Life Without Lidstrom
Flu-like symptoms caused Nicklas Lidstrom to miss just his 30th regular season game in his 20 year NHL career. Watching the Red Wings with out him getting shelled 7-2 by the Montreal Canadiens was quite a scary picture.
Lidstrom will turn 42 at the end of this season and in his epic career he has won the World Championship, an Olympic Gold Medal, 4 Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe Trophy, 7 Norris Trophies, 2 Viking Awards (for best Swedish Hockey Player playing in North America), and been named an NHL All-Star 12 times. Quite clearly once he leaves Detroit will have a hard time trying to fill his spot on the blue line.
It has been rumoured that Lidstrom could retire at the end of this season and simply put, he can not be replaced but let's look at some of the options Detroit could do to deal without Nicklas Lidstrom. If the Red Wings turn to the Free Agent Market there are a number of big names that Detroit could go to. Probably at the top of the UFA market lies Ryan Suter. The 27 year old Blue-liner for the Nashville Predators has said he would like to go elsewhere if Nashville fails to improve their team going into the playoffs this year. In 7 season in the NHL Suter has posted four 30+ point seasons and is on pace to reach 48 points this year. Additionally his Defensive play has been fairly good posting positive +/- season in 6 of 7 seasons.
Another big name on the UFA list is Capitals defensemen Dennis Wideman. Also a 7 year veteran with similar point totals to Suter but with a slant towards goal scoring opposed to playmaking. The question mark about Wideman is his -31 +/- over his 7 seasons in the NHL, though some of this could be chalked up to the teams he played on. There hasn't been much talk about Dennis Wideman in the trade rumour circles but Wideman thought he had been traded when he got the call to the All-Star game. Perhaps this could mean there is some uncertainty around Wideman's future as a Capital.
With Shea Weber going to Salary Arbitration last year there has similar point totals to Wideman and Suter, but he has had more of a superstar flair being named a 3 time NHL All-Star, Olympic Gold medalist, Norris Trophy Finalist, and in 2009 was named the Best Defenceman at the World Championship of Hockey. He has been some doubt seeded in his future with Nashville as well. Shea Weber has the size and skill to become true NHL great but being an RFA Detroit would have to sign him to an offer-sheet which would see them lose 4 first round draft picks. With Detroit's prowess in scouting it is doubtful that they would like to part with 4 first round picks to land Weber.
If the Wings look to the trade market Carolina's Joni Pitkanen could be a potential target, but he's currently sidelined with a concussion. Toronto's Luke Schenn name has been floating around the trade rumour mill. However, despite his apparent potential in his 4th year he has yet to have a true break out season. Both teams however could have steep asking prices, looking for high draft picks or top 6 forwards since the trade market is shaping up to be a Sellers Market. There hasn't been much noise as to which Red Wing forwards could be expendable but one could imagine Jiri Hudler could being the only expendable top 6 forward.
All in all, it will be impossible to replace a player like Nicklas Lidstrom but with his big salary coming off the books next year and no expendable top six forwards, a likely move would be to go after a sought-after UFA Blue-liner like Suter or Wideman.
Agreed. As you put Lidtsrom is irreplaceable - just like how replacing Raflaski with Ian White was a downgrade - whoever the wings decide to replace Nik with will only be another blow to that defensive core that "was" once one of the better puck moving groups out there.
ReplyDeleteSuter being an FA on a budget team like Nashville is probably your best bet. Wideman is a viable option but his lack of presence in his own zone really isn't a fit in Detroit I would think.
I actually think if Pitkanen was surrounded by the team they currently have in Detroit he could really do some damage as opposed to Luke Schenn which would be an example of another horrible fit that fills no need that the wings need (They already have Stuart/Kronvall/Ericsson) you don't need another (and arguable lesser) version of those guys - you need a puck mover.
Suter/Pitkanen FTW.
The only reason why I mentioned Schenn is the sheer fact that he is available, Brian Burke is the type of GM that won't let his guys go cheap and I believe whatever his asking price is for Schenn will simply too much to part with. The Wing's top 2 lines are clicking well, and even guys on their 3rd and 4th lines are starting to work really well together so I don't really see them going the trade-route.
ReplyDeleteSuter would be the #1 target for the Wings in my mind, he currently has a $3.5 million cap hit and will be looking for a raise, if Lidstrom leaves they will have a lot of extra space to pay Suter the inflated salary he will get once he hits Free Agency.