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Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings in Good Position to Grab Players, Help Teams Make Trades

The Detroit Red Wings are in a strong position to add players teams can’t afford or work side deals to facilitate other trades.

According to a source, expect the Detroit Red Wings to be a team that looks for and takes advantage of opportunities this summer. Those opportunities may come in the form of adding players who are on pricier contracts and their respective teams are either going to lose them for nothing, can’t afford to keep everyone, or simply want to free up cap space. The Red Wings are in a prime position to be a dumping grounds.

Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen has taken a closer look at how much cap space the Red Wings have available and they are second behind only the Seattle Kraken who are starting their first offseason with a blank slate. With over $48 million available and only 10 contracts committed to for the 2021-22 season, GM Steve Yzerman needs to find a way to fill out the Red Wings roster.

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Allen suggests Yzerman will look to acquire good contracts for players teams have few options with. Among one of the examples, Allen notes Detroit might ring up the St. Louis Blues and ask about Vince Dunn. He also figures the Red Wings have teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild on speed dial. We’ll throw in that Yzmerman’s former team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, might be a club he talks to frequently.

Each of these teams has been discussed in recent rumors about trying to make moves prior to the expansion draft or having to find ways to clear up money.

Allen writes:

The Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild are other teams that might move a defenseman they don’t want to move to clear cap space or because they can’t protect him. Detroit GM Steve Yzerman will explore all of these options.

Vince Dunn Duncan Keith Seth Jones

Third Party Options for the Red Wings

It doesn’t just have to be a one-to-one trades the Red Wings manage, dealing exclusively with a specific franchise. There’s plenty of opportunity for the Red Wings to act as a third party go-between for clubs looking to move money around.

As teams look to make deals of their own and players pop in and out of trade conversations, it’s inevitable that not every team will find common ground on who to move. One example might be the Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers trade rumors surrounding Duncan Keith. If the Blackhawks and Oilers can’t find the right way to both get what they want, why not call Detroit and see if there’s a way to include a player and some salary retention in a deal that would keep Keith’s cap hit down for the Oilers, but not require the Blackhawks take money or a contract back?

Next: Phil Kessel Being Shopped After Coyotes Invest in Future Trade Deal

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