Steve Yzerman has signed a pick from last year’s draft in Eemil Viro, bringing another Left shot D into the pipeline.
The Yzerman Press Conference after Blashill’s extension was full of information. As fans inevitably want bigger changes (particularly behind the bench) the GM is “steady as she goes”. Jeff Blashill has helped the young players improve while Yzerman turns over the roster each season. Until the talent is “upgraded”, they’re not going to be holding the coach to unreasonable standards.
One item of note that we’ve been hashing out in the comments is the status and future of Keith Petruzzelli. The big net minder was up for the Hobey Baker award this year, and has had year over year improvement in his play. I was grateful to get some confirmation from a media member who participated in yesterday’s call that KP is contemplating one more season. The good news is that Detroit still retains his rights. The bad news is a growing sense that Petruzzelli doesn’t appear to be interested in signing with Detroit.
It seems like we rehash the issue of draft prospects who become free agents in the collegiate ranks every year. One of the more notable “back and forth” was Jimmy Vesey a few years ago. David Poile was very vocal about wanting to get JV in a Predator’s uniform. To his chagrin, it was made clear that Jimmy wanted something else. His rights were traded to Buffalo, but he eventually signed with the Rangers. Several teams were interested, but the bright lights of broadway were too exciting to pass up. Now on his 4th team (with the Preds in the post season while Vancouver gets ready to golf) Jimmy’s been asked countless times if he regrets the path he took. Of course he says he doesn’t, but who knows.
In all honestly, GMs each year rush to sign undrafted free agents and pass on signing players in their system. It seems like poetic justice that a prospect can “pass” on the team that didn’t get them inked when they had the chance. As far as it goes with Petruzzelli, if he honestly doesn’t want to sign with Detroit, there’s no reason to push. (Keep in mind, this could all change and KP could go ahead and sign his ELC). In the rebuild, we’ve all seen that you need players who want to be part of the process.
My personal thought on the “walk always” is this: if a team wants to sign the player and the player won’t sign, any team that does negotiate the ELC has to repay whatever round pick was used on the player. If they were a 4th round pick, the signing team sends a 4th round. Simple.
The only glitch to figure out in all of this is “tampering”. We know it happens (and boy did Chayka enjoy upping the ante), but at some point the league needs to at least help dial it back. The “careful” tampering is a player who has the same agent helps to recruit the prospect to whichever team. The blatant tampering is when a team office member is directly involved with the player. You can’t keep players from talking, but adding a “cost” to the scenario would at least make them think twice.
Where are you at? Should teams be compensated if a player walks after 4 years and they wanted to retain them? Is the “tampering” out of control and need to be dealt with? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
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