Call me crazy, but personally I don't want him back at any price tag over $4.5 million dollars. He's getting old, he's definitely lost a step, and he's not as physical as he once was (and he wasn't very physical to begin with). I personally don't think he's worth the $6.5-7.5 that he's been making for the last three seasons any longer. If he doesn't come at a discount this time around (a super star discount, he is still a very good player and deserves to be paid as such, $4.5 is a very good salary in the NHL, especially for a defenseman), I say we part ways with him and set our sites on Shae Webber.

WJB, you are crazy (that was per your request).

He'll probably win another Norris trophy this year. He's still one of the top 5 best defenseman in the league. Also, isn't Webber a RFA???

Who cares? What's it going to cost us, a couple of draft picks? Big deal... He's one of the best defensemen in the league and he's in his mid-20's. Nick is losing speed, he's not as physical as he used to be, and he never was all that physical. Swapping Nick for Webber adds fire, speed, size, strength and some MUCH needed physical play.

Lidstrom made $6.2M this past season and I'd imagine that he'd sign for the same amount for another year. My understanding is that the Red Wings won't pay him less than Rafalski's $6M so he'll be the highest paid defenseman on the team. Atleast that was the case last year.

Hopefully Rafalski retires and we can keep Nick, pay him less and sign Shea Webber. That's my dream scenario. I could care less about the draft picks and the potential RFA status from Webber. I would love to swing a sign and trade, but I don't know if the NHL is structured that way or not...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=6582660

Looks like Rafalski is going to retire.

Also talk about Wings moving to Eastern Conference. I find it good for the team!

Haven't they been 'talking' about that for years??? Though I would like it to happen, it won't....at least not until there is another Western Conference team that is as marketable as the Wings are........

I agree... It's simply not going to happen. It would be great for the team, but the league won't allow it.

On the Nick front... My wish would be to sign Webber and Nick, but at this point in his career I'd take Webber over Nick.

With the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg and to the Western Conference, someone will have to move to the east.

I've heard that they're thinking about moving Nashville to the Eastern Conference in 2012-2013.

I thought I saw on ESPN that Winnipeg will be playing in the Eastern Conf.

1 yr. deal at his old salary. Personally, I think he should have taken less ($5.5 - $6.25), but if he was playing hardball and the decision came down to allowing him to retire or paying him what he made last year I think we made the right call.

The salary cap went up to $64 million, and Rafalski retired. Hopefully we can land Shea Webber and be done with it.