The Athletic’s James Mirtle discusses 5 NHL teams which still have the salary cap space to make “big offseason moves,” and the Red Wings’ inability to retain Patrick Kane’s services make them a prime contender for making a trade or signing of some magnitude over the course of the balance of this summer:
1. Detroit Red Wings, $20 million
All that cap space, plus an $8.7 million captain who wants out and a GM search that’s just underway. There’s clearly a lot going on with the struggling Red Wings, who are trying to avoid an 11th straight postseason whiff.
Other than dealing with the Dylan Larkin situation, RFA Simon Edvinsson needs a contract, and he’s offer-sheet eligible. I’m a big fan of the big man’s game; might a team throw Detroit into further chaos by throwing a huge bag o’ bills his way?
The bigger intriguing question for Detroit is what should be the plan here? Is there a world where they can turn all this extra cap room into being competitive right away? Or are they better off building around their young players — led by Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond — and eating some more short-term pain in 2026-27? Probably?
Regardless, whoever takes over for Steve Yzerman has a difficult challenge ahead here. And more financial flexibility than almost anyone.
Continued; the Red Wings don’t have much of a cachet right now in terms of swaying big names to come to Detroit, but the money is there for sure.
Whether there’s an appetite to help the roster or to simply “eat some short term-pain” is uncertain at this point.
And the concept of the Red Wings not matching an offer sheet for Simon Edvinsson is simply silly at this point.
