See my post at the end of a previous thread.  It’s been too much fun seeing Kronner and Stu knock bitches on their ass all over the ice to let him go.  C’mon Stu, unless you’ve got overwhelming family pulls back to SoCal hop on board the Stanley Train 09-12.

How great would that be to have these four locked up for the next two seasons?  Lids, Rafi, Kronner and Stu.  We could afford to bring the next guys on slowly.. Ericccssson, Quincey, Meech, for small contracts, and jettison Lilja.  Chelios plays for 750K to mentor and fill in, provide locker room leadership without bitching.  Dude is genuinely thrilled to play any role and can’t stand the thought of not hanging around in the locker room.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/29/08 at 07:32 PM ET

Sorry for this unrelated post, but how good is this by Colorado Rockie manager Clint Hurdle, from Big Rapids?

His love for Michigan sports runs just as deep.

“I’m going to be at Joe Louis Arena at 10 a.m. (Saturday) to buy my Stanley Cup championship merchandise and take it back to Colorado,” Hurdle said.

Dude shows up in Denver wearing Red Wings Stanley Cup gear.  Awesome.

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/29/08 at 07:35 PM ET

Saw an interview with Hurdle yesterday, he said he wore his Wings gear to an Avs/Wings game and he heard it from the crowd.

Now he just cheers for them, with no RW gear on.

Anyone want to take a look at the Detroit/Denver recent matchups.  Wings swept the Avs, Tigers swept the Rockies, Lions even beat the Broncos.  Not sure about the Pistons/Nuggets though.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 06/29/08 at 08:01 PM ET

3.6 for Stuart over four years? No way. Not a chance. The Wings couldn’t afford to do that if they want to sign Fil, Z, Franzen, and Hudler long term. The math just doesn’t work out.

And Jagr? Ugh. No.

Posted by Pete K from Chicago, IL on 06/29/08 at 08:35 PM ET

I don’t see the Wings going after Jagr, too much of a diva.  If this were Sundin it’d be a bit more plausible.  I think the Wings go after (not necessarily in this order)

Sundin
Lapointe
Nolan
Tucker
Bertuzzi

If the Wings can’t sign Sundin, they’ll move on to fill Drake’s spot.

Posted by bababooey on 06/29/08 at 09:07 PM ET

Too much for Stuart - no way does Holland go that much more than Kronwall for a number four defenseman, not after he’s been talking about staying within the team concept.  The salary each year is just plain stupid - logically it would be more front-loaded to make trading him easier later in his contract, since by that point his cap hit would be higher than his actual dollar cost so a team that can afford a higher cap hit that actual salary would take him.

Doubt they would be interested in Jagr - or he interested in them.  Too much travel in the Western conference, and the defense is much tougher than he is used to in the East.  He’s big enough to handle it, but why would he want to bother?

He enjoyed playing in Russia during the lockout, too - I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go to Russia if he can’t find a deal to his liking from the Rangers or a few other Eastern teams.

I don’t see the Wings going after Jagr, too much of a diva.  If this were Sundin it’d be a bit more plausible.  I think the Wings go after (not necessarily in this order)

Sundin
Lapointe
Nolan
Tucker
Bertuzzi

Lapointe and Bertuzzi are pretty much done, I think - at the price they would cost you’d be better off with a young, cheap crash-and-banging kid.  Apparently Sutter is trying to re-sign Nolan, as Calgary has little offense and he has an infatuation with old, gritty veterans.  Tucker is brittle and takes far too many stupid penalties to make his grit worth anything - plus if he is going to fight, it would be nice if he won once in a while.  I think he even had his behind handed to him by Jarkko Ruutu this past season.  Instead of throwing money at old, broken-down has-beens, why not see who in training camp emerges to fill the holes?  If no one shows up, it’s pretty likely someone is still going to be on the sidelines by that point and will have realized that he had an inflated idea of his own worth and might be cheap enough to be worth a shot.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/29/08 at 09:42 PM ET

Strange, I never really considered Jagr. Not sure why.

I’m dunno that it would happen anyway just because of his past as a half-way guy being in direct conflict with the Wings team effort. Jagr has had a few spans where he just didn’t seem to care.

But I dunno, he played hard this post season. Maybe as he contemplates retirement he’s got some last minute motivation. Give him $3mil plus incentives and see how interested he really is. There are worse options available.

Posted by Nate A from Dark side of the moon on 06/29/08 at 10:40 PM ET

logically it would be more front-loaded to make trading him easier later in his contract, since by that point his cap hit would be higher than his actual dollar cost so a team that can afford a higher cap hit that actual salary would take him.

