Sunday, February 17, 2013

The Free Agent Situation for This Upcoming Summer...

Okay, okay... I know it has only been 14 games but this team has a whole lot of free agents this summer, some RFA and some UFA, and I think some may not be back next year. Here are my thoughts about each one.

Starting with the UFAs:

  • Valterri Filppula
    • Current Stats: 3G, 5A, 8P (14 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 3 Million
    • My thought is all of those hockey writers who think he can be a first line center, I don't see it, I see him as a second line center all day long and twice on Sundays. If he were to be a first line center, it is certainly not with the Wings. I love Fil but I expect more from him and it seems to me he has been sort of invisible these first 14 games. I would hope we can re-sign him but if it becomes clear we can't, I would hope we can package him and get a defenseman, we all know that's what we need more.
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him 3.5M because I think we have prospects who can fill his role. I like Fil but if he wants more than that, he can leave and we'll bring up Nyquist or Calle Jarnkrok (Maybe not Jarnkrok but I'm high on him)
  • Ian White
    • Current Stats: 1G, 1A, 2P (9 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 2.875 Million
    • While I think this team needs defensemen and I don't think White is bad at what he does, he makes stupid mistakes and he needs to keep his mouth shut. I would not re-sign him but maybe that's me being biased because I don't really think he fits.
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him no more than 3M but I wouldn't re sign him, the problem with that is who we replace him with. That, I don't know yet. 
  • Daniel Cleary
    • No, just no
    • I like Cleary but he's done
    • Just leave Cleary
  • Jimmy Howard
    • Current Stats: .900SV%, 2.97GA, 6-5-2 record
    • Current Cap Hit: 2.25 Million
    • I believe Jimmy Howard has kept the Wings in games this season. Y'all can dispute that but I think he has. There have been moments of greatness, see: LA Kings game, and there have been moments where I wasn't sure who took Jimmy and hoped we could get him back soon, see: St Louis (may not have happened, did it really happen?) Either way, I think he is still a number one goaltender for this team and I think he needs to be re-signed.
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I don't think he gets more than 4M and if he does we/whoever gives him that is overpaying. Realistically, I think 3.5-3.75M.
  • Damien Brunner
    • Current Stats: 6G, 4A, 10P (14 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 1.3 Million
    • I am impressed with the way he has played the first 14 games. I think if we can sign him for a reasonable number, or even if we can't, he needs to be re-signed. I like him with Zata and I like him on this team. He really has a NOSE for the net... 
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him 2M because I love him, he's young-ish but mature and I like his offense.
  • Drew Miller
    • Current Stats: 1G, 2A, 3P (14 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 837,350
    • I like Drew Miller, I like what he brings to this team. He has struggled this year, as has the bottom 6 and I think 
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him 900,000, he hasn't done much this season and I see more potential from him. If he wants more than that though, I'd let him leave.
  • Kent Huskins
    • I don't think he gets re-signed because I think he was a quick fix. I would hope he gets re-signed but I think we have prospects we can play instead.
Moving on to RFA's:
  • Kindl -No, he hasn't been bad these last few games but I think I'd rather have Huskins or Lashoff than him.
  • Gustav Nyquist
    • Current Stats: Nothing in the NHL, he's doing well in the AHL... 
    • Current Cap Hit: 875,000
    • Nyquist needs to be re-signed. I like him a lot and he has great potential. 
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him 1M because of potential, he hasn't done much in the NHL yet in his career but that could be because he plays in the bottom six... HE'S NOT A GRINDER THOUGH. (Sorry, momentary rage)
  • Brendan Smith
    • Current Stats: Injured :( 1A, 1P (8 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 875,000
    • Smith needs to be re-signed. He's an offensive defenseman and he has a big upside. Smith was decent until he got injured, I'd give him another shot.
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him anywhere from 1M-1.2M, because I like the potential he has to succeed in this system, and he's been decent this season.
  • Joakim Andersson
    • Current Stats: 1G, 1A, 2P (4 games)
    • Current Cap Hit: 875,000
    • I like his offense and I like his size but I think we have too many forwards. I'd either re-sign him or trade him at the deadline for a defenseman.
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: If he gets re-signed, I'd give him 950,000 or 1M because of his offensive upside.
  • McCollum and Pearce
    • No
  • Francis Pare and Brent Raedeke 
    • I don't know enough about them to definitively make a judgement, must watch more Griffins games... 
  • Jan Mursak
    • I like him but he is, once again, injured. I think he and Tatar can fill the same role, Tatar is better in the top 6 but he can grind. I think we don't give him a qualifying offer.
  • Brian Lashoff
    • Current Stats: 1G (10 games played)
    • Current Cap Hit: 875,000
    • Going into the season, when someone got injured I was not a fan of Lashoff and I thought probably he would be a bust, we'd have him for a few games and he would not impress. Wow, was I wrong. I like Lashoff. I think he never goes higher than bottom pair but he has good defensive instincts and is a large body. 
    • Next Season Projected Cap Hit: I'd give him 950,000. I don't think he's more than a bottom pair defenseman but he has impressed this season. 
Let me know your thoughts... @afilisko8 on the twitters.

Let's Go Red Wings!

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