SB Nation Detroit - Red Wings Defenseman Derek Meech Clears Waivershttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48919/detroit-fave.png2010-09-09T16:57:00-04:00http://detroit.sbnation.com/rss/stream/12715992010-09-09T16:57:00-04:002010-09-09T16:57:00-04:00Derek Meech Clears Waivers, Will Report To Training Camp
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Red Wings general manager Ken Holland couldn’t trade Derek Meech this offseason. After a day on waivers, <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100909/SPORTS05/100909024/1053/sports05/Wings-Meech-clears-waivers-sticks-with-team">he couldn’t give him away either</a>.</p>
<p>Nobody took the opportunity to snatch Meech off the waiver wire, meaning the press box mainstay will report to training camp in Traverse City. Holland is still holding out some hope for the young defenseman’s future though:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>He’ll probably be sent to the minors once the season gets underway, but for now he’s headed to Traverse City with the team. There could be “injuries to our team and other teams,” general manager Ken Holland said. “Lots happens in a month.”</p>
</blockquote>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/9/9/1679225/red-wings-derek-meech-clears-waiversRyan Weiss2010-09-08T23:43:50-04:002010-09-08T23:43:50-04:00Red Wings Place Derek Meech On Waivers
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Red Wings general manager Ken Holland placed little-used defenseman <a href="http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/09/red_wings_place_derek_meech_on.html">Derek Meech on waivers Wednesday</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>“I put Derek on waivers to see if a team wants to claim him and give him an opportunity,‘’ Holland said. "If he clears, he’ll come to camp. There’s still a month (before the start of the regular season), things change, there’s injuries. His fate has yet to be determined.’’</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Meech has served as the team’s seventh or eighth defenseman for most of his career. He can play forward in a pinch as well, but he’s never been able to stick full-time with the team.</p>
<p>Holland tried to trade Meech but had no luck. That’s not very surprising, considering Meech has picked up just four goals and 12 assists over 126 career games with Detroit. Meech wasn’t a highly touted prospect either, drafted 229th overall back in 2002.</p>
<p>Teams have until noon Thursday to claim Meech. If nobody takes the bait, he’ll join the Wings for camp, and then be promptly sent to Grand Rapids if there’s no serious injuries.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/9/8/1677858/red-wings-place-derek-meech-waiversRyan Weiss2010-08-24T01:44:06-04:002010-08-24T01:44:06-04:00Justin Abdelkader Has Cap Hit Of $787,500
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The little cap space the Red Wings had left is now basically completely gone with the signing of Justin Abdelkader, as <a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100823/SPORTS05/100823026/1355/sports/Red-Wings-reach-2-year-deal-with-Abdelkader">he will have a cap hit</a> of $787,500 for each of the next two seasons.</p>
<p>This upcoming season, Abdelkader will earn $750,000. For the 2011-12 season, Abdelkader will get $825,000. The average of those two years' salaries is the aforementioned $787,500 cap hit.</p>
<p>With the current cap/roster situation, the Red Wings will definitely be moving at least a couple players before the season starts. They don't have to be cap compliant until closer to the regular season, but it is expected that at the very least Derek Meech and a forward will be moved. Training camp and the exhibition season will determine who makes the cut and who is sent packing.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/24/1638757/justin-abdelkader--cap-hit-red-wingsSean Yuille2010-08-23T13:23:19-04:002010-08-23T13:23:19-04:00Red Wings, Justin Abdelkader Agree To 2-Year Deal
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Red Wings and forward Justin Abdelkader have <a href="http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=536265">agreed to terms</a> on a two-year deal.</p>
<p>Abdelkader was the last of the major restricted free agents the Red Wings needed to sign this offseason. Part of the reason the signing took so long is because the Red Wings were waiting to hear from Mike Modano. Once that happened, contract talks with Abdelkader got moving and now a deal is in place.</p>
<p>With Abdelkader back in the fold, the Red Wings' roster for the 2010-11 season is essentially in place. There will be some moves made before the season to get rid of a couple players, but now all of the pieces are in place for the upcoming season.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/23/1637765/red-wings-justin-abdelkader-2-year-dealSean Yuille2010-08-13T11:07:50-04:002010-08-13T11:07:50-04:00Red Wings Re-Sign Jamie Tardif
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>One of the Red Wings' low-profile restricted free agents, Jamie Tardif, has been <a href="http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=535807&cmpid=rss-beam">re-signed to a one-year deal</a>. He was tendered an offer back in June but only now re-signed.</p>
