Hey Kenny, let’s really piss off the burgh. Bring the pen and paper out during the victory lap at mellon arena and have Hoss sign it on the ice and stick it in their face.

Posted by dbcooper from parts unknown on 06/02/09 at 01:39 PM ET

Buh bye Sammy.
Wonder if we’ll have to say the same to Huds. I’d hate to see the little munchkin go.
Still not going to believe it til I “see” it. And who the hell leaks anything like this during the Cup Finals? Someone who outta be looking for a new job.

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/02/09 at 01:40 PM ET

I’m gonna build a Ken Holland shrine if he manages to sign Hossa and Hudler.

I still haven’t seen a likely scenario (Likely meaning without forcing Maltby, Draper and Holmstrom to be traded or moved since we know that’s very, very unlikely) that works.

Posted by Heaton on 06/02/09 at 01:46 PM ET

i just don’t see how…

we’re cap screwed already

Posted by Pharazon from England on 06/02/09 at 01:49 PM ET

Ack. Sighs. Why in god’s name would someone do this? My blood pressure is through the roof already.

Posted by mrfluffy from Long Beach on 06/02/09 at 01:50 PM ET

This could be a rumour, could be true. The one thing you’ve got to wonder is what the League would do if the cap fell enough that half the League’s teams wanted to dump salary, couldn’t find enough trading partners willing to accept their excesses, and were staring down buying out even more players to make up the difference. Somewhere in there, you have to wonder if there wouldn’t be some concessions or alterations made to deal with the issue. Ones that could benefit a Wings team that would otherwise appear to be ‘cap screwed’ as it were (not to mention many other teams in the same boat).

Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 06/02/09 at 01:55 PM ET

Bring the pen and paper out during the victory lap at mellon arena and have Hoss sign it on the ice and stick it in their face.

That would be amazing.

I wouldn’t be surprised if Malts and Drapes retire if we win it.  It’s becoming clear to them that although they’re still valuable members of our team, they would be leaving the team in good hands with all of the young’ns developing nicely, and the former young’ns are now grizzled vets (Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Kronwall).

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 01:58 PM ET

Also… Lidstrom is 39.  But it’s too sickening to think of what I’m thinking of. 

Holland might have an idea of someone retiring that we don’t know about.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 01:59 PM ET

Ilitch, Holland, and Nill (nevermind Develanno and Yzerman) don’t make decisions this big that they can’t account for.

It doesn’t mean they haven’t made mistakes, and won’t make mistakes in the future. But when it comes to signing a player of this magnitude, I don’t believe for a second they would sign Hossa without already having a plan in place that will ensure there’s cap space for him.

If this report has any truth to it, it’s pretty exciting, because I don’t see any reasonable way they can keep Hossa unless he takes something near Franzen money, or a bit more ($4.5/year).

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/02/09 at 02:01 PM ET

There is just too much good stuff going on in Detroit Hockey right now.

Wings up 2-0,

Datsyuk on the cusp of Returning,

Now Hossa becoming a long term Wing?

Posted by pgoody on 06/02/09 at 02:01 PM ET

I don’t think Lidstrom will retire yet, but when his contract is up after next season, I think he’ll either retire or play on an Osgood-style contract. That would help the situation dramatically.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/02/09 at 02:02 PM ET

1 million a year…please god.

Posted by moore00 from Columbus, OH/Grand Rapids, MI on 06/02/09 at 02:05 PM ET

I’m not sure the length on Draper’s deal , but he is a T.O. boy and he might provide a season or two of vetran leadership for the constantly rebuilding leafs. Wings get draft pick in return???

Posted by dbcooper from parts unknown on 06/02/09 at 02:06 PM ET

1 million a year…please god.

For 6000 years.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 02:07 PM ET

Hahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahha.

Suck it NHL.

Posted by Chris Pronger Rosetta Stone on 06/02/09 at 02:08 PM ET

Or rather, 7 million a year for the first 7 years, and then 6000 years at 1 million a year.

