Detroit no longer destination as free agency begins
By Helene St.James, Detroit Free Press
The day was about as disappointing as possible, as the Detroit Red Wings found themselves soundly rejected.
July 1, the busiest day of the NHL offseason because high noon marked the opening of the unrestricted free market.
It was an utter dud for Detroit, so much so they ended up re-signing Kyle Quincey in order to restock the defense.
Plans when the day began were so different — but that was before one desired defenseman after another turned down the Wings.
“We made pitches to a number of defensemen,” general manager Ken Holland said. “For a variety of reasons, they opted to go elsewhere. I don’t know why they’re not coming here.”
The Wings targeted a right-shot defenseman, of which there were four of particular interest available: Matt Niskanen, Dan Boyle, Stephane Robidas and Anton Stralman.
The Wings offered Boyle two years and $10 million. Boyle accepted two years and $9 million from the New York Rangers, where he’ll be reunited with former teammate Martin St. Louis. Robidas went to Toronto for three years and $9 million, an offer the Wings would have matched (Toronto does put Robidas closer to his kids in Montreal). Stralman’s agent replied a succinct “no” when asked if the Wings were on Stralman’s short list — but the five years, $22.5 million Straman ended up getting from Tampa Bay was more term than the Wings wanted to give a defenseman deemed in the same quality range as Jakub Kindl.
Niskanen, the premier defenseman on the market, didn’t have Detroit on his short list, either. The Wings offered seven years and $38.5 million; Niskanen took seven years and $40.25 million from the Washington Capitals.
That left the Wings in search of alternatives. Shortly after 7 p.m., they re-signed Quincey for two years and $8.5 million.
Quincey, 28, rebounded to deliver a solid second half, but he’s hardly the upgrade the Wings had in mind.
Holland said he'll continue to talk to fellow GMs to explore a trade, but to get anyone of caliber, the asking price is guaranteed to be either of Gustav Nyquist or Tomas Tatar or Tomas Jurco or Antonthy Mantha in return, plus a high draft pick.
While Quincey buys the Wings some breathing room, a pressing question is figuring out why players are rejecting what used to be a premier landing spot for hockey players. Part of it is fiscal — the Wings can’t throw money at players like they did a decade ago, because of the salary cap.
It’s not the metro area — while the city of Detroit may not have the allure of Chicago or New York, players routinely rave about living in the suburbs. Todd Bertuzzi has described it as awesome. Daniel Alfredsson and his family are living here next year, whether or not he plays. Owner Mike Ilitch and Holland are held in high regard for the way they treat players.
It’s not the competitiveness of the team — the Wings still boast superstars Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg.
Is it head coach Mike Babcock? Babcock is demanding, but that’s considered a positive quality in a professional coach — the ones that let things slide don’t win, and players care about winning. Holland downplayed any chatter Babcock is a reason, saying, “I’ve never heard those rumors. I think that we’ve got one of the best coaches in the NHL and he’s been a reason why some people have come here.”
The Wings were Daniel Alfredsson’s hand-picked selection last summer, over the hard-pursuing Bruins. And Detroit is the only place Alfredsson wants to play again this season.
It’s worth exploring for the Wings why they seem to have lost some luster. Datsyuk and Zetterberg and both in their mid-30s, putting pressure on regaining contender status before their window to win again closes. That won’t happen unless the Wings once again become a go-to destination.
