Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Would Red Wings Have Made a Run at Matthews? Buchelnikov Tallies in Russia

Were rumors that Detroit was interested in Leafs sniper as UFA

Published

8 months ago

August 24, 2023

Bob Duff

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews is staying with the club after signing a contract extension.

There were rumblings last summer – some of them from people familiar with the situation with the Detroit Red Wings organization – that GM Steve Yzerman was planning to go all-in in an attempt to sign Auston Matthews.

The Toronto Maple Leafs 60-goal scorer would’ve become an unresticted free agent following the 2023-24 NHL season. Matthews and Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin are close friends from their time together with USA Hockey’s national team development program. It was during this time that Matthews was also developing a fondness for Michigan.

I feel fortunate to continue this journey as a Maple Leaf in front of the best fans in hockey! I will do everything I can to help get us to the top of the mountain. GLG! #LeafsForever

— Auston Matthews (@AM34) August 23, 2023

It was those factors, coupled with salary cap space in Detroit that was supposed to be creating the perfect storm for Yzerman to open the vault in pursuit of the 2021-22 Hart Trophy winner.

Alas, we’ll never know. On Wednesday, Matthews was agreeing to a four-year, $53-million contract extension with the Leafs that is making him the NHL’s highest-paid player.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

Detroit has made 12 second-round draft picks since Steve Yzerman was named GM in 2019. Not one has played an NHL game
The Red Wings were signing center Joe Veleno to a one-year contract
Detroit draft pick Kiril Tyutyayev is joining the ECHL Toledo Walleye
Red Wings draft pick Albert Johansson is looking forward to finally getting his NHL chance

Red Wings Offseason

In the KHL Puchkov Tournament, SKA St. Petersburg was rallying from a 2-0 deficit to defeat Sochi 4-3.

#BuchSZN
🚨 #LGRW Dmitri Buchelnikov
3-2 SKA #Puchkov pic.twitter.com/h9FIkxE4Zc

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) August 23, 2023

Red Wings draftee Dmitri Buchelnikov was among the scorers for SKA.

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