After all his time in NJ and all that he has done there. Why leave now?
- Wowo2282

100% agree its not like if he stays the team will suck even if they lost parise they still are gonna make the playoffs

that's pretty cool of you jj-and the guy referencing you! good luck with the show. I'm looking forward to it.
- miked23

Heck no problem. Thx Mike.

They've lost 3 of their Top 4 in the last 12 months. I would think rebuilding the blueline is an absolute necessity. Ian White is a nice player but . . . Their best defenseman under contract is a guy who has very questionable knees and is going on 33. After that, the pickings get mighty slim. I have no doubt the Wings will sign some quality blueliners. Suter is the $64,000 question and I think we will know by midnight tomorrow actually how likely that truly is.
- John Jaeckel

I think the next handful of dmen below Suter are going to get paid more than they ever imagined.

$$$$

I can even see, remote fantasy possibility, the Hawks dealing Crawford to NJ (maybe for Brodeur's rights+) and signing Brodeur for 1-2 years.
- John Jaeckel

How much do you think Brodeur is looking for?

@DarrenDreger: Martin Brodeur very likely to test free agent market. Brodeur has hired Pat Brisson (CAA) to represent him. Bidders get ready!

Is this why they may be interested in Crawford?
- captainserious

Or their interest in Crawford/Bernier is what's driving Marty. Dunno, Seems like some dots can be connected here though.

The Hawks should try to move Hjalmarsson after Justin Schultz makes his decision, like a plan B.

They've lost 3 of their Top 4 in the last 12 months. I would think rebuilding the blueline is an absolute necessity. Ian White is a nice player but . . . Their best defenseman under contract is a guy who has very questionable knees and is going on 33. After that, the pickings get mighty slim. I have no doubt the Wings will sign some quality blueliners. Suter is the $64,000 question and I think we will know by midnight tomorrow actually how likely that truly is.
- John Jaeckel

They're (Detroit) close to a total rebuild with the ages of their players. Maybe squeezing into the playoffs isn't unrealistic but competeting for a Cup is going to be tough for them if they cant add 2 young(er) good defenders and get some fresh blood into the top six.

i think everyone should prepare for that, and hope for better.
- John Jaeckel

But I DO like our team. I refer to your blog a coupla days on this subject. Optimism is just as logical a feeling as pessimism regarding our club

NJ is another team when $$ issues...

If Brodeur wants to leave my thinking is Parise is gone too.

100% agree its not like if he stays the team will suck even if they lost parise they still are gonna make the playoffs
- hubie

Are we sure Brodeur didn't hire an agent just to play hardball with the devils? I just can't imagine him leaving, unless he retires

I think the next handful of dmen below Suter are going to get paid more than they ever imagined.
- Al

Bingo.

Look at how teams are suddenly signing d-men like there's no tomorrow. I think the Wideman signing defined the market (as I believe you posted here, Al).

My personal belief on this is:

1) It doesn't really affect Suter—who will still get $6-7 mil per
2) It DOES affect guys like Carle, Allen, Garrison, who get as much as $4-5 million per
3) It makes Hjalmarsson all the more attractive in trade at $3.5 per

Foligno 15g 32a

Stalberg 22g 21a

No offence?
- southernhawk

unless i'm mistaken, stalberg played in your top six, with guys like sharp, hossa, etc.

foligno played most of his games on a line with zach smith and chris neil.

the slight disparity in the talent of their linemates might have led to a slightly higher goal total for stalberg, but that's just my opinion. plus, foligno had more points.

They're (Detroit) close to a total rebuild with the ages of their players. Maybe squeezing into the playoffs isn't unrealistic but competeting for a Cup is going to be tough for them if they cant add 2 young(er) good defenders and get some fresh blood into the top six.
- fattybeef

As Babcock said yesterday....They were the best team in the NHL for 60 games but when injuries happened they weren't deep enough.

I had heard a couple of months ago the Wings had this July circled for a long time...They can reload in a hurry.

Bingo.

Look at how teams are suddenly signing d-men like there's no tomorrow. I think the Wideman signing defined the market (as I believe you posted here, Al).

My personal belief on this is:

1) It doesn't really affect Suter—who will still get $6-7 mil per
2) It DOES affect guys like Carle, Allen, Garrison, who get as much as $4-5 million per
3) It makes Hjalmarsson all the more attractive in trade at $3.5 per
- John Jaeckel

Yep and Carle could get $5 mill per and then guys like Kubina etc..

Haha thanks Ek. Stupid auto correct dismissing Sarich as a thing.
- TyCamScore

I figured as much.

Are we sure Brodeur didn't hire an agent just to play hardball with the devils? I just can't imagine him leaving, unless he retires
- Wowo2282

Agree. Totally weird to see him in another uniform.

If he joins another team then they should still make him wear his devil mask.

