SB Nation User Blog: Christy

Canucks sign Samuelsson to three-year deal

Christy — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:03:53 -0000

The Vancouver Canucks signed former Wings forward Mikael Samuelsson to a three-year deal per TSN. The financial terms of the contract have yet to be released. It was Vancouver's first move in free agency (outside of re-signing the Sedin twins). I'm just thankful that Sammy didn't sign with a Central Division team as that seems to be where all of our former players head. [Update: Samuelsson will make $2.5 million per year, earning a total of $7.5 million in his contract.]

"Obviously that (the money) was the key, I shouldn't lie," Samuelsson said in a telephone conference call Friday after signing a three-year NHL deal with Vancouver.

"They have a good thing going and I think my role can be a little different here."

In Other News: Restricted free agent Ville Leino is close to inking a two-year contract with the Red Wings according to the Detroit Free Press. Detroit's other key RFA, Jiri Hudler, is expected to file for arbitration. The arbitrater could decide on a salary likely anywhere from $2.5 to $4 million. If the salary is too high, expect Detroit to trade him away as they simply can't afford a $4 million salary for a player like Hudler.

The Wings, who were squeezed by their salary cap, offered 10 years for $40 million for the forward....

Christy — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:55:51 -0000

The Wings, who were squeezed by their salary cap, offered 10 years for $40 million for the forward. But they knew they likely wouldn't get him and gave his agent Ritch Winter permission a week ago to talk to other teams. They did it out of the goodness of their heart because they could have tried to trade his negotiating rights as Florida did with Jay Bouwmeester; but they felt they owed Hossa for signing with Detroit last year and leaving lots of money on the table elsewhere."

-- Edmonton Journal on the classiest organization in the NHL

2009 NHL Free Agency Open Thread

Christy — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:10:43 -0000

More photos » by Paul Sancya - AP

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We've spent the past week talking about whether Marian Hossa would return or go elsewhere and it's looking like he'll be leaving Detroit. Free agency kicks off in less than an hour so in preparation for the crazy day, we're posting a thread for people to comment on trades/signings (including the Wings or other teams) and let us know what you think about the deal.

If anything happens concerning the Wings, WIM will create a separate post to talk about what happened.

Until then, Go Wings!

2009 NHL Free Agency: Detroit Red Wings Preview

Christy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:48:27 -0000

More photos » by Carlos Osorio - AP

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The NHL free agency period kicks off this Wednesday at noon EDT. In the few days between the draft and the start of free agency, we as fans have a chance to debate what the Wings should or should not do this offseason. The blogging crew here at WIM should have some more in-depth posts up about specific players/news until then, but here's a summary to kick off discussions.

2009 NHL Free Agency: What The Wings Should Do
Pending UFAs: Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Ty Conklin, Chris Chelios, Darren McCarty, Aaron Downey, Tomas Kopecky
Pending RFAs: Jiri Hudler, Ville Leino, Evan McGrath, Ryan Oulahen
Salary cap space: $4.5-million (approximately)
Projected budget: $56.8-million
Key needs: With the Wings up against the salary cap, don't expect any big splashes in the offseason. Holland will likely find a role player or two to fit our needs on offense for the fourth line, but Detroit is mostly set this year. A lot depends on Hossa. If he stays, the Wings will need to trade away guys to make room under the cap and find some cheap talent and fast. If he goes, there will be more money to target a second or third line player.
Potential targets: Samuel Pahlsson, Chad LaRose, John Madden, P.J. Axelsson, Ian Laperriere
What our Central Division opponents want: Second City Hockey (Blackhawks), The Cannon (Blue Jackets), On the Forecheck (Predators), and St. Louis Game Time (Blues)

What We Do Know: The Red Wings have informed Ty Conklin (goaltender) and Chris Chelios (defenseman) that they will not be offering them deals. Due to the salary cap and Jimmy Howard having to clear waivers now, there's just not room for Conklin. Detroit has offered Darren McCarty a two-way contract, which would allow him to stay with the Wings but will keep him down in Grand Rapids for most of the season. He has not made his decision yet.

If Marian Hossa is not re-signed by today, GM Ken Holland could try to trade away the negotiating rights to the star forward. As we pointed out on Sunday, it's not looking like the Wings are going to get a deal done. If that's the case, let's hope Detroit can get something positive out of it.

