'We're excited': Wings' Holland moves aggressively
Detroit — Red Wings general manager Ken Holland certainly didn’t hold back on Friday.
On a very busy first day of free agency around the NHL, Holland added several pieces and brought back two others, definitely changing the Red Wings’ look.
Holland went to work on next season, signing the consistent and underrated Frans Nielsen to a 6-year contract worth $31.5 million ($5.25 million average), essentially replacing Pavel Datsyuk, who returned to finish his career in Russia.
Later in the afternoon Holland gambled by signing winger Tomas Vanek to a 1-year contract worth $2.6 million.
Vanek presents a huge risk-or-reward player, recently bought out by Minnesota, but who has twice scored over 40 goals in his career.
The Red Wings finished their shopping by signing gritty forward Steve Ott to a 1-year contract worth $800,000.
In addition to those signings, early Friday morning the Wings re-signed forward Darren Helm (a potential unrestricted free agent) to a 5-year contract worth $19.5 million ($3.85 million salary-cap hit) and defenseman Alexey Marchenko (a restricted free agent) to a 2-year deal worth $2.9 million ($1.45 million salary-cap charge). It was a busy day for Holland.
“We’re excited about the day we had, and going forward we can’t wait to get to training camp in September,” Holland said. “We think we’re going to have some real good competition, good depth up front.”
The trades certainly set the Red Wings up for trades this summer for a defenseman, if they choose to go that route.
Krupa: Nielsen fills big hole, but Wings need more
The Red Wings have 15 forwards counting restricted free agent Teemu Pulkkinen and not counting top prospect Anthony Mantha — so a forward such as Tomas Tatar or Gustav Nyquist could be a bargaining chip for a defenseman.
But on Friday, Holland was more concerned about the additions of Nielsen, Vanek and Ott, and the depth they provide.
Nielsen, 32, is a good set-up man, is sound defensively, can play either special team, and is a shootout specialist.
“He’s been in the New York Islanders as a top two-line center,” Holland said. “He’s had a lot of responsibility, offensively and defensively, we feel he’s a 200-foot player.
“He fits the type of player we look for here in Detroit and quality person. We did a lot of checking and talked to a lot of people and everything we got on and off the ice was top notch.”
In a conference call with reporters Nielsen said he was “honored” when contacted by the Red Wings.
“When it comes to a hockey player Detroit is something special, it’s hard not listen (when the Red Wings call),” said Nielsen, who had 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) last season. “I saw a good fit for me. I saw a chance to come in and play a style of hockey that looks fun from watching them from the outside.”
Still, leaving an Islanders organization by which Vanek was drafted in the third round in 2002 wasn’t an easy decision.
“It wasn’t easy,” Nielsen said. “I had to think hard about it. I have a lot good friends there, players, staff, everything, I’ve known for so long.
“Without these guys I wouldn’t be the player I am today. I owe those guys a lot for sure. It was a tough decision to leave them but at the same time being there so long sometimes you maybe get a little too comfortable being in the same spot for so long. I felt I needed a new challenge and felt Detroit was just too exciting to turn down.”
Nielsen played with Vanek for a few months with the Islanders and feels Vanek could be a steal for the Red Wings.
“He’ll definitely bring some offense,” Nielsen said. “He played with (John) Tavares and (Kyle) Okposo (with the Islanders) on a line and when he’s on his game he’s up there with Tavares skills-wise. He could be the steal of this free agency. He definitely has all the talent and scores goals.
“I hope we’ll see the old Vanek because he’s a top, top talent in this league.”
Vanek, 32, has been boom or bust throughout his career, with many coaches and front offices doubting his work ethic and passion.
But Holland feels the Red Wings might be getting Vanek, who had 18 goals with the Wild last season, at the right time.
“I’m hoping we’ve got a motivated athlete,” said Holland, adding new assistant coach John Torchetti coached Vanek last season in Minnesota and coach Jeff Blashill knew Vanek’s college coach. “It’s risk or reward. We’re hoping it’s going to turn out to be a real reward for us. There’s always some risk but you have to take some risk if you want to try get some reward.”
For Ott, a Windsor, Ontario, native, playing for the Red Wings was a dream come true.
“I’ve waited for this moment since I was drafted,” said Ott, 33, who was limited to 21 games last season in St. Louis because of a hamstring surgery. “I’ve always wanted to be a Red Wing. It’s my childhood team. I’ve always dreamed about being able to wear the winged wheel.”
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