A bit more salary then i thought they would spend on a backup but i'm ok with this signing. Joey Mac might still have back issues so depth is good.
- dcz28

I was hoping for someone with more experience, not a goalie that is still developing.

I was hoping for someone with more experience, not a goalie that is still developing.
- PukMeInThe5Hole

Well Brodeur is pretty much the only one that fits that bill and he isn't coming to Detroit to be a backup and would cost a lot more. The list of goalies available is crap so i'm fine with this signing. Plus the guy wanted to come to Detroit and didn't care about other offers. Personally i wanted Montoya but we'll see how it goes. I just hope his health issues are behind him.

I like the Gustavson signing, he'll be a capable backup that can fill in well if Howard goes down for a while too. Fingers crossed for Suter, it'll be a high number to get him but that's just the nature of free agency. Got the cap space, might as well use it.

I like the Gustavson signing, he'll be a capable backup that can fill in well if Howard goes down for a while too. Fingers crossed for Suter, it'll be a high number to get him but that's just the nature of free agency. Got the cap space, might as well use it.
- tmanv

Agreed. If they can get Suter and Parise, i would be very happy. They really need Suter and add a real top 6 forward to play with Datsyuk.

I like the Gustavson signing, he'll be a capable backup that can fill in well if Howard goes down for a while too. Fingers crossed for Suter, it'll be a high number to get him but that's just the nature of free agency. Got the cap space, might as well use it.
- tmanv

Agreed. If they can get Suter and Parise, i would be very happy. They really need Suter and add a real top 6 forward to play with Datsyuk.

Gustavsson will be 28 in October, has played parts of three seasons in the NHL after several years in Sweden's top two divisions, and has absolutely brutal numbers at the NHL level (.900 on almost 3000 shots) -- underwhelming even behind a Swiss cheese defense in Toronto. I doubt he will be much of an improvement over Joey Mac, if even that.

Still, the Red Wings needed a third NHL-capable goalie in the system, and there really wasn't much there. I would have liked to make a play for Clemmensen; not sure how much he signed for in Florida.

Red Wings goalie coach Jim Bedard thrilled to land Gustavsson. Having lunch w/him on Tuesday, then going to SWE July 20-24 to work w/him.

Gustavsson will be 28 in October, has played parts of three seasons in the NHL after several years in Sweden's top two divisions, and has absolutely brutal numbers at the NHL level (.900 on almost 3000 shots) -- underwhelming even behind a Swiss cheese defense in Toronto. I doubt he will be much of an improvement over Joey Mac, if even that.

Still, the Red Wings needed a third NHL-capable goalie in the system, and there really wasn't much there. I would have liked to make a play for Clemmensen; not sure how much he signed for in Florida.
- Sven22

I am not looking at the "monster" as a saviour the way they did in Toronto when signed him. Reality is, brutal numbers yes, but Joey Mac either pushes the Monster out of the way.... It's honestly hard to judge any goalie in Toronto since Belfour/Cujo.

For that price, I think its a project signing and has a better reward payout then risk if it doesnt work out.

Im worried about landing Suter, Parise I think will be a Penguin by Tuesday.

Gustavsson will be 28 in October, has played parts of three seasons in the NHL after several years in Sweden's top two divisions, and has absolutely brutal numbers at the NHL level (.900 on almost 3000 shots) -- underwhelming even behind a Swiss cheese defense in Toronto. I doubt he will be much of an improvement over Joey Mac, if even that.

Still, the Red Wings needed a third NHL-capable goalie in the system, and there really wasn't much there. I would have liked to make a play for Clemmensen; not sure how much he signed for in Florida.
- Sven22

I am not looking at the "monster" as a saviour the way they did in Toronto when signed him. Reality is, brutal numbers yes, but Joey Mac either pushes the Monster out of the way.... It's honestly hard to judge any goalie in Toronto since Belfour/Cujo.

For that price, I think its a project signing and has a better reward payout then risk if it doesnt work out.

Im worried about landing Suter, Parise I think will be a Penguin by Tuesday.

