The NHL Retirement Thread

[steelnation248 101]

Yeah. People either love him or hate him here. I was a fan of him and I think that he fit the Wings scheme pretty well. I read some injuries that said injuries were a big part of his retirement. They said that he played this entire postseason without an ACL in one of his knees. That's nuts.

[Krev 86]

Not really as huge a blow as some think. It opens up 6mil in cap space, and the past two years he's been playing with one good knee. I'm expecting them to offer sheet both Doughty and Weber.

[twistoffate19 0]

Heck, with 6 mil opened up, they might even make plays at Bieksa or Ehrhoff as well, assuming they don't re-sign right away with Vancouver.

[TeamHonda401 54]

Not really as huge a blow as some think. It opens up 6mil in cap space, and the past two years he's been playing with one good knee. I'm expecting them to offer sheet both Doughty and Weber.

I would LOVE for the wings to steal away Doughty from LA. That being said, they might just as easily throw Ericsson out there for 22+ mins and not make any moves. I can never seem to get a good handle on what they are going to do in these situations, but they always seem to make something work. I'll miss Rafalski though. He has been a great player for a long time.

[ibeck 38]

Not really as huge a blow as some think. It opens up 6mil in cap space, and the past two years he's been playing with one good knee. I'm expec. Heting them to offer sheet both Doughty and Weber.

Or bogosian. He was rumoured to be out of ATL at the trade deadline.

[Krev 86]

I would LOVE for the wings to steal away Doughty from LA. That being said, they might just as easily throw Ericsson out there for 22+ mins and not make any moves. I can never seem to get a good handle on what they are going to do in these situations, but they always seem to make something work. I'll miss Rafalski though. He has been a great player for a long time.

He was a great player up until 2008-2009. Since then he's been average with flashes of above-average. He chose the right time to retire, in my opinion. Lids will probably resign for the same amount as last year, maybe 500k less just to give them more room in signing someone else. If Doughty and Weber aren't brought on, Bieksa and Ehrhoff will be next.

Or bogosian. He was rumoured to be out of ATL at the trade deadline.

Detroit needs to stay away from Ohnosian. Primodonna that won't mesh well with Babcock or the team, much like Modano did after he skipped practice with an 'injury' after the Wings got pounded towards the end of the year.

[jrhky36 1]

wings ussally don't go after rfa b/c the offer sheet thingy. a lot of guys would play in det if given the chance. jovo's name has been throw around here a lot. sign jovo to 1 year and play the kids that they have to see where they are at. save some money for the trade deadline and use a lot of it next year. what we are seeing is the begining of a major change in the wings. draper, osgood, and modano most likly won't be back next year. its the first time since the cap that the wings have some major money going into free agency.

[ibeck 38]

He was a great player up until 2008-2009. Since then he's been average with flashes of above-average. He chose the right time to retire, in my opinion. Lids will probably resign for the same amount as last year, maybe 500k less just to give them more room in signing someone else. If Doughty and Weber aren't brought on, Bieksa and Ehrhoff will be next.

Detroit needs to stay away from Ohnosian. Primodonna that won't mesh well with Babcock or the team, much like Modano did after he skipped practice with an 'injury' after the Wings got pounded towards the end of the year.

krafty nickname haha

[dsjunior1388 81]

I would LOVE for the wings to steal away Doughty from LA. That being said, they might just as easily throw Ericsson out there for 22+ mins and not make any moves. I can never seem to get a good handle on what they are going to do in these situations, but they always seem to make something work. I'll miss Rafalski though. He has been a great player for a long time.

Not no but Hell no. Ericsson has been a turnover machine, a defensive liability, and hes a 6'5" 240 lb powerhouse who plays like he has Nathan Gerbe's size and has glass shoulders. Never hits, skates like he just learned how. I don't know where all his confidence went after he played out of his mind in the '09 playoffs but he hasnt been worth a damn since then.

Worth noting he turned down a 2 year, $4 Million offer from the Wings all ready.

[goaliemanshark 6]

Does this mean Lidstrom has another year in him?

[xrickyb86x 1]

I would LOVE for the wings to steal away Doughty from LA.

I don't see that happening AT ALL. Lombardi has already confirmed Doughty is a part of LA's future and will be signed this summer. Plus I'm pretty sure 21 year old Doughty is enjoying the beach.

[Krev 86]

Does this mean Lidstrom has another year in him?

I'd say yes. If he does retire, the Wings blueline is boned.

I don't see that happening AT ALL. Lombardi has already confirmed Doughty is a part of LA's future and will be signed this summer. Plus I'm pretty sure 21 year old Doughty is enjoying the beach.

Red Wings will still offer sheet him and Weber. They probably won't get either, but they'll do it since they have the cash to play with.

[xrickyb86x 1]

Red Wings will still offer sheet him and Weber. They probably won't get either, but they'll do it since they have the cash to play with.

Of course they will. That's just how you run a good hockey team.

[RadioGaGa 162]

I thought a player over 35 who retires does not come off your Cap number for the remaining years of the contract.

[chippa13 1844]

I'd say yes. If he does retire, the Wings blueline is boned.

Red Wings will still offer sheet him and Weber. They probably won't get either, but they'll do it since they have the cash to play with.

I, for one, would be shocked if the Red Wings offer sheeted any RFA. Would 29 other teams love to have those two guys on their rosters? Sure, but Holland has never been one to go poaching and I don't think he's about to start now.

[donkey87 0]

I thought a player over 35 who retires does not come off your Cap number for the remaining years of the contract.

That rule only applies if the the contract was signed after the player turned 35. Rafalski signed his contract when he was 33 so the final year of his contract will not count against the Red Wing's cap.

[Krev 86]

I thought a player over 35 who retires does not come off your Cap number for the remaining years of the contract.

He signed the contract before he was 35, therefore the hit comes off the cap.

[Joshison 1]

He should retire that windshield he uses.

[Krev 86]

He should retire that windshield he uses.

If he feels that windshield protects his face from injury, he should not retire it. Personal preference will always prevail.

[Chadd 916]

He should retire that windshield he uses.

We can do without posts like this.

[dsjunior1388 81]

Doug Weight retires.

[RadioGaGa 162]

Paul Kariya: http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=370372

[chippa13 1844]

It was a shame the way concussions ruined the end of his career. One of the best wrist shots and definitely the best backhander in the league.

[17D1998 1]

This sucks so much, he's always been my favorite player.

I just hope he's gonna pull off a mid-season comeback like Selanne

[DarkStar50 679]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/paul-kariya-announces-retirement/article2080412/

Kariya lets it all out here, and he is right, too.