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Fun Time For Leaf Fans: October 9th In Hockeytown
by IwoCPO on 06/26/08 at 03:28 AM ET
Comments (37)
Little Gary won’t let you see the schedule for another few weeks. But thanks to your deep diggers we now know how and when the Wings will open their defense of #11. Oh wait. The deep diggers don’t know either, or at least they’re not saying.
But Howard Berger is.
The full NHL schedule for 2008-09 will be released in mid-July, and it will show the Maple Leafs opening up the regular season with a game at Detroit on Thursday, October 9th.
Might be interesting if the Wings, umm, you know, add another Swede to the roster in the next couple weeks.
While I’m at it, breaking my vacation silence due to certain conversations drifting into areas that cause me discomfort, allow me to point you to Adam Kail at Inside Hockey. He’s got a good look at the Wings’ draft, as well as what could be an acceptably uneventful Summer of Stanley.
Kail says the Wings may take a look at #91 or Brian Rolston (Kenny? We like that move), but are more than likely to sit back and watch the rest of the league binge.
When July 1 rolls around next week, don’t expect the Red Wings to pursue any free agent defensemen. Ken Holland is waiting to hear back from Brad Stuart’s camp as to whether he will re-sign with Detroit.
Agreed. Defense isn’t on the radar. We all know where Tick Tock’s interest lies. A little more O. Or a lot more if you happened to notice this little nugget from Lyle Richardson (Spector) on The Puck Daddy live rumorama chat yesterday afternoon.
When asked to predict where Hossa will end up, Richardson replied with a one word answer: “Detroit.”
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Comments
I’d rather get Sundin than Hossa, though.
It has been mentioned here before by the A2Y brain trust. Point being that Drake’s hunger for the Cup motivated the team throughout the playoffs. Sundin can bring that to this team for next season. He has captained the majority of the Swedes in the Wings many times before in international tournaments.
Hossa on the other hand, though he performed really well for the Pens the story wont be the same.
Posted by lilja4ever on 06/26/08 at 06:11 AM ET
Despite the Lilja man-love, it’s still slow news. Today is the first day I don’t have Wings-related wallpaper in over three months. It’s a gorgeous photo of the lights in Rotterdam to commemorate the anniversary of the 1940 bombing. Turned quite a few heads already.
From a purely pragmatic standpoint, I could see the organization going after Rolston. He’s kind of in the Dan Cleary mold, can chip in offense and kill penalties, and his defensive abilities are the best of the three candidates, which is a ticket onto Uncle Mike’s team. And because he’s not marquee-name, he’d come cheaper than the other two, which means we might be able to offer him a term beyond Z and Mule’s raises. And he wouldn’t push Filppula out to the wing, thus continuing his development as a center. Besides, he’d be free to keep that horrendous goatee/soul-patch with us—back to the Devils and he’d have to shave it off. But Sundin would be the prize candidate, and as awesome as it’d be to have him on the second line, he’d be the tougher signing.
Hossa’s testing the market. Somebody is going to give him 8 million and term. He’s not coming here. With Sundin, there’s the thought of the Cup, with Rolston there’s hometown boy and that he’s not being chased by thirty teams and the media, but with Hossa, it’s money and not much else.
So we had favorite music last summer…what about this summer? Anyone want to put their iPod on random and share the first twenty tracks? Guess the song from first lines? Anyone? Who’ll be the first to get up the Chief’s nose like the Edge girls?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from UFA market, bidding on hitmen to kneecap Lilja on 06/26/08 at 07:25 AM ET
The Wings will pick up a UFA—probably only a bargain forward that will raise eyebrows because it’s the Wings and he goes so cheaply. Maybe yet another reclamation project. Kenny will want to leave some cap room in case there are problems in goal or something.
Posted by Primis on 06/26/08 at 07:42 AM ET
Hossa would really have to want to be here, because he’d have to take six mil or less to come here, and he’d have to be willing to take something like a two-year deal instead of long-term.
Certainly, as far as style goes, Hossa is the most Red Wing-ish player in the league not wearing a Wing sweater. Is a lock for 70 points, can explode every season or so for 90, and always brings a great two-way game and excellent work ethic.
