The Detroit News’s Ted Kulfan doesn’t believe that we’ll see the same kinds of free agent fireworks that the NHL usually provides due to pandemic-shaken finances, a flat salary cap for the next two years, and, in Detroit, a skeptical GM:
“I would say we’ll be relatively conservative,” Yzerman said. “There’s a lot of uncertainty as to what the economic landscape in the NHL looks like in the next couple of years.
“I wouldn’t rule out anything. Again, it’s got to make sense, the contract has to make sense, what you have to pay the player, and the term depending on their age. We’re not opposed to anything. But it’s got to make sense.”
The Wings have ample space under the salary cap, but need to work out deals with restricted free agent forwards Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi.
They acquired defenseman Marc Staal from the New York Rangers (along with a 2021 second-round draft pick), absorbing a contract the Rangers couldn’t keep.
There are several teams similar to the Wings, with ample cap space. But most other teams are watching their pennies, what with the flat salary cap and clouds on the economic horizon.
“There’s just a lot of uncertainty around the league,” Yzerman said. “Nobody really knows what’s going to happen on Oct. 9 with free agency What’s going to happen in the market.”
I’m not so sure, but that’s my take…and I do agree with Kulfan regarding watching the name of Vladislav Namestnikov. Slava Kozlov’s godson was raised around here.
