If you were GM right now...

[puckhead]

we were one game away... no time for a tear down.
these guys should be the hungriest of them all next playoffs.

- sign Bieksa (UFA). he has proven himself pretty valuable, and says he wants to stay (for less!). 4 years, $4.5 - 5.0m per.
- attempt to sign Ehrhoff (UFA) in the same range. he probably won't take it. well then good luck, sir.
- Salo (UFA) said he'd also take a reduced deal to stay, and be happy with a reduced role. $1.5-2 mill. one year deal, as he's +35.
- Hansen (RFA) - sign him long-ish term. 3-5 years at $1.5 - 2 mill. He's the hardest worker many nights, and one day his hands will catch up.
- Lapierre (RFA) - 2 year deal with a mild raise to $1.3m. he was useful, and he was (mostly) reigned in.
- Torres (UFA) - buh bye. thanks for all the headshots, but with the new rule 48 wording, you will be a target for the refs. too inconsistent as well.
- Tamby (UFA) - buh bye. You had a magical 3 weeks or so, then nothing. Good luck in Europe.
- Glass (UFA) - don't really care. when he's hitting he's effective. he stopped hitting - injury? If he was that hurt, he shouldn't have been playing. A prime opportunity for a 4th line upgrade, as our 4th line got eaten alive by Boston.
Higgins (UFA) - If he comes back for a decent deal (under $2m), then fine. he was a very versatile player, and that's always useful. He's been through what... 5 teams in 3 years? time for some stability for him, too.
Alberts (UFA) - great guy for #7 role. sign him if he's up for that (and the appropriate salary), wish him the best if he wants to crack the top 6 elsewhere.

Hodgson and Tanev will be full timers next season. Hopefully Malhotra will regain his effectiveness, because he was maybe 60% in the playoffs. Hopefully Raymond will have no lingering effects, because his wheels are effective when he uses them properly.
4th line is the area of greatest concern. If Manny can regain his form, then that slides lapierre back to 4th line, which is just fine. if Glass goes (and Rypien remains who knows where), we need someone to make waves on that line. Chris Neil is an option, though I am worried that he's a headcase. he seemed to make the papers far too often in ott. i also don't know if age has caught up. we don't need an agitator, we need a closer. Maybe Zenon Konopka is a better fit. Move lappy to the wing.

done. Cup now, please.

step one.... done, and done.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

I would offer The Wiz $4M/yr for four years. I wouldn't go over $4.5 over five.

I would offer Ehrhoff $5M/yr for two years. I wouldn't go over that.

I would offer Kaberle $3.5 on a one year deal. If he even attempted to negotiate, I would laugh and hang up.

I would give Ericsson keys to a Ferrari and tell him he has ten minutes to get the fuck out of Michigan. I would probably find him crashed into a bridge, thinking he was in Kentucky, and peeing in his gas tank.