WTFchris
02-26-2007, 09:50 AM
Here is the latest report on the Wings plans:
Trade for second-tier players appears to be only option
Monday, February 26, 2007By Ansar Khan
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings management staff gathered in Chicago on Sunday to further analyze their options prior to Tuesday's 3 p.m. NHL trading deadline.
The Wings, who visit the Blackhawks on Tuesday, are trying to upgrade their beleaguered No. 2 scoring line. It appears they'll have to do it with a second-tier player or two because the going rate for high-end talent is more exorbitant than anyone imagined.
"The so-called rental-player price is significantly higher than it's been in the past . . . Maybe sellers figure there's a lot of buyers,'' Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We're prepared to deal some futures -- prospects or draft picks -- but we're not going to empty the cupboard to make one more run at the (Stanley) Cup.''
The Atlanta Thrashers paid a steep price Sunday for St. Louis left wing Keith Tkachuk (first-, second- and third-round draft picks, forward Glen Metropolit and potentially another first-round pick). That was too rich for the Wings, who are likely out of the bidding for Tkachuk's teammate, Bill Guerin, who'll fetch a similar bounty.
Reports out of New York indicate the Wings are one of five Western Conference clubs who've made an offer for Islanders left wing Jason Blake, the team's leading scorer. The Wings are continuing talks with Florida, who might move forwards Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas and Jozef Stumpel. The Panthers' Todd Bertuzzi, out since October because of back surgery, is not likely to be dealt because he won't return until later in the week. The Wings might also make a pitch for Washington's Dainius Zubrus or Richard Zednik or Phoenix's Owen Nolan.
Whatever they do, the Wings must get some production out of their second line, which will be without Dan Cleary for three-to-four weeks (sprained knee ligament). Robert Lang has two goals and no assists in his last 17 games and Jason Williams has four goals and one assist in his last 18 games.
"We need way more out of them,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "We got to find a way to make it happen. Right now we need more balance, and we haven't been getting it.''
Babcock filled Cleary's spot with Johan Franzen during Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss in Nashville. He said he doesn't plan on trying rookies Valtteri Filppula or Jiri Hudler on the second line for any extended period. And he also has no designs on breaking up his red-hot top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom.
Babcock knows the Wings need more than one line to generate offense in the playoffs.
"We need more than that to be successful at playoff time because your (top) guys are going to get checked down, so you need secondary scoring and Robert Lang and his line have the ability to do that,'' Babcock said. "We had Lang's line carry us for a long chunk of time (in December). That hasn't been the case lately. You try to get everybody going at the right time, that's how you 're successful.''
Trade for second-tier players appears to be only option
Monday, February 26, 2007By Ansar Khan
DETROIT -- The Detroit Red Wings management staff gathered in Chicago on Sunday to further analyze their options prior to Tuesday's 3 p.m. NHL trading deadline.
The Wings, who visit the Blackhawks on Tuesday, are trying to upgrade their beleaguered No. 2 scoring line. It appears they'll have to do it with a second-tier player or two because the going rate for high-end talent is more exorbitant than anyone imagined.
"The so-called rental-player price is significantly higher than it's been in the past . . . Maybe sellers figure there's a lot of buyers,'' Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We're prepared to deal some futures -- prospects or draft picks -- but we're not going to empty the cupboard to make one more run at the (Stanley) Cup.''
The Atlanta Thrashers paid a steep price Sunday for St. Louis left wing Keith Tkachuk (first-, second- and third-round draft picks, forward Glen Metropolit and potentially another first-round pick). That was too rich for the Wings, who are likely out of the bidding for Tkachuk's teammate, Bill Guerin, who'll fetch a similar bounty.
Reports out of New York indicate the Wings are one of five Western Conference clubs who've made an offer for Islanders left wing Jason Blake, the team's leading scorer. The Wings are continuing talks with Florida, who might move forwards Gary Roberts, Martin Gelinas and Jozef Stumpel. The Panthers' Todd Bertuzzi, out since October because of back surgery, is not likely to be dealt because he won't return until later in the week. The Wings might also make a pitch for Washington's Dainius Zubrus or Richard Zednik or Phoenix's Owen Nolan.
Whatever they do, the Wings must get some production out of their second line, which will be without Dan Cleary for three-to-four weeks (sprained knee ligament). Robert Lang has two goals and no assists in his last 17 games and Jason Williams has four goals and one assist in his last 18 games.
"We need way more out of them,'' coach Mike Babcock said. "We got to find a way to make it happen. Right now we need more balance, and we haven't been getting it.''
Babcock filled Cleary's spot with Johan Franzen during Saturday's 4-3 overtime loss in Nashville. He said he doesn't plan on trying rookies Valtteri Filppula or Jiri Hudler on the second line for any extended period. And he also has no designs on breaking up his red-hot top line of Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Tomas Holmstrom.
Babcock knows the Wings need more than one line to generate offense in the playoffs.
"We need more than that to be successful at playoff time because your (top) guys are going to get checked down, so you need secondary scoring and Robert Lang and his line have the ability to do that,'' Babcock said. "We had Lang's line carry us for a long chunk of time (in December). That hasn't been the case lately. You try to get everybody going at the right time, that's how you 're successful.''