Hudler making it a tough decision

Ken Holland the general manager of the Detroit Red Wings is currently working on getting the roster settled for next year. He wants to have an idea of what it will look like, and if he needs help, where that might be. He'll have around 15.5 million to sign 6 forwards, 1 defenseman, and 1 goalie. Top priority is Henrik Zetterberg. Let's say that Zetterberg takes 7 million. That leaves 8.5 for the rest of the guys. Seeing that a few young guys will make the team, such as Darren Helm 600,000, Jimmy Howard 700,000, and Jonathan Ericsson 900,000, that leaves 6.3 million. Now that you have filled your need for a goalie, defenseman, and 1 forward, the Wings just need 4 forwards to sign.

Before you go any further the next major decision is do you try and move some guys and give a nice size contract to Marian Hossa, who's fit in great this year, or do you keep Johan Franzen, and watch him continue to grow into an elite player in the league. The Wings can't keep both. What makes the decision even more difficult is the play of Jiri Hudler. He's a restricted free agent next year, meaning the Wings will have to match any offer another team gives him, if they want to keep him. If the offer is above 2.5 million the Wings would receive a 1st round draft pick. That could prove to be too steep of a price for Hudler. Hudler has made great strides this year though. He's playing a more all around game. He'll never be known as a defensive forward, but he's keeping his position better this year. Through 33 games this year he has 13 goals and 15 assists, very productive.

I'd like to think they could resign Franzen to a longer deal at around 3 million per year. Franzen would have to agree to a hometown discount to take that amount, but staying with the Swedes might make his decision easier. The Wings are then left with 3.3 million. Resigning free agent Tomas Kopecky, who has yet to live up to his full potential could be an idea. He makes 500,000 this year, and surely would sign for that again. That's 2.8 million and 2 forwards to go. Ville Leino has had his ups and downs in Grand Rapids this year, but he has offensive potential. He could end up on the top 2 lines eventually. Resigning him to his current amount would leave around 2 million to give Jiri Hudler. Again being a restricted free agent will allow the Wings to control the negotiations to a point. I think though, that these scenarios could happen. That would make the Wings look like this next year.

LW C RW

Filppula Datsyuk Holmstrom

Franzen Zetterberg Hudler

Leino Helm Cleary

Kopecky Draper Maltby

D D

Lidstrom Rafalski

Kronwall Stuart

Ericsson Lilia

G

Osgood

Howard

This roster will give the Wings another great team, with probably the youngest team they've had in years. 9 players will be under 30 years of age. Holland will have to convince a couple of guys that playing on the best team, and going for the cup, is better than an extra couple of hundred thousand dollars. It's a tough assignment, but he is the best GM in all sports.