For Tigers: Time To Be Big Boys

It feels good to say the Tigers won 7 out of 8 games (should have been 8 out of 8) doesn't it?  It is the first time this year we can say that.  The bats are coming alive (FINALLY) by getting contributions from players not named Jackson, Cabrera, or Fielder, Fister appears to be back on track, and the defense has tightened up some.  It feels good.  Take it all in...until 7PM ET tonight when they face off against the Angels which begins, what I like to call, Big Boy School.

Beating the Twins, Royals, and Orioles felt nice.  It kept the team within 3.5 games of first place, it got numerous players who were struggling on track, and it served as a much-needed confidence boost for a team that has underachieved.  However, beating up on bad teams is expected for good teams.  It is the bare minimum.  Now it is time to see if they can really make a surge and win this division.  Tonight they start an almost month long gauntlet that consists of the Angels, White Sox, Indians, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, and Rangers.  Big Boy School.  There is no sugar coating this.  This stretch will probably decide their ultimate destination come October.  By destination I mean either the baseball field or the La-Z-Boy eating Cheesy Poofs.  And don't kid yourself, they will need to come out of this stretch above .500.  The Southsiders don't appear to be tanking anytime soon so it will be up to the Tigers to show they belong in the playoffs.  Nobody is going to do it for them.  They must do it themselves.

The trade deadline is quickly approaching.  However, there is no fix-all move to be made and if there were, the Tigers do not have the pieces to make such a deal.  We also cannot take to the bank that Martinez will be back in time to make a difference let alone in top form.  They may be able to make a small move to help such as acquiring Marco Scutaro to fill the black  hole that is 2B, but no trade is going to suddenly make this team world beaters.  They must grind it out on their own with what they have, and it starts tonight.

There still are a couple concerns that could cripple the Tigers.  As mentioned above, the 2B position continues to be underwhelming to put it nicely.  Their best option still seems to play Santiago every night but Leyland still seems reluctant to do so.  That will be a situation worth keeping an eye on. 

Jose Valverde blew his 4th save on Saturday night which wasted a valiant effort by the Tigers in which they battled back down 3 in the 9th only to see Papa Grande fail to hold on in the 11th.  Even when he does save a game it is dicey and never comfortable.  All you need to look at is his 4.06 ERA.  Every appearance he makes you can almost guarantee 2 base runners.  That has to stop and he has to become reliable in order for the Tigers to come out of this stretch alive.  If not, Leyland may have to take a serious look at closing games with Benoit or Dotel.  He simply must get better for this team to have a chance.

Lastly, Scherzer continues to be completely unpredictable.  After several very good outings, he gave up 4 runs on Saturday before you had a chance to finish your first beer.  Some nights he appears unhittable and a very solid #2.  Some nights he looks close to a Toledo demotion.  In this next month the Tigers will need at a minimum 3 dependable starters.  Those will most likely have to be Verlander, Fister, and Scherzer.  The teams they are about to face smash the baseball.  If these 3 starters are not on their game it is going to be very difficult to imagine the Tigers being in the race come mid August.

The Tigers appear to be righting the ship.  They beat up on some bad teams.  Hopefully, they now have some confidence to go out and play some real baseball against some real contenders.  If they come out of this on the plus side (and I mean more than 1 or 2 games) they could very well be on their way to fall baseball or at least in great position to do so.  If they do not, I think the writing is on the wall in big bold letters.  If you think I am exaggerating simply take into account the fact that they have 9 games vs. the teams they are chasing (Tribe and Chisox).  Those are big swing games.  The beginning of the end, good or bad, starts tonight.  Get used to it and strap on your seat belts.  It is going to be a crazy ride regardless of what happens.  This year's Tigers wouldn't have it any other way.

The Wings Will Do Something...RIGHT?

We are now 10 days removed from the beginning of free agency and a week removed from the Parise/Suter nuclear bomb and I have finally calmed down enough to write a post that will not be laced with profanity and absolute doom and gloom.  Good for me.  So here it goes mother...eh...almost slipped there...breathe...woooosssahhhh...OK better...