Perhaps, but it also makes sense that the Wings are planning on paying more as their own cap space increases. I agree, however, that it’s unlikely that Stuart gets signed for that unless they sneak money to Kronner through the back door.

Jagr could be useful but I don’t know if he has enough speed to keep up with out team. Divas tend to STFU in our room, and the offer from Russia would still be there a year from now. I don’t see it happening though. It doesn’t feel right.

If no one shows up, it’s pretty likely someone is still going to be on the sidelines by that point and will have realized that he had an inflated idea of his own worth and might be cheap enough to be worth a shot.

Too optimistic B. You underestimate the idiocy of NHL GMs under pressure. I wouldn’t mind if we just relaxed and waited till TC, but we should always prepare for decimating injuries.

Posted by Osrt on 06/29/08 at 11:41 PM ET

Nix on Jagr ... once a prima donna ... well ... more than likely a problem in the pecking order...if he comes for less than a non competitive team offers he will be complaining about it until he is run out of town.

Tucker is the youngest and would bring attitude that could last a few years.  The stupid penalties will stay behind with the Toronto frustration..or..Mikey will glue him to the bench.  I still think he would take a big discount to put his name on our cup.  He is getting a nice buyout.

Nolan..absolutely..if he will come and Tucker refuses.  We only have room for one.

Still want Kolzig.

I think Lilja is a better defenseman than Stuart and Holland is insane to offer him one cent more than Lilja signs for.  Let him go and squeeze another teams cap.  The Wings are liable to have to rotate defenseman in a forward position even without him.

Bertuzzi..no...No....NO

Lapointe is interesting, but he will want top $ as before, and I have a feeling he is so done that a fork would slide right out.

Posted by HockeyTownTodd from upset when blogs don’t live up to my expectations on 06/30/08 at 12:50 AM ET

Agree that Lapointe is done.

Violently disagree about Lilja...duh…

I’m down for Kolzig.

Posted by Osrt on 06/30/08 at 01:02 AM ET

Anyone that thinks Stuart is gonna settle for a paycut is smoking Old Mississippi river grass..  He just won the freakin Cup and is UNRESTRICTED at 28 yrs old....

Posted by swanson from Old miss on 06/30/08 at 01:36 AM ET

To put it in perspective, the difference between $3.6m for Stuart and $3.2m is the difference between Maltby and McCarty, or between Draper and Samuelsson.  Not all that significant.  It’s certainly not the difference between Zetterberg and no Zetterberg, or anything like that.  Sure seems like Stuart’s leaving, though.

I don’t think there are any UFAs whose asking price I’d like more than a one year deal for Jagr.  But still, it probably won’t happen, and it certainly doesn’t need to happen.

Posted by Ryan from Toronto on 06/30/08 at 07:29 AM ET

HTTodd - And I think you need to stop sniffing glue if you think Lilja is betetr than any other defenseman on the Wings—and that’s including Meech and Ericsson.

Posted by Primis on 06/30/08 at 07:33 AM ET

It isn’t the difference between Maltby and McCarty that matters - it’s the difference between Stuart and Kronwall.

Holland has been adamant from the start of negotiations that Stuart is a number 4 defenseman, and if he chooses to remain with the Wings he will be paid according to that role - not as a number 1 or 2 defenseman as he potentially could be paid as if he hits the open market (at which point he would be used like that and not be as effective).  Kronwall is making $3 million as a number 3, and that is the determining factor for how much Holland is willing to pay Stuart.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 08:04 AM ET

While I’d like to keep Stuart, I don’t want to see him kept at more than what he’s worth on the Wings (NOT on the open market).  And that really means no more than $3.5 a season cap hit.  The contract can be front- or back-loaded, but he really isn’t worth overpaying for.  That is plenty of cash, but I’m not sure it’s about the payday for him.  If his family is used to him moving around and he genuinely wants to buy into the system, then he’ll take what’s offered.  If not, he can test the market and we’ll be fine.  We were fine with Lilja at #4 and we’ll be fine again.  It’s not ideal, but it’s not worth overpaying to avoid it.  Besides, we have a glut of defensemen, and no place to put them at forward.  So there’s no sense in letting Stuart ransom us.  I suspect at this point he’ll probably walk.  As far as his defense partner goes, I think Kronwall has already bought into the system (hence the long contract he signed for, provided he stays healthy, far less than he’ll be worth the next three years).  I think he could care less what anyone else on the team is making.  And I think we’ve already got enough bodies to fill in for injuries.  The last thing I want, and I bet it’s true for the braintrust as well, is to lose Filppula on an offer sheet and Meech or Quincey on waivers.  They’re going places.

