An update on Detroit's ongoing negotiations with pending free agents
Last Friday, at his pre-draft press availability, Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman said of his ongoing or upcoming free agent negotiations, "Whether it's with our own free agents or others, we're going to be selective and try to address certain needs...We won't be able to sign all of our unrestricted free agents. I can't even guarantee we'll sign any of them, but we have interest in signing them, and ultimately it becomes—again it's gonna come down to term and dollars."
Today, NHL insider Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff offered an update on some of Yzerman's UFA negotiations with pending Red Wing free agents on his "DFO Rundown" podcast.
Specifically, Seravalli said that since the end of the season, he has believed Kane will not re-sign in Detroit. Kane's own comments at his exit interview˘ with the Detroit media—specifically his use of the past tense in reference to his time with the Red Wings—invited lots of speculation that Kane would not remain a Red Wing, though presumably Seravalli's suspicion has more reporting to support it.
On a more positive note, Seravalli did say that Yzerman was working to retain two of the Red Wings' other UFAs: forward David Perron and defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere. While Kane may be the flashiest of the three names discussed, it's not to argue that Perron and Gositsbehere are more functional, if also limited, players.