Weber won't be in Detroit next year. He's still has RFA status. Unless Nashville intends on trading him, or walking away from an arbitraitor's descision, I don't forsee him going anywhere.
Suter on the other hand could prove to be an interesting situation between now and July 1st.
- EKolb13

yep..good point...unlikely to walk away...but a trade..yes. It might depend on how far the Preds go this year and of course the CBA.

yep..good point...unlikely to walk away...but a trade..yes. It might depend on how far the Preds go this year and of course the CBA.
- bogiedoc

If Suter goes, I doubt Weber gets traded. I just can't see Nashville letting both those guys get away from them.

Trotz always looks like he should be petting a white cat and planning some evil scheme...
- HealthyScratch1

He's generally doing at least one of the two...

Do you really want a $2.3 4th line face-off specialist?
- jochfr

yes!has other intangibles also. and is what we need!size,ass & grit & can play!!

Do you really want a $2.3 4th line face-off specialist?
- jochfr

Does it matter? If the Blackhawks have the cap space this year to add a 4th liner like that, who cares. The cap hit would be pro-rated anyways and the Hawks aren't committing anything to their future cap hit with a move like that.

How have the Hwks done so far vs the other top 5 in the conf: Wings, Preds, Nucks, Blues and Sharks: 6-4-2 and only 6 of those games decided by 1 goal.

They have 14 games left with those 5 teams. Hwks have one helluva of a nasty schedule post break: With those 14 games vs other WC leaders they have 2 vs Rangers and the resurgent Kings plus the Sens and Caps on the road.

Intersting 6 games to start March: Senators, Wings, Blues on the road followed by Rnagers, Kings and Blues at home!

If Suter goes, I doubt Weber gets traded. I just can't see Nashville letting both those guys get away from them.
- EKolb13

No...one or both stays! They are $15 mil under the cap. Do they want to add another $7-8 mil just to keep those 3 next year. That would be about 21 mil for three players. There foreward line is in pretty good shape contract wise!

If Suter goes, I doubt Weber gets traded. I just can't see Nashville letting both those guys get away from them.
- EKolb13

With Rinne at $7mil, and Weber expecting similar $$'s and Suter probably in the $6mil range as well, the Preds will have $20+ mil tied up in 3 players, none offensive. Thats almost 1/2 of the cap in 3 players. While keeping them means they can continue with the same style they currently play, it also means that they are not built to WIN a Stanley Cup. They will be a difficult opponent, but just not enough scoring to go deep into the playoffs. As said before, a lot depends on how the new CBA is structured.

This is another reason why it is difficult to sink so much money into a Goaltender. It effects the depth of the rest of the roster. A $4million dollar goalie and a $4milliion dollar forward is probably better than a $7mil goalie and a $1mil forward. Plenty of teams have shown you can win a cup with a reasonably priced goalie.

No...one or both stays! They are $15 mil under the cap. Do they want to add another $7-8 mil just to keep those 3 next year. That would be about 21 mil for three players. There foreward line is in pretty good shape contract wise!
- bogiedoc

See my above post. It's not a matter of whether they can fit them under the cap, they most certainly can. It is more a matter of how is this team constructed and how can they get to the proverbial "next level". Last year they finally won a playoff series for the first time. Without significant help offensively however, they will have a hard time advancing deep. They play a solid, defensive, game. They rely on Rinne and their defense to keep games close and capitalize on mistakes and the few opportunities that they generate. Doing that for 4 straight series is not easy, you need a balance. Also, in a long series, once teams figure out how to break down their defense, they do not have enough offense to counter.

With Rinne at $7mil, and Weber expecting similar $$'s and Suter probably in the $6mil range as well, the Preds will have $20+ mil tied up in 3 players, none offensive. Thats almost 1/2 of the cap in 3 players. While keeping them means they can continue with the same style they currently play, it also means that they are not built to WIN a Stanley Cup. They will be a difficult opponent, but just not enough scoring to go deep into the playoffs. As said before, a lot depends on how the new CBA is structured.

This is another reason why it is difficult to sink so much money into a Goaltender. It effects the depth of the rest of the roster. A $4million dollar goalie and a $4milliion dollar forward is probably better than a $7mil goalie and a $1mil forward. Plenty of teams have shown you can win a cup with a reasonably priced goalie.
- TheTrob

Actually, that's close to half of the cap floor, or almost 1/3 of the cap ceiling. They could do it that way. I'm sure their GM has intentions of doing it. Whether he can pull it off or not may be a different story. I'm willing to bet one of the two of Suter/Weber are going to go to a different team.

Actually, that's close to half of the cap floor, or almost 1/3 of the cap ceiling. They could do it that way. I'm sure their GM has intentions of doing it. Whether he can pull it off or not may be a different story. I'm willing to bet one of the two of Suter/Weber are going to go to a different team.
- EKolb13

If they go this route, it will be all but impossible for them to field a competitive team on the cheap. It will require them to go near the cap to hang with the Hawks and Wings of the world.

