signed Drew Miller re-signs... 1 year deal $1.025 million

[nyqvististhefuture 1,002]

Jeez dude it's not that bad... look what happened to our PK when he left

I'd rather have him on the 4th line than Pulkkinen Frk or Jurco IMO

Pulkkinen frk jurco shouldn't be on the 4th line ... Wouldn't be surprised to see jurco keep getting shafted though and play on the 4th again

Pulkkinen and frk are pretty much done as it is with Miller back and have zero chance of being a wing before the season even started and jurco is not far behind ... Knowing holland helm will return and where will these kids play? Mantha will be sent back down again ...overripe bulls*** excuse will be used again

Zetterberg Larkin abdelkader

Ufa free agent Tatar nyquist

Athanasiou sheahan helm(assuming he returns)

Miller glendening jurco

?

Ciao frk and pulkkinen (better not be lost for nothing on waivers) and see ya mantha 40 games into the season

Team is gonna look pretty much the same compared to last season minus one ufa , unless holland ships off Tatar and/or nyquist

[NerveDamage 4,176]

that's beautiful! I do imagine Larkin doing that even at 5v5, I just say play them smart not just hard. Because we're talking about Larkin playing top line minutes and most people would also like to see him in the PP and add to that top pk pair as well? I know he's young and can take pretty much all you throw at him, but if he's projected to be a franchise player then you have to take better care for the long run.

[Jacksoni 418]

Hm.. Lots of valid points in this thread about this signing, mostly against. Speed in the form of AA and Helm certainly illuminated how important that is on a breakout when undermanned.

But those instances are rare, and for the majority of a penalty, when in our zone fighting the penalty off against NHL top talent you want defenders that can "glue" on to a guy and steal his ability to perform anything with the puck. Miller is good at this, even great.

I am not sure if that and his willingness to offer his body makes up for an exciting prospect to come up and show us his things. So I am divided on this signing. However at the same time I believe this will open up AA, Larkin and other speedy bucks Not playing on the PK, thus having legs for the rest of the game.

I guess I'll have to give this signing a "pass", without distinction. I do think it'll pay off, especially after the season starts wearing on our young studs, usually around the all-star break.

[NerveDamage 4,176]

Hm.. Lots of valid points in this thread about this signing, mostly against. Speed in the form of AA and Helm certainly illuminated how important that is on a breakout when undermanned.

But those instances are rare, and for the majority of a penalty, when in our zone fighting the penalty off against NHL top talent you want defenders that can "glue" on to a guy and steal his ability to perform anything with the puck. Miller is good at this, even great.

I am not sure if that and his willingness to offer his body makes up for an exciting prospect to come up and show us his things. So I am divided on this signing. However at the same time I believe this will open up AA, Larkin and other speedy bucks Not playing on the PK, thus having legs for the rest of the game.

I guess I'll have to give this signing a "pass", without distinction. I do think it'll pay off, especially after the season starts wearing on our young studs, usually around the all-star break.

totally

[kickazz 5,459]

that's beautiful! I do imagine Larkin doing that even at 5v5, I just say play them smart not just hard. Because we're talking about Larkin playing top line minutes and most people would also like to see him in the PP and add to that top pk pair as well? I know he's young and can take pretty much all you throw at him, but if he's projected to be a franchise player then you have to take better care for the long run.

Well look at it this way.

I can't use Datsyuk as an example because he didn't actually start killing penalties till 2005. But I'll use Z again. When Z came in 2003, he was immediately put into the PP unit. He was immediately used as a PKer and he was also put on a line with Hull and Datsyuk. If a player is good enough, the team will use him that way.

Why do Kopitar, Toews, Bergeron kill penalties, play on the PP, and play a lot of 5 on 5 minutes? Because they're THAT good. If Larkin is that good, you use him. It's not like he'll start logging 30 minutes. Toews manages to do all that and still logs in 19:15 minutes a night (which btw was less icetime than Zetterberg this year lol).

-------------

The "resting the legs" argument doesn't really make sense because top talent that kill penalties in the league right now (Bergeron, Toews, and Kopitar) log 19-20 minutes a night and manage to put up 60-70 points a year. It hasn't impeded their ability to score at all.

Datsyuk killed penalties in 2008 and that didn't stop him from scoring 97 points. By putting them on PK you're not causing them to play extra time, you're simply balancing their minutes.

Edited June 27, 2016 by kickazz

[NerveDamage 4,176]

Well look at it this way.

I can't use Datsyuk as an example because he didn't actually start killing penalties till 2005. But I'll use Z again. When Z came in 2003, he was immediately put into the PP unit. He was immediately used as a PKer and he was also put on a line with Hull and Datsyuk. If a player is good enough, the team will use him that way.

Why do Kopitar, Toews, Bergeron kill penalties, play on the PP, and play a lot of 5 on 5 minutes? Because they're THAT good. If Larkin is that good, you use him. It's not like he'll start logging 30 minutes. Toews manages to do all that and still logs in 19:15 minutes a night (which btw was less icetime than Zetterberg this year lol).

I do get your point and totally agree, I too remember how lately(in games) you comment how Z's speed is gone because of his back, and how he has chronical pain. I think maybe there's a lesson to learn here about the usage of a player and have more balanced lines.

