I’m very, VERY happy and grateful that Drake laid it all out there to help win the Cup for the Wings.  And he’s probably partly holding off to see how quickly his body heals after the physical onslaught.

HOWEVER.  If his delay in making a decision negatively affects Holland’s efforts in drafting a look-a-like, then he needs to choose, and choose soon.

There.  I said it and I’m glad.

Posted by Vladifan from Central Texas on 06/28/08 at 10:26 AM ET

According to the press Drake has already told Holland he is “leaning” toward retirement, and he may have said more that we don’t know about.  So maybe Kenny just goes about his business doing the Kenny things he does… and if, come late July, there’s room for Dallas and he wants to play (which sounds unlikely) they get something done.  If not, Dallas still retires on top.

I’m very happy for Drake too.  He did lay it all out there and probably made a lot of the Wings better players because of that.  He certainly earned his share of the cup and deserves to go out on top.

Of course, had he won his cup with the Dive, they would be scheduling his jersey-raising ceremony soon.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/28/08 at 10:47 AM ET

Chelios would be a good coach with defenesmen.  However he has said multiple times he is to much of a yeller and screamer.  Which I believe, he use to scream at Steve Duschene when they were paired together. at live games you could hear him and watching just chelios is a treat.  You pick up so many different things then you do watching it at home.

I agree with whomever said that Lebda is a better player when paired with Chelios.  Right there tells you the guy is still making those around him better and jeez how old is he? Quite remarkable indeed. have to keep him around another season and go from there.

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 01:36 PM ET

oops put that post in the wrong thread. silly me!

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 01:40 PM ET

Thanks for everything Dallas! From rookie year to Cup year and every bruise in between. *tear*

Posted by Osrt on 06/28/08 at 02:00 PM ET

Yeah, I think he’s retiring this year but we gotta have a decision as soon as possible so Holland can work his voodoo with the cap and scouting reports.

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/08 at 02:04 PM ET

Guys,
Read between the lines!

The decision has aleady been made, and Holland knows it.
However, the timing is not right for a formal announcement, to be done with all dignity and dignitaries and friends in attendance.

So he cannot now come out and say “I retire”.

None the less, it is done.

You can stick a fork in it.

Congratulations, Dallas Drake.  A fine career, and a fine man.

Posted by w2j2 on 06/28/08 at 02:10 PM ET

Are there any of the rest of you “A2Y 19” who think that St. Louis or Chicago might make a run at Filpulla just to pimp the Wings?
I would not put it past them.
These guys hate us with a passion.

Posted by w2j2 on 06/28/08 at 02:21 PM ET

Their fans hate us for sure but I’m not sure about the organizations themselves. There will be plenty of offers for Fil but he’s not going anywhere.

Posted by Osrt on 06/28/08 at 03:33 PM ET

If another team offers Filppula (since he is an RFA) $5million a season plus term, does Filppula have the right (or power) to tell the other team, “No, I want to stay with the Wings,” and take less pay to stay with the Wings?  Or do the cap rules take precedence?

In other words, if the Canucks offer Filppula the money plus term, are the Wings required to match the offer to retain Filppula?

Posted by SYF from Las Vegas, NV on 06/28/08 at 03:48 PM ET

If another team offers Filppula (since he is an RFA) $5million a season plus term, does Filppula have the right (or power) to tell the other team, “No, I want to stay with the Wings,” and take less pay to stay with the Wings?  Or do the cap rules take precedence?

In other words, if the Canucks offer Filppula the money plus term, are the Wings required to match the offer to retain Filppula?

I’m guessing, here - but I think he doesn’t have to accept any offers if he doesn’t want to.

As I recall, it works kind of like any other free agents in the sense that an offer or offers are made to his agent and he chooses which one to accept - the difference is that as a RFA the team has a right to match the contract and negate any movement to another team.

I might be wrong, but if a player had no control over whether or not he accepted an offer, another team could hijack him by paying a ton even if he didn’t want to leave the current organization but was taking longer to decide.  It seems to make sense that a player could just inform his agent “I’m not interested in offer sheets” or even give a really high dollar amount and ask him to not even bother with anything less.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 04:48 PM ET

As I recall, it works kind of like any other free agents in the sense that an offer or offers are made to his agent and he chooses which one to accept - the difference is that as a RFA the team has a right to match the contract and negate any movement to another team.

