2007 Red Wings Off Season Guide

Again, I first want to congratulate the 2006-07 Detroit Red Wings on a fine season. This was a preseason bubble team to make the playoffs that defied the expectations of many. Congrats are also in order to a very sound Anaheim Ducks team and a talented Ottawa Senators team for advancing to hockey's promised land of the Stanley Cup Finals.

For once the Red Wings aren't shaking their heads wondering why they didn't achieve another Stanley Cup. They weren't favorites this season, but gave one helluva fight until the end for a team in a transitional period. The off season doesn't hold a whole ton of mysteries. The main pieces are in place, it's just a question of how fast the new faces can grow into elite players. This wasn't that year. A lot of credit should be given to Mike Babcock and staff for really molding finesse, raw talent, and grit into a tough playoff team.

The following is a look at the Red Wings organization, starting with the unrestricted free agents and my analysis on each player's contributions this season:

FREE AGENTS

Robert Lang: I'd be shocked if GM Ken Holland resigns Lang. He's lazy, irresponsible defensively, doesn't skate hard, and has lacked the scoring touch that he was originally brought over here for. It's sad, it really is. I was excited when we acquired Lang at the 2004 trade deadline. His career has gone way downhill since then.

Kyle Calder: Don't count on this guy being back either. He showed tons of promise early after his acquisition at the trade deadline, but played ineffective minutes in the playoffs and was scratched the final four games of the Anaheim series.

Todd Bertuzzi: I think Bertuzzi will be back. Minus a bad turnover in Game 4 of the Anaheim series, I liked his play, and he was nowhere near 100 percent. Because of health issues, the Wings should be able to sign him to a short-year deal for a reasonable salary. He likes it here, fits in here, and if Bertuzzi can get back to being completely healthy, lookout.

Dominik Hasek: I don't care what anybody says, Hasek was terrific all season long and was even better in the playoffs. He said he'll take a few weeks to decide whether or not to retire , but I think he'll be back in a Winged wheel next fall.

Chris Chelios: A 45-year-old defensive juggernaut that's so good with the younger players. He will be back for at least one more season.

Mathieu Schneider: Would have helped tremendously and may have been the missing ingredient in the Western Conference Finals to spur the Wings to another Stanley Cup hadn't he suffered a broken wrist in the San Jose series. I think the Wings will have to decide whether to resign Schneider or fellow defenseman Danny Markov (below) for salary cap reasons, but I think Ken Holland chooses Schneider.

Danny Markov: Was kind of quiet in the playoffs, but that only means he's doing his job. Markov wasn't signed to score goals or man the power play, he was signed last year as a defensive-defenseman to add grit to the corp and team penalty kill. I liked Markov's play. He threw some great hits during the season and isn't afraid to drop the gloves. His gritty play did seem to tail off a little in the playoffs, however. I'd like to see him back, but with the salary cap, I'd say that's a big maybe.

Jiri Hudler: Had a great rookie season, but didn't get much of a shot in the playoffs. Doesn't have great speed, or stick handling abilities, but has a quick, hard shot that makes him tricky on the ice. He'll be back and will likely play a bigger role next season without Lang and Calder.

RETURNING FORWARDS

Kirk Maltby: Signed a three-year extension prior to the playoffs which will likely keep him in Hockeytown for the remainder of his career. He doesn't score a lot and is more of a veteran role player now, but is a player the Wings can count on to play responsibly.

Kris Draper: One of the best penalty killers in the game today and has emerged as a true leader.

Dan Cleary: Arguably the Wings best forward other than Datsyuk or Zetterberg in the playoffs, not to mention a fabulous regular season to boot. Cleary's guts, grit, and attitude fit in perfectly with Wings. You can't help but root for him and the blue-collar work ethic he portrays.

Tomas Holmstrom: Hands down the hardest working and toughest player in the game today with the dirtiest job that few can do. Homer was great in the playoffs but didn't seem to be the same after taking that hit from Chris Pronger and Rob Niedermayer. Nevertheless, a must-have player for the Wings and another outstanding under-appreciated player.

Mikael Samuelsson: Was plagued by an injury-riddled regular season but scored some huge goals in the playoffs. He's always been known to score in streaks and has a wicked shot. Sammy will be a nice complement to round out next year's top six forwards.

Johan Franzen: Franzen was a great story this year. He's emerged as a tough fore-checker who is defensively responsible as well. They call him "The Mule" and this Mule will be in Detroit for awhile.

Valtteri Filppula: This kid just got better and better every game this season. He's only 23 and is the next big rising star in this organization.

Tomas Kopecky: He's big, he's tough, he can skate, and he isn't afraid of anyone. If not for a broken collarbone in December, he would have wowed like Filppula in his rookie season.

Henrik Zetterberg: Emerged as an MVP candidate this season and somehow was left off the ballot for the Selke Award, which is awarded to the best defensive forward, at the upcoming annual NHL Awards. He plays all situations, and is great at all of them. He will be the captain when Nicklas Lidstrom decides it's time to hang them up.

Pavel Datsyuk: Any doubt about whether this guy can perform in the postseason came to an end this year. He is an elite forward in the NHL today and also emerged as a defensive player too, having spent time on the penalty kill. He can make even the best defenseman look silly with his crazy moves and is a guy you just want to succeed. Props to Pavel for a great season.

RETURNING DEFENSEMAN

Nicklas Lidstrom: The new captain. He will win another Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman next month. He's in the tail end of his career, but looks as good as he did 10 years ago. His consistency in the amount of minutes he plays is mind boggling.

Nicklas Kronwall: Kronwall was somewhat of a disappointment this season. With great skating, an uncanny ability to hit, and superb puck skills, he has the potential of a Lidstrom. But again, for the third season in a row, he suffered a major injury and was unable to play a complete season.

Andreas Lilja: Look past an awful turnover in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals and Lilja was great in the playoffs. He finally started hitting and using his big frame to physically control opponents. Keep it up, and Lilja will fit in here fine as a tough defender.

Brett Lebda: Lebda shows great potential as a puck-moving and smooth skating forward. I don't foresee him as that offensive-defenseman that's going to be that power play setup man, but as far as breaking out of the zone, Lebda is exceptional. I don't think he ever fully recovered from that ankle tweak that sidelined him in the Calgary series, but he is a bright spot on this defensive unit.

Kyle Quincey: This 21-year-old was about as good as they come in the playoffs for a player who was thrown into the fire after injuries hampered the defense. With the possible loss of either Schneider or Markov this off season, Quincey will likely see more of a spot in the lineup where he can tone his skills.

GOALTENDING

Chris Osgood: I like the role that Ozzie had on the team this season and hopefully, he'll acquire the same role next season. I don't like the idea as Osgood as a starting goaltender, but he's a helluva backup who's really good in the locker room.

Jimmy Howard: Word is that Ken Holland thinks Howard needs another another year in the minors in Grand Rapids. He's definitely the goaltender of the future in this franchise, but you can't rush development, especially at the goaltending position. Ryan Miller spent 3 seasons in the minors before starting in Buffalo and he's one of the best goalies in the NHL. This will be Howard's third year with the AHL's Griffins. He'll be ready to fight for the starting job after that.

INCOMING PLAYERS

Igor Grigorenko: The prodigal son will finally land in Detroit. He's been the most hyped prospect in the Wings organization the past 4 years with skills comparable, according to scouts, like Zetterberg. Unfortunately a car accident years ago forced Grigorenko to miss about a year to rehab, but Ken Holland is confident that the Russian prospect has gotten his game back and feels he's ready to come to the NHL. I can't wait to see him play.