| 20 July 2010
So Modano told the Free Press that he'll make his decision sometime next month once he starts skating again. Sounds far, doesn't it? Helene St. James also reports that the contract laid down by the Detroit Red Wings was for $1.25 million...a bit more than I'm probably willing to pay.
But what really makes me angry is this:
His decision directly will affect restricted
But again, Kenny Holland insists that Abby and Helmer will both be on the roster next season - all that will be changed is the length of the contracts that they sign this year.
If a deal with Modano doesn't materialize, Abdelkader will get center the third line and Helm will pivot the fourth line. With Modano on board, Abdelkader and Helm would drop to the fourth line, and if they know that, they'd be more likely to opt for one-year contracts.
So you'd have two guys who already have 3 pro-contracts with one team before their 25th birthday? That doesn't make much sense to me. And bringing Modano in means that someone would have to go...
The Wings have 11 forwards signed to one-way contracts, and while Mattias Ritola's contract for next season is a two-way deal, he can't be sent to the minors without going through waivers. Helm and Abdelkader would bring the count to 14, and Modano 15 -- which means someone would be traded. Ritola is the most vulnerable, as his youth (23), potential to be a grinding center and $516,667 salary likely would entice a team to give up a draft
Ritola has been my favorite Griffin for a few years now and his name is WAY too cool for him to pass through waivers without getting picked up. So at this point, it doesn't seem like we bring Modano in without saying goodbye or at the very least, pissing off one of our younger core players - so at this point - I am saying 'No to Mo'.
But of course, now we'll have to wait until August to figure out what he is actually going to do. Thanks Brett Far....errr....Mike Modano.