If they go this route, it will be all but impossible for them to field a competitive team on the cheap. It will require them to go near the cap to hang with the Hawks and Wings of the world.
- NewToHockey

Agreed. If they do it, it just makes the division or the new conference (if that ever does happen?) that much more competitive. That's if they spend beyond resigning both Suter and Weber. That's even if they can pull off resigining both of them.

There's a difference between "should" (as you ask), "can" and "will."

My thoughts on what they should do: I would really like to see them add a #4-#5 level defenseman who is physical, takes care of business aorund his net, relatively mistake free, kills penalites and blocks shots.

The guy who really fits that is Mark Stuart of the Winnipeg Jets, who I was told they had a lot of interest in last year before Boston dealt him to Atlanta (now the Jets).

Problem is, Stuart is now sort of the lynch pin of the D in Winnipeg and signed to a very cap friendly deal for a number of years. it would take a lot to get him. More I think than a lot of fans would think he's worth.

Another option here might be Brett Clark (Tampa) or Tim Gleason (Carolina). Neither of these guys is coming cheap, especially not Gleason.

I would make that move right now however, and then see where that puts the team. As Al C. and I both have said, this move would have a positive domino effect on the rest of the defense. And defense are where the problems with this team start.

I would like to see them also add a 4th line banger, a guy who goes 215 plus pounds who can skate and hit and avoid dumb penalties. Maybe Jimmy Hayes can do this if they keep his feet to the flame but he is not really fundamentally this kind of player. They need some muscle to wear down opposing defenses in the playoffs.

Finally, I would like to see them add a forward who can play C or W, who kills penalties can take a faceoff and is tough to play against. Maybe the last two players can be the same guy. Nate Thompson of Tampa is that kind of guy. Again, he will not be easy to pry away from the Bolts where he is very popular for what he does.

A couple of other options: David Clarkson of the Devils and Matt Martin of the Islanders. Again, both guys well-valued by their teams.

Start the bidding with Bryan Bickell plus for any of these players. The plus being likely a highly rated hawk prospect or two, and/or a draft pick.
- John Jaeckel

JJ, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Bollig is part of a back up plan should the trade route not work out. He's been on the Hogs checking and PK lines. We already know what else he brings, but being defensively responsible could put him over the top...

Hossa gains an A. Seabrook, Keith and Hossa all wearing an A and apparently no one wearing a C. Is that customary when a captain misses time?

No...one or both stays! They are $15 mil under the cap. Do they want to add another $7-8 mil just to keep those 3 next year. That would be about 21 mil for three players. There foreward line is in pretty good shape contract wise!
- bogiedoc

We are 15 million under the cap this year. We are 20+ million under the cap next year before we sign them. We have hte cap, we have the money. The question is whether they believe Nashville is capable of advancing deeper in the playoffs. That is what is holding them up

Bickell in and Frolik sitting? Anyone have insight into this?

Hossa gains an A. Seabrook, Keith and Hossa all wearing an A and apparently no one wearing a C. Is that customary when a captain misses time?
- NewToHockey

Yes, especially for the short term. Also IIRC before Toews officially got the "C", the team skated with 3 A's for quite a few games.

Hossa gains an A. Seabrook, Keith and Hossa all wearing an A and apparently no one wearing a C. Is that customary when a captain misses time?
- NewToHockey

Yes, when the Capt is out teams usually just add an "A"

Dozy Nick Leddy is a PHUCKING DISASTER. Yeah he's 20, yeah he's full of promise...yeah he's a DEFENSIVE PHUCKING LIABILITY.

Two giveaways - two non-saves.

The defense and the goalies complement each other well.

Dozy Nick Leddy is a PHUCKING DISASTER. Yeah he's 20, yeah he's full of promise...yeah he's a DEFENSIVE PHUCKING LIABILITY.
- philco28

thats why we need a 4Dman so he can be a 5 and only see 10 mins/game..

why is old/slow Brunette on the top line and not Stalberg?...

HEY STAN B. "The wheels are comingggg off your bus, off your bus, off your bus" "The wheels are coming off your bus" ...."right over a cliff!

thats why we need a 4Dman so he can be a 5 and only see 10 mins/game..

why is old/slow Brunette on the top line and not Stalberg?...
- Glenman12

But don't forget Crawford: in addition to the GAs, he has left 2 wide open nets that Nashville missed on.

And Crawford has lost the plot too...

WHY does he continue to OVERPLAY the angle? C2 has really regressed when i thought the sky was the limit for him. Damn.

thats why we need a 4Dman so he can be a 5 and only see 10 mins/game..

why is old/slow Brunette on the top line and not Stalberg?...
- Glenman12

I've been banging that drum for 3 weeks now, but we continue to piss away points to teams we should be SMOKING.