Duff wonders aloud whether the Wings should follow the Tigers’ blueprint

Detroit Hockey Now’s Bob Duff wonders aloud whether the Red Wings can learn from the Detroit Tigers’ playoff run–by waiving players and making trades to clear cap and roster space for younger players:

There is some speculation that the Red Wings might be considering placing veteran defenseman Justin Holl on waivers to create an opening for a 13th forward on the roster. If this is indeed the case, the question reamins would that be to create a place for a young prospect, or for veteran forward Austin Watson? He’s in camp on a PTO.

Another opting the team could choose might be to place goalie Ville Husso on waivers. They still have two NHL goalies in Cam Talbot and Alex Lyon and again this would open a spot to keep an extra forward in the NHL.

If they were really looking to do something bold, the Red Wings might dangle center J.T. Compher in front of the Carolina Hurricanes. A legitimate Stanley Cup contender, it’s known that the Canes are in the market for a No. 2 center.

Well it’s easy to draw up this blueprint, it’s much more difficult to implement. Were they to clear waivers, sending Husso ($4.75 million AAV) and Holl ($3.4 million AAV) to the AHL Grand Rapids Griffins would require the Red Wings to eat a bunch of salary. It would also be suggesting, especially in Holl’s case, that Yzerman made a major mistake signing him to a three-year deal.

As for the proposed Compher trade, are the Hurricanes likely to be willing to take him on, knowing he has four more years left on his pact at $5.1 million per season? Not likely.

Finally – and this is the real kicker here – have any of Danielson, Kasper, or Mazur really shown enough in this training camp to warrant an NHL roster spot?

Again, that answer looks to be leaning toward no.

Continued