8:38 PM EDT, 06/28/2006
DETROIT (AP) - Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has made offers to re-sign defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, forward Brendan Shanahan and goaltender Chris Osgood but doesn't know if any of the three will agree to deals before free agency begins Saturday.
"I'm trying to work with each of those players, and their agents, to find a number that works for them and works for us," Holland said Wednesday. "Hopefully, we'll find something that works for both sides in each of those three cases."
The Red Wings would also like to bring back captain Steve Yzerman, but they are still waiting for the famed centre to decide if he wants to play or retire.
"I talked to him two weeks ago, and we said we'd talk again this week," Holland said. "I'd like to know what his plans are before Saturday, but I've told him he can take all the time he wants because obviously he's making an important decision."
The Red Wings decided against bringing back No. 1 goalie Manny Legace but are interested in having Osgood return as a backup - behind a goalie to be announced.
"We're going to find a goaltender this off-season, but that's easier said than done," Holland said. "There are some free agents out there with some ability and experience, and some that might be available in a trade. The problem is, if we have to commit a lot of money to a goaltender, I have to get rid of one of our key players."
The NHL salary cap was increased to $44 million US earlier this week, giving each team about $5 million more to spend than last season.
"We're going to keep some money available, just in case of an injury, but we'll be as close to the cap as we can be with signings that we hope to make," Holland said.
The most a player can make this upcoming season is $8.8 million, and Lidstrom's agent might be asking for a maximum contract - or close to it - after he was named the league's top defenceman for a fourth time earlier this month.
"We really want Nick back, but we have to reach a deal that works for both sides," Holland said. "I talked to him and his agent recently, and we negotiated again on Monday.
"If he and the other players we'd like to get back want the top end of market value, we're not going to be able to do all the things we want to do with our team."
DETROIT (AP) - Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has made offers to re-sign defenceman Nicklas Lidstrom, forward Brendan Shanahan and goaltender Chris Osgood but doesn't know if any of the three will agree to deals before free agency begins Saturday.
"I'm trying to work with each of those players, and their agents, to find a number that works for them and works for us," Holland said Wednesday. "Hopefully, we'll find something that works for both sides in each of those three cases."
The Red Wings would also like to bring back captain Steve Yzerman, but they are still waiting for the famed centre to decide if he wants to play or retire.
"I talked to him two weeks ago, and we said we'd talk again this week," Holland said. "I'd like to know what his plans are before Saturday, but I've told him he can take all the time he wants because obviously he's making an important decision."
The Red Wings decided against bringing back No. 1 goalie Manny Legace but are interested in having Osgood return as a backup - behind a goalie to be announced.
"We're going to find a goaltender this off-season, but that's easier said than done," Holland said. "There are some free agents out there with some ability and experience, and some that might be available in a trade. The problem is, if we have to commit a lot of money to a goaltender, I have to get rid of one of our key players."
The NHL salary cap was increased to $44 million US earlier this week, giving each team about $5 million more to spend than last season.
"We're going to keep some money available, just in case of an injury, but we'll be as close to the cap as we can be with signings that we hope to make," Holland said.
The most a player can make this upcoming season is $8.8 million, and Lidstrom's agent might be asking for a maximum contract - or close to it - after he was named the league's top defenceman for a fourth time earlier this month.
"We really want Nick back, but we have to reach a deal that works for both sides," Holland said. "I talked to him and his agent recently, and we negotiated again on Monday.
"If he and the other players we'd like to get back want the top end of market value, we're not going to be able to do all the things we want to do with our team."
