Based on what evidence do you think Yzerman "could have signed him instead"?

just saying we could have made an attempt (or better attemp) to get them instead of holl. and even when chariot was signed, everyone knew it was garbage

You're assuming those players would've wanted to sign with Detroit. Yzerman has to overpay to attract UFA's.

Also, Yzerman doesn't share most Red Wings fans opinions on Chiarot and Holl. He values them. He doesn't care what the fans think.

Based on what evidence do you know that no attempt was made? Based on what evidence do you know that a "better" attempt was not made? What does a better attempt even mean?

You see how this is going?

Chiarot deal is not garbage...he's a fine third pair guy and there's plenty of cap space. Whose spot is he taking?

I can live with Holl as a bottom pair sheltered guy even if they did overpay but who wouldnt rather have severson instead of Chairot.

Chairots deal is garbage if you think he's a bottom pair guy. You don't pay those guys 5 million dollars to not play.

It really doesn't bother me. We had 2 NHL Dmen signed to the roster at the time and no guarantee Ed or anyone else would be ready. By the time his deal expires he'll be a tiny % of the cap.

Severson signed an 8 year deal and plays the right side. He doesn't even come into the conversation in Detroit.

When we signed Chiarot and Maatta e literally got two of the best defencemen available in free agency that year. We literally had to overpay just to be able to roster a NHL team. Chiarot sucks, I hated the contract at the time but I understand why we signed it. It won't be a major issue in the coming years and we can always buy out the last year of it. Considering Schenn and Severson weren't available last year that leaves Klingberg. Klingberg is just awful defensively and that's not what we needed at all last year. We needed toughness save defensive play. Obviously I don't think Chiarot has quite lived up to the defensive play we were wanting but that's part of the risk you take when signing free agents.
Now I would much prefer Schenn over Holl but maybe he wanted Nashville. Better city, he got a nice pay day there. Yzerman probably knew we needed a guy desperately so he gave Holl extra money. He's a decent shut down guy who just got too many minutes in Toronto against the toughest competition, made him look worse than he is. He's a good third pair guy that can play second pairing. I would say there were 3 guys that might have been better options than Holl. Schenn probably got more than we would have offered him and considering his style of play, might end up regretting that last year or two with his age. Gudas also got more money and term than we would have likely offered, again especially considering his play style. Also the history with Gudas and Franzen might have leaned him away. Clifton who knows with him, might have just missed out on him.
Now let's look at Severson, sure only cost Columbus a third to acquire but that bit of alot of term and money for his age and play. I doubt it ages well in three later years, which would be the years we would be looking to compete.
Basically long story even longer, we got stop gap guys that will be out of the way by the time most of the young guys need spots and caps will be off the books when we are competing. Same can be said for Copp and Compher. The last few years of them will be in support rolls for the youth.

your telling me hes worth almost 5 million to sit on the third pair and give up odd man rushes?

Once again, you're ignoring all context.

It's also obvious you haven't been watching the team this year.

See his snipe tonight? The proposed defence on this acgm is worse than our current lineup. It also comes with more long-term risk and potential handcuffs than what these short-term, support role transitional signings have

was a sweet goal, fair point