no one wants them. We needed cap space, and Sheahan was probably the only guy who could give us the required cap space who could be moved for a reasonable return.
Holland has had since when? Since Daley signed?
Poor previous performance is no excuse for not finding a way to get things done today.
If you can't find a taker for Helm at $4M, eat a million.
Holland needs to start solving the serious cap crunch he's about to have. He can't do it if he continues under the delusion that the Red Wings are a playoff team.
The only seemingly automatic payroll reduction next year is Mike Green.
That's $6M.
Maybe Petr Mrazek goes. Maybe not.
What if Howard flounders and Mrazek is the guy giving us a chance to win.
But if Mrazek stays - say around $4M - Then what?
Here are your RFAs:
Athanasiou - $1.4M to?
Larkin $925,000 to ?
Mantha $863,000 to?
Frk $650,000 to?
Scott Wilson $625,000 to?
Larkin is averaging a point per game. I don't honestly think he's playing like a point per game guy. But what if he scored 50 points? Wings are gonna lock him up. I can see him getting a $5M/Y deal. I can't see the Wings f***ing around with him like they did with Athanasiou.
I expect a minimum 2Y $3M deal.
Maximum 7Y and $6M
So there's an extra $2M to 5M.
Mantha is on pace for 30 goals and 40 assists. I don't see that happening.
But I can see 23G-25A. In which case he's going to get somewhere near Larkin numbers. THough I don't expect Holland will go for two long term deals. So maybe 2 years, $3 or $3.5M
Now you're at $4.5M or so minimum.
Better hold that salary on Athanasiou. But if he produces, the arbitrator won't help Detroit.
We know this crunch was coming.
We knew this before the Daley signing. Holland signed him anyways.
Holland needs to be working the phones on a regular basis trying to unload Howard, Helm, Ericsson, Nielsen even if it means eating some contract.
There are some desperate teams out there.
Montreal is desperate. I can see them taking Nielsen at C.
Boston lost Rask.
Edmonton could be hitting panic mode soon.
The Coyotes are a disgrace.
Trading away a youngish, RFA C making $2M a year seems like a patch, not a solution.