Tuesday’s news out of Minnesota prompted a little trip down Detroit Red Wings memory lane.
In the summer of 2012, the Wings were trying to ameliorate the retirement of Nicklas Lidstrom. Their top target was defenseman Ryan Suter. General manager Ken Holland, owner Mike Ilitch, coach Mike Babcock and executive advisor Chris Chelios met with Suter at his farm in Madison, Wisconsin, on July 3, offering $90 million over 13 years to the 27-year-old.
The Wings also pursued Zach Parise, considered the top free-agent forward available that summer. The Wings, four years removed from their last Stanley Cup championship, still saw themselves as contenders, and adding Suter and Parise would have stoked those hopes.