I could see Nielsen being bought out next summer.
- gergeswillems

🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

I think this Red Wings team will compete and stay in games next year. Not a playoff team mind you. But not an embarrassment either. We'll steal some points from teams not taking us seriously.
- gergeswillems

I like what I see....and there are going to be some teams really butt-hurt after thinking they were stepping onto the ice with the "Dead Things" and ended up getting their a** handed to them in a box. Gonna be fun watching that. Gonna be fun watching the kids mature with SOLID leadership.
I checked out numerous interviews with Ryan around the completion of the league's substance program completion: This dude's the real deal. He's going to be SO good to help the kids grow and mature. That signing alone will reap those intangibles that teams look for. The more I read/see, the more amazed I am that he is now a Wing. This may be one of the best moves made.

I like what I see....and there are going to be some teams really butt-hurt after thinking they were stepping onto the ice with the "Dead Things" and ended up getting their a** handed to them in a box. Gonna be fun watching that. Gonna be fun watching the kids mature with SOLID leadership.
I checked out numerous interviews with Ryan around the completion of the league's substance program completion: This dude's the real deal. He's going to be SO good to help the kids grow and mature. That signing alone will reap those intangibles that teams look for. The more I read/see, the more amazed I am that he is now a Wing. This may be one of the best moves made.
- mcmastermike1968

I have a family member who lost a lot to addiction. When someone’s been to hell and back they can give you good directions to avoid catastrophe

Bertuzzi goes to arbitration. This is slightly disturbing based on his performance and production since his arrival in Hockeytown. He deserves to be paid, for sure. My concern is the potential for damage to the relationship between Little Bert and the club. Am always worried about that damage....my take is that Larkin only pulls down around $6.1m and carries the mail every game, every shift...Little Bert is a grinder with killer tqlent. Does he deserve more than Larkin?

Bertuzzi goes to arbitration. This is slightly disturbing based on his performance and production since his arrival in Hockeytown. He deserves to be paid, for sure. My concern is the potential for damage to the relationship between Little Bert and the club. Am always worried about that damage....my take is that Larkin only pulls down around $6.1m and carries the mail every game, every shift...Little Bert is a grinder with killer tqlent. Does he deserve more than Larkin?
- mcmastermike1968

That's just when it's scheduled. They can reach a deal before that. There's no way Bert is getting more than Larkin or Mantha.

Namestnikov. 2 years. Stop gap Stevie strikes again! 👍 He had him in Tampa. 2 years/$4 mil.

Namestnikov. 2 years. Stop gap Stevie strikes again! 👍 He had him in Tampa. 2 years/$4 mil.
- gergeswillems

Someone on this blog suggested that as well!

OK, who is gonna say even a blind squirrel finds an occasional nut.

Namestnikov. 2 years. Stop gap Stevie strikes again! 👍 He had him in Tampa. 2 years/$4 mil.
- gergeswillems

Ok GW, will he play center or wing??

That's just when it's scheduled. They can reach a deal before that. There's no way Bert is getting more than Larkin or Mantha.
- gergeswillems

Agreed. Mantha is at the table. Bert is next. I don’t think it will get to arbitration

Namestnikov. 2 years. Stop gap Stevie strikes again! 👍 He had him in Tampa. 2 years/$4 mil.
- gergeswillems

Yep, there’s your center guys. Front page updated. His name is so long that we can’t add any more to the title now!

Ok GW, will he play center or wing??
- HenryHockey

I’m guessing center, but i was wrong several times in the past week. Don’t buy a lotto ticket based on this

Bertuzzi goes to arbitration. This is slightly disturbing based on his performance and production since his arrival in Hockeytown. He deserves to be paid, for sure. My concern is the potential for damage to the relationship between Little Bert and the club. Am always worried about that damage....my take is that Larkin only pulls down around $6.1m and carries the mail every game, every shift...Little Bert is a grinder with killer tqlent. Does he deserve more than Larkin?
- mcmastermike1968

Would the Wings miss him if the relationship soured and what could you get for him, on the upside of things?

I’m guessing center, but i was wrong several times in the past week. Don’t buy a lotto ticket based on this
- Jeremy Laura

He could be the 2C. He's played both C and W.

Someone on this blog suggested that as well!

OK, who is gonna say even a blind squirrel finds an occasional nut.
- HenryHockey

What will we do with all these forwards? Start a house league team?

He could be the 2C. He's played both C and W.
- gergeswillems

A better add than T Johnson, as the cap hit is low and only 2 yrs

What will we do with all these forwards? Start a house league team?
- gergeswillems

Trade Bert for Willie Nylander, and then Toronto can get back to luring Petrangelo

Would the Wings miss him if the relationship soured and what could you get for him, on the upside of things?
- Tee56

Honestly, yes. He’d be missed. I don’t think anything has soured. Yzerman waited a long time to get these numbers going (wanted to see market/season etc). As soon as Mantha is done Bert will be on board. Of the guys that still gut themselves for this team and want to turn it around, he’s right there with Larkin.

