NHL Free Agent Rumors: When Will Ty Conklin Be a Detroit Red Wing Again?

If this were Nicklas Lidstrom, I could understand.

If it were the vacant slot left by Brian Rafalski, I wouldn't be perplexed.

Hell, if it were Patrick Eaves or Drew Miller, it wouldn't surprise me.

If we were waiting to hear news of any of these contracts getting done more than two weeks after the start of NHL free-agency, honestly, it wouldn't be all that shocking.

But, as of now, Nick is back for one more year, Ian White is going to get his shot to adequately replace Rafi and both Eaves and Miller are locked up for the next couple of years.

Clearly, almost every position in Detroit is accounted for and every important contract is signed—save one.

The Red Wings are still without a back-up goaltender and the reason why is almost as mysterious as why such a seemingly insignificant roster move is news in the first place.

In the days following the star of free-agency, it appeared quite clear that the Wings were targeting former back-up Ty Conklin to be the guy to spell Jimmy Howard in net 20-plus games next season.

Not only was Conklin the odd-man out in St.Louis, who signed goalie Brian Elliot on July 1 to back up incumbent starter Jaroslav Halak, his previous tenure in Detroit (2008-09) had been the best season of his career and he fit the team like a glove both on and off the ice.

The match seemed perfect, and inevitable.

However, here we sit, two weeks later, and there is no news as to who will be the No. 2 guy in Detroit's net next season.

Now, yes, the Red Wings re-signed third-string goalie Joey MacDonald to a two-year deal last week, but, he's got an outside chance at best of stealing the back-up job in camp.

MacDonald's value to the team as a mentor for young goalies in Grand Rapids and a reserve, veteran goalie ready to play in the NHL should the need arise is far greater than what he'd provide riding pine for 75 percent of the season.

Then, there's Chris Osgood.

Ken Holland has stated he's talking with Ozzie about his playing readiness, specifically, his aging and damaged body's ability to stay intact through one more NHL season.

Now, Ozzie isn't likely to tell him, "You know Kenny, I really can't play anymore, but, I want to stay on because I just can't stomach the idea of retiring right now," but honestly, that might be where Ozzie is coming from.

Given his injury history and declining play over the past few seasons, Osgood has demonstrated that while he may still have the will to play, his ability to do so has vastly declined; to the extent he has more or less become a liability on most nights.

I'm not Ozzie-bashing here, I'm actually an Osgood fan and think his No. 30 deserves to be retired to the rafters.

But, there's no denying the fact that he's no longer capable of playing with any amount of consistency.

At some level, Ken Holland most know this.

Assuming he does, the question remains, when, if ever, will Ty Conklin be signed on as Detroit's back-up goaltender?

He remains the only logical and available choice for the job.

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