Yeah, what Baroque said.  It doesn’t matter how many offers Filppula may get.  Nothing happens until he actually agrees to one of those offers by signing an offer sheet.  Then Detroit would have 7 days to decide whether to match that offer and retain Filppula’s rights, or to let Filppula go and take the draft picks as compensation.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/28/08 at 07:33 PM ET

Here it is, from http://www.nhlscap.com/:

—WHEN IS AN OFFER SHEET VALID?  An offer sheet is valid only when both the team and the player have signed it.  Teams can tender offer sheets to players, but if the player does not sign it then the offer sheet is null and void.  In other words, no team has to worry about matching an offer sheet given to one of its Restricted Free Agents unless the player signs it.

—WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A PLAYER SIGNS AN OFFER SHEET?
  Once a player signs an offer sheet, the team (“New Team”) giving the offer will submit it to Central Registry and must also notify the player’s original team (“Prior Team”) of the offer sheet.  The Prior Team has seven (7) days from the date it receives the offer sheet to choose whether to accept the terms of the offer sheet or decline.  If they choose to accept, then the salary, signing bonuses (if any), and reporting bonuses (if any) in the Offer Sheet become a binding SPC on both the Prior Team and the player.  If they decline, then all of the terms specified in the Offer Sheet become binding on the New Team and the player and the Prior Team receives compensation from the New Team as set forth below.

So, no, Filppula does not have to accept an offer sheet if he decides he wants to stay with Detroit.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 07:34 PM ET

Whoa, simultaneous commenting. Freaky. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 07:35 PM ET

Whoa, simultaneous commenting. Freaky.

Yeah, wow.  Your explanation from nhlscap.com is a lot more precise than mine.
(The real leagalese is in Article 10 of the CBA, if any are interested.)

Thanks for the nhlscap.com link…  lots of great cap-related info there.

Posted by BobTheZee on 06/28/08 at 08:17 PM ET

Wasn’t it the rangers eons ago who signed sakic to the offer sheet which forced the av’s to match it??? Then free agency went wacky. I know karmonas Signed Fedorov to his and the Wings matched and had to fork out that huge 28 mil bonus and 2 mil yearly salary.

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 08:22 PM ET

Just say it Dallas, the wings spanked you and won the cup, so say it.    OH I thought we were talking about the stars

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 08:25 PM ET

If anyone cares the Tigers are winning 5-2 in the seventh. Verlander in line for the win, Raburn slapped a grand slam.

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/28/08 at 08:28 PM ET

i know this is off topic but if Sundin and Rolston don’t pan out, what about Markus Naslund? he certainly used to be a force and maybe playing with lots of Swedes and no expectations to be “the Man” will help on the 2nd line.

what sayeth the 19?

Posted by Alex from San Francisco on 06/29/08 at 12:40 PM ET

I’d gladly take Naslund too. He’ll come at a bit of a bargain considering his lower point totals from the past few seasons. But that wasn’t his fault so much as a very very weak Canuck offense.

What baffles me about him, is how his plus/minus numbers are all over the board from season to season.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 06/29/08 at 04:59 PM ET

Are we enjoying the Summer of Stanley yet?  Just checking in.  I saw an ad that a man named Jim Golf offered training on building golf courses.  The class was called Golf’s Golf Course Course.

Of course, I signed up…maybe Dallas could too….free time and all.

Posted by Rumbear from Sun D'eggo on 06/29/08 at 06:28 PM ET

I’d be cool with Marcus Naslund, too.

I think being the captain weighed on him a ton - at times you could tell he was uncomfortable with the role, but still carried on the best he could.

I’m curious to see how he would perform on a team where he wouldn’t have the pressure and could just play.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/29/08 at 06:40 PM ET

WTF CHIEF I thought you were on, I dunno, vacation or some sh1t.  Ba8tard.

Now I’m 191 posts behind, people are posting about Sean Avery stealing Karen away from me like he did with Elisha.  Phuck all of you.  Phuck you ALL Dammit!!

Makes me sick that Sean Avery used to hit this.

Posted by RWBill from the Land of 12 in 12. on 06/29/08 at 06:50 PM ET