Day 2 Doldrums: Free Agency Update

After sitting through hours of maybes and almosts, a few done deals, some laughs with the guys at The Production Line and those who went to their chat for coverage, and wishing for a bottle of Visene to be squeezed into submission...Day 2 has all but come to an end.

And hardly ANYTHING HAPPENED.

I had hoped that today would be a bit more productive as I missed a lot of the Free Agent Frenzy from yesterday, having to catch up hours later. No, it seems most clubs stayed in bed for the day, only coming out for very minor signings.

UPDATE: As I write this, however, Pierre LeBrun has just updated on Twitter that apparently Garth Snow and the Islanders are currently in contract talks with Ilya Kovalchuk. wished they could've started that while we were all bored in the chat!!

Let's hope we get some more exciting news on Day 3!!

Holland Holds: No Action on Day 1 of Free Agent Frenzy

Kenny has done it before, and he's sticking to his gameplan: the Wings sat out Day 1 of this year's free agency period. Ken Holland was silent and as players were signed and numbers were discussed, there was Kenny somewhere in the back of the room, in the dark-lit corner with the good view. He was doing what he does best: watching and waiting.

Holland had made it clear a long time ago that Detroit has no need to jump on overpriced and overhyped players, but rather watches the pond of UFA's looking for the catch that's going to fit just right in the Red Wings system and help make this team even stronger. most sources claim Kenny is going to give it about a week, but he's not going to pass up a good offer if it's given to him. Be it a week from now, 5 days, 3 days or even today: If Kenny likes what he's shown, he'll bite when he feels it's time to bite.

Now we go forward into Day 2 of Free Agent Frenzy, and wait to see what unfolds...

There's a Reason Modano ends with NO: Go Young!!

Alright, I've been seeing this everywhere for the last 24 hours or so, and I'm finally at the point where I can't not say anything. It seems the rumors are spreading that the Red Wings MAY make a pitch to bring in the geriatric Mike Modano from the Dallas Stars, who have opted to refuse to resign him. Mike has had an excellent career, and will surely go into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a legend in the minds of hockey fans in both Minnesota and Dallas, as well as many other fans worldwide. He's been one of the best, and I think it would be a cool thing to see him wearing the Winged Wheel.

Except I don't think now is the time for it.

Mike Modano, as great a player as he's been, is just too far gone from what he was in his prime. For the amount of production he could bring to the Wings (30 points in 59 games in 2009-2010), we could be bringing up a young buck who could possibly put up comparable numbers while getting MUCH needed NHL experience on the way to becoming a more complete player. Darren Helm pocketed 26 points in 75 games last season, and he's still just starting out in his NHL career. You can also argue that the more physical element Helm can bring to his game and the speed his youthful legs grant him make him a more threatening element on the ice in both aspects of offense and defense. This more than makes up for the slight gap in point production between himself and Modano.

I know it sounds like I'm arguing like I would never EVER want Modano here, but again I will say that I give the man props for what he's accomplished and he would have been a great player to add to the roster. If this same situation had come up last year, I'd have jumped on it and would've been the first one on the pile. We lost Jiri Hudler, we lost Mike Samuelsson, we lost Marian Hossa. Losing all that in one shot, had you told me last year that the exact situation we see with Modano NOW was happening THEN, I would've flown out to knock no Kenny's door and demand he make the deal myself!!

But this is not last year, and we are not facing last year's problems.

This year, we begin what front office has already called a transition period. This is the year where I feel we are obligated to get some of these young guys who are chomping at the bit down in Grand Rapids some quality NHL playing time. Everytime we bring in someone who MIGHT pan out because of what they have accomplished in the past, we risk stunting the growth of a prospect who could come up and have a brilliant, breakout season.

