The Athletic’s Craig Custance estimated the Red Wings’ lineup for the 2021-22 season, and he prefaced his thought experiment with an update on Dylan Larkin’s contract status:
“It’s coming together. Maybe something pretty soon,” Larkin told The Athletic. “It goes back and forth. I’ve learned the business part of it. Between free agency and the draft and everything, it’s tough to get time to talk for my agent and Kenny. That’s part of summer and part of how it goes.”
His conclusion?
“I don’t think it’ll go anywhere near September,” he said, with a pause. “But that’s coming soon.”
The extension will likely be in the five- or six-year range, which would make him a rarity among Red Wings players — guys who will be under contract to start the 2021 season. The Red Wings are in the process of burning through their questionable contracts and this season marks a bit of a breakthrough on that front. For the first time during the rebuild, the Red Wings should have a ton of cap flexibility next offseason.
Custance continues at length (paywall)…
