Detroit Red Wings: Five players Steve Yzerman needs to move on from

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 21: Andreas Athanasiou #72 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his third period goal with teammates Mike Green #25, Gustav Nyquist #14 and Frans Nielsen #51 during an NHL game against the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena on November 21, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 21: Andreas Athanasiou #72 of the Detroit Red Wings celebrates his third period goal with teammates Mike Green #25, Gustav Nyquist #14 and Frans Nielsen #51 during an NHL game against the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena on November 21, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
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(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Friday the Detroit Red Wings announced they were signing the “captain” the former legend Steve Yzerman to become the eleventh General Manager in franchise history.

Steve Yzerman has proven his worth on the ice that has taken him to a Hall of Fame career after he retired he immediately transitioned into an advisor and Vice President with the Detroit Red Wings front office working alongside his mentor Ken Holland.

He worked in this role from the summer of 2006 until 2010.  At the time the Detroit Red Wings had an All-Star team assembled in their front office.  Ken Holland ran the franchise, Jim Nill and Steve Yzerman both waiting in the Wings with the legendary Jimmy Devellano overseeing the entire group.

During the press conference, Steve Yzerman mentioned he decided to leave the franchise and head to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2010 because Ken Holland had been the teams’ longtime General Manager.  Holland wasn’t on the bubble at that time after winning three Stanley Cups and appearing in back to back Cup finals in 08/09.

Yzerman laughed when he said, Holland was in place and Jim Nill was second in line to become the next GM of the team, and he didn’t expect to have an opportunity to become the Wings GM until he was about 100 years old.  Jim Nill eventually took over the Dallas Stars, and Yzerman headed to Tampa Bay while the Detroit Red Wings started their descend to the bottom of the standings triggering a lengthy rebuild.

Steve Yzerman joined the Lightning in 2010 and started to sculpt a franchise into a perennial playoff team, although they haven’t had much playoff success other than beating the Wings out year after year in the first round and during that period of time the unit is stockpiled with talent.

(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
(Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

A look at some of the better moves Steve made with the Tampa Bay Lightning;

Yzerman acquired Ben Bishop from the Ottawa Senators, and he became a franchise type goaltender until the team needed to clear out some salary to make room for others.  He had a plan, he had Andri Vasilevskiy whom he drafted in the first round, 19th overall in 2012 ready and waiting.  He replaced one franchise goaltender with another, just much younger and cheaper, brilliant.

Yzerman decided it was best for the franchise to buyout the teams’ captain Vincent Lecavalier who had seven years remaining on his eleven-year deal.  That would be a bold move; he had been the teams’ leader and fan favorite.  The Lightning drafted Vinny first overall in the 1998 NHL Entry Level Draft; he finished his career just 51 points shy of 1000.

He drafted Nikita Kucherov in the second round, he drafted Brayden Point in the third round and added Detroit Red Wings killer Tyler Johnson as an undrafted free agent.  Although Victor Hedman and Steven Stamkos were currently in place, Yzerman surrounded them with an abundance of talent.

The Tampa Bay Lightning went out and acquired players such as Ryan McDonagh, Anton Stralman, Dan Girardi, J.T Miller and Ryan Callahan who were all New York Rangers at some point in time.  They blended them with Braydon Coburn and Matthew Carle (who didn’t work out) and the existing team and built a championship caliber team.

Remember Jonathan Drouin?  He was a draft pick of the Lightning but became a distraction and Yzerman sent him down to the American Hockey League to teach him a lesson although he was definitely NHL ready.  When Drouin requested a trade Steve obliged moving him to the Montreal Canadiens for prospect Mikhail Sergachev, who’s become an NHL top four defender but has yet to reach his full potential.

During the Press conference, Friday Yzerman continued to mention there was plenty of work to be done in Detroit.  He said that multiple times as he glanced to his right where Ken Holland was sitting.  He wasn’t throwing shade towards Holland, but it had to be a bit of a slap in the face to his mentor.  He was merely buying himself time; I’m convinced there is no one who wants the Detroit Red Wings to be a contender once again.  He refrained from putting a timeline on how long he expects this rebuild to take but urged us all to remain patient.

That being said we take a look at five players who wore the Winged Wheel last season with Detroit that shouldn’t return next year.

(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Vanek didn’t live up to my expectations last season, and there is simply no need to bring him back next year.

Thomas Vanek is a player I do not dislike.  I was ok when the Detroit Red Wings decided to bring him back last season because I thought a trade market would follow at the deadline in late February, but that failed to happen.

The season before Vanek achieved 24 goals which would have tied for the team lead on the Wings with Anthony Mantha.  While that is an underwhelming number for a team leader, it explains just how bad the Wings were two seasons ago.  I expected 20-plus goals from Vanek which would potentially land the organization a pair of mid-late round picks or possibly a third-round selection from a team trying to add a depth scoring winger.

