After falling to the San Jose Sharks in the Conference Semifinals, the Wings cleaned out their lockers and took the team picture today at the Joe. 
Two Red Wings in particular though are wondering what their future holds with the Wings and in the NHL. Those two players are forward Kris Draper and goaltender Chris Osgood.
According to Ansar Khan of Mlive.com, Draper has indicated that he would like to play another season, while Osgood would like to go another year would like to weigh his options.
“I still want to play. I’ll meet with Kenny (general manager Holland) and sit down and go from there,” Draper said.
Osgood said he needs to speak with Holland before deciding what to do.
“I’ll talk to Kenny, work things out on my own,” Osgood said. “First, if I want to play again. Second, what my role would be and if they even want me back. I’ll talk to my wife and see what she thinks. If I should keep going or be around the house a little more than I have been in the last while.”
Both players saw limited roles with the team this year as a result of injury and depth of the team. Draper often times saw himself being a healthy scratch while Osgood once again backed up Jimmy Howard before having season ending groin surgery this past January.
Draper and Osgood are obviously at a point in their careers where being an everyday player is simply out of the question. With that said however what type of role would they have on any other team in the league? I can see the Wings bringing both players back so long as they understand that they would have to come back at a minimal price and would still have a limited role.
Here is news on some other Red Wings players…
- Khan reiterates that Lidstrom is going to take some time to decide what he wants to do. It is my belief that Lidstrom will be back for one more year simply because he is too good still to hang up the skates now.
- Mike Modano says he is 75 percent leaning towards retirement. After seeing his role in playoffs I’m thinking Modano’s 75% retirement probability will soon be at 100%. I can only say it was a privilege having one of the greatest American born players (and Michigan native) play on the Wings for a season.
- Khan believes that Jonathan Ericsson’s future with the team is uncertain. He will be an unrestricted free agent and said he would like to return to the team. Will the Wings bring him back though? Ericsson hasn’t quite lived up to what many thought he would be as a defenseman.
- Drew Miller and Patrick Eaves who are both UFA’s would like to return but could get a better opportunity playing for another team. I definitely agree with Khan on this one.
- The concussions that Todd Bertuzzi and Danny Cleary suffered in Game 7 don’t appear to be serious. Both should be ready to go for training camp.
Source: Mlive.com
