Saturday, July 28, 2012

Free Agency Frenzy -- Or Lack Thereof














July is almost over and the biggest name the Red Wings have signed this free agency is Mikael Samuelsson.

Ken Holland said that Detroit would be "aggressive" in free agency and as of yet, there have been four players signed. I would love to say that the Wings went out and signed big name free agents (ie. Ryan Suter and Zach Parise) but, sadly they have not.

This lack of huge free agent signings are:

  1. Not for lack of trying -- Ken Holland supposedly made a 13yr -- $90 Million offer to Ryan Suter and a similar one to Zach Parise. The Wings were also one, of two, teams who made the trip to Wisconsin to visit with Ryan Suter. If Suter's wife and Parise's fiance are strong enough to make their men move back to Minnesota, well then so be it. At least we tried. Mind you, I am not at all happy that we have struck out at least four times already. We need help on the blue line and the only prospect who is NHL ready is Brendan Smith. He is followed by Lashoff, who is still a year -- maybe two -- away from being a full time NHL defenseman. 
  2. Never going to make me doubt my Wings fan status -- I know I haven't lived through the "Dead Wings" era and therefore, some will refuse to classify me as a true fan. Just because I am too young does not make me a "faux" fan, I have been cheering whole heartedly for my Winged Wheelers for my entire life and one tough season will not make me change that.  I have a whole lot of faith in the fact that Ken Holland has a plan that we, as fans, are not privy to, nor should we be. I will be the first to admit I am not even close to being "expert" enough to make the decisions that Kenny is making, and has been for the last 15 years. I sometimes wonder what is going through his head and why he makes the decisions he does but, in the end, I come to the same realization... that Kenny knows what he is doing and that Kenny has a plan. 
My thoughts going into next season are that, if the Wings stay exactly as they are, they will be a playoff team. I am not saying that they will be the number one, hands down, favorite to win the Cup but, I am saying that they have a chance... No one thought that the Kings could win it this year. We may not be the favorite now but, I am having a hard time believing that going into next year there are eight teams better than the Detroit Red Wings, even without Nick Lidstrom.

Through thick and thin, hard times and great times, I will be a Winged Wheel fan. The 2012-2013 season may not be the easiest but, I can assure you... I will be there celebrating every goal and cursing ever loss. I will be there until the end.

I choose to end with this... In Kenny We Trust. Go Wings.

"I'm not saying it's going to be easy, I'm telling you it's going to be worth it." - Unknown

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