2010-2011 Roster: Two Scoring Lines or Three?

I'm sitting at a Second Cup cafe sipping on a vanilla bean latte. In the midst of this, the Detroit lineup is very much on my mind. I've done my line making for the Red Wings forwards and have them etched out as best as I can, but looking at the list, I noticed a hole, and wasn't sure why I hadn't noticed it before:

Detroit doesn't have a high-offense 1st line right winger. The top two RW we have currently are Tomas Holmstrom and Todd Bertuzzi, and with all respect to both, neither have the offensive talent to put up numbers like Hank Zetterberg on LW and Pavel Datsyuk at C. In reality, the current lineup only works because Detroit is only running two dedicated scoring lines and has two checking/grit lines. Successful Wings teams of the past have run more of a 3-1 lineup in favor of scoring lines, with that last line chalk full of grit and nastiness, able to really get in a team's face. Sadly, despite their efforts, the bottom two lines for Detroit last season did not really accomplish this.

So, with the prospect of some of the older Wings potentially saying goodbye either through retirement or re-assignment with another team (as well as Ledba and Williams almost assuredly being kicked to the curb), I pose this question: should Detroit try to set up three dedicated scoring lines to add more offensive depth and, more importantly, consistency? And if so, should the Wings make a move to gain a more offensively dangerous right winger?

I understand that Detroit struggled with injuries last year, and I haven't forgotten the March to the Playoffs. I do, however, remember a postseason plagued with inconsistent scoring, and losing key games when the top two lines simply couldn't cash in. I think a 1st line RW could help Detroit spread out their lines enough to create three scoring lines, and add the offensive depth to keep the Wings in the win column more consistently.

Here's a theory I came up with, just to play with: what about Pavol Demitra? Demitra, much like the Red Wings, is coming off a rough season, not even playing in 30 regular season games, but was still averaging around a point every game-and-a-half. His salary last year? $4 Million, which I feel has to come down with his short year last season an his age. If we could pick him up for between $3-3.5 Million, I would consider trying to acquire him. With Demitra, you have a guy to go on your 1st line, then you can bring Holmstrom down to the 2nd line and free up someone like Bertuzzi to bring offensive punch to what could now be a 3rd scoring line with more size and grit (something like Franzen-Helm-Bertuzzi). Then you have a 4th line that can focus on being as nasty as it likes with the opposition with Abdelkader leading it.

This is pure speculation, but the getting tougher shtick in the Playoffs only worked for us when we were also scoring goals. When the scoring touch wasn't there, it just looked like the kid who always got picked on in school trying to fight te playground bully: a lot of posturing, but very little difference in the outcome.

I say if the money's there, Kenny should at least take the time to look into it. Sometimes window shopping can pay off.

Confirmed: Lidstrom Signs 1-Year, $6.2M Deal with Detroit

Booth Newspapers and MLive.com are now reporting that Nicklas Lidstrom has signed for $6.2 Million with the Detroit Red Wings. This is the lowest number we've heard on the rumor mill thus far today, and sources seem to believe this is the actual confirmed amount that Lidstrom has agreed to. (UPDATE: At this time, it has now been confirmed completely)

If this is the case, the Red Wings captain has agreed to a pay cut of $1.25 Million. This, along with the reported $2 Million Salary Cap increase coming for next season, gives the Wings an extra $3.25 Million to play with for signings. In other words: don't worry about where we'll get the money to pay Jiri Hudler for his return, it's already taken care of.

There were a lot of reports floating around about how much Nick would sign more, and I felt around $6 Million was very reasonable. Some reports were suggesting $7 Million. Really? Would it even have been worth the effort to shave off $450,000? I'm pleased with the $6.2 million and thrilled that Lids is sticking around for at least another year.

Now Red Wings Nation can get back to worrying about the REST of the lineup!

Sources: Lidstrom Slated to Return

Per info that has come down from Booth Newspapers, the Wings Captain Nicklas Lidstrom has decided to return. The 40 year old Lidstrom reportedly will sign a one-year contract; however, the exact amount of the deal has yet to be disclosed. A number that is being tossed around currently is $6 million, but we will have to wait for the official news from the team to know for sure. We will certainly keep you updated throughout the day as information comes in here at The Datsyukian Geek, but the biggest question has been answered: Nick Lidstrom is coming back.

Oh Captain, My Captain...Yzerman Set to Sail New Waters as Bolts GM

He entered the franchise in 1983. He has three Stanley Cup rings as a player and one in management. But most importantly of all, he came to a team down on its luck and brought about a miracle. That miracle was called 'Hockeytown', and now it is with a sad-but-grudgingly-hopeful heart that I write here today on the confirmation of Steve Yzerman as the new General Manager of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It is official: Stevie Y is saying goodbye to Hockeytown.

For Now.

In the previous days, there were many reports that Yzerman had turned down the offer to GM for the Bolts, but nothing concrete had ever surfaced to say that Steve was ever truly out of the picture. Tampa is scheduled to formally announce Yzerman's hiring at a press conference to be held just three hours from now, at 3PM EST. More recent reports that have come out since the confirmation are hinting at the idea that Steve could end up becoming the highest paid GM in the NHL. If that's the case, let's look at just some of what the Lightning are buying into:

- Steve had a brilliant career marked with success, both individually and with the Red Wings as a team, bringing Detroit to the postseason year after year, and leading them to 3 Stanley Cups.

- He has sat in the front office with Detroit since his hanging up of the skates, and has had the opportunity to watch the best GM in the league, Ken Holland, work his magic and likely pick up a few of Kenny's tricks as well as some of his savvy.

- Steve is an icon of the game, who will bring a lot of credibility to Tampa in a very short amount of time. This is something the Bolts fanbase should be going crazy over with excitement.

- Most recently Yzerman GM'd the Gold Medal-winning Canadian Olympic team in Vancouver, proving in no uncertain terms that he's ready for a spot like this.

As much as it hurts, and trust me it does, I obviously wish Steve nothing but happiness and success in his venture with Tampa. I only hope that our paths are meant to cross again, because the Red Wings will just not be the same without Steve Yzerman somewhere in the mix.

I will miss you Captain, and we all will always love you and what you did for us here in Detroit.

Thank you.