The cap hit will be negligibly greater than 1 mill a year.  Brilliant.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 02:08 PM ET

So the running theory right now is Maltby and Draper retire after winning their 5th cup, and Samuelsson is traded? released? and that makes room for Hossa’s long term deal??

Posted by pgoody on 06/02/09 at 02:13 PM ET

So the running theory right now is Maltby and Draper retire after winning their 5th cup, and Samuelsson is traded? released? and that makes room for Hossa’s long term deal??

There’s enough room for Hossa right now if he signs for an insanely low amount but Draper retiring doesn’t take his numbers off the books and Maltby retiring only takes around 900k.

Posted by Heaton on 06/02/09 at 02:15 PM ET

I do not see any way they can afford him.  They just can’t.  I call it unfounded rumour.

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 06/02/09 at 02:22 PM ET

I don’t think Lidstrom will retire yet, but when his contract is up after next season, I think he’ll either retire or play on an Osgood-style contract. That would help the situation dramatically.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 06/02/09 at 03:02 PM ET

I think Nate is spot on.

Hoss gets minimal money next season, due to Nick’s 7 million/season.  After that there likely will be more cap flexibility.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/02/09 at 02:23 PM ET

after winning their 5th cup,

Enough of that. I’d quote Ms Baroque using her favorite new line, but not appropriate for the main page… but is something like “Shut your ................”

Posted by MOWingsfan19 on 06/02/09 at 02:25 PM ET

BTW:  I love the way Hoss plays when he is healthy.  The Bulls on Parade line are ridiculously strong on the puck.  And in this SCF, Hoss has shown to be a defensive force.  His points throughout the playoffs are good (18 g/p,  6 g, 8 a, 14 pts, +6,18:40 atoi)  a couple more goals would be awesome.   His shot is insane, he is almost always a scoring threat.

Posted by Jeff OKWingnut from Quest for 12 on 06/02/09 at 02:28 PM ET

Draper signed his contract after he turned 35.  Even if he retires, his money is still on the books.

Posted by shanetx on 06/02/09 at 02:35 PM ET

Eklund stealing again…

HOT RUMOR: HOSSA AND WINGS CLOSE TO LONG TERM DEAL (e4)
June 2, 2009, 3:18 PM ET [26 Comments]   
  Eklund
The Anonymous Hockey Blogger • RSS • Archive
Pittsburgh: Not sure how in the world the Red Wings are going to pull this off with the salary cap, but multiple sources (including an NHL source here in the hotel in Pittsburgh) are telling me that the Red Wings and Hossa are closing in on a 6-8 year extension.

Going to meet with a source now…

An hour afer Farber posted it.  The guy continues to steal other people’s stories.

Posted by Wayne on 06/02/09 at 02:36 PM ET

I’ll believe it when I see the principles at the presser in the Joe.

Until then, this shit is unconfirmed territory to me.

Posted by SYF from a "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" on 06/02/09 at 02:38 PM ET

I imagine it will look a lot like the other long term contracts that bring the cap hit down, and I get the feeling Hossa is happy enough to take less even in the prime years.  4 years at 6 mill, 3-4 years at 3 mill.  Put’s his cap hit below 4.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 02:38 PM ET

Also, I’m looking forward to the prospect of safely buying a Hossa jersey.

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 02:39 PM ET

Just went back to work and realized my math sucks. Awesome.

Below 4.5

Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 06/02/09 at 02:41 PM ET

gotta love that clown Eklund posting this this information 40 mins after Paul did and adding that he got it from nhl sources…..

Pittsburgh: Not sure how in the world the Red Wings are going to pull this off with the salary cap, but multiple sources (including an NHL source here in the hotel in Pittsburgh) are telling me that the Red Wings and Hossa are closing in on a 6-8 year extension.

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog.php?post_id=21423

Posted by C.J on 06/02/09 at 03:02 PM ET

Tick Tock said he wouldn’t deal during the playoffs.  I believe him, too much of a distraction.  Look how much better Z played after his contract negotations were over.  This is just rumor.

