Official 2016 Detroit Red Wings Offseason Thread

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Maybe, but Richards isn't chopped liver either. He's a two time cup winner and a Conn Smyth winner who put up 90+ points on two occasions in his career.

Anways, Holland already said Fedorov's number is in consideration for retirement.

You've got to be kidding. They decided to terminate the contract?! And if so, is it because he wants to play in Russia? I'm confused.

That's my understanding. But I thought we could just suspend him for a year, keep him "active" and move his contract. This is completely out of left field, considering it was just days ago guys like McKenzie and Dreger were talking about the Wings moving his contract.

[marcaractac 3,961]

So... anyone looking forward to an eventful offseason, well we may be s*** out of luck. Don't know how to quote tweets, but I'll just write them out. John Shannon of Sportsnet just said this:

"Told that Datsyuk's contract will be terminated for anticipatory breach and he will be free to sign a new contract in Russia."

"Because of Datsyuk's age, there will be a cap hit associated with his contract -- full cap hit because it's a 35 plus contract."

If that is correct, we can no longer trade the contract because there won't be a contract. Tomorrow just got a whole lot more interesting, if we can't shed Pav's contract, we won't be able to make any moves at all.

If this is true it's bulls*** that the Wings would be punished with the cap hit while not being allowed to trade it. Either waive the cap hit or let the team trade it. The Wings are not in the wrong here if Dats wants to go play in Russia.

[kickazz 5,459]

I'm just confused. I thought they were allowed to trade it? The tweet makes it sound like they decided to terminate it instead because he wants to play in Russia.

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Back off the ledge boys, Bobby Mac to the rescue:

"DET will trade contract first, acquiring team will terminate contract, take cap hit. Contract will get terminated, not by DET."

Pretty important detail that Shannon left out, not cool.

[chances14 227]

I'm just confused. I thought they were allowed to trade it? The tweet makes it sound like they decided to terminate it instead because he wants to play in Russia.

i believe they are allowed to trade his contract. However they cannot trade the cap hit once they terminate the contract.

Sounds to me like holland is doing datsyuk a favor by terminating the contract so that there are no issues between the NHL and KHL transfer agreements

kind of ridiculous holland would do that for datsyuk considering datsyuk is the one bailing on the contact. or holland is unwilling to pay the price to move the contract to another team

[LeftWinger 4,936]

Who wants to bet the trade is already set to go? I bet there will be a deal announced by Tuesday.

Let's do this Holland! Your job depends on it!

i believe they are allowed to trade his contract. However they cannot trade the cap hit once they terminate the contract.

Sounds to me like holland is doing datsyuk a favor by terminating the contract so that there are no issues between the NHL and KHL transfer agreements

kind of ridiculous holland would do that for datsyuk considering datsyuk is the one bailing on the contact. or holland is unwilling to pay the price to move the contract to another team

Read the post above yours.

[kliq 3,755]

I'm hoping Holland is able to trade the contract, but at the same time I hope he doesn't cave into fan pressure and overpay to trade it. Unless it stops us from signing a stud, I'm not willing to morgage the future so we can be better for 1 year.

[joesuffP 1,746]

If we lose Jurco, Pulkinnen and maybe a third round pick but in doing so we dump Ericsson/Howard & Datsyuk then I'm all for it. Consider it a house cleaning

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

If we lose Jurco, Pulkinnen and maybe a third round pick but in doing so we dump Ericsson/Howard & Datsyuk then I'm all for it. Consider it a house cleaning

Agreed. Even if it's just one of Ericsson/Howard+Pavs contract, it's worth it to have flexibility to reshape the roster.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I agree with Leftwinger. I think there's already a deal on the table and it will be announced within the next few days.

I also agree with kliq. Holland better not not be massively overpaying just to get rid of the contract for one year. It's not worth losing a bunch of assets, just to have more cap space for one season. The only way we should give up anything of significance is if there's already a mutual understanding that Stamkos will sign with us on July 1st... which I doubt would be the case...

[VM1138 1,921]

Holland isn't going to give up valuable assets for no reason. If we lose someone it's because there were no trade partners otherwise. Our junk isn't worth as much as we like to think.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I don't care if there's 29 teams begging to take Datsyuk's contract, or only one willing trade partner, Holland should not be giving up a ton to get rid of this contract. It's a completely different story if we're a legit Cup contender, but we aren't, and won't be for another couple years at least. We should be trying to acquire future assets not lose a bunch just to rid ourselves of a contract for one season...

[LeftWinger 4,936]

The trade should be Pav and Pulk, but knowing Holland, it'll be Pav/Pulk/Pick at least.

How About Howard to Buffalo for Franson? Sounds like a Holland deal...

[VM1138 1,921]

I don't care if there's 29 teams begging to take Datsyuk's contract, or only one willing trade partner, Holland should not be giving up a ton to get rid of this contract. It's a completely different story if we're a legit Cup contender, but we aren't, and won't be for another couple years at least. We should be trying to acquire future assets not lose a bunch just to rid ourselves of a contract for one season...

Right, but we do need to clear off some chaff. If we lose a Pulkinnen, oh well. That's just a roster spot for another college signing or UFA. It's not about quantity it's about quality.

[krsmith17 7,191]

I agree, and I've said before that I'd be okay with giving up Pulkkinen for a late round draft pick (something has to come back the other way), but anything more is overpayment. And we're not in a situation that we should have to over pay. If it's going to cost more than that, eat the cap hit for a season and play the kids...

