Ok so i get the basic concept of a salary cap in pro sports. I just read that the salary cap for this upcoming season is going to rise about 6 million dollars from last year. So please correct me if i am wrong but doesn't this mean the Red Wings will have even more room to work with? Did all of the teams get a heads up about this long ago so they could plan accordingly? If anyone has the answers to my questions that'd be great as i am cautiously excited about this.
I'm getting worried Brad Stuart will leave for another team That would be a shame but I reckon if he doesn't want to play here and either he or his wife doesn't like it here then what can ya do. If he leaves then we will assuredly go after a top D-man and there is plenty out there to pick from! Stuart mix of toughness and offensive skill will be hard to replace though.
I'd like Shanny or Fedorov to come back to finish off there careers here for sure Both are UFA's.
We need scoring but next year we have Franzen, Zetterberg, Samuelsson and Kopecky to name a few who's contracts are up so maybe we won't add much this summer other than a good defensman since next year we'll need plenty of cap space to retain those players.
Yeah most of that 6 million will go to Henrik Zetterberg who is making about $3 million right now. I don't see him signing for anything less than 7-8 million a year. Brad Stuart can sign elsewhere if he wants more money. Between Kyle Quincey, Derrek Meech, Brett Lebda and Andreas Lilja, there are enough d men to fill one spot next to Nicklas Lidstrom or Niklas Kronwall to round out the top 4. One of those guys will step up, hopefully Quincey or Meech. Brad Stuart was good, but he's not irreplaceable by any means. They need to save enough cap room to bring in a decent goalie if Chris Osgood goes down next year. Otherwise, they're set for another cup run next year.
There is only about $500,000 separating what Brad Stuart wants and what the Wings are offering him....A deal will be done as soon as someone blinks. The real question will be does Holland lock up Zetterberg now or wait and use the extra cash to make a run at an one year rental *cough* Sundin *cough*?
The real question will be does Holland lock up Zetterberg now or wait and use the extra cash to make a run at an one year rental *cough* Sundin *cough*? Why couldn't both happen? If Zetterburg gets signed to an extention, the cap hit wouldn't come until the '09-'10 season right?
The Wings need to sign Zetterberg and Franzen before the end of the 2009 season. I don't think(hope) Zetterberg will demand over $8M. Datsyuk signed for $6.7 and Lidstrom will be making $7.45. Can't really ask for much more than those guys.
Also, if Stuart leaves, don't forget about the young 6'5" 220lb. Jonnathon Ericcson that they need to get into the line-up. He has a nice offensive upside too.
Redarding a FA, I bet Holland is looking at Brian Rolston....another hometown product.
That would be a shame but I reckon if he doesn't want to play here and either he or his wife doesn't like it here then what can ya do. If he leaves then we will assuredly go after a top D-man and there is plenty out there to pick from! Stuart mix of toughness and offensive skill will be hard to replace though.
Both are UFA's.
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