Riffing on the Rumors
There has been some talk on players who might have an interest in playing for the Red Wings. George over at Snapshots linked to this Atlanta-Constitution Journal article that mentions a former Red Wings forward might have an interest in coming back to Detroit.
…Slava Kozlov is being rumored to be on the Red Wings radar…right now it is more media speculation suggesting he’d be a good fit with the Red Wings…Before he re-signed with the Thrashers in 2003, Kozlov was interested in returning to Detroit but the Red Wings never made an offer. If they’re interested in the veteran winger this time around, I think they’d have to be the front-runner.
To Craig Custance’s credit, he qualifies this rumor about three different ways. I cut out all the hemming and hawing and qualifying to try and get the “gist” of the rumor: Kozlov, as in 2003, has an interest in coming back to Detroit. I suspect that much like 2003 the interest will not be mutual. I have no inside information but base my opinion on the following:
He’s a smaller player who can light it up during the regular season but has struggled in the playoffs. He has averaged just over 23 goals during the regular season over the past four NHL seasons but didn’t register a point in this year’s playoffs (granted, it lasted 4 games) and went -6. He hasn’t registered a point in the playoffs over the past 4 seasons, due largely to the fact Atlanta didn’t make the playoffs in 4 of the past 5 seasons. To be fair he was a solid goal scorer during the playoffs for Detroit in the mid to late 90s. He scored 40 goals over a 7 year stretch of playoff games from 1994-95 to 2000-01. That just seems like a long time ago to me.
He played on a line with Marian Hossa in Atlanta. Unless you put Kozlov on a line with Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg he might struggle to pot 20 goals. Detroit also seems to have an interest in bringing Todd Bertuzzi back next season. Bert at least has the potential to be an intimidating physical presence who can score 20+ goals and be effective in front of the crease. Kozlov might pot 20 goals but isn’t physical, isn’t going to be effective near the crease and is likely to disappear in the playoffs. Tonight’s Stanley Cup game was a perfect example of how playoff hockey is going to be played. It’s going to be tough for smaller players who can be easily knocked off the puck.
I like Kozlov but the only way I think this deal happens is if Detroit can’t get a bigger forward via free agency and if they can sign Kozlov for a really nice hometown discount. He would fit in nicely on the second line, particularly during the regular season.
Moving along, Spector over at Fox Sports comments on rumors that the Red Wings might be interested in signing Jean Sebastien Giguere. I’m not sure it’s so much a rumor as a suggestion. Spector ably shoots this one down. I also looked at this scenario and agree that it doesn’t look likely to happen.
A May 24th ESPN podcast featuring EJ Hradek suggested that Detroit might be the likely destination for Ryan Smyth. That doesn’t seem likely, particularly if Detroit looks to bring back the bulk of its team from last year. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has suggested that goaltending and defense are his big concerns right now so at the very least we’d have to wait and see how those positions play out to determine if the Wings could make a reasonable offer for Smyth - reasonable probably starts at $5 million per year.
Finally, (former?) Minnesota Wild goaltender Manny Fernandez has spoken with the press and he is not happy. He is pushing for a trade according to the Pioneer Press.
“I’ve got to look forward. I’ve got two years to go. I want to break free of these chains that are around me at this point. It seems everybody sets barriers in my mind. I want to break free and be where I want to be.”
Sounds like dude’s an Erasure fan. Good luck breaking those chains of love Manny. I’ll have more on Manny and other potential goaltenders tomorrow.
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[…] If they are still in the market for a top 6 forward on the wing it’s looking like the team might be in the running for Slava Kozlov. I expressed some reservations about signing him about a month ago, but at this point in time if you can sign a guy who averaged just about a point a game last season it’s hard to believe you can do any better than that. Particularly given Detroit’s salary constraints. Bill Guerin is a guy with some size and speed who is still on the market. Danius Zubrus is still a free agent too. […]
[…] Hiller doesn’t have as much experience as I’m sure Ken Holland would like and the fact the ink ain’t even dry on that new contract means he isn’t going anywhere. With Tim Thomas he’d be intriguing except for the fact the B’s would probably like to keep him and his very reasonable contract and send Emo-boy Manny Fernandez and his albatross of a contract to another team. There’s no chance the Wings would take a flyer on Fernandez. […]