Free Agent Focus: Detroit Red Wings

Free agency is just over a month away, and teams are looking ahead to when it opens. Even with the UFA crop being thinned out in recent months, there will be some quality veterans set to hit the open market in July, while many teams also have key restricted free agents to re-sign. We continue our look around the NHL with an overview of the free agent situation for the Red Wings.

Key Restricted Free Agents

D Simon Edvinsson – Regarding their internal free agents, Edvinsson will be the most important negotiation for the Red Wings this offseason. Not only has Edvinsson proven that he can handle heavy minutes, but he’s also a flawless partner next to Moritz Seider, something Detroit has struggled to fill the past two years. According to MoneyPuck, of the eight defensive pairings that finished with over 1000 minutes played, the combination of Edvinsson and Seider finished third with a 54.8% xGoals%. He’s mildly struggled on offense, scoring 16 goals and 56 points in 150 games the past two years, but Edvinsson has consistently put his body on the line to block shots, and uses his size and reach to his advantage on defense. On a long-term deal, AFP Analytics projects Edvinsson to sign a seven-year, $61.6MM ($8.8MM AAV). Given their unwillingness to pay anyone more than captain Dylan Larkin‘s $8.7MM salary, it’s far likelier that Edvinsson will sign closer to the $8MM to $8.25MM range, ensuring he remains below Larkin and Seider in the salary cap table.

G Sebastian Cossa – Despite being the subject of trade speculation heading into the offseason, it’s become clear that Cossa has become the heir-apparent in Detroit. The former 15th overall pick has been lights out for the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins the past two years and will likely make the full-time jump to the NHL next season, albeit in a backup role. At some point, several years in the future, the Red Wings will likely be in a position to move one of Cossa or Trey Augustine off the roster, but that’s a ways away from being an issue. Throughout the past two years, the 6’6″, 209lbs netminder has managed a 47-23-10 record in 80 AHL contests with a SV% higher than .910 and a GAA lower than 2.50. Given that he only has one game of NHL experience, it’s likely that the two sides will agree on a one- to two-year deal this summer.

Other RFAs: F Carter Mazur, F Michael Milne, F Amadeus Lombardi, F Alexandre Doucet, F Jakub Rychlovsky, F Wojciech Stachowiak, D William Wallinder, D Eemil Viro, G Carter Gylander

Key Unrestricted Free Agents

F Patrick Kane – Of all the pending unrestricted free agents on the Red Wings, recent reporting indicates that Kane is the only one they have a desire to retain. It’s clear he’s lost a step, but a 19-year career and hip resurfacing surgery will do that to anyone. Regardless, the former MVP has continued to produce as a respectable secondary scorer, registering 16 goals and 57 points in 67 games this past season. During the past season, more injury concerns arose, but it seems that both Detroit and Kane would prefer a one-year deal anyway. Still, given his steady production, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kane re-up with the Red Wings for an identical one-year, $3MM contract this summer, with another $4MM available in performance bonuses.

F David Perron – Although Justin Faulk stole many of the eyes as the Red Wings’ big deadline acquisition, Detroit also returned a familiar face in Perron from the Ottawa Senators. Unfortunately, all signs indicate that the remarriage will end in another divorce. Perron was nearly unnoticeable in his second stint with the Red Wings, scoring three goals in 16 games with a -9 rating, averaging 13:59 of ice time per game. Given his recent injury concerns and distressing health concerns with his daughter, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Perron hang up his skates this summer. If he does continue to play, he should be able to find a bottom-six role elsewhere. However, after winning a Stanley Cup and enjoying a 19-year career, nobody would blame Perron if he decided to spend more time with his family.

F James van Riemsdyk – Detroit brought in ‘JVR’ last summer in the hopes that he would offer tertiary scoring and a veteran presence in the locker room. Through the first half of the season, that’s exactly what he provided. Heading into the Olympic break, van Riemsdyk had scored 14 goals and 25 points in 49 games, averaging 13:31 of ice time. Unfortunately, he and the rest of the team fell off a cliff after returning from the break. In his final 23 games, van Riemsdyk registered only one goal and six points. He is another bubble player that wouldn’t be surprising to see retire; however, if he does continue to play, the Los Angeles Kings, Winnipeg Jets, and New York Islanders all seem like decent landing spots for the 37-year-old winger.

Other UFAs: D Travis Hamonic, G Cam Talbot, F Austin Watson, F Eduards Tralmaks, D Erik Gustafsson, D Antti Tuomisto

Projected Cap Space

Detroit won’t have any issues making additions this summer. Even if the team spends $11MM to $13MM on retaining Edvinsson and Kane, they’ll still have more than $16MM to use to add to the roster. Although it’ll be difficult to move some bad contracts, the Red Wings could trim even more off the roster by trading Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Michael Rasmussen, and/or Mason Appleton. Unfortunately, it’ll be equally challenging to find suitable talent on the free agent market this summer. Detroit needs to prioritize goal-scoring and could likely use a fourth/fifth defenseman to help stabilize the defensive corps. Still, they are free to use the available dollars on the trade market, which is likely something General Manager Steve Yzerman will look toward this offseason.

Photos courtesy of Charles LeClaire (Edvinsson) and Danny Wild (Kane) of Imagn Images. Contract information courtesy of PuckPedia.