Although the team was unable to trade Vanek, it did absolutely no harm to the franchise having him around.  There was a point during the season when the Wings effort on the ice was less than underwhelming, and it was Vanek who stepped up in the locker room expressing his displeasure about the energy being left out on the ice.

Young players, one, in particular, Dylan Larkin to exception the speech talking about how important it was to the group that Vanek shouldered the leadership role at that time, in turn, rallying the troops to a come from behind victory that night.  Larkin mentioned although Vanek doesn’t wear a letter on his sweater he was one of the teams’ leaders.

The leadership alone doesn’t warrant a new contract, and the Detroit Red Wings would be wise not to reconcile with Vanek on a new deal with not been able to deal him at this past trade deadline.  In 64 games last year he recorded 16 goals and totaled 36 points while playing with a minus -16 rating.  His CF% was below average at 46.7%.

After seeing a significant dip in his play, I wouldn’t be surprised in the least if Vanek decided to hang up his skates and call it a career.  The only way he hangs around in the NHL for one more season is if he’s willing to sign a one-year deal worth about one-million dollars on a contending team that is looking for some veteran leadership.

(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The big fella had never lived up to his full potential with the Detroit Red Wings, and it’s time the team moves on from him.

I was cautious about using the term “full potential” rather than his full expectations.  The Wings drafted Jonathan Ericsson in the 9th round, 291st overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Level Draft.  The NHL draft doesn’t even go nine rounds anymore; the draft is completed after the conclusion of the seventh round.

So what were the expectations of a big defenseman drafted in the ninth round?  The answer is none.  Jonathan Ericsson has accomplished much more throughout his career than anyone could have ever expected but “time” comes for everyone and Ericsson proved last season his time with the Detroit Red Wings should be up. The 35-year-old 6’4 defender was reluctant to use his body as a weapon which knawed on fans nerves.  At that size we expected big-E to hammer guys making them pay for going to the front of the net, but it failed to happen.

Ericsson has struggled to keep up with the pace of play for numerous years but was exposed often last season.  He is a below average skater, to begin with, but seems to have lost a step with age.  Imagine Zdeno Chara without the massive shot, willingness to be physical and the long reach, and you’ve Jonathan Ericsson.

Both Chara and Ericsson regularly have forwards excel past them making them look like they’ve got two left feet and in today’s NHL players have a lot of speed to burn and slow players are reluctant to get in their way because they will be called for interference.  In no way am I comparing Chara and Ericsson at their prime, Chara is a Hall of Fame defender.  I mean Chara today and Ericsson well, pretty much his entire career.

There won’t be any trade-market for Jonathan Ericsson, so there are only three options which are; to let him play out the final year of his deal next year on the roster but as the seventh defenseman.  The team can place him on waivers where he would not be claimed and would have a choice to report to Grand Rapids or retire.

It would be in the Wings best interest not to include Ericsson as one of the teams’ top six, starting defensemen next season.  With Mike Green, Trevor Daley both entering the final year of their deals both could become trade candidates as the season grows old.  Danny DeKeyser played exceptionally well being paired with Filip Hronek down the stretch last season, and I expect they will remain together.  Dennis Cholowski will have an opportunity to make the roster once again to start the season, and that leaves Madison Bowey, Niklas Kronwall, Libor Sulak, Joe Hicketts, Jared McIsaac and potentially a free agent signing to fill out the remainder of the roster.

There is simply no need for Ericsson on the Detroit Red Wings.  Last season he averaged 17:13 TOI per game and was a minus -10 on the season.  His CF% was absolutely atrocious at 44.1% as he achieved 3 goals and 2 assists over 52 games, he’s gotta go!

(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Justin Abdelkader’s best days were playing alongside the great Pavel Datsyuk, well Pavel isn’t here, and Abdelkader for some reason is still in town.

I’ve said it before, and I can’t help but mention it again, Justin Abdelkader should send a percentage of his contract to Pavel Datsyuk.  Datsyuk earned Abdelkader more money than any agent in the world could have ever imagined.

Ken Holland signed Justin Abdelkader to a seven-year contract extension after back to back good seasons playing a regular shift on Datsyuk’s wing.  The deal is worth an average of 4.25 AAV per season. It’s merely a way too costly deal for a forward playing on the fourth line who also struggles to chip in offensively.

His best days are long behind him, the tread on the tire is wearing thin, and the Detroit Red Wings need to figure out what to do with him.  There are a few options; they could try and find a trade partner for Abdelkader and eat half of his remaining salary over the next four NHL seasons.  I think the team would be hard pressed to find a club willing to add the veteran forward even at a couple million per season especially if the Wings are expecting to receive something in return for his services.

