Of note from The Athletic this morning:
First, Shayna Goldman examines 10 players who become eligible for contract extensions on July 1st, lest they become unrestricted free agents a year from now:
Alex DeBrincat, Detroit Red Wings
A rising tide lifts all boats, so the [Martin] Necas, [Kyle] Connor and [Adrian] Kempe contracts should all benefit DeBrincat. Kempe’s contract carries the lowest AAV of the three and will take up 10.1 percent of the cap this season. That shakes out to $11.6 million in 2027-28 with an $113.5 million cap. Connor’s $12 million cap hit would be comparable to an $13.1 million salary. AFP Analytics projects something in between: a seven-year deal carrying a $12.2 million AAV.
The real question, in his situation, is where that contract will be signed. The Red Wings clearly need his scoring ability and play-driving. But the Dylan Larkin situation could change the Red Wings’ timeline. If it forces Detroit to reset and take a step back, it may not make as much sense to sign a 29-year-old to a contract of that value. It may not make sense for DeBrincat to extend there, either.
This is not to say DeBrincat is on his way out of Detroit. It’s that both sides have options here. Players capable of scoring 40 goals don’t grow on trees in the NHL, so there will be demand if he’s available. This situation will likely take more time and depend on how the chips fall around Larkin first.
Continued (paywall); DeBrincat definitely wants to remain in Detroit for the balance of his contract, but whether he signs an extension remains up in the air.
Second, Harman Dayal, Sean Gentille and each NHL team’s beat writer discuss the salary cap situations of every NHL team, including Detroit:
Detroit Red Wings
Current projected salaries: $75 million
RFAs estimate: $8.8 million
LTIR candidate: None
Dead money deals: None
Notable unsigned UFAs: Patrick Kane, David Perron, James van Riemsdyk, Cam Talbot, Travis Hamonic
Problem contracts: J.T. Compher ($5.1 million), Michael Rasmussen ($3.2 million)
Projected cap space: $20.2 millionEverything hinges on how GM Steve Yzerman handles Dylan Larkin’s trade request and how that shapes the franchise’s future direction. Will they remain aggressive to stay competitive and try to end the longest current playoff drought in the NHL, or do they accept taking a step back and retool around Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Simon Edvinsson?
The latter sounds like the smarter approach, considering how stacked the Atlantic Division is and that the Red Wings were searching to land top-six center help even before Larkin asked out.
Yzerman does have plenty of cap room to play with — Detroit is projected to have a tick over $20 million even after it presumably re-signs RFA Edvinsson to a lucrative long-term deal. And, of course, that doesn’t include the strong likelihood that Larkin’s $8.7 million AAV will be on another team’s books by the start of next season.
Continued (paywall); trading Dylan Larkin for commensurate value is job #1A for Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings’ management team this summer, and inking Simon Edvinsson to a contract extension is job #1B.
