Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman said Monday that he didn’t think “we’re terribly far apart” in contract negotiations with No. 1 defenseman Moritz Seider.

Yzerman rarely characterizes how contract talks are going. He wouldn’t say what he did without believing it.

It doesn’t mean a deal is imminent, but Yzerman’s words suggest he believes he can work something out. With Lucas Raymond signing Monday and training camp starting Thursday, events seem to be bringing the two sides together. Both Yzerman and Seider know that everything has to go right for this team to be a playoff team. Not having their most impactful defender present at the start of training camp would not help.

Seider and Boston’s goalie Jeremy Swayman are the two highest profile restricted free agents left in the marketplace.

Much like the Raymond case, comparables are pointing us to Seider’s number. Minnesota defenseman Brock Faber received $8.5 million per season for eight years.  Buffalo’s Owen Power received an $8.35 million AAV on a seven-year deal. Ottawa defenseman Jake Sanderson was just over an $8 million average on a eight-year deal.

There are other factors: Detroit has $8.75 million remaining in cap space and captain Dylan Larkin is making $8.7 million per season. That points to Seider’s deal coming in at $8.5 or $8.6 million.

Usually, the pressure of training camp starting prompts deals to be completed. Last night, there was social media buzz that Swayman may be getting close as well.

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

The Griffins, like the Red Wings, may need some goals. Alexandre Doucet showed in prospect games against the Dallas Stars that he may be able to help.

Defenseman Shai Buium’s minor injury, suffered in the prospect games, will keep him out of the lineup for the start of Detroit training camp Thursday.

Who’s Detroit’s No. 1 goalie for the 2024-25 season? You don’t know and the Red Wings don’t know. GM Steve Yzerman and coach Derek Lalonde will let their four goalies with NHL experience battle it out.

Lucas Raymond signed eight-year deal for $8.075 million per season.

Red Wings Offseason

The Red Wings are undoubtedly pleased that defenseman Axel Sandin Pellikka is healthy enough to start the SHL.

Sandin-Pellikka is cleared for practice, a good sign ahead of saturday’s SHL opener #LGRW https://t.co/2W7SHFRkzG

— IcehockeyGifs (@IcehockeyG) September 17, 2024

Hockey Now Network

Buffalo: Sabres get Peyton Krebs re-signed before the start of training camp. Buffalo Sabres.

Montreal: MHN weighs in on which Montreal youngsters have improved their odds of making the NHL roster. Montreal Canadiens.

Philadelphia: Flyers GM Danny Briere says it’s time for the team to move past goalie Alexei Kolosov. Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski looks at what the Sidney Crosby re-signing means for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Washington: Capitals announce the adding of a special screaming Eagle jersey. Washington Capitals.

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The post Red Wings Will Have Favorable Cap Position Next Summer (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

General manager Steve Yzerman persuaded Patrick Kane to stay in Detroit, traded two veterans, brought in two goalies with NHL experience, signed a noteworthy role player and landed a six-time 30-plus goal scorer.

And he may not be done.

“I would say there’s another move possible, we’d consider that,” Yzerman said. “I don’t have anything on the go at the moment. We kind of tally up the goals in, the goals out.”

If Yzerman makes another move, it could be a trade. Currently, he has just over $20 million left in cap space.  He may need every dime to re-sign his restricted free agents Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Jonatan Berggren and Joe Veleno.

“We have four restricted free agents today and we can estimate on a shorter-term deal and on a longer-term deal,” Yzerman said. “Set aside a certain amount of money in the budget for them and as free agency went along and we’re trying to get our own guys signed we had to tweak things a little bit, but it hasn’t changed what we think those four players are going to come in at. We will get contracts done with them, it’s just a question of when and what term we do on all of them.”

The Red Wings could use a bit more scoring. Two players Yzerman traded — Jake Walman and Robby Fabbri — combined for 30 goals. Daniel Sprong hasn’t signed and he scored 18. David Perron signed with Ottawa and also netted 17 goals. Shayne Gostisbehere, who scored 10 goals, will play with the Carolina Hurricanes next season.

Tarasenko, Patrick Kane May Play Together

Thus far, Tarasenko, with 25- to 30-goal potential, is the only new scorer brought in. The Kane re-signing feels like a significant add because it seemed likely he would leave. Kane was a 20-goal scorer, despite starting late. He’s capable of netting 30 if he plays a full season

“Obviously, we’re going on Tarasenko to add to that (goal total),” Yzerman said. “Just looking internally, we expect a little more out of Lucas Raymond. Alex DeBrincat, his shooting percentage for his career was down a little bit last year.  The great scoring chances that he had, hit the bar and went out. We think that’ll contribute a little more. I think his expected goals will turn into goals next year and his numbers will go up.”

