ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski issued free agency grades for each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams, and here’s what he has to say about the Red Wings:
Key additions: C Pius Suter, C Mitchell Stephens, D Nick Leddy, G Alex Nedeljkovic
Key losses: G Jonathan Bernier, C Luke Glendening, C Darren Helm, D Dennis Cholowski (expansion draft)
Remaining hole: The Red Wings have the cap space (over $25 million) to pluck some of the contracts that teams might need to shed later in the summer. They also have to do deals with restricted free agent forward Jakub Vrana and defenseman Filip Hronek.
Grade: A. The Red Wings took advantage of a couple of odd decisions by other teams on restricted free agents. The Hurricanes weren’t convinced that Nedeljkovic, a Calder Trophy finalist, had the stuff of a true starting goalie, and they traded him to Detroit. The Blackhawks said there “wasn’t really a match” in contract talks with Suter, walked away and saw the Red Wings snatch him up. Leddy was a salary dump from the Islanders who’ll help their young defensemen.
They also got better by virtue of who left their lineup. It’s still a knee-deep rebuild for Detroit, but it’s very much on the right track. This grade is erring on the side of GM Steve Yzerman (still) being the smartest guy in the room.
Continued (paywall)
Winging It In Motown had Artim Ansimov skating g with the boys in Detroit and speculates about a PTO signing.
A 33 year old lh shot who might score 10-15 goals his position is his attraction. He is a center. Sports net has him far down the list of still available UFAs, maybe number 32.
Do we really need a center that bad? Another block in the way of Bergs and Veleno?