http://www.hockeyzoneplus.com/salaries/2226

The massive paycut after the lockout is worth noting too.

But, compared to most of us, that's a lot of accumulated money and, knowing Nick, he has invested quite smartly. More importantly, he is a living legend and can dictate his future. As I've said in other spaces, I can imagine an Olympic matchup between Team Canada and Team Sweden with Stevie and King Lidas as their respective GMs.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that there is some merit to the argument all things considered. Personally though, as much as I want to see Nick (relatively) shaft himself to help make a championship run, I wouldn't be bothered if he didn't.

I've been a proTuzzi guy the whole season and think he has made a valuable contribution to the team. He was also really good in the playoffs aside from some undeserved reputation calls. I'd love to see him back and play with even more confidence and even more snarl as he grows to know and love this team. Actually, I think he's looking to end his career here and I'd love to see that happen.

This might put me in the minority, but I have nothing against him as a person, and under different cap-circumstances might have welcomed his extension. He would have also been my vote for the Wings Masterson nominee.

I just can't see the Wings justify keeping him over calling up cheaper high-upside youth / potentially getting a better deal on the FA market.

In a reversal of my mid-to-late season defense of all things Bert, I couldn't agree more with seeing him go. I thought he did very well in the regular season (and even the playoffs), especially considering he and Williams were the FA scraps that Holland had to pick up after waiting for Happy's situation to resolve. That said, I don't see how he fits in next year.

After his December outburst, his production was mostly of the assist variety…which is ok, but not really what you expect from a slow, large bodied winger. Its difficult to judge his impact in his "net presence" role, but I'd have to say that Homer/Mule/Buckets are all better than he, despite his size advantage. Also, I don't think I've ever seen a guy who had a more difficult time remaining upright on the ice…well, ok there was Leino.

Given how quickly the potential 3mil in savings to be had by not resigning him or Williams would be eaten up giving raises to the RFAs, I don't see how Bert comes back at last year's rate, let alone giving him a raise as I've heard mentioned other-wheres.

Also, totally agree re: Nick naming his price. I tend to think though that one of the main reasons he'll come back is to wash the taste of last year out of his mouth. I've got to think that, to continue on at his age, Nick is aiming for nothing less than the Cup. To that end, I think he'll be realistic about what his contract means in terms of providing Holland the flexibility to build a contender. While it would absolutely be an injustice to see him not occupy the top spot on the payroll, I'm not discounting him offering to take less if he thinks it will put the team over the top.

I have rarely wanted so much to reach through the internet and stab someone in both eyeballs with a sharp stick.

If he signs at around $6 million I will be both thrilled that he is coming back and impressed that he is taking a 20% paycut, because if you asked me to take that on the grounds that I had enough money already, I would beat you to death with pool noodles.

I'm with you about Holmstrom. I think he's the best in the world at what he does and he'll probably take a smaller paycheck to do it (like he always has). Williams and Lebda are gonzo, as far as I can tell. I hope every day that Todd Bertuzzi goes with them.

For as much as I hear about Brendan Smith being NHL-ready, that's just not the Red Wings way. I feel like they'd put him in the AHL no matter what, because that's what they do. Not to mention the quasi-logjam on the blueline, which I think might force Lilja out. I bet Meech gets re-signed (or at least qualified) and used as a trade piece or the 7th defenseman again — because he's cheap and doesn't bitch about it.

Kirk Maltby wants to play next year, and it's unlikely the Wings will tender an offer (a playing offer, anyway). If there's interest elsewhere in the league, we might see him suit up for another team, which would be hard to swallow, but the man has a right to play hockey.

JJ, you and I are (SURPRISE) on the same page. There will be plenty of people who bitch about Lidstrom's salary if it becomes the highest on the blueline again, but they're the same idiots who scream about Chris Neil being the missing piece of the puzzle.

I absolutely won't blame him for refusing to take too massive a cut, and he'd be worth every single penny. People are forgetting that he was VIOLENTLY underpaid in his role for nearly his entire career. A guy that can do the things you've listed and constantly wins Norris Trophies would command the league max on the open market that he's never tested.