Well, if he does go somewhere else, then maybe we can at least keep Hudler, bring up Ericcson, Helm, Leino, and Abdelkader full time, and sign a mid-level free agent for the third or fourth line.

Not too shabby, IMHO.

Posted by CJBear71 on 06/28/09 at 09:15 AM ET

hate to break this to you !!! He will go for the money, Lasy offseason was to go to detroit & win the Cup & then cash in the next season

So he lost to the Pens in the SC finals & he will still cash in, Everybody in the Pens OrganIzation thought he was going to resign with them & until he signed with the Wings they still believed that

Posted by Evilpens on 06/28/09 at 10:15 AM ET

I dunno, the Kings seem to be on the cusp of being up-and-coming, despite their awful finish. Maybe Hossa will look at their youth and think he could put them over the edge to the playoffs. And it’s not like there’s not a lot of other tempting stuff for an athlete to think about when LA is part of the equation. If the Kings go hard enough for Hossa, it may be more like $4 million instead of a $2 million difference.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 06/28/09 at 10:53 AM ET

He said he loved Pittsburgh too, He is Going for BIG money this time

Last season it was take less to win the Cup

Posted by Evilpens on 06/28/09 at 11:04 AM ET

I’d prefer he goes to an Eastern Conference team, but in the end I really don’t care.

I just don’t want to see him wearing a winged wheel next year and it saddens me that Holland is even considering getting rid of some proven winners who already have cup rings with the Wings in order to keep around a two-time loser who disappeared when he was needed most.

How many times in the past year have we read articles about retired Wings, current Wings, assistant coaches, scouts, et cetera that end up with the subject turning over the ring and showing the engraving of “family”?  And now Holland’s willing to ship off a couple brothers/sons in order to accommodate a “big name”?

I don’t like it.  Not one bit.

But hey, maybe this is Holland posturing so that he can get the most out of a trade for his rights.

And Chief: who says that Hossa has to OK any trades?  He doesn’t have a NTC does he?  Detroit has to do what is in their best interest.

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 11:10 AM ET

So either way Detroit wins out.

I disagree.  If Detroit signs him this year, they’re in a similar boat to what Pittsburgh would have been if they had signed Hossa last year.  He takes up a LOT of cap space and he’ll be *#$%@& of Detroit’s future with a long term contract.

Please Marian, go for the money, don’t destroy my team.

And Holland?  Please, let him *#$%@& go!  We didn’t need him a year ago, we can do it without him this year!

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 11:12 AM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

Posted by PuckStopsHere on 06/28/09 at 11:32 AM ET

Which family would signing Hossa move out?  Samuelsson is as good as gone, he has his house up for sale and apparently is going to cash in...good riddance, the guy was overrated and a marginal NHL player before the Wings gave him icetime and linemantes.  I don’t remember him showing up at crunch time either, same with Hudler.  In full discolsure, I’d rather the Wings let them all go, get draft picks and sign a 3rd line grinder, bring up the kids to play full time.  During the season, with the cap space, address any potential needs at that time.  The Wings are still stacked and don’t miss much with Helm/Abdelkader and Leino in over Samuelsson and Hudler, especially Samuelsson.  And I wouldn’t mind seeing the Wings sign one of Travis Moen or Lapierriere for the grit and bite they missed.

Posted by bababooey on 06/28/09 at 11:46 AM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

Does your brain hurt from all this cutting edge analysis you provide?

Douchebag

Posted by Osrt on 06/28/09 at 11:46 AM ET

Which family would signing Hossa move out?

Well, if you look at the salary cap situation as it stands WITHOUT Hossa and how many people they still have to sign, you’re looking at...BEYOND Sammy and Happy, at LEAST one of Stuart, Kronwall, Cleary of Filpula.  Kronwall and Stuart stepped up their games big time in the playoffs, Cleary had a breakout playoff this year and Filpula showed us what he had when Datsyuk was out, filling in beautifully.  Yeah, you can point to a couple mistakes he made in the finals, but I’ll point to his 45 minutes during the 3OT game in Anaheim and his 26 minute average during that series.

So, at the VERY least, we lost one of our breakout guys, and possibly two, since we’d still have a couple slots to fill, in order to sign a guy who disappeared when he was needed most.

We already know that, because of salary cap constraints, we’re losing at least one of Happy or Sammy.  And let me ask you this, if you have three guys who disappeared at crunch time, why is it good riddance to your two million dollar players so that you can fit in the disappearing act that will cost more than double what you paid for BOTH the other?  Why isn’t it good riddance to ALL THREE?

