The Hockey News’s Campbell weighs in on the Wings’ decision to not embrace the tank

The Hockey News’s Ken Campbell weighs in on the Wings’ decision to re-sign Mike Green and to sign Thomas Vanek and Jonathan Bernier:

As you digest the three signings the Detroit Red Wings made to kick off free agent frenzy, there are a couple of things to take into account. First, much of the direction the Red Wings will take next season depends upon the future of Henrik Zetterberg, who will apparently decide on his future after a golf outing with some of his teammates later this month. Second, as long as Ken Holland is GM in the Detroit, the Red Wings will never, ever embrace The Tank.

That much was crystal clear when the Red Wings announced their three signings – defenseman Mike Green at two years with a $5.4 million cap hit, goalie Jonathan Bernier for three year at $3 million per year and Thomas Vanek for one year at $3 million. What you have to realize is that by doing this, the Red Wings may have cost themselves a chance at getting Jack Hughes, the consensus No. 1 prospect in the 2019 entry draft, particularly if Zetterberg decides to retire and is placed on the long-term injury list. But the way the Red Wings look at it, finishing last is no guarantee of winning the draft lottery and the downside of tanking is your young players are indoctrinated into a culture where losing is acceptable.

…

So the rebuild is on in Detroit, perhaps not in the way that many of their fans would like, but this is a group that knows it won’t contend for at least another couple of seasons. There are different ways to do this and this is the way the Red Wings are going.

Here’s another thing about the Red Wings. Don’t be surprised if all three of Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha and Andreas Athanasiou are all signed on bridge deals. Larkin will get about $6 million a year on whatever number of years he wants, while Mantha and Athanasiou will get about half of that on shorter-term contracts. That would put the Red Wings over the cap if Zetterberg comes back and they would have to move out a body or two if that happens.

The Red Wings’ approach to sixth overall pick Filip Zadina will be the same as they took with Larkin three years ago. He’ll be in Detroit as long as he’s playing significant minutes and is not a healthy scratch. (For that matter, 30th overall pick Joe Veleno will get a long look in camp.) Otherwise, he’ll either be sent back to junior or go to the American League, an option the Red Wings have open to them with Zadina. In addition to that, center Dennis Rasmussen and defensemen Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski will push for spots, while Tyler Bertuzzi will be in the lineup for a full season.

So the Red Wings are clearly rebuilding on the fly here. It likely won’t get them Jack Hughes, but they won’t be a modern-day version of the Edmonton Oilers, Buffalo Sabres or Arizona Coyotes, either.

Update: ALSO:

 

Red Wings officially sign Jonathan Bernier, Vanek

Per the Wings:

 

Update: Here’s the Wings’ press release:

Continue reading Red Wings officially sign Jonathan Bernier, Vanek

Caputo doesn’t like the Wings’ UFA signings

Per 97.1 the Ticket:

 

LeBrun: Ouellet likely to land with Habs

Here’s hoping Xavier Ouellet gets the new start he’s been wanting:

Update: Official:

 

The Athletic’s Bultman weighs in on development camp

The Athletic’s Max Bultman weighs in on the Red Wings’ summer development camp this morning:

After​ five days of​ practice, testing​ and more, the​ Red​ Wings’​ development camp​ ended Saturday afternoon the​​ same way it began: with a whole lot of excitement about Filip Zadina.

The No. 6 pick in the 2018 NHL entry draft scored the overtime game-winner in Saturday’s prospect game, then followed it up with a dazzling shootout goal to cap the organization’s prospect week in Detroit.

With the influx of talent from this year’s draft, the camp was a first look at many of the system’s newest top prospects. And while it was intended primarily for development, it still provided some useful insight.

Continued

An intriguing thought from Custance

The Athletic’s Craig Custance offered an intriguing thought while I was hacking and coughing up a lung this morning:

 

Strickland: Wings will sign goaltender Harri Sateri

Via CBS Sports, Fox Sports Midwest’s Andy Strickland reports that the Red Wings will sign Florida Panthers standout Harri Sateri:

Quoting CBS Sports:

Originally selected by the Sharks with a fourth-round (106th overall) draft pick in 2018, the Finn finally made his NHL debut in 2017-18, recording a 4-4-0 record, 2.92 GAA and .911 save percentage over nine games. Known for his cool-as-a-cucumber demeanor, Sateri should start next season with AHL Grand Rapids, but he’ll presumably be the first netminder called up in an emergency situation.