Zach Parise, and more importantly, Ryan Suter, chose Minnesota over Detroit.  It's done.  It's over.  Can't change it.  Time to move on.  Regardless if the decisions were strictly based on family, or if Kenny low-balled them (Suter did get $8MM more from the Wild), or a combo meal, what's done is done.  The Red Wings still have glaring holes in the lineup, especially on defense, that must be filled in order to even entertain thoughts of being a serious contender or, gulp, make the playoffs.  Moves must be made.  Ken Holland and Co. will make the necessary moves to keep the Red Wings among the elite...won't they?

It's obvious the Wings' brass were putting all of their eggs in Ryan Suter's basket.  They must have been pretty confident he would sign.  Well, he didn't and the plan B (Wideman), C (Garrison), and D (Carle) all signed elsewhere and it appears The Red Wings did not make any attempts to hedge their bets.  According to all the internet rumors leading up to July 1, their name was rarely mentioned with anyone but Suter or Parise.  Maybe it was because they felt Suter was the only player worthy of big time cash.  Be it as it may, they have a boatload of cash to shop with and the store is picked over.  They are indeed in a tough spot that will take creativity to get out of.  Maybe the rumblings of possible trades for Yandle (preferred) or Bouwmeester (eh) are true.  Perhaps they are working on a trade that will surprise us all.  Whatever the case may be, something has to be done to bolster the once elite blue line that is now a black hole.  Holland is normally very apprehensive to deal important roster players.  He may no longer have a choice. 

Parise was their secondary target and was probably a long shot to begin with.  Fine.  But the fact remains Babcock has screamed for help in the top 6 up front and he has not received it.  He has made it obvious he craves a true scorer to play with Datsyuk.  Sorry, Samuelsson and Tootoo are not going to cut it and Brunner is very much unproven.  One of the teams biggest flaws last year was its inconsistent powerplay, scoring, and clutch goal scoring.  Nothing has been done as of yet to say with any confidence this will not be the case next year.  The competition will be heavy for Shane Doan (and some team will probably be willing to "overspend" unlike Holland) and Semin appears to be heading to Pittsburgh depending on what you read.  After those two are gone there is really nothing left on the market via free agency.  There have been rumors that the Wings may trade for Bobby Ryan or Rick Nash.  Had they secured a top-pairing defenseman they may have had that luxury.  I would think that if Kenny is going to part with big pieces of the roster, it will be for a defenseman.  The best bet would be to "overspend" for Doan or Semin but that is not Kenny's style.  Once again, is there really a choice here?

The last outcome could be that Ken Holland once again will hoard the cash and wait for the trade deadline and/or next summer's free agency.  This will be tough to swallow because that is exactly what he did last year which did not sit very well with many fans.  God only knows how people will react if that is what Kenny will try to sell to the media come late summer/fall.  "There was not a fit" probably will not be acceptable this year.

The bottom line is the same team that got bounced in 5 games in the first round has gotten tangibly worse mostly because of the retirement of Nick Lidstrom.  The team has more money available than they have had in years and failed to bring in the big fish.  It is time to be creative, and above all aggressive.  The perception is already that Holland is being too passive and has already had a disaster of an offseason.  He definitely has time to change that perception with a couple of bold moves even if he must "overpay."  From some of the comments he has recently said to the media, I am getting more and more nervous there will not be any bold moves.  However, I keep telling myself that we should be patient and have faith in a GM that has been one of the most successful in all of sports.  I keep saying that he will surprise us all and do what is necessary to keep the Wings among the elite.  We have to believe he will do SOMETHING...right?  If not, the Red Wings will truly be a mediocre hockey team for the first time in over two decades.  Mediocre is not something that is accepted in Detroit.  We may have to prepare ourselves to accept it for at least one year.  Stay tuned...

Pending Suter Deal, So far So Good for Wings

To break up the constant Twitter refreshing in anticipation for the Suter and Parise decisions, I wanted to take some time to look at the moves Ken Holland has made up until this point.  As we know, on the first day of free agency, the Wings added goaltender Jonus Gustavsson, agitating forward Jordin Tootoo, and brought back a familiar face in Mikael Samuelsson (not mentioning the Swiss star Brunner at this time because we do not know for certain if he will make the big club).  They also saw polarizing forward Jiri Hudler leave for Calgary.  As a whole, I am pleased with the moves thus far with the assumption they are only the beginning to a BIG offseason.  Let's take a look at each move shall we?

