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OT: NHL free agency begins WINGS UPDATE
Thought I heard that Illitch was on his way to meeting and talking to Parise. I'll try to find the link.
Wings owner Mike Illitch, GM Ken Holland and head coach Mike Babcock will be among Detroit contingent headed to Newport office today
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2012
Good Twitter follows for FA period:
I think Illitch and Chris Chelios were going to visit Suter, but his agent said he would not meet face-to-face unless there were certain circumstances. Makes sense for Illitch to go with Holland to Toronto, then. Also, I picked up a nice little fact about Chelips' connection to Suter: Suter's uncle, Gary, apparently played with Chelios and they are great friends. So there's that.
Also, I picked up a nice little fact about Chelips' connection to Suter: Suter's uncle, Gary, apparently played with Chelios
Who hasn't played with Chelios?
Who hasn't met or doesn't know Chelios personally!?!? I was at a restaurant in Chicago called Pizano's and the waiter we had spent a solid hour and a half at our table talking about Chelios and hockey. Quite possibly the best restaurant experience I have ever had.
They played together in Chicago, and their kids played club hockey together as silver mites, along with Brent Sutter (Brandon is now in the league, obviously), and Eddie Belfour.
Somehow they were all selected to the same team (with black and red jersey colors), imagine that...
Parise and Suter need to be Red Wings becuase I need them to be Red WIngs
I really hope we don't take Semin, he is extremely inconsistent and plays one-way hockey...
Agree.
Two way hockey coach.
I'll take him if we can't get Parise or Nash. Dats and Babcock won't let him pull the shit he pulled in DC. Did you guys see the TSN commentators ripping on him? He was clearly disgruntled in DC. he needs a change of sceneary.
Let's hope this goalie signing works out better than Conklin
I just hope we know whe destinations of Suter and Parise soon because then the Wings will know what they have to do via trade and have more time to figure it out.
Give me all the free agents!!! Seriously, we need goals, and defense right now...
I hope that the Wings' goaltending coach is very talented given his roller coaster like performance over the past several years in Toronto. Any Wings fan who sees this as a quality signing (even at that money) is drinking the kool aid. I like Ken Holland but I've watched Gustavsson for 3 years...enough said.
Gustavsson without the sort of pressure that is involved in playing in Toronto and as a confirmed #2 might work out. Twelve to twenty games a year, no more.
Heard a rumor on hockeybuzz.com (I know, I know) that the Wings would target Nash if they lost out on Parise. As much as I love Parise, Nash would give the Wings something that they haven't had since Shanny in his prime. An elite power forward.
Nash and Suter would provide some nice protection to a team that badly needs it.
All in all, I don't really care who they get to play wing, as long as they get Suter to anchor the blue line. Suter is the most needed UFA right now.
I seriously Nash is even a remote possibility. That contract is just way way way waaaaay too big for the Wings, especially with Franzen too
I don't think it's the contract that will scare off the Wings, but trading within the division that will scare off the Jackets. I don't think it's going to happen, but it would be nice. I'm guessing that in the end Semin is a Wing.
Jackets GM said they'd trade within the division. It'll take at least 2 roster players for Nash. Plus picks and prospects
Do you guys think Suter is the real deal, or just merely a good solid defenseman who reaps some of the benefits of playing with Weber? Do you think the Wings will go after a different defenseman or sign two fairly high level D-man instead of spending a lot of cap space on one player? Anyone have thoughts on Jason Garrison? Where do you all think Brodeur ends up?
Very solid, plays the body well and understands the game. He's not going to put up Doughty or Green numbers at D but he's one of the best. The winter Olympics a few years back is a testament to that as well.
My bold prediction is that the wings get both Suter and Parise. We have 24 Million In cap space and are in perfect position to make a play on any free agent on the market, and more than 1 or 2 at that. Suter and Parise have grown up playing together through USA hockey and have expressed interest in playing together. They both want to win NOW so it's almost a NY Yankees situation, why not sign with Detroit.
My wildcard is Shane Doan, he's one of those players you hate playing against but love to have on your team and is exactly the type of power forward we need. I trust in Holland and Jim Dev more than any other GMs we got.
Not to be a debby downer, cause I think it is very possible...however...Pittsburg is now in the same situation as the Wings....great team with alot of cap space...To be Continued
Suter is the real deal watch the last Olympics. Clearly a stud.
This thread is for real athletes not the W.W.E's version of basketball
That's exactly what I was thinking.
I had to upvote that as funny, due to the irony of your grammatical error.
Actually, I believe they can start negotiations with other teams today, they just can't sign until the 11th.
LeBrun reporting that wings are no longer headed to the Newport offices to meet with Pairse
Told Red Wings no longer going to Newport offices.... not sure what to read into that....
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2012
Probably because Ken Holland determined to exercise some common sense. Praise demands crazy.
Parise had 20 or so teams wanting to meet, so they're meeting no one. Offers by phone and they're going to let teams know what's going on tomorrow
Sort of lost in the shuffle, but Brodeur is testing free agency for the first time in his career. Not saying that he won't be back in New Jersey next season, but that was an interesting development yesterday.
