Quote:
Originally Posted by Henrik Sedin
re: Red Wings
was looking at them yesterday, kinda thinking this could be the end of an era as far as them being a team with decent SC equity every year. i mean Lidstrom is gone, most of their other core guys are getting older, especially their two stars in Datsyuk & Zetterberg. after that they have what, Franzen & Kronwall to build around? and i just noticed that Filppula, Cleary, White, & Howard are all UFA next summer. i know they have money now, but they're gonna have to use a lot to retain those guys next year (esp JIMMAH with how all the goalies are getting paid now). some ppl seem to think they have a decent group of prospects in wait, but idk.
anyway, i don't expect a true return to the Dead Things era any time soon, as long as ownership is willing to spend around the cap ceiling to fill holes, but they might be more of the team that finished 5th in the conference last year, than one that wins their division every year.
Except that Howard won't get paid by the WANGZ. Ken Holland understands that there is no sense in overpaying for a netminder pretty much ever. JIMMAH will get presented with a number, and that will pretty much be it. Take it or leave it. If you don't like it, we will bring in someone else that would love to shine in the Detroit system.
I don't see them resigning Cleary unless he comes cheap cheap. Filppula will depend on the year that he has.
Don't forget that there are some kids down in Grand Rapids that can flat out play the game. A lot of them weren't quite physically ready this year, but given time between the two clubs in 2012 should be more than ready by 2013 to play the game.