How will the Red Wings use their cap space ahead of NHL Trade Deadline?
All of a sudden, the Detroit Red Wings have the potential to be players at the NHL Trade Deadline.
On Monday, the team traded goaltender Ville Husso to the Anaheim Ducks for future considerations. That took Husso’s $4.75 million AAV off the books. On top of that, the team announced that forward Andrew Copp is out for the remainder of the season, which relieves the team of his $5.63 million cap hit for the rest of the year.
That means the Red Wings are heading into March with plenty of cash to spend, if they so choose, to bolster their lineup as they push to end their near-nine-year playoff drought.
On Tuesday’s edition of Dailly Faceoff LIVE, Frank Seravalli and Tyler Yaremchuk discussed what Detroit general manager Steve Yzerman is eligible to do prior to the deadline.
Tyler Yaremchuk: “The Red Wings have $14 million in projected deadline cap space. And on top of that, they have each of their picks in each of the first three rounds for the next three drafts. They have some prospects percolating in the system. If Steve Yzerman wanted to be a guy who takes a big swing and I know you might sit there and go, Hey, a team that’s on the wildcard bubble, they’re barely holding onto a playoff spot right now. Why should they take a big swing? But, like, eventually, you’re going to get it right. You got to get in. So, do you think Yzerman takes that swing?”
Frank Seravalli: “I think they could really use a defenseman. Will they do it? And go out and find a difference maker, preferably one that isn’t a rental that they could keep for a while. I think that would make a ton of sense, man. They could really use someone like a Filip Hronek right now.
“Just think back to some of the pieces that are no longer part of this group. And that, to me, has been the most questionable part of the Steve Yzerman tenure in Detroit – talent evaluation on the backend at every turn. It feels like they’ve brought in the wrong piece or the wrong guy.
“I reported a few weeks ago, Jeff Petry also out long-term, 6-8 weeks after his injury. The Red Wings have a ways to go, but they’re no different than the Ottawa Senators. They need to get in. They need to give their young players a taste of the post-season. Missing Copp certainly doesn’t help. But when you look at the way that team is structured down the middle, if you can go Larkin comfort right now, they’ve got Joey Veleno in that third-line center role. I don’t think they need to go out and do a ton at the forward position or particularly at center. They’ve got some of the guys that already were the finishing touches, so to speak, if that makes any sense. You resigned Patrick Kane, you bring in a Vladimir Tarasenko, even though his name has been out there on the market as sort of those last deadline additions to a team that’s competing to make the playoffs. It’s on the backend that they desperately need the help.
“I do think you’re going to see an aggressive Steve Yzerman try and reward his group for the turnaround that they’ve displayed since Christmas when they made their coaching change on boxing day, bringing in Todd McLellan.”
You can watch the full segment and entire episode here…