Holland Will Be Aggressive
For those of you who still had lingering fears of Mr. Ken Holland being timid about the Free Agent Pool this off-season - you can put those fears to bed.Kenny "Tick Tock" Holland has heard our pleas for help with this team. He heard our collective groans as we stood idly by at the trade deadline and he heard our gasps of horrors as THE greatest defenseman of all time hung up the skates for good.
He heard us and is acting accordingly. Kenny knows that the time for change is now and he is going to pull out all the stops to make it right again.
Make the jump to see what Ken is willing to do that he has NEVER done before...
When a team knows that it cannot or will not re-sign a potential Free Agent (a la Tomas Vokoun in Pittsburgh), the team can trade away the exclusive rights to negotiate with that player before the July 1st deadline makes them a Free Agent. Ken Holland has never ever traded for the negotiating rights for a player. But this year is different...
"We'll do whatever we [have] to do that makes good business sense. When the opportunity presents itself, we have to be ready." --Ken Holland
That quote comes to us via Khan(!). So when Parise asks for more than the Devils can afford to pay - Kenny will be there. When Suter decides that Nashville - Carrie Underwood not withstanding - is just not the place for him...Kenny will be there.
Kenny will be there.
"We went over players that may be available through trade, either from what we've heard through rumors or based on conversations I've had with other people. It's really just a lot of preparation, so when things finally present themselves I know what our people are thinking." --Ken Holland
This is a bit of invigorating news from our usual "cool as a cucumber" General Manager. I know that Ken Holland and the Detroit Red Wings organ-i-zation commands Free Agency consideration on its own...but there comes a time when you can't sit back and wait for the fish to come to you.
This summer is one of those times.
Go get 'em, Kenny.
The only caveat I would add to this is while I want Kenny to be ultra aggressive, I also don't want to sell the future of this team, just to be a cup contender for the next few years. Think if we would have gotten rid of Pav or Hank after 2002. I don't expect that to happen, but felt it needed to be said.
@thebiglachovsky I expect KH to be more forward thinking than to sell the team's future. They've long said the team should be built through prospect development and smart drafting. But I do expect a big splash in July.
I think everyone realizes that not making big moves this off-season equates to going downhill from one of our worst years in a while. Staying pat would be the dumbest option (sell the farm for a rebuild would make more sense), so I see him doing everything he can. However, KH already has noted that there are distinct possibilities of the big name FAs being off the market before July 1, so I am seeing trading being our most likely problem solver.Emmerton for Iginla, Summer 2012! ;)
The more I think about it, the more willing I am to let some players go that I would have screamed about during the season. Maybe Hank, Pav, Kronner, and Bert (sorry, I don't want to see bert go) are the only ones that I would want on the chopping block. Rebuild year? cool, bring it on. Its probably long overdue anyway. But we have to get some big players this year.
In Kenny we trust.
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@magnum9 I presume you mean wouldn't want on the chopping block? And yes agreed with helmer and smith. I don't think we need a rebuild. just a decent reload.
@Reddy I don't think he's be hard to replace with a third/fourth liner who has energy and doesn't need to be playing with Datsyuk to be effective. I just don't like Bert being in the top six.
@Kronwalled55 @NOHS Drew @Reddy We don't know that. Speculation is just that. I sure hope he pans out the way he should but more players end up being a flop or just an average Joe than become the heart and soul of a team. He has enough potential to draw significant trade interest. Don't get me wrong, if he were involved in a trade it would have to be something BIG.
Ah yes...
The down side to typing things while you should be working.
I WOULDN'T want them on chopping block... But you guys knew what I meant.
Sure, maybe add Helm to that. But Smith? I dunno... If Stuart for some crazy reason stays and Suter is talking back door to Holland about coming in then I would say Smith could be a possible trade option.
@NOHS Drew @Reddy @magnum9 I just assumed that "Bert" was a typo and he meant to type "Helm & Smith".I really, really, really wish Bert could be traded.
Kenny heard us during all those previous situations and probably just laughed to himself and said "This is why I'm GM motherf*ckers, I'm ten moves ahead of you." It's pretty obvious Kenny and the boys have been planning for this summer for a while now.
@marti783 I hate to disagree, but I think he's been planning this summer since the Wings were bounced in five games.
Remember last summer when everyone said he was genius for leaving cap room that could be filled at the trade deadline?
@garth @marti783 Agreed on this Garth.
Kenny and the crew seem to always be convinced that they have a Stanley Cup club on the ice. I believe the last couple years have significantly bruised the ego. I am just hoping they did enough that the brass will make some big and maybe even risky moves. With Lid's going, no power forwards, and Stuart likely gone, this team is a middle of the road team at best. If Holland wants to make this team a cup contender again, the moves will need to be big.
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@magnum9 @garth Personally, I think we need to adjust what we think a great team is. I really think we have to stop thinking the '08 team is achievable again, because it isn't. I don't think we have slipped the last few years as much as the rest of the league has caught up. 6 or 7 years in to the CBA and this is exactly what the league wanted and expected. We're a couple tweaks, in my opinion, from being able to go on a run just like LA. A fabulous core, great young talent in our system and plenty of cap space. The next few years will be fun so long as there is not another lock out.
