The Free Press’s Helene St. James reviews Steve Yzerman’s free agency comments as they pertain to possibly making more moves:
“I would mull over a couple other things,” Yzerman said Monday. “We have a spot potentially on right wing. I don’t want to fill it just to fill it because it gives us some options for some of our younger players, to see if they’re ready, and it leaves opportunity maybe for something to come along now and the start of the regular season. I’m not really in a hurry, but I would consider that, and potentially look at maybe another defenseman.”
Yzerman said every veteran under contract is projected to be ready for September’s training camp, including defenseman Mike Green, who battled a virus last season, and defensemen Trevor Daley and Jonathan Ericsson, both of whom missed significant time injured. Yzerman said at the NHL draft he’d let veteran defenseman Niklas Kronwall have the whole summer to decide whether to retire or return. That decision could play into whether Yzerman looks elsewhere to bolster the blue line.
“We’d weigh adding another one versus leaving a spot for one of our younger guys on the roster,” Yzerman said. “If the right player at the right contract comes along, we would consider signing another one.”
I was thinking this is the 1st time in many years that I wanted the Wings GM to be locked in room with no access to the world. I can’t figure out a Zadina, Cholo, or any prospect (on D or a forward) will make the opening night roster.
I must be missing something?
Stevie Y might sign a RW, that can’t be for the top 6 or 9, can it?
Maybe Yzerman simply doesn’t think all of these kids are ready?
Cholowski – looked lost in the NHL. Didn’t exactly dominate when demoted to the AHL either.
Zadina – looked OK in the AHL, but not dominant. Could use more time.
Svechnikov – missed a whole year of hockey. Best to get up to speed in the AHL.
Rasmussen – didn’t belong in the NHL to begin with. Needs more time.
Veleno – why repeat the Rasmussen mistake. Better to go play as a 1C and dominate the AHL.
This is just smart planning. And if any of these guys blow their socks off in camp then they can simply waive someone to make room. So De La Rose gets waived to make room for Zadina or Bowey or Daley get waived to make room for a d-man.