RocketBuckeye;1692745; said:
heard on another board that jiri hudler's khl team is folding, hopefully this means his return to detroit next season.
3074326;1692912; said:
I thought he was coming back anyways? Could be wrong. Thought he signed a one-year deal and wanted to come back before he left anyways.
It really depends on what happens this off-season. If lidstrom actually retires (which I would say is a 75/25 unlikelihood right now), he'll likely have to come back at some sort of discount.
Then you have to look at the RFAs, MIller, Eaves, Abdelkader, Helm - each one of those will need a qualifying offer although if Eaves and/or Miller left and they signed a player(s) in their place for around the same who played the same role I wouldn't be shocked.
Abdelkader and Helm are future leaders, they'll certainly be tendered. I think Bertuzzi will get re-signed as well for something around what he's making now (1.5 Million). I don't foresee Ozzie making through this off-season without some sort of trade for cap relief.
If I had my druthers (and the cap room), I would bring him back AND sign an actual power forward with a scoring touch. I think the culture of the Wings locker room needs to be changed slightly, therefore I would stay away from Hudler and look for a bigger player who can produce points in the crease instead of skating around on the edges.
Certainly, however, whenever Lidstrom does retire, the Euro-style puck possession game will retire with him.
