Chelios remains in Detroit for one more year
44 year old defenseman, Chris Chelios, re-signed with the Red Wings for a one year contract worth $850,000. Last season, he made the same amount of money. It will be his seventh full season in Hockeytown and his 23rd in the NHL. “This is where I want to stay, because of the organization, the team, the coaching staff. This is where I want to play,” Chelios said.
I think most people expected GM Ken Holland to re-sign Chelios because of his strong play over the last season, especially when he stepped up after Niklas Kronwall suffered a knee injury and Jiri Fischer had the heart problem. Sadly, our oldest player was one of our better defensemen in the playoffs.
“When we had injuries to Jiri Fischer and Niklas Kronwall (last season), he really bailed us out,” Holland said. “He was a big part of us finishing second in the league in goals-against average and third in penalty-killing. Those are key situations to having a successful season.”
How’s the rest of the defense coming along?
Cory Cross, the defenseman that Oilers fans loved to poke fun at the Wings for, will not be returning to Detroit next season. Holland informed Cross that his option will not be picked up. I’m not sure hot much that option is actually worth. The Detroit Free Press says it’s $912,000 while MLive says $893,000.
The Wings also don’t expect Jiri Fischer to get clearance to play from his heart ailment that sidelined him last season. Next year’s defense will look pretty similar to that of last season’s. Mathieu Schneider, Andreas Lilja, and Niklas Kronwall are all under contract and will retun for the 2006-2007 season. Chelios is returning and it looks like Lebda will be as well. “He’d have to play his way off the team,” Holland said. “We think he’s certainly going to make it.”
Now that Brad Richards signed a ridiculous contract worth $7.8 million/year for five years, Nicklas Lidstrom’s agent (Don Meehan) will be vying for the maximum salary allowed. Holland hopes to start negotiations with Meehan later this week. Don’t get me wrong, Richards is a great player but not enough to cost Tampa Bay around $20 million for three forwards! And with Lidstrom most likely getting his fourth Norris Trophy this season, Holland will have a hard time convincing Meehan to take a lower than max salary.
Goaltending…
There isn’t a whole lot going on in this front. Holland hasn’t had his exit interview with goaltender Manny Legace yet and hasn’t made a decision on whether he will offer him a contract or not.
GM Holland has talked with Chris Osgood’s agent, Rollie Thompson. They plan on talking in early June. “If we don’t see him as a No. 1 guy, does he want to be the backup here or pursue a No. 1 job somewhere else?” Holland said.
Offense
Captain Steve Yzerman’s future is still undetermined, but Holland has told him that he doesn’t need a decision until the middle of June.
“When he feels he’s made his decision, I’m sure he will call me. He is making a decision on his career. I want him to have all the necessary time, but there is a time frame, heading into the draft on the 24th of June, that I would like to know.”
Last week, Holland talked with Shanahan for a couple of hours in Latvia. “Brendan said he’ll talk with his wife and his agent and get back to me. Then we’ll decide if we’re going to negotiate or if he wants to hit the market,” Holland said.Last season, Shanny made $2.28 million and the Wings will probably be willing to make an offer similar to that, but since he’s an unrestricted free agent he might get an offer from another team that the Wings won’t be able to match. “I would like Brendan back, and I expressed that to him,” Holland said. “But money is everything in this new CBA (collective bargaining agreement). There’s a limited amount of money to spend.”
Prospects
Forward prospect Igor Grigorenko just signed a one year contract with a Russian club for $1 million. Holland is confident he’ll be able to sign Grigorenko for the 2007-2008 season. “I don’t think another year in the Russian League would be all that bad for him,” Holland said. “Skating was the area he needed the most improvement on.”
Evan McGrath, forward for Kitchener an OHL team, was the Wings fourth round draft pick in 2004. The Wings have been trying to sign a deal with McGrath for over a month. If he isn’t signed by June 1st, he goes back into the draft.
Staff Meeting
All of Detroit’s scounts and front office personnel will meet June 4-6 to talk about free agents and possible trades.
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August 20th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
[…] - Veteran defenseman Chris Chelios re-signed for one more year at $850,000 to start the offseason. […]