I can’t see us chasing Jagr either, simply because of his attitude toward defensive play when he was in New York.  Renney knew he didn’t want to do it, and he didn’t force him because he was the team’s superstar.  Much as I like Mike Babcock, I don’t think he’s either willing or able to make a prima donna like Jagr work on defense.  So that’d be him out of the top six.  And he’s not high on my own wish list anyway.  Unless the Rangers want to overpay him again, he’ll be in Omsk next season, drinking Cristal with Roman Abramovich.

Don’t rule out a left-field move from Kenny like the Rafalski signing last year.  That’s probably the most likely, and if it has half the impact signing Rafalski did, you know you’ll love it.

All will be a lot clearer in about twenty-four hours or so…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from a millisecond or two from believing Eklund on 06/30/08 at 08:05 AM ET

I don’t mean that Kronwall cares how much Stuart would be paid - just that Holland looks at that as the benchmark for Stuart.

Maybe, since the Kings would like him back so much, he can sign a one-year deal with them - then Detroit can trade for him at the deadline again for another second round pick, then he could sign with the Kings again the next season - like a snowbird, but migrating north for the playoffs instead of south for the winter. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 08:21 AM ET

Certainly no disrepsect to the person that posted that, they may very well have a family member inside the organization, and the rumblings might be accurate, but as a group of people that know how rumors spread through message boards and (Dwayne’s) blogs, I can’t let myself get too carried away with the speculation. Especially considering the number of times we hear rumblings from the MSM about player X or player Y, only to see player A come in. Lots of people have had good information from the front office… but it changed, and/or the front office lied.

The Stuart thing is logical, could easily make something up with those numbers because everyone knows about what he’s worth and about what the Wings are willing to pay him, so simple math takes you to the midpoint.

If the Jagr thing ends up happenning, then we’ll know this person really did have some contacts.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 06/30/08 at 08:32 AM ET

I don’t mean that Kronwall cares how much Stuart would be paid

Oh no, Baroque, I wasn’t referring to your post-- I only saw yours after I posted mine.  I was referring to Osrt’s comment about sneaking money to Kronner through the back door.  I agree though that Kronwall should be the benchmark for a second-pairing Red Wings defenseman, and the half-million allowance thrown in to reflect that the market and cap have changed since Kronwall signed.  But no more than that $3.5 million, and I think Ken Holland will stick to his guns on that.

Much as I like the snowbird idea (accurate too, since snowbirds go south for the winter and then back north in the spring), I wouldn’t mind having a full roundup of picks at least one year…

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from San Juan Capistrano, watching the swallows on 06/30/08 at 08:42 AM ET

I think Lilja is a better defenseman than Stuart

Dean Lombardi, is that you?

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/30/08 at 08:44 AM ET

Oh no, Baroque, I wasn’t referring to your post-- I only saw yours after I posted mine.

Okie-dokie.

Anyone else scared of the idea of Hossa winding up with the Blackhawks?

They have one more year with Lang’s $4 million and Khabibunin’s $6 million, and two more years of Kane and Toews at small dollars, Hossa wouldn’t have to be “the guy” because that is definitely Toews (and/or Patrick Sharp), so he could be a complementary veteran, he could definitely keep up with the fast kids, and even though they are hardly a sure thing for the playoffs right now, if he signs a six-year deal who knows where the team could be in three years?

If he thinks long term I think that would be the best team for him.  And if he could help Chicago break their Cup drought, it would be crazy.  If he ever had to buy himself a drink in that city again I’d lose all respect for the local Blackhawk fans. 

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 08:48 AM ET

on another note (sorry to change the subject) I can’t believe there hasn’t been a blog post here about this:

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/SPORTS0103/806240418/1128/SPORTS0103

Barry Melrose is returning to the NHL after 12 years as a television analyst, becoming coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning.

heh.

ha ha.

HA HA HA.

BWAHAHAHAHAHAsnortHAHAHAHAHAHA

now everyone will get to see what a joke, what a hockey dope, this guy is when he falls flat on his face.

his NHL record:

82W 103L 31T in 216 games

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/30/08 at 08:54 AM ET

I think the Chief is saving his material for when Detroit actually plays against Tampa.

