OT-Modano close to joining the Wings

Submitted by GVBlue86 on

http://detroitnews.com/article/20100706/SPORTS0103/7060424/1361/Mike-Modano-says-only-team-he-ll-play-for-is-Wings

 

Let's hope we can do the same thing we did for Dallas Drake and give the hometown guy a Cup in his last season. I really hope the Wings can sign Modano. Him centering the third line would be a huge boost. I would say that could make us one of the top two contenders in the West, with the most playoff experience. Please please please!

kdhoffma

July 6th, 2010 at 10:43 PM ^

It was the first one, and if I recall his only line was "I heard you were a farmer"... Basil McRae did most of the talking.

In the second movie, Wayne Gretzky makes a cameo during a lockerroom scene... and of course Chris Chelios, Luc Robitaille and I think Cam "seabass" Neely during a party scene.

Clarence Beeks

July 6th, 2010 at 9:37 PM ^

For sentimental reasons I would love to see this happen, but for practical reasons this is not a very good fit unless (1) he comes very cheap (i.e. league minimum or close to it) and (2) his desire to win one at him shakes off some of the age that has really started to show over the last several years.  He won't put up more than 35 points this year, so the price and fit had better be absolutely right to take the roster spot away from one of the up and coming guys who could really use the opportunity to grow.

weasel3216

July 6th, 2010 at 9:45 PM ^

I would consider $1 Million for him to be cheap, he could also be a great leader/role model for those younger up and coming players.  Also 35 points for a third line center would be okay in my opinion.  Cleary only put up 34 points last season so they can be seen as interchangeable in point production.

weasel3216

July 6th, 2010 at 9:41 PM ^

I listened to Ken Holland on Tigers Live before the game tonight and he said Mike would have to be a role player.  The article mentions that he would sign a $1 million contract meaning, "$3.4 million left to sign restricted free agents Patrick Eaves, Derek Meech, Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm. Helm and Abdelkader would presumably battle for the fourth-line center position."  

Personally, i would much rather see Meech let go than sending Helm or more likely Abdelkader to Grand Rapids.  Meech does offer both a forward and defensive player in one, but he makes so many more mistakes than the other two.

Blueisgood

July 7th, 2010 at 12:18 AM ^

I believe Helm cannot be sent back down to GR, without clearing waivers. Abdelkader maybe in the same boat as well, i'm not sure. I don't see Meech being part of the future, unless he impresses at camp. I'd bet they'll sign him and then look to trade him. I'm not sure what they'll do with Ritola. I think that Modano would be a nice pickup. He had 30 points in 59 games last year, playing 14 minutes a night.

Wolverine318

July 7th, 2010 at 7:48 AM ^

It depends on what type of contract Abs signs in the offseason. Right now Abs has a 2-way contract. Therefore, the wings can send him down to GR whenever they want. For our sake I hope Abs signs a two way to give the wings some roster flexibility. I also believe a year learning from Modano would work wonders with Abs. 

Clarence Beeks

July 7th, 2010 at 8:59 AM ^

That is not accurate.  A two-way deal does not mean that you can move a player back and forth between the NHL and AHL at will without waivers.  You can only move a player freely without waivers on an entry level contract.  After that it depends on several factors listed in Article 50.9 of the CBA.

Trauber19

July 7th, 2010 at 10:57 AM ^

He's right...the only thing a two-way deal guarantees is that you will make different amounts of money depending on whether or not you are on the NHL or AHL roster...the age when he signed his first contract and the number of games influences how many times a player can freely clear waivers.  That's why a lot of NHL teams want college guys to leave early, because they can use them for a game or two and keep them in the AHL and basically send them up or down whenever they like and use them if necessary.  A lot of guys also sign early because if you play a certain number of games at the end of the year then you knock off a year on your contract and can become a RFA sooner and make more cash....thats what JMFJ did.

