Wings trying to keep team intact
TheFourthPeriod.com
The Red Wings would like to sign both Marian Hossa and Johan Franzen to new contracts, but doing so would mean they'd have to wave goodbye to other players, reports the Detroit News.
Hossa and Franzen are set to become unrestricted free agents this summer and the Red Wings believe they are in a position to keep both beyond this season.
However, doing so would mean the team will likely have to trade some players or not re-sign the rest of its impending free agents in order to remain under the salary cap.
"Can you sign Hossa and Franzen and keep the majority of the team together, that's the question," Wings GM Ken Holland told the News.
While Holland believes it's possible, the Wings can only sign one of Hossa or Franzen this season due to the cap, and the other will have to wait until July 1.
"We're talking," Holland said. "They both know the situation. When we can get a contract number that makes competitive sense for us, and business sense for them, we'll do it. I really don't have a priority (on which to sign early)."
Last month, the Wings re-signed Henrik Zetterberg to a 12-year, $73 million contract. Zetterberg's annual cap hit is $6.1 million, giving the team more room to play with.
Holland has already acknowledged a desire to re-sign potential restricted free agent Jiri Hudler and impending UFA Tomas Kopecky, while forward Mikael Samuelsson, goalie Ty Conklin and defenseman Chris Chelios will also need new deals.