I think you mean 5yrs/30 mil

Posted by K24 from NYC on 07/01/07 at 03:11 PM ET

Does that spell the end of signing Smyth?  6 million cap hit, and we still haven’t signed a goalie or 2 wingers.  It’s a pretty good consolation prize, though.

Posted by PDXWing from Portland, OR on 07/01/07 at 03:14 PM ET

They still need to address their size on defense as they now are even smaller.  This addresses the loss of Schneider but adds another hole.  I’m indifferent on this move.  I’d like to see them trade a Meech/Lebda now for draft picks

Posted by bababooey on 07/01/07 at 03:19 PM ET

I don’t like it.  He’s small, he puts up 10 goals a season, and while he’s much steadier than Schneider defensively, the Wings could have signed Schneid for 2 years at $6 mil and then could have used that cap flexibility to do something else.

Now we’ve got about $6-8 million to re-sign Dom and Bert.

Posted by George Malik from South Lyon, MI on 07/01/07 at 03:28 PM ET

This is a good signing.  Still need a gritty defensive d-man and Dom needs to sign that contract!

Posted by Dave on 07/01/07 at 03:30 PM ET

George, I don’t understand your comment.  Detroit signed him for 6 mil/year.  Isn’t that what you’re suggesting?  6-8 million to resign Dom, Bert, and another winger is pretty good. Bert about 3, Dom about 2.5, and X for 2-3 million.  Those are pretty good numbers, although it leaves Markov out in the cold.

Posted by PDXWing from Portland, OR on 07/01/07 at 03:34 PM ET

nice.

I’ve always liked Rafalski.  Seems a good character guy, good offensive numbers for years, and solid d, plus I always end up drafting him in Fantasy Hockey anyway, now I’ll get to watch him actually play.

lotta $ though.

Posted by 58Miles2Joe from Toledo on 07/01/07 at 03:56 PM ET

I have to disagree with people that don’t like this deal, relatively speaking.

Of course, straight up, this isn’t a great deal. But with the massive inflation in the free agent market, this is a very good deal. Schnieder would’ve costed the Wings the same cap hit, and would come with the following negatives:
- Only playing another two or three years
- Gives up the puck on a semi-regular basis but doesn’t have the skating ability (a la Kronwall) to make up for it

With Rafalski, the Wings get a guy that is going to bring the same cap hit, but will be here for 5 years (gives them a good core for the next half-decade considering the young guys on the way up). On top of that, he’s better defensively, doesn’t give the puck up, and is a much better skater than Schneider at the respective stages in their careers.

The only thing that Schneider brings that Rafalski does not is the shot from the point. Quite frankly, Kronwall needs to get thrown into the pool and told to start swimming. He has as good of a shot but has not used it yet. It’s time to move on.

Essentially, the Wings just got a few years younger, and more sound defensively. The way the Ducks won the Cup this year, I’ll take that.

And spare me the “he’s small” argument. Schneider was feisty, but he isn’t that big and he doesn’t muscle a lot of forward off of the puck.

I don’t mean to knock Schneider. He was great for this team the time he was here. I would’ve liked to see him stay in a lot of respects, but this move helps the Red Wings not just on the ice, but also in the locker room. Not that I think Schneider was a problem in the least, but it’s good to get a new, younger face on this team to continue the transition from Bowman/Yzerman/Shanahan to Babcock/Zetterberg/Datsyuk.

Posted by Nathan on 07/01/07 at 04:04 PM ET

As far as size goes, they’re exactly the same size.  They’re both 5’10” and 190.

Posted by Dave on 07/01/07 at 04:17 PM ET

Thank you, Dave.

Posted by Nathan on 07/01/07 at 05:11 PM ET

i love this move.  Clearly we would have been paying approximately the same amount for schneider. so the dollars are a wash.  Compared to what the other defensemen are going to get (souray, hannan, stuart im figuring all get 4.5+)  holland may have just snagged the best defensemen available this year.  Why pay 5 mil for a #4 with size when you can pay 6 mil for a legit #2.  Hes also a right hand shot which is sorely needed on our blue line, and he makes great outlet pases which is essential to our offense.  The term is about a year longer than i would have liked, but other than that, hes exactly what we need now, and more importantly down the road.  When chelios and lidstrom go, our crop of kids is going to need leadership, and a legit top 2 defensemen.  This should ease the transition.

Posted by aTTicA on 07/01/07 at 05:40 PM ET

I like this move, and I agree with Nathan’s assessment.  Rafalski is a solid defensement, very consistent and very steady. 

