Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman has opted not to make a free-agent splash while still deep in the rebuilding stage, signing players to short-term deals (one or two years) at reasonable cap hits, like Valtteri Filppula, Patrik Nemeth, Bobby Ryan, Vladislav Namestnikov, Troy Stecher and Thomas Greiss.
Will this be the summer Yzerman pursues a bigger-impact, higher-priced free agent on a longer term? Is that even possible, since many of the bigger names (Alex Ovechkin, Taylor Hall, Gabriel Landeskog, David Krejci, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Zach Hyman, Blake Coleman, Dougie Hamilton) will either re-sign with their current club or likely look to join another playoff- or Stanley Cup-contending team?
“My approach has been you look for opportunities, you wait for opportunities to come along,” Yzerman said earlier this month. “When I try to force or chase something, it hasn’t really worked out. I never tried to do anything to make a splash. There has to be a reason for it, a good reason, to think you’re going to be a better team. It doesn’t have to just look good; it has to be good.
“I’m not opposed to signing a free agent, it’s how much are they going to cost? Is it going to make sense, for the short term and the long term?”
The start of free agency is two months away (July 28), but one MLive reader wondered what the Red Wings might do in this week’s mailbag:
Q: Anyone who you think the Red Wings should sign as a free agent next season? Also, finishing as strong as we have down the stretch and improved defense, it doesn’t sound like a stretch to get to .500 or a little better next season. What is your prediction? -- Hunter
A: Starting from within, they’ll look to re-sign Luke Glendening, Jonathan Bernier and possibly Marc Staal. Can’t imagine Glendening going anywhere. Bernier is their best option for a goalie to pair with Greiss. Staal would fill one of their needs for a left-shooting defenseman.
They might have interest in re-signing Bobby Ryan and Sam Gagner as well. They were good team players and would fill their need for right-shooting forwards.
Of course, they can’t just bring back everybody. Some changes are needed after they finished 16 points out of the last playoff spot in the Central Division.
Other right-shooting forwards who might be available and fit their expected criteria (short term, low salary) include Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, Jason Spezza, Corey Perry and Wayne Simmonds.
Left-shooting defensemen, in addition to Staal, who might be available include Alexander Edler, Alex Goligoski, Erik Gustafsson, and former Red Wings Merrill and Nemeth.
Reaching .500 in 2021-22 isn’t a stretch. Better health, more offense (including an improved power play), better results in overtime/shootouts would help. The return to the normal divisional alignment and schedule matrix featuring games against Buffalo, Ottawa and New Jersey will be a good thing, too.
Q: Do you think Detroit would have any interest in (Sean) Monahan if he really is available out of Calgary? A pretty good age for the core, but is it a good fit at all? -- Jeremy
A: Yzerman has said he is hesitant to part with prospects/draft picks for a player who might be around only for the short term, and Monahan would be under club control for only two more seasons. So, it seems doubtful, but it all depends on the price.
Monahan would fill the Red Wings’ second-line center void. He turns 27 at the start of next season, so he is in his prime. The Red Wings will have ample cap space even after signing their own free agents. Monahan has two years remaining at a $6.375 million cap hit, so they wouldn’t be handcuffed long-term if it doesn’t pan out. Monahan hasn’t lived up to the contract the past two seasons (a combined 32 goals and 76 points in 120 games), after averaging 30 goals and 66 points the previous five seasons.
Q: We had Petr Mrazek as the future No. 1 goalie for the Red Wings; do you know why he’s not around anymore? Our team was in a decline, our defense was poor, lack of scoring and lack of superstars. If we want to get a goalie for the future, we should draft a goalie only when our team is better in all areas. If we have one now, we will ruin his potential and then end up trading him just like what we did with Mrazek. I say, for now, sign veteran goalies. – Jerry
A: First off, this is exactly the time you want to draft a goalie because they take several years to develop. So, he would be NHL-ready by the time the team is poised for long playoff runs, ideally. In the meantime, they need to sign a veteran to pair with Greiss; they hope to bring back Bernier.
Couple reasons why they traded Mrazek to Philadelphia for a third-round pick (used on defenseman Seth Barton) in 2018. Mrazek had struggled for most of his final two seasons in Detroit and the Red Wings did not want to qualify him at $4 million as he approached restricted free agency. Also, the organization had soured on him due to what it perceived as coachability and attitude issues.
Q: What are the chances of Adam Oates becoming the power-play coach? -- Richard
A: It’s doubtful. He runs the Oates Sports Group, a consulting firm that works with players, NHL and amateur, and groups in an effort to improve their skills. Jeff Blashill brought in Oates during the 2015-16 season for three days to work with the coaching staff. Oates hasn’t coached since the latter part of the 2014-15 season with New Jersey.
Q: Filed under “Things I thought I knew, but now I’m not so sure …” What criteria are used when deciding which forwards will play on which wing? Is it system? Shot-handedness? I was contemplating a line of (Lucas) Raymond-(Joe) Veleno-(Jonatan) Berggren and I wasn’t even sure if that put players in the “correct” position. Please elucidate. -- John
A: A team’s system and the player’s style are among the factors. When the Red Wings played the “left-wing lock” under Scotty Bowman, the better defensive forward of the line’s wingers played left wing. Typically, a right-handed shot will play right wing and left-handed shot the left side, but not always. For example, right-shooting Brendan Shanahan played left wing because it provided more opportunities to open up for a one-timer from the left face-off circle. Left-shooting Filip Zadina plays right wing because his sweet spot to get off his shot is the right face-off circle.
I’m not sure it matters much for forwards to play right or left wing; it’s more important on defense to pair left and right shooters, making tape-to-tape passing easier.
(If you have a Red Wings-related question, email akhan1@mlive.com.)
Red Wings mailbag: Looking ahead to free agent possibilities - MLive.com
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