WingNut722

@flyerrod is right. The League has been, however misguided it's efforts might be, to generate more viewership overall. The Olympics are a unique opportunity to showcase the players, talent, action, and gamesmanship to a massive audience on prime networks in prime timeslots. I can't imagine why they wouldn't jump at that chance at every opportunity. Stick to your business plan, already

The 2013-2014 NHL Regular Season schedule was due to be released this past Wednesday. However, according to a statement issued by Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, the schedule has been held up due to the still-open question of whether the NHL will allow its players to participate in the games, requiring a two-week break in the middle of February. The MLB has pulled its players from competition and the NBA is considering likewise due to the possibility of injuries suffered during the games that would hamper their performance in their professional leagues. This drives me nuts because the NHL has been disputing this question since the last games in Vancouver, almost four years ago. I know I don't have the whole story and I'm sure there must be more to it, but why has this question gone unanswered? I say we vote now submit our decision and comments directly to the NHL.... Well...maybe not. However, some of us Red Wing fans are trying to plan our trips to Boston and Montreal this season!!

@yave1964 So figure by the end of this coming season: Bertuzzi and Samuelsson are gone Alfie retires Tootoo is gone, either by trade or buyout That leaves forwards looking like this: Zetterberg-Datsyuk-Abdelkader XXXX-Weiss-Franzen Miller-Helm-Eaves XXXX-Emmerton-XXXXX Fill the voids with Tatar, Nyquist, and a combination of Ferraro/Sheahan, depending on NHL-readiness. That leaves no room to pick up a top-6 forward at free agency next summer. Not sure that even Nyquist is ready to step into that role yet. Eaves would have to be traded, to allow a younger candidate to move up. Having so many hot prospects is good for dealing too. Can't expect all of them to don the Red-and-White

There can be more room in the roster for both. Personally, I'd much rather have Dan Cleary than Patrick Eaves, or even Cory Emmerton (despite his filling in for Darren Helm. Jordin Tootoo also ended being a redundancy further in the season. Tatar and Gus will definitely have their time. Keep in mind that this is Alfie's last year, so another spot opens next season automatically.

Though his numbers haven't been stellar lately, I've always seen Dan Cleary as a solid workhorse on that team. He leads by example, he grinds hard, he's in front of the net, he's chasing pucks. He's a huge leadership influence on the team just by his work ethic. I think that's the value of keeping Dan Cleary around. Granted, he'll probably hang 'em up in a few years, and by them Tomas Tatar will be in a permanent role.

@Haliax I welcome you as well! Are numbers are beginning to swell! Maybe we'll overtake all the Flyers fans on this Board! Maybe not... Echoing others, good post. The other "bonus" benefit to have Alfie on the team, which was pointed out by @hf101 is that come February, he's gotten half a season's worth of chemistry with the better part of the Swedish Olympic team. He might be just blessed enough to have his swan song include a Stanley Cup AND a gold medal. I have also been wondering why Holland hasn't used the second buyout option. He's always been known to reserve his funds and options until a sure bet comes along, but he's been eagerly trying to move some staff around to make room for Danny Cleary. Cleary wants back in too, and reportedly turned down a higher offer from Dallas to stay a Red Wing. Holland's got another month or so to negotiate prior to training camp, but it seems that he'll use the buyout if he runs out of time. It seems likely that he's trying to deal any combination of Tootoo, Eaves, and Emmerton to clear up some cap space. But if nobody bites, he'll likely buy out Tootoo.

@yave1964 took all the easy ones :-) I like Vancouver's Mattress Line of Daniel and Henrik Sedin with Jason King (Two twins and a king) Then of course there's "Two Kids and an Old Goat" Detroit, Brett Hull, with Pavel Datsyuk and Boyd Devereaux/Henrik Zetterberg

@SpikeDDS @jammer2 I love reading these threads....such good conversation an discussion. Let me add a few current updates from the front office. Brunner will likely not be back. He's asking too much money. He's asking for at least three years and $3.5MM per season. That's too much to ask for someone who had one inconsistent season. Dan Cleary wants to return very much. It's rumored he was offered a bigger contract by Dallas but he turned it down because he wants to play in Detroit. Ken Holland wants him back too, but needs to make room in the bankroll. He's on the phones trying to deal out some players, likely Eaves, Tootoo, and/or Samuelsson. But the question is, Holland still has one compliance buyout that he can use, but hasn't? Why? Either Cleary isn't that great of an asset, or he's hanging onto that buyout for next summer...like maybe if Weiss is a lemon.

Sorry...couldn't resist!

Doug Murray would work but I think if we can get Brunner back and buy out/trade Eaves and Samuelsson, there will be room for him. Then The blue line is adequate. The Rd Wings become an offensive force like Chicago was last year

As of July 5 at 4:00 pm, the answer to your original question is YES!

Alfredsson and Weiss are locked up. Filppula has been picked up by Tampa Bay for 5 years and $25MM, a big raise from what he was makings Detroit. And also, as Yave pointed out, replaced by Weiss for less money. Still no word about Cleary and Brunner, either coming or going. With the signings for today though, it seems Ken Holland is ready for them to leave. Still, don't you think Brunner and/or Cleary would want to stay in Detroit for a real shot at a winner - sacrificing a pay raise for a cup raise?

