charlio lemieux
5-04-06, 1:07 PM
Only problem is, re-signing Lidstrom, if he seeks the maximum, could potentially eat up almost half of the projected cap space for Detroit. Holland has his work cut out for him this summer.
Red Wings have cap space and many moves to make in off-season
DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings can't throw money at their problems like they have done in the past.
Back in Detroit two days after a first-round flop in the playoffs, general manager Ken Holland said he was still stunned Edmonton scored four third-period goals to win 4-3 and eliminate the Red Wings.
"I'm in disbelief because I expected us to contend for the Stanley Cup," Holland said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I knew the Oilers were good, but with the leads we had in Game 6, I thought we'd win and take care of things at home in Game 7."
Detroit used to attempt to fix faults by signing free agents to lucrative deals in the off-season while keeping their key players. But that can't happen anymore in the NHL.
After the lockout wiped out last season, the league and the players agreed on a salary cap of $39 million US. That forced Holland to cut his payroll in half.
The salary cap has not been announced for next season, though it's is expected to be between $43 million and $46 million.
The Red Wings will have $20 million to $25 million to spend, depending on what the cap is. Holland will have to spread it around creatively, because a lot of moves need to be made.
Holland said Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson are under contract for three more years, Kris Draper and Andreas Lilja for two. Players with one seasons left on their deals are Pavel Datsyuk, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider, Niklas Kronwall and Kirk Maltby.
Jason Williams, Brett Lebda, Johan Franzen and Dan Cleary are restricted free agents.
Nicklas Lidstrom is an unrestricted free agent, as are Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Manny Legace, Chris Chelios, Cory Cross, Jason Woolley, Mark Mowers and Chris Chelios.
Lidstrom is expected to win a fourth Norris Trophy. The star defenceman might command a maximum contract that would pay him about $10 million annually.
"Our No. 1 priority this off-season is to re-sign Nick before July 1," Holland said.
One of the top stories of the year in Michigan is expected to develop within the next week, when Yzerman announces whether he will retire.
The popular captain will pose for his 22nd - and possibly final - team picture on the ice at Joe Louis Arena after a team meeting Thursday morning.
"I haven't talked to Steve about his plans, and I'm certainly not going to speculate on what he's thinking," Holland said.
The Red Wings will welcome Yzerman back if he wants to play again.
"Absolutely," Holland said. "Obviously, in the last 20 games when he finally got healthy, he played really well."
Yzerman was one of the few Red Wings who played consistently against the Oilers. That's a compliment to him and a criticism of many of his teammates because the forward played just four games, missing two with a torn rib muscle.
"It is incredible, but he seems to be able to do the incredible," Holland said. "He made a huge face-off to help us win a game, and he made a great pass to Lang for a goal in Game 6."
Holland knows Legace, who allowed 18 goals in six games, has taken most of the heat in Hockeytown since Detroit was eliminated.
"I don't think Manny Legace should take any more, or less, responsibility than anyone in our organization," Holland said. "The biggest thing that hurt us, for the third straight post-season, was our inability to score goals like we did in the regular season."
Players such as Datsyuk and Shanahan did not produce in the playoffs, though their futures with the Red Wings will be just two of Holland's worries during an off-season that is longer than he wanted.
"We're going to have tough choices in this league every summer from now on," Holland said. "This system is designed to spread the talent."
Manny Legace is an UFA and hopefully he finds a good home. If he stays in Detroit, good for him. But with a lot of the Detroit media laying the blame on him, I wouldn't fault him if he wants to go somewhere else, and have some success.
Good Luck Ken, I think you may need it.
Red Wings have cap space and many moves to make in off-season
DETROIT (AP) - The Detroit Red Wings can't throw money at their problems like they have done in the past.
Back in Detroit two days after a first-round flop in the playoffs, general manager Ken Holland said he was still stunned Edmonton scored four third-period goals to win 4-3 and eliminate the Red Wings.
"I'm in disbelief because I expected us to contend for the Stanley Cup," Holland said Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press. "I knew the Oilers were good, but with the leads we had in Game 6, I thought we'd win and take care of things at home in Game 7."
Detroit used to attempt to fix faults by signing free agents to lucrative deals in the off-season while keeping their key players. But that can't happen anymore in the NHL.
After the lockout wiped out last season, the league and the players agreed on a salary cap of $39 million US. That forced Holland to cut his payroll in half.
The salary cap has not been announced for next season, though it's is expected to be between $43 million and $46 million.
The Red Wings will have $20 million to $25 million to spend, depending on what the cap is. Holland will have to spread it around creatively, because a lot of moves need to be made.
Holland said Henrik Zetterberg and Mikael Samuelsson are under contract for three more years, Kris Draper and Andreas Lilja for two. Players with one seasons left on their deals are Pavel Datsyuk, Robert Lang, Mathieu Schneider, Niklas Kronwall and Kirk Maltby.
Jason Williams, Brett Lebda, Johan Franzen and Dan Cleary are restricted free agents.
Nicklas Lidstrom is an unrestricted free agent, as are Steve Yzerman, Brendan Shanahan, Manny Legace, Chris Chelios, Cory Cross, Jason Woolley, Mark Mowers and Chris Chelios.
Lidstrom is expected to win a fourth Norris Trophy. The star defenceman might command a maximum contract that would pay him about $10 million annually.
"Our No. 1 priority this off-season is to re-sign Nick before July 1," Holland said.
One of the top stories of the year in Michigan is expected to develop within the next week, when Yzerman announces whether he will retire.
The popular captain will pose for his 22nd - and possibly final - team picture on the ice at Joe Louis Arena after a team meeting Thursday morning.
"I haven't talked to Steve about his plans, and I'm certainly not going to speculate on what he's thinking," Holland said.
The Red Wings will welcome Yzerman back if he wants to play again.
"Absolutely," Holland said. "Obviously, in the last 20 games when he finally got healthy, he played really well."
Yzerman was one of the few Red Wings who played consistently against the Oilers. That's a compliment to him and a criticism of many of his teammates because the forward played just four games, missing two with a torn rib muscle.
"It is incredible, but he seems to be able to do the incredible," Holland said. "He made a huge face-off to help us win a game, and he made a great pass to Lang for a goal in Game 6."
Holland knows Legace, who allowed 18 goals in six games, has taken most of the heat in Hockeytown since Detroit was eliminated.
"I don't think Manny Legace should take any more, or less, responsibility than anyone in our organization," Holland said. "The biggest thing that hurt us, for the third straight post-season, was our inability to score goals like we did in the regular season."
Players such as Datsyuk and Shanahan did not produce in the playoffs, though their futures with the Red Wings will be just two of Holland's worries during an off-season that is longer than he wanted.
"We're going to have tough choices in this league every summer from now on," Holland said. "This system is designed to spread the talent."
Manny Legace is an UFA and hopefully he finds a good home. If he stays in Detroit, good for him. But with a lot of the Detroit media laying the blame on him, I wouldn't fault him if he wants to go somewhere else, and have some success.
Good Luck Ken, I think you may need it.