Detroit has an easy choice to make, they’ve saddled themselves with so many bad contracts they don’t have much choice but to ride them out and rebuild.
2018/19:
• Tons of draft picks (6, 30/31, 33, 36, 67, 81, 84, 98, 159, 169, 191) should get a few talented players even if it’s pure luck.
• Extended Larkin, AA, Mantha, Bertuzzi, Frk, Green (why not, free asset).
• Trade Howard, Nyquist at the deadline (more picks).
• Draft top 5-10, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds (plus whatever else they get from deadline deals).
• Nyquist, Kronwall, Howard, Jensen, Witkowski off the books (16.3M)
2019/20:
• Trade Daley at the deadline.
• Draft top 5-10.
• Franzen, Ericsson, Daley off the books (11.3M)
2020/21:
• Potential lockout year. Would actually be a good scenario for Detroit. May allow compliance buyouts of Abdelkader and Nielsen (9.5)
• If the season goes on deal Helm, Glendening at the deadline.
• Zetterburg, Helm, Glendening, Weiss off the books (13.2M)
• One last high draft pick.
2021/22:
Forwards: Larkin, Mantha, AA, Rasmussen, Bertuzzi, Frk, Svechnikov, Hronek, Nielsen*, Abdelkader*
Defencemen: DeKeyser, Choloski, Hicketts
Three high 1st, Vegas’s 2018 1st, five 2nd, six 3rd, any returns from future trades.