So the Stanley Cup was awarded Wednesday night, closing the book on the 2020-21 NHL season. The Steve Yzerman-built Lightning are back to back champs. The Steve Yzerman Red Wings are still being built, and they'll add to their foundation this summer with the sixth overall pick in the draft. They also enter the offseason with $48 million in cap space, second only to an expansion team with zero players on its roster.
Which begs the question: how will Yzerman spend it?
For one, Detroit needs to re-sign a number of restricted free agents. That task alone will swallow a chunk of the club's budget. Up front, the Wings' RFA's are headlined by Tyler Bertuzzi, Jakub Vrana and Adam Erne. On the backend, Filip Hronek is the big one. Forwards Michael Rasmussen and Givani Smith and defensemen Gustav Lindstrom and Dennis Cholowski need new deals as well.
Let's assume Bertuzzi, Vrana, Erne and Hronek account for $15 million against the cap next season. And let's tag Rasmussen, Smith, Lindstrom and Cholowski for another $5 million. There's $20 million gone from the Wings' pockets, with plenty of holes still to fill.
And this is where Yzerman could start getting creative. We saw him take advantage of the cash-strapped Rangers last offseason by absorbing the rest of Marc Staal's contract in exchange for a second-round pick. Surely he'll be eyeing similar opportunities this year, especially if he can build out his roster in the process. Is it worth calling his old friends to see what they might offer for taking on Tyler Johnson's $5 million cap hit the next two seasons? The two-time Cup winner could temporarily boost Detroit's bottom six.
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/971theticket/sports/detroit-red-wings/steve-yzerman-red-wings-will-get-a-superstar-somewhere" headline="Yzerman says Wings can buck NHL trend: "We'll get a superstar somewhere"" image="/media-library/image.jpg?id=63584147"]The looming expansion draft presents another opportunity for Yzerman to wield his cap space. There will be teams with too much talent to protect. Rather than lose a good player to Seattle for nothing, they might prefer to swing a trade with a club that can afford it. Defenseman Vince Dunn, an RFA due a sizable raise, looks like the odd man out in St. Louis. Could Yzerman snag him from the Blues at a discount? Dunn would immediately upgrade Detroit's top four on the blueline.
And that blueline is bare. Hronek, Detroit's leader in points last season, will be back. But Danny DeKeyer and Troy Stetcher are the only two proven defenseman under contract, and Stetcher may well be a casualty of the expansion draft. One way or another, Yzerman is going to have to cut some checks in unrestricted free agency. Does he take a swing at Mike Reilly, the soon-to-be 28-year-old coming off a breakout year? How about noted Jeff Blashill favorite Andy Greene? The left-shot vet might be the perfect partner for rookie Moritz Seider.
The Wings also have some UFA's of their own to assess. Yzerman likely wants to re-sign Jonathan Bernier to share the net with Thomas Greiss, but what if Bernier wants out after three losing seasons in Detroit? Is Linus Ullmark an option? Luke Glendening is a good candidate to be back up front, and perhaps he returns with Darren Helm. That still leaves Yzerman room for an external addition or two, especially if the Wings buy out either Frans Nielsen or Richard Panik. Winger Joel Armia of the Habs made a nice name for himself in the playoffs. Nashville's Erik Haula could provide some more punch down the middle.
One thing Yzerman won't do with Detroit's cap space is splurge on a big free agent. The Wings aren't a piece or two away from contention, and there's little to be gained in rushing the rebuild. Ideally, the stars will come from within. Yzerman will spend for today when the time is right, while continuing to plot a patient course toward tomorrow.