Hossa, IMO, would be the best fit of any free agent they could sign. The question is, how bad does Hossa want a Cup? He comes here for two years at six per, he has an excellent shot at winning the Cup. He goes just about anywhere else for term at seven or eight per? Not nearly as good of an opportunity.
Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/26/08 at 08:00 AM ET
Actually, this is what the pre-season schedule looks like:
The live auction will feature the rare opportunity to bid on a pre-season weekend trip for two with the Red Wings that includes a Friday home game against Toronto, a Saturday road game at Toronto and a Sunday home matinee against Buffalo with travel aboard the team plane, Redbird Two.
Posted by w2j2 on 06/26/08 at 08:26 AM ET
Might be interesting if the Wings, umm, you know, add another Swede to the roster in the next couple weeks.
Do some research IWO, This Guy is not a Swede.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 08:45 AM ET
Hossa isn’t going to be a Wing nor will Sundin. The only way either winds up here is for one reason and it is not monetary, it’s heart, soul & desire for the Holy Grail of Hockey which leaves that up to the player so long as an offer is made by the Brain Trust. We don’t overpay anyone, look at Nik’s salary versus what Brian Campbell will wind up making.
Rolston can skate and has a boomer of a slapper, interestingly enough he could be a good fit.
Although I am thinking along the same lines as Primis, we’ll go cheap and watch the rest of the league go bonkers over a few guys.
CCMMMCC, reminds me of the schedule to wind down this season albeir a little different flavor but equally repetetive.
Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/26/08 at 08:51 AM ET
I went to the last opening night cup ceremony in 2002. It was really neat, took some excellent pics. Steve was recovering from the knee surgery so he made a brief appearance by the bench. They had vladdy out on the ice when they raised the banner. very classy.
Like someone else said I’d be surprised if we land either Hossa or sundin. They would have to take less money but the lure of a cup contender might sway either one. Hossa has been on teams that came oh so close. Sundin, not so.
Rolston interesting. He could bring his game up a notch playing with the Wings. The attention our first line gets. The emergence of our second line, The fact all four lines have the ability to score and do the little things that don’t show up on the scoring sheet. plus the power play could use some new effective blood on the second unit.
Who we land will be interesting. However we will not overpay so this is grand.
Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 09:18 AM ET
Do some research IWO, This Guy is not a Swede.
HIM, Gramps? I mean, he’s a heart-and-soul guy, some gas left in the tank, and it’d sure be nice not to have to go up against such an abrasive guy, but really? He’s definitely a reclamation project, but he’s still got offensive skill, and I could kinda see it, but…I think as long as we’re talking abour raiding players the Laffs have bought out, what about Raycroft as Ozzie’s backup? With the right defense in front of him, he could shine once more, and he wouldn’t cost much.
I still wouldn’t mind seeing Sundin, though. Be a great story if he did come and help defend the Cup. But I don’t know—Rolston seems the most ‘sensible’ choice, and as a home-stater, maybe some of the heads that think the MSM is right and the attendance problems are due to Michiganders not being able to relate to Europeans would like to have Rolston on board to get butts in seats.
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from here, hungry for a grinder- or a hoagie, or cheese on 06/26/08 at 09:28 AM ET
I’ve been thinking about Tucker too Gramps, especially because he seems to the Drake-like replacement for Drake. But he’s not much of a scorer though, so he doesn’t fit that bill. If we get him, there will still be another signing.
Sundin would be a great addition but I don’t see it happening either. Hossa is too young to think that he’ll never get a shot at the Cup again, especially because he is one of the key players.
We only need a one or two year shooter until Hudler, Fil, and Franzen establish themselves as solid shooters; Hudler especially.
Posted by Osrt on 06/26/08 at 09:38 AM ET
Raycroft is quality, with a defense like Detroit’s, resurrecting his career would be a gimme.
I would still rather see Kolzig, a true team player and more deserving.
Just can’t see starting the season with a youngster needing work as a backup.
Top 2 on my list right now
Kolzig
Tucker
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 09:38 AM ET
We only need a one or two year shooter until Hudler, Fil, and Franzen establish themselves as solid shooters; Hudler especially.
I do believe you are thinking inside the box.