[joesuffP 1,746]

Trade Pulks, Jurco and picks if it can rid us of Howard and/or Ericsson's contract. Let's be real here, Pulkinnen has a lot of skill but he's never going to make an impact over here. He's not worth the roster spot or the headache it causes thinking up scenarios he could possibly fit in the lineup. Jurco is just so meh and if the coach doesn't like him and scratches him for large portions of the season than its no good for anybody. I'm sure Jurco's unhappy as well

[NerveDamage 4,176]

The WIngs will pick 16, 46, 107,137,167 and 197 for next weekend's draft

per @tkulfan

[kickazz 5,459]

Ya'll are forgeting that the streak is valuable to this organization. We are losing our #1 center. Holland will do what he can to keep the streak going.

And with the way Zetterberg called Holland on his s*** to be aggressive in the off season (twice by the way), I'm pretty sure the general consensus is that they need to move on from being stagnant and make moves to be able to make a deep playoff run. Can they do it with giving the kids more play time? Maybe. Can they do it by adding more pieces? Definitely.

Pulk + Jurco + Datsyuk's contract won't be a surprise to me. I know some of ya'll would hate it but something tells me this teams going to do what it can to be different this off season. I think a lot of us are fixated on Stamkos. Freeing up Datsyuk's doesn't just translate into Stamkos. There's a lot of UFAs out there that can make this team better. Stamkos is just a Plan A to the Plan B, C, D and E that could be potentially possible. And even if Plan C is remotely better than having Jurco and Pulkinnen as water boys for another season then so be it.

Edited June 18, 2016 by kickazz

[DickieDunn 2,571]

Maybe, but Richards isn't chopped liver either. He's a two time cup winner and a Conn Smyth winner who put up 90+ points on two occasions in his career.

Anways, Holland already said Fedorov's number is in consideration for retirement.

You've got to be kidding. They decided to terminate the contract?! And if so, is it because he wants to play in Russia? I'm confused.

And Richards hasn't been a good player in a few years now. Stamps is still an elite player.

[Datsyukian-Deke 722]

I agree that Datsyuk's contract will likely be gone in a couple of days. Something I hadn't considered is if it's traded, Holland basically forces his own hand and has to make a big move this offseason to make that trade worth it. If he traded Datsyuk's contract and Pulks and then struck out in free agency he would be crucified.

[joesuffP 1,746]

I have no doubt in my mind now that Holland will be making huge offers to Stamkos. This place is going to be a nightmare. Suter 2.0

[kickazz 5,459]

And Richards hasn't been a good player in a few years now. Stamps is still an elite player.

Look at my second point in the post. Management has been considering retiring #91. No decision yet. I thought we all knew this? I mean Holland said it like twice last year. It's no secret.

https://www.nhl.com/news/red-wings-could-retire-no-91-for-sergei-fedorov/c-773625

Edited June 18, 2016 by kickazz

[NerveDamage 4,176]

Ya'll are forgeting that the streak is valuable to this organization. We are losing our #1 center. Holland will do what he can to keep the streak going.

How do you see Z for next season? I think we are lucky that there hasn't been any upsets to his back. He did play the whole season, yet I don't know how you guys see his role as he's aging.

[Dominator2005 558]

KH needs to move Dats contract so he can have a chance to offer a contract to Stamkos, franchise center. You don't have a chance to sign young, franchise center each summer. Stamkos is a MUST.

1. Top six forward: Stamkos

2. Power forward: Lucic, Backes or Okposo

3. Top Def: trade Nyquist/Tatar, Ouellet, next year draft picks for either Shatty or Trouba

4. Trade Dats contract, Pulk/Jurco and a 2017-3rd to Arizona for 5th.

5. Trade Ericsson to Edmonton for 5th

6. Trade Howard to either Calgary or Buffalo (with 1M retention) for 7th

7. Sign Martin

8. Bye bye Helm

9. Trade for bottom physical Stay-at-home Def Mcquaid/Gudas type.

Abdelkader - Stamkos - Larkin

Mantha - Z - Lucic/Backes/Okposo

Nyquist/Tatar - She - AA

Bertuzzi - LG - Martin

DeKe - Shatty/Trouba

Smith - Green

Kronwall - Mcquaid/Gudas type

Sproul

Edited June 18, 2016 by Dominator2005

[kickazz 5,459]

How do you see Z for next season? I think we are lucky that there hasn't been any upsets to his back. He did play the whole season, yet I don't know how you guys see his role as he's aging.

They should use him as a 3rd line center or at most a 2nd line winger. His minutes should be limited to 14-15 minutes rather than his 20 minutes or whatever they run him down with. To break down his minutes, I think he should be used less in the 1st and 2nd period and more in the 3rd period to help close out games. Why? Because if you limit his minutes in the 1st and 2nd period and run down the younger guys, that saves him and his back a lot of energy. A 70% energy reserve Zetterberg would be very valuable to close out games as he's still one of the best 2 way players in terms of his ability to read the game. Not to mention Z loves to shoot from all corners. That type of strategy is useful to close out games because it puts pressure on the other team and keeps the puck away from our net.

Lastly when he plays in 1st and 2nd periods it should be not as much 5 on 5 but rather more on power play. He's still one of the best power play specialists on the roster. I can see him setting up Stamkos (lol look at me getting ahead of myself) on the PP for a bulk of his goals. Z on the right side on the PP as a left shooter (where he usually plays), Stamkos on the left side as a right shooter (that's where Stamkos scores most of his PP goals). The last two sentences were me talking from fantasy land but everything else in my post I think is a legit way of using him.

Edited June 18, 2016 by kickazz