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Abel to Yzerman

Bargains And The Anti-Digger

by IwoCPO on 05/09/07 at 12:57 PM ET
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Mike Brophy at The Hockey News has a story up referring to our boy Homer’s status as a big-time bargain.

So when the veteran GM of the Detroit Red Wings had the opportunity to lock up gritty right winger Tomas Holmstrom for three years at $6.75 million, he jumped at it.

And why not? The 10-year veteran appears to be getting better with age. While some 30-goal scorers command significantly more money, Holmstrom is one of the NHL’s biggest bargains at an average of $2.25 million a season.

In his past two seasons, the 34-year-old from Pieta, Sweden has enjoyed career-high years of 29 and then 30 goals, making it hard to believe he didn’t test the free agent waters.

There can be no doubt, especially considering the impact he had on the San Jose series, that Homer is indeed underpaid.  Knowing the Wings, I wouldn’t be surprised if Holland wasn’t working a re-structuring…because that’s how team operates; which answers Brophy’s question as to why Holmstrom hasn’t tested the free-agent market.

Throw in the fact that he’s surrounded by his fellow Swedes and other teammates he’s essentially grown up with, and you have an idea why he isn’t prone to even float the idea as a bargaining ploy (other than the mis-reported threat of going home).

Brophy also lists a handful of other players (Kunitz, Pominville, Nylander) who fall into the bargain category, but the most obvious of all is glaringly absent.

Hank Zetterberg at 2.65 for the next two seasons is an absolute, outright steal.  It’s insane. 

Anti-digger Bruce MacLeod is at it again.  He’s using complex gimmicks like statistics and analysis, breaking multiple Michigan Sportwriters Union rules, and then—watch out—offering opinion based on his research.  It’s earth shattering and shocking, but you can handle it.

Is there any reason not to play Hudler? Calder hasn’t been nearly as effective and didn’t even get five minutes of ice time in Game 6 against San Jose. And if it’s home-road matchups and fear of Hudler’s size, it’s not like Calder is big or a shut-down defender. ... Lang has had a very good post-season, especially when you consider that he’s produced in road games when Datsyuk and Zetterberg have been silent (one combined point in six road games). ...

Whoa…wait a second.  Could we be misinterpreting Bob’s effecitveness? 

Nah.

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