blueadams

I started a 2013 off-season thread.  But the more I think about it, the more I realize that this is going to be a two off-season process.  So, I wanted to start a new thread to talk about that process.  If the multiple threads bother some, I apologize; this is how I prefer it.

*Disclaimer.  I still think that we're going to win this series; and no one looks unbeatable to me on our side.  If Jimmy stays hot / gets hotter, who knows.  I just like talking about off-seasons..

I'm 25 years old.  Last off-season was the single biggest red wings catastrophe that I've ever seen; and there are still a number of bad contracts on the books for next season as a result of that.  However, two of those bad contracts can be bought out this off-season, and the rest of them are going to be off the books going into next off-season.  Given the impressive growth shown by our young core this season, if we can manage to add two things over the next two off-seasons - - - a stud, pure-scoring wing and a top-pairing (preferably RH'ed) defenseman - - - I think that we're the odds on favorites to win it all season after next.

Here's how I break us down:

Forwards:

-1) P. Datsyuk.  There's nothing more important than making Pav happy, making sure that he'll have a legit chance to win another ring if he returns, and convincing him to finish his career here in Detroit after his contract expires next season.  Nothing more important than that.

-2) H. Zetterberg.  He's here.  I'm glad.

-3) *???*.  This is where we need to add someone (no idea who?).  Top-line pure scoring wing.  Must get one.  Must.

-4) J. Franzen,  He's here.  If we can trade him for someone who plays harder, is more physical, and who isn't much worse offensively, then sure, you do it.  If you can't, we're fine.

-5) D. Brunner.  I like Brunner, a lot.  I'd resign him this off-season for sure.
 

-6) V. Filppula.  Similar to Mule.  If you can find someone who plays harder, is more physical, and who isn't much worse offensively (or at least shoots more), then sure, you do it.  If you can't, resign Val, and we're fine.

-7) G. Nyquist.  I like Gus a lot too.  Resign him this off-season for sure.

-8) T. Tatar.  I think he's ready for the show.  Call him up now and get him some experience.

-9) C. Jarnkrok.  He might not be quite ready yet.  But I'd prefer to see him called up asap to gain some experience.

-10) D. Helm.  He's here.  Hopefully he'll be healthy.
 

-11) J. Abdelkader.  He's here.  I'm glad.  Big strides this season.

-12) J. Andersson.  I'd definitely resign him this off-season.

-13) R. Sheahan/T. Pulkkinen/M. Frk/T. Jurco.  In two years, I'd imagine that one of these prospects is more valuable to the roster than an Emmerton.

-14) J. Tootoo.  He's here.  Having a goon that'll fight anyone, but who can still skate and move the puck well enough not to kill his line, isn't the worst thing to have in a reserve forward.

-M. Samuelsson.  I'd use one of the buy-outs on him.  He costs us a lot.  He's not going to be healthy.  I don't think he fits in that well with what we're trying to be.  He takes valuable experience away from young players.  Just axe him and move on.

-T. Bertuzzi.  I'd let him go next off-season.  Repeat all the things I said about Sammy.  But he's been here longer and makes less, so I guess I'd rather eat him for another season if I had to pick one.  He can hold that roster spot until we bring in our stud top line scorer.

-P. Eaves.  I'd let him go next off-season.  Don't hate Eaves.  Don't like him.  Roster's just too talented for him to have a place on it.  I'd probably send him to Grand Rapids to make space for Jarnkrok next season.

-C. Emmerton.  I'd let him go next off-season (if we can't get him back on a two-way deal).  Again, don't hate him.  Roster's just too talented for him to hold a spot.  He can hold onto a roster spot next season until one of Sheahan, Pulkkinen, Frk or Jurco is ready.

-D. Cleary.  I'd let him go this off-season.  Don't hate him.  Don't like him.  No room on the roster.

-D. Miller.  I'd let him go this off-season.  Don't hate him.  No room on the roster.

Defensemen:

-1) N. Kronwall.  He's here.  I'm glad.  No one's Norris-Nick.  He's a solid top-pairing D.

-2) *???*.  This is where we need help.  RH-er on the PP who's great in his own zone would be incredible.