Kind of interesting he would do it now. Maybe the teams financial future is actually worse than anyone thinks?
Their ownership is a mess right now and they are once again in danger of losing their best player to free agency. I highly doubt Marty leaves, but I think he will gauge interest and see where it is at this point of his career. Considering the pay cuts he has taken over the years so the Devils could sign better players, though, the Devils would be total dicks to let him walk instead of offering him a good deal.
I can't believe that NJ would actually let him go. Hedberg is not a starting goalie, and Brodeur, though he had his off nights, played really well in the playoffs. Can't blame him when you fail to score more than one goal with OT in the first two games of the finals.
Hedberg is a free agent, too.
Ray Whitney to Dallas for way too much money, in my opinion. 2 years, $4.5M per.
That's like taking home the last call girl hours before last call.
What's wrong with that? Aren't call girls high end? <g>
Are the wings trying to sign two defenseman to replace Lidstrom and Stuary, or just taking one elite one and trusting the rest of the D lineup
Well, they have Kronwall, Smith, White, Quincey, Ericsson, and Kindl. I'm guessing they'll sign at least 1 D-man and carry Kindl as an alternate.
Quincey is a RFA this year and so far Detroit hasn't made any offers to keep him
I thought he signed. My bad.
They're keeping Quincey.
Forgive my ignorance, if that's what it is here, but do you have some inside knowledge that you are privied to? All your posts in this thread have been stated like they are facts, so I am really curious what makes you so confident...
I guess it depends on how they feel about Smith/Kindl. If we land Suter, we would have 4 D everyone can be ok with (Suter, Kronwall, Ericsson, White). Between Smith and Kindl I think spot 5 could be covered, but if their development is better, they could each earn a spot
Smith will be an elite defenseman
Correct
No surprise but the Red Wings have made offers to both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise
— Pierre LeBrun (@Real_ESPNLeBrun) July 1, 2012
Hmmm either they have locked praise up or they have no chance of there not headed out. Or they might be going to visit Suter first.
No ones visiting suter either. He said everything is going through his agent
I'm way off... It's like my second Christmas
Except this year the wings have a shot at getting everyone I want
FWIW, I read Suter isn't having face to face meetings, and now Parise is only taking offers over the phone.
This is coming from random blogs so I wouldn't read too much into it. Could be true, could be bogus.
Suter has been saying he will not meet with teams face to face today. He's said that for a few days now. Parise had at least 20 teams interested so he cancelled all meetings. Suppose to let teams know tonight or tomorrow who's in the running
I like the way the Wings started off the free agency period. Monster will push Jimmy Howard to be better and at the very least provide a reliable backup so Jimmy doesn't have to play night in and night out.
I think this might be an indication that Brodeur or Luongo could be headed to Toronto.
I think Luongo might happen to Toronto (though Burke is pretty obsessive about not signing players who have long term back end loaded deals...it's a philosophical thing with him, it seems). Problem for that happening, also, is that Vancouver is asking more than Luongo is worth at this point of his career versus his cap numbers.
I think you might see Toronto more likely acquire Tim Thomas for a bag of pucks (or potentially bring up Ben Scrivens who is probably the real deal).
Tim Thomas is not playing hockey this year
Stay the hell away from Parise!!
Considering how high on him everyone is, care to explain your reasoning?
MGoName. I think that's your answer.
I figured it was one of 3 things: Cap/Bonus Concerns, Legitimate Gripes, or a Devils fan
Yes, a Devils fan. I'm sick losing our guys in free agency. You already took Rafalski. Please leave us alone.
I concur. The Devils never get to keep their nice things (Marty aside). They finally lock up Kovy long-term and now we have a chance to keep Parise with him and Elias. Let us have this.
Are you not a Parise fan or are you from Minnesota?
He isn't worth it and will struggle as teams adjust to him.
Hoping for Suter AND Parise!!!
Wings have a ton of cap space available. Spending spree :)
Alot of teams do this offseason. Going to be real interesting.
Saw on another board that the Wild and Flyers have offered Parise a 13 year 80-90 mil contract. Similar one offered to Suter as well.
People are saying that Parise to Pens is a done deal
By people do you mean you? If you have sources cool, but I haven't seen anything from any NHL guys about Parise even narrowing down the list yet.
Some interesting news. Darren Dreger, the TSN lead, is saying that Carolina, Detroit, and NYR are the strongest teams in play for Rick Nash, with Carolina pushing the hardest.
Carolina and Detroit are in a strong competition with New York Rangers for Rick Nash.Nothing imminent.Canes said to be pushing hard.
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) July 1, 2012
Stu hackel (via L Brooks of NY Post) blogged that Detroits offer wasn't competitive.
http://nhl-red-light.si.com/2012/07/01/live-blogging-nhl-free-agency-201...
@DetroitRedWings: The Red Wings have signed RW Damien Brunner to a one-year contract
@DetroitRedWings: Brunner spent the past four seasons with EV Zug in Switzerland recording 190 points (78G-112A) in 167 games played.
