Former Red Wing Andreas Lilja now in Anaheim

by Casey Richey on Oct 11, 2010 9:48 AM CDT in News

The Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Andreas Lilja to a contract worth $600,000 that could pay him $150,000 in bonuses, reports MLive.com's Ansar Khan.

It's kind of a weird turn of events for both the Ducks and Lilja. Lilja reportedly rejected a contract offer from the Red Wings, the Red Wings then signed Ruslan Salei to fill the vacancy left by Lilja. In the season opening game against the Ducks, Anaheim defenseman Andy Sutton fractured his thumb in a fight with Salei, and Lilja was signed to be the replacement. Salei took Lilja's job but Salei also inadvertently helped to open up a position for Lilja.

Unfortunately, Lilja's time in Detroit was overshadowed by the post-concussion issues following a fight with Shea Weber that kept him out of the line-up for a year. Lilja will also probably have the turnover in Game 5 of the Western Conference Final of 2007 that lead to the game winning goal in overtime by Teemu Selanne. Lilja had his fair share of good moments in Detroit and was one of the few guys that the Wings had that would drop the gloves to stand up for teammates...well, up until the concussion.

As far as Lilja's future role with the Ducks, he'll definitely get playing time until Sutton's injury heals but who knows how it will pan out after that. The Anaheim defense is pretty thin with reliable talent and Lilja might be able to start over there and maybe a change of styles of play will help him out. Considering that the Ducks play a physical game, he'll probably be asked to throw his 6'3", 228 lb body around.

A lot of speculation has risen surrounding Lilja's agent, Todd Diamond, and how he essentially talked the defenseman out of two separate contracts. Lilja reportedly rejected a $1,000,000 contract with the Red Wings (at the advice of Diamond) and then was released from a tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks. Now, Lilja is sitting at $400,000 less than the original deal offered and Diamond is wiping the sweat from his brow that he didn't completely screw his client over. It's kind of odd that Diamond would advise Lilja like this and it sucks for Lilja that he followed this guy but it's good to see that he landed on his feet.

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All I've Heard

was that it was about more years and more responsibility for Lilja. I could understand wanting more years, knowing that his hockey twilight is coming pretty soon and wanting the guaranteed money a contract brings, but I’m confused about which party thought Andreas Lilja can really play as a top-four guy or any more than 14 minutes per night.

I’m relieved that Lilja didn’t have to uproot his family and abruptly leave the country, but I don’t like the Ducks or any of their players, so I don’t like Lilja now. This was an unfortunate gamble for him to have taken that he lost. He should fire Todd Diamond (out of a cannon).

by J.J. from Kansas on Oct 11, 2010 10:25 AM CDT reply actions

i love the ducks

the ducks / wings series in 2008 was awesome. i didn’t get to see the game the other day and i understand they may have been dirty, but that is unfortunate.

good, talented team, i’d like to think.

anyway at least lilja is paid to pass it to the ducks now

by redwingxviii on Oct 11, 2010 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Of course they were dirty

they always are.. especially when things are not going their way. I really cant believe those words were posted by a wings fan.. no offense. I know I hate ducks just as much as the hawks, or avs from the late 90’s.

by bond021 on Oct 11, 2010 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions

they might be dirty now

but that 2008 series was as good as hockey gets.

here are the rest of our rivals

1) Sharks? i’d rather play a dirty ducks team than a diving Sharks team.
2) Hawks? Great talent on the team, but their fan base is too dumb to make it enjoyable.
3) Avs? Completely different team. I did like how they played against Chicago in the opener though.
4) Who else?

I just like watching the Wings play the Ducks, that’s all.

by redwingxviii on Oct 11, 2010 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions

fuck the ducks. I hate them with a passion

The Red Wings will come back stronger
RESTORE THE ROAR 2010 Detroit Lions

by GOLDIGGAH on Oct 11, 2010 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

I’m Casey Richey, and I approve this message.

Winging It In Motown

by Casey Richey on Oct 11, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

2009 series against the Ducks.

Wings did not play the Ducks in 2008.

by dewman8810 on Oct 11, 2010 6:42 PM CDT up reply actions

correct correct, 2009 series

my mistake

by redwingxviii on Oct 12, 2010 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

You simply can't

You have to choose. You simply can’t be a Wings fan and appreciate the back-street-bawl style of “hockey” that the Ducks employ.

If they can’t compete, they throw an absolute hissy-fit on the ice and lose all control of their bodily functions.

They Anaheim Ducks are the only reason George Parros has a job other than janitor.

by Big Z in Orlando on Oct 12, 2010 2:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Todd Diamond

must be a complete dumba**. I stuggled to like lilja when he was a wing. Now that he plays for the Anaheim thugs he truly is dead to me.

by bond021 on Oct 11, 2010 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

Never thought I'd say this

I’ll miss Lilie – I don’t see how he’ll fit in on the Ducks, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him get cut or released as soon as they can find a “better” fit D-man.

I HATE the Ducks, and I don’t see Lilie willing to play that real emotional physical game that Carlyle likes them to play.

I wish him the best – personally, I’ll root for his +/- to be 0 when he plays against the Wings….not rooting for, but not rooting against. Of course, Getlaf, Perry and Ryan should all be -4 at the same time/same game.

Smitty

by Kendal on Oct 11, 2010 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

ever since 2007 i have not liked lilja

when he frikken gave that puck away to selanne , he was dead to me. one of the dumbest plays ive ever seen

The Red Wings will come back stronger
RESTORE THE ROAR 2010 Detroit Lions

by GOLDIGGAH on Oct 11, 2010 1:45 PM CDT reply actions

agree..

might be wrong, but I have a hard time forgetting that..

by bond021 on Oct 11, 2010 2:00 PM CDT up reply actions

I was listening on the radio and have still never seen the goal. I hope I never do. Lilja was not really all that bad. If you put Lidstrom like expectations on him, then yes. But he is just a stay at home defenseman who isn’t going to make headlines unless he makes a bad play. So any bad play is going to seem worse.

by dewman8810 on Oct 11, 2010 6:46 PM CDT up reply actions