<p>Tardif has a two-way deal, meaning he will be in Grand Rapids for sure. That's no surprise considering he was the captain of the Griffins last season and has played more than a few games there in past seasons.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>In 2009-10, he recorded 33 points (16-17-33) and 90 penalty minutes in 77 games, while serving as team captain in Grand Rapids. He currently ranks among the Griffins’ all-time leaders with 239 games played (10th) and 602 shots on goal (5th). In 242 career AHL games, Tardif has tallied 51 goals and 49 assists for 100 points, while posting 241 PIM.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Tardif will <a href="http://www.capgeek.com/players/display.php?id=1221">earn a salary of $85,000</a> in the AHL. If he were ever called up to the NHL, his salary would jump to $550,000.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/13/1621315/red-wings-re-sign-jamie-tardifSean Yuille2010-08-07T13:31:00-04:002010-08-07T13:31:00-04:00Justin Abdelkader Deal Expected 'Soon'
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>In the past week, the Red Wings have re-signed Darren Helm and signed Mike Modano, bolstering their depth at forward. With those two moves out of the way, it means that it is now time for the Red Wings to start focusing on <a href="http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/08/red_wings_make_mike_modano_sig.html">getting a deal done with Justin Abdelkader</a>, who is a restricted free agent just like Helm was.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>They have one more player to sign, restricted free-agent center Justin Abdelkader. Holland said he expects that deal to be completed soon.<br><br>Abdelkader’s cap hit likely will be in the $800,000 range. And they would like to keep a cushion of about $500,000 to $700,000 to recall a player from the Grand Rapids Griffins in case short-term injuries leave them short of a full lineup.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>After Abdelkader is re-signed, the Red Wings will have only a couple moves left to make before their roster is essentially finalized heading into the season. The first move will be to get rid of a forward, as adding Abdelkader back to the roster will put the Red Wings over the limit. There's a good chance that player will be Mattias Ritola, who could be waived or traded.</p>
<p>The other move that Ken Holland has wanted to make for a while now comes in the form of signing another defenseman for depth purposes. It remains to be seen if that will actually happen, but if it does, you can officially put Derek Meech's spot with the Wings on notice.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/7/1611010/justin-abdelkader-deal-expected-soonSean Yuille2010-08-04T16:19:00-04:002010-08-04T16:19:00-04:00Red Wings Re-Sign Darren Helm To 2-Year, $1.825 Million Deal
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>With Mike Modano deciding this week to accept an offer to play with the Red Wings, other pieces of Detroit's offseason are now able to fall in place. Specifically, the Red Wings were able to finally <a href="http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=329533">re-sign Darren Helm</a>, a move that both parties were waiting to do until after Modano made a decision.</p>
<p>Helm's deal is for two years and is worth $1.825 million.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Helm will earn $825,000 this season, and $1 million in 2011-12.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>With Helm back under contract, the next thing the Red Wings need to do is re-sign Justin Abdelkader, who was also waiting on Modano to decide before getting a contract of his own. Once Abdelkader re-signs, the Red Wings' roster will pretty much be set. It's possible that Kirk Maltby could be re-signed to a two-way contract and that another defenseman could be added, but for the most part, the Wings will be able to start looking ahead to training camp.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/8/4/1605488/darren-helm-re-signs-detroit-red-wingsSean Yuille2010-07-16T13:49:30-04:002010-07-16T13:49:30-04:00Sergei Kolosov Also Re-Signs With Red Wings
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/H1nkJZEKgNB4flMOTtEjqeuhPPs=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828117/large_detroit.sbnation.com.minimal.66294.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>In addition to re-signing Derek Meech on Thursday, the Red Wings <a href="http://www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2010/07/red_wings_sign_derek_meech_for.html#incart_rh">inked restricted free agent Sergei Kolosov</a> to a one-year deal.</p>
<p>Like Meech's deal, Kolosov will receive a salary of $500,000 if he plays for the Red Wings next season. Kolosov is on a two-way contract, however, and it is expected that he will be in Grand Rapids for another season. If that is the case, then his salary will be $80,000.</p>
<p>Meech is on a one-way deal, which means he will receive $500,000 regardless of if he plays for the Wings or the Griffins. That is why it's likely he will be traded if he doesn't win the job to be the Wings' sixth defenseman. There isn't the flexibility there to move him from Detroit to Grand Rapids, and Meech would rather go somewhere else anyways if he is just going to be in a suit on game day as nothing more than extra depth.</p>
https://detroit.sbnation.com/2010/7/16/1573194/sergei-kolosov-red-wings-re-signs-grand-rapids-griffinsSean Yuille