Tarasenko Traded; Red Wings Shop For Scorer and Top Four D Man

The Detroit Red Wings top line is Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin and a player to be named Tuesday.

Maybe.

General manager Steve Yzerman has the cap space ($23.2 million) to make a cannonball-like splash on Tuesday’s opening day of free agency. But after all of the re-signings and trades Monday, the list of sure-bet difference making UFAs is short indeed, and the most desirable free agents will have more attractive options than a team that has missed the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons.

“Anybody can go and look at the list of potential free agents and see there aren’t that many players you know will have an impact,” Yzerman said. 

Detroit added to their cap space by moving Vladimir Tarasenko ($4.75 million) to the Minnesota Wild for future considerations. This is a salary dump move. Tarasenko’s production last season (11) was less than the Red Wings needed from him. Moving Tarasenko perhaps creates an opening for European free agent signing Edouards Tralmaks or a prospect like Carter Mazur or Michael Brandsegg-Nygard.

Because the NHL salary cap has jumped from $88 to $95.5 million, most teams have money to spend. It means there is plenty of competition for the likes of  Nikolaj Ehlers and Brock Boeser.

Today, Aaron Ekblad joined Sam Bennett (Florida Panthers) and John Tavares (Toronto Maple Leafs) who have already re-signed before the start of free agency. Brad Marchand has agreed to a six-year deal with Florida. Pierre LeBrun reported that agreement. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs completed a trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights. He signed an eight-year extension for $96 million with that team.

Sam Bennett 8x8m
Aaron Ekblad 8×6.1m
Brad Marchand 6x5m

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TSN’s Bob McKenzie broke the story of Ekblad’s signing. Ekblad took $6.1 million per season for eight years. He might have received a $9 million average on the open market.

Ekblad Gives Major Hometown Discount

The Golden Knights traded defenseman Nicolas Hague to the Nashville Predators for Scott Sissons and Jeremy Lauzon. The Predators signed Hague to a four-year deal for $5.5 million per season.

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The Red Wings reportedly were interested in Hague who is a quality penalty killer and shot blocker.

Yzerman said he will be looking at all centers who can play high in the lineup, wingers and defensemen. If the Red Wings land another center to play with Alex DeBrincat and Patrick Kane, they can move Marco Kasper back to the top line. If they don’t land a center, Kasper can stay at center and they will look for a wing to play with Larkin and Raymond.

Second Tier UFAs

With Ekblad  and Ivan Provolov (re-signed with Columbus) off the market, Vladislav Gavrikov is the most desirable defenseman left.  Could Ryan Lindgren be a Plan B? The next step from Boeser and Ehlers could be Mikael Granlund. There are less expensive goals available from James Van Riemsdyk, Jonathan Drouin, Jack Roslovic and Pius Suter. Yes, this is the Pius Suter who previously played for Detroit. He scored 25 goals this season for Vancouver.

If Yzerman doesn’t find what he wants in the UFA market, he may find help in the trade market. Yzerman certainly feels pressure to make this team more competitive for a playoff spot. He is looking to increase scoring and add a dependable defenseman.

“There just aren’t a lot of options right,” Yzerman said. “I guess I would say when I’m talking to teams right now, everybody wants players like we want players. What do we have to offer?”

Potential trading partners aren’t looking for players with term and salaries that don’t fit well with their production. In other words, team aren’t looking to add J.T. Compher who has three seasons remaining on his deal.

They are looking for low-salaried players with big up-side, like Marco Kasper or Simon Edvinsson.  It makes no sense for Detroit to trade those players. The Red Wings obviously prefer to move prospects who aren’t yet in the NHL or future draft picks. On Saturday, the Red Wings traded a second- and fourth-round picks and Petr Mrazek for goalie John Gibson.

“There’s a couple of interesting options (in the trade market), but I think now everybody’s going to focus on free agency for a few days and see where that shakes out,” Yzerman said.

He was asked whether he would trade a top player ?

“Maybe,” Yzerman said. “But it doesn’t necessarily make sense to trade at any position that creates a hole at that position. ”

This story has been updated with the Ekblad, Marner and Marchand agreements.