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 11:58 AM ET

Im sorry Chief and everyone else who thinks Hossa is going to be back.  I think we are living in a fantasy world.  I want him to be back.  I want the young blood to come up.  I love Draper, Maltby, Homer and guys like that, but that era is coming to an end.  To have Hossa, Pavel, Hank, Fil, Franzen as our top 5 would be a wet dream for years to come, even if it means parting with our organization guys like Homer and Drapes.  Bottom line (in my opinion mind you) Hossa is gone.  The cap doesnt work.  Its impossible.  The man wants money and I think douche Rich Winter is in his ear pulling the strings.  I am sorry to break it to you but Hossa is gone.  I hope I am wrong but I know Im not.

Posted by AxeMaster9 on 06/28/09 at 12:06 PM ET

Trade Rafalski and his $6 million contract. Keep Hossa.

Posted by Voline on 06/28/09 at 12:16 PM ET

Bottom line (in my opinion mind you) Hossa is gone.

I pray that you’re right.

And about trading Rafalski, are you kidding me?  We’re stacked with forwards, why would we want to break up our defensive corps?  That’s just retarded.

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 12:24 PM ET

The Kings have more young talent than some people think - I don’t think they are all that far away from contending, maybe not next year, but within a few years if they are smart about it and continue to develop their youngsters.

With the players Detroit has under contract already, they just don’t have the money to sign Hossa - not only for what he is asking, but for even what he objectively is worth compared to other comparable players.

It was always going to be a one-year deal unless the cap went up enough to provide the money to keep him - unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.

When he signs elsewhere, I’ll mentally think him for the great year, wish him luck - and hope he has a minor case of food poisoning in every game against the Wings, but scores a hat trick in every game he plays against the teams closest to Detroit in the standings at the time. 

(And regardless of Hossa or no Hossa, I think Samuelsson is gone, and likely Hudler will cash in on an offer sheet, so there will be several new faces next year anyway.)

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/09 at 12:39 PM ET

Garth

I personally wouldn’t mind all three gone.  With those 3 gone we’re about 2mm+ below the cap, enough room to sign a gritty winger to compliment Helm and then we roll the dice to see what chemistry develops.  With the 1mm+ of room we can then address weakenesses as they come.  I’m just not for giving Sammy a raise given his disappearing act this year in the playoffs (mostly the finals).  All three are looking for raises, and the Wings can’t, and in most cases shouldn’t be accomedating.  Their roster is more than good enough without those three to make a serious run, if not, they’ll be good enough to hang around and Holland can address those weaknesses as he needs to during the season

Posted by bababooey on 06/28/09 at 12:55 PM ET

I generally agree with you, though I wouldn’t keeping at least one of Sammy or Hudler.  Sammy didn’t do much in the finals, but he’s still a decent keep for not a lot of money.  If we lose Hudler, we pick up at least one draft pick, maybe more depending on the offer sheet he gets and we could pick up another draft pick trading away Hossa’s rights.  With Sammy, he might be looking for a lot, but might be willing to take less to stay, who knows.  If Leino signs for the same as last year (and really, can he demand a raise?  He’s good, but he only played a handful of NHL games) and Abdelkader comes up, we’ve got about a mil and a half of free space (plus we’ve got 8 defense under contract, so we’d have to get rid of someone) to sign someone.  Not a lot of options, but there are still a couple…

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 01:12 PM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

I spell your name “StopPostingHereNoOneLikesYourCommentary”

It has a ring to it.

Posted by John from Pittsburgh, PA (Wings fan for life!) on 06/28/09 at 01:59 PM ET

Wow John, you’re really bad at spelling!  Random capitalized letters, only one name.  Weird.

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 02:18 PM ET

I was unimpressed by his play in the playoffs.  I know it was the Western Conference and it’s tougher to shine in the playoffs that it is in the east (See also:  Sidney Crotchby) but I was still disappointed.  I think signing the Mule was Kenny’s way of saying “We are a family here more than we are the Yankees of hockey.” So if he doesn’t sign, I won’t be too sad.  I’ll say THANKS MARIAN for a great season, exciting play, great effort every single night.  I won’t whine and post youtube videos of how pissed of I am like Pen(i)s fans because I’m not a whiny little bitch.  I enjoyed his time here and if 2 Mil a year for the next 6 years is what he really wants, I won’t say anything bad about him.  I can’t.  He worked his ass of for us and made for some great memories.  And what last year’s Penis fans don’t understand, is that he’s not specifically saying “I WILL BE IN A RED WINGS’ SWEATER FOR ANOTHER SEASON.” He didn’t say that last year, he’s not saying it now. 

