Gorilla Crouch

If you follow the Red Wings its been awhile since there have been any cloak and dagger defections - and usually they occur when players like Sergei Federov are covertly added to the roster. But the latest intrigue took place in Toronto, where the Wings saw one of their key possibly 6th or 7th defenseman leave the team to join the Blackhawks.

Somewhere between Detroit and Toronto, Friday afternoon, the Red Wings lost a defenseman.
…
That Sopel was with the Red Wings — from the start of training camp to the brink of their eighth preseason game — when he signed with Chicago makes the situation quite unusual.
“This is the first time it’s happened to us,” said Detroit general manager Ken Holland.
Sopel, an eight-year NHL veteran who made $2.4 million last season, was fighting for a roster spot with Detroit prospects Derek Meech and Jonathan Ericsson.

-Bruce MacLeod - Red Wings Corner

Bruce is reporting the Wings made two offers to Sopel: one on Thursday and then a higher offer on Friday. Seeing as it’s being reported he signed with the Blackhawks for $1.5 million the Red Wings must have made fairly modest offers. Brett Lebda, who is Detroit’s 6th or 7th D-man makes $650,000. Derek Meech, who will likely claim the #7 slot, makes just over $483,000. So Sopel was probably offered something in that range and then probably a little more money for Detroit’s final offer.

On the one hand Ken Holland’s comment about making two contract offers indicates the Red Wings had some legitimate interest in signing Sopel and that he likely would have made the roster. But given the fact he signed for $1.5 million you can also make the case that Detroit wasn’t that interested in what he brought to the team. They could definitely afford to pay Sopel the kind of money he signed for but likely chose not to do so.

He had a chance to claim the #4 D-man spot in Detroit and if he’d done so Detroit would have no doubt offered more than they did. It sounded like he was more likely to play on the third pairing and be a power play specialist, hence the lower contract offer. It comes at a tough time as the team reported that Kyle Quincey has a broken hand and could miss up to three weeks. Quincey was likely to start the season in Grand Rapids but he would be the Griffins’ top D-man and would likely get the first call up for reinforcements on the blueline.

The likely defensive pairings for the start of the season will be:

Nick Lidstrom - Brian Rafalski
Niklas Kronvall - Andreas Lilja
Chris Chelios - Brett Lebda/Derek Meech

I caught the game last night and it was my first chance to see Meech play. He looked pretty solid so I think Sopel signing with Chicago guarantees he’ll make the roster. Kronner played big minutes due to the Wings being short one rearguard and he was one of Detroit’s best players. He had over 37 minutes of ice time, scored a goal, tallied a helper and was +2. Based on that game I can see why Mike Babcock expects big things from him this season.

The Red Wings are going to need a big year from Kronvall as they only have three guys who are really legitimate top 4 blueliners. Cheli can’t play big minutes anymore so he’s likely to stick on the third pairing and be a PK specialist. Andreas Lilja can play in the top 4 so long as he plays the way he played in the playoffs. Mikael Samuelsson will likely man one of the points on the 2nd power play unit with Sopel no longer an option. Sammy performed well during the playoffs in this spot but if he struggles the odds are good Detroit looks for an offensive defenseman near the trade deadline.

The big story is that the Blackhawks have outbid the Red Wings for a player. Bill Wirtz must be rolling over in his grave.

brent sopel Derek Meech Kyle Quincey Red Wings

September 29th, 2007
Categories: Red Wings . Author: Dave

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