The Red Wings only have to re-sign one restricted free agent this summer in Joe Veleno, but the team is a summer away from Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond being eligible for restricted free agency.
Both players were eligible to be signed to contract extensions on July 1st, and it is highly likely that the Red Wings’ main post-Veleno priority will be to ink Seider and Raymond to either “bridge deals” or full-on contract extensions.
As such, Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen wonders aloud what shape those contract extensions will take, and he focuses on the possibilities for Moritz Seider’s next contractual deal this evening:
Given Seider’s projected future as a top pairing defenseman, [Red Wings GM Steve] Yzerman might prefer getting Moritz Seider tied up. But how much would Yzerman have to give him up to tie him? Boston’s Charlie McAvoy started an eight-year deal this season with an average yearly salary of $9.5 million. The New York Rangers gave Adam Fox a seven-year, $9.5 million per season deal in 2021.
Some younger players don’t want eight years because when their contract is over they want to be young enough still to be able to ask for term on their next deal. In 2021, Cale Makar took a six-year deal for an average of $9 million per season.
“What exactly is middle term, is it 4-5, is it 3 through 6, I don’t know,” Yzerman still talking generally about contract negotiations. “I like these mid-term deals. You get to know the player. I’ve watched Alex (DeBrincat) play his entire junior and pro career. Now you get them in the organization and really get to know them and your comfort level and we can go back at it. But these mid-term deals I think are a good compromise for both sides.”
DeBrincat settled on a four-year deal, even though it was originally reported that he wanted a long-term deal. Seems like the Red Wings will be looking for a bridge contract for Raymond.
Seider and Raymond are both going to be restricted free agents so there is no pressure on the Red Wings to act with any urgency.
Continued; I would imagine that Raymond will be looking for a “prove it”-style bridge deal as well, and that Seider will probably want to be locked up long-term, but that’s my best guess as well.
