Speculation: 19/20 roster

[obey86]

The good thing about all the picks Holland has landed is that maybe he can attach one to a bad deal.

Ottawa is going to probably need help hitting the salary floor. I could see them taking a third for one of our contacts.

The problem is all these bad deals we have also have some kind of trade protection. Not sure any of our guys would waive that to head to the Sens.

Why would the Red Wings give up a draft pick for salary cap space they won't even need? They have like 24M to spend next offseason, there's no reason they should be trading draft picks to unload players/contracts.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

That's the absolute worst team in the NHL next year

Next to Ottawa some how.

 

[Oddbob]

That's the absolute worst team in the NHL next year

Agree it is a terrible team, but I think Ottawa has last locked up for quite some time now.

 

[Wyzer Plan]

CapFriendly.com Armchair-GM User-Generated Roster
FORWARDS (14)
Right wing: Anthony Mantha ($3,300,000) - Filip Zadina ($925,000) - Kaapo Kakko ($925,000) - Justin Abdelkader ($4,250,000) - Jacob De La Rose ($900,000)

Centre: Dylan Larkin ($6,100,000) - Andreas Athanasiou ($3,000,000) - Frans Nielsen ($5,250,000) - Luke Glendening ($1,800,000)

Left wing: Brock Nelson ($5,500,000) - Tyler Bertuzzi ($1,400,000) - Michael Rasmussen ($894,166) - Darren Helm ($3,850,000) - Evgeny Svechnikov ($863,333)

DEFENSE (8)
Right: Mike Green ($5,375,000) - Madison Bowey ($1,000,000) - Filip Hronek ($714,166) - Joe Hicketts ($800,000)
Left: Danny DeKeyser ($5,000,000) - Jake Gardiner ($6,750,000) - Trevor Daley ($3,166,666) - Dennis Cholowski ($894,166)

GOALTENDER (2)
Jonathan Bernier ($3,000,000) - Jimmy Howard ($3,750,000)
BUYOUTS (3)
Stephen Weiss ($1,666,667) - Xavier Ouellet ($216,667) - Jonathan Ericsson ($1,416,667)

DETAILS
Roster Size: 24
Salary Cap: $82,500,000
Cap Hit: $72,707,498
Cap Space: $9,792,502

Zero interest in Nelson or Gardiner. Go all in on Duchene and karlsson or make a couple depth moves on short contracts. I don’t want to be locked into gardiner and Nelson long term and they are going to be looking for a payday.

 

[Wyzer Plan]

FORWARDS (14)
Right wing: Anthony Mantha ($3,300,000) - Filip Zadina ($925,000) - Michael Rasmussen ($894,166) - Justin Abdelkader ($4,250,000)
Centre: Dylan Larkin ($6,100,000) - Matt Duchene ($9,500,000) - Frans Nielsen ($5,250,000) - Luke Glendening ($1,800,000) - Jacob De La Rose ($900,000)
Left wing: Tyler Bertuzzi ($1,400,000) - Andreas Athanasiou ($3,000,000) - Evgeny Svechnikov ($863,333) - Darren Helm ($3,850,000) - Christoffer Ehn ($759,167)
DEFENSE (7)
Right: Erik Karlsson ($11,500,000) - Mike Green ($5,375,000) - Filip Hronek ($714,166) - Madison Bowey ($1,000,000)
Left: Danny DeKeyser ($5,000,000) - Jonathan Ericsson ($4,250,000) - Trevor Daley ($3,166,666)
GOALTENDER (2)
Jonathan Bernier ($3,000,000) - Jimmy Howard ($3,750,000)
BUYOUTS (2)
Stephen Weiss ($1,666,667) - Xavier Ouellet ($216,667)
DETAILS
Roster Size: 23
Salary Cap: $89,000,000
Cap Hit: $82,430,832
Cap Space: $6,569,168

 

[pz29]

How much cap space would that give us?



And as fans, do you think we might be able to convince team ownership to take what they don’t spend and divide it up amongst us. That would be awesome.

Now, that is a message I can get behind. And don't offer something lame, like free season tickets. I will take the cash.

 

[DInTheB]

Why would the Red Wings give up a draft pick for salary cap space they won't even need? They have like 24M to spend next offseason, there's no reason they should be trading draft picks to unload players/contracts.

It’s as much asset management as anything else.

