Red Wings land two big roster additions in Mike Green and Brad Richards
By @MichaelCaples –
Ken Holland got his guys.
The Red Wings landed two players on the first day of free agency, and both could have a significant impact for the Original Six franchise.
Detroit signed right-handed defenseman Mike Green to a three-year contract, while adding veteran forward Brad Richards with a single-year deal.
“I think it’s a great day for the Red Wings today. We went into free agency looking to make some moves that we thought would have a big impact on our team, and I think we’ve added two players today that provide some really important ingredients that we were looking for.”
In Green, the Red Wings gain a point-producing blueliner who can bolster the Red Wings’ power play. He had long been rumored a Red Wings target, and now, fans will get to see what his addition means to the Wings’ defensive unit.
“For myself, it was an easy one,” Green said of his decision. “Obviously the Detroit Red Wings’ history and team, it’s top notch. The moving parts and fitting myself into the team seemed right, and I’m extremely excited to get started next season.”
Holland said that, at least to start, the expectation from coach Jeff Blashill is that Green will be paired with Danny DeKeyser to start the 2015-16 season.
Meanwhile, Richards adds a winning pedigree and depth to the Wings’ group of forwards. The 2004 Conn Smythe winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning just earned his second Stanley Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in June, and has been in the Stanley Cup Final in back-to-back seasons after reaching in 2014 with the New York Rangers.
“For me, it’s another classy organization with a lot of history of players coming here and raving about it and talking about the culture here,” Richards said. “I was fortunate enough to be two years in the row in the final, and I think it gets addicted when you get a taste of winning, and I feel that this team has a great chance. They were close this year in the first round of beating a team that went to the final and you hear so many great things about their leadership and their top-end players. I’m excited to go see how it all works there.”
Holland said that adding Richards to the middle of the Wings’ lineup was especially important while Pavel Datsyuk heals from ankle surgery. While his addition may limit time in Detroit for one of the Red Wings’ youngsters, Richards is a capable center that can allow for Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg to play on the same line when Datsyuk is healthy. Holland said that when everyone is healthy, it’s Datsyuk in the No. 1 center spot, Richards in the No. 2 spot and Riley Sheahan in the No. 3 spot.
“I think first off, when the season starts, we’ve got to figure out what’s going on with Pav and his ankle,” Holland said. “When we’re all healthy, the thinking is going to be Z and Pav together on one line, and Brad centering another line.”
The Red Wings will still have to make other moves this offseason – restricted free agents like Gustav Nyquist, Tomas Jurco and Teemu Pulkkinen still need to be re-signed, and trades could still be possible. According to NHLNumbers.com, the Red Wings have roughly $6 million left in cap space, but that is still with the RFAs unsigned.
Holland said there is no way that Pulkkinen will go on waivers – he will be one of the Red Wings’ 14 forwards on the opening night roster.
As far as the day’s big news item goes, Holland is pleased to add two players to the Detroit roster who he believes will fit in well.
“Both players have high hockey IQ, great stick skills and the ability to play give-and-go and play the type of game that we like to build our team.
“Great day for the Red Wings, we’re excited and I’m excited to have both Brad and Mike as part of our organization.”
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