Oh, hello there. I hope you had a wonderful New Year celebration, and that the Winter Classic Fellatiofest coupled with Red Wings crapping the bed against two L’Eastern Conference clubs hasn’t soiled 2011 for you already. Quick aside: I was watching the Winter Classic with my father-in-law, who is a season ticket holder for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, but doesn’t catch a ton of hockey on television. Upon hearing the absolutely inane chatter of Doc Emrick, Darren Pang, Pierre Maguire, and Eddie Olczyk, he let out a “who are these clowns” exclamation…prompting me to almost come to the defense of Emrick. But why? Everyone tells you he’s a legend…but if you listen to him, it’s mostly nonsense and the word “DRIIIIIIIIVE.” He’s in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but I’m tempted to ask if it’s a Chris Osgood-like matter of being around forever.
Anyway… due to overwhelming reader outrage over our extended disappearance (read: one comment from @BizCassty), I thought I’d take a crack at getting back behind the wheel here.
Now that the calendar has turned over and we’re being jailsexed by January, the Red Wings (and, yes, other teams, too…but who cares) are allowed to negotiate extensions with players who signed one-year deals. Some are taking advantage of their one-season opportunity (Patrick Eaves), some will be injured for most of theirs (Mike Modano), and others probably regret having signed this past summer at all (Derek Meech).
To take things a step further, 21 players that are Red Wings property will be free agents come July 1st. A lot could happen between now and then, but it’s never too early to look ahead at what the future holds — particularly since we’re getting a look at Jan Mursak and Tomas Tatar: two guys who have held their own and looked pretty good in their call-ups (calls-up?). By the way, does anyone think that Tatar sticks around longer than Mursak — or is Mursak going to get the Ritola treatment since he will have to clear waivers next season, while Tatar will not?
So I turn the question to you — what do you think the odds are of the following players returning next season?
UNRESTRICTED
Kris Draper :: with Maltby moving on, is this season his swan song as well?
Patrick Eaves :: will the Wings be able to afford him if he keeps up the pace?
Ilari Filppula :: will he pull a Leino and demand NHL time, or be satisfied in Grand Rapids again?
Jimmy Howard :: what kind of raise should he expect — and will he get?
Sergei Kolosov :: I’m sure the Wings hoped he’d be closer by now, but he’s always been a project.
Nicklas Lidstrom :: rejuvenating season — or one last hurrah?
Joey MacDonald :: with McCollum not coming along quickly, does he stick around for emergencies?
Derek Meech :: probably can’t wait until July 1st.
Drew Miller :: may not be satisfied playing every other game (when everyone’s healthy).
Mike Modano :: regardless of a Cup, is the team interested in keeping Mo?
Chris Osgood :: despite my thoughts, is there a better backup for so few dollars?
Ruslan Salei :: strong season, but is the 5/6 D slot an easy one to fill on the market?
Jamie Tardif :: Griffins captain, but way down the Wings call-up depth chart.
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Dick Axelsson :: according to Hat Trick Dick, the Wings want to re-sign him. Color me skeptical.
Cory Emmerton :: waiver-eligible next season. Big decision looming here.
Jonathan Ericsson :: Holland was hoping for an extension during the season…
Jan Mursak :: waiver-eligible next season, and looks good in the NHL. But so did Ritola. Thoughts?
Jordan Owens :: caught Babcock’s eye in training camp, but with guys like Mursak, Tatar, Filppula… is he worth hanging onto?
Francis Pare :: hasn’t really caught on in the AHL, even.
Jordan Pearce :: has long said he’d be a doctor if the NHL didn’t look like it was imminent. Good on him.
Logan Pyett :: also waiver-eligible, has he earned a shot on the Wings blueline? Probably not.
2011-12 Red Wings (already signed)
Zetterberg — Datsyuk — Holmstrom
Bertuzzi — Filppula — Franzen
Cleary — Helm — Hudler
_____ — Abdelkader — _____
_____
Rafalski — _____
Kronwall — Stuart
_____ — _____
Kindl
_____
_____
Eight slots on next year’s roster wide open… and $44.6M accounted for. If the cap doesn’t wiggle at all, that’s $15M to play with.
HAVE AT IT, FRIENDS.
Thoughts on a few players here.
Lidstrom:
He’s said for as long as it’s been a question he’ll retire when he feels he isn’t playing at a high level. Assuming things continue as they have been (knock, knock) there’s no way he doesn’t return. By the numbers he’s putting up more points in less time than ever before. He has to be pleased with that.
Howard:
Certainly due a raise, but he’s playing at an unfortunate time for goaltenders. Goalie pay is on the decline as more and more teams discover that there’s tons of decent goalies out there and that the most effective way to keep the puck out of your goal is to play defense over the whole ice surface. I can’t see him getting more than 1.2-1.5/year right now given how good Holland is at managing the cap and not over paying for any position/player.
Osgood:
Born to be a backup, he’ll likely sign for even less than he’s at now.
Eaves:
Can’t imagine he doesn’t think his mini renascence is all him. He fits well with the Wings. He’s due a raise but I don’t think he’s likely to sign anywhere else.
