To me, the guy is a non-commodity. It's one thing to be a 41 year old netminder, it's another to be an injury prone 41 year old netminder that isn't even that good when healthy.
Haven't the Wings had their fill of of over the hill netminders(Hasek in 03)?
I can't say that Jimmy Howard is NHL ready, but a healthy Chris Osgood could be a solid starter.
Belfour? What's the fascination?
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Blitzkrieg
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Belfour? What's the fascination?
Defense wins championships.
Well, the Wings at least weren't just throwing a bundle of cash his way out of desperation. Holland will only sign him under his terms...a low base salary with incentives. Other than Florida, I don't know of any other club who has taken a flyer on him. The demand isn't high for him so his price really can't be that high either. He should be happy just to get any offers. Off the UFA goalies still available...Dunham, Boucher, Prusek, Legace, Hasek, Divis and Belfour...you don't really see a guy who is a safe-bet as a starter maybe other than Legace. Hasek was a Vezina candidate until he got hurt in the Olympics. He left Detroit on bad terms and I'm positive he won't go anywhere without the guarantee that he's #1.
With Buffalo likely to be taken to the cleaners with their RFAs and arbitration cases coming up, they're going to need to unload Biron and his $2.1 million salary because they aren't going to be able to afford that type of a salary for a backup. Briere got the big prize, $5 million for one year. The Sabres would have over $24 million tied up in 13 players...which includes Briere and his award from arbitration. They still have many key RFAs to sign including Miller, Afinogenov, Kotalik, Dumont, and Kalinin. They still have 8 players waiting for arbitration. It is likely the Sabres will have to unload some salary to avoid from going over the cap. If they don't unload Biron, maybe they unload someone like Afinogenov or Kotalik...younger wingers that the Wings would probably love to acquire considering they are thin at that position right now.
I believe that the Wings would be wise to not go after any of the UFA goalies. The bridge pretty much has been burned with the Wings and Legace...I would've been open to him coming back for another 1 year deal to give Howard another season in the 'A'. Honestly, if they can get Biron and without having to give up much in return...they can go with him for one season and I believe he's a UFA next summer. The Sabres aren't likely going to have much room under the cap to take on any salary so maybe he costs the Wings a mid-round draft pick in exchange for him and not have to give up any players under contract. If they let him walk after next season, it only would've costed them a draft pick and they could allow Howard or Liv to graduate for the '07-08 season with Osgood going into his final year of his deal to be either the backup or the 1a goalie. Plus, there will be a lot of cap room next summer to go fill in any holes on the team with many veterans approaching retirement or possibly not offering them a new contract.
With Buffalo likely to be taken to the cleaners with their RFAs and arbitration cases coming up, they're going to need to unload Biron and his $2.1 million salary because they aren't going to be able to afford that type of a salary for a backup. Briere got the big prize, $5 million for one year. The Sabres would have over $24 million tied up in 13 players...which includes Briere and his award from arbitration. They still have many key RFAs to sign including Miller, Afinogenov, Kotalik, Dumont, and Kalinin. They still have 8 players waiting for arbitration. It is likely the Sabres will have to unload some salary to avoid from going over the cap. If they don't unload Biron, maybe they unload someone like Afinogenov or Kotalik...younger wingers that the Wings would probably love to acquire considering they are thin at that position right now.
I believe that the Wings would be wise to not go after any of the UFA goalies. The bridge pretty much has been burned with the Wings and Legace...I would've been open to him coming back for another 1 year deal to give Howard another season in the 'A'. Honestly, if they can get Biron and without having to give up much in return...they can go with him for one season and I believe he's a UFA next summer. The Sabres aren't likely going to have much room under the cap to take on any salary so maybe he costs the Wings a mid-round draft pick in exchange for him and not have to give up any players under contract. If they let him walk after next season, it only would've costed them a draft pick and they could allow Howard or Liv to graduate for the '07-08 season with Osgood going into his final year of his deal to be either the backup or the 1a goalie. Plus, there will be a lot of cap room next summer to go fill in any holes on the team with many veterans approaching retirement or possibly not offering them a new contract.
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