48.5% corsi and 49.5% fenwick. He had roughly the 3rd worst possession metrics amongst forwards. Tl;dr Abdelkader was one of our worst forwards in the series through advanced stats, regular stats and even through eyeball tests (hell even with eyeball tests Andersson had the nice play for AA's goal). He literally brought nothing to the table offensively (much like many others- the entire team was terrible) in the 5 game series except for a post game beat down on Blunden and a few laughs from Brian Boyle doing the chicken dance. I guess I'll give him shared credit for one of the two games he played with Glendening and Sheahan and did well against Kucherov.

Edited April 28, 2016 by kickazz

[Bring Back The Bruise Bros 1,029]

Wouldn't be surprised or upset if Helm left. He's had a good tenure here, but he's not top-6 material. I get that he wants an elevated role. Maybe someone else can provide that. Someone will throw more money at him than Holland will.

Anyone hear anything on Richards? It'd be silly to bring him back after his performance this year.

I think we should let Miller go and look elsewhere for a 4th liner. Again, he's had a solid tenure here, but I think we need to shake up the 4th line and give it some identity. Anyone know whether Holland is considering bringing him back?

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Wouldn't be surprised or upset if Helm left. He's had a good tenure here, but he's not top-6 material. I get that he wants an elevated role. Maybe someone else can provide that. Someone will throw more money at him than Holland will.

Anyone hear anything on Richards? It'd be silly to bring him back after his performance this year.

I think we should let Miller go and look elsewhere for a 4th liner. Again, he's had a solid tenure here, but I think we need to shake up the 4th line and give it some identity. Anyone know whether Holland is considering bringing him back?

Matt Martin, Ryan Reaves would go a long way to finally have a real fourth line, but I'm not getting my hopes up and of course the holes are almost everywhere this off-season. Chris may have patience but I hope the best owner in all of sports is watching closely what happoens this off-season and if he doesn't like it, press the red button.

Richards, Miller thanks for their service but they aren't what the Wings need and for sure not part of the future. Other than the young guys I really don't care who gets traded just move into the top 10 and make a huge UFA splash.

[kipwinger 8,522]

I absolutely DONT think now is the time to trade for a defenseman. Sure we need one, but no high end defenseman are available for trade. Shattenkirk? Vatanen? They're no better than Yandle and you wouldn't have to lose assets to get him. What we definitely don't need to do is throw away good assets, from a rebuilding team, on a second tier defenseman. Magically put PK Subban on our current team and we still aren't contenders. We need a good defenseman to be hitting his stride in 3-5 years, when Larkin, AA, Mantha, Tatar, Nyquist, etc. are all in their primes. Not next year.

Edited April 28, 2016 by kipwinger

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

I absolutely DONT think now is the time to trade for a defenseman. Sure we need one, but no high end defenseman are available for trade. Shattenkirk? Vatanen? They're no better than Yandle and you wouldn't have to lose assets to get him. What we definitely don't need to do is throw away good assets, from a rebuilding team, on a second tier defenseman. Magically put PK Subban on our current team and we still aren't contenders. We need a good defenseman to be hitting his stride in 3-5 years, when Larkin, AA, Mantha, Tatar, Nyquist, etc. are all in their primes. Not next year.

If we could get a trouba or a young defensemen with some potential like dumba or one of the ducks/flyers many defensive prospects then we need to do it and replenish the prospect pool for defensemen

As for shattenkirk or vatanen ? I personally think there a bit overrated , sure put up some points but there not known for playing solid defense ... I would take one of them ONLY if mike green was traded elsewhere .. But at 6 million per year for green that's highly unlikely unless we'd be eating cap space

As for the comments around about zetterberg ... Yes he had a bad year but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and give him another season to see how he performs before saying he's done , think he deserves that

I think if he's healthy all season long maybe giving him a few days off here and there so he plays around 74 games will benefit the redwings during the season and playoffs ... Same with kronwall

Tough year for the vets but with Jagr still performing I think zetterberg can still bring something ... Maybe put him with athanasiou and mantha ... Just 2 kids like Jagr has , maybe that'll get him going