Posted by SpaceCityHockey from Houston, TX on 06/02/09 at 03:04 PM ET

Man Draper being traded to the Leafs after 15 years with the Wings would be horrible to see. I really hope the Wings aren’t giving up too much depth for this deal…

Posted by grishj on 06/02/09 at 03:10 PM ET

As Pharazon and Baroque have said, I don’t see how this can happen…unless Hossa takes less than Franzen. The cap is going down next year, not up. This sounds like pure BS to me.

Posted by OlderThanChelios from Grand Rapids on 06/02/09 at 03:13 PM ET

Heard it’s around Franzen type numbers, 4.0 - 4.3 mil/year. Signing Hoss will mean the loss of Hudler and Sammy, however Huds carries with him a draft pick since he is a RFA. Helm, Abdelkader and Leino are ready to step up to full NHL so the loss of those players won’t be too much to worry about.

Draper won’t go anywhere and I would think Maltby would likely retire, along with Kopecky being let go to free agency. The Wings have some money to work with here, more than you think and I believe Holland will do what is best for the team and the franchise.

Posted by OHWingsFan40 from Oregon/Bowling Green, OH on 06/02/09 at 03:13 PM ET

Seriously though.  How fuching great is it to be a Wings fan?

Posted by Chris Pronger Rosetta Stone on 06/02/09 at 03:25 PM ET

I do not see any way they can afford him.  They just can’t.  I call it unfounded rumour.

It is an unfounded rumor. But to me, the only way Detroit can afford him is sending off a high dollar player or a couple of lower dollar players.

High dollar would be Franzen, who makes $5.5m next season.

Lower dollar players would be Filppula at $3m, and Hudler’s rights (UFA; cap hit this year was a hair over $1m).

I doubt Holland would be willing to do any of this. It’ll be very interesting to see how he manages to get Hossa signed.

Having said all that, I’ll believe it when I see it. Especially since the cap is rumored to fall to $54m next season, which would leave Detroit hardly any maneuvering room unless they dump a player or two.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/02/09 at 03:33 PM ET

and Hudler’s rights (UFA; cap hit this year was a hair over $1m).

I’m sorry. Long day. RFA, not UFA.

Posted by Alan from Atlanta on 06/02/09 at 03:34 PM ET

There’s enough room for Hossa right now if he signs for an insanely low amount

Not if we want to field a full roster.  We’ve got 17 players signed for next year (assuming that Helm and Ericsson are up full time and Meech is traded or spends the year in GR) and less than $4.5M in space if the cap stays the same.  We need to sign 5 people for a full roster, 3 to have enough men to dress a game, assuming nobody spends a single game injured next season.

For argument’s sake, let’s say we move Abdelkader up full time, sign Leino for the same amount he made this year and bring him up full time, and we’ll assume that either Jimmy Howard plays for the big boys or we sign Conklin for the same amount we paid him this year.  That’s 20 plays, and that leaves less than $2 in space.

That’s 11 forwards, 7 d-men and 2 goalies.

And that assumes we lose Sammy and Happy.

So…maybe you’re right…maybe if Hossa agrees to a contract that averages out to less than $2M a year…that would bring us up to a 21-man active roster, but that’s cutting it really close, and honestly…does anyone expect Hossa to take a less than $2M a year average?  I mean…7 years for $13M?  Does that make any sense to anyone in the world?  To me it does, because I think Hossa should take a wonderful, cheap deal to make me happy, but really?  Realistic at all?

Posted by Garth on 06/02/09 at 03:40 PM ET

I’m not sure the length on Draper’s deal , but he is a T.O. boy and he might provide a season or two of vetran leadership for the constantly rebuilding leafs

You shut your whore mouth

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/02/09 at 03:42 PM ET

C’mon people, lay off the crack, Draper would never be traded, the organization (rightfully) loves him. He will leave this team on his own terms if he’s done before the current contract expires.

