2023 Free Agency/UFA Targets

[Gniwder]

Aren't all of Tatar, Nyquist, AA, and Helm UFA?

Helm played the Cup Finals with an abdominal tear, missed the first part of the season then apparently aggravated an old hip injury or something. I'm guessing he retires, since his game is all based on speed and agility. Not to mention his previous back injuries. He should be signed for a one game contract so the team can give him a farewell. The fact that he was overpaid in his last contract is meaningless since the team would have sucked anyways. Stone hands or not, he always tried hard. Despite the scoring futility, the effort was always there. I'll miss his breakaway fails.

As for the others, the team needs a center more than a winger. I'd bring back LGD, so the team actually has someone that can actually win faceoffs. Suter is probably gone so the team needs a PKer. LGD for a year or two until Kasper is ready.

I would love to see AA again, it would be hilarious. I'll pass on the others.

BTW, I agree with you that Stevie should pass on free agent forwards unless he can get a bargain deal. Not much there. Team needs a RHD though, I do not want to see Lindstrom any more, his development completely stalled, no stick skills, 10 ply.

 

[Snuggs]

I keep seeing Compher suggestions and I just don’t see how he’s drastically different from Copp to be worth adding at the 5x5ish he’s gonna want. I have time for Barbashev though. Dude can play a similar style to Bertuzzi.

I suggest Compher because Red Wings need another Center,(IMO). Barbashev's a nice player but not exactly what you want at C.

I'd like a center as good as Copp or even better. Comphers just a dude you can get without giving up anything but money, which Red Wings have lots of.

 

[Mister Ed]

In case it can help anyone, here is a list of projected salaries for this year's UFA crop : Linky Link

Some names that come up here often are Killorn (4 x $5.25m), Mayfield (3 x $3.75m) and Gudas (3 x $3.3m

 

[Bench]

In case it can help anyone, here is a list of projected salaries for this year's UFA crop : Linky Link

Some names that come up here often are Killorn (4 x $5.25m), Mayfield (3 x $3.75m) and Gudas (3 x $3.3m

ROR for 3 x $5.5 is an easy yes.

 

[TCNorthstars]

I say no to AA

Admitting you have a problem is the first step.

 

[AlwaysSunnyInDetroit]

In case it can help anyone, here is a list of projected salaries for this year's UFA crop : Linky Link

Some names that come up here often are Killorn (4 x $5.25m), Mayfield (3 x $3.75m) and Gudas (3 x $3.3m

I'm surprised Bertuzzi isn't projected to get more

 

[jkutswings]

ROR for 3 x $5.5 is an easy yes.

It's going to be one heck of a lineup at center between Matthews, Larkin, ROR, Copp, and Kasper.

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

ROR for 3 x $5.5 is an easy yes.

This is a joke that I don't get, right?

 

[norrisnick]

This is a joke that I don't get, right?

Some people, many of whom hated the Copp deal, really really want to double down on that contract.

 

[Bench]

This is a joke that I don't get, right?

No joke. It's a fair price and short term for a big upgrade at #2 center. He's a great defensive player and plays with a lot of heart. Reunite him Perron and they are happy campers.

So yeah, I think it helps balance a young team in transition.

 

[norrisnick]

No joke. It's a fair price and short term for a big upgrade at #2 center. He's a great defensive player and plays with a lot of heart. Reunite him Perron and they are happy campers.

So yeah, I think it helps balance a young team in transition.

How's that?

Here's his statline on a roster as good as ours...

Here's our current #2 C

What big upgrade is there? Faceoffs? Goals instead of assists?

 

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

No joke. It's a fair price and short term for a big upgrade at #2 center. He's a great defensive player and plays with a lot of heart. Reunite him Perron and they are happy campers.

So yeah, I think it helps balance a young team in transition.

And you realize that might not work out. 3 years, 5.5 for O'Reilly?

That would be a horrible contract.

 

[13to40]

I don’t know if anyone has brought it up, but Max Pacioretty is a name that intrigues me. He’s coming off a few injury riddled seasons. Can probably be had for cheap on a short term deal. Would instantly help our offensive numbers and if the team isn’t competing down the stretch I’m sure he could be dealt for a pretty penny

 

[ricky0034]

I don’t know if anyone has brought it up, but Max Pacioretty is a name that intrigues me. He’s coming off a few injury riddled seasons. Can probably be had for cheap on a short term deal. Would instantly help our offensive numbers and if the team isn’t competing down the stretch I’m sure he could be dealt for a pretty penny

yeah that estimated contracts link someone posted has him at 1 year $1.5m

that's peanuts for a guy that could be a PPG Winger if he can stay healthy, even if that does have a low chance of actually happening

 

[Bench]

How's that?

Here's his statline on a roster as good as ours...

View attachment 711980

Here's our current #2 C

View attachment 711981

What big upgrade is there? Faceoffs? Goals instead of assists?

And you realize that might not work out. 3 years, 5.5 for O'Reilly?

That would be a horrible contract.

Alright guys, objections noted. Let's just see what happens. I'm not going to spend a few pages trying to convince you when I have no idea if it's even in the cards.

So let's cut to the chase: I don't think looking at a 40 game sample that includes injuries is really a fair assessment of his current production. Especially when you ignore his much better production when he was healthy and on the Leafs.

"Oh but that doesn't count he was on the super Leafs!"

Whatever. I watched the games, he looked good. Not superstar good. But $5.5 good for sure.