Monster signing is fine, team is going to win or lose the cup with Howard

I am not looking at the "monster" as a saviour the way they did in Toronto when signed him. Reality is, brutal numbers yes, but Joey Mac either pushes the Monster out of the way.... It's honestly hard to judge any goalie in Toronto since Belfour/Cujo.

For that price, I think its a project signing and has a better reward payout then risk if it doesnt work out.

Im worried about landing Suter, Parise I think will be a Penguin by Tuesday.
- BooBoo997

You're probably right on that, though I still shudder to think at what might happen if Howard goes down for any significant stretch of time and Gustavsson doesn't exceed expectations.

Joey Mac, as much as I like him, is a below-average NHL goaltender. Gustavsson also seems to be below average, possibly worse.

Some teams are good enough to get away with mediocre (or worse) goaltending for extended stretches. I'm not sure the 2012-13 Red Wings will be one of those teams.

Maybe we'll see Hasek in training camp? (Sarcasm ... I think.)

You're probably right on that, though I still shudder to think at what might happen if Howard goes down for any significant stretch of time and Gustavsson doesn't exceed expectations.

Joey Mac, as much as I like him, is a below-average NHL goaltender. Gustavsson also seems to be below average, possibly worse.

Some teams are good enough to get away with mediocre (or worse) goaltending for extended stretches. I'm not sure the 2012-13 Red Wings will be one of those teams.

Maybe we'll see Hasek in training camp? (Sarcasm ... I think.)
- Sven22

It's Howard or bust really, and the only real person would be someone like Nabakov that could give relief on a long term injury issue. I don't think there is a goaler talent pool deep enough to give you a great recipe... so in turn you can fill your 2nd hole with bargains in hopes one turns out... be it Monster, Turco etc.

I am worried on Suter. Parise was a luxury at best, I think he will be a Pen... but if we lose out on Suter, Parise and Nash.... then we might as well just start rebuilding now.

Hard to believe the Wings could lose out on all 3 considering their history, current roster and cap availability.

You're probably right on that, though I still shudder to think at what might happen if Howard goes down for any significant stretch of time and Gustavsson doesn't exceed expectations.

Joey Mac, as much as I like him, is a below-average NHL goaltender. Gustavsson also seems to be below average, possibly worse.

Some teams are good enough to get away with mediocre (or worse) goaltending for extended stretches. I'm not sure the 2012-13 Red Wings will be one of those teams.

Maybe we'll see Hasek in training camp? (Sarcasm ... I think.)
- Sven22

It's Howard or bust really, and the only real person would be someone like Nabakov that could give relief on a long term injury issue. I don't think there is a goaler talent pool deep enough to give you a great recipe... so in turn you can fill your 2nd hole with bargains in hopes one turns out... be it Monster, Turco etc.

I am worried on Suter. Parise was a luxury at best, I think he will be a Pen... but if we lose out on Suter, Parise and Nash.... then we might as well just start rebuilding now.

Hard to believe the Wings could lose out on all 3 considering their history, current roster and cap availability.

It's Howard or bust really, and the only real person would be someone like Nabakov that could give relief on a long term injury issue. I don't think there is a goaler talent pool deep enough to give you a great recipe... so in turn you can fill your 2nd hole with bargains in hopes one turns out... be it Monster, Turco etc.

I am worried on Suter. Parise was a luxury at best, I think he will be a Pen... but if we lose out on Suter, Parise and Nash.... then we might as well just start rebuilding now.

Hard to believe the Wings could lose out on all 3 considering their history, current roster and cap availability.
- BooBoo997

I am also worried.

Remember how just a few years ago basically every team but one or two was either in cap hell or had reached their internal budgets?

Now it seems like everyone wants to spend, and with so many of the league's best players locked up on long-term deals at cap hits that were affordable 3-4 years ago (i.e., back when the cap was in the $50 million range), almost all the big teams have bucketloads of cap space.

I guess that's what happens when when the cap goes up to $70 million but all the star players are still making about the same AAV as they were in 2008.

