  Thnk2mch Member Username: Thnk2mch Post Number: 193 Registered: 02-2006 Posted From: 71.65.11.152 |
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs .dll/article?AID=/20060709/SPO RTS05/607090670/1053 BYE, SHANNY: Shanahan accepts Rangers' offer July 9, 2006 Email this Print this BY HELENE ST. JAMES FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER After nine seasons and three Stanley Cups with the Red Wings, Brendan Shanahan has decided to play in the Big Apple. The Free Press confirmed Sunday morning that Shanahan has accepted a one-year offer with the Rangers, believed to be worth around $4 million. The Wings had offered him $4 million for one season, and a slightly lower per-average for two seasons. His departure leaves the Wings without one of their top forwards. At 6-foot-3, 218 pounds Shanahan provided size along with his accurate scoring touch. Last season, which saw him turn 37 in January, he scored 40 goals among 81 points. Since he arrived in a trade on Oct. 9, 1996, he has been a cornerstone on an offensive line and an integral part of the power play. While his last three playoffs have disappointed – against the Oilers this spring, he had one goal in six games, and he has three goals total in the past 22 playoff games dating to 2003 – he has also had a knack for scoring the big goal when needed. One of the biggest came his first year with Detroit, in the 1997 playoffs. The Wings played the Ducks in the first round, and had a 3-0 hold on the series. Desperate, the Ducks clutched to Game 4, and it was Shanahan who finally ended the epic when he scored at 17:03 of the third overtime. Shanahan went on to lead the team with nine goals. In the 1998 playoffs, he scored the goal that clinched the first-round series against Phoenix, and scored in overtime in Game 3 of the second-round series against St. Louis. The last time the Wings won the Cup, in 2002, Shanahan contributed eight goals among 19 points. How do the Wings replace him? Well, it’s been a week since the free agent market opened July 1, and it’s been ransacked of top names – not that any of them really interested the Wings. Former Spartan Anson Carter, a journeyman forward who last season had 33 goals for Vancouver, is available, as is two-time Selke Trophy winner Michael Peca, a pesky player who most recently helped the Oilers oust the Wings in the first round of the 2006 playoffs. A trade is another possibility, but in order to get back a power forward, the Wings will have to give up something valuable, and youngsters Henrik Zetterberg, Pavel Datsyuk and Niklas Kronwall are all off limits. Robert Lang makes $3.8 million but the Wings aren’t going to trade him, because now he’s their only big forward, and furthermore, while his regular seasons have fluctuated, he’s been a steady playoff performer in Detroit. As for defenseman Mathieu Schneider, he’s very valuable to the success of the power play, and if the Wings traded him, they’d just be searching for someone else like him. This adds to a workload that appeared to have been downsized after Nick Lidstrom agreed June 30 to a two-year, $15.2 million deal, which was the single most important contract for the Wings to get done this off-season. The Wings are believed to be close to offering Ed Belfour a one-year deal worth around $500,000, which would take care of securing two veteran goaltenders (Chris Osgood re-upped for two years, $1.8 million, July 1). A veteran defenseman and a couple of inexpensive forwards were left on the to-do list, but now there’s a new no. 1 job: Replacing Shanahan. NOTEBOOK: With 22 seasons of playing in the NHL to his credit, Yzerman possesses the sort of encyclopedic knowledge that the Wings figure can benefit their organization tremendously. Yzerman retired Monday, and during his news conference it was revealed by vice president Jimmy Devellano that Yzerman had been a front-office shadow of sorts for the past five years, giving his opinion on potential Wings. In fact, that was only half the story. "I can go further back than that," Devellano said Friday. "Going back 10 years ago when I did a contract for Steve Yzerman, he and I had pretty extensive discussions about him being involved in the front office when his playing career was done. We worked something into the contract. So this has been on the burner for a decade, because, to be very fair, we didn't anticipate that he would play 22 years. So, we talked about this 10 years ago." Devellano and the rest of the front office plan to meet with Yzerman next month to sort out what his duties will be this coming season -- but, for example, the Wings' decision to explore adding goaltender Ed Belfour for the coming season is exactly where Yzerman's thoughts would be welcome. "That would be the type of thing that we'd get his opinion on, for sure," Devellano said. "That's the very type of thing we're talking about." Over the years, the Wings came to rely upon Yzerman's input. "He was comfortable and very respectful of his situation and our situation," Devellano said. "He was helpful. He wanted us to have the very best team we could possibly have, as we did. He was such a major person in the dressing room." Now, he might emerge as a major person in the front office. N.Y. RANGERS: Tom Poti is leaving the Rangers, but the veteran NHL defenseman is staying in New York. Poti, 29, joined the rival Islanders by signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal after three up-and-down seasons with the Rangers. Contact HELENE ST. JAMES at 313-222-2295 or Hstjames@freepress.com. Free Press News Services contributed to this report. | ||
Bushay Member Username: Bushay Post Number: 30 Registered: 05-2005 Posted From: 68.61.167.97 |
This one's gonna hurt big time in my opinion. Were really gonna miss what he provided on the PP, the locker room and the respect he demanded in front of the opposing teams net. He wasnt considered a "heaveyweight" by league standards but there wasnt anyone he shy'd away from when the team needed him. Sure hope they sign Samsonov now that he's gone. Let's at least replace him with some speed. | ||
Patrick Member Username: Patrick Post Number: 3504 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.209.176.172 |
so is everyone going to shit on him too because he's leaving? | ||
Islandman Member Username: Islandman Post Number: 227 Registered: 08-2004 Posted From: 68.42.171.59 |
No, but I am wondering what to do with my jersey.  | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 785 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