Posted by Nathan from the scoresheet! on 06/02/09 at 03:43 PM ET

The only thing I can imagine is that Holland signs him to a 1-year, less than $2M with a handshake agreement that he gets a ginormous raise when Lidstrom goes off the books next year…assuming that Lidstrom has a definite plan to retire next year.

Either way, I’m not getting my hopes up.  At all.

Posted by Garth on 06/02/09 at 03:44 PM ET

There’s no way Hoss is going to take less than 4 mil a year unless Lidstrom takes a major paycut.  Even then, Huds and Sammy are probably gone.  That sucks, I love both those guys.

Posted by TEMO from LANSING, MICHIGAN, U.S.A. on 06/02/09 at 03:51 PM ET

Even then, Huds and Sammy are probably gone.

There’s no “probably” about it.  They’re definitely gone.  Unless they trade Stu or Kronner or Flip…

Please god, don’t do any of those things…

Posted by Garth on 06/02/09 at 03:54 PM ET

Maybe that’s why Sammy has been playing like poop this series? He knew this was coming, and what it meant.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/02/09 at 04:04 PM ET

Maybe that’s why Sammy has been playing like poop this series? He knew this was coming, and what it meant.

Then he’s known since the beginning of the year, if that’s the criteria…

Posted by Primis on 06/02/09 at 04:06 PM ET

Then he’s known since the beginning of the year, if that’s the criteria…

I thought the same thing before posting. But then cut him some slack for some timely goals here and there this year.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/02/09 at 04:13 PM ET

I don’t buy it. But I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this was a mind game out of the Penguins front office. An attempt to get the Wings and Hossa in particular to think about anything but the game tonite.

It might even have enough legs to make it to game 4.

Posted by Nate A from Detroit-ish on 06/02/09 at 04:20 PM ET

The Wings do not deal during the playoffs. End of story.

Lets Go Red Wings!!!!!

Posted by Kate from Pa.-made in Detroit on 06/02/09 at 04:25 PM ET

But if it’s from the Pens then it would be very easy for the Wings mgmt and coaching staff to douse that fire quickly.

Hossa has been inconsistent in this post season. Of course, inconsistent for him is a banner playoff for mere mortals. But still.

He may have been mentally distracted by the lengthy negotiations. Holland knew Hossa needed to focus on the hockey, so they agreed in principle, though nothing will be signed or made official until mid-June.

Posted by Red Winger from Sault Ste Marie on 06/02/09 at 04:27 PM ET

I don’t think Lidstrom will retire yet, but when his contract is up after next season, I think he’ll either retire or play on an Osgood-style contract. That would help the situation dramatically.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson’s ice cream truck on 06/02/09 at 03:02 PM ET

Lidstrom actually said in an interview recently that he’s playing next year.  I cannot remember where I saw it, but it was a press conference of some sort and a reporter asked him his plans.  He gave the old Chelios line like “I’m enjoying it too much to think about retiring” and that he’s got a year left anyway.

We need to whip out the salary cap generator from RedWingsCentral again!

http://www.redwingscentral.com/features/buildyourown.php

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 06/02/09 at 04:34 PM ET

Oh, I forgot to comment on the story itself.

I think it’s rumor, it might just be someone trying to make waves during the final.  Who knows, maybe it’s a Pittsburgh fan trying to screw with the Wings.  Or it’s a Wings fan wishing a little too hard.

Anyways, I am also willing to bet Kenny knows of some players planning to retire after this year (as some other commenters mentioned earlier).  It’s likely he knows Maltby and/or Draper will retire, possibly even Homer as has been mentioned before.  I guess we’ll see in a matter of weeks.

Posted by BuzzFledderjohn on 06/02/09 at 04:37 PM ET

I don’t buy it. But I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if this was a mind game out of the Penguins front office. An attempt to get the Wings and Hossa in particular to think about anything but the game tonite.

And how exactly does that mess with the Wings and/or Hossa?

Posted by Garth on 06/02/09 at 05:46 PM ET