Salei:
We’d love to have him back and he seems like he’s having fun. Babcock might be the perfect coach for his game. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it, sorry Amazon/Rig one of you will be a lounge lizard next season.
Oh shit, that’s a lot of faces. I can’t comment on all of them, but here goes:
Kris Draper :: Retires
Patrick Eaves :: Wings give him a raise, he deserves it, becomes just as valuable on our third line as those in an era before him.
Ilari Filppula :: Big Flip may not have a gigantic melon like Leino, but he’s smart enough to know a good thing. I think he’s patient.
Jimmy Howard :: He’ll get more than I want to pay him right now, but less than he’d take on the open market.
Nicklas Lidstrom :: I will not believe he’s going to retire until he does so. This time he says he’s going to take lower minutes and slightly lower pay, but back-ended bonuses and playoff performances will prove both wrong.
Joey MacDonald :: He sticks around, nobody’s vying for him.
Derek Meech :: Gone – I’ll sincerely wish him well
Drew Miller :: Will move on to greener pastures and will find more playing time.
Mike Modano :: He’s done.
Chris Osgood :: Does he want to keep playing? Damnit, he does? Fine, give him another year.
Ruslan Salei :: Salei will ask for $1.5M and should get it.
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Dick Axelsson :: He stays in Europe, becomes a recluse.
Cory Emmerton :: He’ll sign for the required raise and terms.
Jonathan Ericsson :: Holland will get the deal done before the season’s over.
Jan Mursak :: He’s speedy and has pretty good instincts, but I think he goes the same way Ritola went.
Jordan Owens :: I’d like to keep him around if at all possible. He might just be that Maltby replacement we’ve been wanting. Now if we can only get him to go back in time to Juniors and score 50 goals…
What about signing Daniel Larsson if Osgood does not resign as backup?
I apologize–I was drunk, and I said things I didn’t mean. Glad to have you back at it, though. Well, at least the two of you. I haven’t noticed Disch’s safe return yet. Happy New Year. 🙂
If you were really back on the horse, there’d be loss candy to ease the sting from last night.
Saddle up, gents!
Drapes retires. Ozzie isn’t going anywhere. I think Big Fil will stay as well because if nothing else, it’s a short trip from GR to Detroit. Salei loves him some Babbles so I think he’ll be back as well. Lids is back because i can’t accept life without him. Of the rest, I only care about Sweet Patrick Eaves and I feel pretty confident he’ll be locked up.
Watching the World Juniors and the Douche Maguire said “escapability”. Do not make up stupid words. Only Murph can make up words!
Somehow, I think John Madden (the football one) probably beat Pierre to making up that word by a decade or two. I seem to recall it being applied to Barry Sanders way back in the day.
Well, if he did indeed steal the word from Madden, then that just illuminates his “doucheability”.
I feel really sad for that woman in the crowd with the “Marry Me Pierre” sign.
Rafalsi – _____ is frightening.
Petrella, I do like that kindl is on the bench behind two unkown third line defensmen. There is no better vote of confidence in Kindl’s ability than saying I dont know who is going to be on the third line but it sure as hell isn’t going to be you.
Lidstorm- 6m
Jimmy- I’d give em 1.2m, He’ll take it.
Eaves- 1m
I.Flip – Keep in GR, 750,000 deal for call up purposes.
Rusty- Reup for same price. If he wants more we can find someone else cheaper. Kindl needs ice time anyway.
Johnny E- 1m
Mursak- 900k and bring him up.
Miller- This is unless he’ll take like 750,000 and pretty much sit in the press box waiting for injury. No more rotation, that shit kills chemistry. Otherwise, Hate to say it, let him go.
Joey Mac- Let him go. find better backup.
Draper-Retirement is likely, if he’d take 750,000 though i’d reup him.
Osgood- I always heard he planned on retiring after this contract was up. I saw we let him and search FA/Trades for a decent backup.
Meech- Hope someone signs him, like the guy a lot.
Everyone else either GR only deals or let them go. Start shopping for 2 good backups. Maybe 1 more forward, if Miller goes.
Lidstorm- 6m
Jimmy- I’d give em 1.2m, He’ll take it.
Eaves- 1m
I.Flip – Keep in GR, 750,000 deal for call up purposes.
Rusty- Reup for same price. If he wants more we can find someone else cheaper. Kindl needs ice time anyway.
Johnny E- 1m
Mursak- 900k and bring him up.
Miller- This is unless he’ll take like 750,000 and pretty much sit in the press box waiting for injury. No more rotation, that shit kills chemistry. Otherwise, Hate to say it, let him go.
Joey Mac- Let him go. find better backup.
Draper-Retirement is likely, if he’d take 750,000 though i’d reup him.
Osgood- I always heard he planned on retiring after this contract was up. I saw we let him and search FA/Trades for a decent backup.
Meech- Hope someone signs him, like the guy a lot.
Everyone else either GR only deals or let them go. Start shopping for 2 good backups. Maybe 1 more forward, if Miller goes.
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