The Detroit Red Wings are firmly in a rebuild following the worst season by an NHL team since the turn of the century in 2019-20. The club has accumulated a mass amount of talent in the pipeline over the past few years and still has an impressive array of future draft selections as well. They are committed to improving internally and grooming a new core to take over down the road.
With that said, savvy GM Steve Yzerman is not one to turn away from opportunity. With the flat salary cap impacting top teams far more than bottom feeders, the Red Wings have had the room to make a number of free agent additions so far this off-season. Following a recent call with the media, The Detroit News’ Ted Kulfan writes that Yzerman has expressed that he may not be done making deals either. Detroit still has more than $9.5MM in cap space based on CapFriendly’s current projection of a 22-man roster.
Already, the Red Wings have added considerable veteran talent ahead of next season. The team signed a new (starting?) goalie in Thomas Greiss, a pair of young defensemen in Troy Stecher and Jon Merrill, and experienced, versatile forwards Vladislav Namestnikov, Bobby Ryan, and Sam Gagner. They also acquired reliable blue line leader Marc Staal (and a second-round pick) at no cost from the New York Rangers. Not only is this a massive influx of talent for 2020-21, but expiring contracts like Ryan, Gagner, Staal, and Merrill could also turn into more draft capital at the trade deadline.
Not only have the Red Wings succeeded in adding a number of capable players, but most have come at a great value as well. So too have their RFA re-signings; Anthony Mantha signed a long-term deal well below what many were expecting, Robby Fabbri was handed an affordable extension, and the team took Tyler Bertuzzi to arbitration just to save more money. All of this value means that Detroit can keep adding if they want. There are still holes throughout the lineup currently slated for underwhelming veterans. While some of these will be kept open for prospects, at least one or two could be filled via free agency or trade if Yzerman can find the right fit:
There are a lot of players still on the free agent market. We have a lot of bodies right now. I do think there’s room potentially to add, and I would consider it as we go along, or when we get closer to knowing when we’re going to start. As far as the trade market… it’s pretty quiet around the league. Certainly we’d be open to listening.
If I’m a rebuilding team like them I’d throw a large one year deal at a guy like Granlund or Hoffman and then eat 50% at the deadline. They could each net a first rounder assuming they produce while getting top line minutes.
I still think Yzerman will pursue Tyler Johnson still, as Tampa is desperate and you can probably squeeze the 2021 1st Round Pick and cost Redwings little to nothing.
You can expose him to Seattle too so you’d get a good player for a year plus a 1st round pick.
Secondly I’d kick the tires on Duclair. He’s young!, fast, skilled and can score goals. Could be a piece for the future to extend too. He’s moved around so much and probably just wants some security. You can probably offer him $3m or so? for 3 years with some sort of clause for first 2 years.
Plus once the season is starting and they put Zetterberg on LTIR they’ll have more cap space to maybe take another Dman contract from another desperate team?
Imagine top 3 lines something like:
Mantha-Larkin-Bertuzzi
Ryan-Johnson-Duclair
Fabbri-Namestnikov-Zadina
3 lines of potential 20+ goal scorers would be nice to see.
I still think Yzerman will pursue Tyler Johnson still, as Tampa is desperate and you can probably squeeze the 2021 1st Round Pick and cost Redwings little to nothing.
You can expose him to Seattle too so you’d get a good player for a year plus a 1st round pick.
Secondly I’d kick the tires on Duclair. He’s young!, fast, skilled and can score goals. Could be a piece for the future to extend too. He’s moved around so much and probably just wants some security. You can probably offer him $3m or so? for 3 years with some sort of clause for first 2 years.
Plus once the season is starting and they put Zetterberg on LTIR they’ll have more cap space to maybe take another Dman contract from another desperate team?
Imagine top 3 lines something like:
Mantha-Larkin-Bertuzzi
Ryan-Johnson-Duclair
Fabbri-Namestnikov-Zadina
3 lines of potential 20+ goal scorers would be nice to see.
Tampa can’t sign all their RFA so it seems Stevie will be able yo make a deal or two if they agree on compensation.