Detroit Red Wings

Rebuild on hold? Red Wings reportedly eye Girardi, Hainsey,?Daley...

For the first time in ages, the Detroit Red Wings missed the playoffs. To some, the sliver lining was that this might send a message to management to truly commit to a rebuild.

Perhaps GM Ken Holland & Co. aren?t quite ready for that.

Look, one or even a couple of potential free agent signings won?t disqualify the Red Wings from going younger. Still, the rumored defensemen they?re targeting aren?t exactly spring chickens.

Three names floating out there are Trevor Daley, Dan Girardi, and Ron Hainsey.

Daley was mentioned by The Athletic?s Craig Custance, MLive.com?s Ansar Khan, and the Detroit Free-Press? Helene St. James. Khan and Custance both mention Hainsey and Girardi, too.

Even in one-case mentions, the ?veteran? theme continues, with Brian Campbell?s name coming up while forward Thomas Vanek seems like at least a remote possibility to return to Detroit.

Let?s look at the ages of the defensemen mentioned, noting that Daley is older than some might have expected.

Daley ? 33
Girardi ? 33
Hainsey ? 36
Campbell ? 38

In the case of Daley and Girardi, you could also argue that each blueliner also has a lot of ?mileage? for their age. Girardi, in particular, plays the sort of grinding, shot-blocking style that might have accelerated his troubles with the Rangers.

As great as experience might be, even for a ?final push,? this sends a troubling signal. In Mike Green (31), Jonathan Ericsson (33), and Niklas Kronwall (36), the Red Wings already have an aging group of defensemen. Kronwall and Ericsson are dealing with injuries that may hinder them for the remainder of their careers, too.

When you also note that Holland exposed 25-year-old goalie Petr Mrazek instead of 33-year-old Jimmy Howard, the picture isn?t especially pretty. (PHT)
_____________________
_______________________________________

lol, The Old Farts team... my goodness. Just when I thought they couldn't get older on the back end, its happening or appears to be trending that way. Drinks for everyone... and Gerital too!

 

Tomas Tatar is reportedly seeking an average annual salary in the ballpark of $5 million.

Tatar is a restricted free agent and has arbitration rights. He's been solid over the last three seasons with a combined 75 goals and 147 points in 245 games. In 2016-17 specifically he had 25 goals and 46 points in 82 contests.

 

Did I mention, Trevor Daley is a Red Wing?

 

Red Wings win opener at the LCA, 4-2 over the Wild.

 

Wings are off to a 2-0-0 start. Howard has been spectacular.

 

Mrazek will get the starting nod for Tuesday night's contest in Dallas, Ted Kulfan of The Detroit News reports.

 

Red Wings off to a 4-1-0 start... wow!

 

Lightning, 4-1-0

Red Wings 4-1-0

They meat Monday night...

 

Red Wings drop one to the Lightning, 3-2. Kuch with 2 goals, including the GW.

 

Andreas Athanasiou will reportedly sign a contract worth $1.35 million for the 2017-18 campaign.
Athanasiou is a restricted free agent and consequently hasn't played this season. The two sides are reportedly close, but the Red Wings need to determine what course of action they want to take in regards to a necessarily corresponding roster move.

 

The Red Wings traded Sheahan and their 2018 fifth-round pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday for left wing Scott Wilson and a third-round pick in next year's draft.

The move clears the space needed for the Red Wings to officially sign Andreas Athanasiou, with whom they agreed on Friday to a one-year, $1.378 million deal.