Looks like Mike Illitch brought his checkbook to work today. After telling the media he wants to buy the Pistons, he went out and bought a new defenseman for the Red Wings. Specifically, the Wings signed 35-year old defender Ruslan Salei.
UPDATE: The contract is a one-year deal worth $750,000. Incentive bonuses could increase the cap hit up to a max of $1.1 million.
I have absolutely no idea who Salei is. ESPN tells me he's spent most of his career in Anaheim before stints in Florida and Colorado. Youtube tells me he likes to fight.
If Salei is the big, stay-at-home defenseman that Ken Holland wants then I like the move. Just make sure you re-sign Justin Abdelkader, Kenny.
Mike Modano, one of the most prolific, American-born scorers in NHL history, on and off the ice, will be announced as a Detroit Red Wing today. Some stupid Red Wings fans didn't want Modano to sign with his native team because he's old -- not old like the pepperidge farm guy, but old like you might want to take him behind the shed. Frankly, the Red Wings have been the best at getting the most out of outdated players and Modano will only want his career to go out with a bang in his hometown -- sometimes will to win takes over for what the body can or can't give you.
Besides, with Modano signing with the Wings it gives us a chance to see his wife, Willa Ford, around town. Remember her? Her music video "I Wanna Be Bad" was the high time of every 25-year-old's phase through puberty. And look, somebody's already taken the liberty of tat, tat, tatting up her happy place with a Red Wings logo. This alone makes the Modano signing worth it. Thanks, Ken Holland.
C Darren Helm signed a 2-year, $1.825 million contract with the Red Wings today. Helm, already a fan favorite because of his hustle and speed, has performed when it counts. He has 7 career playoff goals in 53 games, including this one that sent the Wings back to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2009.
In other news, Drew doesn't have to change the name of his blog for another 24 months. Good thing too, that shit's a pain in the ass.
I just spent four days on a lake in Illinois with no internet access and spotty cell phone coverage. I had a blast drinking beer and watching people race boats at 100+ mph, but it's nice to be back to indoor plumbing and ESPN. Imagine my surprise when I came home tonight and saw this headline from the Free Press.
Apparently Ms. St. James was either extremely excited or incredibly frustrated about this news, as you can see with the text "asdfasdf" after the headline. Of course, the red arrow is my addition (There's no way she's as good at MS Paint as I am. I got skillz yo.). As far as Modano actually signing with the Wings? I'll believe it when we see more than a report typed by a Freep writer's cat.
UPDATE: This gets even better. The Freep is basing their entire report on a text message that he sent reading "Big announcement Thursday." If that's the case, I think I see where this is going.
UPDATE 2: It looks like someone at the Freep is drunk and surly tonight. This probably isn't the cause of all of tonight's Modano confusion, but you never know.
As you may have heard, Red Wings superstar Henrik Zetterberg got married to longtime girlfriend Emma Andersson yesterday. Z's wedding was held in Emma's hometown of Molle, Sweden. Since we love weddings here at D4L, I figured we'd have a look at Henrik and Emma's big day. [Click for larger image]
Why is everyone wearing a striped onesie? Apparently -- because I don't know Swedish and I'm going off of everything George Malik translated -- Z and Emma wanted to poke fun at the region's tradition of public baths as recent as the 19th century. Naturally, it made for some awesome wedding memories.
Why in the world would anybody not want the all-time leading scorer amongst all American-born players? There's a poll going on at WIM and 37% of the voters (probably farmers) do not think the Red Wings should sign the 41-year-old best supporting actor/hockey player who hails from Livonia, Michigan. Modano!
The Red Wings re-signed Derek Meech to a one-year, $500,000 deal yesterday. Meech has been the ultimate role player for the Wings the past few seasons, playing in 126 regular season games at both forward and defenseman.
While Meech has never complained about riding pine for weeks at a time, one wonders if he'll ever snap at some point. The last thing the Wings need is Meech ruining things Hollow-Man-style after such an injury-plagued season last year.
The Red Wings re-signed forward Drew Miller to a one-year deal today. As usual, the team has not yet released the terms of the contract.
Miller was signed in the middle of last season and immediately shored up a porous penalty kill. He finished the year with 10 goals and 9 assists, including my favorite Red Wings goal of the season. He also showed a mean streak the Wings were lacking.
If you can't make out what he's saying in the video, it's something along the lines of "I freaking love you."
UPDATE: Looks like Miller will be getting paid $650,000 next season according to Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Once again, a great deal by GM Ken Holland.
Long-time Dallas Stars C Mike Modano is interested in playing one final year before retiring from the NHL, and the Red Wings are on his radar. Modano, a Livonia, MI native, will be in the D today to meet with the Wings' front office. There are a few other teams interested in Modano, including the Chicago Blackhawks.
The Chief has finally returned to A2Y, and he already has a prediction on what Modano's visit will bring.
I’ve been wrong, twice I think, in the last four years. So here goes again...he signs tomorrow. If not then, it’s only because the Wings are classy enough to delay it a day or two out of respect to Probie and his family.
If nothing else, Modano will join Johnny Damon as another wily veteran that would bring some serious eye candy to Detroit. Modano is married to actress Willa Ford.
Bob Probert, a forward and feared enforcer for the Red Wings from 1985 to 1994, passed away today on a boat in Ontario at the age of 45. Probert left the Wings just before I fell in love with the Winged Wheel sweaters (I was only 6 during his final season with the team), but I've seen countless videos of him dropping the gloves all over Youtube. He was a fan favorite and he will be forever missed by hockey fans everywhere.
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