Analyzing the Detroit Red Wings RFAs Before Free Agency

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.

Jakub Vrana

Age: 25

2021 Stats

GP: 50

G: 19

A: 17

PTS: 36

2021 Salary: $3,350,000

Status

Jakub Vrana will be signed to a long term deal by the Red Wings.  He was the cornerstone to the Anthony Mantha deal just before the trade deadline.  Vrana scored eight goals in his 11 games for Detroit.  He also played exceptionally well for the Czech Republic at the recent World Championships.

Prediction

Jakub Vrana signs a five-year contract for $27.5 million with an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

Filip Hronek

Age: 23

2021 Stats

GP: 56

G: 2

A: 24

PTS: 26

2021 Salary: $714,166

Status

Filip Hronek is just completing his entry level deal.  Yzerman is in no rush to sign Hronek to a long term deal.  This arrangement may go to arbitration much the same as Tyler Bertuzzi last year.  Hronek definitely deserves a substantial raise in salary as he was the Red Wings top scoring defenseman this year.  He also played an important role for team Czech Republic at the recent World Championships.

Prediction

Filip Hronek goes to arbitration and is awarded a one-year contract for $3.0 million.

Michael Rasmussen

Age: 22

2021 Stats

G: 3

A: 9

PTS: 12

2021 Salary: $894,166

Status

Michael Rasmussen has just completed his entry level deal with the Red Wings.  This season, Rasmussen established himself as a dependable number 2-3 center behind Dylan Larkin.  Steve Yzerman will sign Rasmussen to a bridge deal so that he can avoid salary arbitration.  This deal will allow both the team and Rasmussen the chance to see his true worth as a player prior to becoming an UFA.

Prediction

Michael Rasmussen signs a three year bridge contract for $4.5 million with an annual cap hit of $1.5 million.

Dennis Cholowski

Age: 23

2021 Stats

GP: 16

G: 1

A: 2

PTS: 3

2021 Salary: $894,166

Status

Dennis Cholowski has just completed his entry level contract.  At this time, Cholowski has had a difficult time establishing himself as a regular on Detroit’s blueline.  In three seasons, Cholowski has only played 104 game games for the Red Wings.  General Manager Steve Yzerman may choose to expose Cholowski in the Expansion Draft.

Prediction

Dennis Cholowski signs a two year bridge contract for $2.5 million with an annual cap hit of $1.25 million.

Gustav Lindstrom

Age: 22

2021 Stats

GP: 13

G: 0

A: 3

PTS: 3

2021 Salary: $775,833

Status

Gustav Lindstrom has just completed his entry level contract.  He has only played 29 games for Detroit while on this deal.  He is dropping on the right defense depth chart as other players establish themselves as superior prospects.  General Manager Steve Yzerman may choose to expose Lindstrom in the Expansion Draft.

Prediction

Gustav Lindstrom signs a two year bridge contract for $2.0 million with an annual cap hit of $1.0 million.

Givani Smith

Age: 23

2021 Stats

GP: 16

G: 1

A: 3

PTS: 4

2021 Salary: $714,166

Status

Givani Smith just concluded his entry level contract.  The jury is still out on Smith.  He has the potential to be a bottom six power forward or he could end up being selected by Seattle in the Expansion Draft if left unprotected.

Prediction

Givani Smith will earn a bridge contract of two years for $1.8 million with an annual cap hit of $900,000.

Evgeny Svechnikov

Age: 24

2021 Stats

GP: 21

G: 3

A: 5

PTS: 8

2021 Salary: $874,125

Status

Placed on waivers twice this past season and not selected, Evgeny Svechnikov is running out of time to impress the Detroit front office.  The former first round selection from 2015, Svechnikov has only played 41 games at the NHL level.  He will most likely be left unprotected in the Expansion Draft.

Prediction

Evgeny Svechnikov will earn a bridge contract of two years for $1.8 million with an annual cap hit of $900,000.