On the Detroit Red Wings …
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit Red Wings: With the expansion draft in June, the Red Wings might be able to get an expensive contract off the books.
The Red Wings will have some salary issues for next season, and they don’t have a lot of trade options. They do have some prospects coming along in forward Evgeny Svechnikov, defensemen Filip Hronek and Vili Saarijarvi.
Don’t expect the Red Wings to be big players in the free agent market this offseason. There may not be many UFAs that could help the Red Wings and fit into their cap situation. They have 16 players under contract at $62 million.
They could look to trade someone Jimmy Howard, Mike Green, or Gustav Nyquist, or maybe lose one in the expansion draft that would give them a bit more financial flexibility.
The Wings also need to re-sign RFAs Tomas Tatar, Andreas Athanasiou and Xavier Ouellet.
The Wings would love to add a top four defenseman, but that isn’t easy.
The Wings have 11 draft picks that might help them make a move.
“We’ve got 11 pickPs in 2017,” Holland said. “We’ve got an extra second-round pick in 2018 (acquired in trade), which is looking like it should be a deeper draft than this year. I also think every draft, players come out of the second, third and fourth rounds. We’ve got more spins of the wheel.”
The Wings might be able to package Tatar or Petr Mrazek.
Greg Krupa of the Detroit News: Jimmy Howard’s play this season will give Red Wings management some tough decisions on who to protect in net for the expansion draft.
The Red Wings had made the 25-year old Petr Mrazek their No. 1 starter at the beginning of the season, but he’s posted a 2.99 GAA and .901 save percentage. The 33-year old Howard posted a 1.91 GAA and .935 save percentage entering last Sunday. They’ve been rotating starts of late as they continue to evaluate.
“I think just from an evaluation standpoint, from where we sit, it’s important to give them both a chance to get a good-sized body of work,” Jeff Blashill said. “The other thing is, both guys have played very well.
“I thought Petr was playing excellent before Jimmy came back. Since Jimmy’s come back, he’s played excellent.
“So, might as well continue to play both of them, and put them in a position of confidence, if possible.”