Yeah, maybe the Wings won’t need to get rid of Nielsen’s salary next year, but it might be a huge help in 2020. And just as important, it helps clear up roster spots.

 

[Oddbob]

FORWARDS (14)
Right wing: Anthony Mantha ($3,300,000) - Filip Zadina ($925,000) - Michael Rasmussen ($894,166) - Justin Abdelkader ($4,250,000)
Centre: Dylan Larkin ($6,100,000) - Matt Duchene ($9,500,000) - Frans Nielsen ($5,250,000) - Luke Glendening ($1,800,000) - Jacob De La Rose ($900,000)
Left wing: Tyler Bertuzzi ($1,400,000) - Andreas Athanasiou ($3,000,000) - Evgeny Svechnikov ($863,333) - Darren Helm ($3,850,000) - Christoffer Ehn ($759,167)
DEFENSE (7)
Right: Erik Karlsson ($11,500,000) - Mike Green ($5,375,000) - Filip Hronek ($714,166) - Madison Bowey ($1,000,000)
Left: Danny DeKeyser ($5,000,000) - Jonathan Ericsson ($4,250,000) - Trevor Daley ($3,166,666)
GOALTENDER (2)
Jonathan Bernier ($3,000,000) - Jimmy Howard ($3,750,000)
BUYOUTS (2)
Stephen Weiss ($1,666,667) - Xavier Ouellet ($216,667)
DETAILS
Roster Size: 23
Salary Cap: $89,000,000
Cap Hit: $82,430,832
Cap Space: $6,569,168

You wanna give Duchene 9.5 on a long term deal? Not I! I really question his compete level as far as helping any team win the Cup. He seems very much a guy much more concerned about lifestyle than winning Cups. Karlsson is great, but 7 years at 11.5 would be scary because of his knee situation, he could be done in a few years if he gets hit there.

 

[Hen Kolland]

FORWARDS (14)
Right wing: Anthony Mantha ($3,300,000) - Filip Zadina ($925,000) - Michael Rasmussen ($894,166) - Justin Abdelkader ($4,250,000)
Centre: Dylan Larkin ($6,100,000) - Matt Duchene ($9,500,000) - Frans Nielsen ($5,250,000) - Luke Glendening ($1,800,000) - Jacob De La Rose ($900,000)
Left wing: Tyler Bertuzzi ($1,400,000) - Andreas Athanasiou ($3,000,000) - Evgeny Svechnikov ($863,333) - Darren Helm ($3,850,000) - Christoffer Ehn ($759,167)
DEFENSE (7)
Right: Erik Karlsson ($11,500,000) - Mike Green ($5,375,000) - Filip Hronek ($714,166) - Madison Bowey ($1,000,000)
Left: Danny DeKeyser ($5,000,000) - Jonathan Ericsson ($4,250,000) - Trevor Daley ($3,166,666)
GOALTENDER (2)
Jonathan Bernier ($3,000,000) - Jimmy Howard ($3,750,000)
BUYOUTS (2)
Stephen Weiss ($1,666,667) - Xavier Ouellet ($216,667)
DETAILS
Roster Size: 23
Salary Cap: $89,000,000
Cap Hit: $82,430,832
Cap Space: $6,569,168

I'm not paying Duchene that much more than Larkin money, mainly because I think Larkin is already better than Duchene as a complete player. Duchene will be able to cash in because of his UFA status, but I don't think I am comfortable with that level of financial commitment on what is probably a 7 year contract.

Also, I know it's unpopular, but I am about not sold on the whole Karlsson thing. Yes he is a great player, but look at his injury history and where he is at in his career. He's likely in the same boat as Duchene, he's going to cash in big on a UFA deal for 7 years (assuming he leaves San Jose). Do I really want to commit $11.5m to a defenseman who will be 29 before we sign him? Do I want to take the gamble and see what becomes of his game by the time he is 34, 35, 36 when he's still making almost 2.5x as much as Kronwall's current cap hit? It feels like instant gratification, but at the cost of restricting the true competitive window will be in the twilight years of Karlsson's career, not the prime.

I'd love to go big game hunting, but if I am committing a lot of money to a defenseman, I am personally waiting until Trouba (who just turned 25) plays out his one year qualifying offer next year (I hope) and signing him to 7 years. It also means, by association, the Wings would be minimizing their competitiveness next year, which I wouldn't mind having a chance at Lafreniere, even if it is smaller than a chance for Hughes right now.

