Of Mike Green-related note from MLive’s Ansar Khan…
The Detroit Red Wings are close to signing defenseman Mike Green to a two-year deal before the start of free agency Sunday at noon.
The contract is expected to carry a salary cap hit of slightly more than $5 million. Green, who turns 33 on Oct. 12, earned $6 million last season.
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The Red Wings are expected to sign goaltender Jonathan Bernier to a three-year contract, likely for around $3 million per season, on Sunday. They also had been talking with free-agent forwards Thomas Vanek and Valtteri Filppula.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie…
Green’s AAV in DET is $5.375M. https://t.co/4fNOniDRum
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) June 30, 2018
And The Athletic’s Craig Custance:
The Red Wings, if they were going to get in on unrestricted free agents, had very specific needs and targets. First, they needed a backup goalie and aggressively pursued Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier. Robin Lehner visited Detroit.
NHL free agency officially begins at noon ET on Sunday, so deals for Red Wings free agents, aside from their own players, can’t be done until then. Any framework for a new contract is just that, technically.
But when the opening bell rings, expect the Red Wings to check some boxes right away. According to multiple sources, Detroit is expected to sign Bernier to a three-year contract worth around $3 million per season. Their other target, Hutton, is expected to sign with the Buffalo Sabres, in part because he’ll have more of an opportunity to start and be the No. 1 guy.
Custance continues, confirming the Green deal and the Wings’ interest in Vanek, but he doesn’t state that the Wings are interested in Filppula.
Bringing Green back is a solid move and the cap hit or term isn’t over the top. I know people want the younger guys to play, but I only think one of the Hronek, Sulak, Cholowski, and Hicketts group will be ready out of camp. This gives us a stop gap until more of those guys are ready. Plus it makes it easier to flip a D-man at the deadline.
I don’t get bringing in Vanek if they end up doing it, especially with so many young forwards primed to make the club. The only real benefit there is maybe you can get another 3rd round pick for him at the deadline.
God, I am gritting my few remaining teeth at the prospect of Green for two more years, but I am winging out over the possibility of Vanek. If the Wings must bring in a veteran forward, at least make it Filpula, who better matches the skills needed by the Red Wings.