Jonus Gustavsson signed with the Red Wings for a 2-year $3MM contract.  Gustavsson signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2009 out of Sweden with a lot of hype.  He was thought to be the goalie of the future for the Leafs.  His tenure with he team was doomed from the start when he was found to have a heart condition that required surgery on the first day of training camp.  He went on to have a couple other minor heart episodes that caused him to miss time along with a groin strain.  After these multiple setbacks, his career never really got off the ground in Toronto.  Health issues aside, a lot had to do with the fact that the Leafs are awful.  No goalie could have sustained success there with the team they put out.  Fast forward to the present day, he supposedly is passed the heart issues and ready to get his career on track.  The Wings brought him in because they like his size (6'2", 192 lbs) and his athleticism.  It also shows they are not confident that MacDonald's back will hold out for the season.  "The Monster" will provide a solid backup for Jimmy Howard who will need the relief in order to be fresh for the playoffs and avoid injury.  Ken Holland also says he expects him to push Howard.  I believe for this reason, along with the small contract, this was a very good signing.

I am in the minority on this, but I am a fan of the 2-year, $3.8MM contract the Wings signed Jordin Tootoo for.  The Wings needed a (insert your expletive here).  They needed their modern day Kirk Maltby.  A guy that will throw his body around and get dirty.  A guy that will get under the other teams' skin.  They needed a guy with some more grit in their bottom six.  Tootoo provides this.  He is not an offensive dynamo but he can chip in now and then.  The Wings went out of their "comfort zone" according to Holland which is great.  It's about time!  Possible bottom six targets for the team, Paul Gaustad and Brandon Prust, both were paid substantially more, $3.25MM and $2.5MM per year respectively, and for 4-year contracts.  Tootoo's contract is more in line with what I feel a likely 4th liner should be paid.  The last 2 seasons have been rough as he had been dealing with a few injuries and alcohol abuse issues.  Apparently those days are behind him and he is ready to get his career back on track.  In my opinion, it addresses a big need for the team for cheap and is an upgrade over both Emmerton and Mursak.  Another plus for Kenny.


The one move I am not overly thrilled with but am somewhat warming up to is bringing back former Red Wing Mikael Samuelsson on a 2-year, $6MM dollar deal.  Look, I have criticized Kenny a lot in the past for his tendency to bring back old Wings.  I have also criticized Samuelsson in his days with the Wings for multiple things.  But the more I think about this deal, especially since Hudler was not brought back (more on this later), the more I get it and can live with it IF a legit top 6 forward is brought in.  The Wings powerplay last year was very mediocre by being ranked 22nd in the league.  One big reason is there was nobody on the team minus Franzen who wants to shoot the puck.  They pass the puck around like the Harlem Globe Trotters and waste precious powerplay seconds to find themselves with one shot.  If there is one thing Sammy will bring to the table, it is that he will shoot the puck whenever he has the chance.  Shoot, shoot, shoot.  That's what he does.  And his shot is not that bad either.  He also brings more size than Hudler (6'2", 220lbs) which allows him to hold on to the puck more, he can win battles in the corners (unlike Hudler), is a better skater, and will throw a hit every now and then.  He is getting up there in age but as long as this proves to be a depth signing and not our top 6 acquisition, then I can live with it as Hudler's upgrade, which for reasons mentioned, he is just that.


My favorite move is the fact that Ken Holland did not pay Jiri Hudler the 4-year $16MM contract that Calgary gave him.  That is a vast overpayment for Hudler.  Sorry.  That is a lot of money for  bit player who's stats were inflated by playing with Hank and Filppula (in a contract year), is small, weak, cannot skate, does not win corner battles, is easily knocked off of the puck, and apparently is not a favorite in the locker room due to his lack of consistent effort.  My opinion is that he will fall back to the 10-15 goal mark in Calgary and they will be highly disappointed with the acquisition.  Typical Ken Holland would have paid him what he wanted and to bring him back.  He did not.  Thank you Kenny!!!

As stated above, I am basically happy with the Moves Ken Holland has made so far AS LONG AS THEY ARE NOT DONE, which it is obvious they are not with the developments of their pursuits of Ryan Suter and Zach Parise.  However, if they strike out on both, they better have contingency plans.  If they could pull off the Rick Nash trade (they are rumored to be serious players) or make a similar trade, as well as bring in Suter and what they have already done, this summer is a success.

