Hossa AND/OR Franzen
In order to sign BOTH Hossa and Franzen before the deadline, the Wings would have to move out players under contract beyond this season to clear the necassary cap room. At the same time, they wouldn’t want to hurt their club’s chances much this season. They currently have about $8 or $9 million in cap space for next season if the cap were to stay the same (Their UFA’s – Hossa, Franzen, Samuelson, Kopecky, Chelios & Conklin, while Jiri Hudler is an RFA). Obviously there’s not enough money. Here are a couple moves that could help them accomplish this:
1. Brad Stuart would have to go. With Lidstrom (7.45), Rafalski (6.0) and Kronwall (3.0) all signed passed this season, Stuart would be the odd man out. Swapping him for a similar defenseman (in skill & salary) with pending UFA status would open up some space next season, without hurting the team much this season. Brad Stuart (3.75, 3 more yrs) to Phoenix for Derek Morris (3.916667, UFA). ‘Yotes land contracted player for UFA; Wings free up cap space.
Additional free cap space for next season – $3.75 million
2. Dan Cleary OR Tomas Holmstrom? One must go. Holmstrom is 36 years old and has 1 year remaining at $2.25 million. Cleary, 30, has 4 years at a cap hit of $2.8 million. I don’t think Cleary’s contract is all that bad, yet I’m not sure its too marketble. With Cleary’s age advantage, its probably not all that bad to keep him (for now). Holmstrom would likely have decent value at the deadline and probably won’t ever have a higher value than now. He’s getting old and ready to break down. If told “in order to keep Franzen we gotta move Holmstrom”, I don’t think there is too many people that wouldn’t move Holmstrom. Remember, they’ll need to get a similar UFA forward in return. Tomas Holmstrom (2.25, 1 more yr) to Pittsburgh for Ruslan Fedotenko (2.25, UFA) and a pick. Both guys have a ring(s).
Additional free cap space for next season – $2.25 million
That’s $6 million you’ve opened up with these two deals now, plus the $8 or $9 million they currently have available for next season. Assuming Hossa takes a discount, the Red Wings can comfortably sign BOTH Hossa (say $50 million, 7 yrs – 7.142857) and Franzen (say $24 million, 5 yrs – 4.8).
Morris and Fedotenko could possibly return this summer depending on price, performance and desire to stay and WIN. Ville Leino, Darren Helm and Jonathan Ericsson will all be ready for next season (if they aren’t already). And Hudler… see what happens this summer. Worst case scenario – he gets an offer sheet. Oh well, take the picks and re-stock. Another option might be to sign him and move Filpulla instead. Samuelson & Chelios would likely be cut loose this summer. Perhaps Cheli could return home to Chicago. Andreas Lilja and Dan Cleary are guys you could look at moving this summer if necassary.