Lastly:

Rafalski.  Really?  6 M?  C’mon…

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 06/28/09 at 03:28 PM ET

2 Mil a year for the next 6 years

2 Mil more than what he’d get in Detroit, that is....

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 06/28/09 at 03:30 PM ET

Unless Kenny has an ace up his sleeve (say he knows the retirement intentions of Homer, Lilja, and maybe Maltby), Hossa will unfortunately not be back.

Thanks for your service. It was great watching you, but so long and good luck.

The other long shot option I don’t expect, but might be OK with is trading Rafalski. I like the guy and what he brings, but he’s the only player that might legitimately be traded and make any real dent in the cap problem. With the cap moving the direction it is, I think he might be slightly overpaid from a defensive standpoint.

The thing that worries me about that is the Wings depth is a bit weak at the moment. The 3 pairs (depending on Lilja) are as good as any in the league, but beyond Erisson there’s nobody in the farm quite ready to step up yet. Even Meech is a bit raw for full time duty. And as good as Ericsson is, no one but Lidstrom is close to the offensive presence that Rafi provides yet.

Not suggesting it’s the best idea or that the organization is even considering it, but it would certainly free up a big chunk of salary.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/28/09 at 03:56 PM ET

Hossa will unfortunately not be back.

I don’t see any “unfortunately” about it.  If you’re going to pay him in the range of Z and Mule, then I want their playoffs production.  Hossa completely disappeared when he was needed most.  I didn’t mind his 6 goals in the first three rounds because he still played very well most of the time, but his lack of production, lack of...well, ANYTHING in the finals is what counts.  And how do you reward a guy who did nothing during the only stretch that he was REALLY needed?  You don’t, not if you’re a year out from a Stanley Cup and the runner up this year.  You don’t need to.

40 goals in the regular season?  Who cares?  I sure as shit don’t.  I’ll take Cleary’s 14 regular season goals to go along with his play in the playoffs ANY day of the year.

More than that, taking away Hossa’s 40 goals will for the Red Wings...as a TEAM...to play better defensively, rather than just coasting on their offensive output.

And I don’t see trading Rafalski.  Not this year.  Not with Lidstrom’s contract up this year and him POTENTIALLY hanging them up at the end of the season.  He may be overpaid, but guess what?  Defensemen are at a premium.  Any team in the league would be happy to have our “problem” on defense.

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 04:19 PM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

His name is Robert Paulson?

If you’re going to correct someone on spelling, then be sure to get your grammar right next time.

Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 06/28/09 at 04:21 PM ET

Eh, I’m not worried about Hossa’s lack of production in the playoffs this season. It was pretty clear he was injured for a large portion of it (despite his comments afterward which could hurt his FA value to teams that are not the Wings). Just as big an issue may have been the head first spill he took into the corner in STL(?). I wouldn’t be surprised if that was still a nagging thought. Give him some time away from the game to forget about it, get his confidence back, and completely heal and he will be bullying past defensemen again in no time.

The issue with Lids potentially retiring is a good point. But at the same time, the thought of Rafi being #1 Dman scares me. He’s outstanding on the attack, but not good enough defensively for that role. I don’t expect him to be traded either, but its an interesting debate. Especially with so many other Wings locked into good bargains, “family” players, or having some form of no-trade clause. The options are pretty limited.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/28/09 at 04:46 PM ET

Hola all.  Daughter’s wedding was wonderful - and sort of sad at the same time.  Walking her down the aisle was a see-saw of emotions, really hard to explain.

Hossa - man the salary cap is just a bitch.  No doubt at all in my mind the Wings would keep him pre-cap era.  I’m wondering if Holland may be offering him low dollars, with the thought that if the Wings land him great, and if he walks; well that is not the end of the world.

