On the Detroit Red Wings …
Craig Custance: Tomas Tatar trade protection on his new four-year deal – no protection first year (a RFA year), full no-trade clause in second year and most of the third year, partial no-trade in the fourth year.
James O’Brien of Pro Hockey Talk: Tatar’s new contract puts the Red Wings over the cap ceiling with RFA Andreas Athanasiou left to re-sign.
The Red Wings will get cap relief for Johan Franzen by placing him on the long-term injured reserve.
Another way to create some extra salary cap space would be to use the second buyout window for defenseman Jonathan Ericsson. Buying out Ericsson would cost the Red Wings $8.33 million over the next six years.
2017-18: Cap savings of $2.61 million
2018-19: Cap savings of $2.86 million
2019-20: Cap savings of $2.86 million
2020-21 to 2022-23: Cap hit of $1.39 million
31-year old defenseman Mike Green is entering the final year of his deal. If the Red Wings don’t plan on bringing him back for 2018-19, they could look to move him. If they want to move him now, they might have to retain some of his $6 million salary.
33-year old Frans Nielsen carries a $5.25 million salary cap hit through 2021-22. If the Red Wings were thinking of moving him, now might be the time. Other teams may not be interested in the term left on his deal. Might need to take back a ‘bad contract’ in a deal.
Other ‘big’ contracts the Red Wings have include Justin Abdelkader‘s $4.25 million through 2022-23, 30-year old Darren Helm at $3.85 million and Luke Glendening at $1.8 million.
The Red Wings are spending $9.3 million on their goaltending – $5.3 million to Jimmy Howard and $4 million on Petr Mrazek. The Red Wings would have to retain some of Mrazek’s salary if they wanted to trade him. Does it make sense for the Red Wings to trade Mrazek given his potential?
