Ken Holland Silent On Detroit Red Wings Free Agents
By Tony Fischer
Detroit Red Wings defenseman Kyle Quincey (27) will be testing the free agent market this off-season. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
The roster has been evaluated. The draft board has been set and the free agents have been rated. But Detroit Red Wings General Manager Ken Holland is not ready to disclose which of the Wings Free Agents he will resign.
The Detroit Red Wings have 18 free agents, 7 of which are of the unrestricted variety. Of the seven unrestricted free agents David Legwand, Todd Bertuzzi and Mikeal Samulesson will likely be wearing other uniforms next season.
Corey Emmerton (Restricted Free Agent) has already signed a contract to play for Sochi in the KHL. Dan Cleary might be back with the Wings after being promised another contract in exchange for leaving a multi-year deal on the table in Philadelphia last season.
That leaves four free agents that could test the free agent market this off-season.
The Red Wings would like to have Jonas Gustavsson back but only on a one year deal. A one year deal would give Petr Mrazek one more year to develop with the Griffins until he is ready to assume back-up goaltender duties in 2015. That will likely drive Gustavsson to the free agent market to seek a multi-year deal from a team looking for a starting netminder.
Live Feed
Octopus Thrower
Kyle Quincey will likely be sought after on the free agent market and the Wings will need to make his signing a priority. The Wings are already looking for a defenseman and losing Quincy will make the hole at the blue line much bigger to fill.
It appears that Ken Holland would like to have Daniel Alfredsson return for 2014, but the 41 year-old forward has yet to decide whether he will play another season.
Danny Dekeyser is a restricted free agent and will be at the top of the Red Wings resign list. The 24 year-old defenseman will likely get a substantial raise from his $925,000 last season.
According to most sources, the Red Wings plan to be active this off-season but how active will be determined by which one of their free agents they can resign and at what cost.