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Rafalski signing a smooth move for Red Wings

If Plan A for the Detroit Red Wings was to make sure they re-signed defenseman Mathieu Schneider, then the Wings get an A-plus for ingenuity.

After Schneider signed a two-year, $11.25 million deal with the Anaheim Ducks, Wings General Manager Ken Holland did better, when he brought a local star home.

Who wouldn’t want former New Jersey Devils reliable and productive defenseman Brian Rafalski instead?

"We think he's a perfect addition to our team," Holland said. "He's been a premier defenseman in the League for a number of years. He can play in every situation -- power play, penalty kill, against the other teams’ best players.

"With his mobility and puckhandling skills, he is a perfect fit for our style of play. We wanted three puck-moving defensemen -- and now with Nicklas Lidstrom, Brian and Niklas Kronvall we have that."

A couple years ago, another player told me; "Forget the size. Rafalski can control a game with his skating, shooting and his smarts."

The player was Mario Lemieux. Can’t get better than that kind of compliment, can you?

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