The Detroit Red Wings short offseason is looming. And I say short, because how long is the NHL offseason, really? About half as long as the NFL’s when you think about it, spanning from mid-April to mid-September if a team’s played in just 82 games.
But how much action is taking place? Nothing through most of that frame. There’s the NHL Draft and free agency, all combined in the span of a week when you think about it. Sure, free agency technically lasts longer than a few days, but it’s only relevant in those first few, and, really, the first couple of hours.
So, during that quick hit between the draft and free agency, the following decisions will weigh on Red Wings general manager, Steve Yzerman. Let’s look at each of them individually.
What to do with the 13th pick
Keep it or trade it? You know where I stand with this one - trade it, get a quality player, and end this drought already. Not that keeping it won’t land a good prospect because it will, but the Wings showed this past season they still need help. So, therefore, trade the pick.
But it’s not up to me, unfortunately. Instead, Steve Yzerman needs to weigh the pros and cons of keeping the pick. The obvious con? You’re not getting a player who will be NHL-ready for at least three seasons.
And the only real pro is that you have a chance to somewhat make your prospects pool look a little better. But for a team that must snag a playoff berth to avoid an unlucky tenth season out of the big dance, packaging the 13th pick in a trade will increase their odds to land a proven veteran.
Decide if Jonatan Berggren deserves another chance
The Red Wings have a restricted free agent in Jonatan Berggren, someone they had high hopes for, but hasn’t panned out. That said, is it time to do away with Berggren and give him a change of scenery?
In an earlier section, I talked about the Red Wings making a potential trade with the 13th pick, so maybe they package Berggren into the deal, should they make one. Or, they extend a qualifying offer, sign him, then trade him.
If they extend a qualifying offer and sign Berggren, it should be for a two-year deal. Should he finally figure it out, the Wings know they’d have him for another season. If not, they can trade him at some point in 2025-26, and the team trading for him (the Kraken, anyone?) knows they don’t need to be in a hurry to negotiate another deal.
To make a play for Mitch Marner
This one’s the ultimate decision. The Red Wings are a team without a surefire superstar, but they boast the ultimate supporting cast with Lucas Raymond, Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider, and Alex DeBrincat. If Steve Yzerman signed Marner to be the Wings marquee player, they may’ve become a top-three team in the Atlantic.
But Marner will cost a fortune, and it would force Yzerman to make tough decisions for his younger players. Alex DeBrincat has just two years left on his deal, as does Marco Kasper. Meanwhile, Simon Edvinsson has just one year to go. While Kasper and Edvinsson will be restricted free agents, Marner’s presence wouldn’t make fitting them all any easier.
Sure, these are decisions Yzerman could make down the road, but Marner’s signing a surefire eight-figure deal and taking up a significant portion of a team’s cap space, regardless of where he’s going. Even with the cap rising, there’s a lot to consider here.