Either way, to ‘09-’10 Wings will have many new faces.  Sort of sad.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Hockey Netherworld on 06/28/09 at 04:49 PM ET

I think one point that hasn’t been addressed is Hossa next year should he stay, will have a full year under his belt in OUR system.  I certainly realize that he could have been more productive in the playoffs, but I haven’t read too many comments regarding the defensive schemes other teams threw at him during the entire playoffs.  Shutting Hossa down allowed others to shine in ways we didn’t expect.  Salary cap issues aside, I look for Hossa to take less, be even more productive this year (50?) and get back to the SCF.

Posted by Since71 from Bucharest, Romania on 06/28/09 at 04:53 PM ET

Hossa should just fire RiTch Winter and start speaking for himself.  Or at least, tell RiTch Winter in no uncertain terms his intentions to stay with Detroit or send him to another Cup contender.  Trust me, after Detroit and Pittsburgh, that’s a very, very short list.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/09 at 05:05 PM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

Posted by PuckStopsHere on 06/28/09 at 12:32 PM ET

Man, if you really want to go down this road we can. I’d recommend against it.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 06/28/09 at 05:30 PM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter

All your base are belong to us type of a comment.  Really took me a while to understand what he was trying to get across.  “Oooh, he’s telling us that Rich Winter spells his name is with a t is in it.  Is.”

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 06/28/09 at 05:37 PM ET

Just for the record, I like Hossa and I absolutely enjoyed having him seen him play in a Wings sweater.  If he doesn’t re-sign with the Wings, I won’t be heartbroken but I will wish him well - just not against the Wings, in which case, I’ll root for him to suck ass.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/09 at 05:49 PM ET

Shutting Hossa down allowed others to shine in ways we didn’t expect.

Two problems with what you said.  Coming into the playoffs, Hossa already HAD an entire season in OUR system and it didn’t seem to do him much good in the finals.

Bottom line is, he wasn’t there when we needed him to be.  The finals, against his old team, was the PERFECT chance to prove all of his naysayers wrong and he BLEW.  The only person who shut him down was HIM.

You know what?  As far as I’m concerned, he had a chance to shine TWICE, in back to back years.  He wasn’t in the top ten best players in the playoffs ON DETROIT, nevermind the league.  Why on earth would we want him back?  He fit into the system perfectly as long as he wasn’t being relied on, but the second the team had some real adversity, he stopped playing the successful game he had been playing and just stopped trying.

And don’t give me the injury bullshit.  This was as injured a team as I’ve seen in the playoffs and EVERY SINGLE OTHER RED WING who had an injury powered through and showed what heart they had.  As someone said in an article about Lidstrom, players know what injuries other players have, and if Hossa had had any kind of significant injury, SOMEONE would’ve said something.

What I don’t understand is why any Wings fan is clamboring ot having him back.  After last year, I was stoked to have him on the team because he played VERY well for the Pens, but after this post-season?  Thanks but no thanks.  Without him we can ice almost the exact same team that won the cup in 08, with him we have to sell off some significant parts of that championship team.

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 05:49 PM ET

He spells his name is Ritch Winter.

You signing renewing and using an ink for a name with paper?

Posted by monkey from Waiting for the lambs to stop screaming on 06/28/09 at 05:53 PM ET

And don’t give me the injury bullshit.  This was as injured a team as I’ve seen in the playoffs and EVERY SINGLE OTHER RED WING who had an injury powered through and showed what heart they had.  As someone said in an article about Lidstrom, players know what injuries other players have, and if Hossa had had any kind of significant injury, SOMEONE would’ve said something.

Gotta disagree with you there.  Lidstrom’s performance after he sat was great defensively, but his offense wasn’t the force on the blue line we’d all come to know and love.  Datsyuk battled after his injury, but he too wasn’t the same dominant force he usually is.  Especially Games 6 and 7.  Hossa worked his ass off, no one can deny that.  Something was off, either confidence or injury or both.  The fact that word didn’t get out about it from our locker room isn’t saying much.  Fact is, everyone’s hurt int he playoffs.  It’s to what extent.

But like I say, I wish him well, thanks for the memories, and of course I’d be happy if he stayed.  Or at least happier than Garth if he stayed.

Posted by Sullyosis from A hateful lair in Post Apocalyptic US (or Arizona) on 06/28/09 at 06:10 PM ET

All hockey aside for a moment. My little dude, whom some of the 19 have heard me speak of and playing baseball..... his team just won the Missouri State Championship Game for 7 & Under Machine Pitch baseball. Gave up 5 runs in the top of the first to rally and win 17-10.
We have an optional invite to the regional World Series......
Hossa? Heh, does he play baseball for my kids team? Sorry, on cloud 9 for a bit here.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/28/09 at 06:16 PM ET

I trust my hockey team to Ken Holland, you should too.

