Mark Spizzirri: Are the Red Wings better served avoiding the free agent frenzy?

Couple things Mark.

-Wings brass wont like the comments Grabovski made about Carlyle. Wings management does all it can to avoid drama. Same reason they didnt like the comments Ian White made during the lockout and why they traded Sean Avery as soon as they found out he was a loon.

-They need a #2C as you discuss. Where are they going to get it besides going to market? If they dont get a #2C they still ned a top 6 winger.

-I see them getting a d-man on a two way contract. Don't know who but, someone in case of injuries.

-Speaking of Edler. They made a offer for him but, it was obviously rejected. There's your top pairing D the wings have been looking for.
Weiss wouldnt be so bad in my view. He has put up 20 goals and 60 pts. in multiple seasons before. Same boat here on Alfredsson, if he signs with the wings/bruins I think everyone would be shocked.

Couple things Mark.

-Wings brass wont like the comments Grabovski made about Carlyle. Wings management does all it can to avoid drama. Same reason they didnt like the comments Ian White made during the lockout and why they traded Sean Avery as soon as they found out he was a loon.

-They need a #2C as you discuss. Where are they going to get it besides going to market? If they dont get a #2C they still ned a top 6 winger.

-I see them getting a d-man on a two way contract. Don't know who but, someone in case of injuries.

-Speaking of Edler. They made a offer for him but, it was obviously rejected. There's your top pairing D the wings have been looking for.
Weiss wouldnt be so bad in my view. He has put up 20 goals and 60 pts. in multiple seasons before. Same boat here on Alfredsson, if he signs with the wings/bruins I think everyone would be shocked.
- Jurco_28

I don't think they will let those comments get in the way of things. Grabovski did not say a word publicly about his displeasure until today when he no longer was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Agree on your comment regarding the d-man on a two-way contract.

As for the top-six forward, I believe the trade market will heat up in about 7-10 days once most of the "name" free agents have landed and the teams still looking for help or who missed in free agency, have a greater sense of urgency to get a deal done.

Couple things Mark.

-Wings brass wont like the comments Grabovski made about Carlyle. Wings management does all it can to avoid drama. Same reason they didnt like the comments Ian White made during the lockout and why they traded Sean Avery as soon as they found out he was a loon.

-They need a #2C as you discuss. Where are they going to get it besides going to market? If they dont get a #2C they still ned a top 6 winger.

-I see them getting a d-man on a two way contract. Don't know who but, someone in case of injuries.

-Speaking of Edler. They made a offer for him but, it was obviously rejected. There's your top pairing D the wings have been looking for.
Weiss wouldnt be so bad in my view. He has put up 20 goals and 60 pts. in multiple seasons before. Same boat here on Alfredsson, if he signs with the wings/bruins I think everyone would be shocked.
- Jurco_28

Absolutely. The Wings are a high class, well respected, organization who would never take on a player like Grabovski who fights his own teammates on a regular basis and tears into staff when he's dismissed.

Heres my predictions on who we get:

One of Weiss/Grabovski/Ribiero
One of Alfredsson/Iginla/Brunner

Once again another great read Mark! You should do a write up for the Oilers some time soon.

Couple things Mark.

-Wings brass wont like the comments Grabovski made about Carlyle. Wings management does all it can to avoid drama. Same reason they didnt like the comments Ian White made during the lockout and why they traded Sean Avery as soon as they found out he was a loon.

-They need a #2C as you discuss. Where are they going to get it besides going to market? If they dont get a #2C they still ned a top 6 winger.

-I see them getting a d-man on a two way contract. Don't know who but, someone in case of injuries.

-Speaking of Edler. They made a offer for him but, it was obviously rejected. There's your top pairing D the wings have been looking for.
Weiss wouldnt be so bad in my view. He has put up 20 goals and 60 pts. in multiple seasons before. Same boat here on Alfredsson, if he signs with the wings/bruins I think everyone would be shocked.
- Jurco_28

Avery is not a loon, hes a pritty cool poop off the ice. Did he ever act up when he was playin for Detroit??? NO. because he lived with Hull and learned.