The Detroit Red Wings could merely buy him out of his contract and according to CapFriendly.com to buy out the deal it would work out to 1,145,833 million per season until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season. The first couple of seasons the team would need to pay basically half of the cap hit he’s signed for and then it’s 1.145 million per season until 2027.  It would be something the Wings should strongly consider especially if they are unable to find a trade partner.

Two seasons ago Abdelkader was able to notch 35 points that included 13 goals.  Not a great season by any stretch of the imagination but not nearly as bad of a season this past year was.  In 71 games he recorded 6 goals and totaled 19 points.  He went through a 40-plus game stretch between goals and looked slow as he struggled to keep up with the pace of the game. He played over 15:00 minutes a night, yet his CF% was atrocious at 46%.

(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Michael Martin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Recently I had written an article comparing Weiss to Nielsen, and the similarities are incredibly alarming.  I admit that might seem a little extreme, but it isn’t too far fetched.

Fans Nielsen is another veteran forward, former General Manager Ken Holland signed to a long-term deal with a no-trade clause attached that hasn’t worked out dawning a Winged Wheel on his chest.

When the Detroit Red Wings signed Frans Nielsen, they were losing an abundance of games way of the shootout.  So the team had an opportunity to sign Nielsen when he became an unrestricted Free Agent because he’s tremendous converting his shootout opportunities.  Frans Nielsen owns the second-best shootout rate only second to Washington Capitals forward T.J Oshie.  Oshie’s career percentage is 57.9% while Nielsen’s 57.1% is very respectful.

The Detroit Red Wings can’t buy out all these players, but I decided to see what it would take, and it isn’t that bad if the team decided to go this route.  Per CapFriendly it would save the Wings a total of 3.166 million, and they would be able to pay the 12.583 million over the course of six years rather than fulfilling his 15.750 million owed over the next three seasons.

If the franchise decided to buyout Nielsen they would be saving themselves some money but rather than saving; they are stretching out the money owed over six years instead of three.  I don’t see Steve Yzerman buying out Nielsen; I expect he will fulfill his deal with the Wings primarily skating as an expensive third line center.

I would love to see the newly appointed General Manager find a new home for Nielsen via trade but how many teams are looking for a 35-year-old center that’s making 5.25 million per season over the next three years?  Like most of these bad deals, the Wings would have to retain a large portion of salary in any trade situation.

Last season Nielsen was able to score 10 goals and add 25 assists totaling 35 points and played as a minus -7.  His CF% was simply putrid at 45.3%, and he wasn’t effective in the faceoff circle losing more draws than he won.  For a player being paid like a second line center and producing as if he is a third or fourth line player with such a terrible possession percentage is simply unacceptable.

(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images) /

There could be many different choices here, but I’ve decided to go with a player I really enjoy watching when he’s healthy.

The problem is I only get to enjoy Mike Green cruise around on the ice for about half the season on too much of a regular basis.  Green has struggled to stay healthy over the last two seasons in particular.

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Two trade deadlines ago, Green’s stock was up, but Ken Holland was unable to find anyone to take a chance on the veteran, mobile, right-handed, offensive defenseman.  You would think that list of attributes I just mentioned would have teams lined up hoping to add him to their roster at the trade deadline, yet his neck injury that at the end of the day ended his season shied teams away that were not comfortable adding a banged up veteran stalled all trade opportunities.

At the time Mike Green was a pending free agent and wound up returning to the Detroit Red Wings on a two-year deal, but the injury bug returned once again.  Green struggled to stay healthy this past season, and that should trigger the Wings brass to become a bit eager to deal him this summer.

Green started the season on IR with a liver virus, and like he began the year, he ended it on the IR with the same infection.  Green played 43 games last season for the Wings scoring 5 goals and totaling 26 points.  He was the teams’ best defenseman during the games in which he played.  He was absent during the final quarter of the season when Filip Hronek started to excel.  Hronek had mentioned in the past he models his game around Mike Green, I would have enjoyed seeing the two of them play down the stretch for the Wings.

Green’s CF% was a touch below average, but if you are reading this, you’ve seen the percentages of the other players mentioned in this article and Green’s is the most respectful of the group.  He averaged 21:41 TOI per night for the Wings this year and owned a 49.4% CF.  Keep in mind Green was often matched up against the Wings opponents top line each night.

What should the Wings draft board look like?. dark. Next

I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Detroit Red Wings decided to hold onto Green until mid-way through the season, but I would urge the team to move him when he’s healthy because they should be able to get a decent return for his services and he’s proven he struggles to remain healthy.

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