-3) D. DeKeyser.  Love him.  Must be re-signed.  2nd pairing D for sure.

-4) B. Smith.  Love his growth too.  Must be re-signed.  2nd pairing D for sure.

-5) J. Ericsson.  He's solid enough to keep.  Resign him after next season.

-6) J. Kindl.  He's starting to show some real saviness out there.  I'd resign him and keep him around to compete with the rising prospects for that last spot.

-7) B. Lashoff/R. Sproul/X. Oullet.  Lashoff's here.  He's alright, I guess.  Talent on his heels, fortunately.

-C. Colaicovo.  He's completely useless.  I'd buy him out asap.

-K. Quincey.  Bad signing.  I'd let him walk after next season.  He can hold onto that roster spot until we get our new top-pairing D.

-I. White.  He's walking.

Goalies:

-1) J. Howard.  He's here.  I'm glad.

-2) P. Mrazek.  He should be ready to take over as the backup season after next.

-J. Gustavsson.  He can hold down the backup spot for one more season, then it's later.

I'm not implying anything here.  I'm loving watching our team right now.  I just like off-season discussions.

I don't know how many players we can buy-out (there are five I'd like to - Sammy, Quincey, Colo, Bert, Eaves).  But, if we can add a real-deal sniper and a solid proven defenseman (preferably a good right-hander)..  I'd love the off-season.

Who do you guys think some potential FA or trade candidates might be?

Mule-Pav-*???*
Val/???-Hank-Brunner
Gus-Jarnkrok-Tatar
Abby-Helm-Andersson
Emmerton, Tootoo

Kronwall-*???*
DeKeyser-Ericsson
Smith-Kindl
Lashoff

Howard
Gust

Though I don't think that we're going to have the horses to make a finals run this post-season (esp. with DeKeyser out), I have been quite impressed with our young core in the last two games, and to end the regular season.  I don't think that next season is going to be the season either (too many bad contracts still on the books - M. Samuelsson, T. Bertuzzi, P. Eaves, K. Quincey, C. Colaiacovo).  But the next season, I think, could be the season..

IF we can get Pavel to return for an extra season after his contract expires.  IF we can retain the rest of our talent on expiring contracts.  And IF we can add an elite goal-scoring wing and RH PP D-Man..

I think we could have a team that's good enough to win it all again, in two seasons.

What do you guys think?  And where might we find that elite wing and defenseman?  

J. Franzen-P. Datsyuk-???
V. Filppula-H. Zetterberg-D. Brunner
G. Nyquist-C. Jarnkrok-T. Tatar
J. Abdelkader-D. Helm-J. Andersson
C. Emmerton, J. Tootoo
*R. Sheahan, T. Pulkkinen, T. Jurco, M. Frk

N. Kronwall-???
D. DeKeyser-J. Ericsson
B. Smith-J. Kindl
B. Lashoff
*R. Sproul, X. Oullet

J. Howard
P. Mrazek
*T. McCollum

If we make the playoffs, I guess there's always a chance that an 8-seed could make a run.  But, given those chances, I'd like to talk about the rebuilding process that we're going to be going through here.  I'm just going to be speaking in very general terms here.  Just kind of feeling things out.  Don't take anything I say too concretely.  Just interested in gathering some board opinions about our team moving ahead.

Coaching.

...There's no shortage of things Mike Babcock does that I hate.  But he's still generally regarded as one of the very best coaches in the world.  He's not retiring anytime soon.  And who the hell are you going to replace him with!?  He's probably our guy for the foreseeable future.  And that's fine.

Goalies.

...Jimmy's a decent goalie.  He doesn't win you games.  He doesn't lose you games.  He's about to be way overpaid for such a goalie.  But, whatever I guess.  He's here for the next seven years.  He's decent.  At age 29, he's probably got at least 5 more decent seasons in him.  Petr Mrazek (21) is a prospect I personally really like, and he should at least make for a decent backup (if not someone who pushes Jimmy).  Gus is here for one more season, then probably replaced by him.  I guess we're set at goalie for the foreseeable future as well.  McCollum is at least worth mentioning as potentially being a decent third goalie.

