Bob Duff: Wings sign Glendening to four-year extension Detroit also signs top draft pick Filip Hronek to an entry-level deal.

good signing!

Ken Holland is becoming a parody of himself.

Here is a partial list of players Detroit has locked up in 2017-18 -- not even this upcoming year, but the one after it -- including their cap charge and ideal lineup role based on projected ability:

Henrik Zetterberg, second line center / wing: $6.08m
Frans Nielsen, second line center: $5.25m
Gustav Nyquist, second line wing: $4.75m
Justin Abdelkader, middle six wing: $4.25m
Darren Helm, third line center: $3.85m
Riley Sheahan, bottom nine utility forward: $2.08m
Luke Glendening, fourth line center / spare forward: $1.8m
Mike Green, 2/3 defender: $6m
Niklas Kronwall, 4/5 defender: $4.75m
Jonathan Ericsson, 6/7 defender: $4.25m
Jimmy Howard, 2/3 goaltender: $5.29m

Plus:

Stephen Weiss buyout charge: $2.57

That is 11 active players and nearly $55 million dollars -- roughly half of an active roster and three quarters of the cap ceiling -- dedicated to six middle-sixers, a fourth liner, one borderline top pair D, two borderline top-4 D, a borderline top-six D, a borderline backup goaltender, and Stephen Weiss.

Oh, we're also not including Franzen, whose contract continues to complicate the cap situation even from LTIR.

Here is a partial list of players Detroit has locked up in 2017-18 -- not even this upcoming year, but the one after it -- including their cap charge and ideal lineup role based on projected ability:

Henrik Zetterberg, second line center / wing: $6.08m
Frans Nielsen, second line center: $5.25m
Gustav Nyquist, second line wing: $4.75m
Justin Abdelkader, middle six wing: $4.25m
Darren Helm, third line center: $3.85m
Riley Sheahan, bottom nine utility forward: $2.08m
Luke Glendening, fourth line center / spare forward: $1.8m
Mike Green, 2/3 defender: $6m
Niklas Kronwall, 4/5 defender: $4.75m
Jonathan Ericsson, 6/7 defender: $4.25m
Jimmy Howard, 2/3 goaltender: $5.29m

Plus:

Stephen Weiss buyout charge: $2.57

That is 11 active players and nearly $55 million dollars -- roughly half of an active roster and three quarters of the cap ceiling -- dedicated to six middle-sixers, a fourth liner, one borderline top pair D, two borderline top-4 D, a borderline top-six D, a borderline backup goaltender, and Stephen Weiss.

Oh, we're also not including Franzen, whose contract continues to complicate the cap situation even from LTIR.
- Sven22

Who you gonna pawn off on Vegas?

Who you gonna pawn off on Vegas?
- Wildschwein

Vegas is probably not going to take any of these guys. Nyquist would not be a terrible pickup but he'll probably be protected. Franzen could go as game-the-cap floor pick ($4 million hit vs $2m, $1m, $1m salary) if Vegas wants to play that game but I didn't include him in my analysis. Kronwall I suppose could be attractive in that he'd provide a veteran leadership presence and only would have 2 years on the deal, but I think by the time the expansion draft rolls around it'll be pretty clear he's got very little left in the tank and in sharp decline. Plus I wouldn't put it out of the question that Kronwall gets protected (even though he shouldn't be).

I wouldn't touch any of the other deals with a 10-foot pole even if it didn't cost me anything to acquire them.

I think it's far more likely that Vegas takes one of the many low risk / medium-high reward young guys the Wings will likely be forced to leave unprotected -- someone like a Jurco or a Pulkkinen.

Here is a partial list of players Detroit has locked up in 2017-18 -- not even this upcoming year, but the one after it -- including their cap charge and ideal lineup role based on projected ability:

Henrik Zetterberg, second line center / wing: $6.08m
Frans Nielsen, second line center: $5.25m
Gustav Nyquist, second line wing: $4.75m
Justin Abdelkader, middle six wing: $4.25m
Darren Helm, third line center: $3.85m
Riley Sheahan, bottom nine utility forward: $2.08m
Luke Glendening, fourth line center / spare forward: $1.8m
Mike Green, 2/3 defender: $6m
Niklas Kronwall, 4/5 defender: $4.75m
Jonathan Ericsson, 6/7 defender: $4.25m
Jimmy Howard, 2/3 goaltender: $5.29m

Plus:

Stephen Weiss buyout charge: $2.57

That is 11 active players and nearly $55 million dollars -- roughly half of an active roster and three quarters of the cap ceiling -- dedicated to six middle-sixers, a fourth liner, one borderline top pair D, two borderline top-4 D, a borderline top-six D, a borderline backup goaltender, and Stephen Weiss.

Oh, we're also not including Franzen, whose contract continues to complicate the cap situation even from LTIR.
- Sven22

Let's be realistic, Sven...

The 2016-17 season hasn't even played out yet. ATM the only bad contracts of those you listed would be Helm, Sheahan, Ericsson, and Howard. Some may even say that Sheahan doesn't suck.

I know it's so much easier being a Debbie Downer pessimist, but when it comes to the things that I love (hockey), it's much more fun to be optimistic and enjoy it.