Edited April 28, 2016 by nyqvististhefuture

[kipwinger 8,522]

Vatanen IS one of the Ducks prospects, the one they want to trade. And Trouba isn't even as good offensively as him or Shattenkirk. We need scoring from the back end. Not another shutdown guy.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

If we could get a trouba or a young defensemen with some potential like dumba or one of the ducks/flyers many defensive prospects then we need to do it and replenish the prospect pool for defensemen

As for shattenkirk or vatanen ? I personally think there a bit overrated , sure put up some points but there not known for playing solid defense ... I would take one of them ONLY if mike green was traded elsewhere .. But at 6 million per year for green that's highly unlikely unless we'd be eating cap space

I've never heard a word out of Anaheim that Vatanen could be available so where does that rumor come from? I think Shattenkirk is a very fine defenseman and on the verge of maybe becoming a great one but if you trade for him, Green needs to go. Can't have 2 puckmovers who need other guys to cover up for their defensive lapses.

In order to get a good return on Green the Wings would have to eart some serious junk of his salary (2 mill at least) and I don't know if thats a wise decision he has only 1 year left so.

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Vatanen IS one of the Ducks prospects, the one they want to trade. And Trouba isn't even as good offensively as him or Shattenkirk. We need scoring from the back end. Not another shutdown guy.

We need defensemen that can be good at both ends though , that's why we'd have to get rid of green first to add a vatanen i think ... Too much of similar play although right now vatanen is better obviously

As for ducks prospects brad montour is suppose to be good as well Theodore ... Just think our prospect pool for defensemen are really slim now especially with sproul ouellet Jensen out of waivers and Russo graduation soon

I've never heard a word out of Anaheim that Vatanen could be available so where does that rumor come from? I think Shattenkirk is a very fine defenseman and on the verge of maybe becoming a great one but if you trade for him, Green needs to go. Can't have 2 puckmovers who need other guys to cover up for their defensive lapses.

In order to get a good return on Green the Wings would have to eart some serious junk of his salary (2 mill at least) and I don't know if thats a wise decision he has only 1 year left so.

Green has 2 more years

As for vatanen he's been talked about a lot as trade bait .... Read online and talked about on tv/radio shows since the ducks are a budget team and have Theodore coming and prefer to keep lindholm

[frankgrimes 1,836]

We need defensemen that can be good at both ends though , that's why we'd have to get rid of green first to add a vatanen i think ... Too much of similar play although right now vatanen is better obviously

As for ducks prospects brad montour is suppose to be good as well Theodore ... Just think our prospect pool for defensemen are really slim now especially with sproul ouellet Jensen out of waivers and Russo graduation soon

Green has 2 more years

As for vatanen he's been talked about a lot as trade bait .... Read online and talked about on tv/radio shows since the ducks are a budget team and have Theodore coming and prefer to keep lindholm

Thank you looked him up and nah, 183 ...5,10 the Wings really have enough of those guys. Tyson is the same type of player only 2 years older and could be had for just money but he also isn't what the Wings need.

Trouba would be an absolute dream, I'd happily pay him his asking price of 7 + mill because it would be a steal of a contract in a few years.

[marcaractac 3,963]

Trouba is a guy who can,be in the lineup now. Someone who can grow as part as the core of the team going forward. Drafting dmen is important as well, but the fact remains is we still need a dman NOW.

[frankgrimes 1,836]

Trouba is a guy who can,be in the lineup now. Someone who can grow as part as the core of the team going forward. Drafting dmen is important as well, but the fact remains is we still need a dman NOW.

The fact is this:

- The Wings need one NOW and

- they need one for the future plus

- a top 6 center NOW

this can't be fixed in one off-season which is freaking scary.

[marcaractac 3,963]

The fact is this:

- The Wings need one NOW and

- they need one for the future plus

- a top 6 center NOW

this can't be fixed in one off-season which is freaking scary.

Two summers can turn this team back into a contender. Will be growing pains this coming season with no Datsyuk, but things will be fine.