With the 2024 NHL Draft only a week away, basic managers (GMs) throughout the NHL have begun to fulfill with the media to debate the state of their organizations previous to the draft. Steve Yzerman, GM of the Detroit Pink Wings, is not any completely different as he held his press availability on the morning of June 21.
In immediately’s “Information & Rumors” publish, we’re wanting on the highlights of Yzerman’s presser, in addition to different items of stories and rumors you might have missed. From key contract negotiations to potential offseason additions, a buzz is beginning to sweep throughout Detroit as followers eagerly await Yzerman’s subsequent transfer.
Yzerman Presser
As per ordinary, Yzerman spoke on all kinds of matters as members of the press tried to get solutions to a number of the offseason’s burning questions. However as a substitute of detailing your complete assembly, let’s check out the important thing factors that had been made by the Pink Wings’ GM:
Seider/Raymond Negotiations
Yzerman stated that whereas progress has been made in the direction of re-signing restricted free brokers (RFA) Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, he doesn’t essentially anticipate to have both deal completed earlier than the free agent market opens up on July 1. Whereas he reiterated that every one events have “super curiosity” in getting this taken care of, it seems the Pink Wings is not going to have their two youngest constructing blocks locked in anytime quickly.
Associated: Detroit Pink Wings: Contract Projections for 2024 RFAs
This in fact carries an ideal influence on how the Pink Wings will method the free agent market. Per CapFriendly, the Pink Wings have slightly over $29.3 million in cap house for subsequent season, however it’s not arduous to see how rapidly that quantity shrinks when you account for what are assumingly going to be giant contracts for each Seider and Raymond. Issue within the group’s curiosity in retaining a few of their unrestricted free brokers (UFA), and you’ll see why some of us could also be upset that we gained’t have a clearer thought of the magnitude of Detroit’s monetary flexibility anytime quickly.
UFA Negotiations
Talking of their unrestricted free brokers, there have been loads of rumblings not too long ago about which gamers Yzerman has made efforts towards re-signing. A number of weeks in the past, he met with the Raymond’s agent, in addition to the illustration for each David Perron and Patrick Kane. Whereas there haven’t been any additional updates on Perron, there continues to be curiosity from each events within the Kane negotiations. Yzerman said that he and Kane’s illustration have agreed to remain in contact as free company approaches. It feels like re-signing “Showtime” may come right down to the wire.
What Concerning the fifteenth Choose?
Yzerman additionally said that he doesn’t foresee any motion occurring with the Pink Wings’ first choose within the upcoming draft. He expects that the group will have the ability to add a participant at fifteenth general that may make an influence for the Pink Wings someday, and any maneuvers to slip up or down the draft board typically wouldn’t be made till the draft is underway. That being stated, he warned followers and media to not anticipate any “blockbuster trades” involving the fifteenth choose.
Justin Holl
Yzerman was requested about defenseman Justin Holl’s standing on the roster after the 32-year-old defender performed in simply 38 video games with the Pink Wings final season after signing a three-year contract with the franchise. He carries a $3.4 million cap-hit and is a well-liked buyout candidate amongst followers and media. In his response, Yzerman type of tip-toed across the topic, explaining the thought course of in signing Holl on July 1 of final yr and the way the shock alternative to amass Jeff Petry, in addition to the teaching workers’s desire of enjoying Shayne Gostisbehere on the proper aspect of the blue line, finally pressured Holl down the depth chart. Whereas not saying something definitive about Holl’s standing, he did shut the subject with this:
As of now, you see what our roster appears to be like like on the blue line. I’ve had talks and can proceed to have talks with [Gostisbehere]’s agent, we’d wish to attempt to determine one thing out, however to be able to try this…we’ve received [Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson], we’ve received to make room for these guys and work out a means to do this.
– Steve Yzerman
It looks like Holl’s days in Detroit might be coming to finish very quickly.
Pink Wings Looking out Market For a Goalie
NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has twice talked about the Pink Wings as a crew that’s combing by way of the goalie choices accessible all through the league. Whereas this traces up with Yzerman’s earlier feedback about exploring choices to improve each a part of Detroit’s roster, that is the primary semi-concrete factor we’ve heard about Yzerman staying true to his phrase. Whereas chatting with the media, Yzerman talked about that he has little curiosity in spending premium belongings to amass a veteran goaltender what gained’t be round greater than a yr or two. This nearly definitely implies that the Pink Wings had been by no means “in” on Jacob Markstrom, who the New Jersey Devils not too long ago acquired for a 2025 first spherical choose and a younger defenseman.
Different rumors have linked the Pink Wings to Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins, although it sounds just like the Ottawa Senators have emerged because the frontrunner to amass his companies. Markstrom and Ullmark had been broadly thought of to be the highest choices accessible on the goalie market (relying on the standing of Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators), however that doesn’t imply the Pink Wings might be out of choices if the Senators do attain a deal for Ullmark.