They're (Detroit) close to a total rebuild with the ages of their players. Maybe squeezing into the playoffs isn't unrealistic but competeting for a Cup is going to be tough for them if they cant add 2 young(er) good defenders and get some fresh blood into the top six.
- fattybeef

The first will be easier than the second. Unless they go the Semin route or get very lucky and pull Parise in.

But here's the reality of this. Even if they get Suter, he is not Lidstrom. No one, including Parise, is another Pavel Datsyuk and likely no one they will get in the next 2-3 years is either.

Personally, I think the old paradigm of players taking a little less to play in Detroit 'for a chance to win" is gone. And sure, the WIngs can pay alot now, but they're going to need to. they might even need to overpay (Suter) to get the big names. The Wings might never be forced to do a total rebuild like the Hawks did between 2003 and 2007. But I also think they are destined to become more and more a bubble type team over the next few years.

Would Bernier be a significant upgrade over Crawford? Bernier hasn't done much to prove himself. Although Bernier had loads of potential, so I'm a bit on the fence about this idea. It would also depend on what we got back for Crawford and what it would cost to get Bernier.

Would Bernier be a significant upgrade over Crawford? Bernier hasn't done much to prove himself. Although Bernier had loads of potential, so I'm a bit on the fence about this idea. It would also depend on what we got back for Crawford and what it would cost to get Bernier.
- DarthKane

Maybe , maybe not but Crawford isnt going to win the Stanley Cup.

Would Bernier be a significant upgrade over Crawford? Bernier hasn't done much to prove himself. Although Bernier had loads of potential, so I'm a bit on the fence about this idea. It would also depend on what we got back for Crawford and what it would cost to get Bernier.
- DarthKane

I agree it would be a risk....Either way can't see LA dealing him to Chgo.

I think the next handful of dmen below Suter are going to get paid more than they ever imagined.
- Al

yeah..its a good year to be a free agent-and a bad year to be a needy team. there's going to be some crazy reactionary signings after suter and parise sign.

I like suter-no way his play justifies being a 6-8 mil skater though.

Kane is 23 year old, has won a Cup and is probably the best perimeter player in the NHL....His trade value is high and to think otherwise is illogical...That said unless it is a knockout offer he will be in Chgo in Oct.

Babcock on NHL Live yesterday didn't pull any punches as usual.

It isn't a question of if Detroit will sign any dmen on July 1 but more a question of how many. As has been talked about here, Babcock said the Wings left about $6 mill in cap space last season to be set up for this summer.

Also said that without a doubt Helm is the best 3rd line center in the NHL...Pretty lofty praise but maybe he wasn't counting Staal anymore as a 3rd line pivot, then again maybe he was...

This July has to be different than last July for Hawks. On My Fox Chgo 6/28:http://bit.ly/MC1Y2r

On Twitter@AlCimaglia
- Al

The crazy part about the whole Kane factor...

While we all assume he could be/is moving, on the flip side, coming into the season with a wrist that works properly and fit; He could dominate at that 2C spot and blow all of us away. And that would probably be better than any trade they could make.

And Al did you catch any of that Italy - Germany game yesterday? Definitely a good game. Balotelli makes Kaner look like the hardest working most consistent well behaved athlete ever. Talk about all the tools and a ten cent head.

yeah..its a good year to be a free agent-and a bad year to be a needy team. there's going to be some crazy reactionary signings after suter and parise sign.

I like suter-no way his play justifies being a 6-8 mil skater though.
- miked23

Personally, I think he will get $6.5 million or so, and he could get that from the Hawks. I know some will say what about Keith and Seabrook, but Suter would prolong their careers and give them a better shot at a Cup. Plus they all know that guys signed in subsequent years with cap/salary growth are going to do better.

Bingo.

Look at how teams are suddenly signing d-men like there's no tomorrow. I think the Wideman signing defined the market (as I believe you posted here, Al).

My personal belief on this is:

1) It doesn't really affect Suter—who will still get $6-7 mil per
2) It DOES affect guys like Carle, Allen, Garrison, who get as much as $4-5 million per
3) It makes Hjalmarsson all the more attractive in trade at $3.5 per
- John Jaeckel

yeah. funny-hjmar's contract looked bad about 1 1/2 years ago, now it's attractive.

The crazy part about the whole Kane factor...

While we all assume he could be/is moving, on the flip side, coming into the season with a wrist that works properly and fit; He could dominate at that 2C spot and blow all of us away. And that would probably be better than any trade they could make.

And Al did you catch any of that Italy - Germany game yesterday? Definitely a good game. Balotelli makes Kaner look like the hardest working most consistent well behaved athlete ever. Talk about all the tools and a ten cent head.
- fattybeef

I would have no issue with this; would love to see them find a way to get Doan on board. Then you have an amazing top 6.