Blogs > Red Wings Corner

Up-to-the minute updates and insights from the Red Wings locker room at home and on the road. By Chuck Pleiness of The Macomb Daily.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Williams' contract

According to capgeek.com, Jason Williams will earn $1.5 million for his one-year contract after making $2.2 million last season.

So, that would put the Red Wings over the salary cap with a 23-man roster. With 13 forwards (including Abdelkader and Helm), eight defensemen and two goalies, the Red Wings are at $57.261 million in salary with the cap being $56.8 million. That's $461,000 over the limit.

So, either 22 players will be kept on the roster with someone being moved or Andreas Lilja will start the season on long-term injured reserve.

8 Comments:

Anonymous Hannibal said...

Sounds like that $461,000 will get taken care of pretty easily and is not much of a concern.

Is our salary cap hemmoraging pretty much done for the foreseeable future? We knew this year was going to be tough because Franzen, Hudler and Zetterberg were due big raises, but there is no situation like that in the near future, is there?

August 7, 2009 at 9:18 AM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why on Earth would you sign a journyman like Williams for $1.5mil when you have players who have more potential like Helm and Abdelkader already on the roster? Williams will be a fourth line player, would be lucky if he gets more than 15 minutes a game, and Holland paid $1.5mil for that? That's more than Helm and Abdelkader combined! This is a terrible signing and it hurts the Wings' future.

-Jim from Bloomfield

August 8, 2009 at 12:07 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Why in the world do you continue to keep adding Abdelkader's salary to the Cap Hit? It's common knowlegdge that he will play in Grand Rapids this year and be the first injury call-up. How many years have you written for the Wings? I think you would know by now how they operate and why he will be in Grand Rapids!

August 10, 2009 at 11:16 AM 
Blogger Chuck Pleiness said...

Hannibal ... no situation like having to sign a key player? No one long-term due this year, but Holmstrom and Lidstrom will need contracts after this season.

No need to call me stupid (second) Anonymous. But thanks for thinking about me.
Abdelkader is listed because the Wings will likely carry 13 forwards for the majority of the season. You tell me who the 13th forward is then.
Yes, I realize that players with options are bounced up and down.

August 10, 2009 at 12:11 PM 
Anonymous Hannibal said...

I figure Holmstrom and Lidstrom, if anything, will get relatively short term deals with a cap hit that is lower than this year's cap it. I guess that's nothing to worry about.

Abdelkader should be solidly on the fourth line with Maltby as the routine healthy scratch. That's my opinion at least.

Williams is a pretty solid player who can score 15 goals and play the point on the PP. Seems like an adequate replcement for Sammy. I don't have a problem paying $1.5Mil for him.

August 10, 2009 at 12:35 PM 
Blogger Unknown said...

I see Lids signing for less in the future. He is starting to slow down a little bit and retirement is in the foreseeable future. Plus, it's his team now. He's made his money, enough to take care of his family forever, which is the only real priority of money once you've completed such a spectacular career. I picture Lidstrom signing a 2 year deal worth 8-12 million based on the cap change at the end of the season. Either way, that opens the wings up to a decent 2nd line forward, or substantial raises to 3-4 other players already rostered. What did Yzerman make his last few years? $2mil? then $1? Chelios is making less than $1 mil. (any of us would take that to play sports, eh?)

Holmstrom is in the same boat with retirement, but he is younger than Lidstrom, I see his salary going from 2.25 to 2 million for 3 or 4 years to carry him through the end of his career also. Probably 2 years with an option for one or two more. So you're actually looking at re-signings that would save the team money and allow Holland to work his magic and start rebuilding before the older group on the team hangs 'em up.

Maltby has limited career left. Same with Draper. Nothing to do with skill or anything like that, it just eventually becomes a situation where you have a younger guy who will bring more to the ice and it's time to step aside.

I see all four of those players having life-long relationships with the team and city and am sure it will boost the ambiance at the Joe to have those guys around up in the stands in 5 years. (can anyone picture Lidstrom coaching Sweden some day?)

August 10, 2009 at 1:36 PM 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I did not call you stupid,I am just saying that there is no way they carry Abby as the 13th or a 4th line guy. They want him in GR collecting 20mins a game not in DET getting 8 to 10mins. I expect they invite someone (or a few someones) to camp and let one of them earn the 13th spot at league minimum (500K) They have more depth that way! If ABBY is in Detroit, then who is the depth call-up for injuries? With Abby in GR and adding a league minimum 13th player (think Hartigan, Ellis type of guy) they are 100K over the Cap. But not to worry, cause its written on all the walls that LILs will be on LTIR to start the season and IF he should come back, then they have the choice of moving him, Lebs or Meech to get back under the Cap. LILs being on LTIR actually buys a few months of play so that Holland and Co. can then decide which which player is not pulling his weight and trade or waive that player.

PS- you also got to wonder, if and when LILs comes off LTIR, what if Howard is not cutting it? Then someone like Lebs, Meech, or LILs and Howard get traded for a NHL proven backup. I truly get the feeling that Howard will not cut it and that we will see Larssen sooner than later. Just my thoughts, and I hope Howard proves me wrong.

PSS- I truly believe that they would call up Janik, or Delrose (as the 7th Dman) and move Meech to the 13th forward spot before they would carry Abby as the 13th. Just my take based on the Wings post lock-out tendencies (see Helm last year)

August 10, 2009 at 6:49 PM 
Blogger Chuck Pleiness said...

Anonymous, of course they want Abdelkader getting 20 minutes per game in GR. But right now, to determine how tight the Wings are to the salary cap ... and given that Holland said he wants 13 Fs and 7 Ds ... you have to figure in Abdelkader's salary.

And no, I don't think they'll keep Meech at forward.

That said, I don't think they'll keep Abdelkader up, just bring him up when needed. I think they'll figure out another solution to the 13th F other than Abbie.

No, you didn't call me stupid. But you did say these things ... "Why in the world do you continue" "It's common knowlegdge" "How many years have you written for the Wings?" "I think you would know by now how they operate"

None of that helps the discussion.

And on a side note ... I don't write "for the Wings" and knowlegdge is likely spelled wrong.

August 11, 2009 at 9:42 AM 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home