Detroit Red Wings: Quarter Grades for Free-Agent Acquisitions

First off, in case you missed it, the Detroit Red Wings lost a couple of players over the summer.

With over 80 goals and a solid backup net minder leaving the Motor City, and slightly more than $3 million in cap space available to replace them, the Detroit Red Wings waited out most of the summer looking for "close-out deals."

Such deals are typically exemplified by slightly-damaged, irregular, or older model products being sold at a huge discount.

Purchasing any items of this kind is always a risk.

Sometimes, you get what you pay for, which is next to nothing.

Other times, you get a lot of value for your money.

On very rare occasions, you get something that was improperly priced, a true treasure sold as trash.

As we're about near the quarter mark of the season for the Red Wings (Detroit has played 18 games), there is ample evidence to question and grade the players Detroit picked from the bargain bin.

The grading will be based on three criteria: effort, effectiveness, and value.

As each player was brought in for a specific purpose, those expectations will be noted and the grades made relative to each player's performance to this point.

Value will be determined based on a comparison between the player's performance and salary. 

Is this a little subjective and open to interpretation?  You bet it is, but hey, if you see things differently, tell me what your grades are in a post!

We'll go in order of acquisition, which bring us first to Patrick Eaves.

Patrick Eaves-RW/LW

Acquired for: third line scoring, defensive play

Salary/terms: $500k/one year

Games played: 11

Numbers: 1 G, 4 A, +7

Effort: B

Eaves' start in Detroit was a bit stalled.  He had a tough time cracking the lineup through the first few games as head coach Mike Babcock tried to get youngsters Darren Helm and Justin Abdelkader regular playing time.

However, since being put on a line with Helm and Kris Draper (who is playing on the wing), Eaves has contributed to what has been Detroit's fastest line over the past several weeks.

Effectiveness: A

Five points and a plus-seven through 11 games isn't bad at all for a third-line winger.  Along with his offensive output, Eaves, with his line-mates, has really excelled at cycling the puck down low and creating problems for the opposition with their speed.

Value: A

For a guy making the equivalent of minimum wage in the NHL, Patrick Eaves has certainly provided enough effort and production to justify his salary.  Should he continue on the pace he is and avoid injury (something hard to do in Detroit these days), he may very well turn into a "poor man's Dan Cleary."  If so, he might just buy himself a shot at a contract extension over the summer.

Jason Williams-RW

Acquired for: Secondary scoring, second power play QB

Salary/terms: $1.5 million/one year

Games played: 15

Numbers: 2 G, 5 A,-5

Effort: B

Making a return trip to Hockeytown, Williams' strengths were well known by the organization. 

However, it was his apparent lack of effort that bought him a ticket out of Detroit at the 2006-07 trade-deadline. Williams has certainly looked good so far this season, playing mostly with Ville Leino and Valterri Filppula.  His speed and conditioning are solid and he's averaging over two shots per game.

Effectiveness: C

Williams enjoyed the best season of his career while with Detroit in 2005-06 (58 pts, 21 G, 37 A), and the team was hoping he could produce similar numbers this season.

Though he is currently on IR for the next several weeks (broken leg), his effectiveness prior to his injury wasn't all that noteworthy.  While he has produced a bit, it's safe to say Detroit was hoping his point totals would be solidly into double-digit territory by this point.

Value: B-

Even with the games he will miss due to his injury, Williams still has time to increase his value to the team this season. However, if he continues on the pace he's on, he'd end up with about 35 points by the end of the season.  Shelling out $43k per point isn't terrible, but it's hardly a bargain.

Todd Bertuzzi-LW/RW

Acquired for: Secondary scoring, power play scoring, physical presence

Salary/terms: $1.5 million/one year

Games played: 18

Numbers: 3 G, 6 A,-5

Effort: A+

Bertuzzi showed up to Detroit's training camp in great shape and with a very positive attitude.  He said he'd continue to dedicate himself to scoring as much as he can, but also to his defensive game.  Looking at just the numbers, one would think this was only talk, but Bertuzzi has been the most snake-bit Red Wing so far this season. 

He trails only Henrik Zetterberg in shots (52) and has made some outstanding defensive plays that just don't show up in the stats.  He's also exhibited some of the moves that made him one of the best players in the game while with Vancouver, but, he's hit more posts than he'd like to remember.

Effectiveness: C

Just like your teacher told you in sixth-grade, "If you keep working hard, your grade will improve." As frustrating as it is to hear, this is just what Todd Bertuzzi needs to do to increase his point totals. 

He's got to believe that, sooner or later, his shots will start finding the back of the net.  However, hockey is a numbers game, and Bertuzzi's 0.5 points per game are nothing but average.

Value: B

Bertuzzi will never be the player he once was. But, if he could contribute 40 points this season, I think the Wings would look at his $1.5 million salary as money well-spent. At times this season, Bertuzzi has looked absolutely dominant, but unless his effort starts paying off soon, I doubt the Wings would consider investing anything more into No. 44 beyond this season.

Brad May-LW

Acquired for: enforcer duties, fourth-line agitator

Salary/terms: $500k/one year

Games played: 11

Numbers: 0 G, 1 A,-1, 25 PIM

Effort: B

Signed a few games into the season, Brad May was brought in to "keep the flies off" as Mike Babcock puts it.  May knew his role walking on to the team, but also pointed out he'd still like to contribute offensively here and there.  He's fit in well on the fourth line and has even made a decent pass or two from game to game.

Additionally, May has tried to impart some of his fisticuffs knowledge to younger players like Justin Abdelkader, something no other player in Detroit can do.

Effectiveness: B

Judging an enforcer's effectiveness is rather tough.  You can look at the PIMs (May leads the team) as an indicator, but, one also wants to see a few bloody opponents skating away from a bout. 

May's presence has certainly made an impact on the ice as Detroit's star players are being left largely alone by the opposition, but, when he has dropped the gloves, he hasn't exactly pummeled his opponents.  

Value: B

Everyone loves tough guys on their team.  They bring a lot of energy to the room and can help change the momentum of a game with their fists.  May has fit in well so far in Detroit, limited as his role is.  He should contribute nicely to the development of players like Abdelkader and Ericcsson, two guys that would like to add an edge to their game.

So, there you have it. 

A free-agent progress report from Mr. Hutter.

If any of you want to step up to the board and show the class your grades, please feel free to post your response!