Smart FA Signings Put Red Wings in Excellent Position to Extend Playoff Streak

July 1st, 2015 by Dave Lozo Leave a reply »

Maybe life won't be so bad in Detroit without coach Mike Babcock.

The Red Wings took two steps toward a 25th consecutive playoff appearance on the first day of free agency. According to Bill Roose of DetroitRedWings.com, they signed defenseman Mike Green to a three-year, $18 million deal and center Brad Richards to an incentive-laden one-year, $3 million contract that could be worth as much as $4 million.



After a 100-point season and seven-game, first-round loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs, the Red Wings appear to have fortified two glaring weaknesses that have existed for years.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has been looking for a top-four or top-pairing right-handed defenseman since at least 2012. Last summer, Holland didn't like the asking price of free agent Matt Niskanen, who signed a seven-year contract with a $5.75 million cap hit with the Washington Capitals, which forced Green into the free-agent market this summer.

Green is no longer the player who scored 31 goals in 2008-09 and had 76 points in 75 games the following season. He remains an offensive threat ...

Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
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