If we are to believe KH's press statements, the lineup is close to set minus a backup goalie.
Now, I typically fall on the side of 'having faith' in KH's moves and motives. But why are we not spending closer to the cap? I'm sure everyone can agree that $6M could have been used to bolster any of the positions -- just take a look at the signings that went down.
Furthermore, how can he justify leaving this much money on the table to players that have agreed to cap-friendly contracts to field a more competitive team?
If we are to believe KH's press statements, the lineup is close to set minus a backup goalie.
Now, I typically fall on the side of 'having faith' in KH's moves and motives. But why are we not spending closer to the cap? I'm sure everyone can agree that $6M could have been used to bolster any of the positions -- just take a look at the signings that went down.
Furthermore, how can he justify leaving this much money on the table to players that have agreed to cap-friendly contracts to field a more competitive team?
a GM's main two job's are to
- manage the cap
- make trades
with 6 million in cap space and not any positions really needing to be filled I think its safe to say KH is/will be in the market to make a significant trade or two whether this off-season, during the season or at the deadline.
unless of course he is being mandated from above to spend less money...
1) win championship
2) set up his organization so that it is in a great shape going forward
It sucks Wings didnt get some good free agents this summer but at this point, if 6 million in bank allows Wings to become a better team moving forward, I'm all for it.
1) win championship
2) set up his organization so that it is in a great shape going forward
It sucks Wings didnt get some good free agents this summer but at this point, if 6 million in bank allows Wings to become a better team moving forward, I'm all for it.
haha yes i suppose your right and datsyuks main job is to have fun and try his hardest...
unless of course he is being mandated from above to spend less money...
I have been thinking of this lately... if this were to happen, will the public/media/fans/seasonticket holders get info on this or is such matters strictly private and no one will know if that really is the case? In some non-hockey markets like Nashville for example, have the owner publicly stated that he does not want to spend to the cap and everyone is fine with it?
Personally I think that they didn't like who was out there at the prices they were commanding so they have decided to wait and delve into the trade market during the season. If you recall fans have not been too happy when the wings have not been able to make trades at the deadline because of capspace. Now the deadline deals will be an option. And if it is just budgetary then I do have concerns for the organizations future but I can't see the Illitch's changing the philosophy for the team.
It's been a pretty boring and uneventful off-season for sure.
In my opinion, the biggest and best news was Lidstrom deciding to play another season. When a guy that's played on your team for 20 years re-signing is the biggest news, you've had a pretty quiet off-season.
Obviously Raffy retiring was huge too, but that was totally out of managements hands and replacing him with White wasn't exactly a power move either.
I think Holland's plan is to see how our current team does until February, then he'll make the big decisions on how to improve the team. 6 million dollars in salary will be huge at the deadline and if we trade a guy like Hudler that's making $2.85m, we'll be able to fit in almost anyone they think will help.
I HIGHLY doubt Illitch is limiting Holland's spending. I'm sure they know we're not looking like the favorite to win the cup heading into this season, and anything less than that is a failure in the eyes of the Red Wings organization, I believe some big moves will be made at the trade deadline or during the season.
well im just saying you can manage the cap brilliantly but it may not win you a championship.
To win Stanley cup requires more than punching calculator and drawing flow charts. Politics, people skill, media.. alot of things are required IMO.
of course but i think winning falls on everyone's shoulders collectively if not more so on the players themselves.
yes of course a GM's job is more then just those two things but at the end of the day those are his two biggest sole responsabilities, nobody elses's.
I think KH has done a good job managing the cap, as far as making trades to introduce "elite" talent into the lineup, well its been since zetterberg since that has happened.
a GM's main two job's are to
- manage the cap
- make trades
Manage the cap - Holland gets an A+, he's never gone over the cap during the season. Well done, Kenny.
Make trades - Pretty weak here, he doesn't trade much. I'll give him a C-. Room for improvement.
He averages out to a B. Not bad, but I'd really hope for more from the GM of my Detroit Red Wings. Does the front office have enough internal cap room to trade for Stevie Yzerman?
I don't care how eventful or uneventful the off season has been. This isn't fantasy hockey, they are running a business and can't make deals that don't make sense for the organization just to get the fans excited. This is the cap world, they need to be intelligent with their money and their contracts.
I personally think the fact that the current CBA is going to expire has to do something with it. If the new CBA lowers the cap or puts us in a position where we have to start dumping salaries, then it would hinder plans. Once the new CBA is set and cannot be changed for a while then I think we'll see Holland starting to make moves, etc.
If we sign players to long-ish term deals and the CBA cuts the cap limit or the cap goes down instead of up next year, then we are stuck. At this point we can ice a decent team but not be handcuffed in terms of cap space and contracts.
