Follow me on Twitter
After a 5-2 loss that showcased a lot of speed , Detroit is heading home. Two games in 2 days, fly home, and then play again tomorrow for the third game in 4 days. A few of you have started to look at the free agents, both RFA and UFA, and i wanted to just lay out who’s coming up in each category. I’ll give my thoughts, but let me know if you see someone that may be in a special situation.
UFA:
Darren Helm - I think Helm will probably move on, maybe sign in his hometown of Winnipeg.
Valtteri Filppula - either retire or sign somewhere else
Luke Glendening - I think Yzerman will extend LG. He’s awesome on faceoffs and someone you want young centers to learn from. I wouldn’t mind seeing Berggren and Veleno work with him
Sam Gagner - I really like SGs game, still. There may still be a one year deal in the tank.
Marc Staal - sign elsewhere or retire.
Alex Biega - before the last couple games I was fairly certain Biega would be on his way out. Maybe a one year two way deal. Could end up in GR
Jonathan Bernier - I think he’ll be extended. Possibly just one year. No young goalies are knocking down the door.
Bobby Ryan - I’m fine with another 1 year deal. Before his line was decimated early on, there was something good there.
Henrik Zetterberg - obviously it’s just the end of his deal, but worth mentioning. Kronwall has been working hard with the organization (including weekly talks with Seider). Z will probably have an offer to work with the team here or in Europe.
Calvin Pickard - we need to expose a goalie for Seattle. 1 year 2 way deal?
Taro Hirose - Hirose is an assist machine. He has 4 goals and 13 assists in 16 games with the Griffins. If he wants to take a shot with the organization I could see a tryout and camp.
The other GR UFAs are, to me, probably career AHLers at this point. McIlrath, Hickets, Elson, Turgeon and Criscuolo.
Let me know your thoughts, whether they stay or go. I’ll cover RFAs later in the week.
Detroit Red Wings Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»