On Tuesday afternoon, MLive’s Ansar Khan discussed several remaining unrestricted free agents who the Red Wings could target with their $12 million in salary cap space, and I’d only take a look at two or three of Khan’s listed names:
Forwards (with position, age, 2024-25 cap hit)
Jack Roslovic, C, 28, $2.8 million: He’s probably the best player available after equaling a career-high with 22 goals and tallying 39 points for Carolina. He must score to be effective because he’s not a checker or defensive player.
Max Pacioretty, LW, 36, $873,000: He turns 37 in November and his play has declined the past three seasons due to age and multiple injuries. He had five goals and eight assists in 37 games with Toronto but elevated his game in the playoffs (eight points in 11 games).
Defensemen (age, 2024-25 cap hit)
Matt Grzelcyk, 31, $2.75 million: The longtime Boston Bruin tallied a career-high 40 points (including 39 assists) while playing 82 games for the first time with Pittsburgh. He had 15 assists on the power play.
I’m not interested in a reunion with Robby Fabbri or Andreas Athanasiou; Victor Olofsson is injured too regularly, and on defense, Jan Rutta‘s a “meh” candidate, and David Savard retired.
I know that Roslovic, Grzelcyk and even Pacioretty have their fits of the litter, so to speak, in terms of remaining teams interested, but it would be encouraging to see the Wings snag one of the aformentioned players.
If we are going to bet the farm on another aged veteran, a 39 point player, or anyone of the scraps left out there, Wings are screwed.
If those options are all they have, play the kids more and take another year of loss. Not one player in free agency is going to make this a playoff team