Khan, St. James’ morning free agency updates: Bernier, Vanek and…Derek Ryan?

MLive’s Ansar Khan and the Free Press’s Helene St. James provide morning free agency updates.

Khan reports that the Wings are going to sign Jonathan Bernier soon, and the Wings may sign Derek Ryan as well…

The club on Saturday agreed to terms with defenseman Mike Green on a two-year deal with a average salary of $5.375 million.

The Red Wings are expected to sign goaltender Jonathan Bernier to a three-year contract in the range of $3 million per season.

Detroit also is trying to sign former Red Wings forward Thomas Vanek to a one-year contract and has shown interest in center Derek Ryan. The right-shooting Ryan, 31, had 15 goals and 23 assists in 80 games for Carolina last season, when he earned $1.425 million.

The Red Wings want aren’t sure if Henrik Zetterberg will play next season. He has a history of back issues but has appeared in all 82 games in each of the past three seasons. They would like some insurance at center. They were interested in signing Valtteri Filppula to a two-year deal, but the former Red Wing appears to be leaning toward signing with another team.

And St. James confirms the signing of Thomas Vanek:

Vanek, 34, had 23 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 80 games with Vancouver and Columbus (the Canucks traded him at the deadline). He made a positive impression when the Wings signed him two summers ago, producing 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points in 48 games before a trade-deadline trade to Florida. Vanek, who shoots right, was part of the Wings’ hottest line out of training camp, with Gustav Nyquist and Darren Helm. When Vanek suffered a hip injury seven games into the season, Nyquist and Helm grew quiet offensively. Later in the season Vanek showed great chemistry with Frans Nielsen and Athanasiou.

Bernier, 29, will share the net with Jimmy Howard. Bernier, a former starter in Toronto, spent 2017-18 with Colorado, where he went 21-7-4 with a 2.85 goals-against average and .913 save percentage in 37 appearances.

The addition of Vanek puts the Wings at nine forwards, and the three RFAs make it 12. That still leaves room for top prospects Filip Zadina and Michael Rasmussen to challenge for jobs.

Update:

 

Red Wings officially re-sign Mike Green to 2-year, $10.75 million deal

From the Red Wings:

Red Wings extend Green for two years

2018 NHL All-Star re-signs with Detroit; led team defensemen in points since 2015-16

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Mike Green to a two-year contract extension.

Green, 32, has led Red Wings defensemen in points in each of his three seasons with the team, registering 33 points (8-25-33) in 66 games during a 2017-18 season that was cut short due to injury. The 13-year NHL veteran represented the Red Wings at his second career NHL All-Star Game in 2018 at Amalie Arena in Tampa, Fla. He ranked among Red Wings leaders this season with 25 assists (3rd), 33 points (T6th), 13 power-play points (3rd), 132 shots (9th) and 22:04 average time on ice (1st). Green also opened the season with a four-assist game on Oct. 5 vs. Minnesota in the first game at the state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena, becoming the first Red Wings defenseman to do so since Niklas Kronwall during the 2007-08 campaign. In 212 games with the team since 2015-16, Green has picked up 104 points (29-74-104) and 116 penalty minutes, while totaling 464 points (142-322-464), a plus-18 rating and 532 penalty minutes in 787 NHL games since 2005-06.

Originally drafted by the Washington Capitals in the first round (29th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Green made the NHL’s First All-Star Team in back-to-back seasons (2008-09 and 2009-10) after leading the league’s defensemen in points in each season (73 and 76, respectively). He also led NHL blueliners in goals in each season (31 and 19), as well as the shortened 2012-13 campaign (12 in 35 games). Prior to his NHL career, Green was an American Hockey League Calder Cup champion with the Hershey Bears in 2005-06 and was a member of the AHL All-Rookie Team. The Calgary, Alberta, native also posted 172 points (37-135-172) in 267 Western Hockey League games with the Saskatoon Blades from 2000-05.