Three UFA's That Could Help the Detroit Red Wings

There are some teams that fans love to hate.

This is hatred bred not out of dirty plays or loudmouth players, but by a maddening ability to always remain among the very best teams in the league, year after year.

This is deep, raging hate that at times overshadows one's love for their own team.

For example, I have a 60-year-old Canadian friend who has a lifelong hatred of Montreal because, "No one should win that much."

This is how many hockey fans feel about the Detroit Red Wings of the past 15 years.

One of the best examples I've witnessed of this irrational hatred of the Winged Wheel was after going to a Kings/Coyotes game last year.

The Kings lost 2-1 and as we shuffled our way out of the Staples Center, I heard a Kings fan behind me say, "Well, at least Detroit lost tonight."

People love to see Detroit lose almost as much as their fans love to see them win.

This schadenfreude was significantly stoked this offseason as Detroit waved goodbye to Marian Hossa, Mikael Samuelsson, Tomas Kopecky, and Ty Conklin.

They haven't quite bid farewell to Jiri Hudler, but he's certainly got his car keys out and is making his way down the driveway.

This Exodus has been a thing of joy for many hockey fans as they think that finally, Detroit will be reduced to merely a good team fighting for a playoff spot, rather than a great team penciled in for a top 3 finish during training camp.

Though their losses are significant, I don't think Detroit is set to become a middle of the pack team anytime soon.

They secured their potential for greatness during the regular season with the signing of Henrik Zetterberg and Johan Franzen to long term contracts.

Along with back to back Selke winner Pavel Datsyuk, a blue-line corps that is second to none and Chris Osgood coming off a Conn Smythe worthy playoff run, Zetterberg and Franzen round out what is still a very formidable team.

However, the losses Detroit sustained this offseason leave holes that could be filled with the likes of Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader, but more likely require a veteran addition to the team.

Barring a bizarre turn of events, Jiri Hudler will not be on Detroit's payroll this season, so that leaves them with approximately $1.5 million to sign at least one player who can help the team get closer to the deep end of the talent pool.

Here's a look at three guys the Wings could afford and who could be a good fit in Motown.

Petr Sykora

Though his participation was limited during this year's finals, Sykora has faced the Wings in the Stanley Cup finals for two years in a row, so he's well aware of what kind of team they are.  Sykora has perhaps the biggest offensive upside of the UFA's left on the market. 

He has 300 career goals and has scored 20+ goals a season over the last three years.  Additionally, he now has two Stanley Cup wins on his resume and a history with Red Wings coach Mike Babcock (he coached Sykora in Anaheim). 

At 32, his age makes him attractive as well, though his recent injury history has likely decreased his value.  Still, adding Sykora could help make up for some of the goals that walked away with Samuelsson or Hudler.

Mike Grier

He doesn't bring much in the way of goal scoring having scored 20 goals just twice in his 13 year career.  But, if Detroit is looking to return to a defense first mentality, the kind of play that won them the Cup in 2008, Mike Grier could be just the kind of player they're looking for. 

Though San Jose has become a perennial playoff flop the past three years, many say that Grier has been their hardest working and most effective player during that time. 

With deceptive speed, good hockey sense and 225 pounds to throw around, Grier could provide Detroit with the grit that is always welcome come mid-April as well as take grinders-in-training Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader under his wing. 

He's a Detroit native to boot and considered one of the best 'team guys' in the league. However, at 36, he's on the down slope of his career and, if he continues to play a hard, physical game, could be prone to injury.  Detroit may have to get deep in the playoffs before an asset like Grier starts to pay off, but once there, they'd be happy to have him.

Jason Williams

Apparently, Detroit has already been in contact with Jason Williams regarding a return to the team that brought him into the NHL as an undrafted free agent.  At 28, Williams is still rounding out his skill set and has shown flashes of offensive brilliance during his 8 years in the league. 

Mike Babcock showed considerable confidence in Williams in 2005-06, Babcock's his first year in Detroit, putting him at the point on the powerplay and using him often on the top two lines.  Williams responded with a break out year scoring 58 points. 

However, his production dipped the following season along with his work ethic which earned him a ticket to Chicago at the trade deadline.  Since leaving Detroit, Williams has played for three teams, providing added value at some times, and total irrelevance at others. 

Still, Williams knows the deal in Detroit and agreeing to return would have to mean he understands what will be expected of him.  He's shown he has the ability to be a threat offensively.  If he can dial in some consistency, he could be a very good addition to Detroit this season.

While none of these players are game changers, they all could provide significant value to Detroit.

Anyway you slice it, Detroit's offensive output this season will not match what they saw in 2008-09.  However, with the continued development of their young players, maintained brilliance of their superstars and a hole or two filled with veteran players, any fall they face from the last year is likely to be a short one.