Dear Sweet Time

As in, sure, why not take it, Mike? The Wings have nothing better to do than wait for you to gauge your interest in playing again earlier than a mere month ahead of training camp. It’s not like they have players who are actually slated to be part of the future waiting on you. So sure, yeah, take advantage of this rarest of moments: where the Wings have their priorities so far out of whack that they’re risking their future hold on guys like Justin Abdelkader and Darren Helm for your flakey ass.

I tell you, Mike, I’m going to love it if we get one year out of you and only one more year of Helm and Abdelkader. Love. It.

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Comments

  1. Garth says:

    I'm not longer even angry with Modano or the idea of signing him so much as I am severely PISSED that Holland is putting him as a priority above the re-signing of Helm and Abdelkader. This goes beyond losing Miller and/or Ritola.

    And even moreso is the fact that Holland and Babcock seem only to care about the nostalgia factor while Modano doesn't seem to care at all about it.

    Homecoming? He played here AS A CHILD. He's been living away from Michigan for the past TWENTY-FOUR YEARS. Livonia is not his home town anymore. It's nothing more than his birthplace.

    Mike: go to Minnie or stay close to your lady in San Jose or retire. Those are the options I hope you consider.

    • Matt Saler says:

      Exactly. That bothers me too.

      I know they'll sign them and that from the Wings' perspective, they're part of the long-term plans. But Kenny'd better hope Darren and Justin feel the same way.

      Especially Darren, who once again is taking the backseat to some outside signing. And this time they don't have the excuse of the guy they're trying to bring in being in his prime. Given Helm's attitude last time, it's not impossible he'll be less than thrilled and decide to take a short contract so he can go to a team that he'll feel appreciates him.

      Abdelkader, as a Michigan kid, will probably pay pretty much any price he needs to pay to be a Red Wing. But even that will have its limits. If Modano comes back looking for a two-year deal or something and the Wings give it to him, I can't see Abs being happy with that.

      It's all speculation, but from what I know about Helm's ego in his time in GR and from what I can imagine of what it must be Abdelkader and to be shunted aside after being praised up and down by your coach…the Modano thing is looking even less appealing than before.

      • Garth says:

        The potential big problem with Helm is that he's continually being praised and then continually being pushed down a bit. No doubt the reason he may have had an attitude after being sent down to GR a couple years ago is that he was probably told beforehand that he was going to be on the big team, then he's suddenly out of a job. THEN he has an amazing playoff and a pretty damn good full year in Detroit as the 3rd line centre and now after being touted as being the big signing Detroit had to get under their belts, he's now being put on hold because of Modano.

        It has to do something to your ego and your confidence to being jerked around like that time after time, and who could blame him for being fed up about it?

  2. Megan says:

    http://blog.mlive.com/snapshots/2010/07/st_james_

    My favorite is the last paragraph:

    "However the Modano situation plays out, Abdelkader and Helm will be on the team next season, and remain building blocks for the future. Abdelkader has the potential to develop into a solid two-way center, bringing a good offensive upside and grit. Helm's speed makes him a valuable grinder and penalty killer, and he has been a big reason why the Wings have been able to roll a fourth line the past three playoff runs."

    • Matt Saler says:

      and remain building blocks for the future</blockqote>

      Yeah, but that's from the Wings' perspective. It's possible Helm and/or Abdelkader could at some point feel differently. They're going to want to see their roles increase and if next year the Wings go off chasing someone else maybe one or both of them will be tired of waiting.

      I'm just saying maybe. It's worth considering. And certainly worth letting go of Modano.

  3. Megan says:

    If it's maybe, it's not worth getting so worked up about. And that's next year, not this year. Next year, if it will cost us Helm or Abdelkader, then I'd say those two are worth losing Modano. But this year, getting Modano will not cost us either of them.

    • Garth says:

      "But this year, getting Modano will not cost us either of them."

      Thing is, getting him this year is might very well cost us one or both, especially with Babcock's remarks about him possibly playing two years. That, to me, means they probably offered him a two-year option.

      I don't like it. Not one bit.

  4. Baroque says:

    Dang it, I wish the team would show a little more faith in the abilities of the young players they have drafted and developed themselves to take on more significant roles.

    I'd be annoyed at being talked up and then constantly not given the chance that I thought the team was talking about in favor of waiting on a one-year deal for a player with declining (although still there, of course) skills.

    The idea of Helm killing penalties against Detroit in a key playoff game should make anyone nervous. :(

    • Garth says:

      "Dang it, I wish the team would show a little more faith in the abilities of the young players they have drafted and developed themselves to take on more significant roles."

      YES! Thank you. Very well put.

  5. reliablesource says:

    they are RFA's they are not going anywhere…. and abdelkader scored 3 goals with 3 assists in 50 games last season.. theres room on the 4th line for them to "develope"

    neither look ready to center line 3. sorry, modano is the better option now and for next season.

  1. [...] the assessment of his will to play jives well with his decision to make extra sure by taking time. All sarcasm aside, by all means, take the time to be sure, [...]

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