Mark Spizzirri: ROSTER REVIEW: Re-tooling the defense

RIP Bryan Rufenach, seemed like a great young guy

Barrat Jackman

but considering he's with a divisional rival... it'd be pulling a "rob blake"

No thanks to Matt Carle or Carlo Colaiacovo. I would rather the Wings trade draft picks and prospects if that is the best they can sign or even make an offer sheet to a RFA.

Ryan Suter is going to sign in Detroit

and Brad Stuart is going to sign in Nashville

how bout that for a proposal of rights,

suter for stuart?

Ryan Suter is going to sign in Detroit

and Brad Stuart is going to sign in Nashville

how bout that for a proposal of rights,

suter for stuart?
- wheresthesoda

Stuart is headed out west to California to be closer to his family. Doubt Nashville is going to give Detroit anything for Suter.... not even the right to negotiate with him (both teams are in the same division)... Would LOVE to see Holland get both Parise & Suter... but that may just be pipe dream.

No thanks to Matt Carle or Carlo Colaiacovo. I would rather the Wings trade draft picks and prospects if that is the best they can sign or even make an offer sheet to a RFA.
- dcz28

What about this Schultz kid I keep hearing about with Anaheim ?? That might be interesting, but I don't know too much about the guy.

Also... Parenteau could be a good pickup from the Islanders but there will be plenty of competition to get him.

What about this Schultz kid I keep hearing about with Anaheim ?? That might be interesting, but I don't know too much about the guy.

Also... Parenteau could be a good pickup from the Islanders but there will be plenty of competition to get him.
- Vladdie_Kon1

Schultz would be a nice addition but he will get the max rookie contract from everyone and likely already has a list of a few teams he will sign with and some of those teams will do like Dallas did with Brunnstrom and assure him a spot in the NHL (maybe even top 4) so i don't see Holland doing that just so he signs with the Wings...pissing off the Wings prospects that have had to work their way from the AHL to the roster.

Parenteau is interesting but it depends on salary and can he produce with someone other than Tavares.

Knuble has said he would love to return to the Wings for one year...he could be a cheap addition with size and a right handed shot for depth. Not sure how much he has left though.

Schultz would be a nice addition but he will get the max rookie contract from everyone and likely already has a list of a few teams he will sign with and some of those teams will do like Dallas did with Brunnstrom and assure him a spot in the NHL (maybe even top 4) so i don't see Holland doing that just so he signs with the Wings...pissing off the Wings prospects that have had to work their way from the AHL to the roster.

Parenteau is interesting but it depends on salary and can he produce with someone other than Tavares.

Knuble has said he would love to return to the Wings for one year...he could be a cheap addition with size and a right handed shot for depth. Not sure how much he has left though.
- dcz28

Agree that Schultz is more likely to join a club that will give him a Top 4 spot right away such as Edmonton, Toronto....even the Rangers have been mentioned as a possibility.

Agree that Schultz is more likely to join a club that will give him a Top 4 spot right away such as Edmonton, Toronto....even the Rangers have been mentioned as a possibility.
- spity1

Wings have a better shot at Dekeyser but even him i think is a long shot. There is a reason why all the top college UFA's don't sign with the Wings and i don't think it's because the Wings don't try to sign some of them. Other teams don't have the unwritten rule of youngsters having to prove themselves in the AHL first before they have a chance to make their NHL team. Sure there have been exceptions like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Fischer ect... but not many have done it and the fact that Nyquist was sent down after the great camp and pre-season he had is proof enough that youngsters out of college are not likely to be with the Wings unless they dominate the AHL first. Those kids look at that and then look at other college UFA players that get a chance right away at the NHL with other teams and most of the time that is the difference. Making 70K or whatever it is riding the bus in the AHL for 1 to 3 seasons with the Wings or signing with someone else and getting a chance to make over 900K plus bonuses in the NHL. Holland would have to be one hell of a salesman to sell the kids on that for them to sign with the Wings.


