Wings forward Darren McCarty remains a prime candidate to be bought out, as are Ray Whitney and Derian Hatcher.Wings don't make a move
Buying out players on a leaguewide basis is expected to pick up as Friday deadline nears.
Ray Whitney might have played his last game as a Red Wing. He also has been with the Sharks, Oilers, Panthers and Blue Jackets.
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DETROIT -- It was more of a trickle than a downpour around the NHL.
With the Red Wings, it was dry.
The expected storm around the NHL on Saturday, the first day teams were able to buy out players and negotiate with their own free agents and unsigned draft picks, became the calm of precious little news.
The Wings bought out no one and didn't come to terms with anyone.
Then again, they weren't alone in inactivity.
Other than the Philadelphia Flyers, no one around the NHL made news, either.
As expected, the Flyers announced they will buy out the contracts of forwards John LeClair and Tony Amonte.
Both become unrestricted free agents Aug. 1, along with approximately 260 other NHL players without contracts.
Buying out players, including with the Wings, is likely to increase as Friday's deadline gets closer.
Wings general manager Ken Holland didn't return phone calls Saturday.
First, teams must place players on waivers, and if this were to occur on the weekend, players would have 48 hours to clear (it would be 24 hours on a weekday).
The odds of a team's claiming a player on waivers are slim because he would have to be paid his present contract.
It will be significantly cheaper to land a player as an unrestricted free agent, after the original team has bought him out.
Around the Wings, defenseman Derian Hatcher and forwards Darren McCarty and Ray Whitney continue to be prime prospects to be bought out.
Agents for those players didn't return calls Saturday.
The Wings need to get comfortably below the $39 million salary cap.
They have 12 signed players, worth $32 million, and probably will try to sign Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg and Steve Yzerman (if he chooses not to retire).
There is also a need to sign a No. 1 goalie, another goal-scoring wing and an experienced defenseman.
Which players will the Wings buy out?
"A lot will depend on who we have to sign, and how those negotiations go," assistant GM Jim Nill said. "You also have to monitor what other players are available from other teams, as other teams buy out players."
Holland is expected to meet with Yzerman, possibly Wednesday.
Negotiations with Datsyuk could be difficult. The sides weren't close to an agreement before the lockout began Sept. 15. Datsyuk also has a standing offer to play in Russia if he can't come to terms with the Wings.
Holland has said numerous times that Datsyuk's first priority would be to stay with the Wings. That is his understanding after talks with Datsyuk and his agent, Gary Greenstin.
All aboard
As the Wings enter a new NHL era, they want young players along for the ride. Nill wants to sign unsigned draft picks such as goalie Jimmy Howard and forwards Valtteri Filppula, Johan Franzen and Igor Grigorenko.
They are likely to sign Howard, a 2003 second-round draft pick from Maine, and send him to Grand Rapids. Although Howard is entering his senior year, Nill said the Wings would like to see him begin his pro development.
Filppula and Franzen could crack the Wings lineup this season.
Grigorenko would remain in Russia for another year. He has recovered almost totally from a serious auto accident in 2003, but the Wings believe one more year in Russia would be beneficial for him.
Ice chips
The NHL schedule, already much maligned among Wings fans because of an overabundance of divisional games, will be released Monday.
... Wings fans will see young standout Sidney Crosby because the Penguins are scheduled to play at Joe Louis Arena this season.
You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606, or ted.kulfan@detnews.com.
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