Vacation Free Agents, Part three

Over the off days for the Red Wings this past week we’ve been looking at key free agents the Wings will have going into the 2010 offseason.  Today, we’ll look at the final group of free agents.

THE SIXTH DEFENSEMEN

 #22 Brett Lebda, defense
Age: 28
Years in Detroit: 5
2010 salary: $850K
Re-sign priority: MODERATE

The last group of free agents is comprised of the three defensemen that regularly have been fighting it out for the sixth defense spot in the Detroit lineup.  First up is the speedster Brett Lebda, who has been known on occasion to forget he plays defense, not forward.  However, as our esteemed colleagues over at Eight Legged Freaks recently pointed out, Lebda has improved his play of late and has regularly found himself as the lucky man that gets to play the sixth spot.  Relatively cheap at $850K, he’s only 28 years old and if Detroit can get him for the same price next year I’d say bring him back to fill that sixth spot again.  I doubt there’s a big Brett Lebda demand on the open market.

 #3 Andreas Lilja, defense
Age: 34
Years in Detroit: 5
2010 salary: $1.25M
Re-sign priority: MODERATE

Should the Red Wings somehow lose Lebda to free agency, the next best option within the organization would be Lilja.  Andreas missed a complete calendar year with a concussion, and has valiantly fought his way back into the lineup lately.  He’s played as well as you could expect from a guy who’s been out a year, and he’s relegated rookie Jonathan Ericsson to the press box.  When he’s not getting punched in the face by Shea Weber, he’s a solid stay at home defenseman and shot blocker, a stark contrast to Lebda, who likes to jump up into the play more.  If they have the cap room and Lebda is gone, Lilja may just get another contract.

 #14 Derek Meech, defense
Age: 25
Years in Detroit: 4
2010 salary: $500K
Re-sign priority: LOW

“Mr. Press Box” himself, Meech is the least likely of the three to earn a contract should Detroit have to let someone go.  It’s unlikely we’ll see Meech on the ice again this season unless there’s an injury, since the Red Wings currently have Jonathan Ericsson sitting on the sideline.  Age is the one thing Meech has working for him, as he’s only 25 years old, the youngest in the group.  However, I think Meech will be gone unless Detroit runs into serious cap issues.