I know Glencross has been mentioned a few times, but it looks like we can officially cross him off our lists. Sounds like Calgary got a pretty solid deal on him, too.
Trade rumor board is reporting 4 years @ $2.55 mil per, which seems like a good deal when you think of what he was about to get on the open market. But is it really a good deal? $2.55 mil for 15-20 goals and 30-40 points a year? That's not such a great deal IMO.
Calgary continues to stockpile lunchpailers and doesn't have anyone dynamic to generate offense. They're the Alberta Predators only without the productive farm system and juvenile NCAA home crowd.
Throwing a name out: Jussi Jokinen. Scored 19 goals in 70 games. 30 goals before that. Brings some skill and extra points in the shootout. Might mesh with Fil well. Current cap: 1 700 000. Current salary: 1 900 000.
I would easily invest Hudler's money if Jiri is getting traded.
I had listed Jokinen as someone I want in one of these threads. We might be able to get him for between 2-3m.
Trade rumor board is reporting 4 years @ $2.55 mil per, which seems like a good deal when you think of what he was about to get on the open market. But is it really a good deal? $2.55 mil for 15-20 goals and 30-40 points a year? That's not such a great deal IMO.
Calgary continues to stockpile lunchpailers and doesn't have anyone dynamic to generate offense. They're the Alberta Predators only without the productive farm system and juvenile NCAA home crowd.
We pay Dan Cleary $3M to do that. And if Glencross continues to be a 30 goal scorer, $2.55M is probably a good deal. The contract that stands out as awful is Langkow's. The guy fell through the floor after signing that deal, and then gets hit with an injury that took him out all of this past season.
Between Langkow, Stajan and Jokinen, Calgary just doesn't seem to have a clue what to do with their centers or how to pay them.
We pay Dan Cleary $3M to do that. And if Glencross continues to be a 30 goal scorer, $2.55M is probably a good deal. The contract that stands out as awful is Langkow's. The guy fell through the floor after signing that deal, and then gets hit with an injury that took him out all of this past season.
Between Langkow, Stajan and Jokinen, Calgary just doesn't seem to have a clue what to do with their centers or how to pay them.
Well, a lot of people think Cleary is overpaid at $2.8 mil. But even so, he was coming off back to back 20 goal/40 point seasons when he signed that deal, he had a couple of very good playoffs under his belt (Glencross does not), and he scored 26 goals this year. That contract seems more reasonable than Glencross's, and it seems like he's lived up to it more than Glencross will if he has 4 seasons just like the one he just had. And he's a prime candidate to fall back to 12-15 goals next year, especially on that awful Calgary team.
Maybe I'm wrong and he'll continue developing into an Erik Cole/Cleary type player. It's not the worst contract in the world, I'm just not as sold on it as everyone else seems to be.
Well, a lot of people think Cleary is overpaid at $2.8 mil. But even so, he was coming off back to back 20 goal/40 point seasons when he signed that deal, he had a couple of very good playoffs under his belt (Glencross does not), and he scored 26 goals this year. That contract seems more reasonable than Glencross's, and it seems like he's lived up to it more than Glencross will if he has 4 seasons just like the one he just had. And he's a prime candidate to fall back to 12-15 goals next year, especially on that awful Calgary team.
Maybe I'm wrong and he'll continue developing into an Erik Cole/Cleary type player. It's not the worst contract in the world, I'm just not as sold on it as everyone else seems to be.
I think I'd take either of them at their contracts. Glencross is 28, he just put up 24 goals, and he's out there in all situations. I still think their biggest issue is at center. A guy they signed for $725K outperformed their two highest paid centers. Maybe it's Calgary and the system they run, but they just don't get much production up the middle.
Either we need to trade Hudler, or someone needs to slap Babcock in the face for permanently moving him off Datsyuk's line two games removed from that little tear where Hudler racked up points.
I'm going to just assume, and it's a safe assumption with Holland's recent track record, that Hudler is not going anywhere.
Hudler-Dats-Filppula
Franzen-Z-Cleary
Jokinen-Helm-Eaves
Bert-Abby-Mursak
Homer
I want Helm to get better linemate(s) and for Filppula to play in the top 6 with either D or Z. Homer will also hopefully lose his immunity to scratches.
Not even sure what to think about defense, but I would not mind seeing MacDonald or Larsson as backup.
Trade Hudler and Ericsson for Brad Boyes and Steve Montador and we are a bit better again.
