General managers, in a typical NHL season, would be working the phones over the next several days looking to buy or sell with the late February trade deadline approaching.
In this atypical, COVID-abbreviated 56-game season, the trade deadline falls on April 12.
It could be a busy time for Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman, who has 10 impending unrestricted free agents on the roster.
He has about seven weeks and 23 more games to evaluate the team and decide which of these players he should try to re-sign and which he should attempt to move for draft picks or prospects.
Things can change based on the individual and the team’s performance during that stretch. But given where the Red Wings are after 20 games (5-12-3, 30th in the NHL in points percentage), it is safe to assume they are not going to vault into playoff contention in a tough Central Division. They surely will be sellers once again.
Here is an early projection of what the Red Wings might do with their UFAs.
Forwards
Sam Gagner: He is off to a slow start (no goals, two assists in 13 games), but his power-play ability, right shot and low salary ($850,000) could entice a playoff-caliber club to offer a late-round pick for him.
Luke Glendening: He has been the best face-off man in the league and continues doing many things that do not show on the stats sheet (defending, blocking shots, competing in the hard areas of the ice). Count on the Red Wings re-signing him. If they wait until after the July 21 expansion draft, they won’t have to deal with protecting or exposing him.
Valtteri Filppula: He won’t provide much offense but a team seeking a fourth-line center/winger might value his skating ability, penalty killing and defense. Otherwise, he’ll stay for the remainder of the season before parting ways.
Darren Helm: The longest-serving Red Wing has a high cap hit ($3.875 million) but is coming off a decent season and, after battling COVID and an injury, has played well of late. Still, at 34, this rebuilding the team doesn’t seem likely to re-sign him. His speed and checking ability might draw interest for a mid-round pick, with the Red Wings possibly needing to retain some salary.
Bobby Ryan: Ryan cooled off after a hot start, and he turns 34 on March 17, but the Red Wings like him. They probably will offer him another contract. If so, Ryan must decide whether he wants to continue playing for a rebuilding team or move to a contender. His offensive ability should draw interest at the trade deadline.
Defensemen
Alex Biega: Good team player who accepts his role as someone who will shuffle back and forth between the main roster and taxi squad and not play much (two games). He cleared waivers, so he probably wouldn’t draw interest in the trade market. Perhaps the Red Wings will re-sign him for a year as the seventh defenseman or someone who can come up from Grand Rapids when needed.
Jon Merrill: Expect the Red Wings to make him an offer. He must decide if he wants to stay in his hometown on a rebuilding team or seek greener pastures. If it is the latter, then he could be flipped for a pick at the deadline.
Patrik Nemeth: A no-frills stay-at-home defender who has served as a stopgap for two seasons, chances are both sides will look to move in a different direction, with the club filling his spot with a younger, lower-salaried player next season and Nemeth seeking a better team.
Marc Staal: The Red Wings without a doubt will look to move Staal, maybe well before the deadline, if they are able. His $5.7 million cap hit might limit their options. The team could be looking to move three veteran defensemen if there is a market for them.
Goaltender
Jonathan Bernier: Unless the Red Wings are sure they can find a better alternative in free agency, they would be wise to re-sign Bernier, because none of the goaltending prospects in their system will be close to NHL-ready in 2021-22. Bernier prevented a lousy season from being epically bad in 2019-20 and has been sharper than Thomas Greiss through a small sample size this season. The market for goalies at the trade deadline often is limited or non-existent unless a team is trying to fill an injury void.
More: Steve Yzerman assesses team through 20 games
The Link LonkFebruary 23, 2021 at 06:02PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/02/which-free-agents-will-red-wings-look-to-re-sign-trade.html
Which free agents will Red Wings look to re-sign, trade? - MLive.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=Red&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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