Jeremy Laura: Detroit’s need at center and league cap crunch coinciding

Go big or go home. Yzerman has filled the roster with middle 6, overpriced mediocrity. Look at all the guys making $3-6M...Copp, Compher, Fabbri, Perron, Holl, Matta, Husso...all legit NHL players. But what a total waste of cap space. Sadly, most of this junk is on mulit year deals. You can fill these jobs with cheaper options and use your cap space to take a big swing. Like we did with DeBrincat. Throw huge money at a Reinhart, Guentzel. See if Lindholm bounces back. Maybe Stamkos has 2-3 more years in the tank. But we can't because of Fabbri, Copp, Holl, etc...

Awful GM decisions. Awful drafting outside of the first round. Mediocrity.

The RD situation needs to be resolved 1st and foremost. Seider, Raymond, Veleno contrasts will take up $18M cap space leaving $11M for 7 more. Ghost will take $5M if signed and If the RD is truly righted, it would be costly and then there will be little left for any center resolution then what the Wings already have. so $6M for 6 more players. Holl and Petry buyouts will save about $3M, but then you have $9M for 9 players........It does not look good.

Go big or go home. Yzerman has filled the roster with middle 6, overpriced mediocrity. Look at all the guys making $3-6M...Copp, Compher, Fabbri, Perron, Holl, Matta, Husso...all legit NHL players. But what a total waste of cap space. Sadly, most of this junk is on mulit year deals. You can fill these jobs with cheaper options and use your cap space to take a big swing. Like we did with DeBrincat. Throw huge money at a Reinhart, Guentzel. See if Lindholm bounces back. Maybe Stamkos has 2-3 more years in the tank. But we can't because of Fabbri, Copp, Holl, etc...

Awful GM decisions. Awful drafting outside of the first round. Mediocrity.
- HockeyBuzzed

I wouldn’t mind Guentzel or Reinhart at all. FLA is a team that I think will “magically” open up about 10m in LTIR after the playoffs. Copp and Holl are my least favorite signings. Fabbri has one more year but still has games where he contributes. Husso, I’m curious about. There is a goalie need on the market. As far as drafting, I think Detroit was the first to sign a late round pick from 2019. I expect the first round to yield better, and hope for 1 to 2 other players. If you get 2-3 players out of a draft that contribute that, unfortunately, is considered a good draft. I think Fabbri will hang them up after next season but slap a pick on Copp or Holl’s rear end and get free of one of them. I’ll do the write up post playoffs but revenues are about to take a very strange turn. I think we’ll be looking at another “reset” of players just taking a salary hit and potentially losing a couple franchises. (Opinion)

The RD situation needs to be resolved 1st and foremost. Seider, Raymond, Veleno contrasts will take up $18M cap space leaving $11M for 7 more. Ghost will take $5M if signed and If the RD is truly righted, it would be costly and then there will be little left for any center resolution then what the Wings already have. so $6M for 6 more players. Holl and Petry buyouts will save about $3M, but then you have $9M for 9 players........It does not look good.
- HenryHockey

I’m not sure the RD should take the spot of priority over top 6 center simply in this. When Larkin was gone, so was the team. We’re going to have a reasonable spot where Edvinsson, possibly Mazur, maybe (maybe, maybe, maybe) Kasper could be available at ELC rates while we flush the toilet on a couple of the fillers. Load up on fiber

Yeah well, hypothetically, what would happen if Seider missed a bit of time?!?!!??!?!

Yeah well, hypothetically, what would happen if Seider missed a bit of time?!?!!??!?!
- HenryHockey

That would suck for sure! Both needs are big, I just put getting a top 6 center as slightly higher. In reality, those 2 situations are the biggies. I don’t know if the goalie carousel will be ready for some internal promotions but that would be helpful to try and make some space. Very disappointed that it looks like ASP will likely be in Europe another year. For a Dman, the small ice comes with some painful lessons and an uptick in response time.

This team isn't one RD or one center away from competing. So the approach should be to upgrade anywhere possible. If that means a Reinhart or Guentzel (neither of them likely go anywhere) then you do that. And wait one more year for some of Yzermans trash to expire. At center the only true upgrade is Lindholm, but that comes with great risk. Was he simply a product of playing with Tkachuk and Gaudreau? Stamkos is another option, but he's 34 and playing less and less at center.

A hockey trade is a more realistic option. Look at Boston adding Zacha. Where were we? Look at someone like Zegras, Pinto, etc...and hope the development explodes upwards.

This team isn't one RD or one center away from competing. So the approach should be to upgrade anywhere possible. If that means a Reinhart or Guentzel (neither of them likely go anywhere) then you do that. And wait one more year for some of Yzermans trash to expire. At center the only true upgrade is Lindholm, but that comes with great risk. Was he simply a product of playing with Tkachuk and Gaudreau? Stamkos is another option, but he's 34 and playing less and less at center.

