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.
- 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!