My little dude, whom some of the 19 have heard me speak of and playing baseball..... his team just won the Missouri State Championship Game for 7 & Under Machine Pitch baseball.

Congratulations to your son, MO!

Posted by Aphaea from Pennsylvania on 06/28/09 at 06:29 PM ET

All hockey aside for a moment. My little dude, whom some of the 19 have heard me speak of and playing baseball..... his team just won the Missouri State Championship Game for 7 & Under Machine Pitch baseball. Gave up 5 runs in the top of the first to rally and win 17-10.
We have an optional invite to the regional World Series......
Hossa? Heh, does he play baseball for my kids team? Sorry, on cloud 9 for a bit here.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/28/09 at 07:16 PM ET

Way cool. I like this story. Up beat and a wonderful ending. Congrats to your little dude. Cloud 9 sounds like a really good place to be.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/28/09 at 06:36 PM ET

Rafalski is here, until he asks to leave.  He left money on the table in NJ to join the family, was instrumental in winning #11, and is more influential in the Org. than most imagine.  With Cheli leaving and Lids reaching retirement, just where would the veteran experience on the D come from?

The big money for highly skilled players is still in adjustment due to the Cap, and will take a few more years before it settles down.  The players who can see the future are wise to take contracts structured like the one Zetterberg and Franzen settled for.  Don’t be at all surprised if Hossa stays.

The W/Conf was a big change for Hossa.  Looking at a return to the Bettman Conference may have been attractive for Hossa, but that all changed with the Prong moving to Philly.

Pretty damn sad that the Hossa situation is the only excitement until October.....

I would put Lebda on the list (high on that list) of expendables for Cap room.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/28/09 at 06:42 PM ET

As far as Hossa goes, what will be will be. I’m not willing to lose three players to keep one Hossa. The D can always use some bolstering and, I have a bad feeling about Lilja.

I hate hockey right now.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa. on 06/28/09 at 06:46 PM ET

Man, if you really want to go down this road we can. I’d recommend against it.

Posted by IwoCPO from Washington, DC on 06/28/09 at 06:30 PM ET

I really want to see this happen.  Please, God, allow this go down this way.

Posted by HockeyJoe from Upstate New York on 06/28/09 at 06:50 PM ET

We need Stuart gone.

Hossa was useless too in the playoffs..as was Hudler for the most part...but Stuart was a friggin’ two legged obstacle course on skates.

Re-package the 3 of them, throw in Sammy for a bonus, and sign the Sedin twins.

Posted by The Hurricane on 06/28/09 at 06:54 PM ET

We need Stuart gone.

Hossa was useless too in the playoffs..as was Hudler for the most part...but Stuart was a friggin’ two legged obstacle course on skates.

I disagree completely with this.  Stuie’s game 7 brain farts aside, he was a frigging rock this playoff season.  He and Kronner played big when Lids/Rafalski were out.

Posted by Incognetis from Exile in Alabama on 06/28/09 at 07:08 PM ET

I don’t blame Winter, he’s doing what we all do, getting the best lot he can in life. Fair play.

If Hossa really wants to stay in Detroit for less money, he’ll tell Winter. The player ultimately dictates where he goes, not the agent. If Winter doesn’t want the commission for Hossa’s $4 million/year deal with Detroit, Hossa can fire his ass.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/28/09 at 07:14 PM ET

Nathan, dead on. Last year, Hossa made it happen, almost certainly over Winter’s advice/leading. This year, he’s not.

The cap was only settled Friday, so it’s not like he’s had a lot of time to decide, but it seems to me that if he were coming back, he would have known and already signed the contract. In this situation, even a couple days hesitation seems enough to come to the conclusion that he’s gone.

Posted by Matt Saler from Grand Rapids, MI on 06/28/09 at 07:35 PM ET

Hossa worked his ass off, no one can deny that.

Really?  I can’t tell you the number of times I snarled because Hossa would take the puck across the blue line and do NOTHING, just dumping it in.  Contrast that with the way he played all season and for the first three rounds.  Working his ass off is absolutely NOT what I would call it.

I’ll buy that his confidence was not there, but again, why would you reward a guy who plays well all the time EXCEPT when the pressure is on and he’s needed to step up?

