The Dom Situation and a surprise from Denver
The official announcement on Dom’s return is expected today. The news will come from Hasek’s agent and probably not from Dom himself. I guess Dom doesn’t have a literal no-trade clause but he might as well have one, with his personality. He most likely won’t agree to play for another team. The Wings have to convince Joseph (or Hasek, if they can) to leave and get some kind of deal going with another team. The Wings probably won’t get very much because the other teams know the Wings have to trade a goalie. Hopefully, the other teams won’t get to smart and just do a fair trade for the value of the goalie, not try to take advantage of the situation the Wings are in. That’d be pretty low but typical business. The Wings need Sergei back if they really want to be safe. He has changed his mind in the past, maybe he will this time.
There is a very good article, surprisingly enough,
from the Denver Post that actually is against the Kariay/Selanne signings. The writer basically says the league should not allow the deal. I agree with him completely but that will never happen.
Pick up the phone, Mike!!!!!
I’ve been hearing that Illitch may make a personal appeal to Sergei in an effort to bring him back in light of the events of yesterday in Denver. I think that’s what should be done because the Wings need Fedorov back now since there really isn’t anyone easily availble now that Kariya and Selanne are taken. Hopefully Sergei will come to his senses and realize what Detroit has done for him over the years, see how this really is the best place for him, the place where he is most appreciated and come back. The Avs deals really should bring Sergei’s price down. He can’t expect to get the big bucks now. I can’t see Sergei wanting to miss out on the glory of next year by going to a lesser team. It truly will be a huge battle in the West next year and I think it’s safe to say the Cup will go to a Western team, almost definitely either Colorado or Detroit. Sergei would be getting a lot of ice time next year anyway, with Stevie slowed down and Igor most likely gone. I hope Sergei comes back. The alternatives aren’t that good. A trade for the Big E or a three-way trade for Jagr. I wouldn’t want either of those guys on the Wings, personally. Come back, Sergei! The Wings need you now!
A very bad day for the Red Wings. They got Derian Hatcher but they lost any chance of getting Kariya or Selanne when both of them signed with Colorado for a total of $7 million. I was absolutely stunned when I heard the news. The Avs gave Kariya $1.2 million (no that isn’t a typo) for one year and Selanne $5.8 million for 1 year also. I can’t believe Kariya took $1.2 million. He’s been getting $10 million a year! The good thing about that is, it might drive Sergei’s price down so the greedy pig can’t get what he wants so badly. Anyway, these deals instantly makes the Avs the best team in the league, at least from an offensive perspective. It makes me sick. Who’s buying the Cup now, Avs fans?
The Wings got Derian Hatcher for 5 years, $30 million (that’s $6 million a year for you non-math people). That’s the only good news of the day, besides the news that Fedorov hasn’t signed with anyone yet. I’m very glad Hatcher’s on the team for 5 years now. His signing is a big step in the right direction but the Wings still need some sort of offense. It is going to be one heck of a battle this season between the Wings and the Avs.
Some more bad news, Todd Marchant signed with the Jackets. There goes one of my picks for the Wings to sign.
It’s official. Sergei Fedorov will not be with the Wings next year. I think I’m going to be sick…….
– Mostly depressing news today. Both newspapers say Sergei is very likely gone (here and here) and that the Wings are looking for a defenseman to replace him. They are going to use a more defensive style of play next year. Here’s a long quote from Hollan that explains why:
“Our team has really been built on offense. If you look at when we won the Cups in ‘97 and ‘98, we were really strong up the middle. Our defense played well, but maybe we didn’t have the depth on defense. We were able to roll four lines.
Well, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Maybe we’ve got to go in a different direction. Maybe we’ve got to try to have the best defense in the league. Maybe we won’t score as many goals, but it’s a different style of team. You’ve got to be flexible. You look at the teams that went to the final four this year, really were all defensive teams.
I don’t think there is any reason why with our talent we shouldn’t be a team that can contend with the least amount of goals in the league.”
– Holland also implied yesterday that Josephy might not be the goalie that gets traded. He said “There’s a lot of things in play. I would say to you that Dom’s first choice if he does play would be here. But I know he’s very aware — it’s been explained to him and Rich Winter — of the commitment we made to Curtis Joseph.” Everyone is just waiting for Dom’s decision. Then Holland will be able to make a decision.
– Both papers have articles on Mac and how he’s happy to be back for next year. (here and here)
The only other things to happen last night that involve the Wings besides the Hasek Problem were McCarty and Woolley signed, Bykov decided to go back to Russia for sure and the Wings most likely lost Sergei Fedorov.
McCarty signed a four year contract estimated to be worth $8.8 million. That’s less than he was looking for and less than he could have gotten on the open market but Mac says he’s happy with it. I’m glad Mac signed because it really would have been a shame for him to go somewhere else. I wish he had agreed to terms a little sooner but I haven’t lost too much faith in him. At least now the Wings still have the Grind Line. Woolley signed a two year contract but the terms are not known. He is probably making less than he did last year ($1.3 million). It’s good that the Wings signed Woolley. He’s a pretty steady defenseman and the Wings need him, especially with Bykov leaving.
Bykov’s agent said last night that Dmitri will return to Russia. The Wings couldn’t match the offer he got from Ak Bars Kazan. I say, have fun in Russia, Bykov. I hope you enjoy the wonderfully high standard of living there. Don’t cross the Russian mob, buddy, and you’ll be okay.
Apparently, Fedorov days with the Wings are over. His agent says the Wings are not interested in him and that talks have stalled. He said “They never really wanted to sign him. They have the money, I know they have the money.” He should know that’s not true. The Wings want to sign Sergei, they don’t have the money, at least not like they used to. Some more from Sergei’s agent: “We’ve tried very hard. We’ve had many, many discussions and meetings and exchanges of proposals. I think all along the Red Wings didn’t make it a priority to sign Sergei. I truly believe that. Sergei was more than willing to be flexible and has been flexible in our most recent proposals to the Wings in order to make it work in Detroit.” He thinks it is very unlikely that Sergei will sign with the Wings. I agree with him on that, Sergei has become too greedy to stay with the Wings, even if they do offer him the best chance at success. Ken Holland said “I guess I would say we didn’t want to re-sign Sergei at his numbers. We made a $40-million offer for four years. Let’s see what goes on. My sense is, based on what I’m hearing, the phone calls I’m receiving, the marketplace has changed. They did not want to acknowledge that. Let’s see.” Yes, let’s see.
Another point of interest, perhaps. The Ducks did not give Kariya a qualifying offer last night. That makes Kariya an unrestricted free agent and available to the league, unless he takes less from the Ducks.