The team doesn't suck, and as much as we would all love them to be elite and favored to reach the ECF, not sucking hasn't allowed us to draft a Doughty or an Ekblad. We're good/lucky enough to have drafted Larkin. I've enjoyed the last 20 years (that I remember) and I'm gonna enjoy them the next 20.

There's a time and a place for these types of conversations and IMO a year before the off-season in question isn't appropriate or fun for a forum.

Michigan is probably great if you're a pro hockey player. Your off for the 2 months that are actually enjoyable and then you're either "working" or traveling out of state during the 6 pooptiest months! And you can actually afford things after you pay all the bullpoop taxes and other costs that never actually improve anything in your life. I grew up in mi and tried it again the last 6 months after being gone for 15 years...screw this place, I'm heading back to the mid Atlantic. And man I hope the new Joe is better....the Joe is the most overrated pile of poop I've ever experienced...and I've been to New Jersey...

Bye! Enjoy the midatlantic!!

Sven I agree with you. I like the wings but they are setting themselves up for mediocrity, at best. No value. No top talent. You need one or the other to compete.

Bye! Enjoy the midatlantic!!

Sven I agree with you. I like the wings but they are setting themselves up for mediocrity, at best. No value. No top talent. You need one or the other to compete.
- datswho

I like Glendening deal alot,

the question i have for you is, where do you intend on getting "top talent" because the leagues best talent isnt attainable from a trade, and even if it were, we dont have the assets to attain it,

and unless you want the team to bottom out or tank then drafting top talent is borderline impossible

I'll enjoy what we have instead of hating what we could have been.

This team isn't terrible. It's not even bad. It may be middle of the road, but middle of the road in today's parity can make a difference in the playoffs. My prediction is another 1st round exit, but at least we have mattered as a team. People will cite two teams they would live up to in the last 20 years. The wings and the black hawks.

Anyone complaining about this deal is just mad at Holland. This deal is fine, if you want to complain about the Helm deal, let's complain.

I like Glendening deal alot,

the question i have for you is, where do you intend on getting "top talent" because the leagues best talent isnt attainable from a trade, and even if it were, we dont have the assets to attain it,

and unless you want the team to bottom out or tank then drafting top talent is borderline impossible
- digitalbath

That's actually my point. We can't get top talent, so you better make good value signings like we had we had for years with datsyuk, z, lidstrom, and other lessor talent signing below market value. It doesn't seem like a good value decision to sign guys such as helm and glendenning to these somewhat lucrative contracts for 3rd and 4th line talent.

That's actually my point. We can't get top talent, so you better make good value signings like we had we had for years with datsyuk, z, lidstrom, and other lessor talent signing below market value. It doesn't seem like a good value decision to sign guys such as helm and glendenning to these somewhat lucrative contracts for 3rd and 4th line talent.
- datswho

I'll say helms deal is lucrative and lousy in the long run but glendening I don't think is rich enough to call a bad deal. Bottom 6 guy who can play in most all positions is worth that money

I'll say helms deal is lucrative and lousy in the long run but glendening I don't think is rich enough to call a bad deal. Bottom 6 guy who can play in most all positions is worth that money
- digitalbath

I shouldn't have said lucrative. But glendenning isn't worth that. I'd rather have Ferraro, or a similar young guy with perhaps more defensive/grinder style for 800k

I'm waiting for the clearly extension

I'll say helms deal is lucrative and lousy in the long run but glendening I don't think is rich enough to call a bad deal. Bottom 6 guy who can play in most all positions is worth that money
- digitalbath

Honestly, LGD is getting what he should. The problem is we have like 966875 bottom six players. Centers for the bottom six include Helm, Sheahan, Glendening, Ott, and possibly AA with how the Wings are run. I really wish we hadn't signed Helm in any manner. Would have opened up a lot more possibilities in the bottom six.

Honestly, LGD is getting what he should. The problem is we have like 966875 bottom six players. Centers for the bottom six include Helm, Sheahan, Glendening, Ott, and possibly AA with how the Wings are run. I really wish we hadn't signed Helm in any manner. Would have opened up a lot more possibilities in the bottom six.
- RafiDRW

this is true, basically Luke G contract is fine, Helms is the issue, i dont think ferraro (who mind you couldnt stay in the line up, and wasnt resigned by boston) or any other prospect is in the system can fill his spot specifically, maybe that grinder style, but not as good defensively

I think Sheahan is good, and his contract is good too, hes a middle six guy, and def worth 2 million

helm again, over and over stands out, hes fast sure, but AA is better and as fast already, with a much higher ceiling, we should have let helm walk

Glendening is a bum and its a terrible contract. A competent lineup would look like this:
Tatar-Larkin-Mantha
Nyquist-Nielsen-Vanek
Sheahan-Zetterberg-Abdelkader
Athanasiou-Helm-Jurco

Scoring line A
Scoring line B
Shutdown line
Energy line

Give them relatively even 5v5 ice time

I agree with Sven as usual. How many other 4 th line centres get 4 year deals? You'd think Kenny would have learned by now to stop giving term contracts with Ericsson, kronwall, zetterberg, Weiss, Howard, Franzen. I love z but he's a 3 Rd liner now and he's burnt out end of season. Not to mention the long term (untradable) contracts Kenny gives anyone no trade clauseS. regardless of any of this our def blows, still waiting for all these "top notch" players we develop to arrive.