Wings draft picks don't have much of a choice but some of the Euro kids (Larsson, Ryno, Axelsson to name a few) have already gone back home because they don't want to do the sentence of 1 to 3 years in the AHL. Might be why the Wings don't draft Russians much anymore because they would just leave for the KHL or stay there until they get a spot in the NHL for sure. Wouldn't surprise me if some eventually ask to be traded if they think they are not getting a fair shot at the NHL because the Wings want to hold on to some past his prime vet or some young guy that has to clear waivers. The next one i could see bolt would be Tatar if they don't at least give him a chance for next season.

Wings have a better shot at Dekeyser but even him i think is a long shot. There is a reason why all the top college UFA's don't sign with the Wings and i don't think it's because the Wings don't try to sign some of them. Other teams don't have the unwritten rule of youngsters having to prove themselves in the AHL first before they have a chance to make their NHL team. Sure there have been exceptions like Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Fischer ect... but not many have done it and the fact that Nyquist was sent down after the great camp and pre-season he had is proof enough that youngsters out of college are not likely to be with the Wings unless they dominate the AHL first. Those kids look at that and then look at other college UFA players that get a chance right away at the NHL with other teams and most of the time that is the difference. Making 70K or whatever it is riding the bus in the AHL for 1 to 3 seasons with the Wings or signing with someone else and getting a chance to make over 900K plus bonuses in the NHL. Holland would have to be one hell of a salesman to sell the kids on that for them to sign with the Wings.


Wings draft picks don't have much of a choice but some of the Euro kids (Larsson, Ryno, Axelsson to name a few) have already gone back home because they don't want to do the sentence of 1 to 3 years in the AHL. Might be why the Wings don't draft Russians much anymore because they would just leave for the KHL or stay there until they get a spot in the NHL for sure. Wouldn't surprise me if some eventually ask to be traded if they think they are not getting a fair shot at the NHL because the Wings want to hold on to some past his prime vet or some young guy that has to clear waivers. The next one i could see bolt would be Tatar if they don't at least give him a chance for next season.
- dcz28

Let's face facts dcz....it could be a policy the Wings will have to tweak given the cap and as you mention competition to retain talent.

Let's face facts dcz....it could be a policy the Wings will have to tweak given the cap and as you mention competition to retain talent.
- spity1

They should but i doubt Holland will because of how his playing career went.

Bye bye Brad.

Bye bye Brad.
- PukMeInThe5Hole

Yup, was widely speculated but he's officially gone now. The grittiest player we had will leave a pretty significant hole, wouldn't mind giving Barret Jackman a shot if the price is right.

Carle or Suter

Carle or Suter
- Bar-South

I don't get the love for Carle. I think he is just average and i hope he doesn't end up in Detroit.

I don't get the love for Carle. I think he is just average and i hope he doesn't end up in Detroit.
- dcz28

I admittedly don't watch him play all that much, but "average" seems a little unfair to me. He led all Flyers in ice time last season. His offensive production in terms of ppg over the last three years is basically identical to Kronwall's (though Kronwall does score more goals). He seems to be pretty durable (hasn't missed a game since 2010). His possession stats are generally pretty good.

Okay, maybe he's not and will never be an all-star, and he's definitely not in the same class as Ryan Suter. But he seems like a pretty solid option as a No. 2/3 guy. Better him than Jonathan Ericsson or Kyle Quincey, and probably a Lidstrom-less Ian White as well.

I admittedly don't watch him play all that much, but "average" seems a little unfair to me. He led all Flyers in ice time last season. His offensive production in terms of ppg over the last three years is basically identical to Kronwall's (though Kronwall does score more goals). He seems to be pretty durable (hasn't missed a game since 2010). His possession stats are generally pretty good.

Okay, maybe he's not and will never be an all-star, and he's definitely not in the same class as Ryan Suter. But he seems like a pretty solid option as a No. 2/3 guy. Better him than Jonathan Ericsson or Kyle Quincey, and probably a Lidstrom-less Ian White as well.
- Sven22

I think he's a 3rd or 4th not 1st pairing unless he is paired with a true top 2 defenseman (like White with Lidstrom). I think he played mostly with Pronger which helped his stats. I just don't see him as much of an improvement over what the Wings have and would only be added depth. Wings need a true top 2.

