Kris Draper Comments On Picking Rasmussen Over Vilardi
Detroit’s decision to select Michael Rasmussen with the ninth overall selection back in June over Gabriel Vilardi raised some eyebrows. However, a big part of the decision to do so stemmed from the fact that Rasmussen spent most of last year at center (a position they were targeting) while Vilardi was primarily a winger, Red Wings Assistant to the GM Kris Draper told Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required). Vilardi wound up going two spots later to the Kings.
While many teams will say they’ll simply look for the best player available, there’s a good case to make that the Red Wings needed a center back at the draft. Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou have both played the position in the past but have had more success in the NHL on the wing which has resulted in them not having a lot of prospect depth down the middle. Although he has pro size already, Rasmussen is likely still a couple of years away from seeing action in Detroit but should complement a good group of young wingers when he does make it.
Evening Notes: Zetterberg, Shipachyov, Pickard
The Detroit Red Wings are getting ready to start another season shortly and while many aren’t expecting an impressive season from this team, the team still has eyes for the playoffs. MLive’s Ansar Khan answers some mailbag questions about the upcoming season and points out that with the combination of gritty veterans and young talent, the team may show some promise. The scribe writes to expect 36-year-old veteran Henrik Zetterberg to center Tomas Tatar and Gustav Nyquist, who were their top line at the end of last year. The belief is that Tatar and Nyquist should benefit from Zetterberg’s presence to build their confidence early in the season.
He added that Dylan Larkin looks ready to take over as the team’s second-line center and be matched with Anthony Mantha, who scored 17 goals in his first full season. Justin Abdelkader might be a good fit to fill out that line. The third line would Frans Nielsen, Darren Helm and Andreas Athanasiou, if the restricted free agent signs with the team. Luke Glendening, Riley Sheahan and Tyler Bertuzzi are the likely candidates on the fourth line, assuming things don’t change much in training camp.
- The Las Vegas Review-Journal’s David Schoen writes that the team will be counting heavily on the success of Russian veteran Vadim Shipachyov this season. The 30-year-old forward was the third-leading scorer in the KHL last year with 26 goals and the team believes that if he can make the conversion to the NHL successfully, the Golden Knights might be better than many believe when it comes to offense. The team already has James Neal, Jon Marchessault, Reilly Smith, David Perron and the hope is Shipachyov will be that top-line player that opens up the offense.
- In the same story, Schoen adds that he wouldn’t be surprised if Golden Knights’ goaltender Calvin Pickard makes a name for himself, possibly even this season. While starting goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury has received all the press and has become the face of the franchise, Pickard is just 25 years old and was a second-round pick in 2010. He was considered a top prospect before he struggled in a full-time role for the struggling Colorado Avalanche last year. His 2.98 GAA left a lot to be desired. However, Fleury is already 33 and while he was impressive in the playoffs for the Penguins, didn’t have a great year as the backup, putting up a 3.02 GAA for the year in 38 games. If Pickard can re-establish himself in Las Vegas, he could find himself getting big minutes.
What Might Mike Green's Next Contract Cost?
Red Wings defenseman Mike Green is the highest paid blueliner that is currently slated to hit the open market next summer with a salary and cap hit of $6MM. Craig Custance of The Athletic (subscription required) spoke with an agent regarding what Green’s next contract should cost. Although Green doesn’t exactly have the reputation of being a particularly strong defensive player, he has consistently been a strong offensive producer and between that and his right-handedness, he could still be in line for a contract around $4.5MM.
Detroit already has just shy of $20MM committed to their back end for 2018-19 as things stand so locking Green up on a new deal wouldn’t allow them much flexibility in terms of trying to upgrade what is already not a strong unit. Accordingly, if they find themselves out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Red Wings offer him up as a rental player.
Vancouver Canucks Sign Thomas Vanek
One of the long free agent waits of the offseason is finally over; the Vancouver Canucks have signed Thomas Vanek to a one-year contract worth $2MM. The deal will come in at a lower amount than his $2.4MM pact with the Detroit Red Wings from last season, even after Vanek put up a solid 48-point season. He’ll hit the open market once again next summer.