A hockey trade is a more realistic option. Look at Boston adding Zacha. Where were we? Look at someone like Zegras, Pinto, etc...and hope the development explodes upwards.
- HockeyBuzzed

I thought Detroit had a shot at getting a deal for Pinto before his gambling problems magically appeared and forced his hand. Yes, upgrade where you can. But, the loss of Larkin still has to stand out. The next step (for many) is get into the post season. No, that’s not the same as true contention, but it’s a step. I love Guentzel. I’d love to take a crack at getting Pesce (little less excited after the injury). The salary cap is going to make strange opportunities this summer. It could also make for more games of teams fielding (icing) below the 18+G depending on injuries etc. a very real ceiling has been hit and a very weird lawsuit regarding capitol gains taxes is about to reshape the landscape.

I thought Detroit had a shot at getting a deal for Pinto before his gambling problems magically appeared and forced his hand. Yes, upgrade where you can. But, the loss of Larkin still has to stand out. The next step (for many) is get into the post season. No, that’s not the same as true contention, but it’s a step. I love Guentzel. I’d love to take a crack at getting Pesce (little less excited after the injury). The salary cap is going to make strange opportunities this summer. It could also make for more games of teams fielding (icing) below the 18+G depending on injuries etc. a very real ceiling has been hit and a very weird lawsuit regarding capitol gains taxes is about to reshape the landscape.
- Jeremy Laura

Sens were never going to give up Pinto. One can probably get a deal on the oft-injured Norris though. At 24 y o and $7.95M x7 left on his contract, that would be a hell of a gamble!

I don't think Reinhart or Guentzel fit with the time frame of this team at all. Taking risks on large UFA contracts is a coin flip. Yzerman is already running risky with some of the UFA contracts he signed. Some of which I'd argue almost immediately aren't aging well.

Sens were never going to give up Pinto. One can probably get a deal on the oft-injured Norris though. At 24 y o and $7.95M x7 left on his contract, that would be a hell of a gamble!
- HenryHockey

They weren’t but he was holding out. Then they “discovered” he’d violated gambling rules forcing a suspension that essentially made Ottawa the only option. Last year multiple players wanted out. I think some interesting contenders for agents tweeting are going to pop up.

I don't think Reinhart or Guentzel fit with the time frame of this team at all. Taking risks on large UFA contracts is a coin flip. Yzerman is already running risky with some of the UFA contracts he signed. Some of which I'd argue almost immediately aren't aging well.
- jfkst1

I think you’re absolutely onto something. Copp and Holl are the two that I struggle the most with. As much grief as Fabbri gets, he still shows up. Husso ended up doing what Ned did. Has a good season, then things go off the rails a bit. Lyon’s AAV is really low and I’m curious as to what the intended usage is.

Guentzel has hardware, if it were me and he just wanted to bank away some retirement I’d talk to Utah. They want to make a splash immediately. There may well be players that want to move on after all the stuff

Yeah well, hypothetically, what would happen if Seider missed a bit of time?!?!!??!?!
- HenryHockey

Valid point. Honestly, I can’t see any light between RD & C. Both are crucially important…and expensive as heck to address with players who’re going to bring the calibre of play we need. We just don’t have the cap to do it. Now, if there could be a move with Holl, that’ll help a bit… but:

After all’s said n done, I don’t see this team going big in UFA, and only minor tinkering being the deal. Hope Holl’s gone, MAYBE Copp but his defensive play is big considering what The Captain said during his end-of-season. I think Copp stays (massive overpayment, for sure). Holl should be moved with a sweetener. Fish is probably the cheaper option & actually had a good line with him, Ras n Copp…more defensively oriented. Sprong’s going to probably double his current salary which prices him out of our budget, unfortunately (from a depth scoring perspective).

The plan is pretty evident if we listen to The Captain’s presser: coaching staff stays, continue the scoring emphasis and place more emphasis on team D. Lalonde & staff stay, Kane’s gone, so is Sprong (we lose around 40 GF with this…). Ghost may take a bit of a discount for next season. Play as good as possible, then really load up with the kids starting season after next.

Or, maybe not 🤔🤔

I don't think Reinhart or Guentzel fit with the time frame of this team at all. Taking risks on large UFA contracts is a coin flip. Yzerman is already running risky with some of the UFA contracts he signed. Some of which I'd argue almost immediately aren't aging well.
- jfkst1

Yzerman is like Kenny when it comes to free agency. He needs to stop giving out these stupid contracts (Holl,Copp,Chiarot,etc.). It's not fixing anything. all it does is weigh down the teams cap space. Which is why theres talk of a cap crunch even though the team isnt making the playoffs.

Yzerman is like Kenny when it comes to free agency. He needs to stop giving out these stupid contracts (Holl,Copp,Chiarot,etc.). It's not fixing anything. all it does is weigh down the teams cap space. Which is why theres talk of a cap crunch even though the team isnt making the playoffs.
- wingz4life

Example: On the defense, which everyone agrees needs to improve. Yzerman has Chiarot,Holl and Maata taking up 10 million in cap space. These signings are all unforced errors. He felt like he had to sign these guys because its a causal of the team not drafting well.