Today’s been a little light in terms of the rumor mill–which I don’t mind–but this tidbit regarding restricted free agents, from NBC Sports’ James O’Brien, got me thinking:
Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi (Red Wings): Pretty much all of the Red Wings’ focus is on the future. Even so, Bertuzzi and especially Mantha represent significant pieces for both the present and future. Locking them both up to team-friendly, preferably long-term deals will be key.
You and I have both heard The Fourth Period and the local beat writers indicating that the Wings may go short-term with the 26-year-old Mantha, and that would make sense from both a salary cap standpoint and given Mantha’s inability to stay healthy;
Bertuzzi is a year younger, but I would guess that the Wings may go with a “bridge deal” with Bertuzzi as well given that the team doesn’t know what his “ceiling” is production-wise.
It should be noted that both players have salary arbitration rights, so I would imagine that the Wings will try to avoid arbitration hearings with either player.