 

[RedWingzz]

FORWARDS (14)
Right wing: Anthony Mantha ($3,300,000) - Filip Zadina ($925,000) - Michael Rasmussen ($894,166) - Justin Abdelkader ($4,250,000)
Centre: Dylan Larkin ($6,100,000) - Matt Duchene ($9,500,000) - Frans Nielsen ($5,250,000) - Luke Glendening ($1,800,000) - Jacob De La Rose ($900,000)
Left wing: Tyler Bertuzzi ($1,400,000) - Andreas Athanasiou ($3,000,000) - Evgeny Svechnikov ($863,333) - Darren Helm ($3,850,000) - Christoffer Ehn ($759,167)
DEFENSE (7)
Right: Erik Karlsson ($11,500,000) - Mike Green ($5,375,000) - Filip Hronek ($714,166) - Madison Bowey ($1,000,000)
Left: Danny DeKeyser ($5,000,000) - Jonathan Ericsson ($4,250,000) - Trevor Daley ($3,166,666)
GOALTENDER (2)
Jonathan Bernier ($3,000,000) - Jimmy Howard ($3,750,000)
BUYOUTS (2)
Stephen Weiss ($1,666,667) - Xavier Ouellet ($216,667)
DETAILS
Roster Size: 23
Salary Cap: $89,000,000
Cap Hit: $82,430,832
Cap Space: $6,569,168

I think we need to suck for 1 more year. If I was GM, I would just stand pat with this terrible roster for one more season. Maybe try to add a top 4 D somehow, maybe a depth forward on a short term contract. With a high pick this year, and another high pick next year, I think at that point is when you really flex your muscles in free agency, and make a splash. I don't think there is a point in doing it for next season, because we simply won't be competitive enough, even if we do add some high end free agents.

 

[ShelbyZ]

2) Buy out Ericsson. Would result in cap hits of $1.4 mil in each of 19/20 and 20/21-saving $2.8 mil in 19/20 while costing $1.4 in 20/21


Bert/Larkin/Mantha
Helm/AA/Zadina
Ras/Nielsen/Abby
Puempel/Glenny/Ehn
(Frk/De La Rose)

As others have pointed out, buying out Ericsson is pointless at this point. Especially in your scenario that sees Howard and Kronwall return for less money, $6M+ go out the door with Daley and Vanek, and no other signings made. If all you're looking to do is get Ericsson off the team, you could waive/demote him, or see if his bad hip or whatever it is can land him on LTIRetirement. Even then, looking at this past deadline, I'd hang onto him in hopes that Jim Rutherford is still GM in Pittsburgh and still wants to send out measurable assets for Dmen in the ilk of Gudbranson and Chris Wideman....

As for Puempel/Frk... Frk is probably 100% not going to be qualified again, and this time he'll probably hit the UFA market and look for an NHL opportunity elsewhere. Puempel isn't an NHL forward at this point. Svechnikov is no longer waiver exempt next season, so he's more than likely going to occupy at least a #13/14 forward spot on the NHL team next season. If they don't retain Vanek and/or sign another veteran F, they either leave the spot open for Hughes/Kakko/etc., another young guy in the system to compete for(Veleno/Smith/etc.?), keep Turgeon on the roster as a spare #4C/PK guy, or (especially if Blashill is still around) re-sign Witkowski to continue as the #14F and spare Dman.

 

[Wyzer Plan]

If we are looking to compete for a cup next year Duchene and Karlsson are the two I’m going all in on and those are the contracts it’s going to take to get them.

I’m good standing pat and sitting on the cap money but holland is going to over pay some mediocre player ala Frans Nielsen. I rather he over pay good hockey players.

 

[Dead Thing]

Original poster here.
First of all-thanks for the feedback.

A lot of the responses focused on a couple of points- mainly cap space and what I suggested to do about Daley and Ericsson.

