Snapshots: Red Wings, Hainsey, Goodrow

The Detroit Red Wings’ upcoming cap troubles have been examined at length here at PHR, but they’ll worry about the most immediate one in training camp. That’s according to Ansar Khan of MLive, who talked to GM Ken Holland about the fact that the Red Wings are projected to be over the cap when opening day rolls around. From the GM himself:

If everybody is healthy when we get to opening day, we’ll probably have to make a move. I’m anticipating we’ll be over by a little bit.

That little bit is because of Andreas Athanasiou’s still unsettled contract situation. The ultra-fast forward will require a raise after scoring 18 goals last season, which will push the Red Wings even further over the cap than they already are. Johan Franzen will hit long-term injured reserve but a decision will likely come from the defense, where they have nine players including Luke Witkowski, who may end up playing more forward this year anyway.

• The Maple Leafs brought in Ron Hainsey to work with their young defense group this season, and according to Dave McCarthy of NHL.com Mike Babcock expects to play him alongside Morgan Rielly to start the season. Babcock is usually strict about playing defensemen on their strong side (meaning left-handed players play the left and visa versa) but one of Rielly or Hainsey will have to flip. Both have plenty of experience on the right side, with Hainsey most recently playing there for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the playoffs. Rielly spent much of 2014-15 on the right side under former coaches Randy Carlyle and Peter Horacek. Regardless of who moves over, it’s a big ask for the 36-year old Hainsey as Rielly was used in a very defensive deployment by Babcock last year, skating against the opponent’s top line almost every night.
• The San Jose Sharks have signed Barclay Goodrow to a two-year contract, inking the restricted free agent after another outstanding AHL season. Signed as a CHL free agent in 2014, Goodrow actually broke into the league immediately and played 60 games for the Sharks. Since then he’s spent most of his time in the AHL, registering back-to-back 20+ goal seasons. This year he put up 25 goals and 45 points, but got into just three games with the Sharks at the highest level. The team expects him to battle for a full-time NHL role at training camp next month.