Team reporter unveils 'long shot' move by the Red Wings that could check a huge missing box in Detroit

JJ Peterka is the long shot, but hey, it's May - we're allowed to have some fun. The Buffalo Sabres have plenty of salary-cap space, so they don't have to move Peterka, who is coming off an outstanding season with 27 goals and 68 points. But, for a team that could be looking for a sort of shakeup, he stands out as a young player who would fill a need for Detroit. That said, Buffalo is likely to want present-day impact in return, which might make the Red Wings a miscast trade partner.

There are other restricted free-agent names out there. New York Rangers RFA Will Cuylle would be a terrific fit, for example, if New York runs into cap trouble. But with the cap going up, most teams won't find themselves in panic mode this summer. For that reason, I think it's smartest to focus on the unrestricted free agents, with those top three a cut above the rest.