Defensemen.

...Kronwall's sort of been exposed this season, without Lidstrom and Stuart out there.  But he's still decent, and a fine leader for our defensive core moving ahead.  Here for the next seven seasons.  At age 32, probably has 5 decent seasons left in him.  That's one check.  Ericsson, at age 29, is a decent defenseman as well, and another check-mark.  A free-agent after next season, I'm guessing he'll be retained.  This DeKeyser (23) looks great.  He's a RFA after next season and I'm sure he'll be brought back.  That's a third check-mark.  Smith (24) has shown a lot of flaws, but idk, I guess I'm going to continue believing in him.  An RFA this off-season, I'm sure he'll be brought back.  That's a fourth check-mark.  Lashoff (22), IMO, is a decent and cheap enough 7th defenseman to be considered as a fifth check-mark.  Kindl's (26) an RFA after this season.  I'm sure he'll be brought back.  Next season is do or die for him though.  Could be a bottom-pair defenseman.  Could be gone.  Quincey (27) I abhor.  He's gone after next season.  White (28), who's misused, is gone after this season.  Colaiacovo (30) is a waste of cap space, he's gone after next season.  

...All in all.  4 solid pieces moving ahead (Kronwall, Ericsson, DeKeyser, Smith).  A solid 7th defenseman in Lashoff.  So, here, we need to add at least one defenseman soon, preferably a stud.  And we might need to add one more, depending on Kindl's next season.  *Should've been Suter and Schwartz this off-season, but I won't get into that.  Sproul and Oullet are at least worth mentioning as prospects that might have a chance.

Forwards.

...Zetterberg's here for another nine seasons.  At 32, he should be decent for another five.  Fine leader moving ahead.  That's one check-mark.  Franzen's here for another eight seasons.  Already deteriorating at 33, I wouldn't expect him to be more than a decent third-liner in five seasons.  I guess that's a check-mark.  Nyquist (23) is an RFA after this season. He'll be brought back.  He can be penciled in a top-six forward.  That's a third check-mark.  Helm (26), presuming he gets healthy, is a solid bottom-sixer.  He's here for another three seasons.  That's a fourth check-mark.  Abdelkader (26) is a decent enough bottom-sixer.  He's here for another three seasons as well.  That's a fifth check-mark.  Andersson (24) is an RFA after this season.  He'll be brought back.  He looks like a decent enough bottom-sixer.  That's a sixth check-mark.  Emmerton (24) is here for another season.  I like a lot about him, and think he's decent enough to be a 13th forward moving ahead.  That's a seventh check-mark.  Tootoo (30) is here for two more seasons.  He's decent enough to be your 14th forward/fighter moving ahead.  That's an eighth check-mark.  Brunner (27) is a FA at the end of the season.  I think he'll be brought back.  He can be penciled in as a top-sixer.  That's a ninth check mark.  Filppula (29) too is a FA at the end of the season.  Worst year of his career, but I think he'll be brought back as well, cheap.  He can be penciled into the top six.  That's a tenth check-mark.  Datsyuk (34) has been rumored to return to Russia after next season.  I think we'll bend over backwards to make him happy and retain him.  He's got another 5 decent seasons in him as a top-sixer.  That's an eleventh check-mark.  Sammy (36) is a waste of cap-space.  He's here one more season, then gone.  Cleary (34) is done an gone after this season.  Bert (38) is a waste of cap-space.  He's here one more season, then gone.  Eaves (28) doesn't seem to have a long-term place here.  He's here one more season, then gone.  Miller (29) doesn't seem to have a long-term place here either.  He's probably gone after next season.

...Leaves at least three forward spots open.  Top internal candidates are Tatar, Jarnkrok, Sheahan, Pulkkinen, Jurco, Frk.  I guess we'll see who pans out among them.  Big time FA's should be a priority too.

Conclusion:

...There's a plethora of bad contracts with one season remaining on this team.  There are a number of prospects for whom next season will be incredibly telling.  Salary-cap space is on the horizon though.  And another championship-run is not totally inconceivable.  

