OT Stephen Weiss to the Red Wings

Submitted by James Burrill Angell on

Looks like the Wings signed Stephen Weiss, the longtime Panthers center today as well.

http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/eye-on-hockey/22649368/stephen-weiss-joining-red-wings-with-fiveyear-contract

Five yr. contract for $24.5 million. Consider Valteri Filpula officially replaced and likely the end of Brunner, Helm and Samuelson too. Wonder if thats the end for the Wings or if they'll chase a defenseman too?

Smoked Gouda

July 5th, 2013 at 2:51 PM ^

Love this. We can let go of Fil now, and Weiss is a quality 2nd center, props to Holland.

Does this mean we play Pav and Z on the top line now?

Monocle Smile

July 5th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

I'll still wear my Helm jersey proudly if they do get rid of him, but the desire to drain Ken Holland's blood will likely not subside.

I don't see how they do, though. Helm is still a solid #3 or at least a #4 center and pairs well with guys like Miller and Emmerton.

Smoked Gouda

July 5th, 2013 at 2:59 PM ^

I really like Helm's speed too....and let's face it, speed is an asset we desperately need. I liked the signing of Alfie the grizzled veteran, but seems at time last season we were beaten soundly to pucks on both ends of the ice.

lilpenny1316

July 5th, 2013 at 7:25 PM ^

so it's unlikely they could move him if the wanted.  It will be impossible to move Helm or Samuelsson due to their injuries.  Hopefully Helm will be ready for the start of training camp because I think they're done signing forwards.

denardogasm

July 5th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^

I don't know which Red Wings thread to post this in and get it seen, but can a more hockey knowledgeable fan tell me who our best young talent is?  I loved Nyquist and Brunner last year, but it seems like people on here are fine with letting Brunner go.

Randy Marsh

July 5th, 2013 at 3:01 PM ^

I'm definitely not fine with Brunner gone, but it is what it is. If you're talking skill, other than Nyquist we have Tatar. Before signing Alfredsson and Weiss I would have guaranteed he'd be with the big club next year. Now it's 50/50.

There's also Tomas Jurco, Landon Ferraro, and Calle Jarnkrok but those guys are still at least a couple years from being primary NHL players.

ChasingRabbits

July 5th, 2013 at 3:16 PM ^

Tatar will be with the Wings 100%.   He has no more options, so unless he is part of a trade, he is in the bigs.   Also, your list of guys are probably only 1 year out, which is why the 1 year deal for Alfie makes so much sense.  Plus you have to add Riley Sheahan to the list. 

Just saw Tampa signed Filpula.  Nice move by Stevie Y.  Now someone (not Detroit) just has to pony up for Cleary so I can sleep tonight. 

 

Lazer with a Z

July 5th, 2013 at 3:06 PM ^

I personally think Brunner and Nyquist are the offensive future of the Wings. I would love for them to find a way to keep both of them.

Unfortunately, I don't think it's going to happen. I just have a feeling that if they let Brunner go, he's going to blow up with another team. Then I will haz a sad.

I'm okay with Fils being gone, but would prefer Brunner to Weiss going forward. Alas, the price tag may be too high.

Farstate

July 5th, 2013 at 5:42 PM ^

Sambora pointed this out further down the thread but Brunner reminds me of Leino. They both came in at about the same age and both had similar first season results. They started hot and then fizzled. I would like Brunner to return but only on a short deal and cheap which won't happen.

Thinking that a guy who is reaching his developmental peak will get better just because he has another year in the league rarely seems to work out for teams.

grsbmd

July 5th, 2013 at 4:37 PM ^

Seriously.

Where did we get the idea that these moves would affect Helm?  He's always been a 3rd line center.  Weiss will be the 2nd line center.  This doesn't change anything for Helm at all, who is still under contract by the way.

Randy Marsh

July 5th, 2013 at 3:17 PM ^

Not sure the OP totally knows what he's talking about. Filppula is officially gone (just signed with Tampa) and Brunner will be gone too, but none of this affects Helm or Samuelsson. Sammy has one year left and can't be moved/bought out because he's "injured". Helm is signed for three more years and there has been absolutely nothing about the wings possibly dumping him, as they shouldn't.

