Where things stand with NHL free agency.

In the post below, I updated you guys on the contract negotiations for our three remaining free agents. Now, it is time to see where things stand with the other free agents out there. Currently, there are no rumors about who the Wings might be going after. In my Red Wings Free agency preview, I outlined 5 players I could see the Wings targeting. Thus far, there has not even been a reported interest and three of the players signed elsewhere.

Ian Laperriere got a 3 year, $1.23 million per year deal from the Flyers. The length would concern me on this deal, especially with his reckless playing style. For one year, I would have implored the Wings to take that salary amount. For 3? I would have passed on it.
Samuel Pahlsson signed a three year deal with Columbus to fill their role as a 3rd line center. I have yet to find out the salary amount so I cannot really comment on this signing.
And, for the overpayment of overpayments, John Madden signed a 1 year deal with the Blackhawks for $2.75 million. I wanted him for a little over a million a year. Apparently, GM Dave Tallon sees something in Madden that I do not. $2.5 million and above should be reserved for top 6 players. Madden scored 23 points last season and has never scored more than 43 points. He is not a top 6 forward, and the Hawks offered a salary that suggests that he is. In addition, Madden is not nearly the defensive player he was in the past. He has been a negative player in the plus/minus department for 3 of the past four seasons and here are some Behind the Net Stats that confirm that he is coming off a poor defensive season:Here are some Behind the Net stats that agree with my assertion.

This past season, Madden had a rating of -1.38 (plus/minus in comparison to the other players on the team). Of the regular forwards on the team, only Jay Pandolfo had a worst rating. His CORSI rating was -7.7 (an overall player rating). Among forwards, only Pandolfo and Shanahan had worse ratings. Of New Jersey forwards who played in at least half of the team's games, he had the second worst GA/60 minutes with a 2.32. $2.75 million for an average 3rd line center who will be 37 next season? I cannot understand what is going on in Tallon's head. They still need to re-sign Cam Barker and Kris Versteeg and two of Trow Brouwer, Ben Eager and Colin Fraser. Counting a backup goalie, as well, they have roughly $7 million left in cap space. Barker and Versteeg will command over $3 million each. Somebody has to be moved now and I am not sure signing an over-the-hill defensive center for that amount is worth the cost of losing someone under the age of 25. Ok. End tangent.

-Travis Moen and Todd Marchant are still available but I think Marchant is out of our price range. Other possible options include P.J. Axelsson, Mike Grier, Manny Malhotra and Taylor Pyatt. Ultimately, I expect the Wings to get a deal done with Leino and Hudler at a fair price and then wait until training camp to sign a 4th line forward. In the past, they have invited a couple players to camp with the hopes that somebody will earn a roster spot. That is how Dan Cleary and Sammy earned spots on our team. With such limited cap space, I would expect something similar to happen unless they could land a proven fourth liner like Moen at a discount price.