Let's hit the showers and circle back if he gets signed. I just don't have the vigor left to care about a hypothetical. Like Ryan O'Reilly, I'm clearly washed up.

 

[Snuggs]

NHL Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators winger Alex DeBrincat linked to Detroit Red Wings

Though the Ottawa Senators have many unanswered problems, the first one that has to be addressed is Alex DeBrincat's future.

www.sportskeeda.com

RFA but still. Good to hear rumors are popping up about guys.

 

[ricky0034]

NHL Trade Rumors: Ottawa Senators winger Alex DeBrincat linked to Detroit Red Wings

Though the Ottawa Senators have many unanswered problems, the first one that has to be addressed is Alex DeBrincat's future.

www.sportskeeda.com

RFA but still. Good to hear rumors are popping up about guys.

the Wings are so tight with leaks nowadays under Yzerman that whenever I see rumors pop up i'm almost more inclined to think the opposite is true

 

[jkutswings]

Keller rumors, Debrincat rumors, Matthews rumors...

Other GMs: Blockbusters don't happen. We just need to settle things down. Nobody rock the boat, and all this will go away.

Our GM:

 

[Henkka]

2023-24 team.

This is what many in here are hoping, that we should do.

Just had some fun with those arm-chair tools.

- Traded RFA Alex Debrincat for Fabbri + Zadina + draft picks.
- Re-signed DeBrincat for 7 years.

- Traded Clayton Keller for Veleno+Johansson + 1st round + picks.

- Traded RFA Jeremy Swayman for Viro + Boston own 4th pick got from Tuzzi-trade.
- Re-signed Swayman for 3-years, with same salay as Husso. 1a-1b equal tandem, short-term, until Cossa is ready.

- Signed UFA RhD Damon Severson for 5 years.

- Signed UFA RhD Anton Strålman for depth + mentoring our swedish defenceman.

- Signed Luke Glendening for 1-year NHL minimum to help the PK + faceoffs.

- Re-signed Alex Chiasson for 1-year NHL minimum, because he just look great depth vet to sit on the bench and sometimes jump in.

- And, last but not least, OVERPAID for Ryan O'Reilly as UFA, 3 years, 6.8M. Overpaid just to get him, because we have extra cap space, more than any other possible destination.

And here we are, ready for a playoff run!

 

[RedHawkDown]

I really don’t want debrincat isk

 

[datsyukfan]

I really don’t want debrincat isk

If the price isn’t insane I do. We need a pure goal scorer

 

[Ulysses31]

Haven't looked too deeply but 1) bert and if unavailable 2) domi, assuming contracts are decent, maybe bring back 1 or 2 or chiasson/erne/suter to be 13th forward, be sent down, fill in gaps.

Want some room for soderblom, kasper, mazur to be able to earn spots

 

[norrisnick]

View attachment 712102

2023-24 team.

View attachment 712100

This is what many in here are hoping, that we should do.

Just had some fun with those arm-chair tools.

- Traded RFA Alex Debrincat for Fabbri + Zadina + draft picks.
- Re-signed DeBrincat for 7 years.

- Traded Clayton Keller for Veleno+Johansson + 1st round + picks.

- Traded RFA Jeremy Swayman for Viro + Boston own 4th pick got from Tuzzi-trade.
- Re-signed Swayman for 3-years, with same salay as Husso. 1a-1b equal tandem, short-term, until Cossa is ready.

- Signed UFA RhD Damon Severson for 5 years.

- Signed UFA RhD Anton Strålman for depth + mentoring our swedish defenceman.

- Signed Luke Glendening for 1-year NHL minimum to help the PK + faceoffs.

- Re-signed Alex Chiasson for 1-year NHL minimum, because he just look great depth vet to sit on the bench and sometimes jump in.

- And, last but not least, OVERPAID for Ryan O'Reilly as UFA, 3 years, 6.8M. Overpaid just to get him, because we have extra cap space, more than any other possible destination.

And here we are, ready for a playoff run!

Congrats.

You just weaponized our cap space... against ourselves. Mo and Ray need hefty extensions.

 

[TheOctopusKid]

Still feel like we’re letting Suter, Erne, and Chiasson walk. We sign Killhorn to a 3x5ish deal to play middle six C/W; Killhorn gets another year than he would otherwise get and gets one last payday at a higher AAV, Lalonde and Stevie get a guy they know and trust from TBL and can stop gap as Marco and whatever C we draft this year gets up to speed, and brings championship experience to the room, etc etc.

Letting us go into the year with a Larkin/Killhorn/Kasper - Copp third line shared C, leaving Raymond, Perron, Berggren, Rasmussen, Kubalik as the Top 9 wingers around that center core with potentially Fabbri and Zadina flexing in?

This is honestly the least impactful, make no wave signing I’ve come to expect at this point to provide just enough coverage to the youngsters but not so limiting in cost and term that we couldn’t dump trade or bury the contract if a prospect busts out.

There is probably a defensive depth signing for a cheap veteran if we can’t get a deal in place for Lindstrom, but it feels like Ed and AlJo will get their shots to join Seider, Walman, Chariot, Mattaa to round out the six but adding a veteran 7 makes sense.

 

[Henkka]

Congrats.

You just weaponized our cap space... against ourselves. Mo and Ray need hefty extensions.

I did count the cap space for 2024-25 season too. Raymond and Seider will fit there.

I'm not that stupid.

Perron will leave, there's 2.5M dead cap space opening, upper cap limit going up, other contracts ending after 2024...

There's a lot of space.