Sunday, February 13, 2005

Wings' future is far from certain

Retirement and free agency will combine to drastically change Detroit's roster.

By Ted Kulfan / The Detroit News

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DETROIT -- If the NHL season would have begun in October, chances are the Red Wings would have been a younger, different-looking team.

But since it never begin, and probably won't begin, the next edition of the Red Wings might look radically different than the one Wings fans will have remembered.

Veteran players such as Steve Yzerman, Chris Chelios and Curtis Joseph could be affected by the inactivity. Valuable role players such as Jason Woolley and Mathieu Dandenault could be gone. Free agents such as Pavel Datsyuk and Mathieu Schneider will have to be dealt with.

Such are the realities with a lockout that shows no sign of ending. If the season is canceled, players would lose a year off their existing contracts.

"It's really frustrating and disappointing," said Manny Legace, the Wings' player representative. "There are a lot of older players out there, not just on our team, their careers may have to end because of this. We know our team could be affected by this. It's very disappointing."

Commissioner Gary Bettman is expected to cancel the season this week, possibly as early as Tuesday. Bettman said early last week that if a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) wasn't being drafted by the weekend, he would cancel the season.

The NHL and NHL Players Association haven't met since breaking off talks Thursday.

Mark Messier, Ron Francis, Dave Andreychuk, Brett Hull, and Luc Robitaille are some of the big-name stars who could be forced to retire if the lockout drags past the start of next season. Chelios and Yzerman could also be part of that Hall-of-Fame caliber list.

General manager Ken Holland is in Sweden on a scouting trip and wasn't available for comment. But he has said in the past the Wings' roster would likely change because of contract situations, age, and the new CBA.

Chelios, 43, was an unrestricted free agent heading into the 2004-05 season. But he and the Wings had a one-year contract worth $2.2 million agreed to in principle if the lockout were to end. Now that the lockout is expected to scrap this season, Chelios' future with the Wings looks grim.

With defenseman Niklas Kronwall excelling in Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League, and a large crop of younger (and probably cheaper) free agents available when the new CBA is established, the Wings might not want a defenseman who'll turn 44 the middle of next season.

"You never know what the future holds," Chelios said. "My first preference would be to remain in Detroit. My family's here, my kids' hockey (teams). We'll just have to see what happens."

Chelios could seek other options if the Wings aren't interested. Toronto contacted Chelios before when he was an unrestricted free agent. A return to his native Chicago, and the Blackhawks, might also be a possibility.

The future for Yzerman, who'll be 40 on May 9, looks equally uncertain. Yzerman has hinted he has made a decision about his future, but he isn't likely to announce what he'll do anytime soon. Yzerman is expected to retire if the lockout extends deep into next season. He could return if the season begins on time.

Many associated with the Wings organization, including owner Mike Ilitch, don't want to see Yzerman's career end because of the lockout. His last game was cut short by a serious eye injury May 1 against Calgary.

"A player like Steve has done so much, has had such an incredible career, you want to see him end it on his own terms," Wings forward Kris Draper said.

The Wings could also be looking for a new No. 1 goalie next season. The $8 million option on Joseph's contract will be null and void if this season is canceled. Joseph will be 38 entering next season, and there's a good chance neither side will be anxious in getting a new deal done.

The Wings will likely go looking for another veteran goalie. Promoting Legace to No. 1 until one of the younger goalies in their system (Stefan Liv, Jimmy Howard) is ready to step in is also a possibility.

Defensemen Dandenault and Woolley are also eligible to become unrestricted free agents at this season's completion. Both are the kind of players who could be in demand with the new CBA, players with moderate salaries who complement strong rosters.

Dandenault, with his versatility and speed, could be a popular free agent.

Then there's Datsyuk (restricted free agent) and Schneider (unrestricted), two players who never signed before the lockout began on Sept. 15. The Wings could sever ties with Schneider, who'll be 36 at the start of next season. But Datsyuk is a cornerstone of the future.

Prospects such as forwards Igor Grigorenko, Johan Franzen and Jiri Hudler could all be ready to see regular NHL action by the time the league begins play again.

You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606 or tkulfan@detnews.com.