The Detroit Red Wings have 17 selections in the next two drafts, but general manager Steve Yzerman wants more.
Additional picks mean more chances to acquire future impact NHL players, which the Red Wings desperately need in the midst of a long and painful rebuild.
Detroit has an opportunity to accumulate extra selections by the April 12 trade deadline by dealing some impending unrestricted free agents.
The Red Wings have many players, including 11 on the NHL roster, slated to become UFAs this summer. Some would not draw interest, and the Red Wings would be hesitant to move others.
Here are the Red Wings’ 2021 unrestricted free agents, ranked from most likely to be moved to least likely to be dealt (with cap hit):
Bobby Ryan ($1 million): Ryan expects to be dealt, and if he’s healthy he should draw interest because of his scoring ability, right-handed shot and low cap figure. Ryan has embraced Detroit in his short time here and indicated he would like to re-sign with the Red Wings in the summer even after being moved.
Sam Gagner ($850,000): Veteran forward can provide secondary scoring in the right situation and has a good history on the power play. Right-handed shooters sometimes draw more interest. His salary makes him more appealing.
Jon Merrill ($925,000): He could be a low-cost third-pair option for a playoff-contending team, many who often seek defensive depth at the deadline. He is a plus-2 on a team with a minus-39 goals differential.
Patrik Nemeth ($3 million): Steady, under-the-radar defensive defenseman could draw interest. He has the ability to play in the top-four, match up against top lines, kill penalties and log a lot of minutes.
Marc Staal ($5.7 million): One of only two Red Wings to play in all 38 games (Filip Hronek is the other), the team would like to move Staal, who unlike Ryan and Merrill, is not a candidate to be re-signed. However, teams might be reluctant to assume even the remaining portion of a big salary in a season where revenues are down due to lack of attendance, especially if they believe the player won’t make that much of a difference. The Red Wings might need to retain some salary to move him.
Jonathan Bernier ($3 million): The market for goaltenders at the trade deadline is limited, sometimes non-existent. If a team is in playoff contention, chances are it has gotten strong to adequate goaltending and is not seeking an upgrade. Bernier might draw interest for a club looking to bolster its back-up spot, like the Flyers, or as a replacement for an injured goalie. But if Detroit is offered only a low-round pick, is it worth it? Bernier’s health – he’s out short-term with a lower-body injury – also could influence a team’s interest. In any event, the Red Wings need to re-sign Bernier. Thomas Greiss has struggled and none of their goaltending prospects is likely to be NHL-ready in the next year or two.
Luke Glendening ($1.8 million): He is the type of player who would draw interest because he brings several elements (checks, hits, blocks shots, kills penalties, skates well and has top face-off percentage in the league,) at a reasonable cost. There is little doubt the Red Wings will look to re-sign him, and the Grand Rapids native surely wants to stay. It’s possible the club could trade him for an asset and then re-sign him in the summer.
Darren Helm ($3.85 million): His speed, checking ability and playoff experience might entice a team looking for fourth-line help but his salary could limit suitors.
Valtteri Filppula ($3 million): Veteran center/winger has been a healthy scratch the past 14 games in what is likely his final NHL season. He cleared waivers earlier this season and it is doubtful he would draw interest.
Calvin Pickard ($750,000): Despite a pair of solid performances against Columbus last weekend, he doesn’t have a large enough body of work for a team to part with a draft pick, even one that is seeking insurance with a better No. 3 option.
Alex Biega ($875,000): Depth defenseman has appeared in only three games and cleared waivers earlier this season. It is doubtful he could be moved.
Taro Hirose ($825,000): Young forward will become an unrestricted free agent after the season (Group 6) because he will have played fewer than 80 games by his 25th birthday on June 30. He has some playmaking skills (12 points in 11 games in Grand Rapids), but it is unlikely a team would relinquish a draft pick for an impending UFA who might not crack their lineup this season.
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The Link LonkMarch 31, 2021 at 11:19PM
https://www.mlive.com/redwings/2021/03/which-red-wings-free-agents-will-be-traded-who-will-stay.html
Which Red Wings free agents will be traded? Who will stay? - MLive.com
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