Does he make our team better?  I don’t know, but he does make our team different.  Schneider was able to make-up for some defensive lapses with strong offensive spark.  With Rafalski we get a D-man who may not put up as many goals as Schneider (though he is not very far off) but will not make as many mistakes. 

While Rafalski is touted as a power-play QB, I would like the Wings to add a little fire power up front.  With the departure of Schneider and the likely departure of Hudler, the Wings will need to add someone who can score big goals.  Slava Kozlov is that player and I would love to see him back in the Winged Wheel…though he and Datsyuk would have to arm-wrestle for the coveted #13.

Finally, I don’t like to judge players on the size of their bodies, but more in the size of their games.  Lang and Samuelson are both big guys but neither one of them play the body as often as many of use would like.  Markov, on the other hand, is not particularly large.  But he plays a big game…other players keep their heads up when he is on the ice.  Rafalski, from what I hear, is that type of player.  Schneider liked to physical from time to time, but I understand that Rafalski plays a consistently big game and that is what I like to see.

Finally, again, the Wings need to focus on Bert, Markov and Kozlov…if Hasek is going to d1ck around with the Wings then forget about him.  We don’t need him that bad.

Posted by John the Red Wings Fan from East Lansing, MI on 07/02/07 at 01:28 AM ET

I’m not sure that Hasek is jerking the Wings around just for the sake of being a jerk.  He may be waiting to see how much cap space they have available so he doesn’t wind up playing behind a worse team than they are capable of putting together.

On Rafalski, I like the response to losing him from Devils sites.  It is always a good thing when a team’s response is “Dang, we’re going to miss him” as opposed to “Thank the hockey gods that someone was dumb enough to take that contract off our hand.”  It means that he is a good player.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/07 at 06:09 AM ET

Forget all this, I am just hoping on July 1, 2008, we read Zetterburg has agreed to an extension.
Imagine Z on the open market. 
Cudos also go out to Holland for locking up Dats before he hit the market.

Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 07/02/07 at 08:26 AM ET

Agreed Paul—The Wings Organization must be cognizant of the Cap hit they are gonna take when it is time to, hopefully, extend Z’s contract; especially with some of the outrageous deals being floated in this years UFA feeding frenzy.

As for the Rafalski/Schneider play.  It seems like the Wings were trying to maintain status quo.  They did get a little younger.  I have not seen alot of Rafalski, but I understand he is almost a carbon copy of Schneider—physically they are much the same, and he can play the point on the PP.  He should be a good fit, and in the Wing system (as opposed to the trap of NJ) will probably post even better numbers.

I do not see the Wings making any more major moves—they simply cannot afford any long term deals with Z’s contract expiring, and the numbers he will command.  Which is probably why they are playing Bert’s deal close to the vest.  I think Hasek will certainly re-sign, not sure about Bert.  Wonder if there are any other GM willing to take on Bert for the long-term?

Looking at next year—Wings will need a top-line goal-tender and resign Z.  Salary Cap world is definitely intersesting—it will be worth keeping tabs on the Rangers to see how they do with those two big-time contracts they have just made.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 07/02/07 at 10:27 AM ET

I believe that Holland, when asked sometime during the past season, said that one of their goals the next season was to lock up Zetterberg long-term, just as they had with Datsyuk.  He realizes how many teams would be throwing money at him by the bucketful if Z hits the open market.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/02/07 at 11:07 AM ET

Holy Schnikey, the Summer of Smyth was the shortest summer ever, eh?  And why on earth did he have to sign with the ‘dique of all hockey hotbeds???

I’d have to say that the Summer of Ken was a resounding success in comparison to the Summer of Smyth…

OH, I really like the Rafalski deal.  I like Schieds, and I’ll miss his blueline cannon - but having lost him Rafalski became a must.  I like that Rafalski’s younger too.

Posted by Hoser from Downer Peninsula, Michigan on 07/02/07 at 11:34 AM ET

dont underestimate rafalskis defensive presence.  Hes not going to blow you away with big hits, but hes rather lidstromesque in terms of positioning and overall awareness.  Hes just a really smart player and led the devils(the best defnesive team in the league) in icetime.  HE may have only been +4, but njd only scored 202 goals..I liked schneider alot, but i think focussing on his big point shot took alot away from our power play and made us predictable.  Rafalskis ability to move the puck will do the opposite.  I also thought schneider was decent defensively, but rafalski is hands down a much better defensive player.  I think alot of people are going to be very pleasantly surprised when they see him in a wings uniform.

Posted by aTTicA on 07/02/07 at 03:05 PM ET

Rafalski was +4.  The Devils were -12.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 07/05/07 at 10:53 AM ET