[Related: Updated Canucks Depth Chart]
Teams who want a little extra offense and are close to the playoffs could have used Vanek’s powerplay and shootout prowess in a sheltered role, but another option was always a team like Vancouver signing him only to flip him for an asset at trade time. Like Detroit last season, the Canucks could give Vanek ample opportunities to rack up points in the first half of the season, only to send him to a bubble team for a draft pick come February. Vanek netted the Red Wings a third-round pick (and Dylan McIlrath) last year, more than enough return for a relatively small amount of money.
The Canucks are in rebuild mode after struggling again last season, but have brought in several high upside players that could be used in this manner already this summer. Sam Gagner, Michael Del Zotto and Alexander Burmistrov could each fetch a solid return on the market either this year or next should they show any improvement, and Vanek could be much of the same. As the team waits out Daniel and Henrik Sedin‘s contracts and looks to build towards a future centered on Bo Horvat, Brock Boeser, Olli Juolevi and Elias Pettersson, signing tradeable assets can only accelerate the process.
Horvat’s extension now enters the spotlight, as the team will have somewhere around $7MM in cap space depending on which forwards they move off the roster before the season starts. They currently have 15 forwards on one-way contracts, not including Horvat or Boeser, who is expected to stay with the team all year. While there likely will be some injuries in training camp, it does look like Vancouver will have to make a move or try and sneak a few players through waivers.
Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 first got confirmation that the Canucks were “in the mix” on Vanek.
Thomas Vanek Considering Several Options
We haven’t heard much about the interest in Thomas Vanek this summer, as the talented offensive forward remains unsigned now through August. Today though, Michael Russo of the Star Tribune caught up with Vanek, who says he’s looking at a few options including waiting for the Detroit Red Wings. Vanek admits that he’ll have to make a final decision soon.
As we’ve looked at in the past, Vanek doesn’t have the same incentive to delay a signing in order to play in the Olympics, as Austria didn’t qualify for the event. He told Russo that he’s not used to waiting this long for a contract, and it’s true; both of his last UFA contracts were signed on July 1st. There is likely several teams with interest, but it’s unclear what kind of guarantee the 33-year old will receive.
Remember that since Vanek played all of last season and isn’t 35 yet, he’s ineligible for any incentive-based contract, meaning he’ll have to settle for whatever salary is offered to him. Though teams are well aware of his offensive upside, he isn’t a strong skater and comes with considerable defensive deficiencies. Teams that have considerable depth could likely shelter his minutes to get out positive production, or rebuilding squads could use him as trade deadline bait like Detroit last season. The Red Wings received a third-round pick and Dylan McIlrath for Vanek at the deadline last season, and could pull off a similar deal this year should he sign with them once again.
Agent: Athanasiou’s KHL And NHL Offers Very Different
Ansar Khan of Mlive reports that still-unsigned RFA Andreas Athanasiou‘s agent told Mlive that there is a “considerable difference in the amount of money” between offers from the Detroit Red Wings and KHL clubs. Athanasiou is coming off his ELC and looking for a significant raise.
Last season Athanasiou scored 18G and 11A in 64 games in just his second NHL season. The year before he potted 8G and 5A in 37 games, while splitting time with Detroit and its AHL affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins.
Previous reports indicate that Athanasiou is considering signing in the KHL if he cannot obtain a satisfactory contract in the NHL, but some think the KHL threats are mere posturing. Red Wings GM Ken Holland said that the team has made multiple offers based on who the organization felt were comparable player contracts. Detroit also faces a cap crunch that makes things even more difficult. Right now the Red Wings exceed the salary cap by approximately $3MM, though will gain around $3.9MM once the season starts and the team places injured Johan Franzen on LTIR.
David Booth Expected To Sign PTO With Detroit Red Wings
In a day filled with professional tryout signings, Craig Custance of The Athletic reports that another one is close at hand. David Booth is expected to sign a PTO with the Detroit Red Wings, marking a possible return after two years in the KHL.
Booth last played in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2014-15, scoring 13 points in 59 games. That was a far cry from his career-high of 31 goals and 60 points, marks he registered in a dream 2008-09 season with the Florida Panthers. Two other seasons he recorded 40+ points, but those years seem like ages ago for the 32-year old. Last year he scored just ten points in 31 games for Omsk including their playoff run, and he’ll have to show that he’s both healthy and contributing in order to get a contract from the Red Wings.