Besides, he might be a decent coach - although at this point I’m not sure what the team is going to do for defense or goaltending, especially if they do persuade Dan Boyle to waive his no-trade so the owners can pick up a few more forwards - because offense wins championships! 

I’m holding my snickering in reserve and just hoping the team isn’t putrid - the fans have been turning out in decent numbers, I guess, which is more than can be said for the Rays’ fans.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 09:25 AM ET

so I read this article…

http://www.ottawasun.com/Sports/Hockey/2008/06/29/6017721-sun.html

...and it’s a pretty good article.  then I get to the bottom and read the list of “players to keep an eye on” and notice that the Wings are not mentioned as a potential destination for ANY of the players.

Posted by PaulinMiamiBeach on 06/30/08 at 09:52 AM ET

From hockeytraderumors.com top 30 list of UFA and RFA

1.Marian Hossa (UFA)
Interested:Vancouver,Boston,Montreal,Edmonton,San Jose,Chicago,NY Rangers
Value: 8.0-8.5 million

2.Mats Sundin (UFA)
Interested:Montreal,NY Rangers,Ottawa,Detroit
Value: 5.0-7.0 million

3.Joe Sakic (UFA)
Interested: Colorado
Value: 5.5-6.0 million

4.Brian Campbell (UFA)
Interested:New Jersey,NY Rangers,Ottawa,Chicago,Montreal,Carolina
Value: 6.0-7.0 million

5.Jay Bouwmeester (RFA)
Interested:Edmonton,New Jersey,NY Rangers,Ottawa
Value: 5.0-6.5 million

6.Corey Perry (RFA)
Interested:Toronto,Dallas,NY Rangers,Chicago,Boston
Value: 4.5-5.0 million

7.Jaromir Jagr (UFA)
Interested: NY Rangers,Russia
Value:4.0-6.0

8.Kristian Huselius (UFA)
Interested: Toronto,Chicago,Montreal,Atlanta,Pittsburgh,Minnesota,Vancouver
Value: 4.5-5.0 million

9.Brian Rolston (UFA)
Interested: NY Rangers
Value: 3.0-4.5 million

10. Pierre-Marc Bouchard (RFA)
Interested: Dallas,NY Rangers,Vancouver,Montreal
Value:3.0-5.0 million

11.Jeff Carter (RFA)
Interested: Toronto,Philedalphia,Vancouver
Value: 3.5-5.5 million

12.Ryan Malone (UFA)
Interested: Columbus,Vancouver,Edmonton,Minnesota,Florida,New Jersey
Value: 3.0-4.5 million

13.Joni Pitkanen (RFA)
Interested: Edmonton,Florida,Minnesota,Ottawa
Value: 3.0-5.0

14.Marc Streit (UFA)
Interested: ,Florida,Chicago,NY Rangers,NY Islanders,Colorado
Value:4.0-5.5 million

15.John-Michael Liles (UFA)
Interested: Carolina,Toronto
Value:2.5-3.5 million

16.Wade Redden (UFA)
Interested: Edmonton,Florida,Phoenix,NY Rangers
Value:3.0-5.5

17.Mike Green (RFA)
Interested: Buffalo,Toronto,NY Rangers,San Jose
Value: 3.0-4.5 million

18.Andrei Kostitsyn (RFA)
Interested: Montreal,Edmonton,Atlanta,Columbus
Value:2.5-4.0 million

19.Sean Avery (UFA)
Interested: Dallas,Columbus
Value:3.0-3.5 million

20.Markus Naslund (UFA)
Interested: Vancouver,Washington
Value:2.0-3.5 million

21.Andreij Meszaros (RFA)
Interested: Edmonton,Vancouver,Ottawa,Atlanta,
Value: 2.5-3.5 million

22.Marek Svatos (RFA)
Interested: Toronto,Dallas,Colorado,Minnesota,
Value: 3.0-4.0 million

23.Brooks Orpik (UFA)
Interested: Pittsburgh,Washington,Columbus,NY Rangers
Value:2.5-4.0 million

24.Ron Hainsey (UFA)
Interested: Buffalo,Carolina,Chicago
Value: 2.5-3.5 million

25.Rob Blake (UFA)
Interested: Colorado,LA
Value:4.0-4.5 million

26.Jose Theodore (UFA)
Interested: Colorado
Value: 2.5-3.0 million

27.Brad Stuart (UFA)
Interested: Detroit,LA
Value:2.5-3.5 million

28.Brendan Morrison (UFA)
Interested: Columbus,Vancouver,Atlanta,Minnesota
Value:2.5-3.5 million

29.Brendan Shannahan (UFA)
Interested:Detroit,NY Rangers
Value:2.0-4.0 million

30.Sergei Federov (UFA)
Interested: Washington
Value:2.5-3.0 million

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 10:24 AM ET

I’d rather pay Rolston 2.7 - 2.9mil then anyone else. Sundin, to expensive, Shanny no longer a power forward when his back became an issue so he’s a limited sniper at best. Sergei could be interesting, Sean Avery, throw up in my mouth.

