Contract talks between the Detroit Red Wings and free-agent forwards Marian Hossa and Johan Franzen appear to be at a standstill, as neither side is budging.
General manager Ken Holland is hoping to sign one before the end of the regular season. If he has no deal in place by the first week of April, he will postpone talks until after the playoffs.
“I’ll obviously stay in touch,” Holland said. “I understand where they’re at and they understand where I’m at. We’re talking.
“They both have indicated their first choice is to stay. I can address it in June if I have to. They know the (team’s other) contract commitments.”
Holland met with Hossa’s agent, Ritch Winter, over the weekend. Hossa signed a one-year, $7.45 million deal last July but realizes he must take less (perhaps in the neighborhood of $6 million per season) to stay.
“If we’re not able to find a way, you know what, we had a great player come here for one year,” Holland said.
Franzen’s price tag is expected to be in the $4 million-a-year range.
While Holland said there is a chance he can sign both, he knows he would have to unload a few other players in the process.
“The decision we got to make is, do we want to be top-heavy and not have any depth?” Holland said. “That’s why I’m not rushing into any (moves).”