Custance also notes that Danis Zaripov, the suspended KHL winger looking for work in the NHL has been connected to the Red Wings, and that his vacancy from Ak Bars may have caused them to reach out and offer Andreas Athanasiou a contract. Zaripov was cleared to sign with an NHL team yesterday, but finds himself looking for a guarantee after teams have already built their rosters.
Detroit Red Wings Still A Possibility For Thomas Vanek
We’ve heard it all summer, but Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports that the Red Wings are still in contact with Thomas Vanek about a potential return. Vanek’s agent Steve Bartlett told St. James that the team remains in the “possibility range” though other teams have increased interest recently. The team will likely have to make a roster move of some sort to get under the salary cap if Andreas Athanasiou does eventually sign—something that many of our readers doubt at this point—and would need to work even harder to fit Vanek in.
Vanek remains one of the more inexplicable free agent cases this summer, still without a job despite scoring 48 points in 68 games last season. His defense and lack of foot speed is clearly a sticking point, but many teams could use his offensive punch in various situations. The fact that he remains one of the better shootout specialists in the league is just a bonus, but one that can be worth real points in the standings.
If Vanek did return to Detroit, you’d have to expect he would be a trade candidate at the deadline again. With the Red Wings unlikely to really compete for a Stanley Cup, Vanek could net them another draft pick this year. As we’ve discussed previously, Vanek has no Olympic motivation since Austria did not qualify for the tournament last summer.
Red Wing Notes: Athanasiou, Helm, Nielson, Svechnikov
A few days ago, PHR reported that Detroit Red Wings winger Andreas Athanasiou is receiving interest in signing a one-year deal with the KHL as he and the team struggle to sign a new deal. MLive’s Ansar Khan answers mailbag questions for readers and quickly points out that it is a legitimate possibility that he signs a deal in the KHL, although it’s still more likely he stays in Detroit and signs before training camp begins.
While the Red Wings have handed out some major contracts over the past few years to free agents, the team must take a hardline approach with Athanasiou because they have other young players they must lock up in the future, including Anthony Mantha and Dylan Larkin. Most hockey players don’t start making the big money until their third contract, so it’s unlikely the team will break the bank to bring Athanasiou back on a big deal.
Khan adds that if Athanasiou does leave for Russia, the team does have several options. While Athanasiou was the team’s second-leading goal scorer with 18 goals in just 64 games, he’s still a developing player, having scored just nine goals in 37 games during his rookie campaign. Many Red Wings players had down years last year and the Red Wings have high hopes to see some of their veterans bounce back this year. Much of Athanasiou’s production could be filled by increased production by Gustav Nyquist, Justin Abdelkader, Riley Sheahan and Larkin. The other possibility is that the team inks Thomas Vanek in such a situation, assuming he’d agree to ink a one-year deal and the team can move out some salary to make that deal work.
- In the same mailbag, Khan writes that there is little chance the Red Wings could take advantage of the Pittsburgh Penguins need at center and move out the contracts of either Darren Helm or Frans Nielsen. He writes that both contracts remain too long and too expensive to trade off to a desperate team. Helm’s deal still has four years at $3.85MM per year, while Nielsen’s is even worse with five years remaining at $5.25MM per year.
- Khan adds that 2015 first-round pick Evgeny Svechnikov would not be a likely candidate to make the team this year as he is still not ready for a full-time NHL role yet. He writes that he believes he needs another full year at the AHL level with the Grand Rapids Griffins. He scored 20 goals and 31 assists for the Griffins last year in 74 games.
Red Wings Expect Tyler Bertuzzi To Make Opening Roster
Although he had only a minor role with the Red Wings last season and has waiver exemption remaining, the team expects winger Tyler Bertuzzi to break camp with the big club in October, writes Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press. Bertuzzi played in just seven games with Detroit in 2016-17 and averaged just nine minutes per game but played quite well with AHL Grand Rapids in the playoffs where he collected 19 points (9-10-19) in 19 contests.
St. James adds that there are those in the organization who believe the 22-year-old would be best suited to start in the minors once again but both GM Ken Holland and head coach Jeff Blashill are among those who would like to see him start with the Red Wings. The fact that Bertuzzi is on a league minimum contract will certainly help his case considering their current salary cap situation. However, because of that and his waiver exemption, there’s a good chance that Bertuzzi will be forced to go back and forth a lot during the year in an effort to open up a bit of wiggle room during the season.