As many responses pointed out-we are not in cap hell next yr. According to CapFriendly, we have about $12.5 in cap space(and that's before any(likely) increase of the present $79.5 mil cap ceiling). My reason for suggesting that we move both Daley and Ericsson was NOT to free up cap space but to free up roster spaces. Looking at the numbers, both Hronek and Cholo are ahead of both Daley and Ericsson in points, points per game and, as far as ice time, Hronek is ahead of both while Cholo is ahead of Big E while just slightly trailing Daley. The one metric where Daley and Ericsson(given their much longer careers) understandably beat Hronek and Cholo is in the +/-. Hronek's -7 is just behind Ericsson's -5 while Cholo's -20(when no other Dman is worse that -7) tells me that Blash put him in far too situations where he was overmatched. In my (hopefully humble) opinion, keeping both Ericsson and Daley over Hronek and Cholo will not likely make that much of a positive impact(if any) when it comes to winning more games and thus having more points in the standings. Play the kids and let them learn while they make their inevitable mistakes.

As for Puempel being on my roster, not sure that he would be any less productive(playing on the 4th line)than de la Rose(7 pts.), Ehn(7 pts.) or Frk(5 pts.).

I don't believe that this team is close to making the playoffs(let alone being Cup competitive) for at least the next 2 yrs. Presently AA, Bert and Mantha are 24, Larkin is 22, Hronek and Cholo are 21, Ras, Zadina and Veleno are 19. Add a top 3-5 pick in both the 2019 and 2020 drafts and I do like our future.

Given that I am 66 yrs. old and have lived through the Dead Thing era of the late 60's to the early 80's, missing the playoffs for 4 or 5 yrs is a minor detail(especially after making the playoffs for 25 straight yrs not to mention 4 Cups). Have faith and patience folks-this too shall pass.

 

[Hammettf2b]

Original poster here.
First of all-thanks for the feedback.

A lot of the responses focused on a couple of points- mainly cap space and what I suggested to do about Daley and Ericsson.

As many responses pointed out-we are not in cap hell next yr. According to CapFriendly, we have about $12.5 in cap space(and that's before any(likely) increase of the present $79.5 mil cap ceiling). My reason for suggesting that we move both Daley and Ericsson was NOT to free up cap space but to free up roster spaces. Looking at the numbers, both Hronek and Cholo are ahead of both Daley and Ericsson in points, points per game and, as far as ice time, Hronek is ahead of both while Cholo is ahead of Big E while just slightly trailing Daley. The one metric where Daley and Ericsson(given their much longer careers) understandably beat Hronek and Cholo is in the +/-. Hronek's -7 is just behind Ericsson's -5 while Cholo's -20(when no other Dman is worse that -7) tells me that Blash put him in far too situations where he was overmatched. In my (hopefully humble) opinion, keeping both Ericsson and Daley over Hronek and Cholo will not likely make that much of a positive impact(if any) when it comes to winning more games and thus having more points in the standings. Play the kids and let them learn while they make their inevitable mistakes.

As for Puempel being on my roster, not sure that he would be any less productive(playing on the 4th line)than de la Rose(7 pts.), Ehn(7 pts.) or Frk(5 pts.).

I don't believe that this team is close to making the playoffs(let alone being Cup competitive) for at least the next 2 yrs. Presently AA, Bert and Mantha are 24, Larkin is 22, Hronek and Cholo are 21, Ras, Zadina and Veleno are 19. Add a top 3-5 pick in both the 2019 and 2020 drafts and I do like our future.

Given that I am 66 yrs. old and have lived through the Dead Thing era of the late 60's to the early 80's, missing the playoffs for 4 or 5 yrs is a minor detail(especially after making the playoffs for 25 straight yrs not to mention 4 Cups). Have faith and patience folks-this too shall pass.

We can do the exact same thing by not re-signing Kronner. Why buy out E if we could just not sign Kronner?

 

[Dead Thing]

Should have mentioned this in my last post-can't see any major UFAs like Karlsson, Panarin, Duchene or Bobrovsky signing with any team that will finish in the bottom 5 in the standings.

 

[RedWingzz]

Should have mentioned this in my last post-can't see any major UFAs like Karlsson, Panarin, Duchene or Bobrovsky signing with any team that will finish in the bottom 5 in the standings.

They won't, you're right. People like to speculate about the big names all the time, but these guys aren't signing with Detroit any time soon.

 

[Ezekial]

We can do the exact same thing by not re-signing Kronner. Why buy out E if we could just not sign Kronner?

Or waive him and not put additional cap on the 20-21 season for no reason.

 

[ShelbyZ]

As for Puempel being on my roster, not sure that he would be any less productive(playing on the 4th line)than de la Rose(7 pts.), Ehn(7 pts.) or Frk(5 pts.).

