On a day that the beat writers are predicting the Red Wings’ potential free agent targets, the Windsor Star’s Jim Parker feels that it’s wise to glance back at what Wings GM Steve Yzerman has had to say about his plans for the $12 million in cap space that the Wings have to play with on July 1st:
“We have spots on the roster available,” Yzerman said. “I would look, before doing it through trade, I would look at free agency to fill those roster spots. We also do want to have some opportunity for our younger players to fill those spots, but we will look at free agency.”
With the NHL salary cap set at $81.5 million for 2019-20, the Red Wings are believed to have about $12 million available to spend.
Yzerman could try and make a splash by using some of that money to make an offer sheet to a young, restricted free-agent player, but it doesn’t sound like he’s inclined to go that route.
“The position that we’re in today, I don’t say I definitely wouldn’t do it, but it’s unlikely,” Yzerman said.
He has young players and plenty of draft picks and a philosophy that rebuilding the Red Wings, who have missed the playoffs and posted a losing record the last three seasons, will not come overnight.
“It takes time,” Yzerman said. “I don’t have a ceiling. I’m not going to make any predictions at all. The attitude is we’re all trying to be a part of getting the Red Wings back into Stanley Cups and being a good team.”
Continued; again, I believe that the best move for the Red Wings come July 1st is not to play in free agency at all.
