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Alex

• Detroit, MI (US)
• Since: Mar 26th, 2011
• Blogs Written: 6
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Alex's Recent Blogs

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  Best possible NHL realignment scenario: 2 conferences, 4 divisions
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  Could we see Zetterberg retiring in the near future?
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  First round shows how valuable Valtteri Filppula is to the Red Wings
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  Steve Yzerman is the obvious choice for top NHL GM
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  Will the Red Wings 'Turn it On' in the playoffs?

Two incredible pieces of news have came out for the Red Wings over the past few days. First, the salary cap is rumored to go all the way up to $64 million for 2011-2012. That is a $4.7 million increase. The second piece of news that benefits the Red Wings is that All-Star Captain (as though he needs an introduction) Nick Lidstrom is returning for at least one more year, with a cap hit of $6.2 million. This means that the Red Wings, most importantly, won't have to panic about replacing one of the best defensemen of all time and it gives them a lot of room to target quality UFAs.

And as good of news as this is for the Red Wings, it's almost as good for the fans as they can fantasize about the moves to be made this summer with a little more accuracy (or not). Let's look at their (my?) needs/wants. With losing Rafalski, they need to get someone who can move the puck out of the zone. Defense has been poor the past few seasons, but I don't think it's a problem with players but strategy. They still have enough room to add one more solid d-man. Also, despite the fact they had one of the best offenses this past season, their top 6 needs a bonafide scoring presence or two.

If I was GM, these are the UFAs I would go after:

Kevin Bieksa (Defense), $4-$4.5 million.While perhaps not a top pairing defenseman, Bieksa is solid and provides some offense. Can play on the PK.

James Wisniewski (Defense), $5-5.5 million. The big name to (attempt to) replace Brian Rafalski. Puts up major points and plays on the PK. Might have to go over $5.5 million to sign, but anything up to 6 is worth it. The Wings will have the space.

Tomas Fleischmann (Left Wing), $3-3.5 million. Didn't do very well in Washington, especially in the playoffs the former 2 of the past 3 years, but he was great for Colorado after being traded there last season. He could very easily continue that with the Red Wings. Can count on him to score 20.

Radim Vrbata (Right Wing), $3 million. Had a solid year for Pheonix, scoring 19 goals in 79 games. Could easily top 25 with the high scoring Wings.

Assuming the Wings' management wants AHLer Jan Mursak on the team and not as a healthy scratch, they'll have to let Patrick Eaves go on to bigger and better things, as he won't get a large role on the Wings outside the PK. For other moves, Jiri Hudler would be traded for a pick at the entry draft and Joey MacDonald would be signed on as the backup to Jim Howard. All other UFAs would be let go. All together, the team would look like this:

Henrik Zetterberg ($6.083m) / Pavel Datsyuk ($6.700m) / Johan Franzen ($3.954m)
Tomas Fleischmann ($3.500m) / Valtteri Filppula ($3.000m) / Radim Vrbata ($3.000m)
Todd Bertuzzi ($1.937m) / Darren Helm ($0.912m) / Daniel Cleary ($2.800m)
Jan Mursak ($0.550m) / Justin Abdelkader ($0.787m) / Tomas Holmstrom ($1.875m)
Cory Emmerton ($0.533m)

Nicklas Lidstrom ($6.200m) / James Wisniewski ($5.250m)
Niklas Kronwall ($3.000m) / Brad Stuart ($3.750m)
Jakub Kindl ($0.883m) / Kevin Bieksa ($4.500m)

Jimmy Howard ($2.250m) / Joey MacDonald ($0.550m)

CAP PAYROLL: $62,017,044
CAP SPACE: $1,982,956

This leaves almost $2 million to sign an extra forward/defenseman and some possible trading room or undervaluing a player's cap hit.