Detroit Red Wings receive warning from NHL analyst on Erik Karlsson

The Detroit Red Wings need help on the blueline. With only $12 million in cap space, the team has to be smart with how it spends its cash.

NHL Analyst Jacob Punutri of Sports Illustrated has issued a stern warning to the Detroit Red Wings, who are in hot pursuit of veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson.

Karlsson is a former 100+ point player and played last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Red flags are already there: with an $11.5 million AAV contract, and after his peak 100+ point season, it's doubtful he'll shoot at that clip again in his career, at 35 years old. Karlsson has a full NMC and has 100% control of where he'll go next in the NHL.

If the Penguings retain salary, it'll make acquiring him more expensive.

And as a player who's hunting the cup, it's doubtful he'd be willing to add his talent to the Red Wings lineup. A team that would be better to hunt younger stars in the NHL, and who have missed on players like Noah Dobson and K'Andre Miller as future superstars.

Now, Yzerman is left picking up the pieces on a team that is set to have a youth movement take complete control in Hockeytown.

The lack of vision for the Red Wings is evident, as Yzerman is contemplating dropping major assets in order to acquire a defenseman who is no longer elite, but collects a paycheck like he is.

The Red Wings could've worked harder on July 1st to find other options, including offer sheets. One viable option would be Ryker Evans, a two-way defenseman in the Seattle Kraken system.

As an RFA, he could be offer-sheeted, and his last contract paid him $897K AAV. He's experienced playing on the power-play and could be a key piece in the Red Wings' future.

Instead, the team is chasing tales of yesteryear.