- Friedman loosely linked the Pink Wings to Anaheim Geese goaltender John Gibson, and there’s a connection between the 2 franchises given Geese GM Pat Verbeek’s time as Yzerman’s assistant GM in each Tampa Bay and Detroit. Gibson is 30 years previous and is signed for 3 extra seasons at $6.4 million; the Pink Wings would nearly definitely look to ship Ville Husso and his $4.75 million cap hit to Anaheim as a part of the deal, although Gibson’s current observe report does elevate some purple flags – he hasn’t posted a SV% north of .904 for the reason that 2018-19 season and has posted a destructive goals-saved-above-average fee in each season since then as nicely.
- I’ve floated the thought of pursuing 26-year-old Filip Gustavsson of the Minnesota Wild, and his age and projected price of acquisition appears to line up with what Yzerman is in search of. Michael Russo and Joe Smith of The Athletic wrote again in April that the Wild would most likely be in search of a second spherical choose or a center six winger in return for Gustavsson (from “What may Minnesota Wild get for Gustavsson? Will they commerce Rossi? Mailbag, half 1”, The Athletic, 04/24/24) . The Swedish netminder is signed for 2 extra seasons at $3.75 million.
- Are the Devils seeking to transfer on from Jake Allen or Akira Schmid now that they’ve acquired Markstrom?
- The Pittsburgh Penguins could also be seeking to transfer on from Tristan Jarry after he misplaced his beginning function to Alex Nedeljkovic late within the season. The Penguins not too long ago re-signed Nedeljkovic, a former Pink Wing himself, however Penguins GM Kyle Dubas could have a tough time transferring Jarry on condition that the 29-year-old is getting paid $5.375 million till 2029.
- Lastly, although Yzerman stated he doesn’t anticipate to enter subsequent season with three goalies on the roster, he additionally stated that wasn’t the plan for this season – and we all know how that labored out. The Pink Wings may have choices in free company, however the majority of these choices would be part of the tandem of Husso and Alex Lyon quite than substitute one in every of them. Guys like Ilya Samsonov, Cam Talbot, Anthony Stolarz, and Kevin Lankinen stand out on this class, and none of them can be overly costly to signal. If Yzerman is seeking to actually improve the goaltending place in Detroit, nevertheless, this most likely isn’t the path to take.
Pink Wings Signal Johansson
The Pink Wings introduced the signing of RFA defenseman Albert Johansson to a one-year, two-way deal. The contract carries a cap-hit of $775k which incorporates an NHL wage of $775k and an AHL wage of $90k.
Drafted within the second spherical of the 2019 draft, Johansson will now not be waiver-exempt beginning subsequent season, which means the Pink Wings must discover a spot for him on their roster or threat shedding him on waivers in the event that they determine to ship him again to the AHL. It’s a low-risk, show it deal for a prospect that is able to present that he’s in a position to compete on the highest stage.
Extra…
Yzerman briefly touched on the plan for Sebastian Cossa subsequent season. After his first full season within the American Hockey League (AHL), the Pink Wings expect their high goalie prospect to tackle a good greater function with the Grand Rapids Griffins subsequent season. Drafted fifteenth general in 2021, he appeared in 40 video games this season, recording 22 wins, a 2.41 goals-against common, and a .913 save-percentage (SV%) alongside the way in which.
Yzerman’s feedback most likely imply the group expects Cossa to play 50 video games or extra because the Griffins’ undisputed primary subsequent season. This goes together with the timeline I laid out for him again in March, which suggests we ought to be making ready for him to problem for NHL enjoying time by the tip of subsequent season.
Peter Baugh of The Athletic not too long ago launched a mailbag article the place he mentioned the probability of the New York Rangers transferring on from defenseman Jacob Trouba and what a deal would appear like. “My guess is there are groups that will be inquisitive about Trouba,” Baugh writes, “however I can’t see any being prepared to tackle his full contract and ship again NHL gamers to the Rangers.”
Baugh then suggests a deal that will see the Rangers retain a few of Trouba’s wage in a deal that sends the Michigan-native to the Pink Wings in change for Holl. The Rangers would probably buyout the remainder of Holl’s contract, however the penalty can be so much lower than shopping for out Trouba’s contract. Whereas Baugh isn’t the Rangers’ GM, a deal like this looks as if a no brainer for the Pink Wings, relying on the retention on Trouba’s deal. New York can retain as much as 50 p.c of his $8 million cap hit. (from “New York Rangers mailbag, half 1: Proper-wing rumblings, Jacob Trouba choices and extra”, The Athletic, 06/17/24)
ICYMI