Trepps

July 7th, 2010 at 2:14 AM ^

Modano was a great player and a local hero but seriously it's not 2000 or even 2005. This is classic Konservative Ken. Send down one of the very few young talents we have for a guy who's 40 years old. If we were 1 player away from cup contention I could see it but this team is not a legit contender at this point. Oh well I guess it's better then bringing back maltby.

MichFan1997

July 7th, 2010 at 11:31 AM ^

to you saying this team is not a legit contender. In the last 4 years, they have gone to WCF, Stanley Cup Champs, WC Champs, and last year even to the WCSF. And that was amazing that they even made it that far last year. It's still largely the same team that was dominating opponents in 08 and 09. Last year was just an injury riddled year. But to say this team isn't a contender for a Cup again in '11 is, IMO, foolish.

Trepps

July 7th, 2010 at 12:04 PM ^

This team is not the same as the 08 or 09 teams (no Sammy, no Hossa, everyone older) and everyone on the team was healthy when the play-offs rolled around and we barely escaped the 1st round, and then lost in the 2nd round to a team that got rolled by the Hawks.  Time to take off the rose-colored glasses. 

MichFan1997

July 7th, 2010 at 12:28 PM ^

missed seeing Hossa on the ice in 2008. Yeah, Sammy is gone. You sometimes lose people in sports. It seems to be a trend. Last years team spent so much gas just to make the playoffs with how injury-riddled their season was. There was nothing left in the tank by the time the playoffs hit. The teams core is still together (albeit a little older, but I think I've heard about enough of the "too old" bit for one lifetime). Call me crazy, but I think I'll trust the team that's been proving it for the last, oh, I dunno, 2 decades.

teldar

July 7th, 2010 at 6:46 PM ^

 So have been saying the pundits for the last 15 years or so. It doesn't seem to have stopped them from winning the cup more times than anyone else in that span of time. 

 

There was another 'over the hill' player gathered off the scrap heap of the NHL.

He turned out to help a little as well.

His name was Hull. He did alright. 

 

the_big_house 500th

July 6th, 2010 at 9:56 PM ^

Seeing Modano as a Wing would be pretty amazing. I have so much respect for this man not just because he's been with USA Hockey for some many years but beacuse he has been a Star since they left Minnesota. He's one of the classiest players in the NHL and I would be happy to have him with us.

BlueVoix

July 6th, 2010 at 10:25 PM ^

Makes perfect sense for the Wings to sign him.  Hometown kid (kid used very loosely here) and his "career-long" franchise cut off ties to him.  Either retire or do this.  Any other team seems pretty unlikely.

cjm

July 6th, 2010 at 11:18 PM ^

Hicks has made the sale of the Rangers a huge joke and now he follows suit with the Stars... throwing Modano and Turco to the side.  Makes me a sad Stars fan but I would love to see Modano flying up the ice with the red and white on his back.

TheDirtyD

July 7th, 2010 at 3:00 AM ^

what number is he gonna wear? cant wear 9 this signing for the right price makes sense. no young kids are being sent down either. Abby needs atleast another year and meech is the 7th d man and i imagine a 4th line of helm eves and drapper with a 3rd of miller modano and someone either homer cleary or bert. i like the wings chances this year they get a good rest this summer and with a regular schedule.

Trauber19

July 7th, 2010 at 11:20 AM ^

Potential Lines W/Modano

Zetterberg Pavs Homer  (interchange Pavs or Z for center, whichever you prefer)

Hudler Val Franzen

Bertuzzi Modano Cleary

Abdelkader Helm Draper/Eaves/Miller/Rittola

Lidstrom  Rafalski

Kronwall  Stuart

Ericsson  Kindl/Meech

Howard

Osgood

I dunno...I'm just spitballing...any ideas?

Graham Brown

July 7th, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^

I like the looks of that, a lot.  I still expect to see Dats and Z split up at some point, however, if the 2nd line isn't getting it done:

Holmstrom-Zetterberg-Filppula

Franzen-Datsyuk-Hudler

Bertuzzi-Modano-Cleary

Helm-Draper-Miller