If you want to win a Stanley Cup, you've got to have guys that show up and deliver in the playoffs not just the regular season!! I think Yzerman will turn out much like Joe D has with the Pistons. However, Kenny Holland has the GM job for now. If they don't make the playoff push next year, he may be gone sooner rather than later. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3432 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
I guess that means the debate for who will replace Yzerman as the captain has one less name ot bandy about now. Sergei Samsonov? Anson Carter? Michael Peca? -anyone else available?? | ||
Eastside Member Username: Eastside Post Number: 897 Registered: 01-2005 Posted From: 68.42.171.216 |
...Shanny was but a shadow of his former physical self. I love Shanny...but I think his moving on will force the team to go in the direction it needs, towards young, physical forwards. | ||
Czar Member Username: Czar Post Number: 3150 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 72.49.172.67 |
No great loss. His best days are behind him. He was a great player for the Wings, but he's tanked in the last two playoffs. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3435 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
Who on the Wings didn't tank during the playoffs the last two years outside of Zetterberg? Other teams have gotten better and have infused more youth and the Wings were on a slight bit of a decline despite having stellar regular season numbers. | ||
Tarkus Member Username: Tarkus Post Number: 60 Registered: 04-2006 Posted From: 68.43.115.231 |
Why not start fresh. Go with one of the young goalies instead of 41 year old Belfour. It might be rough at first but look at Edmonton and Carolina. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 1428 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 68.255.232.209 |
The reason they tanked is becuase the game had passed them. They should have looked to move a lot of these older slower players instead of bowing down to the public pressure to keep signing these old ass players with nothing left in the tank. Holding on too long to your fan-star players has caused many a franchise to enter a decade long rebuilding process or even longer. Time to start fresh and see if Holland is as good as the Red Wing fanatics insist he is. | ||
Paulmcall Member Username: Paulmcall Post Number: 786 Registered: 05-2004 Posted From: 68.40.119.216 |
You know it's easy for all of use to second guess Kenny boy now. The Wings did kick butt during the regular season. However. it is true that the Wings have to get faster and younger. This is going to be a tough test for management because they have such late draft choices. The scouts and coaches will have to be the edge to have them continue to be in contention every year. Fortunately, they have a few gems ready to step in. | ||
Motorcitymayor2026 Member Username: Motorcitymayor2026 Post Number: 997 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 24.231.189.137 |
9 good years here in Detroit for Shanny. At least it wasnt all about money with him, as he was offered $4million by each team, and I am sure he couldve gotten more as Montreal, St. Louis, Detroit, NY, and Boston all pursued him | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 112 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
The thing that scared me most in that story is the poss. of signing Belfour....*shudders* Hopefully, if he is signed, he won't have another meltdown in net & blame it on too much cold medicine, like he did a few seasons ago!!! I think he's past his prime more than Shanny is! Anyway, good luck...thanks for the memories!!! | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 3468 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.47.100.44 |
I guess no more Irish jig at the JLA now. And if Belfour signs, does that mean we queue up the theme music from Psycho from time to time now? I'd be scared if we got Belfour too. I'd be more inclined to toss a youngster (Liv, Howard or MacDonald) in net and ride him out. | ||
_sj_ Member Username: _sj_ Post Number: 1429 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 69.220.230.150 |
Oh man, first off, Liv has never played North American Hockey. Bad idea to throw him into the NHL without at least a year in the Minors. MacDonald had Back Surgery last season and missed almost the entire year. Howard needs a little more seasoning. Belfour @ 500k for one year is not the end of the world while the younger guys get more seasoning. The problem is that Holland screwed around with Shanny so long that all the good replacements have now signed elsewhere. | ||
Dave Member Username: Dave Post Number: 97 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 70.106.199.173 |
Thanks to Shanahan for a great time. The Wings have done a good job of drafting and growing their own stars on the farm. It will be fun watching the new Wings develop. dave | ||
Pdtpuck Member Username: Pdtpuck Post Number: 116 Registered: 01-2006 Posted From: 208.251.168.194 |
well, if it happens, here's hoping he waits until they are "seasoned" before he freaks out (he will SOMEHOW, just watch...) or else the wings will have to scramble @ the trade deadline to catch up! | ||
Humanmachinery Member Username: Humanmachinery Post Number: 7 Registered: 07-2006 Posted From: 68.42.133.168 |
Of the available free agent forwards, I'd go for Carter and/or Pecca. Both of them can hit and make plays. Samsonov hasn't played nearly up to his potential in years now, and seems to have burnt out on the NHL. Sad to say, that seems a recurring theme with Russian players in this league. They start out amazing, and then develop problems with injuries or turnovers. :/ Belfour might work out. Trading for Martin Biron could also work out. Howard will eventually make it, but he's just not ready yet. | ||
Bobj Member Username: Bobj Post Number: 792 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 65.221.183.220 |
I think it is time to move on, although he has been a great player, there is some reason that the Wings cannot get it done in the playoffs, maybe new leadership will help. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4521 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.84.88 |
ANOTHER TRAITOR!!! Begone from the Red Wings, Shanny! We don't need you anymore. Go play with those Rangers. | ||
Danny Member Username: Danny Post Number: 4522 Registered: 02-2004 Posted From: 141.217.84.88 |
We get Hasek instead. He'll bump you off next time we meet. |