I hope we can sign Stuart and Rolston. Other spots promote within. Justin Abeldecker( sp) - I hope he has a great camp and forces the Wings to think hard about him.

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 10:34 AM ET

hanky, sorry to break it to you, Rolston is playing with Tampa. Goes to show you how accurate those lists are. Malone and Rolston sign with Tampa, and yet Tampa isn’t listed in the “interested in” section for either one.

Posted by rwingscup19 from Dallas on 06/30/08 at 10:39 AM ET

Bummer.....I generally think the rumors we hear don’t happen. It is always the stuff we never hear or read that happens.

Thanks for the info!

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 10:48 AM ET

BWAHAHAHAHAHAsnortHAHAHAHAHAHA- PMB

I love snorts!

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 10:51 AM ET

I like to play a little game sometimes:
Say a player’s name, and I’ll blurt out the first thing that comes to mind.

for Jagr, it was “Enigma Sr.”

NFW I’d want him as a Wing. He plays when he wants to and coasts when he doesn’t. He’s brilliant if he feels like being brilliant. I’d pass. Give me a guy like Buckets, or Hank, or Pavel. Guys who, ya know, work when they’re on the ice. My heart can’t take another round of “the Enigma” game.

Posted by wingsfanindenver from 'lancheland on 06/30/08 at 11:16 AM ET

Jagr= Soft, Shanny = no gas left in the tank, Tucker= postal, Lapointe = Postal Jr, Melrose = freak show, Big Bert = overpaid, Hank = spanks the opponent, Datsyuk = worth admission and then some. I could do this all day!!
Cappuccino = god I need a cup!

Posted by hankyspanky40 from Michigan on 06/30/08 at 12:25 PM ET

Shoveling money to Kronner was only meant to establish the pay hierarchy; #3 should make more than #4. I don’t think Kronner cares either, but he’ll get a nice pay raise when this contract is up.

If Stuart leaves, it will be for LA and family reasons.

/bows

Posted by Osrt on 06/30/08 at 03:17 PM ET

I can see Stuart up to $3.5.  Look at those other numbers, eye popping, yet some GMs will throw bank breaking numbers at one player.

Sundin $5-7M?
B Campbell $6-7M WTF?

Posted by RWBill from jabbing a six inch sewing needle into my eye. on 06/30/08 at 05:51 PM ET

Andrew, how high do you think an offer to Filppula would have to be for the Wings not to match? Personally, I think the Wings are prepared to overpay to keep him here, with the rationale being he’d simply be getting his big paycheck sooner rather than later.
Detroit’s almost alone in the league in position to win by standing pat, so I’m a little bothered by the talk of big-name i.e. expensive free agents. I can certainly understand the infatuation with Sundin, but Jagr? Bertuzzi? If the Wings really think they need a free agent forward, I think they get more value in a younger, faster two-way guy like Hagman, who has some size as well as a scoring touch. Plus, he gives Filppula someone to converse with in his native tongue and eventually a potential “Finn Line” of Hagman-Filppula-Leino for fans and newspaper columnists to talk and write about.
Baroque, I like the idea of Hossa to the Blackhawks. They’ve put together a pretty good young nucleus in Chicago and going after a guy like Hossa sends a good message to the kids. It’s nice to have NHL hockey back there.

Posted by BobS. on 07/01/08 at 08:27 AM ET

Andrew, how high do you think an offer to Filppula would have to be for the Wings not to match?

Who me, Bob?  I’m...flattered that you’re soliciting my opinion, but I’m convinced that you must mean some other Andrew.

