[Signing] Niskanen to the Caps (7yrs, $5.75 mil AAV, NTC)

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by trackercowe

Did the Wings get anyone today? That's back-to-back to-back to-back years they've pretty much struck out on free agency (back to Parise/Suter). I guess Alfredsson was a decent pick up, but signing Weiss to that ridiculous contract more than cancels that out.

It makes you wonder what Holland has been doing the past few years, and how much having Jim Nill by his side is putting a negative spin on matters.

Wings didn't get anyone they were after.

They reportedly offered more money to Niskanen and Boyle than what they respectively signed for.

They were also told Ehrhoff would only sign a 5 year deal just before he signed a 1 year deal with the Pens.

[mister__big]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Wings didn't get anyone they were after.

They reportedly offered more money to Niskanen and Boyle than what they respectively signed for.

They were also told Ehrhoff would only sign a 5 year deal just before he signed a 1 year deal with the Pens.

Man if that's true, then it shows just how far the mighty Wings have fallen. It was only a few years ago when every free agent would've given their left nut to play for the Wings, and now no one wants to touch them with a 10-foot hockey stick.

[Hackey]

Only makes sense. Detroit is on the down swing. Far from a contender and we all know no one wants to live in Detroit.

[19Yzerman19]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

They were also told Ehrhoff would only sign a 5 year deal just before he signed a 1 year deal with the Pens.

If they were told this their immediate answer should have been "sure, sounds good."

[Sylvanfan]

Nobody stays young forever, and Detroit managed to trick father time a lot longer than nearly every other NHL organization.

Fact is since they lost the last 2 games of the 2009 playoffs, in the next 5 seasons they have not been able to get past the second round. 4 of those seasons they didn't have home ice advantage in the first round. The past three years do show a pretty clear downward trend since Lidstrom retired. The days where they can get guys to take the home town discount to stay are gone because they are no longer the top dog around. They're finding out that their currency has been deflated to the point where offering the same money isn't good enough.

The cap is the same in all 30 markets, but make no mistake, the cost of players to come and play isn't. Chicago, Rangers, Pittsburgh, Philly, Los Angeles can buy a lot more in players for 69 million a year than can be had in places like Calgary and Edmonton, with Detroit trending that way. Back when Goodenow was running the PA, he made sure that players were paid pretty consistently no matter where they played. That is not the case at all anymore.