The Hockey News’s Adam Proteau gives the Red Wings a middling grade for their middling first-day-of-free-agency performance:
The Red Wings have made some curious moves in recent years. We’re still not sure why GM Steve Yzerman gave Justin Holl a three-year, $10.2-million contract last summer.
There’s lots of room for questions regarding their moves Monday as well.
Bringing back star winger Patrick Kane on a one-year contract on Sunday is a win, but other than that, their moves came mostly on ‘D’ and in goal.
Goalie Cam Talbot is now 36, and blueliner Erik Gustafson is 32 – oh, and depth signing and good guy Jack Campbell is now fourth on the depth chart behind Talbot, Alex Lyon and Ville Husso. Veteran D-man Shayne Gostisbehere left the team for the Carolina Hurricanes.
All in all, it’s an underwhelming crop of new faces, considering the hype the Red Wings had heading into the off-season and the cap space they cleared. Detroit may once again be on the outside of the playoff picture next spring.
Grade: C
Continued; here’s hoping that the Wings and their fallible GM aren’t done.
I always enjoy reading Adam Proteau, but I take the ‘wait and see’ attitude here…..even though the grade C may be fair….so far. I miss @Proteautype on Twitter, but I understand why a lot of folks left. Hell, I spend most of my time on @Threads and I love it.