Detroit Red Wings: 3 restricted free agents to avoid re-signing
By Bob Heyrman
The Detroit Red Wings will be plenty of opportunities to add talent from the cap-stricken franchises across the league, leaving the organization with decisions to make on restricted free agents.
The NHL salary cap freeze entering next season is expected to be the talk of the town. The league National Hockey League announced the salary cap will remain the same next season, hampering teams with long-term deals that increase on a yearly basis. This leaves Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman with a plethora of options moving forward.
Should the Detroit Red Wings be spenders next season in accordance with the state of the teams’ rebuild? Probably not. The organization will spend some of its expected $35-million in cap space retaining a crop of young restricted free agents, and maybe a UFA or two.
Don’t forget; the Red Wings are coming off of a historically bad season. After missing out on the NHL’s draft lottery, falling in the draft order for the fourth straight year, the Red Wings are missing an elite talent.
The organization needs to land a superstar. Yzerman will have the ability to land a top prospect in the 2020 draft. Still, the organization had hoped to have the opportunity to select the consensus first overall choice, Alexis Lafreniere. The young star will end up joining a current playoff team under the current NHL Draft format. Instead of picking first, Detroit will choose fourth.
As the Detroit Red Wings continue to build their prospect foundation, Yzerman and company in all likelihood will add a big name player to plug right into their depth chart to start next season either via trade or free agency.
To clear up some roster spots, here are three current restricted free agents (RFA) the organization should not retain for the 2020-21 season. It’s time to trim some fat from this roster.