[kipwinger 8,524]

I think Miller is overrated. But I don't mind the signing. If a kid outplays him in camp, waive miller and nearly all of his contract can be stashed in the minors. If not, he's serviceable. No harm no foul on this one for me.

[kickazz 5,459]

I do get your point and totally agree, I too remember how lately(in games) you comment how Z's speed is gone because of his back, and how he has chronical pain. I think maybe there's a lesson to learn here about the usage of a player and have more balanced lines.

His misuage wasn't due to PK it was due to playing 19-20 minutes AFTER back surgery, when he clearly should have been relieved of his minutes.

Here's a good article about our PK with Miller/Glendog.

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/12/2/9830650/the-glendending-draws-near

In short- they suck.

[NerveDamage 4,176]

His misuage wasn't due to PK it was due to playing 19-20 minutes AFTER back surgery, when he clearly should have been relieved of his minutes.

Here's a good article about our PK with Miller/Glendog.

http://www.wingingitinmotown.com/2015/12/2/9830650/the-glendending-draws-near

In short- they suck.

I never said to pair Miller and Glendening, I said perhaps combine AA and Miller so you have both shotblocking and AA's speed.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

It's 1 million... Settle down boys.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204]

Hope he's in GR when the regular season starts, complete non-physical 4th line plug. I like Glendening, his tenacity and faceoff ability are reasons to keep him around. Pair him and Miller up and the 4th line will get caved in every shift.

[Internet.Unknown 422]

Vitale was never gonna be on the roster , a throw in for us to pay his salary , now with miller's resigning it means more bad news for the kids

At this rate I wouldn't be surprised to see us sign one ufa and bring back helm , sent down mantha and lose/trade pulkkinen frk jurco and basically have the same roster we did last season

It's the redwing way ... Heck for the hell of it sign clearly as the 13th guy

Dayum! chickenlittleisthefuture

[kliq 3,755]

I was by no means advocating for this signing, but at the same time I am not against it. I am okay with Miller being given a 4th line spot as long as he has to compete for it.

[krsmith17 7,191]

The unfortunate thing is, as long as Miller is healthy he will be in the lineup. Slim chance he sits games and even slimmer that he gets sent down...

[kliq 3,755]

The unfortunate thing is, as long as Miller is healthy he will be in the lineup. Slim chance he sits games and even slimmer that he gets sent down...

See thats what I dont like, if I was Blashill I would be telling Miller that if he is not playing his A game, then the next game he will be sitting in the press box ala Cleary 2 years ago.

[kickazz 5,459]

They won't scratch Miller for a GR kid. Miller only recently turned 32. He'll be playing all 82 games. Will have to wait to see Betuzzi or Callahan another year I guess. Overripe to the max. Hope I'm wrong though.

Them signing him today also likely means Helm is moving on.

Silver lining in all this is Berzeench is probably crying. Which is a funny thought.

Edited June 27, 2016 by kickazz

[NerveDamage 4,176]

They won't scratch Miller for a GR kid. Miller only recently turned 32. He'll be playing all 82 games. Will have to wait to see Betuzzi or Callahan another year I guess. Overripe to the max. Hope I'm wrong though.

Them signing him today also likely means Helm is moving on.

Silver lining in all this is Berzeench is probably crying. Which is a funny thought.

Helm wants to scout the market and look for a better deal than what the Wings offered

[krsmith17 7,191]

Any idea on what the Wings may have offered Helm?

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

Our PK went to s*** last year after Miller went out. I am not saying we were horrible because we didn't have Miller. Just saying it counts for something. 1 Million is nothing to worry about, neither should the lineup spot on the 4th line be either.

[krsmith17 7,191]

The problem though is that the penalty kill going to s*** had little to do with Miller if anything at all. Our penalty kill has suffered in the later stages of the season the past 3 years. Miller was healthy for the previous 2...

[kickazz 5,459]

Our PK went to s*** last year after Miller went out. I am not saying we were horrible because we didn't have Miller. Just saying it counts for something. 1 Million is nothing to worry about, neither should the lineup spot on the 4th line be either.

Two words man. Doug Houda.

This guy is going to turn the PK around for sure. Bergeron, Marchand and Chara really thrived under him.

[Manny>Ozzie(by a long shot) 55]

There is our big fa signing of the off season. Now I think Holland will sign over the hill Eric Staal to replace datsyuk and we will be planning the parade.

[DatsyukianDekes 2,428]

The problem though is that the penalty kill going to s*** had little to do with Miller if anything at all. Our penalty kill has suffered in the later stages of the season the past 3 years. Miller was healthy for the previous 2...

Miller is regarded one of the best PK players in the league. Let's not act like he's not good at what he does.

Google best penalty killers in the NHL and you will find Miller on multiple lists in the top 10, along with stats to back it up.

[DickieDunn 2,571]

One year Miller played with some guys with talent he scored 14 goals with no PP time. How many did Helm get the last couple years playing with Datsyuk on the PP?

[brett 1,029]

Our PK went to s*** last year after Miller went out. I am not saying we were horrible because we didn't have Miller. Just saying it counts for something. 1 Million is nothing to worry about, neither should the lineup spot on the 4th line be either.

i thought so too but i just ran some numbers and the PK with miller in lineup is 86% and 79% without..

regardless he is a damn good penalty killer who can teach other guys who might enter into some PK roles. and can chip in offensively. 1mil is good deal