Datsyuk? 3 years in the RSL after being drafted and before coming up to the Red Wings roster, no time in Grand Rapids. Zetterberg? 4 years playing in Sweden after drafting and before making the Wings, also no time spent with the Griffins. Helm? 4 years playing in the WHL and AHL before making the permanent roster in Detroit, only 2 years spent with the Griffins. My point here is not to bash Grand Rapids, contrary to what some of you might be thinking. What I'm saying is the talent that Detroit brings in can't be kept waiting in Grand Rapids because another has-been (and I use that term lightly) has been brought in to hopefully give us a gloriously successful last gasp of a season. A lot of guys that have sat around in the AHL have not been able to grow past a certain point. I believe it's necessary at some time to give those young guys a good dose of NHL hockey to remind them of how they still need to evolve themselves and step it up to a level that will be able to endure NHL play on a full-time basis. The Kindls and the Mursaks waiting in the Wings' wings need that experience, or their potential may, and I believe will, be lost.

If you want to preach transition period, stop resorting to the old tricks that worked in the old NHL. Our old guys are getting older, but more importantly...our young guys aren't getting any younger.

Dats Steals Another Selke, Jimmy Gets No Love in Las Vegas

The NHL Awards have once again come and gone, and while some things change, many things stayed the same when the names were announced for the winners of the prestigious trophies. Pavel Datsyuk was up for two awards: the Lady Byng for most gentlemanly player, as well as the Frank J. Selke trophy for best defensive forward, a nomination he shared with fellow Red Wing Henrik Zetterberg. Another Detroit player, goaltender Jimmy Howard, was nominated for the Calder trophy for rookie of the year.

And so...on to the results:

Byng: While Dats has reigned over this award for many years, I've found that Pavel has been trying to shake the image that stereotypically haunts winners of the award. He's been much more physical in his game in recent years, and has developed a nice tendency to not take shit from anyone anymore. It was no surprise to me that Datsyuk's Byng-streak was brought to an end this year by Martin St. Louis. All in all: No big loss for me.

Selke: Come on, a Red Wing was winning this award and everyone knew it. Even if Datsyuk, who won the trophy, hadn't been selected then his teammate Hank would have been the shoe-in. These two are the core of Detroit's two-way system: Without Dats' constant puck-thievery and Zetterberg's amazing defensive awareness, the Wings D-Corps would find themselves severely overworked by opposition forces. All in all? I'm glad it was my man Dats, nothing against Hank but that kind of constant robbery deserves the recognition.

Calder: ...I have trouble finding words to say about how this went down. Jimmy Howard, the rookie EVERYONE--not just Wings fans--talked about, the rookie who stepped in when we had no other options left in the crease, the ROOKIE who CARRIED DETROIT TO THE PLAYOFFS with a phenomenal statline...was beaten by a shot-blocking defenseman on a team that may as well have missed the playoffs. Yes, Tyler Myers of the Sabres took the Calder from Jimmy, and much to everyone's surprise (I'm sure), I'm a bit miffed about it!! How do you snub the efforts of a rookie goaltender who had to put his whole team on his shoulders while putting out such good numbers so as to turn doubts about even MAKING post-season into a belief that the Wings could make something of these Playoffs?

I can't fathom it. Regardless of the accomplishments, neither Duchene or Myers acted as the lynch-pin for their team's playoff appearance. Take away either player and both their respective teams still have a shot at the Cup. Without Jimmy, I'm convinced that our fears would've been realized: Detroit would not have made the playoffs.

But I think there's an underlying reason as to why Jimmy didn't win the Calder that no one in the NHL will want to talk about: Dig out the tinfoil hats, but I don't believe that the league was ready to give the Calder to a player who just barely met the requirements of a rookie. If memory serves, this was the last year in which Jimmy Howard could be considered a rookie due to his age. I feel the NHL wanted to give the award to one of the other rookies based on the fact that they're younger and fit the rookie description better than Howard in their eyes. All in all? Disgusted. Jimmy put together what will be one of his best seasons on the last year he can qualify for the ONLY trophy you get just one chance at winning...and we got shafted again by a Jackman-knockoff.

Makes me glad I didn't stay home to watch it live.