With Hossa, or Sundin to beef up the 2nd line all you would be doing is stunting the development of our youngsters. Not only that, neither of these players can come up with the No’s predicted when they will only be seeing 12-14 min ice time and on the 2nd PP unit.
Detroit has a solid lineup of youngsters and there is nothing wrong with going into the season with a #1 line and three #2 lines.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 09:47 AM ET
oh no, I’m thinking like Gramps.
I was thinking about Kolzig as well; he is solid and doesn’t need to be *the* guy on any night, let alone most nights.
Anyone think about Shanny? I know he’s too slow for our system now, but there is no more raw shooter out there. Just a thought.
Posted by Osrt on 06/26/08 at 09:48 AM ET
At least Shanny could hit the net from the Blue Line on the PP.
But,
Rejoining Det. would be admitting a mistake (leaving). He is a stand-up guy, and honest, but returning here for $4.oo an hour plus tips kinda resembles a wet dream.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 10:02 AM ET
With Hossa, or Sundin to beef up the 2nd line all you would be doing is stunting the development of our youngsters.
Damn good point; I hadn’t thought of it that way.
I’d rather see Kolzig backing up Ozzie too, but how much is he going to cost? Sure, a goalie with a career like his deserves a Cup to cap it all off, but he’ll have to be one hell of a true team player like you say in order to take the money Kenny is offering for a backup. No more than Ozzie’s 1.7 million? I just don’t see him going that low, Cup or no Cup.
There’s one knock against Raycroft, in that if we get Tucker, I can’t see the organization wanting to take on TWO reclamation projects in the same year. Thankfully that would count out Emery as well. So…Tucker, with Kolzig being the big free-agent splash?
Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from playing the guessing game on 06/26/08 at 10:05 AM ET
Emery is poison.
He sounds like Av’s or Canuck material to me.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 10:10 AM ET
I do believe you are thinking inside the box.
With Hossa, or Sundin to beef up the 2nd line all you would be doing is stunting the development of our youngsters.
Que? Isn’t this part of the Wings’ organizational model? We tend to wait until players are over-ready than put the expectations of cup defense on them.
Points about Sundin captaining a number of the Swedes and general ability have already been made. I also agree that Hossa is the most Wing like, non-Wing.
Posted by Osrt on 06/26/08 at 10:10 AM ET
Que? Isn’t this part of the Wings’ organizational model? We tend to wait until players are over-ready than put the expectations of cup defense on them.
1. They are ‘over-ready’ right now, and know what is expected of them.
2. Adding a cupless superstar will just cut their Ice (development) time and could mean we lose another talented youngster on waivers.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26/08 at 10:31 AM ET
Kolzig/Ozzie splitting time equally - could work. Somewhere i read Kolzig wants a starting role so if they both split the season, both could be happy enough.
However, i’d like to see Ryan Malone come in too.
Posted by TheFreak on 06/26/08 at 10:54 AM ET
Que? Isn’t this part of the Wings’ organizational model? We tend to wait until players are over-ready than put the expectations of cup defense on them.
Good point, Osrt.
Then there’s the predictable unpredictability of injuries. Getting a one year deal with Sundin or Hossa is not going to hurt the youngsters. They will get their chances.
Posted by lilja4ever on 06/26/08 at 11:03 AM ET
I like the idea of Brian Rolston. He is a very fast skater, though somewhat streaky scorer. I see him as coming at a much more reasonable price than Hossa. Though I’ve been dreaming of Hossa on the Wings for quite some time.
Posted by hockeychic from Denver, CO on 06/26/08 at 11:25 AM ET
Hossa or Sundin would be fine, tho I’d prefer Hossa. I just don’t see either one happening.
Sundin for one year is going to cost, and who knows what kind of offer Kenny will have to match for Fil. Still, it’s more likely than Hossa, who will demand even more cash, and for long term.
I’d love to see Rolston a Wing. He’s fast, smart, and has a booming shot. And the key here is he’d come cheaper than the other two.
Sure, he’d displace someone on the 2nd line, but I think that’s fine. Move Hudler back down. He plays better with limited ice time. He doesn’t seem have the same hunger when he’s on the 2nd line.
The other bonus from any of the three, it bumps Sammy from the point on the Power play. Or at least should.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 06/26/08 at 11:25 AM ET
With Hossa, or Sundin to beef up the 2nd line all you would be doing is stunting the development of our youngsters.
