Veteran Red Wings Defenseman Vulnerable As Buyout Periods Opens for NHL Clubs

The Detroit Red Wings might be thrilled or sad depending on how the weekend develops. The team has a window open to conduct buyouts, and one veteran NHL defenseman could be one player Yzerman lets loose.

Justin Holl is a veteran NHL defenseman who has spent the last two seasons, and 111 games wearing the winged wheel in the NHL.

That may come to an end, as the buyout period comes to a close on June 30th, at 5 PM.

For Yzerman to complete a buyout, the Red Wings must place a player(s) on waivers by the deadline in order to complete the transaction.

If it goes through, the team will have an extra $2 million in cap space as a result. An extra $2 million would mean a roster spot open for a free agent, a promotion, or giving rookie Axel Sandin Pellikka a look in the lineup.

Holl, however, could ostensibly survive this period and stay in the lineup, earning $3.4 million AAV to the chagrin of Red Wings fans.

As a player who is 26, he could be bought out of his contract for one-third of his total contract value, and could spread his cap hit over the next three seasons per the CBA.

The Wings could save $2.67 million AAV per season, and pay him $1.13 million spread over two seasons.

The move would give the team more flexibility with the salary cap, totaling $22.467 million to work with.

Despite the praise he earned during the latter part of the year, Holl has been nothing more than a placeholder in the lineup. He could find a new home elsewhere in the NHL with a team that needs a depth defenseman at a bargain price.

Right now, the Red Wings should be looking elsewhere at other rebuilds and figure out in the greater scheme of things where they are.