How weird is it that Maltby’s looking for deals on the open market? I don’t blame him: if he wants to play in the NHL again, that’s pretty much his only option. But it’s strange to read after all these years that he has a chance, however slight, of wearing another NHL team’s sweater next year. Though that may be better than seeing him in the AHL. But in all I’d rather he retire, even though being forced out like that would be a crap way to go.
We can thank Brian Burke for that ludicrous (coming from a partial Lebda apologist) contract he gave the Wings’ former #6 defenseman. Because their former #5 is looking for $1.5+ million. If his concussion history keeps him from getting that kind of money, maybe (just maybe—numbers are tight) we’ll see him back, but I tend to think someone will pull him in before his asking price falls to $1 million or lower.
Khan’s got a very specific number for the Modano offer: $1.25 million. Chart:
| Player |
Cap Hit |
| Total salary commitments |
$58,442,045 |
| Partial cap space for signing veteran defenseman |
$957,955 |
| Roster Spots Used (of 23) |
23 |
| (Calculations via CapGeek) (cap hit values in millions) |
| Darren Helm |
$.800 |
| Patrick Eaves |
$.750 |
| Justin Abdelkader |
$.750 |
| Mike Modano |
$1.25 |
| Drew Miller |
$.650 |
| Mattias Ritola |
$.517 |
That’s pretty tight and it assumes possibly-low numbers for Helm and Abdelkader (though George thinks they could be even lower). Even when the Wings cast off Miller or Ritola, that’s not much margin at all for injury callups if they get that defenseman. So if The Final Piece finally decides to fall into place, maybe we’ll be seeing an all-youth third pairing rather than a veteran-led one.
I figured I’d help you all sleep at night with that picture.
Three things struck me as I read that piece:
- Is that guy actually blaming Modano for Dallas’ decision to not re-sign him? Not the team’s money issues, inability to honor its history, etc.?
- Not all aging stars can’t take diminished roles with their teams. Steve Yzerman did it.
- What relevance is the Wings’ having six 35+ players to this guy’s point? Enough with the stupid age storyline, hockey media.
(2)
Mike Modano will magically be awesome again if he just signs with Detroit!
(8)
And says he thinks there’s a possibility the Wings are offering him less than $1 million, citing what he sees as a difficulty in making the numbers work with Helm and Abdelkader*.
I can’t say I get the same vibe because the Wings’ $3.7 million in cap space should be plenty to sign those three players and leave room over for a defenseman. The Wings have plenty of leverage over Helm and Abdelkader, who are not going to arbitration and more or less have to take what the Wings offer them.
If Modano’s hoping for more than $1 million, then it gets problematic, but otherwise, the Wings should be able to do this from a pure cap perspective. Whether they should or not is a topic on which I’ve made my views clear, but whatever. It’s going to happen, unless Modano decides he doesn’t want to play any more or won’t settle for a million.
*He also mentions Meech, who is irrelevant because even if he gets re-signed, it’s only to trade him before they actually need to be under the cap.
(10)
Okay, maybe not. But imaging him as a hockey executive just got a lot easier.
(0)
… not in 2012. In 2010. Love the enthusiasm and attitude, but unless Smith knows something about himself that no one else knows, he’s going to need a year or two in Grand Rapids. Don’t lose any of that attitude when reality dawns, Brendan.
(0)
Lebda’s signed with Toronto, which means the fanbase’s favorite whipping boy gets to face the glaring floodlights of Maple Leafdom. But at least he won’t have to babysit Jonathan Ericsson, so he has maybe a fighting chance of not underperforming.
I’m sure Lebda’s biggest fans have already marked March 26th down on their calendars.
(0)
Update (1:33 PM): I should add that $750,000 is a great price for a guy like Eaves. I think he could have gotten more had he filed for arbitration, but that he didn’t is a good sign for his priorities. - Matt
Pierre LeBrun tweets:
Patrick Eaves re-signs in Detroit for one year, $750,000
(via Kukla’s)
| Player |
Cap Hit |
| Total salary commitments |
$58,192,045 |
| Partial cap space for signing veteran defenseman |
$1,207,955 |
| Roster Spots Used (of 23) |
23 |
| (Calculations via CapGeek) (cap hit values in millions) |
| Darren Helm |
$.800 |
| Patrick Eaves |
$.750 |
| Justin Abdelkader |
$.750 |
| Mike Modano |
$1 |
| Drew Miller |
$.650 |
| Mattias Ritola |
$.517 |
So, if my other projections from last night hold any water, that’s what the cap picture should basically look like now. Still plenty of room to bring in that veteran defenseman, even if they choose to use the space cleared up by Ritola/Miller’s cutting-loose as cap space for call-ups in case of short-term injury.
I decided I should rework my chart to reflect the latest Modano speculation:
McCosky says Wings will offer Modano around $1 million. Not sure what that does for the Wings’ defense.
(original McCosky piece here)
Well, let’s see. I adjusted my latest projections to reflect the bar set by the Miller deal. Basically, I dropped everyone down $50,000 because I last had Miller at $700,000.
| Player |
Cap Hit |
| Total salary commitments |
$58,142,045 |
| Partial cap space for signing veteran defenseman |
$1,257,955 |
| Roster Spots Used (of 23) |
23 |
| (Calculations via CapGeek) (cap hit values in millions) |
| Darren Helm |
$.800 |
| Patrick Eaves |
$.700 |
| Justin Abdelkader |
$.750 |
| Mike Modano |
$1 |
| Drew Miller |
$.650 |
| Mattias Ritola |
$.517 |
So assuming the McCosky number is correct, that leaves $1.2 million plus whatever space can be cleared by making room under the 23-man limit. Somebody has to go and the most likely options are the guys at the bottom of that list.
I’d, uh, say there’s a reasonable chance the Wings can land their veteran defenseman for the space they’ll have with that $1.2 million plus either $.650 or $.517 million. But which guy gets the boot?
Given the time and money they’ve put into Ritola, I’m thinking Miller. Which isn’t good news for the PK.
Update (4:12 PM): Pierre LeBrun confirms CapGeek’s number (actually likely CG’s source):
Drew Miller deal in Detroit is one year, $650,000
(thanks Hockey_Girl and Twitter Search) - Matt
Update (4:06 PM): CapGeek is saying $650,000 but on an unconfirmed/estimate basis only. That’d be a bit lower than I was expecting, but would sense. – Matt
No details on compensation yet (at least not from non-Twitter sources. Stupid firewall.), but that may only important from a trade value perspective rather than a cap space one thanks to the Wings’ moth/flame act with Mike Modano.
(1)
Recent Comments