Almost Christmas Eve in Hockeytown!

Season's greetings everyone!  That's right.  It's almost Christmas Eve for all the good little boys and girls who reside in Hockeytown, U.S.A!  We are not dreaming of a White Christmas (that would be Armageddon if it were to snow in July).  We are dreaming of the presents Santa Holland will leave under our tree after the noon hour on Sunday, July, 1, that will be donning the Red AND White.  Our letters to this man who has visions of Stanley Cups dancing in our heads look something like this:

Dear Santa Holland,

We have been good boys and girls over the last year by filling the Joe Louis Arena night after night, buying apparel, watching the games, and cheering our little hearts out.  Heck, we have been doing this for over 20 years now.  We  know we are spoiled, but we really, really, REALLY need a stud #1 defenseman and true goal scorer.  We really like Ryan Suter and Zach Parise and it would be really great if we could have them.  We know there could be other options, which we would also appreciate, but these are the toys we want the most.  We promise we will continue to be good, eat our Little Caesar's Hot and Ready pizzas, and not ask for anything ever again!  Well, not until the trade deadline anyway.  PLLLLEEEEEEEEEAAAASSSSSSEEEE!!!

Thank you, and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The Citizens of Hockeytown

Okay, we know the obvious.  The Red Wings need, at the very least, a stud #1 defensemen.  One that will be "The Guy" for the next 7-10 years.  That is Ryan Suter.  We know he is the Wings' top target.  Good.  Because he has to be.  Look, you cannot fully replace Lidstrom.  However, when you lose Lidstrom, you must replace him with the best possible option.  You cannot settle.  Suter is by far the best free agent option, and arguably, the best young defensemen in the league.  He must be signed at all costs.  Anything less makes this offseason a failure.  It's that simple.  You lose the best, you replace him with the best available.  He is everything the team covets in their top defensemen: good size, great puck-mover, good defensively (obvious), can play physical, good shot, can QB a powerplay, durable, and logs a lot of minutes.  Pay the man!  If the Wings must "overpay" to keep him away from other teams (especially the Preds and Pens), then so be it.  There really is no other option.  Garrison and Carle are nice young up-and-comers, but that is not what the Red Wings need.  They need a proven commodity.  Suter has played 7 good seasons in the NHL and his best years are ahead of him.  He is a young veteran, if there is such a thing.  He is established.  The others are not.  He is THE option.  PAY THE MAN!!

Now on to the other big need: a scoring winger.  Zach Parise is the best option.  It is no secret he is also very high on the Red Wings' radar.  Good.  He should be.  The problem is that he is also on 26 other teams' radar.  All of which will be throwing huge contract offers his way.  It is said that New Jersey, L.A., Minnesota, Pittsburgh, and Detroit are the front-runners.  Minnesota is his home state and has a lot of money to spend.  It is public knowledge they will offer him a gigantic contract.  L.A. has money and just won a Cup and has a great young core.  Pittsburgh has cleared cap space by dealing Staal and sold their soul to Sidney Crosby, who is Parise's supposed chum.  They will be selling the Crosby/Malkin Bonanza hard.  As for New Jersey, Parise has said all along his top choice is to stay with the only team he has ever known.  If they can show him the money, he may just stay.  Needless to say, signing him may be tricky.  My gut is that he is going to Pittsburgh.  It is up to Kenny to sell him to chose tradition and Original 6 over young stars and bad playoff beards.  And of course, money.  We shall see.

If Zach Parise does not chose Detroit, it is not the end of the world as I have warmed up to the idea of taking a gamble on Alex Semin if the price and term are right.  He was outstanding in the World Championships playing alongside Datsyuk for Russia.  If he came to the Motor City, he could rediscover that magic.  For a player who has been criticized for his work ethic and lack of motivation, maybe this is the opportunity he needs to find that spark.  He would play with his countryman, get top line minutes, and no longer be in Ovechkin's shadow.  At the very least, he has an amazing shot and is not afraid to use it.  He is a true sniper.  Something the team has sorely missed since the days of Shanny, Hull, and Hossa which is a big reason the powerplay has been mediocre by Red Wings' standards.  If you could get him relatively cheap, you could follow it up with also signing Shane Doan.  Yes, he is getting up there in age, but he still is a wrecking ball on the ice who can score, play on the powerplay, is durable, a leader, and starving for a Stanley Cup.  He is Dallas Drake on steroids and HGH.  He would look pretty good playing on a line with Filppula and Zetterberg.  If you could bring both of them here for the same price, or possibly less than Parise, this could turn out to be a very good plan B and possibly the best option.

