Sportsnet’s Bourne offers ‘two sentences’ on every free agent signing, including the Red Wings’ moves

Sportsnet’s Justin Bourne posted a set of comments about every free agent signing of significance this past week…

Klim Kostin, C, Detroit
Contract: Two years, $2 million AAV

I love this bet for the Red Wings, who are a team looking to turn some talented young players into a legitimate playoff team. He’s just 24 and can be the type of useful bottom-six contributor that can thrive in today’s NHL where physical players need to be able to play a bit, too.

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G James Reimer, Detroit
Contract: One year, $1.5 million AAV

It’s pretty remarkable that, with all the great young goalies that continue to come up over the years, Reimer continues to land one of the 62 NHL goaltending gigs. I don’t say that because he’s bad – he’s not, he’s fine, though I’d bet a bottom-third goalie in the league next year – but rather because it feels like he’s been in the league for 100 years.

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D Justin Holl, Detroit
Contract: Three years, $3.4 million AAV

William Nylander has been discussed 100 times more, but Holl still may be the most polarizing Leaf over the past four or five years, given few people actually think Nylander is a bad player. Some Leafs fans have thought Holl is done, and they’ve been flat-out wrong for years about a guy who can defend the blueline against top competition.

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D Shayne Gostisbehere, Detroit
Contract: One year, $4.125 million AAV

I have no idea what to make of this guy who obviously has offensive talent, but his teams just don’t seem to trust him. He gets paid well at 30 years old to “prove it,” with “it” being that he’s actually a middle-pair, PP1 guy — because with the way he defends, if he isn’t, he’s gonna stop making so much money.

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G Alex Lyon, DetroitContract: Two years, $900,000 AAVIt’s a simple equation — play well under a bright spotlight, get paid. Lyon is serviceable enough, and at near league minimum, a fine guy on any NHL depth chart.

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C J.T. Compher, Detroit
Contract: Five years, $5.5 million AAV

I like Compher fine, but all I know is the Red Wings’ draft picks better prove themselves to be bonafide studs, cause that’s kinda how it all worked out in the end for Steve Yzerman and those Tampa Bay teams, right? Some of his longer-term UFA fill-in-the-gap deals with Detroit – Andrew Copp 5 x $5.625, Ben Chiarot at 4 x $4.75, now these Compfheer and Holl deals – are generously OK and not exactly pushing the team towards greatness.

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RW Daniel Sprong, Detroit
Contract: One year, $2 million AAV

Sneaky good signing here. No-risk cost or term and he can drive play.

Continued