Based on their playoff performances, Darren Helm (forward) and Jonathan Ericsson (defenseman) have earned spots on the roster so that will help offset whatever personnel losses the Wings experience during free agency. If Holland can re-sign RFA Ville Leino, he should also join the Red Wings' lineup this upcoming season. Should Hossa stay and the roster is short a few players, expect Holland to insert Justin Abdelkader into the lineup purely for financial reasons.

Now It's Your Turn: Who do you want to see stay or go? Who do you want to see Detroit target this summer? Tell us know in the comments.

Detroit Red Wings 2009 NHL Entry Draft Review

Christy — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:21:31 -0000

More photos » by Ryan Remiorz - AP

8 days ago: Tomas Tatar, from Slovakia, who was the second pick of the Detroit Red Wings in the second round, waits to be interviewed at the 2009 NHL hockey entry draft in Montreal Saturday, June 27, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Ryan Remiorz)

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So we've had a couple days to look over the Detroit Red Wings picks in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. While we won't know the results of these picks for quite a few years, it doesn't hurt to review what went down over the weekend.

Here's a list of our posts on each of Detroit's seven draft picks to learn more in detail about each of Detroit's selections this weekend:

Landon Ferraro -- 2nd Round (32nd overall)
Tomas Tatar -- 2nd Round (60th overall)
Andrej Nestrasil -- 3rd Round (75th overall)
Gleason Fournier -- 3rd Round (90th overall)
Nick Jensen -- 5th Round (120th overall)
Mitchell Callahan -- 6th Round (150th overall)
Adam Almqvist -- 7th Round (210th overall)

Overall, the Red Wings had a slightly different draft strategy than what we saw last year. In 2009, the Wings drafted just one Swede (shocking, I know) and avoided goaltenders altogether (going with four forwards and three defensemen instead). Even more surprising is that they took a chance on an instigator-type named Mitchell Callahan. Scouts and team management hope to grab one, maybe two NHLers, each year at the draft. The Wings are especially pleased with their top three selections and it's easy to see why.

Ferraro may not have been selected in the first round, but he's a first-round quality player. Don't let the smaller frame fool you, he's a tenacious player who isn't afraid to go to the front of the net or aggressively forecheck. Plus, we know the Wings love guys who can skate and he was named the fastest skater at the Top Prospects Game.
Tatar was a stud during the World Junior Championships this past winter, scoring seven goals and notching four assists in just seven games. I think his stock fell at the draft because teams weren't sure if it was a one-time fluke or if he could play consistently well like that. Detroit's scouting staff followed him after the WJC and felt confident in his skill level so they were excited to be able to still snag him late in the second round. He has been compared to Jiri Hudler. It also doesn't hurt that he grew up a Wings' fan!
Nestrasil is a good-sized right winger (6-2, 200 lbs) who knows how to use his big body to protect the puck. Assistant GM Jim Nill says that he does well in the corners and "is bigger than Tomas Kopecky was at that age."

For more reactions to the Red Wings' draft picks, you can view an assortment of press (and blog) clippings after the jump.

Overall Wings' Draft Clippings:

The Macomb Daily Blogs: Red Wings Corner: Nill's thoughts on the 2009 draft

Red Wings pick forwards Landon Ferraro, Tomas Tatar, Andrej Nestrasil, four others in draft - MLive.com

Detroit Draft Review ‘09 " Babcock's Death Stare

Detroit Red Wings 2009 Draft Review | Bleacher Report

Landon Ferraro Clippings:

Wait tough on father, son - Edmonton Journa

Wings' top pick Landon Ferraro feisty like dad | detnews.com | The Detroit News

Red Wings pick Landon Ferraro on NHL draft nerves - NHL - Yahoo! Sports

NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft: Ex-NHL stars thrilled to see their sons drafted

Red Wings take a chance on offensive-minded forward Landon Ferraro | Freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Ray Ferraro shares his experience at son Landon's draft

TSN’s Ferraro forced to play the waiting game - The Globe and Mail

NHL Draft Notes: Ferraro, Landon - C - Red Deer WHL

Prospect Landon Ferraro Player Profile - Hockey's Future

Devils at the 2009 NHL Draft: A Landon Ferraro Overview - In Lou We Trust

NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft: Ferraro has no shortage of career advisers

NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles: Ferraro, Landon

2009 NHL Entry Draft Prospects: Landon Ferraro - Stanley Cup of Chowder

Red Wings take Ferraro with first 2nd-round pick

Speedster Landon Ferraro makes own name on ice

Like father, like son for prospects Ferraro, Barrie

Burnaby NewsLeader - Ferraro finally ready for NHL draft

Tomas Tatar Clippings:

NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles: Tatar, Tomas

The Macomb Daily Blogs: Red Wings Corner: Red Wings take Tatar with second 2nd-rounder

Prospect Tomas Tatar Player Profile - Hockey's Future

Nick Jensen Clippings:

McKeen's Hockey Prospects - USHL: Q&A with Nick Jensen

NHL Draft Prospect: Nick Jensen - Western College Hockey Blog

Nick Jensen - The official site of the Green Bay Gamblers Hockey Team

Gleason Fournier Clipping: NHL.com - NHL Entry Draft Prospect Profiles: Fournier, Gleason

Mitchell Callahan Clipping: Nice Surprises For Rockets At NHL Draft | AM 1150 Kelowna - News Talk Sports for the Okanagan

Poll

What grade would you give the Red Wings' scouts/front office on their 2009 draft selections based on player projections?

2009 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings select Adam Almqvist in seventh round

Christy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:28:09 -0000

With the second to last pick in the entire 2009 NHL Entry Draft (and Detroit's last selection), the Detroit Red Wings tabbed Adam Almqvist with the 210th pick. Finally -- a Swede! He had eight goals and 28 assists in 41 games with Hv 71 Jr. (a Swedish junior league).

Quick Stats:

Born: February 27, 1991 (Jonkoping, Sweden)

Position: Defenseman (shoots left)

Size: 5-10, 169 pounds

Detroit Free Press:

Nill joked that in the final round they had to let Hakan Andersson, director of European scouting, take a Swede.

Almqvist, 5-foot-10, 169-pounds, is definitely a long-term project. He hasn’t yet played in the men’s league in Sweden.
“He’s very immature physically,” Nill said. “He’s small and weak. But he’s got good hockey sense. He’s gotta work on his skating. We’ll see if he develops physically.”

Elite Prospects:

A really offensively skilled defenseman. Almquist has top-notch hockey sense and passing ability. Has the ability to turn the game quickly with long and distinct passes. Puts up a lot of points from the blueline, where his set-up ability comes in handy.

On the downside, Almquist needs to improve his skating skills and even more so his strength and fill out his frame. Although being undersized, he likes to play the body at times, but his game would really be much better with improved size and strength.

Babcock's Death Stare:

STRENGTHS: Those who have seen him marvel at his hockey sense. He’s a great offensive defenseman and quarterbacks the powerplay with a pretty hard shot and a keen passing ability. He boasts an excellent breakout pass, and the nationality to do well in Detroit.

WEAKNESSES: Not an elite level skater like other small defensemen. When I first looked at his profile on EliteProspects he was listed at 148 pounds which is downright tiny. Apparently this is because he hasn’t weighed in since the beginning of the season because he was not on the international team, but his weight has since been changed to 165, consistent with the 169 he’s listed at by the NHL.

FUTURE: He’s apparently going to get a good look at the SEL, which would be tremendous for a player selected at his position. Something like that might get him back on the radar of the national team.

2009 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings select Mitchell Callahan in sixth round

Christy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:01:37 -0000

With their second to last pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, the Detroit Red Wings pick Mitchell Callahan in the sixth round (190th overall). The right winger had 13 goals and 14 helpers in 70 games with the Kelowna Rockets in the WHL. Sounds like he's the tough, enforcer type so that's something new for us -- 20 fights in the WHL this year alone according to HockeyFights.com.

Quick Stats:

Born: August 17, 1991 (Whittier, CA)

Position: Right wing (shoots right)

Size: 5-11, 175 pounds

Detroit Free Press:

“He’s a little ball of trouble,” Nill said of Callahan, who was unranked by NHL Central Scouting. “Every time he’s on the ice something happens. He’s fearless. We don’t have a lot of that in our organization and we hope he turns into a Sean Avery-type, a real instigator type.”

Detroit News:

Callahan could be a crowd favorite if he ever makes it to Joe Louis Arena. He had 188 penalty minutes in Kelowna (Western League) last season and is one of the league's best fighters.

"He's a tank," Nill said.

NHL Draft Notes:

Strengths: Excellent fighter. Fearless style and works hard. Just enough skating and skill to be interesting.

Weaknesses: Might not have the frame to play his style at the next level.

