Lilja’s back on the eve of Free Agency
In a move that was widely expected and will no doubt be loathed by many Red Wings fans, Andreas Lilja signed a two-year deal to remain in Detroit. He’ll receive a modest raise on his $1 million annual salary he made during his last contract.
Due to the salary amount and Lilja’s ability to play both at even-strength and on the PK this was a pretty reasonable signing. The big defenseman tends to look out of place when playing top 4 minutes but is a pretty solid third pairing guy who can also contribute big minutes on the PK.
Lilja was third amongst defensemen in total ice time behind Nick Lidstrom and Chris Chelios [two Norris trophy winners] while skating short-handed. So Detroit’s top four PK’ing defensemen will likely be Lidstrom, Chelios, Lilja and Kronwall. But if Chelios isn’t a regular in the lineup the Red Wings will need another d-man to eat up his short-handed minutes. Lilja has played alongside Lidstrom in short-handed situations so he can easily move into Cheli’s spot while on the PK. Brian Rafalski might draw more PK time on the second pairing in that scenario.
With the news of Andreas Lilja staying in Detroit it also likely signalled that Brad Stuart’s time in Detroit has officially come to an end. Ken Holland was quoted as saying the two sides continue to discuss a contract but at this point it’s entirely reasonable to conclude that Stuart will test the free agent waters. He’s completely entitled to do so and there’s no question he’ll earn more money that route then he would signing in Detroit.
The biggest winner from this set of circumstances could be Jonathan Ericsson. Mike Babcock commented during the playoffs that he couldn’t believe Detroit wasn’t suiting him up to play. Other guys who have received Babcock’s stamp of approval include Valtteri Filppula and Darren Helm and both players were key pieces during Detroit’s championship run. My guess is Ericsson will have a very good shot at claiming the #4 spot during training camp.
Here’s part of the reason why Ericsson is likely to be the beneficiary of Detroit’s uncertainty at the #4 d-man slot: he could become a Group 6 Free Agent following this season. This is something Matthew Wuest over at Red Wings Central mentioned and I took at look at the collective bargaining agreement. Here’s the pertinent section:
(c) Group 6 Free Agents.
(i) Means any Player who is age 25 or older who has completed three
(3) or more professional seasons, whose SPC has expired and: (i)
in the case of a Player other than a goaltender, has played less than
80 NHL Games…
Ericsson has played two seasons in Grand Rapids and 8 games in Detroit. So at the completion of this upcoming season he’ll be 25 and will have completed three professional seasons. So unless he plays 72 games for Detroit it looks like he would become an unrestricted free agent.
He’s a restricted free agent right now, so I don’t know what the ramifications would be if Detroit signed him to a three-year contract right now but sent him down to Grand Rapids for the full season. Would the final two years be voided and would be become an UFA? That seems unlikely but you can bet that Ericsson and his agent could push the matter by only agreeing to a one-year contract. So I think there’s a good shot Ericsson signs for at least one year but also spends the bulk of the season in Detroit.
As far as free agency goes the three guys I’d be most interested in seeing Detroit sign would be Brian Rolston, Matt Cooke and Alex Auld. I think there’s a good chance Detroit signs Rolston, I have no idea if they’ll target Cooke, and I doubt Auld would agree to the two-way contract Detroit will want for the free agent goaltender they sign.
alex auld Andreas Lilja Brad Stuart brian rolston Jonathan Ericsson matt cooke Red Wings4 Comments
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Good news that Stuart is back, and lilja signing is just insurance, I don’t think even Holland thought Stuart was going to sign so he had to get Lilja. It’s now feasible that the young kids get in and then trade Lilja come the deadline.
I also think if that the wings do get somebody it cant be for long or a big contract because of Frazen, Z and hudler. Not to mention I think even samuelsson is up oh and also Fil needs to get signed too..my guess is Sundin and Naslund are in the mix…with SUndin a far possibility and Naslund way closer.
Brook,
Very happy to have Stuart back in Detroit! You could be right about Naslund, as it sounds like Sundin is getting some rather large dollars thrown his way.
Dave,
Vancouver needs the help and has around $20 million to spend so they are the big front runners for the big free agents, them and I think Atlanta also. I can’t believe the Caps signed Jose ThreeorFour…But it’s likely to be Naslund or Bertuzzi, even though I don’t like Bertuzzi at all, as he is slow and reminds me of Brett Hull who would just skate around in circles until someone passed him the puck so he could shoot it.
Not sure if you’re interested but I’d love to help out with any information that you need. I am a hockey nut and Red Wings fan since the days of Vernon wooping Roy’s ass. Email if interested.
[…] But to heck with that. Stewie can take Lilja’s PK minutes which was the main reason for keeping Lilja in the mix in case Stuart didn’t re-up. If Mike Babcock thinks Ericsson is ready he’ll be in the lineup, likely as a third pairing d-man. If Ericsson only signs a one year deal with the Wings he’ll need to play the lion’s share of the games in Detroit or he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. Reading the tea leaves I think he’ll make the team so long as he wins that spot in training camp. […]