Detroit Red Wings in the Free Agent Market: Who's Coming, Who's Going?

(Photo by: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Stanley Cup loss is still fresh in Red Wings fans minds, but the painful memories must quickly be pushed aside as the free agent extravaganza is fast approaching.

The Red Wings are undoubtedly going to lose several familiar faces to this annual phenomena.

But, the real question is who stays and who will join the ranks left vacant by fellow UFAs?

First things first, the Red Wings have several free agents on their roster, they are: D Chris Chelios, G Ty Conklin, RW Marian Hossa, LW Jiri Hudler, LW Tomas Kopecky, LW Ville Leino, and RW Mikael Samuelsson.

To a Red Wings fan, the large number of high quality players in limbo may be shocking.

Red Wings Nation already knows that it will be without Chris Chelios next season.  Chelios gave the team many great years and contributed to two Stanley Cup Championships.

However, his effectiveness had decreased to the point that he was no longer worth the money.

The money freed up by the departure of Chelios could help the team to sign one of the many other UFAs on the roster.

Perhaps the biggest name on the list is that of Marian Hossa.  One year ago at this time, he signed a one year deal with the Red Wings, turning down multi-year deals from multiple teams in an attempt to win the Stanley Cup.

Negotiations between Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland and Hossa have been progressing.  The last update from the negotiating table was that the two sides were about $2 million apart from each other.

But, according to ESPN, Holland commented that he was not optimistic about the team bringing Hossa back to the club.

Having turned down large offers last season, it seems Hossa will take that route this season. Detroit is not financially liquid enough to offer a large long term deal to Hossa, so look for him to be elsewhere next season.

Detroit may, however, attempt to trade Hossa's rights to another team to try to get something out of his contract before he leaves for good.

Tomas Kopecky may not be well known to those outside of Detroit, but he has been invaluable to the club over the life of his contract. But, it looks as though he too will not be with the team next season.

Kopecky shares the same agent as Hossa, and it appears he wants to take both of his clients to the open market. Agent Rich Winter has told Holland that Kopecky hopes to do much better on the market than what the Wings were offering.

Things look much better in the Samuelsson camp, though.  Holland did not comment extensively on the forward, but said that he will speak to him and his agents on Monday and hopes to get something done before Samuelsson hits the market.

Ville Leino has been called up several times to the parent club, and each time he has excelled.

If the Red Wings are expecting to lose the salaries of Chelios, Hossa, and Kopecky, offering a deal to Leino seems like the smart thing to do.

Jiri Hudler is a restricted free agent, which means he will more than likely remain with the team through at least next season. Hudler has emerged as a good second or third line forward and is a key piece to the puzzle that is the Red Wings.

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