The Red Wings anticipate Berggren to claim a roster spot and he has 20-goal potential.

“On the back end, Erik Gustafsson will contribute to some of the offense lost with Shayne Gostisbehere and Jake Walman goals,” Yzerman said. “Ultimately, hopefully we can keep a few more out of the net and that maybe it nets out in a positive way.”

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Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman is talking to all of his unrestricted free agents, even though he knows he can’t re-sign them all.

“I can’t guarantee we’ll sign any of them, but we have interest in signing them,” Yzerman said Friday in a pre-draft session with the media.

The Red Wings are now entering the phase of their rebuild where their salary cap position is heavily influencing on their buying power.

“I think it’s safe to say Lucas (Raymond) and Moritz Seider, their contracts are going to go up significantly, and that’s going to take up a major portion of our cap,” Yzerman said.

If you project Simon Edvinsson, Albert Johansson and Jonatan Berggren making the team in the fall, Yzerman has just over $27 million for seven more players. (Berggren isn’t signed but we penciled him in for roughly $800,000).

Seider and Raymond could cost Yzerman around $17 million in cap space on long term deals. That doesn’t leave much for the last five players, especially when you consider that Patrick Kane can probably command at least $5.5 million.

Staying in Contact With Kane

“I’ve talked with Pat Brisson who represents Patrick,” Yzerman said. “We’ve talked again with all of our free agents, not just Patrick, and explained my situation and have a feel for what they’re thinking of. And we just pretty much all agreed, let’s stay in touch. And this is a busy week. Not just a busy week for the draft, but a busy week trying to see if we can put some of these pieces in place.”

This would be easier for Yzerman if he could get Seider and Raymond signed first, but there is no indication that anything is close.

“I guess I’m just gonna have to work around it,” Yzerman said. “Ultimately, I can’t force anything. They’ll get done in due time. I’d prefer to have them done, but to be quite honest, I don’t anticipate that happening at this stage. And we’ll just work around it and make decisions along the way, fully aware of that we’ll try to get them under contract or plan to get them under contract at some point.”

Yzerman could trade a veteran, or buy out a player, to give him additional cap space. Defenseman Justin Holl is the most likely player to move. Kane, Shayne Gostisbehere and David Perron would seem to be the UFAs the Red Wings need, or want, the most.

“Ultimately, it’s going to come down to term and dollars,” Yzerman said.  “We have to make this all fit. As you know, I think it’s safe to say Lucas and Moritz Seider, their contracts are going to go up significantly, and that’s going to take up a major portion of our cap. And I have to be aware of that and I have to plan for that. So that’ll limit what we can do in other areas.”

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DETROIT — The Red Wings’ defense situation for next season is complicated. With Simon Edvinsson showing this spring that he’s ready to play in Detroit full-time, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman now have seven defensemen under contract.

The Red Wings also have Albert Johansson playing well for the Grand Rapids Griffins. He won’t be waiver-exempt next season. That means he must make Detroit’s roster or go through waivers to be sent down to the Griffins. He is a quality young defender with a penchant for sharp outlet passes. He won’t clear waivers.

All of that makes it more challenging to bring back soon-to-be-unrestricted free agent Shayne Gostisbehere next season. But Yzerman made it clear Friday that he plans to try.

“I’d like to see if we can figure out a way to do it,” Yzerman said. “He’s a valuable player for how we’re set up on the back end.”

Gostisbehere was Detroit’s No. 1 point man on a much-improve power play. He has 10 goals and 56 points this season.

“A different player that adds to our defensive corps,” Yzerman said. “You need to be good defenders but you also gotta have some defense that generate offense and play on the power play. He was good at that. It is something I would like to consider, strongly consider. Contract aside, it’s making all this fit. One fitting into the cap. I’m probably comfortable carrying eight defensemen.”

The seven defenseman under contract includes Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Simon Edvinsson, Jeff Petry, Olli Maatta, Justin Holl and Jake Walman.

Wants UFAs To Return

Yzerman said he is interested in talking to all of his UFAs (Gostisbehere, Patrick Kane, Christian Fischer, David Perron, Daniel Sprong, and James Reimer), but he may not have enough cap space. The priority signings have to be rising young stars Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond who are restricted free agents.

If they re-sign Gostisbehere and promote Johansson that would be nine defensemen. It seems likely that he will try to deal one of his defensemen, maybe Justin Holl. He has two seasons left on a deal worth $3.4 million. Maybe it won’t be easy to move him, but teams are always looking for veteran defensemen. Maybe it will require Yzerman to add a sweetener, like retaining a small portion of his salary. That would be preferable to buying him out.

And all of this will be happening while Yzerman is looking for his team’s defensive play to be significantly improved next season.

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