A year ago, the Detroit Red Wings spent all of July 1 in a futile search for a right-hand shooting defenseman.
This July 1, they got the one who was at the top of the free-agent list.
The Wings signed Mike Green to a three-year, $18-million deal, giving them a guy who can anchor their power play and who should fire up a back end that struggled to produce points last season.
“We always want to have defensemen who could join the rush and get the puck moving,… Detroit general manager Ken Holland said. “That’s part of how we’ve been able to accomplish what we’ve accomplished.
“We had a hard time finding a right shot for some reason.…
In Green, they not only found one, he’s the last defenseman in the NHL to produce a 30-goal season when he netted 31 for the Washington Capitals in 2008-09.
He was also happy to find his way to the Wings.
“Obviously the style of play was a huge factor in the decision,… Green said of Detroit’s up-tempo, puck possession style. “I enjoy jumping up in the play and moving the puck and creating offense from the back end.
“Detroit’s a puck-moving team. That’s how I enjoy playing. I’m really looking forward to the system they play.…
In Brad Richards, who agreed to a one-year, $3 million pact, the Wings added someone they feel will provide them a solid second-line center and perhaps free the team to pair captain Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk on the same forward line on a regular basis.
“The thinking is it’s going to be Z and Pav together on one line, and Brad centering another line,… Holland said. “When everybody’s healthy, we’re going to be able to roll four lines and have three lines that can really provide offense on any given night.
Richards was also attracted to Detroit by the Wings’ style of play.
“Everybody wants the puck in Detroit,… Richards said. “Ever since I’ve been in the league, no matter what personnel is their they always want the puck, they want to play with the puck but they still have a huge emphasis on checking and getting the puck back.
“It’s a great way to play.…
On the surface, the moves make absolute sense. Richards and Green give the Wings a couple more veterans who can help veteran leaders Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall push the core of younger players in the Detroit lineup to get to the next level.
The Wings have been trying to get over the playoff hump since they lost in the 2009 final to Pittsburgh, but haven’t won a series past the first round since then.
“As we looked at our team, we’ve got a lot of young players making a push, they’re coming of age,… Holland said. “Pav’s 36, Z’s 35, Kronner is 33. Those are three key people for our team, the leadership group, but they’ve got lots of good hockey left in them.
“As we headed into this off-season our goal was to be a better team than last year and try to go a lot farther than we did last year.
“Both players we got today, these two guys come in and play a philosophy, a style of play that fits in to what we’re trying to do. We’ve got a lot of younger players, and we’re adding two guys with experience, who can provide leadership and can be role models for some of the younger players.…
Richards, who just won a Stanley Cup with Chicago, is of the opinion the Wings, who lost a seven-game opening-round series to the eventual Cup finalist Tampa Bay Lightning, aren’t far away from making that climb.
“I watched their Game 7 this year, they probably deserved to win that game,… Richards said. “So, they’re one game away from maybe making a run.
“I’ve always been a fan of watching Datsyuk and Zetterberg play and I know they may be getting a little older, but they’re still elite players that can lead a team through a deep run.
“You just look at that, so when I was picking teams I wanted to try and make another run and I think I’ve got a good chance here.…
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