Red Wings: A Closer Look at the Cap After Nielsen’s Buyout
Defensemen
The defense looks stronger thank you to the trading for Nick Leddy and the free agent signings of Jordan Oesterle and Wyatt Newpower. Newpower may end up in Grand Rapids, therefore opening up one roster spot for Filip Hronek once he is signed. Currently, the cap hit for the seven signed defensemen is $17.2 million. Once Hronek is re-signed and Newpower is sent to Grand Rapids, the defense salaries will be in the range of $18 million.
Nick Leddy
2021-22 Salary: $5,500,000
2022-23: UFA
Danny DeKeyser
2021-22 Salary: $5,000,000
2022-23: UFA
Marc Staal
2021-22 Salary: $2,000,000
2022-23: UFA
Troy Stecher
2021-22 Salary: $1,700,000
2022-23: UFA
Jordan Oesterle
2021-22 Salary: $1,350,000
2022-23 Salary: $1,350,000
2023-24: UFA
Gustav Lindstrom
2021-22 Salary: $850,000
2022-23 Salary: $850,000
2023-24: RFA
Wyatt Newpower
2021-22 Salary: $800,000
2022-23 Salary: $800,000
2023-24: RFA
Forwards
The Red Wings currently have 12 forwards signed for this season. The salaries of the 12 signed players add up to a cap hit of just over $35.5 million. The addition of Smith after he signs will push forward salaries to just under $37 million, with a million taken off with the buyout of Nielsen.
Dylan Larkin
2021-22 Salary: $6,100,000
2022-23 Salary: $6,100,000
2023-24: UFA
Frans Nielsen
2021-22 Buyout Salary: $4,250,000
2022-23 Buyout Salary: $500,000
Jakub Vrana
2021-22 Salary: $5,250,000
2022-23 Salary: $5,250,000
2023-24 Salary : $5,250,000
2024-25: UFA
Tyler Bertuzzi
2021-22 Salary: $4,750,000
2022-23 Salary: $4,750,000
2023-24: UFA
Pius Suter
2021-22 Salary: $3,250,000
2022-23 Salary: $3,250,000
2023-24: UFA
Robby Fabbri
2021-22 Salary: $2,950,000
2022-23: UFA
Adam Erne
2021-22 Salary: $2,100,000
2022-23 Salary: $2,100,000
2023-24: UFA
Vladislav Namestnikov
2021-22 Salary: $2,000,000
2022-23: UFA
Michael Rasmussen
2021-22 Salary: $1,460,000
2022-23 Salary: $1,460,000
2023-24 Salary: $1,460,000
2024-25: RFA
Filip Zadina
2021-22 Salary: $894,167
2022-23: RFA
Sam Gagner
2021-22 Salary: $850,000
2022-23: UFA
Mitchell Stephens
2021-22 Salary: $737,500
2022-23: RFA
Unsigned Players
The Detroit Red Wings have two unsigned players that are expected to play for Detroit this season. Both Filip Hronek and Givani Smith remain unsigned entering the final half of August. here is a look at what we can expect once both players sign.
Filip Hronek
Filip Hronek just completed his three-year entry-level contract. The deal had an average annual cap hit of $714,166. I believe he’ll sign a new deal in the range of $1.5-2.0 million annually prior to training camp. His new deal will be either two or three years.
Givani Smith
Givani Smith also completed his three-year entry-level contract. His deal also had an average annual cap hit of $714,166. Expect him to sign a new deal in the $1.2-1.4 million range. His new deal will also be in the two to three year range.
Final Thoughts
With 20 players signed and two players remaining un-signed, the Detroit Red Wings currently have the third lowest payroll in the NHL behind Buffalo and Ottawa. The current projected cap hit is slightly over $62 million. After Hronek and Smith are signed, the cap hit will be in the $66 million range. This will leave Detroit General manager Steve Yzerman with just over $14 million in cap space. This space will be required as the salary cap will remain stable for at least this season and an expected increase in the cap of $1 million is expected for the 2022-23 season. Detroit will also have nine UFA’s and two RFA’s next summer. Expect the Detroit roster to remain fluid until the prospects start to filter into the Red Wings roster.
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