Then we have lethal right handed shot again and bigger size forward to put on Pavel's feed, and a real physical stay-at-home defenceman. Not some ex-forward who's still learning how to play defence and maybe won't never learn.
Modano retires, sign Draper for minimum for one more year. Salei goes back to his family. Kindl will step to his spot. Mursak will fight for a spot. Sign somebody for the 7th defenceman. Ty Conklin is UFA again, sign him to backup Howard.
Trade Hudler and Ericsson for Brad Boyes and Steve Montador and we are a bit better again.
Then we have lethal right handed shot again and bigger size forward to put on Pavel's feed, and a real physical stay-at-home defenceman. Not some ex-forward who's still learning how to play defence and maybe won't never learn.
Modano retires, sign Draper for minimum for one more year. Salei goes back to his family. Kindl will step to his spot. Mursak will fight for a spot. Sign somebody for the 7th defenceman. Ty Conklin is UFA again, sign him to backup Howard.
Lidström - Stuart
Kronwall - Rafalski
Kindl - Montador
(7th)
Howard
Conklin
Why would Buffalo give up two fairly valuable assets for a month of Ericsson's rights before he hits free agency and a guy the Wings seem desperate to get rid of because he didn't pull his weight?
Why would Buffalo give up two fairly valuable assets for a month of Ericsson's rights before he hits free agency and a guy the Wings seem desperate to get rid of because he didn't pull his weight?
Because we'd be getting an even bigger enigma in Brad Boyes who has a caphit of 4m
No thanks, I'd love to get Montador but not at that price.
Because we'd be getting an even bigger enigma in Brad Boyes who has a caphit of 4m
No thanks, I'd love to get Montador but not at that price.
Boy, Boyes looks sucky! What happened to him?
Went from 43 goals and 65 points to 14 and 17 goals the last two years.
His point totals are respectable enough this year though ... 17G 38 A
But how do you go from 43 G 22A to 17G 38A?
That doesn't make any sense, just looking at the goals to assists ratio.
Boy, Boyes looks sucky! What happened to him?
Went from 43 goals and 65 points to 14 and 17 goals the last two years.
His point totals are respectable enough this year though ... 17G 38 A
But how do you go from 43 G 22A to 17G 38A?
That doesn't make any sense, just looking at the goals to assists ratio.
Many blamed the St. Louis coaching staff, but he didn't even look like the same player. I know their PP scheme changed and he scored a lot from there, but yeah it's a huge dip in his totals.
Trade Hudler and Ericsson for Brad Boyes and Steve Montador and we are a bit better again.
Then we have lethal right handed shot again and bigger size forward to put on Pavel's feed, and a real physical stay-at-home defenceman. Not some ex-forward who's still learning how to play defence and maybe won't never learn.
Modano retires, sign Draper for minimum for one more year. Salei goes back to his family. Kindl will step to his spot. Mursak will fight for a spot. Sign somebody for the 7th defenceman. Ty Conklin is UFA again, sign him to backup Howard.
Lidström - Stuart
Kronwall - Rafalski
Kindl - Montador
(7th)
Howard
Conklin
Both Ericsson and Monatador are both UFA so we can just let Ericsson walk and sign Montador if we like. Just my opinion but I still think they will sign Ericsson to around 2.2 mill a year on a 2 year deal. So that would leave Hudler straight up for boyes. You never know Buffalo may want to shed the 1+ mill in cap space and move in a different direction. My guess is Detroit would need to add a little to make it happen. May be a 3rd.
How about trading Hudler + 4th to the Islanders for Nabokov + Ullstrom. He's a big scoring prospect and it frees up cap space. Then sign Konopka for the forth line. He will add a lot of toughness and can take face offs and keep Abdelkader on the wing. Re-sign Ericsson and sign J.Jokinen and Anton Babchuck. Babchuck is a right handed shot that we could use on the PP. We would have to decide on re-signing Draper or Miller due to roster spots.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS
Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m)
Johan Franzen ($3.954m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m)
Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Jussi Jokinen ($2.500m)
Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Zenon Konopka ($1.100m) / Patrick Eaves ($1.250m)
Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Drew Miller ($0.850m)
DEFENSEMEN
Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)
Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Anton Babchuk ($2.400m)
Jonathan Ericsson ($2.200m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m)
GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Evgeni Nabokov ($0.570m)
CAPGEEK.COM TOTALS (follow @capgeek on Twitter)
(these totals are compiled without the bonus cushion)
SALARY CAP: $62,000,000; CAP PAYROLL: $61,553,711; BONUSES: $0
CAP SPACE (23-man roster): $446,289
i know people are talking montador, but it seems posters on the main board expect him to be getting upwards of 2mil per year. 1-1.5 mil, sure, he's a possibility, but 2mil+ is an overpayment for what is essentially a no5/6 d-man
Anton Babchuck. Babchuck is a right handed shot that we could use on the PP. We would have to decide on re-signing Draper or Miller due to roster spots.