Who'd have thought the toughest guy from the Dub in this year's draft would be from Southern California? The rugged style and fighting ability is the big draw here. But has just enough skating and skill to make for an intriguing middle round sleeper.

Great on-ice work ethic. Is strong defensively and a decent penalty killer. Lots of improvement from September to March this season. I think there could be some hidden offensive upside. Even if his best case upside is only a 5-10 goal scorer in the NHL, with the defensive play, physical style, and willingness to drop the gloves, that could be a really valuable guy to have.

Red Wings Central:

ANALYSIS: The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder finished third in the WHL with 188 penalty minutes en route to the Memorial Cup final with Kelowna. He plays a robust style, drops the gloves in a heartbeat and produced 27 points along the way. He'll get more ice time in 2009-10 and how he responds will be telling.

AM 1150:

You have to feel especially happy for Mitchell Callahan. A tryout at Rockets training camp last fall and now he is associated with the NHL's Detroit Red Wings. Callahan is simply a good news story. When the Wings were making their second to last pick at the draft Saturday, they must have been looking for a player with no fear and someone who has a competitive edge. That player is Mitchell Callahan. Callahan led all WHL rookies in fighting majors with 20, and frankly could have had more had the coaching staff not pulled back the reins to contain his enthusiasm to chuck the knuckles. No question Callahan has many rough edges, but the Wings see a player who will go through the wall for his teammates, a trait you simply can't teach. The Wings have a proven track record of making astute moves late in the draft, and with a little time and patience along the way, maybe Callahan can be playing in Motor City someday.

2009 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings select Nick Jensen in fifth round

Christy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:33:11 -0000

The Detroit Red Wings used their fifth round pick (150th overall) to draft defenseman Nick Jensen -- Detroit's first American-born selection. He notched five goals and 17 assists with the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL). He led his team (and league) with a +34 rating.

Quick Stats:

Born: September 21, 1990 (St. Paul, Minn.)

Position: Defenseman (shoots right)

Size: 6-1, 187 pounds

The nice thing about Jensen is he will play another year in the USHL before heading to St. Cloud State University where he has already committed, giving Detroit quite some time to watch him develop.

Interview with McKeen's Hockey:

McKeen's: That's good. That means I'm not off base. We talked about this a bit already, but what are the areas of your game that you consider your strengths and what style of play would you say you play?

Jensen: Umm, well, like I said before, I like to be offensive, and I started out a little more defensive, but right now, I like to join the play a lot more. At the same time, I like to work on playing defense, too. I'd kind of like to have both offense, joining the play, and then playing defense at the same time. ...

McKeen's: Who were some of your favorite players growing up and why, and you're not that old yet, and who are some players today that you'd like to equate to?

Jensen: Well, when I was little, I never really watched any professional teams. Elk River was the only high school around there, we were Elk River hockey. Paul Martin was from there at the time, so I obviously looked up to him, because he was a defenseman and I wanted to be a defenseman, and he was Mr. Hockey, which is always a big deal. That's who I looked up to. Now, I look in the NHL and defensemen (pauses), Nicklas Lidstrom is one of my favorites. He's, well, (pauses)…a very good defenseman. So, I'd like to be like him, sometime.

Western College Hockey blog:

Playing in the USHL helped Jensen learn to become a more responsible defenseman, as evidenced by his impressive +/- rating, but he also possesses the natural abilities to be an offensive force. As he matures and becomes better at balancing his offense and defense, he should develop into a reliable two-way defenseman.

Strengths: Skating, Puck-Handling, Reliability

Needs to Improve: Strength, Confidence in offensive abilities

Miscellaneous: Father Jeff Jensen was a 10th round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies in the 1978 NHL Amateur Draft

2009 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings select Gleason Fournier in third round

Christy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:20:26 -0000

The Detroit Red Wings take Gleason Fournier with their last pick of two in the third round. Despite Assistant GM Jim Nill saying that the Wings would select a defenseman with one of their first couple of picks, Fournier was their first defenseman at the 90th overall pick and their fourth of the day. In 66 games with Rimouski (QMJHL), he recorded three goals and 25 assists.

Quick Stats:

Born: September 8, 1991 (St-Fabien, QC)

Position: Defenseman (shoots left)

Size: 6-0, 176 pounds

Bonus: His favorite team is the Detroit Red Wings & his favorite shootout move is the "Datsyuk move"

Hockey's Future:

Talented offensively, the problem for Gleason Fournier is that he is a defenseman first and foremost, but sometimes he doesn't play like one. Able to make quick decisions with the puck and move it well, he sometimes struggles in his own end, especially when under pressure. A valuable tool on the power play, at 6'0 and 174 pounds, he would benefit tremendously if he can get larger and stronger on his skates in the coming years.