I think he's a 3rd or 4th not 1st pairing unless he is paired with a true top 2 defenseman (like White with Lidstrom). I think he played mostly with Pronger which helped his stats. I just don't see him as much of an improvement over what the Wings have and would only be added depth. Wings need a true top 2.
- dcz28

When Pronger is healthy Matt Carle is his regular partner, but Pronger only played 13 games last season and only 50 the year before.

At even strength, Matt Carle's most frequent defense partner in 2011-12 was Marc-Andre Bourdon (31.6 percent of Carle's minutes were shared with Bourdon). No other defensemen were among his top 10 linemates (tenth place was F Sean Couturier at 20.9 percent).

Based on the data, it looks to me like after Pronger went down, the Timonen-Coburn pairing stayed mostly intact, while Carle played with a rotating cast of part-time top four guys (Bourdon, Meszaros, Gustafsson)

On the powerplay, the only defender among Carle's top 10 linemates was Timonen at 20.2 percent. Meszaros appears to be the only other defenseman to share significant minutes with Carle on the PP. It appears that Philadelphia typically went with four forwards on the PP, with Carle mostly quarterbacking the second unit.

In short, I think Carle is a solid player who can put up points with several different partners. I think he would do well in the Red Wings system. I would also rather have Carle playing a top-four role at even strength while allowing Jonathan Ericsson to play fewer minutes at even strength and specialize on the PK, which seems to be more his forte.

Yes, ideally Ryan Suter is target No. 1, but I think Carle would be a welcome addition to the blueline whether Holland nabs Suter or not. I am not comfortable with the prospect of having no fewer than two of Quincey, Ericsson and Smith in the top four all season long.

When Pronger is healthy Matt Carle is his regular partner, but Pronger only played 13 games last season and only 50 the year before.

At even strength, Matt Carle's most frequent defense partner in 2011-12 was Marc-Andre Bourdon (31.6 percent of Carle's minutes were shared with Bourdon). No other defensemen were among his top 10 linemates (tenth place was F Sean Couturier at 20.9 percent).

Based on the data, it looks to me like after Pronger went down, the Timonen-Coburn pairing stayed mostly intact, while Carle played with a rotating cast of part-time top four guys (Bourdon, Meszaros, Gustafsson)

On the powerplay, the only defender among Carle's top 10 linemates was Timonen at 20.2 percent. Meszaros appears to be the only other defenseman to share significant minutes with Carle on the PP. It appears that Philadelphia typically went with four forwards on the PP, with Carle mostly quarterbacking the second unit.

In short, I think Carle is a solid player who can put up points with several different partners. I think he would do well in the Red Wings system. I would also rather have Carle playing a top-four role at even strength while allowing Jonathan Ericsson to play fewer minutes at even strength and specialize on the PK, which seems to be more his forte.

Yes, ideally Ryan Suter is target No. 1, but I think Carle would be a welcome addition to the blueline whether Holland nabs Suter or not. I am not comfortable with the prospect of having no fewer than two of Quincey, Ericsson and Smith in the top four all season long.
- Sven22

Appears meaningless fellas. Carle appears set to re-sign with Philly prior to July 1st. If the Wings are unable to land Suter (which is a distinct possibility), they will have to attempt to acquire a high-end blueliner via trade, which will be no easy feat.

Appears meaningless fellas. Carle appears set to re-sign with Philly prior to July 1st. If the Wings are unable to land Suter (which is a distinct possibility), they will have to attempt to acquire a high-end blueliner via trade, which will be no easy feat.
- spity1

UGGGGGGHHHH. I'm nervous about this offseason. With all the parity in the league, plus the salary cap, I just don't think Holland has the influence he once had to sign top tier free agents. It seems like the "lure to play as a Red Wing" is a thing of the past and has lost its luster. The Wings need to get better on a lot of fronts and the past three plus seasons have proven that, not even counting Nick's departure. I can only hope Holland sees that and isn't still living like it's 2009 ('we won the cup last year, so why mess with the roster?'). This very well could be the year we miss the playoffs if Holland doesn't do something big. He has to. If he continues to go bargain-bin shopping, we're finishing 9th, at best, in the conference.