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Post by bishop on Feb 4, 2007 13:56:34 GMT -5
The team will undoubtedly change. I would expect more of the same. Some will be resigned, others let go, and some more youth. However, I don't see them surrounding Hank and Lids with a pile of guys from GR.
Unless they are asking for ridiculous contracts, I would expect to see Homer and Chelios back. For reasonable money, who would not want them back? Homer has what few Wings have had for quite some time. And Chelios, forget his age, is still playing great hockey, is smart, and is a great leader. The others will depend on money, their desires to stay, and what else is available.
Dats may well not be back. We may not have the money combined with the players. Dats would be worth more to a team with a genuine finisher. So, I think teams with real snipers will offer more than us.
However, we will not be replacing Dats (should he go) with Langfeld. This team has enough players of quality to keep the same methods going of adding what is needed to what we have, so we will be adding UFAs to shore up.
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Post by tstar on Feb 4, 2007 15:29:34 GMT -5
Homer will be back for something close to the $1.501mil he made this season. He might get a slight raise but I don't think he'll get $2mil from the Wings, so unless he wants to leave he'll have to play for a bit less.
Hudler (RFA) and Kopecky (Group 4 UFA) will both be back from probably the same money as this season, which is 525k for Huds and 450k for Kop. They are both worth keeping around at those prices to see if they take another step.
Hasek is back unless he retires. Or gets hurt before the season ends. His play pretty much means he's master of his own future if healthy. He'll actually be the linchpin in the entire offseason. If he's back, I think most of the players are retained for one more run. If he rides off into the sunset, I think Holland might go young and focus on signing younger UFAs who can be part of the new core (Hartnell, Hannan, Phillips, Drury, Briere, etc.).
Chelios is back unless he retires, but at yet another pay cut. He'll play as long as he wants with smaller and smaller roles and less and less money. He'll probably get a base salary of 750k again with some incentives, but his max value probably won't exceed 1mil.
Schneider stays.....maybe. If Holland decides it's time to go with Howard then I think Schneider is allowed to leave to pursue an opportunity with a solid Cup contender.
Markov stays.....maybe. There are a LOT of solid UFA defensemen this offseason who can probably provide the same or more for less than Markov. Sean O'Donnell, Vitaly Vishnevski, Ossi Vaananen, Ken Klee, Craig Rivet just to name a few, or even Kyle Quincey from within the system. There are also a glut of big-ticket guys available as well who would be able to replace Markov well like Andrei Markov, Scott Hannan, Brad Stuart, Eric Brewer, Chris Phillips, Kimmo Timonen, Sami Salo just to scratch the surface. I don't think Markov is a lock by any stretch, especially if he wants a raise. He might actually have to take less to stay here since the market will have some incredibly underpriced options.
Datsyuk is 50/50. What is he asking for? Will he perform in the playoffs? Do we want to build around him or someone else? Do we just sign-and-trade him? After Hasek, he's the key to how the offseason priorities are placed.
Maltby is gone.....maybe. Holland seems to like to keep guys around so if Malts is willing to play for 750k I can see Holland giving him a 1-2 year deal.
Lang is gone. He doesn't like us that much. We don't like him that much. An amicable parting by both sides with no ill-will left behind. We wanted him to be something he wasn't, and you can't blame him for not turning into Peter Forsberg.
MacDonald is gone. If Hasek leaves and Howard isn't ready, Holland might bring him back as a backup to Osgood. That's the only way he comes back. We won't carry three goalies next season. Even if Hasek comes back I don't think Joey comes back for another season as a caddy. As a group 4 UFA, he'll try to find a team that gives him a chance to play.
Tradeable players include Williams (1.6mil), Samuelsson (1.2mil), and Lilja (1mil). I think Lilja will get moved. His salary is very low and he has value to other teams as a 2nd/3rd pairing guy. We'll probably get something along the lines of a 4th-6th round pick for him. Williams probably comes back unless he gets traded at the deadline this season. Sammy is back unless Holland gets wow'd with an offer.
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Post by slowhandfan on Feb 4, 2007 15:48:37 GMT -5
I know it seems that the WINGS have a ton of people up for UFA shopping this year, but I think Holland knows what he is doing. Every team is going to change yearly, not just the WINGS.. It is the new "CAP" based NHL. You can no longer sign 35+ year olds to multi year deals. That is just the way it is....
I think Holland will let alot of players test the market, but other teams will also have alot of players testing the market. The GM that wins is the one that gets the most(or best) under the cap...