You’re right, Lidstrom and Datsyuk weren’t at the top of their game, but they both had serious injuries and, as I said, POWERED through them.  They came back before they were ready and played well. Did they play as well as they would have if they had been 100%?  No, of course not, but neither one of them was the stillborn liability that Hossa was.  If Hossa wasn’t HOSSA. he woulda been sat down or had his ice time reduced, but Babcock kept giving him every chance to prove that he belonged there, and he showed that he didn’t.

We need Stuart gone.

You’re kidding me, right?  He made two glaring errors, and those cancel out all the good he did in the entire rest of the playoffs?  He was a BEAST in Anaheim, and he really stepped it up for most of the playoffs.  He played the most minutes in many of the Anaheim games, including 45 in the 3OT game.  Everyone makes mistakes, he’s just unfortunate that he had his two biggest in the last game...a game in which almost NOBODY on Detroit played particularly well.  If we got rid of him, ANY team who got him would be laughing their asses off at us.

What next, are you going to call for Zetterberg and Franzen to be traded?

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 08:07 PM ET

Re-package the 3 of them, throw in Sammy for a bonus, and sign the Sedin twins.

I didn’t even read your entire post before responding.  Dude, you need to be slapped in the face for suggesting the Sedins.  Are you kidding?  Or do you actually just hate the Wings and want to watch them fail?

If you’re serious, do you really think that trading Stuart and letting Hudler, Hossa and Sammy go would clear the FOURTEEN MILLION it would cost to bring on the Shit Twins?

Posted by Garth on 06/28/09 at 08:10 PM ET

Well we’re all going to know tomorrow, probably by about 7 pm EST whether or not he’s staying. He’ll either be signed or his rights will be traded.

With the likely fall of the cap next year, I actually agree with whomever suggested trying to keep a good chunk of space heading into the off-season next year. I would let Sammy go because he pisses me off too much.

Trade one of Meech or Lebda, unless Lilja can’t go to start the season.

And for guys on the free agent market, I’d love it if the Wings could get someone like John Madden or Sami Phalsson. But I just have the sinking feeling that they’ll cost too much, especially if it takes $2.5 million to sign Happy. Personally if a team offers more than that, if I were Holland I’d take the picks, because Happy is a product of the system.

right now, the roster looks like this:

Dangle-Hank-Homer
Leino-Wally-Mule
Cleary-Helm-???
Maltby-Draper-???

TPH-Raffy
Kronwall-Stuart
Ericsson-Lilja/Lebda
Meech

Ozzie
Howard

I would love it if Shanny would come back. I think he could fit in nicely on that third line, and would give us a right-handed shot we could really use.

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 06/28/09 at 08:21 PM ET

The reason this perplexes me is that prior to the start of the playoffs, Tick Tock has said that the cap number was not a factor so apparently, at that time, the only issue left is term.

I’m not crazy ‘bout the mix signals coming from either camp in fact.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/09 at 08:39 PM ET

NO SEDINS!!!! OMFG, NO!!!!

This team does not need two more expensive forwards - if they really need expensive forwards, they can just re-sign Hossa for big bucks and dump salary to make up for it.

Hossa clearly has some thinking to do before he makes a decision.  The possibility of a dropping cap is probably leading a lot of players to recalibrate their ideas on contracts, just as much as the teams. 

Stuart has a couple highly visible gaffes, but was for the most part very solid in the playoffs.

Shanahan is done, for sure with Detroit and likely entirely.  He only played part of the season last year, and still faded badly at the end of it.  No way he wants to deal with the Western conference travel if his family is living in New York, either.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/09 at 08:42 PM ET

The reason this perplexes me is that prior to the start of the playoffs, Tick Tock has said that the cap number was not a factor so apparently, at that time, the only issue left is term.

I’m not crazy ‘bout the mix signals coming from either camp in fact.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/09 at 09:39 PM ET

They probably have a little bit better idea of just how much the cap might drop in the future.  If Holland were planning on a flat cap, or a smaller decline than it now appears might be possible, that could account for the change of perspective.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/09 at 08:44 PM ET

Another factor could gvery well be Tick Tock was prepared to dump some salary to keep Hossa, but after his performance in the playoffs and SCF, he’s changed his mind?

Those words from Marian, saying he felt the pressure and it affected him would have to make every GM nervous of paying him the big bucks.

Posted by Alzy from Innisfail, Alberta, Canada on 06/28/09 at 08:48 PM ET