I mean, sure, he might even produce more, but Frk and Puempel aren't ideal guys for the 4th line and offer very little when they won't (on most nights) be producing. DLR and Ehn can play center if needed, kill penalties and be trusted to play in their own zone, while Frk and Puempel are AAAA guys that can tear it up in the AHL, but produce little in the NHL.

 

[Winger98]

assuming we miss on signing any significant UFA (or any UFA period), would anyone be interested in the rumored Oilers deal looking to package Lucic with Puljujärvi? I haven't cemented a position on it one way or the other, but if we don't sign anyone we'll have plenty of cap space, and Puljujarvi clearly still has a significant upside. I don't know.

 

[obey86]

assuming we miss on signing any significant UFA (or any UFA period), would anyone be interested in the rumored Oilers deal looking to package Lucic with Puljujärvi? I haven't cemented a position on it one way or the other, but if we don't sign anyone we'll have plenty of cap space, and Puljujarvi clearly still has a significant upside. I don't know.

I have no interest in taking on Lucic's terrible contract for 4 more seasons after this one. Red Wings should be competitive in 2 years IMO. The last 2 years of that contract (6M cap hit) would hurt their ability to take the next step.

The only way I would do it is if Edmonton takes back Abdelkader's contract in return, which ends the same year as Lucic but for nearly 2 million less per season. That way the Wings are only taking on an additional 1.75/year for 4 seasons instead of an additional 6/year for 4 seasons.

 

[Ezekial]

assuming we miss on signing any significant UFA (or any UFA period), would anyone be interested in the rumored Oilers deal looking to package Lucic with Puljujärvi? I haven't cemented a position on it one way or the other, but if we don't sign anyone we'll have plenty of cap space, and Puljujarvi clearly still has a significant upside. I don't know.

I like Pulju and think he can still definitely be a factor in this league, but Lucic's contract is too garbage to take on for such an unknown finished product.

 

[Cyborg Yzerberg]

assuming we miss on signing any significant UFA (or any UFA period), would anyone be interested in the rumored Oilers deal looking to package Lucic with Puljujärvi? I haven't cemented a position on it one way or the other, but if we don't sign anyone we'll have plenty of cap space, and Puljujarvi clearly still has a significant upside. I don't know.

Absolutely, have Edmonton retain some salary and make the deal. We are not going to be a playoff team over night, and it’s not a great idea to try and fill these holes in free agency at this time. Pulujarvi could represent a crucial piece of our rebuild if he could start developing here.

 

[Lazlo Hollyfeld]

They won't, you're right. People like to speculate about the big names all the time, but these guys aren't signing with Detroit any time soon.

Agreed.

The best you can hope for is a second tier UFA who's mostly interested in a big payday and not competing for a Cup, like Mike Green.

 

[Winger98]

I have no interest in taking on Lucic's terrible contract for 4 more seasons after this one. Red Wings should be competitive in 2 years IMO. The last 2 years of that contract (6M cap hit) would hurt their ability to take the next step.

The only way I would do it is if Edmonton takes back Abdelkader's contract in return, which ends the same year as Lucic but for nearly 2 million less per season. That way the Wings are only taking on an additional 1.75/year for 4 seasons instead of an additional 6/year for 4 seasons.

I like Pulju and think he can still definitely be a factor in this league, but Lucic's contract is too garbage to take on for such an unknown finished product.

Absolutely, have Edmonton retain some salary and make the deal. We are not going to be a playoff team over night, and it’s not a great idea to try and fill these holes in free agency at this time. Pulujarvi could represent a crucial piece of our rebuild if he could start developing here.

Yeah, I don't like his contract, either. The only way we'd get Puljujarvi without giving up a significant asset is by taking Lucic w/o sending a lot the other way. Unless we can fix the blueline in a hurry - which I think is only possible with a significant grab from outside the organization at this point - I think we're likely more than two years out from any serious contention. So...yeah. I think I'm more open to taking on Lucic's contract because I don't see a big need for that cap space the next couple of years. After a couple of years, we have a bunch of other cap hits dropping away, so it's less of an issue then.

I get both sides of this argument and if Holland went either way I think I'd probably just have to go with it.

 

[Ezekial]

Lucic makes 100k less than Larkin for the same amount of years. I need at least 1/3 retention and I don't think Edmonton ships out Pool Party with that.