I'm not sure what the status of the new CBA is. When is the current CBA supposed to expire exactly?
I don't care how eventful or uneventful the off season has been. This isn't fantasy hockey, they are running a business and can't make deals that don't make sense for the organization just to get the fans excited. This is the cap world, they need to be intelligent with their money and their contracts.
I personally think the fact that the current CBA is going to expire has to do something with it. If the new CBA lowers the cap or puts us in a position where we have to start dumping salaries, then it would hinder plans. Once the new CBA is set and cannot be changed for a while then I think we'll see Holland starting to make moves, etc.
If we sign players to long-ish term deals and the CBA cuts the cap limit or the cap goes down instead of up next year, then we are stuck. At this point we can ice a decent team but not be handcuffed in terms of cap space and contracts.
I'm not sure what the status of the new CBA is. When is the current CBA supposed to expire exactly?
good point, i wonder then if they regret the zetterberg and franzen career contracts of 18 months ago which basically started the whole 25 year long contract business as changing tune so soon after would be almost an admittance of error.
I really like where we are at as long as Holland is actually able to pull the trigger and bring in one or two significant additions via trades. I don't see anything in the FA market worth spending on and feel like we are in a great position to improve our team by making a major trade or two. We have tons of cap room, a few relatively young trade-able assets in Flip and Hudler, draft picks and a pretty good farm system. If an average or bad team going nowhere is looking to make a salary dump with one of their best players, we are a prime trading partner to help their rebuilding process.
I really like where we are at as long as Holland is actually able to pull the trigger and bring in one or two significant additions via trades. I don't see anything in the FA market worth spending on and feel like we are in a great position to improve our team by making a major trade or two. We have tons of cap room, a few relatively young trade-able assets in Flip and Hudler, draft picks and a pretty good farm system. If an average or bad team going nowhere is looking to make a salary dump with one of the best players, we are a prime trading partner to help their rebuilding process.
I agree and I hope thats the path KH is going down both this summer and throughout the season
I don't care how eventful or uneventful the off season has been. This isn't fantasy hockey, they are running a business and can't make deals that don't make sense for the organization just to get the fans excited. This is the cap world, they need to be intelligent with their money and their contracts.
that's true, but the only success in this business (from a fans perspective) that matters is wins and losses. I don't care how well the cap and contracts are managed if we don't have a team that can get past San Jose in the 2nd round. That's why I think something eventful is necessary at some point before the deadline.
Listen I like where this team is positioned right now. There was nobody available to replace Rafalski at a price that the Wings were willing to pay. Take a look at next year's crop and you'll understand why.
Commodore has something to prove and I think he'll turn out to be a shrewd acquisition. Ian White can skate, move the puck, and has some snarl in him too. With Stuart, White, Commie, and Ericsson on defense we have become a team that is going to punish opposing forwards, something we have lacked for some time.
Up front we still have a talented bunch (Mule, Hank, Pav, Cleary, Bert), we have a speedy and gritty bunch (Helmer, Eaves, Abs, Millsie), we have trade bait (Filppula and Hudler), AND we have money to spend.
If a trade presents itself? Great. If it doesn't? Fine. We have a solid team for the season, and if we don't make a trade we're in great shape for next offseason.
Listen I like where this team is positioned right now. There was nobody available to replace Rafalski at a price that the Wings were willing to pay. Take a look at next year's crop and you'll understand why.
Commodore has something to prove and I think he'll turn out to be a shrewd acquisition. Ian White can skate, move the puck, and has some snarl in him too. With Stuart, White, Commie, and Ericsson on defense we have become a team that is going to punish opposing forwards, something we have lacked for some time.
Up front we still have a talented bunch (Mule, Hank, Pav, Cleary, Bert), we have a speedy and gritty bunch (Helmer, Eaves, Abs, Millsie), we have trade bait (Filppula and Hudler), AND we have money to spend.
If a trade presents itself? Great. If it doesn't? Fine. We have a solid team for the season, and if we don't make a trade we're in great shape for next offseason.
Am I the only one NOT complaining here?
no your not but you may be the only one who believes we will get any of next years top ufa's(because we wont)
My god. How can you suggest Commodore can help the team but Hannan wouldn't?
Bizzaroworld.
I didn't say he would, but there's no room for a player like Hannan anymore, especially after re-signing Ericsson and signing Commie. I'm optimistic that Commodore will help the team and be worth his $1m salary.
I also believe the Wings will be happy to bring up Smith if we need him.
Lidstrom
Kronwall
White
Stuart
Ericsson
Commodore
Kindl
B. Smith (injury call up)
Janik (injury call up)
Hannan? Doesn't make sense to me. There's a reason no one jumped on Hannan on July 1st and I don't think he's looking to give Detroit a great discount either.