I am also worried.

Remember how just a few years ago basically every team but one or two was either in cap hell or had reached their internal budgets?

Now it seems like everyone wants to spend, and with so many of the league's best players locked up on long-term deals at cap hits that were affordable 3-4 years ago (i.e., back when the cap was in the $50 million range), almost all the big teams have bucketloads of cap space.

I guess that's what happens when when the cap goes up to $70 million but all the star players are still making about the same AAV as they were in 2008.
- Sven22

I think now that teams seem to get one shot at a cup but they vary every year, teams all believe they are constant cup contenders. Wings are in the biggest transition they have been in years.

I think they need to change their style of play to a more gritty style without Nick back there now. We will see what happens.

@RealKyper: #NHL. Starting to hear Suter has picked #Redwings as his destination. More to come.....

Mikael Samuelsson. Did not see that one coming.

Is it too late to beg Lidstrom to come back?

Old man Kypreos says:

Nothing confirmed as it appears Suter will won't make anything official till 2morrow but some on inside say he's leaned toward #Redwings

Tootoo? Didn't see that one coming.

Have to say overall i'm not happy with what Holland has done so far. I hope it is better tomorrow but somehow i doubt it.


Monster = ok depth but i think should have been slightly cheaper

Sammy = ok depth but i didn't want him back for one year let alone 2 @ 3 mil per

Tootoo = ok depth and gritt but should have been cheaper and not sure if he will work in the Wings system or just take stupid penalties. He also doesn't really add size.

Watch Holland start dumping some forwards (for almost nothing) or lose them for nothing on waivers. Some think he might be taking a run at Nash if he fails with Parise but i can't see it. Ryan would be more likely and even him i see as a pipe dream.

I'm waiting until the dust settles on more of the free agent period before casting judgment on Holland. There is still plenty of time, and with 16 forwards (once Abdelkader signs), there is a good chance they move a player or two.

I am really starting to think Pens will land both Suter and Parise.

cripes, we're going to get nothing this FA period. terrible.

I am really starting to think Pens will land both Suter and Parise.

cripes, we're going to get nothing this FA period. terrible.
- BooBoo997

Wait til the end of today and see what happens. If we truly offered Suter 12 years, 90 million and did something similar for Parise, let's hope it is enough.

I am really starting to think Pens will land both Suter and Parise.

cripes, we're going to get nothing this FA period. terrible.
- BooBoo997

Gawd, if that happens... I would have a hard time watching hockey. How do the Pens have that kind of money, anyway? Crosby, Malkin, Parise, Suter.... geez, I guess I know now how other teams must have felt in 2002...

And Boo, I think you're right about the Wings needing to change up their style with Nick gone. It'd be awesome if we had a team that could bang when it's needed, play the finesse game when it's needed, play the shut down game when it's needed, play the speed game when it's needed.

So, with Sammy (i had a really odd feeling he was going to be back) and Tootoo (shocked by that one), I think Holland is saying the prospects are still not ready. Would have liked to see Nyquist this year a little more than 20 games of spot duty.

Gawd, if that happens... I would have a hard time watching hockey. How do the Pens have that kind of money, anyway? Crosby, Malkin, Parise, Suter.... geez, I guess I know now how other teams must have felt in 2002...

And Boo, I think you're right about the Wings needing to change up their style with Nick gone. It'd be awesome if we had a team that could bang when it's needed, play the finesse game when it's needed, play the shut down game when it's needed, play the speed game when it's needed.

So, with Sammy (i had a really odd feeling he was going to be back) and Tootoo (shocked by that one), I think Holland is saying the prospects are still not ready. Would have liked to see Nyquist this year a little more than 20 games of spot duty.
- drice97

“We’re stepping out of our comfort zone,” Holland said.

Holland called the agent for Tootoo in the afternoon and asked what it would take to get him. “All our staff felt it was something we wanted to accomplish this season, was to try to get a little more physicality to our lineup,” Holland said. “Jordin gives us a little bit of an edge.”