Per Bob McKenzies twitter Parise is down to a select few teams and is supposed to decide tomorrow also a side note per Dan Rosens twitter the Wings are supposedly close to landing Suter.
Just so people don't get their hopes up, McKenzie listed the four teams Parise has narrowed it down to: Minnesota, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Really disappointing that Parise might end up in Pittsburgh or Philly. It was pretty cool that he automatically ruled out the Rangers, but those two aren't much better. I have no bones with Minny, but obviously would prefer to see him stay a Devil.
Where did he say that? I checked his Twitter, and he's been saying no teams specifically.
When Hockey Buzz Eklund tweeted this:
per @TSNBobMcKenzie Shortlist for Parise… NJ, Flyers, Wings, Wild, Penguins
— Hockey Buzz Eklund (@Eklund) July 1, 2012
McKenzie was quick to tell him:
@Eklund never said exactly that. Speculative
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 1, 2012
At this point I think the Wings are out, but those teams aren't final yet
This is what I saw:
@TSNBobMcKenzie: Wild, Flyers, Penguins, Hurricanes & Devils are on Parise's short list.
Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie
@SpectorsHockey never said Carolina.
Spector's Hockey @SpectorsHockey
@TSNBobMcKenzie Sorry about that, scratch the Hurricanes, not on Parise's list.
I suppose it doesn't really matter (for Wings fans). Aside from the Wild (who probably have the longest shot), we'd only have to worry about Parise in the Stanley Cup
Edit. I'm going to revisit this in a few hours, I'm going to be talking to some people from the Spits tonight and see what they have to say.
13-14 years for a single contract is crazy.
See: Kronwall
Samuelsson back to the wings with a two year deal, Jordan Tootoo signed as well.
Even with those two deals the Wings are still about $2M below the cap floor and $17M under the cap. Just crazy.
Tootoo? I hope Red Wings fans have enough sense not to bring those annoying whistles to the Joe.
I am unaware of these whistles...what are they and why? Thanks
"Train" whistles that fans would repeatedly toot twice in quick succession - too(t)-too(t) - whenever he was on the ice. Highly annoying.
Kudos to Anthony at the Unconnected Red Wings Blog:
And if ANY of you bring that stupid train whistle to the game, I will END YOU.
Can you imagine? We ink a back up goalie, a Swedish kid averaging over 1ppg, sameulson, tootoo,
Aaaaand Suter announces tomorrow for Detroit, followed by Nash hopping on the gravy train?
Is it possible to buckle up for the Red Wings?
Swiss, not Swedish. My bad mgodudes
Phew! I thought for a moment the Wings were over their Swedish quota.
Wish list:
1) Suter
2) Nash
3) Parise
4) Semin
5) Any other top 6 winger
7) Tootoo? Tootoo!
I love the Tootoo signing. One of those players you hate playing against but love having on your team. The Wings needed someone willing to get dirty.
Tootoo's a piece of shit. I fucking hate him. He doesn't get dirty. He plays dirty and regularly gets his ass beat.
I think Wings fan have been deprived of a tough fighting forward. Tootoo takes so many useless penalties, a lot of them critical, and barely produces anything. Very few Nashville fans are going to cry over this. He didn't suit up for most of the Wings-Nashville series.
The Samuelsson signing I'm iffy about...he can score but I hate the way he plays.
Brunner and Gus are awesome. Tootoo is an absolute shite signing, and I'm leavin the book open on Sammy.
I like the Samuelsson signing...great defensive forward who isn't limited on the offensive side...He is a great 3rd line forward.
Tootoo....I am waiting to comment on this signing, but the wings need that toughness and looking at his stats, he can contribute on offense, which is great for an enforcer type forward.
When he was a Wing I can't ever recall him playing a minute on the PK. How is he a great defensive forward?
What? Great defensive forward?
Absolutely not. Sammy is an average offensive threat to above average, a right handed shot, and somewhat suspect in his own zone. He is not a great defensive player at all. He plays soft but produces points where at the end of the year you look back and say, "wow Sammy had that many points?!?!". And by "that" I don't mean anything exceptional.
Tootoo, I'm confused about. He's a decent player, agitator, and good checking line player. He adds some of that toughness Detroit fans have been cryin over, but I'm just holding out judgement on him. I hope he is good friends Suter and convinces him to sign with Detroit and then anything after that will be gravy.
Actually looking at it, a tootoo, helm, miller line sounds pretty good to me. The new and faster grind line.
I think I got him confused with someone else...My bad
I have to wonder with since we just signed two depth forwards when we were supposedly looking for an elite F and an elite D if Holland is now stocking the roster in order to trade other players away for a forward or elite defenseman, though I do think we probably won't resign Hudler and Homer may retire soon.
he did have 30 points last year, hardly "barely producing anything" for a bottom 6 guy.
How many of the Wings bottom 6 barely produced 30 points?
I think they signed Tootoo as a replacement for him - Abdelkader hasn't been signed yet. Between both of them, Tootoo is way better. As long as they don't resign Abdelkader I'll be happy with the Tootoo signing.
saw the tootoo signing, can hear the whistles now... lol