Red Wings might look deeper into free-agent pool
Let’s forget about Ryan Suter and Zach Parise for a moment.
Judging from the reaction of Red Wings fans, that’s difficult to do considering they are the two prospective unrestricted free agents — and apparently the only ones the Red Wings care about this summer.
But suppose they remain with their teams. Or end up with someone else.
Who’s next on the Red Wings radar?
It’s a slim market, but a couple interesting names are Capitals forward Alex Semin and Blues defenseman Barret Jackman.
Both players have baggage and neither would instantly make the Red Wings a sure-fire Stanley Cup contender.
But both have positive factors — and wouldn’t cost as much.
Semin, 28, pretty much ended his Capitals career Monday when his agent, Mark Gandler, publicly ripped the organization.
“He does not like the way he’s being used,” Gandler told TSN Radio in Canada. “He does not like the role he has under the (Capitals’) new direction.”
Washington went to a more defensive-oriented scheme under coach Dale Hunter (who isn’t returning), stifling offensive players such as Semin and Alex Ovechkin.
Semin had 54 points (21 goals) in 77 games, then four points (three goals) in 14 playoff games.
Jackman, 31, is a rugged defensive defenseman who could be starting the downward side of his career. For a short-term deal, though, Jackman might help a team.
From The Detroit News: http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120517/OPINION03/205170323#ixzz1vEfOMiBi