And it would max out the salary cap!
Below are the numbers I came up with for the 2008-2009 cap hit for each of the Wings players who are either signed or about-to-be-signed. It’s based on cap-hit numbers from nhlnumbers.com and makes four assumptions: (1) Flip signs for $2.5M, (2) D-Mac signs for $500k, (3) Stuart signs for $3.5M (although it probably will be a bit less than that if it happens at all), and (4) Lilja signs for $1.1M. Other “assumed” salaries are shown and probably are a bit higher than what the actual salaries will be.
Forwards:
Pavel - Hank - Homer [$11.6M]
(?) - Flip - Mule [$3.442M]
Sammy - Drapes - Cleary [$5.583M]
Happy - Helm - D-Mac [$2.245M]
Kopecky [$525K]
Defensemen:
Nick - Rafi [$13.45M]
Nick Jr. - (Stuart) [$6.5M]
Lilja - Lebda [$1.75M]
Cheli [$900K]
Quincy or Meech [$750K]
Goalies:
Ozzie [$1.417]
Howard [$1.0M]
Total: $49.162M
With a projected cap of $56M, that leaves $6.838M with which to sign a free agent forward for the 2nd line. The fact that Kenny always wants some cap space available at the trade deadline is one reason why he has repeatedly said he’s only willing to spend about $3M-$4M on a free agent(s).
Hossa? Sundin? Ain’t gonna happen without trading someone’s salary away. Rolston? Malone? Maybe…if they’re willing to take $4M or less.
If I’m off in my figuring, someone let me know.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 11:31 AM ET
What about Hossa in Chicago?
They must have some money - most of their important players are still young and cheap, and they have some contracts such as Lang and Khabibulin in the last year. They could sell themselves as a team on the rise in a resurrected hockey market, and they play an offensive style.
I think he’d fit in well with the Blackhawks.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 11:52 AM ET
Pete at yzermanisgod did some figures for signing Sundin. works!
though we wouldn’t be signing Stuart. i’m still in the “pair Ericcson with Kronner” camp.
Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 06/26/08 at 11:53 AM ET
Baroque, I think you’re right, he’d be fantastic in Chicago. But Didn’t he state he wants to play for a cup team? Chiago will likely make the playoffs next year, but I don’t see them going to far.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Calgary be bold and make a pitch for him since they’ve just dumped some salary, and could still use some scoring even with the aquisition of Cammalleri.
Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 06/26/08 at 12:33 PM ET
Pete at yzermanisgod did some figures for signing Sundin. works!
Those figures only work if the Wings pass on Stuart. And he makes no provision for Flip, D-Mac, Cheli, Lilja, etc. But he did count someone I missed…Malts.
The real problem for the Wings is that they have too many players who have to play in the NHL next year. Not a bad “problem” to have, actually. Anyway, with the exception of Helm and Howard, everyone I listed has to either be on the roster or clear waivers before he can be sent down. And there isn’t room on the roster for both Meech and Quincy.
Adding Malts into the mix, Helm would have to go to G.R. and then the 4th line would be Malts and Happy plus either D-Mac or Kopecky. But then there’s no place for Leino if he shows he can play in the NHL.
It’s clear that if the Wings sign anyone this summer, someone else has to go. Given that, it may be more likely that the Wings look for a trade instead of going after a free agent. I guess we’ll know in about a week.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 01:06 PM ET
Redoing the numbers I had above to include Maltby (with Helm going to GR) and using Meech’s salary for the #8 D-man spot, the cap hit comes to $48.523M. With a cap limit of $56M, that would leave $7.477M in cap space available.
Assuming Kenny would again want to have $3M available at the trade deadline, the Wings would have about $4.5M available for a free agent(s). If they didn’t pursue Sturt and played either Quincy or Ericsson in his place, you can add another $3M to that.
Sooooooo, with $7.5M available, the Wings could sign someone like Hossa or Sundin…but only for next year. If they were signed for even two years, the 2009-2010 cap would have to go up by at least $7M just to cover the raises Hank and the Mule will get.
