In the midst of the build-up to Friday’s Free Agent Frenzy, another important deadline passed in the NHL. Monday at 5:00 was the deadline for all teams to extend qualifying offers to their restricted free agents, and those players who do not receive these offers from their teams automatically become unrestricted free agents on July 1. In the past, teams have found a little success with these young UFAs, and the Red Wings could be poised to do that with a familiar face.
Landon Ferraro, who was lost by Detroit on waivers to Boston last fall, failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Bruins this week, making him able to sign with any team he wishes. Let’s take a look at the accomplishments Ferraro made away from Detroit:
Ferraro did all of his scoring away from the Red Wings in 2015-16, but he had three total fighting majors last season. For comparison, the rest of the Red Wings had seven combined fighting majors, so Ferraro will bring grit and toughness that is so sorely lacking from this roster. There are plenty of scorers around, but not everybody can fit so well on a fourth line that focuses on the important things in hockey like trying really hard.
It’s also no secret that Detroit’s head coach knows Ferraro well — Blashill was the coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins the last three years Landon played there. Ferraro is a player who knows how to win, evidenced by the Calder Cup ring from 2013. How many rings do Steven Stamkos or Kyle Okposo have? That’s right, zero.
Finally, we Red Wings fans have our silly little quirks like any sports fans do. We’ve had names for the press box that have included the Leino Lounge and the Cleary Cabana, we love to death an arena that was outdated since it was built, and cheer when dead seafood gets chucked in a crowd of 20,000 people. Last season we came up with a nickname for a line that rivals those of eras past: the Star Wars Line, comprised of Glendening, Ferraro, and Miller. I mean, you can’t write this any better: Luke, Lando, and Drewbacca all united on the fourth line, with the shooting accuracy of Stormtroopers and the ability to annoy opponents like Jar Jar Binks.
“Me-sa have bad Corsi, but me-sa still help!”
Ferraro would come in on a cheap contract, and he could re-take his roster spot that he lost to Joakim Andersson last year, and maybe become this season’s revered penalty kill god when he gets injured right before the Wings’ annual post-Thanksgiving dropoff.
Plus his dad’s pretty cool.
Should the Red Wings bring back Landon Ferraro?
| A. Yes | 301 |
| B. A and C | 38 |
| C. A and B | 58 |
| D. All of the above | 282 |
