NHL Free Agncy (Open Thread)
Today is the day that teams are allowed to offer contracts to Unrestricted and Restricted Free Agents.
I'm a huge Detroit Red Wings fan and this is my list of players I think Detroit is in on:
Current Red Wings:
1. Brunner - they need to work out a deal and get him locked up for another 2-4 years. I'm hoping its around a $2.5 M cap hit.
2. Dan Cleary - I wish they would cut ties with him, but I don't see Holland letting him go. I just pray Cleary doesn't make more than $3 M per season.
3. Filpulla - I think he's long gone, but if he gets a rude awakening with offers from other teams then I'd love to see him back in the Winged Wheel for $4 M over 2 or 3 years.
Free Agents:
1. Stephen Weiss - he's a very good centerman that has produced a ton for Florida during his career. He would be great as a 2nd line center and would allow Detroit to put Datsyuk and Zetterberg together on the top line.
2. Mikhail Grabovski - he can play center and wing. He's also a great skater that has a lot of talent. He's also a good friend of Datsyuk and played on his line during the lockout in the KHL. I think he'd be a great fit in Detroit and is immaturity would be squashed if he had Datsyuk as his Russian mentor.
3. Mike Ribeiro - talented playmaker that is getting towards the outskirts of his prime. He's not great defensively and he's had some character issues in the past, but I wouldn't mind Detroit taking a flyer on him for a year or 2.
4. Daniel Alfreddson - there is no way he leaves Ottawa is there? He's out of his prime and very close to retirement, but he still has something left in the tank. He would be a good 2nd line player that could help Detroit out on the PP with that right handed shot.
Just said on NHL Network that Brunner is unlikely to be back in Detroit.
I read somewhere that he wants a longer-term deal... I think the wings olny offered him 4-years at 3M... It seems like he's seeking 4-ish...
It was a TSN guy, so he could have been talking about Cleary and said Brunner...
that's completely against everything I've heard about him. Detroit was virtually a "perfect fit" for him according to his agent...all about money and the Wings are not famous for shelling out big dough on dudes who have very little track record in the league.
Horton wanted a "warmer climate" and ends up in Columbus.
Andrew Ference to Edmonton, 4 years, 3.25m AAV
As per @DarrenDreger, Wings deal has been agreed upon with Alfredsson, one year, $5.5 M (including $2 M in bonuses)
#RedWings are working on deal with C Stephen Weiss.
Yeah I've been waiting for some clearer information to come out, but nothing as of yet. She's a pretty good source, for what that's worth (covers for the Wings for a Detroit news paper). This is the first news I've seen reported on either Grabo or Weiss today.
Mike Komisarek signs in Carolina. Good for him.
I still like Komisarek; I really like this signing (since Carolina is like team 1b for me). Komisarek can still play. and he'll prove it with Carolina where he should be a top-4 guy.
Love that Aaron Ward dropped a UofM reference for Jason Botterill when discussing Rob Scuderi signing with Pittsburgh.
Can someone clear something up for me? The Wings have 13 forwards under contract right now. They're looking to sign a FA center, and they still have Nyquist and Andersson to sign. How are they going to fit all these guys on the roster?
And this is assuming Cleary, Fil, and Brunner are all gone.
I don't think they're counting on Helm playing this season...and I'm not sure who of Emmerton/Gus/Andersson has options left....or how tied to Emmerton they are...
Line1: Abdelkader-Datsyuk-Samuelsson | Line2: Franzen-Zetterberg-Alfredsson | Line3: Tatar-Andersson-Nyquist | Line4: Miller/Emmerton-Helm-Eaves/Bertuzzi/TooToo... I'm pretty sure they are growing their depth so when injuries happen, they aren't wondering what to do... I also don't think they expected Andersson/Tatar to be ready until 2014-15 and they are pretty much ready now... the reason they are looking for this 3rd Center is they want to be able to put Zetterberg and Datsyuk together and have someone who can step up and play for a #2 Center... I think they are locked at D, they aren't going for anyone because they seem to think whoever is left on the UFA market, that they are not as good as something they currently have...
lol Samuelsson on the first line
I wouldn't put Samuelsson on the first line in Grand Rapids...but that's just me, maybe.
Hensick and Kolarik signed in Europe, Montoya resigned with the Jets, Komisarek signed in Carolina, Kampfer resigned in Minnesota. There should be 4 Wolverines left on the market, Matt Hunwick, Eric Nystrom, Aaron Palushaj and Chris Summers.
I was hoping the Wings would give him a shot
him= Hunwick... for some reason everything I typed didn't show up. I was typing that when I saw Hunwick get released, I was really shocked... he's still serviceable, very physical, and could fill a huge void on defense as a top-6 D. If he was Detroit's 6th D, I wouldn't be upset at all... honestly this may be my Blue Bias, BUt I think Hunwick is better than some of our options for #5 and 6
Wings look to be getting close with Weiss. If we get him as a 2nd line center, we are golden!
DET closing in on Stephen Weiss.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 5, 2013
It sounds like we got him, not sure the $ yet but i'm assuming we probably had to overpay a bit. Bidding war with the Blues upped his price to 6 mill/ year
Weiss can also play the PK. You can throw him out there in any type of situation and he can be effective. Much happier with Weiss and Alfredsson over Filpulla/Cleary. Also, we have the likely return of Helm, along with Tatar coming up. I can understand if we let Brunner walk if that means Tatar gets his ice time.
Stephen Weiss to DET is done. 5 years, $4.9M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 5, 2013
SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET
Happy with this
To the Senators.....
is now a Leaf
Coyotes resign Chris Summers to a 1 year deal.