Again, I guess it could be done, but it seems like a risky way to go. The more cap-friendly approach would be to go after Rolston, Naslund or Malone. Or go the trade route, moving a couple of bodies (like Sammy, Lebda, etc.) and their salaries out in exchange for one player with a higher salary.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 01:31 PM ET
Holy cap crap. 
Now TSN is reporting that the cap will be $56.7M. Using that figure and reserving $3M for the trade deadline, the Wings could have about $5.2M available with Stuart at $3.5M or $8.7M available with Ericsson replacing Stuart.
That still leaves the Wings with a problem in 2009-2010 if they commit anything over $6M to a multi-year contract, but the numbers are actually looking better everytime I redo them.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 01:40 PM ET
Hossa made 7mil, Sundin 5.5mil and Roloson 2.4mil last year. Hossa won’t take less it’s his first crack at FA and he is 29 Rolo is 34 and sundin is 36.
Rolo makes mores sense to me. Plays PP and PK had I think 3 short handed and about 7 game winners last season. Had about 59 points and still has speed. Has scored 30 or more goals in three seasons straight. plays right wing. nice second line player with Fil and the Mule. might take a one or two year deal for around the same or less to play in Detroit.
players hate to take a huge pay cut cause they hear it from the players union. Sundin would have to take 2.5 and Hossa would have to take a deep one.
Rolo has cup experience with NJ and comes home to end his career. Not bad if it works out that way.
Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 02:25 PM ET
It’s gonna take about 6.5 mil a season to sign Z his contract ends next season so keep that in mind. So right now us handing out anything above 3mil for more then two or three years is unlikely.
Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 02:32 PM ET
Baroque, I think you’re right, he’d be fantastic in Chicago. But Didn’t he state he wants to play for a cup team? Chiago will likely make the playoffs next year, but I don’t see them going to far.
They were not that far off from a playoff position this past year, and if he signs a five to seven year contract, who knows where they could be, say, half-way into it?
Get some solid goaltending, their defense has about three more years of experience, Kane and Toews have three more years of experience ... the prospect is quite frankly more than a little scary.
Good for the Blackhawks fans, though.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/26/08 at 02:39 PM ET
Is Ericsson on a contract now? Is he out of AHL years, i.e won’t clear waivers?
I thought we were going to leave him in GR for at least another year. I want Meech to step in there more than anyone else; he’s a new, and possibly more dominant, Raffy. Ericsson will be awesome, but he needs a bit more time before coming up. If Lilja was gone, however, I would be down to bring the big boy in.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the Griffs do this year. They’ll have a boat load of talent. Let’s hope they can use it without having their best players get called up to compensate for injuries. Kronner, Kopecky *stares*
Posted by Osrt on 06/26/08 at 02:53 PM ET
Is Ericsson on a contract now? Is he out of AHL years, i.e won’t clear waivers?
Ericsson is an RFA but does not have to clear waivers to be called up and/or sent down next season. It’s Quincy and Meech who are out of options. They either play in Detroit or they get traded this summer because neither one will clear waivers if they’re sent down.
If the Wings sign Stuart, Lilja (shudder) & Cheli, then they’ll only have room for either Meech or Quincy. Someone will have to go.
Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/26/08 at 05:45 PM ET
Emery is poison.
He sounds like Av’s or Canuck material to me.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 06/26 at 11:10 AM
That is so funny cuz it’s true.
Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/29/08 at 06:35 PM ET
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Hossa? It wouldn’t surprise me, in all honesty. It wouldn’t surprise me at all. It’s not likely, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
The rough drafts of the schedule make the rounds at the Entry Draft. Coaches have to pass the time somehow, you know? Two summers ago, when the NHL gave everybody who had credentials Getty privileges for the draft, I snagged a nearly life-size picture of Babs, McLellan, and Woodcroft going over the sked, writing in possible opponents for certain dates to attempt to streamline travel.
So juicy match-ups have a way of leaking their way out to the media before the NHL takes all the lobbying done by the various teams into consideration before throwing the whole thing into the computer of schedule unhappiness doom (though that’s not what they call it, it’s CCMMMCC, or Columbus-Columbus-Minnesota-Minnesota-Minnesota, Columbus-Columbus, in honour of that lovely slate of games in December of 2006…).
Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 06/26/08 at 04:13 AM ET