With all that said, Ryan Suter has to be top priority.  Once he is in the fold, Holland and Co. can focus on bringing in the scoring punch.  If they come out of this free agency without him, it will be deemed a failure.  This is not harsh, it is the truth.  If they come out with only him then minimum expectations will have been met.  If the Red Wings manage to sign both Suter and Parise (or maybe the Semin/Doan option), it is an absolute slam dunk and the Red Wings would be among the early Stanley Cup favorites.  They have the cash.  Make it happen.  Be the Red Wings.  Prove to the naysayers that you are not a franchise on the decline, but one that simply reloads.  The next 5 years or so may depend on it.

Whatever happens I am extremely giddy for Christmas.  My stockings are ready.  The anticipation level is at an all-time high.  I just hope Santa Holland does not bring us coal.  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  PLEASE CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY!

Now Hiring: Lions Team Babysitter

Good News!  There may be a new job created in the Metro Detroit Area: Detroit Lions Team Babysitter.  The bad news is that it is because Lions CB Aaron Berry was arrested on Saturday for suspicion of DUI bringing the grand total of offseason arrests to 6.  Berry joins teammates Mikel Leshoure (2x), Nick Fairley (2x), and Johnny Culbreath on the list of Lions who have been put in handcuffs this offseason.  Add in Titus Young playing Tyson with Louis Delmas and you have a situation where the inmates are running the asylum.  For a team that is just starting to trend in the right direction and taste success but could easily slip back to mediocrity if a few breaks don't go their way, this garbage has to stop.  There has to be level of accountability that obviously is not present at this time.  Nannys, start updating your resumes.  There may be an open position for you.

Let me start by saying I am not under the illusion that NFL players are choir boys.  The league is full of bad dudes who are about as sharp as bowling balls.  I get that.  So I am not sitting here telling you the Lions need to build a team of players who will be joining Green Peace in the offseason.  We tried that already.  Remember Joey "Blue Skies" Harrington and John Kitna?  How'd that turn out?  But there is a difference between being bad boys and a little unhinged on the field and being complete imbeciles off of it.  Since the players can't keep themselves in check, the organization needs to set a level of accountability that will get through to the players that will deter them from damaging the team.  Do they need to bring in babysitters?  Perhaps nannys?  Schwartz, Mayhew, and company obviously can't handle them by themselves.  It's getting to the point where they should be passing out apology templates to the players with their playbooks.  When does it stop?  When does the organization get a handle on this team?

Winning cures all.  All of us, myself included, will forget all of this if the Lions win 12-14 games this fall and make the playoffs.  All we really care about is if they win games.  However, winning could prove to be more difficult if players in which the team will be counting on miss games due to suspensions.  Mikel Leshoure is going to be relied upon to help give the team an adequate running attack.  Something they sorely missed last season.  Well that is going to have to wait until week 5 as he has been suspended for the first 4 weeks of the season by the league.  Nick Fairley is thought to be a key component to making the Lions defensive line one of the best in the league by playing alongside Suh.  He too will be facing an early suspension (yet to be determined) due to his DUI and marijuana arrests.  Berry is part of the extremely thin secondary that desperately needs to improve this season to take the next step.  Will he now be suspended?  This team simply does not have the depth, especially at defensive back, to absorb suspension after suspension, particularly to players who are pegged to be starters.  I really could care less about tarnishing the image of the team.  If this team wins the Super Bowl but the media calls them criminals I will laugh while I am on Woodward sipping hot chocolate at the parade.  But when it adversely affects the team by spiraling out of control to the point where muliple players are not available to play, something needs to be done.

It's obvious the Lions brass do not care about bringing in players with character issues.  Leshoure, Fairley, and Young all had issues coming out of college which is probably why they were available to the Lions in the draft.  If they are going to continue draft these types of players, then they also have to let it be known that there will be consequences, beyond words, for behavior that is a detriment to the team.  We don't know what is being said behind closed doors but whatever it is, it is not working. 