In all honesty, RFA negotiations with a player like Filppula who’s already a regular can get shaky, and I’m kind of surprised that, given that he and his agent have already turned down one offer, the organization hasn’t gone to arbitration if for no other reason than simply to buy time.  Arbitration would pay him on production, not potential, whereas an offer sheet would be all about potential-- they always are.  Maybe the braintrust doesn’t want to engender bad blood.  In any case, I think anything below $3.9 million will be matched, because it’s realistic to think that Filppula will achieve that level of worth in the near future.  From a strategic standpoint, any offer sheet sent by a rival team will be for a long term (you don’t give up a chunk of your cap and picks for a young player who hasn’t yet realized his potential to leave you after three years), so it’s reasonable to think that if we pay him $3.9 million a year for five to seven years, he’ll be worth that pay, possibly even more, for a sizeable amount of that contract (the times when he isn’t worth it you pay just to keep him).  Additionally, above $3.9 million is the cut-off for when compensatory picks start to actually mean something, especially for a team with the scouting and drafting acumen of the Wings.  If another team signs him to a $4 million a year offer sheet, I can see the front office giving serious consideration to letting him walk and taking the first-, second-, and third-round picks in compensation.  Further up the scale, it just gets more ridiculous-- another first-rounder and second- and third-rounders, up to the grand prize of three first-round picks.  Nobody’s going to give those up for Fippula, but some foolish GM desperate for a fast, defensively responsible center with good playmaking skills (see Lowe, Kevin) might consider giving up his first three picks in 2009 for him.  Anything below that, I think will be matched.  The organization is sweet on the kid.

Who wouldn’t be?

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the face of the clock, watching it tick down on 07/01/08 at 09:09 AM ET

Andrew, I appreciate that considered reply to my request that you elaborate on your concern that the Wings not “lose Filppula on an offer sheet”.
Even with the Wings demonstrated ability to spin straw into gold from the draft, compensatory picks, even in the first round, are piling potential on potential. Filppula, on the other hand, has demonstrated he’s the real deal, as has Hagman (albeit to a somewhat lesser extent), who would pair nicely with Filppula to give the Wings another line with offensive-defensive balance (albeit to a much lesser extent) a la Datsyuk-Zetterberg. Those advocating for Rolston (who I wouldn’t be unhappy with in a Wings uniform, especially compared to Jagr or Bertuzzi) get a lower cost version with Hagman with a little more tread on the tires- he could probably be penciled in for 20-25 goals a year on a line with Filppula, inasmuch as he got 27 this year (4 shorthanded) on the third line in Dallas while also garnering some Selke votes. He’s 29, an UFA, and if I’m not mistaken, Dallas is having cap issues.
I agree that it’s not worth risking the ill-will that could result from taking Filppula to arbitration.

Posted by BobS. on 07/01/08 at 10:56 AM ET

Hey Bob, no problem.  I think you’re right that we’ll end up overpaying for Filppula on potential for another year or so to keep him here until he lives up to that potential, but I don’t mind that with the cap space we have, and speaking of poaching RFAs from teams with very little cap space, yes, Dallas only has $3 million left, so Hagman is an option, I suppose.  I didn’t realize he’d scored that many goals, and didn’t rate him (though Dallas always produces quality defensive forwards).  I’ll have to have a look again.

Good point about draft picks piling potential on potential.  As much as I’d like to have a few more high-round picks, I think with the second line being in a state of flux we need to keep Fil.  Sure, we could let another team that needs help now take the cap hit and we take the potential in the picks, but unless we split up the Circus, there really is nobody ready to step up and take the second-line center position.  Certainly nobody as good defensively as Fil.

My only thought was that at some point on the payscale, the organization would weigh the advantage of having Fil on the team right now against the pain of the large cap hit and against the potential of future draft picks (position dependent on what team makes the offer), and I could see them reasonably considering taking the picks instead and keeping cap space.  If trading prospects and picks at the deadline is mortgaging the future for success in the present, I suppose that’d be mortgaging the present for success in the future.  And if some crazy GM wants to throw mad money at Filppula, it might be worth it.

Posted by AndrewFromAnnArbor from the festival of UFA bargains! on 07/01/08 at 11:30 AM ET

Hagman was kind of an under-the-radar guy for me until the playoffs. His speed is the main thing I noticed about him, that and the large amount of time he was on the ice killing penalties. I was surprised to see he notched 27 this year and 17 the year before in a primarily defensive role, so it would be reasonable to expect similar production on a line with Filppula. An added dividend is that it weakens a conference rival as well. According to KK, Vrbata just got $3Mx3YR from TB. I think Hagman would be a decent signing at that price for any team, including the Wings.
I also read that his girlfriend is a former Miss Finland, who along with the beautiful Mrs. Lindstrom and Zetterberg’s stunning girlfriend would give perverted old s***s like myself some vicarious thrills anytime the ladies were in attendance.

Posted by BobS. on 07/01/08 at 12:30 PM ET