Journal L'Avantage Rene Alary (roughly translated):

"The round is not important. What I want is to be identified to a club in the National League, "said defender No. 14 of the Océanic.

He also spent a week in Toronto at the end of May. Three teams have seemed to show more interest. "I had interviews with seven clubs. My best feelings were with Detroit, Vancouver and Calgary, "says he will be accompanied by some twenty members of his family.

Sports Forecaster:

Scouting Report: Was a part of the Oceanic squad that hosted the 2009 Memorial Cup, but he saw limited ice time... has some potential in the physical department, as well as some upside on offense, but he needs to make better decisions with or without the puck... is somewhat undersized and needs to get significantly stronger to be better prepared to handle professional forwards in front of the net... was rated 62nd among North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings...

Red Wings Central:

ANALYSIS: Fournier is a slight 6-foot, 176-pound offensive defenseman who was a teammate of Red Wings prospect Sebastien Piche with the Memorial Cup host Rimouski Oceanic. He's a pick not unlike Brendan Smith. As he gets bigger, he could emerge as a big point-producer in the QMJHL.

Babcock's Death Stare:

I like the Fournier pick because it’s really a boom or bust, there’s no middle ground. He’s a one dimensional offensive defenseman, he’s either going to be a solid offensive defenseman or he’s never going to see the NHL. There’s not a lot of middle ground in the NHL for a player of his type. Fournier, as seen by his NHL Draft Profile, is also a Red Wings fan. It’s no wonder how Detroit discovered him as they signed fellow Rimouski defenseman Sebastien Piche in March. Coincidentally, with Piche moving to the AHL, Fournier will be eating up a lot of his minutes, especially powerplay.

2009 NHL Draft: Detroit Red Wings select Andrej Nestrasil in third round

Christy — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:12:17 -0000

With the 75th overall pick (and their first of two in the third round), the Detroit Red Wings picked Andrej Nestrasil who can play center and right wing. He tallied 22 goals and 35 assists with the Victoriaville Tigres.

Quick Stats:

Born: Februrary 22, 1991 (Prague, Czech Republic)

Position: Right Wing (shoots left)

Size: 6-2, 194 pounds

Detroit Free Press:

Nill said Nestrasil is strong in the corners, is bigger than Tomas Kopecky was at the same age and wanted to come over early to begin playing the North American style of hockey. Nill said they were impressed by Nestrasil's play at the under-18 world championships. "We saw him late April and thought he was the best player on the Czech team," Nill said.

Hockey's Future:

Nestrasil's ability to make plays at high speed allows him to surprise his opponents and catch opposing defensemen flat-footed. At 6'2 and 194 pounds, Nestrasil has decent size, but he still has some work to do in adapting to the physical style in North America and playing a more complete game.

Sports Forecaster:

Scouting Report: As a QMJHL rookie, he produced 57 points--fourth in the league--and tied for third in freshman goals with 22... has good size and excellent puck skills; he's equally effective playing a setup role or finishing plays himself... needs to work on his skating and defensive-zone coverage in order to maximize his pro potential... is versatile enough to play both wing or center... must work on his game-to-game consistency and increase his work rate...

Red Wings Central:

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Nestrasil came over from the Czech Republic and adjusted well to the QMJHL with the Victoriaville Tigres. He had 57 points in 66 games impressed the Red Wings at the world under-18 championship. His skating needs work, but he plays a new-age power forward game.

Babcock's Death Stare:

STRENGTHS: Nestrasil is a pretty dynamic offensive player. His hands seem to be underrated and one of the biggest parts of his game. He can get really creative with the puck and his frame allows him to shield it as well. He’s an excellent passer, but has a strong shot as well. He showed flashes in the QMJHL of really having the ability to take over a game, doing more of that later in the season. With the Czech Republic at the u-18 tournament, he was one of the Czechs best penalty killers as he uses his stick very well.

WEAKNESSES: He is not a great skater, he lacks the leg strength to get to his top speed, which isn’t much to begin with. This can be rectified with proper training. He’s also somewhat inconsistent, and was benched in December before turning his game around for the second half of the season.