NHL Insider: $21 Million in Cap Space Could Buy Less than You Want
Photo credit: Detroit Free Press
Detroit Hockey Now's Kevin Allen has brought something to our attention; Steve Yzerman and the Detroit Red Wings' buying capacity may not be as great as we hoped in July.
The Detroit Red Wings' $21.34 million in cap space may seem like a lot, but when you're working on signing high-end talent, that diminishes quickly.
According to NHL Insider Kevin Allen, we should adjust our expectations for July so when it does roll around, we're not disappointed with how Steve Yzerman spends the team's money.
With the team heading into the NHL Draft, they're allowed to spend $14 million of that to spend on new players.
Allen references puckpedia.com, as the team has 7 roster spots open, and with 23 total spots to fill, that's not a lot to work with.
Already under contract: Goalies (2) Cam Talbot and Petr Mrazek; defensemen (5) Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, Erik Gustafsson and Justin Holl and forwards (9) Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond, Alex DeBrincat, Marco Kasper, Andrew Copp, J.T. Compher, Michael Rasmussen, Vladimir Tarasenko and Carter Mazur.
Mazur's presence on the roster was a factor his injury prevented him from being sent down to the AHL. Fortunately for the Red Wings, he's waivers-exempt. But we have to assume that the Red Wings will promote another ELC player to the team out of training camp.
Which would take another spot, whether it be Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, or Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Not to mention the team's free agents, they'll have to address soon:
Mazur's presence on the roster was a factor his injury prevented him from being sent down to the AHL. Fortunately for the Red Wings, he's waivers-exempt. But we have to assume that the Red Wings will promote another ELC player to the team out of training camp.
Which would take another spot, whether it be Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, or Axel Sandin-Pellikka.
Not to mention the team's free agents, they'll have to address soon:
Still to sign: Unrestricted free agent forwards (1): Patrick Kane; Restricted free agent forwards (2): Elmer Soderblom and Jonatan Berggren; RFA defenseman: Albert Johansson
Signing Berrgren? $1.032 million, $1.185 million for Johansson, and $1.1 million for Soderblom. A total of $3.3 million to sign these RFA's according to AFP Analytics.
That leaves the Red Wings with $18 million to work with. Add in Kane's bonuses, which could total $3.4 million, but could end up paying $4 million, that pushes the space available down to $14 million.
Signing Marner may take $14 million to get done, and if Sam Bennett goes to free agency, it could cost up to $10 million.
That doesn't leave a lot of room to work with.
Buyouts?
The Red Wings will have to exercise their right to buyout contracts in order to remain flexible with their cap space. That could include buying out defenseman Erik Gustafsson, which would add $1.133 million to the cap ( after buying out his $2 million deal), and buying our Justin Holl which would add another $1.133 million ($3.4 million deal buyout) and would give the team a total of $17.6 million.
In order to get where they feel they could sign more than just one top-tier talent in the NHL, they'll have to consider buying out a player like JT Compher for $1.6 million over the next five years, it'd add a cap savings and give the Wings a better shot at signing someone who could push the team into contention.
At $14 million, we shouldn't expect the team to sign or trade more than two players during the offseason.
A brutal truth for Red Wings fans who expected Yzerman to be bold during July.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 16 | 105 ANSWERS NHL Insider: $21 Million in Cap Space Could Buy Less than You Want Whose contract should GM Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings buy out in July? | ||
| Justin Holl | 59 | 56.2 % |
| Erik Gustafsson | 5 | 4.8 % |
| JT Compher | 0 | 0 % |
| All three | 41 | 39 % |
| List of polls | ||
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