Questions surrounding the redwings...?

Question

We have all heard this question coming up, is chris osgood a HOF goaltender? If not, what more does he need to do in your eyes?

Will the wings bring up Jimmy Howard as back up or try to pull of a trade to acquire ryan miller or someone else or even through free agency?

Who will not be back with the wings next year?

If mac doesn't comeback will he retire or search for work elsewhere?

Answer 1

Yes, I believe Ozzie is a hall of fame goaltender, he proved that in this year's playoffs. I think Jimmy Howard will be the back up, the Wings are stupid if they get rid of him because he's going to be the future starter. I'm not sure who won't be back w/ the Wings, but maybe Mac won't, although I hope he stays. If Mac doesn't comeback, he'll retire because I don't think he wants to play for anyone else except the Wings. I also hope they don't get rid of Downey, he's a good physical presence out there for the Wings. GO WINGS!

Answer 2

I think he is... but getting to 400 wins and decreasing his gaa wouldn't hurt either.

I think if the price is right they'll go after miller, but not give up anything big because howard has a solid future... and the games he played this year he did really good... his record didnt show it but he did amazing...

As much as I hate to say it, I don't think Drake will come back... I really hope he does... but I don't think so.. I also don't see Lilja coming back either... and I don't think McCarty will be back... i think the Wings have too much up and coming stars to keep him...

I think he'll retire... go out with a bang.

Answer 3

The Wings will not trade for a goalie. They will either bring up Howard or bring in a UFA.. lets say KOLZIG (hypothetical), so that Jimmy Howard has some competition for the back-up spot. Babcock and Holland are all about earning your spot on the team even if you are signed. Look for them to bring in someone real cheap to make Howard earn that spot as OZZYs back-up, even if the guy they bring in doesnt make the team. Kind of like what they did with SOPEL last preseason. Sopel's presence made Meech have to earn the 7th spot in the Wings D line-up.

MAC is coming back! He will sign whenever they work it out. He plans on going nowhere else and both Holland and Babcock said they want him back and have asked him to get into a little bit better of shape, which he said he will continue to work on in the offseason.

Downey and Hartigan are waiting from the WINGS to find out if they are in the Wings future plans. Probably not. But we will see.

All of the RFAs have been extended qulaifying offers and the Wings are waiting for them to sign or see if they get a Offer from another team in which they would have to match (Howard is included in that group.... with Ericsson, Quincey and Flippula) I read the only way they let Howard, Ericsson or Filppula go is if they get some ridiculous offer from another team. But if that happens, the higher the offer they get, the  better the Draft Picks that DET gets in return.

Drake will tell the team if he will return in a few weeks. They want him back.

Lilja and Stuart have both been offered contracts, neither have signed yet. Its a wait and see for the Wings in that situation.. I think one of them will be back... most likely Lilja!

Cheli is a done deal, just has to go in and sign it as he said on his Radio interview. Will be the 6th or 7th deep Dman on the team and knows that.

Answer 4

I do believe that Osgood's stats and performance over the years warrant serious consideration, and I did before this season started.  This year solidified that in my mind, and I think he deserves a good, hard look.  HOWEVER, I think he remains a longshot unless he has either another year or two like this one, another Cup, or gets into the Top 10 in wins.  If he get into the Top 10, I think he deserves to get in.  If he gets a fourth cup with three as Finals backstop, I think he should get in.  If he has another year or two with GAA like he's had the last few years or a WIN% like he's had his over his entire career I think he should get in.  BUT - it will take one of those three accomplishments to pull it off, only because he's never been given the creidt he should have recevied.

IMHO

Howard probably will be abckup, and has earned the shot.

They won't lose many, maybe McCarty.  Hasek is already gone.  Drake might be done.  Maltby will likely return, but I think he's just marking time.

I think McCarty will either be a Wing or retire.  I think the Wings are the only team that would have given him a shot this past year, and it worked out well, but it might be time to call it a day.

Answer 5

I think acquiring Ryan Miller would be a bad move at this point.  They are both number 1 goalies, and sure Osgood is a gracious backup, but Miller probably wouldn't be.  Osgood just won the Cup, so they need to trust him and also bring along Howard by playing him in 15-20 games.

One "problem" the Wings have is their depth at forward.  They have a lot of NHL ready forwards and only 12 spots.

Drake should probably retire and these are the 12 regular forwards I see them using (with current roster players)...

Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Franzen, Cleary, Filppula, Samuelsson, Hudler, Kopecky, Draper, Maltby, Helm.

McCarty and Downey as depth guys, for injuries and toughness.

I would love to see them try to sign Mats Sundin for 1 or 2 years too.  But that might give them too many NHL forwards.

I do think Draper and Maltby will only be in Detroit for a few more years.  Maltby doesn't get much playing time under Babcock.  Draper is very valuable because of his faceoff dominance, but Maltby is replaceable.  It will be painful to see Maltby go, but it is inevitable when they have guys like Darren Helm, and Justin Abdelkader waiting their turns.  These guys should fill in admirably.  I give Abdelkader 1 to 2 years AHL duty, then he will be ready for a full time roster spot.  Usually it's tough to overcome the loss of role players like Draper and Maltby, but the Wings look like they have the players to do it.

The new grind line... Abdelkader, Helm, Kopecky.  Probably not as good defensively, but better offensively.