Are Buyouts in Play for the Red Wings? (DHN+)

When you are doing your math to figure out how much money Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has to spend in the free agent market this summer, don’t forget to subtract the $1.055 million for Justin Abdelkader’s cap hit.

Abdelkader hasn’t worn a Detroit jersey since 2019-20, but the fact that the Detroit Red Wings will still have a salary cap cost for him next season is a reminder buyouts are not pain free. While they can be quite helpful to create short-term room to maneuver, it’s not a Get Out of Jail Free card.

The pros and cons of buyouts are worth discussing in Detroit these days as GM Steve Yzerman heads into an offseason looking to make moves that will give the Red Wings the push needed to get into the playoffs next season.