Babchuk is bad at ES and will not kill penalties. Rafalski has already the exact same "functions" on this team. We need 4 strong dmen who can kill penalties. Stuart, Kronner, Ericsson (or his replacement). That's three. Then you have Lidstrom and Kindl. Not good enough in my opinion.
i know people are talking montador, but it seems posters on the main board expect him to be getting upwards of 2mil per year. 1-1.5 mil, sure, he's a possibility, but 2mil+ is an overpayment for what is essentially a no5/6 d-man
It's not overpayment, when the guy is exactly what we need.
Lidström - Stuart
Kronwall - Montador
Kindl - Rafalski
7th
Not bad.
I ment we would trade Ericsson and Montador for their negotiation rights before the free agency. I think Buffalo would be interest adding younger defenceman. Ericsson - Myers would be nice together.
How about trading Hudler + 4th to the Islanders for Nabokov + Ullstrom. He's a big scoring prospect and it frees up cap space. Then sign Konopka for the forth line. He will add a lot of toughness and can take face offs and keep Abdelkader on the wing.
Red Wings won't need scoring prospects. We need experienced and mature guys for our 1-2 year Stanley Cup window.
Just like Brad Boyes (29y), Joel Ward (31y) or Steve Montador (31y).
I didn't realize he was a UFA until just now. I would love to get Jokinen for that price.
The Carolina GM said in a recent article that they would likely only re-sign one of Stillman and Jokinen and that both Jokinen and Piktaken (sp?) could test free agency. I think Jokinen could be an interesting possibility if the cap hit is reasonable. He doesn't take many penalties, has scored at a real good clip the last 2 seasons, he's young by free agency standards at 28 years of age, he's been fourth in ice time among their forwards each of the last 2 years and he can take faceoffs as needed. As a fellow Fin, I also wonder if he could have some connection on the ice with Flip either at ES or on the 2nd PP unit. If we are able to trade Hudler, I think he'd be an upgrade for our team and potentially allow Babcock more flexibility in how much he uses (or doesn't use) Homer and Bert on our top 2 lines.
On the defensive side, if Ericcson's demands get too high, I wouldn't be surprised to see us walk away from him and roll with Smith/Kindl as our #6 and #7 guys to see if they can help our second PP unit and then sink our leftover money in trying to upgrade from what Ericsson provides at ES and especially on the PK. If Kindl and Smith are our last 2 defenseman, then we'll need to rely heavily on Stuart, Kronwall and a UFA for PK minutes and, thus, they'll need to get a steady and good defensive player to potentially pair with those young defenseman.
If we can trade Hudler away, I think both parties would benefit. He doesn't fit well with us and I think he needs a change of scenery and will play much better under different circumstances in another organization. Parting with him and potentially Ericsson if his demands are way too high (under the assumption that Lidstrom comes back at the same rate or a slight discount) will allow us to make two upgrades to both our forwards and defensive corps and are tweaks that we likely need to make to improve the team for next season. We just need to make sure that we sign or trade for the right players.
Hudler (27y) then he's been to two cup finals and has a ring.
The comment was about Ullstrom.
Hudler has this and that, but sucks with us right now. Just trade him for a pick or Boyes, and/or try to sign Joel Ward to get our offence bigger and get more right handed shots.
If the Wings sign Ward for anything over $2m, they'll regret it.
His goal totals have gone from 17 to 13 to 10 in the last three years and he's never had more than 35 points in a season. Yes, he had a great playoff, but would you have signed Pisani to a big contract after '06?
__________________
From a GM, "Detroit is the best team we've played this year. It's not even close. Their puck control is incredible...You have to hope your goalie has a great night to give you a chance."
