Jeremy Laura: Silence in Detroit as teams push forward with signings

Gagner's wife is a doctor. She wants to continue her career, so Sam will be staying in Canada. Although his challenge is he can't skate and likely ends up in the AHL. So signing in Edmonton doesn't help his wife if he's demoted to Bakersfield.

I believe Detroit is no longer a "destination" for players. The worst team in the NHL is not were promising careers blossom. The city also has it's problems, most other NHL cities have better and seem more attractive. The persona and allure of Stevie Yzerman may well be the main attraction. I believe Stevie has been trying to sign some free agents, but it will be a struggle til that 1st promising player signs. And that, hopefully, will be the first domino!

WOW! and it looks like Gallant may be ready to sign in NJ! Hell, I spouse he could be tired of waiting for the unfinished season to end! C'mon Stevie, give him a call now!!

I believe Detroit is no longer a "destination" for players. The worst team in the NHL is not were promising careers blossom. The city also has it's problems, most other NHL cities have better and seem more attractive. The persona and allure of Stevie Yzerman may well be the main attraction. I believe Stevie has been trying to sign some free agents, but it will be a struggle til that 1st promising player signs. And that, hopefully, will be the first domino!

WOW! and it looks like Gallant may be ready to sign in NJ! Hell, I spouse he could be tired of waiting for the unfinished season to end! C'mon Stevie, give him a call now!!
- HenryHockey

For sure, the team isn’t where it used to be. As for the city, most players live in Northville and other beautiful suburbs. Lots of golf course mansions. Those areas are really nice Until the team is better, as you rightly said, free agents will go elsewhere. Guys who go unsigned may end up at camp on a PTO.

I believe Detroit is no longer a "destination" for players. The worst team in the NHL is not were promising careers blossom. The city also has it's problems, most other NHL cities have better and seem more attractive. The persona and allure of Stevie Yzerman may well be the main attraction. I believe Stevie has been trying to sign some free agents, but it will be a struggle til that 1st promising player signs. And that, hopefully, will be the first domino!

WOW! and it looks like Gallant may be ready to sign in NJ! Hell, I spouse he could be tired of waiting for the unfinished season to end! C'mon Stevie, give him a call now!!
- HenryHockey

At the beginning of the year I would have bet most of my money on TJ Brodie being a wing July 1st. He’s a local kid who grew up a wings fan and the flames were going to need to let someone go to fit under the cap anyways. I still remember a year or two ago Calgary posted an interview of their players asking of their dream lineup sort of deal and all of Brodie’s were former red wings lol.

But now I would say after Detroit’s season and hamonic having a down year I think Calgary is going to put in an effort to retain him.

For sure, the team isn’t where it used to be. As for the city, most players live in Northville and other beautiful suburbs. Lots of golf course mansions. Those areas are really nice Until the team is better, as you rightly said, free agents will go elsewhere. Guys who go unsigned may end up at camp on a PTO.
- Jeremy Laura

Yeash, Northville was nice when I lived in Detroit 44 years ago. Most of my classmates ended up in all the towns north and west of the city. I chose 500 miles away.
Damn, though, it looks like the Wings are gonna miss the boat on Gallent. What is the other buddy from Stevie's past that he might peg for a new coach? I think his name started with an L...........

Lane Lambert!!!

Yeash, Northville was nice when I lived in Detroit 44 years ago. Most of my classmates ended up in all the towns north and west of the city. I chose 500 miles away.
Damn, though, it looks like the Wings are gonna miss the boat on Gallent. What is the other buddy from Stevie's past that he might peg for a new coach? I think his name started with an L...........
- HenryHockey

Yeah, Northville kept it going. There’s a Starbucks where Lidstrom and Holmstrom would go before every home game. Babcock would do the Salvation Army bell at a grocery store there. Ozzy still lives in Plymouth right next to Northville

Lane Lambert!!!
- HenryHockey

Nice recollection!

I was hoping Gallant would come to Detroit. I guess Stevie has other candidates in

I think the Rasmussen / Jordan Staal comparison is a massive reach. I agree that Ras will probably need to develop into an excellent defensive center in order to survive in the NHL, but I doubt his offensive firepower will ever get anywhere close to Staal’s level.

I think Manny Malhotra is a better model for what a successful future career for Rasmussen might realistically look like, if he's able to remake himself into a true shutdown center.

Nice recollection!

I was hoping Gallant would come to Detroit. I guess Stevie has other candidates in
- Jeremy Laura

I was wondering if Stevie might somehow have an "under the radar" discussion or interview with Gallant. I think he could be a very solid coach. Him and Stevie were teammates for several years in Detroit. Gallant was a gritty player and definitely added some sandpaper to those teams back then. I do think he'd be respected by the players. Maybe Yzerman wants to keep his options open for a while. We'll see what happens.

With all the loss revenues, I bet most UFA will not be signing long term deals right now. It's probably better for them signing a short 1 or 2 year deal and hope that the economy bounces back when that contract is up. If you sign a 1 or 2 year deal, then you are definitely looking for someplace to win, or where you can post good numbers to have a better contract once yours is up. In these cases, Detroit is definitely not attractive.

I'm willing to endure a few more seasons like the last one, we're still not deep enough in our prospects pool.

With all the loss revenues, I bet most UFA will not be signing long term deals right now. It's probably better for them signing a short 1 or 2 year deal and hope that the economy bounces back when that contract is up. If you sign a 1 or 2 year deal, then you are definitely looking for someplace to win, or where you can post good numbers to have a better contract once yours is up. In these cases, Detroit is definitely not attractive.

I'm willing to endure a few more seasons like the last one, we're still not deep enough in our prospects pool.
- porkchops1977

Prospect pool was thinned when Stevie traded for reclamation projects that did not pan out. There are others that will come to GRG next season from Europe and Jrs. It seems that some are doing quite well. But yeah, da Wings need more prospects in the system now. They do have 10 picks in the draft. I would not doubt if Stevie trades a couple of those picks for a good prospect or another reclamation project. I do not mind him trying to strike gold in some of these "troubled" players. I am still intrigued if something can be done for a project like Josh HoSang. I would bring him to Detroit and let him wear jersey #66, LOL. Pulijarvii is another project.....
Anyway, maybe he can trade a low pick for Eriksson and Jet Woo as a sweetener from Vancouver. Or Kyle Turis and EELI TOLVANEN from the Preds......but I would hope that Poile would retain some salary on Turris because that is a longer contract, but then Stevie would probably have to give up a 2nd if salary is retained.