I have no issue with players filing. I don’t think it will get there

Another player who REALLY wants to be in Detroit in Namestnikov. I posted his tweet on the front page. Very cool

Honestly, yes. He’d be missed. I don’t think anything has soured. Yzerman waited a long time to get these numbers going (wanted to see market/season etc). As soon as Mantha is done Bert will be on board. Of the guys that still gut themselves for this team and want to turn it around, he’s right there with Larkin.

I have no issue with players filing. I don’t think it will get there
- Jeremy Laura

Filing to me just ensures that a contract will be reached and things won't drag on into training camps. Also stops teams from giving offer sheets but that is not an issue for the Wings right now. I think both sides want to avoid actually going through it so they will try their best to get something done before the day comes.

I don't think going through with it is as bad as it use to be either. Maybe my memory is playing tricks but it's been a long time since i heard of a player going through the process and the team or player ended up sour over it. I think the days of a player like Tommy Salo leaving in tears because Milbury tore him to shreds at the hearing are long gone.

Prediction

Pietrangelo goes to Vegas

Detroit takes on Fleury's ENTIRE 7 Million dollar contract for a Vegas 1st plus ??

Yzerman flips Fleury at some point for 50% retention and eats the 3.5 million in dead money

NOW is Stevie done?

NOW is Stevie done?


- gergeswillems

Get the feeling that someone is going to have to go. My opinion only

Get the feeling that someone is going to have to go. My opinion only
- Jeremy Laura

I agree. I have no objection to the Namestnikov signing in terms of contract value (I think $2m is very reasonable) but bringing him in brings the total of non-waiver-exempt forwards (plus Zadina, who is exempt but definitely making the team) to 15, assuming all three RFAs are re-signed.

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Fabbri - Namestnikov - Zadina
Ryan - Gagner - Helm
Timashov - Glendening - Filppula
Svechnikov - Nielsen - Erne

And of course that doesn't even include Brome (who I imagine will spend the full season overseas given the COVID situation) or, say, Smith, who might have a hard time finding a spot somewhere if the AHL doesn't play.

Also, even with Namestnikov on board the 2C spot is still a huge question mark IMO. If I'm being generous, there are probably five candidates -- Namestnikov, Gagner, Filppula, Fabbri, and Helm. Out of those five, Filppula is the only one who has primarily been a center within the last few seasons, and he was awful on draws last year (and also just not very good period). Fabbri has basically never been a center at the NHL level.

I would guess that Namestnikov has the inside track but I don't think he's really a legit NHL 2C. He's just probably the least bad option.

I agree. I have no objection to the Namestnikov signing in terms of contract value (I think $2m is very reasonable) but bringing him in brings the total of non-waiver-exempt forwards (plus Zadina, who is exempt but definitely making the team) to 15, assuming all three RFAs are re-signed.

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Fabbri - Namestnikov - Zadina
Ryan - Gagner - Helm
Timashov - Glendening - Filppula
Svechnikov - Nielsen - Erne

And of course that doesn't even include Brome (who I imagine will spend the full season overseas given the COVID situation) or, say, Smith, who might have a hard time finding a spot somewhere if the AHL doesn't play.

Also, even with Namestnikov on board the 2C spot is still a huge question mark IMO. If I'm being generous, there are probably five candidates -- Namestnikov, Gagner, Filppula, Fabbri, and Helm. Out of those five, Filppula is the only one who has primarily been a center within the last few seasons, and he was awful on draws last year (and also just not very good period). Fabbri has basically never been a center at the NHL level.

I would guess that Namestnikov has the inside track but I don't think he's really a legit NHL 2C. He's just probably the least bad option.
- Sven22

Helm and Filpullas last seasons red wings

I agree. I have no objection to the Namestnikov signing in terms of contract value (I think $2m is very reasonable) but bringing him in brings the total of non-waiver-exempt forwards (plus Zadina, who is exempt but definitely making the team) to 15, assuming all three RFAs are re-signed.

Bertuzzi - Larkin - Mantha
Fabbri - Namestnikov - Zadina
Ryan - Gagner - Helm
Timashov - Glendening - Filppula
Svechnikov - Nielsen - Erne

And of course that doesn't even include Brome (who I imagine will spend the full season overseas given the COVID situation) or, say, Smith, who might have a hard time finding a spot somewhere if the AHL doesn't play.

Also, even with Namestnikov on board the 2C spot is still a huge question mark IMO. If I'm being generous, there are probably five candidates -- Namestnikov, Gagner, Filppula, Fabbri, and Helm. Out of those five, Filppula is the only one who has primarily been a center within the last few seasons, and he was awful on draws last year (and also just not very good period). Fabbri has basically never been a center at the NHL level.

I would guess that Namestnikov has the inside track but I don't think he's really a legit NHL 2C. He's just probably the least bad option.
- Sven22

Maybe they decide to leave Zadina in Europe for this season like some of the others. They can also just let them all battle it (Timashov, Gagner, Svetch and Erne) and whoever doesn't earn a spot gets waived or traded (if possible).