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Red Wings re-sign Jonathan Ericsson; panic set in for Holland.

June 30, 2011, 10:23 PM ET [ Comments]
Mark Spizzirri
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
"The cap world is about finding players that play beyond what you pay them.” - Ken Holland


As first announced by TSN's Bob McKenzie via Twitter, the Detroit Red Wings re-signed Jonathan Ericsson on Thursday night to a 3-year deal worth $9.75 million ($3.25 million per season).

Based on Holland's quote above, it appears the Red Wings may have felt compelled to retain the services of Ericsson at all costs, considering Kevin Bieksa re-signed in Vancouver ($4.6 million per season), Christian Ehrhoff signed with the Buffalo Sabres ($4 million cap hit per year) earlier today and James Wisniewski appears as a main target of the Columbus Blue Jackets who presently hold his rights until Friday afternoon at 12:00pm ET.

Although Wisniewski or several other lower-cost alternatives still might be attained by Holland in free agency, at first glance the $3.25 million per season contract for Ericsson seems to be a massive overpayment for his services, when compared to some of the other contracts signed recently. In particular, to more than triple his salary when Ericsson has remained an enigma in Detroit appears very "un-Holland" like. Ericsson is a guy that appears to have all the tools and size to be a solid defenseman, yet has been too inconsistent during his tenure thus far in Detroit to warrant such a leap of faith from the Red Wings.

One guy who should feel slighted in seeing this contract is goaltender Jimmy Howard. Having re-signed during the latter portion of the regular season to a two year contract paying $2.25 million per season, he forfeited the opportunity to cash in as an unrestricted free agent following his strong playoff performances for Detroit. His play was much more valuable to the team's success over the past two years, yet he is going to have to stomach knowing Ericsson is making $1 million more than him per season the next two years.

Holland was adamant about not throwing his team's pay structure out of whack by overpaying for other team's free agents. Instead, he's done exactly that by re-signing one of his own free agents out of fear he would have been left empty-handed and short staffed on the blue line next season.

More to come shortly.....

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