Red Wings Cap Situation: 2008-09
The numbers over at NHL Numbers and Red Wings Central vary so I’m going with the RWC data. Here is the contract situation for a number of players who are either currently under contract for next season or are guys Detroit is trying to sign right now and would almost certainly be on the roster if deals get done.
| Player | Position | 2008-09 Salary |
|
Henrik Zetterberg |
1st line forward | $2.65mm |
|
Pavel Datsyuk |
1st line forward | $6.7mm |
|
Tomas Holmstrom |
1st line forward | $2.25mm |
|
Johan Franzen |
2nd line forward | $0.94mm |
|
Valterri Filppula |
2nd line forward | RFA |
|
Mikael Samuelsson |
2nd line forward | $1.2mm |
|
Dan Cleary |
3rd line forward | $2.8mm |
|
Kris Draper |
3rd line forward | $1.58mm |
|
Tomas Kopecky |
3rd/4th line forward | $0.5mm |
|
Jiri Hudler |
4th line forward | $1mm |
|
Darren Helm |
4th line forward | $0.63mm |
|
Kirk Maltby |
3rd/4th line forward | $0.88mm |
|
Nicklas Lidstrom |
1st pairing d-man | $7.45mm |
|
Brian Rafalski |
1st pairing d-man | $6mm |
|
Niklas Kronwall |
2nd pairing d-man | $3mm |
|
Brad Stuart |
2nd pairing d-man | UFA |
|
Brett Lebda |
3rd pairing d-man | $0.65mm |
|
Derek Meech |
3rd pairing d-man | $0.48mm |
|
Chris Osgood |
#1 goaltender | $1.4mm |
|
TOTALS |
17 players signed | $40.1mm |
Detroit’s absolute must-do needs:
1. Sign Valtteri Filppula
2. Sign or replace Brad Stuart if he signs elsewhere
3. Determine their backup goaltending situation
4. Sign Helm & Figure out where Helm plays
5. Fill out the roster [13th forward, 7th d-man, etc]
Signing Valtteri Filppula
Filppula’s due for a Dan Cleary-like contract of somewhere between $2.25 - $3.25 million per season. So I’ll split the difference and guess he signs for right around $2.75 million per season. If that’s anywhere close to accurate that puts the Red Wings just below $42.85 million.
Secure a #4 D-man
Ken Holland suggested he’s willing to pay his 4th D-man roughly the same amount he’s currently paying Niklas Kronwall. So $3 million is right around the going rate for a #4 d-man in Detroit. Bruce MacLeod is pessimistic on the chances of Brad Stuart signing in Detroit. If that skepticism proves to be well-founded the question then becomes whether the Wings can find a similar d-man for a similar dollar amount. I’ll take a closer look at this if it looks like Detroit isn’t going to be able to sign Stuart. Filling out the second pairing would likely put Detroit right around $45.85 million.
Who opens the door for Osgood?
I’ve taken a quick look at the free agent and trade options available for a backup goaltender. I don’t think there’s much out there on the trade market so a free agent signing is probably the more likely of the two options. I’ll take a look at Jimmy Howard’s progression sometime in the near future, but it sounds like the Red Wings aren’t prepared to just hand him the #2 goaltender slot. Whatever the outcome, I don’t expect the Wings to spend more than $1 million for a backup netminder. So that would lift Detroit’s cap number to $46.85 million.
Figure out Helm’s spot
Darren Helm played a key role in providing Detroit with a 4th line during the playoffs. Now if he’s truly viewed as being the next Kris Draper do you keep him in Detroit and bounce him back and forth betwen the 3rd and 4th line and give him minutes on the PK, or do you send him to Grand Rapids, give him big minutes and let him try and shut down the best the AHL has to offer?
If he stays in Detroit then all you really need is one more forward. That could be a 13th forward like Darren McCarty or the Wings could use some of their cap space and try to acquire a top 6 forward. If Helm is sent to Grand Rapids then Tomas Kopecky would likely center the 4th line and Kirk Maltby would move up to the 3rd line. I’ve pointed out that Maltby hasn’t done well with the added minutes on the 3rd line so it’s probably best to keep Kopy on the 3rd line and Maltby on the 4th line. I’m guessing Helm would sign for close to $0.8mm per season. Brian pointed out that Darren Helm is in fact under contract. I was being a little too generous with Mike Illitch’s money! With that updated info Detroit’s cap number goes up to $47.5 million or thereabouts.
Fill out the roster
It sounds like the Red Wings are open to bringing Darren McCarty and Chris Chelios back. Kyle Quincey would also need to clear waivers if he is to be sent down to Grand Rapids so the Wings might want to keep him on the roster in Detroit. I’ll estimate the cap hit for these players being $2 million. That would put the Wings at 23 hockey players with a cap number of 49.5 million.
That would leave Detroit with close to $7 million in cap space. Ken Holland has suggested he’d be interested in using the bulk of that cap space to sign a scoring line forward. The tricky part of this scenario is that cap space is there for next season only, as it will almost certainly evaporate the following season when Hank Zetterberg and Johan Franzen’s new contracts kick in.
While Valtteri Filppula and Johan Franzen have done solid work centering the second line the one clear need for the Red Wings is to acquire a center who can really turn the second line into a dangerous scoring threat. The obvious choice that springs immediately to mind is Mats Sundin but I’ll take a closer look at possible candidates as we approach July 1st.
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Great post, as always. I really enjoy your stuff. But, Helm is signed for two more years. I think RWC is a little behind. Letsgowings.com has the most up-to-date salary information for all of the players.
Brian,
Thanks! I have updated Helm’s contract info as the Let’s Go Wings information fits what NHL Numbers lists.
the red wings don’t need a top 6 forward the have ville leino, and if he makes the team than that proves even tougher for mcarty and helm to make the line-up, my guess is if helm and leino have a great t-camp than they take leino has he is only here for a one-year stint and they want to get as much out of him as possible in hopes that he turns out to be a star for them, also filppula turned down a long term deal during the season and I’ve been trying to figure out what the amount was or length but no luck so far email or post if you find out
[…] I put Brad Stuart right behind Valtteri Filppula as the most important signings for Detroit. I guessed Detroit would pay their #4 D-man somewhere close to $3 million per season. If the Red Wings cannot sign Stuart then they need to secure the services of a legit #4 D-man. I think Andreas Lilja could return but it would ideally be as a third pairing/healthy scratch guy. His greatest value to Detroit is as a PK’er. […]
[…] When I first took a look at the offseason planning I had Filppula’s new contract at the top of the to-do list. My guess on his cap hit [$2.75mm] was pretty close and I think this is a deal that will be considered a very good value as early as next season. I’d be shocked if he doesn’t pot 20 goals and think he could finish with anywhere from 25-30 goals. If he can pot at least 25 goals then he’ll be well worth the contract. Here is a list of players who scored 25 or more goals last season and were not playing on an entry-level contract. […]