That is why I am in no rush to sigh DAT.. Nothing personal, but is it takes 7 million to sign him, and 5 to sign Ryan Smith, what would you do??
If Chelios plays next year, it will be in Detroit for a little over a million... would not surprize me a bit As for everyone else, the ones that want to play in Detroit will be back... The ones that want money, will test the market
I said all along I did not understand why Shanahan left.... He had a home in Detroit, and now in New York he is in danger of missing the playoffs
I hate to say it, and never thought I would hear mytself say it, but I think a penny pinching, salvage project running, tight wad like Ken Holland will put a fine team on the ice net year.... and evey year there after
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Post by bubbletight on Feb 4, 2007 16:26:07 GMT -5
I don't see Lang, Maltby, or Chelios coming back. Schneider is a maybe. I think Homer and Markov will be back Hmm...have you been checked by an eye doctor for that Chelios problem? Every indication is that it's a matter of when, not if, he signs an extension. I agree about Maltby, Homer, and Markov. I would say Lang's a maybe and Schneider will probably be back.
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Post by trekronor on Feb 4, 2007 17:01:27 GMT -5
Based on guys already signed the Wings should have their bottom two lines pretty much set:
LW--------C----------RW Cleary---Draper---Franzen Hudler---Filppula--Williams Samuelsson
They also have half of their defensive pairings set: Lidstrom Kronner Lebda Lilja
Osgood will be back likely as a backup.
I agree that Cheli and Dom will be back if they want to play next year. If that is the case the goaltender situation likely will not change other than Jimmy Howard perhaps working his way into the mix.
I think Homer will be back but the issue will be how much it will cost to renew his contract. He is on pace for his second straight season of scoring right around 30 goals and has a lot of value for what he can do in front of the net. Hopefully he will give the Wings a hometown discount. I think Markov is in the same boat, but he might not cost the Wings much more than what they paid him for this season.
I think Schneids and Datsyuk will test the market like Shanny did. Neither player is a lock to be back. I wouldn't be surprised if both players sign elsewhere.
I don't think Lang or Maltby will be back period. So if this ends up being the case the Wings will need 2 or 3 top-two line forwards to replace Datsyuk and Lang, and one top-two pairing D-man to replace Schneider.
Not exactly house-cleaning but there will need to be a couple high-profile free agent signings. Kopecky, Hudler and Grigorenko will also be in the mix assuming none of them are traded and Grigs signs with the Wings this summer.
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Post by yzyman on Feb 4, 2007 18:25:24 GMT -5
There is no reason to resign Schnieder or Lang. The team performs better with out them. And yes, I know Lang scores in the playoffs... on the power play... of game one... in the first period.. HES CLUTCH!!!!!1
Lose: Lang, Maltby, Lilja, Wiliams, Schnieder, MacDonald. Attempt to trade Osgood, probably won't get any takers though. Try to get picks for any of the players above, even trade them at the deadline. Frees up $11.6 Mill
Keep: Datsyuk($6Mill) , Holmstrom ($1.3 Mill, Hasek($1 mill), Markov(If he signs for half), Chelios @ $850K, Hudler @ $600K, Kopecky @ $600K We would still have $13 mill in cap space and would only need to fill the second line center and a decent winger role. Thats assuming Datsyuk signs for $6, I think it will be less.
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Post by octopus on Feb 4, 2007 18:33:22 GMT -5
Throw the bums out!
How dare they compete for the President's Trophy, for the nth year in a row. This is an outrage!
It's like Matt Millen is in charge of the Red Wings.
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Post by yzyman on Feb 4, 2007 18:39:58 GMT -5
Throw the bums out! How dare they compete for the President's Trophy, for the nth year in a row. This is an outrage! It's like Matt Millen is in charge of the Red Wings. How many people remember or even care about the President's trophy? Wow you were the best team in the league and you lost in the first round, great season. The team has always been better off coming in as the 2nd-4th seed. 2002 was a fluke, the team was too talented for anyone to compete.
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Post by igor on Feb 4, 2007 19:27:18 GMT -5
^^^Well, I'd call taking a team to game 7 "competing".
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MacavitY
Veteran
Whatever it takes
Posts: 785
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Post by MacavitY on Feb 4, 2007 20:09:50 GMT -5
Yeah that was a fluke. Forsberg was on an insane scoring rampage. The real cup final was actually the western conf final in 2002.
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