Bob Duff: Yzerman seeks a certain type of free agent Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman plans to pursue UFAs but only the type that fit into what his long-range plans are for the team.

why did we not trade for Trouba?

Wings getting Pickard?

Wings getting Pickard?
- RafiDRW

Suck it rest of the league

why did we not trade for Trouba?
- wingz4life

Didn't have an extra first round pick to spare.

why did we not trade for Trouba?
- wingz4life

Needed to keep a spot open for Kronwall. /s

Wings getting Pickard?
- RafiDRW

Yeah I don't get it. Bernier is a below-average NHL backup, but he's still better than Pickard.

To me the only way it really makes sense is if the team knows something about Rybar that we don't (like that he's decided to return to Europe) and they think Larsson / Fulcher isn't going to cut it at the AHL level.

Other possibility is that they're planning to trade Bernier and need a new backup. Although Howard/Pickard would have to be one of the absolute worst tandems in the entire NHL if that's what we end up rolling with.

Yeah I don't get it. Bernier is a below-average NHL backup, but he's still better than Pickard.

To me the only way it really makes sense is if the team knows something about Rybar that we don't (like that he's decided to return to Europe) and they think Larsson / Fulcher isn't going to cut it at the AHL level.

Other possibility is that they're planning to trade Bernier and need a new backup. Although Howard/Pickard would have to be one of the absolute worst tandems in the entire NHL if that's what we end up rolling with.
- Sven22

From what some have said, Rybar is already gone back to Europe so this would be an AHL 3rd string type of signing.

I don't really care about this move. What pisses me off is signing Filppula to 2 years 3 million a year. There is absolutely no need for him. Wings already have one of the most expensive bottom 6 in the damn league so why add to it with another past his prime player. This is the kind of stupid move i would expect Holland to do not Yzerman.


They also sign Nemeth to over 3 mil per which i hope means Ericsson is done and Kronwall isn't coming back.

Wings need to get rid of garbage not add to the pile.

They also sign Nemeth to over 3 mil per which i hope means Ericsson is done and Kronwall isn't coming back.

Wings need to get rid of garbage not add to the pile.
- dcz28

If that is the trade off, I'll gladly take it.

From what some have said, Rybar is already gone back to Europe so this would be an AHL 3rd string type of signing.

I don't really care about this move. What pisses me off is signing Filppula to 2 years 3 million a year. There is absolutely no need for him. Wings already have one of the most expensive bottom 6 in the damn league so why add to it with another past his prime player. This is the kind of stupid move i would expect Holland to do not Yzerman.


They also sign Nemeth to over 3 mil per which i hope means Ericsson is done and Kronwall isn't coming back.

Wings need to get rid of garbage not add to the pile.
- dcz28

I do appreciate the humor of bringing back Filppula while we're still paying the buyout penalty for the guy we originally brought in to replace him the first time.

But honestly I guess I ... don't hate it? Fil is not a particularly good player at this stage in his career but it's only a 2-year deal, and if bringing him in decreases the amount of time AA has to play center I think that's probably a good thing.

EDIT: Plus I'm really looking forward to hearing the arena DJ play "The Happy Wanderer" again after each of the 4 or so goals Fil will score at home this year.

If that is the trade off, I'll gladly take it.
- Hockeytown4life

Yeah, I'm basically here too.

If all three of Nemeth, Ericsson, and Daley are on the opening night roster I will be unhappy. If Nemeth replaces one of the others (traded, sent to the minors, whatever) I'm cool with that.

Man, what a train wreck the Wings have become. Stevie Y is my all time favourite player and understand he inherited a mess but but not thrilled about any of his moves so far either incl. the draft.

I do appreciate the humor of bringing back Filppula while we're still paying the buyout penalty for the guy we originally brought in to replace him the first time.

But honestly I guess I ... don't hate it? Fil is not a particularly good player at this stage in his career but it's only a 2-year deal, and if bringing him in decreases the amount of time AA has to play center I think that's probably a good thing.

EDIT: Plus I'm really looking forward to hearing the arena DJ play "The Happy Wanderer" again after each of the 4 or so goals Fil will score at home this year.
- Sven22

Problem is Fil wasn't even a good 2nd line center back in his prime so he doesn't do anything to push AA off being a center. Nielsen isn't a 2nd line center either. We now have Nielsen, Fil, Helm, GLendening, De La Rose, Ehn as bottom 6 centers while not even taking into account guys like Ferraro or Rasmussen either.

If the Wings wanted someone to push AA for 2nd line center they should have signed one or traded for one...not signed another bottom 6 guy they didn't need.

2 years isn't the worst but they might need that spot for a younger guy next year and nobody they have that isn't a RFA is coming off the books at forward before then. There is trades but the only guys teams would want are the younger guys you would want to keep. Nobody wants Abby with that contract or Nielsen. Helm maybe if they eat part of his salary. Glendening possible. Fil i don't think anybody would want him either at 3 mil.

Hopefully we get lucky and Yzerman can con Holland into taking some his crap to Edmonton since he loves the players he's had previously so much.

Problem is Fil wasn't even a good 2nd line center back in his prime so he doesn't do anything to push AA off being a center. Nielsen isn't a 2nd line center either. We now have Nielsen, Fil, Helm, GLendening, De La Rose, Ehn as bottom 6 centers while not even taking into account guys like Ferraro or Rasmussen either.

If the Wings wanted someone to push AA for 2nd line center they should have signed one or traded for one...not signed another bottom 6 guy they didn't need.

2 years isn't the worst but they might need that spot for a younger guy next year and nobody they have that isn't a RFA is coming off the books at forward before then. There is trades but the only guys teams would want are the younger guys you would want to keep. Nobody wants Abby with that contract or Nielsen. Helm maybe if they eat part of his salary. Glendening possible. Fil i don't think anybody would want him either at 3 mil.

Hopefully we get lucky and Yzerman can con Holland into taking some his crap to Edmonton since he loves the players he's had previously so much.
- dcz28

Look, I'm not going to argue too hard on Fil's behalf because my reaction to the signing is more "meh" then anything else. I didn't say I particularly liked it, only that I don't hate it.

But the Wings don't have a good 2C either way. Athanasiou flat out can not handle the defensive responsibility, and the Wings are so anemic at generating offense they need to be able to let him loose as much as possible. Nielsen and Filppula have the opposite problem -- relatively responsible, but can't generate offense at a top six rate any more. It's a judgement call, but considering AA is all-world at scoring goals and mediocre at best at everything else, I want to be able to use him at wing as much as possible. Yeah Nielsen and Fil suck at being second line centers but frankly so does AA.

And yes, I would have preferred to get a "true" 2C over Fil, but who? Duchene and Pavelski (both clear 1Cs) were obviously out of the price range. We were certainly not an option for Thornton or Marleau. After that, the only "centers" left on the market that would clearly be better than Filppula IMO were Dzingel and Johansson; we'll see what they end up getting since neither have signed yet as far as I know, but I'm confident saying that neither would be especially smart long-term buys for the Red Wings.

Fil was used relatively successfully as a PK / defensive specialist by the Islanders last year and still put up respectable-ish offensive numbers for a middle six forward. (He would have been 8th on the Red Wings in scoring last year.) In that kind of role he could be useful.