Analyzing the Detroit Red Wings RFAs Before Free Agency
By Chris Giles
The Detroit Red Wings currently have 11 Restricted Free Agents (RFA) that General Manager Steve Yzerman has to make decisions on. An RFA by definition in the NHL is a player whose rights are held by their team for a minimum of seven years or age 27, whichever comes first.
On Wednesday, I looked at the unrestricted free agents whose contracts are expiring and who is most likely to come back.
Here is a look at each of Detroit’s RFA’s, excluding Matthias Brome and Christian Djoos, who both signed contracts in Europe and will not be back with the Red Wings next season.
Tyler Bertuzzi
Age: 26
2021 Stats
GP: 9
G: 5
A: 2
PTS: 7
2021 Salary: $3,500,000
Status
Tyler Bertuzzi has one year remaining before he can become an Unrestricted Free Agent. A severe back injury, which limited Bertuzzi to only nine games, may limit Bertuzzi’s bargaining power for his next contract. Does he sign a bridge deal of 2-3 years and hope that his back holds out? Does Yzerman gamble and sign Bertuzzi long term, hoping that the injury to Bertuzzi’s back does not reoccur?
Prediction
Tyler Bertuzzi signs a three year contract for $15.0 million with an annual cap hit of $5.0 million.