Detroit's Offseason Challenge: Juggling Cap Space

Posted Jun 15, 2009 1:00PM By Susan Slusser (RSS feed)

It's officially the offseason, meaning the time is right to look into the future. We'll be running our division-by-division preview of the offseason beginning later in the week, but we wanted to give the two top dogs their own space. Today: the summer outlook for the Red Wings. Tomorrow, the Stanley Cup champion Penguins.

The Red Wings came within one game of repeating as Stanley Cup champions. A goal or two here or there, and their mission – and Marian Hossa's – is accomplished.

Instead, Detroit's first question mark going into the summer months is Hossa. It's widely expected he'll re-sign with the Wings for five years or so, but that will push Detroit essentially to the limit when it comes to the cap, which is projected to be about $57 million again.

So barring a trade to free up some cap space, the team is left with the choice, essentially, between Hossa, an undeniably talented forward whose contributions in the playoffs were inconsistent, and two longer tenured Wings contributors: Jiri Hudler, who has improved every year, and Mikael Samuelsson, a right-handed shot who has been among the team's better secondary scorers.

Will Hossa's stated desire to win a Cup keep him in Detroit? Will he spot a better opportunity elsewhere? And is he, as some suspect, at his best when his contract is up for renewal? The Red Wings might have to weigh a long-term commitment to him vs. filling in some other needs in the lower ranks.

Backup goaltender will be another issue to address. Jimmy Howard will have to clear waivers to be sent back to the minors, so perhaps next season will be his time to stick.

Key Free Agents: Marian Hossa (UFA), Mikael Samuelsson (UFA), Tomas Kopecky (UFA), Chris Chelios (UFA), Ty Conklin (UFA), Jiri Hudler (RFA), Ville Leino (RFA)

What Went Right: Hossa added another big scoring threat to take some of the heat off Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk in the regular season. Chris Osgood rebounded from a dreadful regular season with a tremendous postseason. Everyone else was reliably excellent, for the most part. And the defending champs made it back to the Finals against the opponent they beat in six games last year.

What Went Wrong: They lost Game 7. That's pretty much the long and short of it, but at times, Detroit appeared old and tired. Injuries to Nicklas Lidstrom and Datsyuk didn't help, but some old reliables such Tomas Holmstrom (rumored to be injured) did little in the postseason. Chicago appears to be coming on strong in the Western Conference, and the Wings are going to have to find more time for some of their talented youngsters and part ways with some of their old stalwarts (Chelios, at some point Holmstrom, Kirk Maltby and maybe Kris Draper, though he remains a superb faceoff master.)

Cap Situation: Detroit has little wriggle room, at about $54 million slated for next season including scheduled raises.

Dream Move: Like last year, it's signing Hossa, and last year, the Wings did it. Other team's dreams tend to be Detroit's reality.

"Must Make" Move: Detroit already took care of that in locking up Johan Franzen; the core of the team could cruise back into the playoffs last year even without Hossa. On a lesser note, bringing back Leino would be an excellent idea, considering that team's need for fresh legs.

Look Out For...: Justin Abdelkader made his mark in the playoffs, but it's unclear if the Red Wings believe he needs more time at Grand Rapids. Defenseman Jakub Kindl could be a possibility at some point.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

6-15-2009 @ 1:55PM

Nate Haley said...

I like how in ZERO articles, Darren Helm is mentioned. I've been saying for the past two years that Helm was going to be a great player for our team and this season he really proved me right... Yet I never see his name up there talking about great plays. Especially that PK against CHI, that was sick. All these articles are repedative and weak. Pens won, they earned it. Wings are still the better deeper team no doubt. Malkin will go from 3.5 mil to 8.5 mil next season and their cap room is going to be tight also. Hossa will re-sign, other players will take less and re-sign. Kings will show a lot of improvement next season (mark my words). There its all is, no more reason to read for the next week, I'v ecovered it all for you AOL and readers.

6-15-2009 @ 2:25PM

thetrutheh said...

jiri hudler is leaving, hossa will probably leave and possibly samuelsson. as old as chelios is, hopefully they sign him for a year.

6-15-2009 @ 3:00PM

Josh said...

I'd rather we keep Hudler and Samuelsson than Hossa. Two good players instead of one great one when we already have three great players locked up long term makes more sense to me.

I would like to see Draper, Maltby, and Holmstrom retire Wings though. I don't think Maltby will be here at the start of next season though, sadly. Draper will stay until Helm is ready to replace him completely (Helm compares admirably at the face off circle and provides the grit and speed that Draper used to be known for) and then... idk. We might have to let him go though I don't want to see that happen. Holmstrom, sadly, is already being replaced. Helm and Datsyuk have taken up his mini-enforcer responsibilities and Franzen is almost as good in front of the net as Holmstrom is.

Chelios, as much as I love him, I think it's time he retires. I'd want him to join the coaching staff though. There is nothing in hockey that that man has not seen and he would be irreplaceable as a mentor for Ericsson.

Can we please lose Lilja?

I can't possibly see us letting Leino go. He earned his spot on the roster this year and with Hossa gone most likely, Leino, Helm, and Abdelkader have a lot of playing time. Helm will be with the team full time without a doubt now and Leino and Abdelkader would split the time from letting Kopecky go 50-50 next season.

Goaltending wise, I love Conklin. I think he's an amazing backup goaltender and probably the best the league has seen since Legace was the Wings backup. But I think we have to let him go and finally give a chance for Howard since he will, presumably, be taking over for Osgood in a couple of years when he retires.

6-15-2009 @ 9:19PM

cjgdnight said...

As a pens fan I think wings could lose Zetterberg, Helm and Lidstrom... I would just as happy... those are my votes!!! LOL

6-16-2009 @ 1:47PM

And as a Wings fan, the Pens could easily lose Malkin, Crosby, and Fleury.

Liek OMG! Those are my votes! LOL!!!

---------------------------

Rule of thumb - If you have nothing constructive to post, don't post. :)

6-16-2009 @ 8:27PM

DEF said...

Josh, lighten up. cjgdnight's comment was a joke wrapped around a compliment to 3 players who gave the Pens headaches. Pens fans aren't even allowed to compliment Wings skaters? Talk about a sore loser.

6-21-2009 @ 7:43AM

sg9035 said...

Her are my thoughts to trim the roster..

RETIRE Chelios and Mc Carty,give them jobs in the minors
LET GO,Maltby,Draper,Samuelson and finally OSGOOD.
I know right now a lot of fans will not agree with the Osgood thought,but he has his 3 rings and it's time to give either Conklin or Howard a chance for one..Also in the 7th game I did not consider Osgood was that Sharp..If he had stopped either goals we might still have the Cup.The Wings are strong in the minors so no need to search for a big signing except maybe a defensive ENFORCER who will beat up some of the opposition..It should not be a task for our star forwards as is the case in the playoffs..We need a THUG !!!!!

6-23-2009 @ 7:27AM

toddsworld05 said...

i think we should give hossa back to the pens and then steal malklin, fukn a

7-09-2009 @ 1:21AM

qongquest said...

now the wings have cap space, now what. looks like wing fans are going to have a frustrating season. at least for now some of the holland magic is gone. hopefully we get lucky with some of the players from grand rapids.