Steve Yzerman on Detroit Red Wings’ draft, priority in free agency
Steve Yzerman talks after the second day of the NHL Draft, June 29, 2024 in Las Vegas.
The Detroit Red Wings were able to secure a huge piece of their offseason plans before 2024 NHL free agency began Monday at noon, when Patrick Kane agreed to a new contract late Sunday.
It was a very good deal from the fiscal side, too, for just one year, with a salary cap hit of $4 million.
Kane, 35, is a game-changer, and bringing him back immediately stokes hopes the Wings can build on last season’s growth, when they chased a playoff spot all the way till Game 82.
But general manager Steve Yzerman’s work is far from done, and Monday projects to be a busy one.
Monday marks the start of free agency, when players not under contract hit the market and GMs make bids for their services.
The Wings have needs they need to fill.
Kane’s signing brought them to seven forwards under contract for next season, but add restricted free agents Lucas Raymond, Jonathan Berggren and Joe Veleno to that group, bringing it to 10. The Wings need to add some role players, like last year, when Yzerman signed Christian Fischer.
On defense, Shayne Gostisbehere is someone the Wings would like to keep in their lineup, or else find another defenseman who can run a power play with similar success.
Yzerman also needs to find a goaltender to serve as the third-string guy.
Here are the top 25 free agents, according to USA TODAY Sports, with the salary cap raised from $83.5 million to $88 million.
Follow along here as the Wings sort through free agency, and former Wings find jobs.
The Wings addressed the need for a role player by bringing back Christian Fischer on a one-year deal worth $1.25 million. He was brought in last year to be a role player, and ended up playing in 79 games, producing 19 points. He had good chemistry on a line with Andrew Copp and Michael Rasmussen.
Can’t have too many goaltenders. The Wings signed Jack Campbell for one year at $775,000. Campbell, from Port Huron, was signed to a five-year, $25 million contract by the Edmonton Oilers just two years ago, but Campbell struggled to maintain the momentum he had previously had with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and ended up being bought out. Campbell, 32, has played 176 NHL games.
The Wings added defenseman Erik Gustafsson for two years, $4 million. Already on the roster: Moritz Seider (he will be signed), Ben Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Justin Holl, Olli Määttä, along with Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson. Yzerman has something else planned, because this many defensemen makes for a crunch.
William Lagesson was brought in on a one-year deal worth $775,000 – so someone for the minors who can fill in with the big club if needed. The 28-year-old has appeared in 100 NHL games, most recently playing 40 games last season split between the Anaheim Ducks and Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Wings strengthened their goaltending by signing Cam Talbot for two years at $2.5 million per year. There were questions in goal after Ville Husso missed two-thirds of last season with a lower-body injury.
Anthony Mantha landed a one-year deal worth $3.5 million with the Calgary Flames. The Wings traded their 2013 first-round pick at the 2021 deadline to the Washington Capitals. His inconsistency – which is why the Wings traded him – followed there, and after being a healthy scratch at times, they traded him to the Vegas Golden Knights this past March. He was a healthy scratch there, too.
Former Wings forward Tyler Bertuzzi agreed to a four-year deal with the Chicago Blackhawks for $5.5 million per year. The Wings traded the 29-year-old to the Boston Bruins at the 2023 trade deadline, and last season, Bertuzzi played for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
David Perron signed with the Ottawa Senators for two years at $4 million per. The Wings had expressed interest in keeping Perron, who played for them the last two seasons, but he wasn’t a priority.