Michael Peca remains unsigned

[Zion 93]

I know the Buffalo Sabres want no part of him, and we have strong, cheaper penalty killers in Draper and Maltby, but could he be a good addition to the team?

Serious replies only, please.

[puckloo39 5,686]

Peca's a great guy, I have never doubted his heart or "grit" despite his lack of size. He says he doesn't care if he is captain, just wants to play. He does have a history of injuries, though.

[jaymcfly 0]

nope, i think you answered your own question, if we're not going to give cleary and the kids a shot at second line minutes then thats where the need at forward is, peca would be overpriced for an additional undersized defensive forward playing on the third or fourth line when the money should be going towards another d man or extra scoring punch if its going to be spent

[Opie 308]

I think it might have been an option before Drake but now with his signing it seems as overkill to have Peca on this roster.

But Drake would be a cheaper better fit, I am only guessing here but I would think that Peca would want 2nd line minutes and I would rather have Grigs or another young guy get those minutes. Plus he is a center correct.

[Guest jaytan]

If his price is low enough, I'd go for it. He'd be a good guy to have on the team, and he still can play.

[Guest DetroitIan]

If his price is low enough, I'd go for it. He'd be a good guy to have on the team, and he still can play.

Exactly. If the guy signs for the right price, he would easily make an impact on this squad.

[Guest jaytan]

I bet it would help in the negotiating process that we're a Cup contender.

[LeftWinger 5,129]

...I would take him, I am not sure about second line minutes, but if you split Zetts & Dats up and second line could be Peca - Zetts - Grigs...

...dunno, I would still like top see Forsberg or Selanne CHEAP for some second line minutes and Hall for 3rd line crashing. But, hey, we'll see. I think we lack something with this current roster. I would say, sign Hall for the 3rd line and obtain Fedorov at the deadline for some third line scoring...

...what about Mike Johnson out of MTL?

Edited July 25, 2007 by LeftWinger

[norrisnick 1]

Absolutely not. Maybe if we didn't have Draper, Franzen, Cleary, Maltby, Drake, etc... but seeing as we do there is absolutely zero need for another grinder.

We need goals. We need skill.

I think a lot of people are still operating on the assumption that we have all skill and no sandpaper, but as of right now it's almost the exact opposite (up front anyway). We've got Z and Pavel as true high-end skill guys. Then we've got a few kids that likely could be, but aren't yet. Then we've got a bunch of 2nd/3rd line tweeners (closer to 3rd liners but playing with Z and Pavel allow them to survive on a scoring line). We're in dire need of a top 6 scorer. Peca is not that guy, never has been and never will be.

[LeftWinger 5,129]

Absolutely not. Maybe if we didn't have Draper, Franzen, Cleary, Maltby, Drake, etc... but seeing as we do there is absolutely zero need for another grinder.

We need goals. We need skill.

I think a lot of people are still operating on the assumption that we have all skill and no sandpaper, but as of right now it's almost the exact opposite (up front anyway). We've got Z and Pavel as true high-end skill guys. Then we've got a few kids that likely could be, but aren't yet. Then we've got a bunch of 2nd/3rd line tweeners (closer to 3rd liners but playing with Z and Pavel allow them to survive on a scoring line). We're in dire need of a top 6 scorer. Peca is not that guy, never has been and never will be.

...you can count Hudler out too, he sux!

[YoungGuns1340 1]

Absolutely not. Maybe if we didn't have Draper, Franzen, Cleary, Maltby, Drake, etc... but seeing as we do there is absolutely zero need for another grinder.

We need goals. We need skill.

I think a lot of people are still operating on the assumption that we have all skill and no sandpaper, but as of right now it's almost the exact opposite (up front anyway). We've got Z and Pavel as true high-end skill guys. Then we've got a few kids that likely could be, but aren't yet. Then we've got a bunch of 2nd/3rd line tweeners (closer to 3rd liners but playing with Z and Pavel allow them to survive on a scoring line). We're in dire need of a top 6 scorer. Peca is not that guy, never has been and never will be.

Good post. Echoes my thoughts completely. Signing more bottom 6 guys will only whittle away at our money to use if/when something better comes along. Besides, Peca isnt the healthiest bet as of now.

[Guest Crymson]

I know the Buffalo Sabres want no part of him, and we have strong, cheaper penalty killers in Draper and Maltby, but could he be a good addition to the team?

Serious replies only, please.

We've got Draper and Drake. Peca will bring nothing to the team that they don't already.

...I would take him, I am not sure about second line minutes, but if you split Zetts & Dats up and second line could be Peca - Zetts - Grigs...

