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Three players the Detroit Red Wings should move to make room for Larkin

By Ash Thompson

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 24, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Henrik Zetterberg
TORONTO, ON - MARCH 24: Henrik Zetterberg #40 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at the Air Canada Centre on March 24, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Red Wings 4-3. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Henrik Zetterberg /
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NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 27: Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 27, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ – DECEMBER 27: Niklas Kronwall #55 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on December 27, 2017 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Niklas Kronwall

Niklas Kronwall is 37 years old, and he is in the final year of his contract. This is another relic of the good times that has got to go. He is not going to get the team anything at the deadline, particularly not with his limited NTC.

Kronwall has the right to submit a list of ten teams that he can go to. By the trade deadline that list of ten teams can very easily not include any playoff contenders if the player so chooses.

I would not expect a lot of teams to be hunting for Kronwall specifically. He is a decent NHL defenseman and his contract isn’t a problem for the team that takes him on. He has the appeal of not costing a lot of money for the 2018-19 season, but that appeal is killing the Red Wings right now.

Kronwall alone would all but cover the required salary cap space needed to extend Larkin long term. Rumors have Larkin looking at an AAV of around $6 million on a long-term deal. Kronwall would free up an additional $3 million by himself.

Kronwall becomes more of a noose around the team’s neck the longer they wait to move him. This really is a no-brainer for the long-term health of the team. He has to go, and the sooner the better.

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