We as fans have suffered nothing but failure from this team for years.  Now that it appears things may be turning around, it would be a shame if off-the-field stupidity is the new reason the Lions never become serious contenders or, dare I say, champions.  Since Schwartz and Mayhew can't handle their players themselves, maybe they should start accepting resumes for babysitters.  Yes, this is a joke, but then again, so is the level of discipline and accountability on this team.

Pens Parise/Suter Panic Premature

In case you missed it, the Pittsburgh Penguins' GM Ray Shero was a busy little beaver during this weekend's NHL Draft as he traded center Jordan Staal to be united with his brother in Carolina, and shipped defenseman Zbynek Michalek back to where he started in Phoenix.  Instantly, the speculation ran ramped that the Pens were clearing cap space to lure in coveted free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to build a dream team with Crosby, Malkin, Neal, Letang, and Fluery and that they had already started trying to acquire Suter's rights among other rumors.  This began a code red alert among the fans in Hockeytown, myself included.  A couple days later, I have calmed down.  Here are a few of the reasons why.

The rumor of Parise wanting to play with Crosby because they are buddies from prep school in Minnesota is just that.  A rumor.  Just as the rumors that Parise wants to play with Datsyuk, or that Parise and Suter are buddies from Team USA and a package deal, or that Suter won't play for the Eastern Conference, or that Suter already has his bags packed for the D, or that Parise wishes to return home to play for the Wild.  I am not saying all of these rumors don't make perfect sense and are not believable because they are.  I am guilty as the next in getting excited every time I read a rumbling that works in the Wings' favor.  But until free agency starts on July 1, none of us really can buy into any of it.  Much of it is rhetoric put out by their agents to drive up the prices.  All this really should tell us is that starting July 1, our guesses are as good as anyone's and that none of us, not even the players themselves, know what will happen.

In regards to the Penguins clearing the cap space to pursue one or both of these players, that's fine.  They will have to line up along with 23 other teams.  In reality, all this has done is add to the long list of teams that will make their pitch.  It has been no secret the competition will be fierce and that it will be a bloodbath.  The more the merrier I guess.  And one aspect of the Penguins' cap situation that has seemed to be getting overlooked is that they have 2 big pieces that are due for raises/extensions in Crosby and Letang.  Crosby is supposedly going to be getting a 10-year extension in which he will be paid as the top player in the league whether he actually is or not.  Letang is due for a hefty raise as he, just like Suter, is a young premier defensemen in which the Penguins plan on having anchor their blue line for years to come.  Defensemen of his calibre are at a premium in the NHL and I am sure his next deal will reflect that.  Not to mention they have a big chunk of money already tied up in Malkin, Neal, and Fluery.  They may have the available cap space now, but what about in the future?  I am not saying signing Parise and Suter is impossible, I am just saying it isn't exactly punch button either.

As dreamy as playing with Crosby and Malkin may be, what the Red Wings have to offer is not exactly chopped liver.  For starters, Pavel Datsyuk is regarded by the players as the best player in the league.  Zetterberg also carries respect amongst his peers.  I am sure Parise could greatly benefit by playing alongside the magician wearing #13 as can Suter by quarterbacking a powerplay in which he will be feeding the Eurotwins as well as The Mule.  I don't think I am completely being a homer when I say that alone is comparable to what Pittsburgh brings to the table.  Not to mention the other selling points the Wings have such as tradition, commitment to winning, being an original 6 team, the fan base, closer proximity to home (Parise), the guarantee of being the #1 guy for years (Suter), the unquestioned reputation of the organization being first class, as well as the new arena on the horizon.  And, oh yeah, we have a ton of cap space as well and will be able to throw very competitive offers their way.  Maybe more competitive than most, if not all, of the teams competing for their services.  This is the Detroit Red Wings we're talking about.  An original 6 team.  We are not talking about the Phoenix Coyotes here.  I am not saying the Red Wings are guaranteed anything either.  I am just saying that we all need to keep things in perspective that the Wings can compete with any team when it comes to attracting free agents on the same level the New York Yankees do in the MLB.  This even more so this year with the available cap space.