P.S. Mr. Holland. For the record, My cohort, Wingnut722, never lost the faith Love, Dave

I've considered that myself plenty of times. The other issue is with a team stacked lime the Red Wings are this season, Brunner could sign on just to be a part of a huge opportunity and not concern himself with a pay raise.

I've considered that myself plenty of times. The other issue is with a team stacked lime the Red Wings are this season, Brunner could sign on just to be a part of a huge opportunity and not concern himself with a pay raise.

Here's what the lines look like now: Forwards: Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Abdelkader Franzen, Weiss, Alfredsson Miller, Helm/Samuelsson, Eaves Tootoo, Emmerton, Bertuzzi, Defense: Kronwall, Ericsson Kindl, Smith DeKeyser, Quincey Goal: Howard Gustavsson Wanna keep Brunner? Buy out Patrick Eaves. He pales in comparison, particularly given the two lines above him.

@jammer2 It seems that Weiss may have been a key target all along. Grabo would have also been a good fit, but Weiss is a huge signing...5 years off the bat? This is a rarity with Ken Holland. There must really be something about Weiss for Holland to lock him up for that long on a first contract.

Update: 2:39 pm Weiss deal confirmed. Five years at $24.5MM.

Unconfirmed reports that Stephen Weiss has also been picked up by Detroit. No word yet on details but if his most recent contract is anything to go buy, he's likely to bring in about $4.5MM per season. This will just about exhaust all of the Holland's pocket money for the season, unless the deal for Weiss is a multi-year contract where the bulk of the cap hit can be pushed back into the next several years. This seems likely since Alfredsson is only under a one year contract. Still no word from Cleary or Brunner. However, I tend to think both will go elsewhere. It seems that if both players were interested in staying, they would have signed already.

@jammer2 Lidstrom had to be in on the deal. There's no way that many Swedes can come together without him knowing about. "Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmo, Detroit....the four largest cities in Sweden." - Pierre McGuire

Good point! Good pre-existing chemistry with half the Swedish Olympic team would certainly help their chances in Russia!

Here's the scoop so far: -Red Wings sign Daniel Alfredsson for 1 year and $5.75MM. -Negotiations still underway with Daniel Cleary and Damien Brunner. Brunner has stated he wants to stay in Detroit but I think he's curious about what other teams may offer him. -Dan Cleary has reportedly been offered a larger contract with Dallas Stars, but no word yet on his decision. Red wings had about $10.5MM to spend (before signing Alfredsson) and have yet to re-sign restricted free agents Nyquist, Andersson, and Smith. Signing Brunner would just about clean out the Red Wings pocket for highlight players. If Brunner takes his time and decided to go elsewhere, the Wings would have missed the boat on other power forwards. Ribeiro's already gone, as is Nathan Horton. The Wings could still target Stephen Weiss, though, but they would be stretched thin and likely need to use their second buyout.

@hf101 Deal confirmed via TSN. $3.75MM salary with another $2MM in bonuses. Methinks this is Alfie's last year and wants a real shot at a Cup surrounded by fellow Swedes

Agreed on all fronts, @jammer2. Would love to see Grabovski in the Winged Wheel! He is to Datsyuk what Brunner was to Zetterberg.

Sources say the Detroit Red Wings will use one of their compliance buyouts on Carlo Colaiacovo and relieve themselves of a $2.5MM salary cap hit for this season. After losing the Vincent Lecavalier Sweepstakes, the Red Wings find themselves back at Square One in this year's free agent pool. They are continuing talks with team forwards Daniel Cleary and Damien Brunner to extend their contracts and it appears deals will be made to keep them in red sweaters, and the buyout on Colaiacovo still leaves the Red Wings with seven NHL-caliber defensemen: Kronwall, Ericsson, Smith, Quincy, Kindl, DeKeyser, and Lashoff. Additional rumors surrounding other highlight free agents don't look promising for Detroit either. New Jersey's David Clarkson is looking for an extended contract at $6MM per season, quite a lot for a guy who's only topped the 30-goal-season once. Boston's Nathan Horton has expressed his wishes to play in a warmer client because, well, he's a hockey player, and all that ice and cold really gets to you after a while.... The next likely candidate is Florida's Steve Weiss, who is coming off a six-year deal at $4.1MM per season. That's a little more to the liking of Detroit, who just finished paying Valtteri Filppula that much. Still, Weiss is a solid 20-goal scorer (ignoring his injury-shortened season last year). He's a left-handed shot, although Detroit would really prefer a righty, Still he'll be able to anchor the second line center position and Detroit has the room to give him a decent raise. The trouble is commitment. After a cozy six year deal, Weiss will probably be looking for something more along the same lines. However, as is Hollands M.O., Weiss would likely be offered a slight raise, but only a two- or three-year deal. Perhaps a system of bonuses could also be employed in lieu of a long term stint. Still, he presents probably the best option for Detroit at this point. Otherwise, Mike Ribeiro is still available, but his demands are a little high.