This morning, the Free Press’s Helene St. James takes note of the fact that the Red Wings’ free agency moves have altered the look of the team’s roster at forward, on defense and in goal:
The priority here was keeping Patrick Kane, and now the Wings should have the benefit of Kane coming to camp and being with them the entire season, instead of making a December debut, as he did last season. He’s a game-changer, a sublime talent who makes everyone around him better.
There was also interest in keeping David Perron, but the Wings weren’t about to come anywhere close to the $8 million (over two seasons) the 36-year-old got from the Ottawa Senators. Daniel Sprong wasn’t a fit to bring back, once he sat on the sidelines late in the season.
To buffer some of the offense lost in those two (a combined 35 goals), Yzerman signed Vladimir Tarasenko for $9.5 million over two seasons. Tarasenko, 32, was the only headliner left after the opening day of free agency. He fleshes out the top six — literally, at 6 feet 1 and 219 pounds — and gives the Wings a top-notch shooter with six seasons with at least 30 goals.
In order to fit Tarasenko under the salary cap, Yzerman traded Robby Fabbri and his $4 million cap hit to the Anaheim Ducks. The Wings have about $20 million left in salary cap space, and that should be just enough to sign restricted free agents Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Joe Veleno and Jonatan Berggren.
Christian Fischer was re-signed in free agency, and Michigan alumnus Tyler Motte (St. Clair), a veteran of 400 NHL games, was added for depth at the center position.
Continued (paywall) with takes on the changes on defenes and in goal;
St. James doesn’t necessarily pass judgment upon the team’s roster moves as much as she summarizes the changes made, and she affords the reader the ability to render a verdict on their own.