Avery is not a loon, hes a pritty cool poop off the ice. Did he ever act up when he was playin for Detroit??? NO. because he lived with Hull and learned.
- Muskoka88

wut

Speculating on who would come back for Ek's E3 trade for Bobby Ryan. The only player that makes sense is Franzen, but I don't know his contract status. I'd love to get DeKeyser or even Andersson but there's no chance Holland is giving up on either of those two.

Speculating on who would come back for Ek's E3 trade for Bobby Ryan. The only player that makes sense is Franzen, but I don't know his contract status. I'd love to get DeKeyser or even Andersson but there's no chance Holland is giving up on either of those two.
- duxcup07

Franzen is on a retirment contract. And who knows who Holland would be willing to give up for Ryan

wut
- Jurco_28

Wut problems did he ever cause in Dertoit when he rented a room off of Brett Hull?

Wut problems did he ever cause in Dertoit when he rented a room off of Brett Hull?
- Muskoka88

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=396369

Speculating on who would come back for Ek's E3 trade for Bobby Ryan. The only player that makes sense is Franzen, but I don't know his contract status. I'd love to get DeKeyser or even Andersson but there's no chance Holland is giving up on either of those two.
- duxcup07

Danny D wont be goin any where. I dont see that trade happen either

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=396369
- Jurco_28

Like I said, he never acted up in Detroit.

Like I said, he never acted up in Detroit.
- Muskoka88

hes a loon, get over it.guy isnt even worth talking about.

With realignment I'd take grabo. He would fit nice in your system and you'll love watching him play the Habs and Toronto now that your in the east.

I am fine with either Weiss/Grabo or nothing.

People ask who would be 2C, well the answer is Zetterberg. Kenny H. will not overpay to fill a hole they deem a luxury. The plan is to get a 2C, that is where FLIP was "expected" to be at this stage in his career... and it's not 17pts in 40+games.

I would figure the kicking tires on wingers (Iginla, Alfredsson) and making an offer to Brunner would be to give Z another winger to play with in the wake of not getting their luxury item.

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I would have to think a Ference signing would be to secure some vet grit on the backedn and Zidlicky would be to help offensively -- I would take either on shorter terms.

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I predict the Wings do nothing on the backend and Brunner re-signs, but a lot of players use the Wings as leverage to price themselves out of the Wings price range.

I don't think they will let those comments get in the way of things. Grabovski did not say a word publicly about his displeasure until today when he no longer was a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Agree on your comment regarding the d-man on a two-way contract.

As for the top-six forward, I believe the trade market will heat up in about 7-10 days once most of the "name" free agents have landed and the teams still looking for help or who missed in free agency, have a greater sense of urgency to get a deal done.
- spity1

The other thing about his comments was he was basically saying tell me when I'm doing something wrong don't just stick me on the 4th line and never play me. Babcock I don't think has ever had a problem being direct.

As much as I want the Wings to make a big splash and fill all their holes in one swoop today I realize it's probably not going to happen. The big name guys are all going to get crazy stupid money for a long long time. Getting stuck with $5 or $6 million cap hits for guys like Fil, Weiss, and Clarkson for five years or more is crazy.

Alfie probably won't leave Ottawa but if he does the fact that he is only looking for a one year would make paying him $5 or $6 million acceptable.

Grabo seems like another one of those guys that would immediately improve upon leaving Toronto and could fit in with the Wings.

Clowe is allegedly looking for a long contract, but I think Penner is UFA. I wouldn't give him a lot of money but if you can get him cheap he could add size and he usually shows up in the playoffs.

If Ference isn't asking for a ton of years he could be a good fit on D.

Iginla would be nice of course, but I'm guessing he simply doesn't want to go to Detroit after the "list" last year. Plus he's probably asking for 4 years or more which is questionable at the rate he seems to be declining.

The other thing is that with the cap going down there isn't as much money out there as people think. Waiting for the other teams to give out their crazy stupid money might be smart. You can then sign whoever is left to more reasonable deals.

