Will Holland Clean house?

[Bobby Orr]

"How he plays the rest of the year and into the playoffs is going to give us something to base our decision on heading into the summer," Holland said. "A lot depends where your team is. With young goalies, they're going to go through growing pains. ... During the summer, we're going to have to decide whether we're going to continue to be a Cup contender, or do we want to move some kids into the lineup, maybe take a half-step back in order to take two steps ahead in the future. Jimmy's still a pretty young goalie. We won't move him in until we feel he's ready to win games. We like Jimmy Howard, he's an NHL prospect, but I don't believe in entitlement."

Howard's progress -- or lack of it -- over the coming months is intriguing because so much is uncertain about Detroit's goaltending future. Current starter Dominik Hasek was signed to a one-year deal last summer, and while Holland said it's conceivable Hasek's deal might be renewed this summer, it'll depend on Hasek's health, how the Wings do in the playoffs -- and whether Hasek, who just turned 42, even wants to play another season.

Chris Osgood has another year on his contract, but at this point in his career, he's a backup, not a starter. So maybe Hasek comes back again, or Howard takes the reins -- or a fresh face enters the picture. As Howard readies himself to carry a struggling team, the Wings will be watching, closely.

www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070204/SPORTS05/702040617/1053

[Bobby Orr]

Maybe Holland will NOT sign a lot of his older free agents this summer: Lang, Schneider, Markov, Chelios, Maltby, Homstrom etc.

[heyfolks]

I don't see Lang, Maltby, or Chelios coming back. Schneider is a maybe. I think Homer and Markov will be back

[mrhockeytown]

i disagree,cheli is more likely back than schneider-schneider is looking REAL creaky injury wise.but lang i've read wants to go,i think thats mutual.maltby is slowing down in the new nhl.

[petrklima85]

Don't forget Datsyuk and hasek go UFA in July too. Kenny will have his hands full...without a doubt. I too, think that the odds are greater that Cheli will be back then Schneider. Also, if the price is right I'd love to see Markov and Homer back. Lang and Maltby will be hanging their hats somewhere else next season.

On a cost per performance basis, it's too bad that they'll have to carry Draper, Lilja and Ozzy's salaries into next season. I am guessing that all are virtually non tradeable. If the Dominator is re-signed and they can't move Ozzy then the goalie setup remains the same in Detroit and GR for another year.

Also, something tells me that by this time next year, people will be counting the days until Cleary's salary is off the books too.

[djoos36]

Unless things go really well, I think you can say goodbye to Lang, especially after reading about the relationship between him and Babcock.

I think Chelios and Homer will be back. If you could move Chelios back to about 15:00 a game and less PK time, I think he's still a good 5-6 defenseman. Holmstrom is still an effective player.

Schneider and Markov are tough calls. I don't think Schneider is any more fragile than ever. He's usually only good for around 70 games. This was his first knee injury in a long time. However, there are a lot of good (if not great) defensemen on the market.

Maltby is still a great penalty killer, but that's it. If he stays for about half of what he's making now, I think that would free up some room to address some of the team's concerns.

But this team definitely could make some improvements and somebody has to move to make it happen.

[djoos36]

I still want to know what the plan is in goal for next year. It still sounds to me like Howard isn't going to be ready to be the starter.

[djoos36]

petrklima85 said:

Also, something tells me that by this time next year, people will be counting the days until Cleary's salary is off the books too.

Cleary's contract is peanuts. His offense is a windfall for the Wings this year, one they'd be huring without, but even if Cleary's goals dry-up next year he'll still be a bargain if he continues to work hard on the PK.

[bootland27]

This is why I've been saying Holland will be active at the deadline, this may be the last hurrah for awhile. There is going to be a ton of decisons to be made, and success has made it harder to sign everyone again, especially with the cap. Lang won't take a paycut to sign, and I'm sure he doesn't like playing Babcock hockey, Schneider is another one who may not back, especially with Holland having to sign guys like Datsyuk and Markov, along with many others. I also think this is a sign that neogtiations with upcoming ufa's are not going well at all, so Holland and Co may indeed be forced to move on

[polarbear]

Out of the UFA's and RFA's: Datsyuk, Lang, Maltby, Holmstrom, Hudler, Kopecky, Schneider, Markov, Chelios, Hasek, and MacDonald.

I think Ken Holland will resign: Holmstrom, Schneider, Markov, Chelios, and MacDonald.
Holmstrom provides the ability to crash the net unlike anyone else on the wings squad and is a key component of the power play. Schneider completes the awesome 1-2 punch the wings have when paired with Lidstrom. Look at all the teams that have a 1-2 punch, like Anaheim (Pronger/Neidermayer), Toronto (McCabe/Kubina), Tampa Bay (Boyle/Kuba). If the wings want to stay competitive, they need to keep both Lidstrom and Schneider. Just look at how the power play fizzled out when Schneids was injured. Markov and Chelios will both stay because of their ability to play the stay-at-home physical presence on defense which compliments the Lidstrom/Schneider offensive punch. MacDonald will be signed just as a third string for Osgood and whoever else the wings sign as goalie (Biron?).

I dont think Holland will resign: Datsyuk, Lang, Maltby, Hudler, Kopecky, and Hasek. I believe Datsyuk is gone no matter what. Because if Datsyuk has a poor playoff performance, the wings management will not be too kind on the new contract being offered. If Datsyuk does really great in the playoffs, his demands will be too overwhelming to stay on the team. Lang simply doesnt fit into the wings system and like what was stated in an earlier post, its a pure mutual decision on both sides for Lang to depart the team. Maltby plays a tough PK style that recently has been taken over by Franzen plus a scoring touch that Malts has been lacking. Wings, with Franzen, will feel there is no need to keep Maltby. Both Hudler and Kopecky I consider as trade bait. Both are young guns that can attract many teams before the trade deadline. I believe these two will be the first to go since the wings are focused on keeping Filppula. Hasek, I honestly think this is his last season. Being the unorthodox style goalie that he is, its a miracle that he has last this long in the season. If the wings run short of the cup, he will hang up the skates. Or, if the wings win the cup, Hasek will finish his career with a bang. My personal opinion is that Hasek should've stayed retired after the 2002 win.

With all those that aren't going to be resigned, I think the Wings will definitely be buyers in the UFA frenzy over summer. I wouldn't be surprised if the wings pick up Forsberg before the trade deadline and sign him for another year. I also think the wings will pick up Biron over summer. There are many other great candidates the wings can look at over summer to continue to make the wings a cup contender. Isn't Chris Drury a UFA this summer? He can easily replace Lang.