James Burrill Angell

July 5th, 2013 at 4:32 PM ^

Because with the signing of Alfredson and Weiss the Wings now have 14 forwards under contract PLUS they still have Nyquist and Joakim Andersson as restricted free agents who WILL be resigned. Where's the roster space for Brunner, Helm and Samuelsson (obviously Filppula is gone which was a given once they signed Weiss to his roster spot). I think they could maybe sign one but as a previousl poster said, they have to also have room for Tatar since he's out of minor league options.

So the OP sez that the Wings have quite a few forwards and not nearly enough spots!

Randy Marsh

July 5th, 2013 at 4:57 PM ^

So, with Nyquist and Andersson they'll be at 16 forwards. When they sign Smith, that makes 7 defensemen to go with Howard and Gustavsson, leaving 14 forward spots on the 23 man roster. I can see them buying out Tootoo and putting Emmerton through waivers to get down to that. We'll see though.

Anyway, Helm isn't going anywhere. Holland said at today's press conference that he's feeling better and expect him to be ready for camp, and the only way to get rid of Sammy is to put him on waivers which isn't going to happen.

sambora114

July 5th, 2013 at 3:18 PM ^

I remember after he blew up in Philly after we released him (not sure about this) or whatever. All the talking heads were saying how Ken Holland and the wings "made a big mistake"

Where's Leino now after that huge contract?

Ken Holland and Babcock always have the benefit of any doubt I have with their actions, those guys are the best in the business for a reason. 

Really excited for the wings this year! I thought we were years away from another cup but I think we're close to contention!

Musket Rebellion

July 5th, 2013 at 3:19 PM ^

Helm is under contract for 2 more years. Brunner is still affordable and they were looking for a D upgrade through trades. And honestly, good riddance if Samuelson is gone.

Stike A Pose

July 5th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^

I wonder if Brunner is going to turn into another Leino situation.  Play somewhere else, have a fluke of a season, Wings fans get mad at Holland and say he's stupid, signs a large deal then disappears.

BlueAggie

July 5th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^

Wings have ~$2.3MM to sign Nyquist, Smith and Andersson.  I'm no capologist, but if Samuelsson ($3MM) or Helm (~$2.1MM) goes on LTIR, I think that clears up some money.  Also, they can go over by 10% but need to get under the limit before the season.

Right now (assuming Helm is healthy and Samuelsson is not) it looks something like:

1. Datsyuk/Franzen/Abdelkader

2. Zetterberg/Alfredsson/Weiss

3. Nyquist/Helm/Tatar

4. Miller/Andersson/Eaves

Bench: Bertuzzi/Tootoo/Emmerton

LTIR: Samuelsson

Emmerton strikes me as replaceable, but I can't really see anyone wanting to trade for Tootoo.  I don't think Detroit would trade Bertuzzi for some reason (not that there's a market there).

I *could* see Detroit trying to package Smith and Nyquist or Tatar for a top-4 defenseman, assuming hypothetical d-man had a small (<$4.5MM) cap hit.

BlueAggie

July 5th, 2013 at 5:53 PM ^

I think that with the way the roster is shaking out, they almost have to break camp with 14/7/2.  Emmerton and Tootoo would be the obvious guys to try and send down, but neither clears enough cap space to sign Nyquist.  (Tootoo probably clears enough to sign Andersson).  

Ergo, I don't think the Wings are done moving pieces around.  Quincey is another name that I've seen thrown around.  Quincey and a couple of forward prospects might get Detroit one of the young Jets defensemen (Enstrom/Bogosian) that they've been linked to in the past.  They were rumored to be sniffing around Edler at the draft, and the Canucks are a mess.

BlueAggie

July 5th, 2013 at 6:01 PM ^

He played in 6 of the Wings 14 playoff games.  Obviously, he may have been banged up, but at his age/playing style I think that's the norm going forward.  A better way to do this might the 23 tickets approach that Brian stole from soccer.  In that context, he probably ranks somewhere between 10 and 14 amongst the forwards.

randyfloyd

July 5th, 2013 at 4:17 PM ^

Blue Jackets signed Nathan Horton to a 7 year contract. He may be the solid scorer that a greatly defensive team (thanks to Jack Johnson and the best goalie in the NHL) needed.

chris16w

July 5th, 2013 at 7:48 PM ^

Great post! Yes, I hear it is warmer under Columbus.

Columbus is going to have to wait a while on Horton since he's going through surgery.

The Bruins and Blackhawks are looking a bit worse to me today.

Would be happy to see the Red Wings face my hometown Canucks in the SC next year.