Avery is not a loon, hes a pritty cool poop off the ice. Did he ever act up when he was playin for Detroit??? NO. because he lived with Hull and learned.
- Muskoka88

He didn't pull a Brodeur or do anything blatantly stupid but you could see he was a problem even with Detroit. He took too many stupid penalties, and Bowman made him get dressed in the showers at one point because he was such a distraction in the locker room. The Wings didn't keep him around long because of that kind of stuff.

Let Cleary walk if he wants 3 million even for one season and no way should he ever be signed for more than one year. Sure he picked it up in the playoffs but that doesn't make up for 2 crappy seasons before that. Wings don't need another Samuelsson wasting cap space and a roster spot. Time to let him go.

Holland should be all over Brunner if all he wants is 2.5 per...sign him already. He has a better chance of being worth it than most of the UFAs that want twice as much.

I don't want Weiss, Roy or Ribeiro and their long term 5+ million per they want. I prefer to have Datsyuk and Zetterberg on different lines anyways.

Clarkson or Iginla would be nice (they badly need this type of players) but Holland isn't going to pay them even close to what other teams will so no point in even thinking about them.

Alfredsson I can't see playing anywhere but Ottawa. Will likely just use other offers as leverage to get a higher salary with the Senators.

Grabovski if he comes at a lower salary could be ok as long as it's not a long term contract of 5 years or something. Maybe Datsyuk can get more out of him than anyone else and keep him under control. He sure as hell would be an upgrade over Cleary and Abdelkader on his wing skill wise.


I expect the usual Holland speech of "prices were too high and couldn't find a fit" "we like our team" "we are going to get Sammy, Bert and Helm back and that's better than anything we could have gotten" blah blah blah. He won't trade much aside from maybe getting rid of one guy for nothing and lose the rest on waivers before the season starts. Yes my expectations of Holland are that low.

Garbo is certainly intriguing. Haven't particularly been a fan but he is a dynamic player that would likely be fun to watch with Datsyuk.

Nervous about Alfredsson. Seems like he's one head down check away from retirement. Lets focus on getting younger & more aggressive in the East.

Weiss would be decent but if he's going to cost $5M, I'd much prefer to invest in a trade for B.Ryan. Would love to hear the asking price but that would be a very valuable piece so I'd be willing to move some pretty valuable pieces in return.

They have to get Brunner locked down. $2.5x 2 is reasonable. Cleary should be about the same but not much more at this stage.

Can't see them going too strong on a depth Dman right now considering they just bought out Carlo. I expect they'll instead seek veteran d depth at the trade deadline assuming they're in the playoff mix. If a top 4 (ie Edler) is available at the right price now though, that's a different story.

We'll know shortly but after the big whiffs last summer I'm not getting my hopes up and retaining our top prospects may ultimately be best.

Bring it.

Garbo is certainly intriguing. Haven't particularly been a fan but he is a dynamic player that would likely be fun to watch with Datsyuk.

Nervous about Alfredsson. Seems like he's one head down check away from retirement. Lets focus on getting younger & more aggressive in the East.

Weiss would be decent but if he's going to cost $5M, I'd much prefer to invest in a trade for B.Ryan. Would love to hear the asking price but that would be a very valuable piece so I'd be willing to move some pretty valuable pieces in return.

They have to get Brunnet locked down. $2.5x 2 is reasonable. Clearly should be about the same but not much more at this stage.

Can't see them going too strong on a depth Dman right now considering they just bought out Carlo. I expect they'll instead seek veteran d depth at the trade deadline assuming they're in the playoff mix. If a top 4 (ie Edler) is available at the right price now though, that's a different story.

We'll know shortly but after the big whiffs last summer I'm not getting my hopes up and retaining our top prospects may ultimately be best.

Bring it.
- wingfanto

I don't think the Wings are going to wait until the deadline to add a defenseman for depth. Likely later in the summer when some guy isn't getting any offers and will take a cheap 2 way deal to go to Grand Rapids and be an injury call up like Janik was and provide some leadership to the rookies in Grand Rapids.