...dunno, I would still like top see Forsberg or Selanne CHEAP for some second line minutes and Hall for 3rd line crashing. But, hey, we'll see. I think we lack something with this current roster. I would say, sign Hall for the 3rd line and obtain Fedorov at the deadline for some third line scoring...

...what about Mike Johnson out of MTL?

Peca cannot score. Besides, you know that Holland will only sign weak, fragile, completely incompetent and useless European players, huh?

...you can count Hudler out too, he sux!

Yeah, 20 goals are absolutely useless compared to the maybe five goals and old age that Peca would bring.

Edited July 25, 2007 by Crymson

[datsyukonethree 0]

I love Peca, but I'd rather see Franzen get his minutes.

[Guest jaytan]

...I would take him, I am not sure about second line minutes, but if you split Zetts & Dats up and second line could be Peca - Zetts - Grigs...

What's with everyone here assuming Grigorenko is going to play regularly with us next year, let alone on the second (or even first!) line? He's never even played over here yet! Was he even all that great in Russia?

[Guest Crymson]

What's with everyone here assuming Grigorenko is going to play regularly with us next year, let alone on the second (or even first!) line? He's never even played over here yet! Was he even all that great in Russia?

A better question pertains to why this fellow things Peca is fit to start on the second line.

[chrisdetroit 189]

...you can count Hudler out too, he sux!

What are you talking about? Hudler sux? I don't think that I have ever heard that before.

[SouthernWingsFan 854]

...you can count Hudler out too, he sux!

How so? Care to give some detail and insight?

As for Peca, I'll be happy if he signs here, but as has been pointed out already, we have a few decent defense-minded forwards first. Peca's a solid player, but a player of his style isn't of #1 priority. Goals goals goals are needed. In terms of a goal-scorer though, I just don't see/know who is available. If Selanne doesn't retire, I highly doubt he's leaving California, and I just don't see Forseberg coming here as possibly rumored. And me saying Peca isn't a high priority for the Wings doesn't take away that he is a solid player in my opinion.

Edited July 26, 2007 by SouthernWingsFan

[Guest Crymson]

What are you talking about? Hudler sux? I don't think that I have ever heard that before.

He's a small European finesse forward. 'Nuff said, as far as LeftWinger is concerned.

[norrisnick 1]

What's with everyone here assuming Grigorenko is going to play regularly with us next year, let alone on the second (or even first!) line? He's never even played over here yet! Was he even all that great in Russia?

Had he not shattered his leg he was on pace to be better than either Pavel or Z. Even now Nill believes everything but his skating has come back to him and he feels that if he can adapt to the speed of the NHL he'd be a good fit for Datsyuk (they've been linemates before).

He's physically mature (5'10" 215lb). He's played against men for many years now. All there is left to see is if his skating is good enough. His scoring in the RSL is comparable to numbers Datsyuk put up during the lockout. And Igor had considerably less help.

[GoWings1905 2,694]

I like Peca as a player, but there is no reason the Red Wings should sign him. At this point in his career, with all of the injuries, Peca is basically a penalty kill specialist. He also provides some experience, but the Wings aren't really lacking in that department.

Once again, a decent player, but Peca doesn't fill that top six forward role that the Red Wings need. As was mentioned by everyone else, we have plenty of third and fourth line players on the team already.

Although it was dismissed for some reason earlier in the thread, I still expect Peca to go back to Buffalo.

Edited July 26, 2007 by GoWings1905

[BeeRYCE 2]

Had he not shattered his leg he was on pace to be better than either Pavel or Z. Even now Nill believes everything but his skating has come back to him and he feels that if he can adapt to the speed of the NHL he'd be a good fit for Datsyuk (they've been linemates before).

He's physically mature (5'10" 215lb). He's played against men for many years now. All there is left to see is if his skating is good enough. His scoring in the RSL is comparable to numbers Datsyuk put up during the lockout. And Igor had considerably less help.

Yes but second (or even first!) line worthy?

[norrisnick 1]

Yes but second (or even first!) line worthy?

Over Cleary, Franzen, Samuelsson, etc...?

You betcha. Provided of course he can keep up (which I think he can).

It's not like we have any better options (which is why the idea of signing Peca is not very wise).

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Had he not shattered his leg he was on pace to be better than either Pavel or Z. Even now Nill believes everything but his skating has come back to him and he feels that if he can adapt to the speed of the NHL he'd be a good fit for Datsyuk (they've been linemates before).

He's physically mature (5'10" 215lb). He's played against men for many years now. All there is left to see is if his skating is good enough. His scoring in the RSL is comparable to numbers Datsyuk put up during the lockout. And Igor had considerably less help.

I really hope he's the player we've all been praying he'd be for the last 3 years.