The moral of the story is that until July 1, nobody knows what will happen.  Everything up until this point, no matter how rational it sounds, is nothing but speculation.  The players more than likely don't even know where they will end up.  They may have ideas as to where they would like to end up and I am sure Detroit as well as Pittsburgh are on their lists along with other clubs.  The Wings will be right there in thick of it all and I trust that Holland, Nill, Devellano, and Babcock will be making their best sales pitches to bring home the biggest names on the market. 

The only thing I am certain of is that I can't wait for July 1!  The thought of Parise and Suter teaming up with Crosby is scary (also nauseating).  But we all just need to take a chill pill and breathe.  Let Kenny and the brass do their thing and let's see how this shakes out.

Wings Overpaid for Helm? NO WAY!!

On Tuesday, Ken Holland signed speedy forward Darren Helm to a 4-year $8.5 million deal which carries a $2.125 million cap hit.  By doing this, the Red Wings have locked up a young (25 years old), speedy, tenacious, honey badger-of-a-player not even in his prime yet.  Most of the fan reaction has been positive.  However, there are some who feel the Wings overpaid.  Everyone is entitled to an opinion and, contrary to the belief of some, I respect it.  I just do not share this one in particular.

It is no secret that many of the Red Wings' core are on the wrong side of 30.  This is not to say they are old as some pundits would say, but they are a team whose key forwards are seasoned vets.  Helm is only 25 and already has 3 full seasons and a Stanley Cup run (almost 2) under his belt.  And he is getting better.  It is not like they re-upped with a 35 year old with maybe 2 good years left.  Helm is possibly the face of the next wave of young core players on this team.  Locking up young ascending talent is vital in the NHL's salary cap world.

Skeptics will look at the fact that he does not exactly light up the scoreboard.  Last year he only potted 10 goals (missed time with injuries mind you).  Again, he is young and he may become a 15-20 goal scorer, which for a 3rd line center, is pretty darn good.  Management and Babcock all have said they believe he will get to that level of production.  If that does happen then $2.125 million per year is robbery! Even if he doesn't, offense is not the main value he brings to the table.  He is without question the fastest skater on the team and arguably the fastest in the league.  His speed has made him the most important player on the PK unit by allowing an aggressive forecheck, which leads to turnovers, which occasionally leads to SH goals, and at the least, leads to killed penalties.  His is not big in stature but he is physical, tenacious, goes in the corners and wins battles, plays against the other team's top forwards, chips in timely goals, wins faceoffs...CREATES HAVOC!  If this year's Stanley Cup Champion LA Kings (and passed Wings champs) have shown us anything, having a strong 3rd and 4th lines (depth), strong PK, being physical, an aggressive forecheck, and SPEED are very critical pieces to the championship puzzle.  "Nightmare on Helm Street" possesses the skills to strengthen these aspects for the Wings.  I tend to agree with Ken Holland when he calls him one of the premier 3rd line centers in the league.  That isn't worth $2.125 Million? His absence the last few weeks of the season and in the playoffs proves otherwise.  They were not the same team.

Speaking of depth, Kris Draper and Kirk Maltby together gave the Wings the best checking line in the NHL for years.  Having that depth was one of the biggest reasons for their playoff success.  The "Grind Line" shut down the opposing teams best lines, killed penalties, and chipped in timely goals taking some of the heat off the superstars.  Draper, was the leader of that line.  He was a very fast skater and tremendous in the face off circle.  Helm has been labeled by many as "Draper 2.0."  I think he could end up being better than Draper.  He is faster, more physical, and it appears has a bigger offensive upside.  If Draper was a huge part of the Wings' Cups, and Helm is on track to be as good if not better than him, $2.125 million is a bargain.

Darren Helm will never be a dynamic goal scorer.  He may never be a perennial all star.  He probably will never be a regular top six forward.  But he's young, fast, physical, and does the little things that championship teams must do.  He fills the void left by one of the Wings' most important playoff players of the past (Draper) and may end up being better than him.  And the Wings have him for 4 years.  I truly believe that by the end of this contract, the $2.125 million cap hit will prove to be highway robbery because rest assured, if the Red Wings win a Stanley Cup during that time, Darren Helm will be one of the biggest reasons why.  Bravo Mr. Holland!