...Top-Six Forwards: P. Datsyuk, H. Zetterberg, V. Filppula, G. Nyquist, D. Brunner, ??? (Tatar, Jarnkrok, Pulkkinen, Frk - have a chance)
...Bottom-Six Forwards: D. Helm, J. Franzen, J. Abdelkader, J. Andersson, ???, ??? (Sheahan, Jurco - have a chance).
...Reserve Forwards: C. Emmerton, J. Tootoo
...Defensemen: N. Kronwall, J. Ericsson, D. DeKeyser, B. Smith, ???, ??? (Kindl, Sproul, Oullet - have a chance)
...Reserve Defenseman: B. Lashoff
...Goalies: J. Howard, P. Mrazek (T. McCollum-3rd)
...Head Coach: M. Babcock

???-Datsyuk-Brunner
Nyquist-Zetterberg-Tatar

Franzen-Filppula-Jarnkrok/Pulkkinen/Frk
Abdelkader-Helm-Jurco/Sheahan/Andersson
Emmerton, Tootoo

Kronwall-???
DeKeyser-Ericsson
Smith-???/Kindl/Sproul/Oullet
Lashoff

Howard
Mrazek
McCollum

*Get a #1 scoring winger.  A #1 two-way defenseman.  Perhaps another good defenseman (*cough*Parise, Suter, Schultz*cough*) and we're set.

Thoughts?

Datsyuk's retiring after next season.  There's no realistic chance that we're going to be able to get out of the garbage Holland's gotten us into by next season (not enough to be a legitimate championship contender, at least).  Let's be the first team ever to know when is when, and blow it up to jump-start a rebuild.

Trade Datsyuk.  He'll make a middling contender into the favorite to win the next two Stanley Cups.  He's got a lot more value than most players in his situation.  Put him out there and take the best draft pick/prospect/young player package you can get - ASAP (trade deadline, this season).  Honor Pav.  Part on good terms.  Give him the chance he deserves to win two more rings.  Retire his jersey soon thereafter.   

Trade Franzen.  I've had enough of him too.  Still got several years left in him.  Manageable contract.  Still a big name.  Still excites with memories.  Still has value.  Float him out there and take the best draft pick/prospect/young player package you can get - ASAP (trade deadline, this season).

Filppula.  He's topped out and it's not that great.  Similar to Mule in terms of mistaken apparent value.  Little less due to expiring contract.  Still, plenty of value at the deadline.  Put him out there and take the best draft pick/prospect/young player combo we can get.

Samuelsson.  Trade him if you can.  Buy him out if you can't.

Quincey.  Trade him if you can.  Buy him out if you can't.

Colaiacovo.  Trade him if you can.  Bu..

Bertuzzi.  Trade him if you can.  Bu..

Eaves.  Trade him if you can.  Bu..

Gustavsson.  Trade him if you can.  Bu..

Cleary.  Trade him if you can.  Let him walk at the end of the season if you can't.

White.  Trade him if you can.  Let him walk at the end of the season if you can't.

Miller.  Trade him if you can.  Let him walk at the end of the season if you can't.

Huskins.  Let him walk at the end of the season.

Kronwall?  I'd float his name out there to see what we could get in return; but I'd probably prefer to keep him as the leader of our next generation's defense.

Zetterberg?  Again, I'd float his name out there as well to see what we could get in return; but again, I'd probably prefer to keep him as the leader of our next generation's forwards - and team as a whole.

Call up all the kids and see what they can do.  Mix in all the picks, prospects and young players we're going to get from the above moves with what we've got below.

Tatar-Zetterberg-Brunner(UFA)
Nyquist(RFA)-Jarnkrok-Pulkkinen
Frk-Helm-Jurco
Andersson(RFA)-Abdelkader-Sheahan
Emmerton, Tootoo

Kronwall-Ericsson
Smith-Lashoff
Kindl-Sproul
Oullet

Howard(UFA)
Mrazek

Also.  I think it's time for Mr. Holland to hang em up as well.  Bring in Yzerman to handle the rebuild.  The mistakes Holland has made in getting us into this mess - and wasting the second half of Datsyuk's career -  are too many to name.  The bottom line is that he hasn't done one good thing since Bowman left the organization (as an advisor).