Interesting post. I like the idea of trading the rights to Ericsson and/or Filppula. The trade that always seems to pop up is that of getting Bogosian. What about getting Bieska. The guy is a beast, is clutch and does good at the corners and stepping up into the offensive attack. He is proving it now in the conference finals. Lidstrom will play another 1-2 years, but not only do we need someone to groom for his spot, we also need to think about Rafalski's replacement. We have a stellar prospect in Brendan Smith, but we need to give him some time to understand the Red Wing Way and give him some tutelage, but Babcock said at the start of the year, he can play in the NHL now. So, I strongly believe he will enter the NHL this year. The Wings will need to bring in a vet #2 goal tenderer, I've heard Conklin, but I think Varlamov can be had and personally I like him better on the Wings as we would play better defense around him and he has skills we could use and be more than competent if Howard was to go down.
So, here's my shot. We sign Bieska to a 4 year deal at around 4 million per. The Canucks will have to sign Ernhoff and will unlikely be able to keep both. Then we trade Filppula, #1 pick, Hudler and the rights to Ericsson for Bogosian. We sign Zherdev to play with Dats and Z and give them a nice winger who's also good on faceoffs and can skate. Mursak will be called up as our rights to him run out and Babcock knows he will not clear waivers. What we're going to do about Emmerson is anyone's guess. We have good wingers in the minors waiting in the Wings so to speak, but some need more seasoning, i.e. Nyquist, Pulkinnen, Sheahan, etc.
A couple of things that are pretty much consensus now. Gone: Osgood, Draper, Modano and Saleil. Second, we need a backup goaltender, probably a veteran until Joey MacDonald or Larsson are ready to step up and ready. Third, Mursak will replace Modano and Brendan Smith replace Salei. The other forward spot will likely go to Tomas Tatar as he showed a lot of speed, energy and grit when he came up for 9 games this year. With Mursak and Tatar along with Brendan Smith the Wings will be grittier, faster and a lot younger at these key positions. Compared to the contribution or lack thereof made by Salei, Modano and Draper, while we give something in experience for sure, I think we pick up a lot of youth to go up against these up tempo younger teams. The development of Abdelkader and Helm will continue and I am excited about the new season. Finally, I've read many articles from Holland and I think he's well aware the Wings are real close to another cup and the window is there for 2-3 years, perhaps longer if these young gun really develop: i.e. Brendan Smith, Tatar, Mursak, Pulkinnen, Larsson, Jarnkrok, Nyquist, etc.
CAPGEEK.COM CAP CALCULATOR
FORWARDS (14)
Nikolay Zherdev ($2.200m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m)
Johan Franzen ($3.954m) / Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m)
Daniel Cleary ($2.800m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Patrick Eaves ($1.100m)
Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Tomas Tatar ($0.550m) / Drew Miller ($0.900m)
Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Drew Miller ($0.850m)
Other possibilities, tell me who you like: Jussi Jokinen, LW, (*1.9m), ex Wings Ville Leino, can be had for 2.5m or so or Tomas Kopecky, LW, 1.4m. I like Zherdev as I think he just isn't a fit in Philly a strong right handed shot, which we need and he'd play well with Datsyuk and/or Z.
DEFENSEMEN (7)
Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / Brian Rafalski ($6.000m)
Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Zach Bogosian ($3.500m)
Kevin Bieska ($4.00m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) or perhaps Brendan Smith ($.055m). If not we groom him and give him some spot duties in NHL so he can adjust to playing in this league. Remember, Rafalski will also be in the last year of his contract in 2012, so perfect transition to bringing in our #1 prospect and have good cap space to resign players and add a winger here or there. If we don't sign Bogosian and/or Bieska he makes the squad this year for sure.
GOALTENDERS
Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Ty Conklin or Semyon Varlamov ($0.850m)
Note: Salary Cap is projected to be 62.2m
Salary: with Varlamov as backup 61.631, so we'd have $569,000 of cap space.
In 2 years or so we'd most likely see the retirement and/or departure of the contracts of Lidstrom, Rafalski, and Holstrom. That gives us about $14m of cap space to beef up our wingers core and extend the contracts of our top players, Datsyuk for one and the young guys who prove themselves and we want to lock down. I think Zherdev could be a good fit here and Tatar and Mursak are going to bring speed and I can just imagine them at some point tearing down the ice with Dats or Z, scary. The penalty kill and defense will be shored up big time with added scoring touch with the likes of Bieska and Bogosian will add toughness and is a promising young player as he was taken #3 overall in 2008 draft. If we can get a core like this and barring injuries, we'd be drinking from the cup again very soon and cement the Detroit dynasty of the Lidstrom era. Long live the Wings, now let's get it done and continue the build the Red Wing lore for all to admire near and far...lol.
