The Red Wings Offensive Problems Can Be Solved From Alberta

Could the Red Wings Solution Be In Alberta?

So, this first paragraph may not make a lot of sense to start, but I promise it will. Just stick with here. Do you know the saying ‘high upside’? It generally is used for prospects and players that have a lot of talent but it’s something that has to be reached, right? It’s not something that will come overnight, it’s just saying that his ceiling is super high. Well, that’s exactly what the Red Wings organization is. A high upside organization.

The Red Wings currently have a entire team built around the speed and talent of young guys. But, they aren’t experianced enough in this league to conisder themselves contendors or even a playoff team for that matter. They have to find a way to continue balancing out the youth with veteran players who have had success in this league.

Now, when I say that, I’m sure your questioning what I mean after all we do have guys like Tyler Bertuzzi, Dylan Larkin, Oskar Sundqvist, and potentially, if we bring him back, Marc Staal. But, do we consider that enough? I don’t. That’s why you have to make something happen in free agency and luckily for us, there is a situation brewing in Alberta.

The Calgary Flames have two very talented players that helped lead their team to the playoffs this past season: Matthew Tkachuk and Johnny Gaudreau. I do understand that they also had a Vezina candidate in net in Jacob Markstrom. Furthermore, they also had Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Tyler Toffoli, Noah Hanifin, Rasmus Andersson, and many more talented players on their team. But, Tkachuk and Gaudreau felt like the big reason why they made it as far as they did.

Now, the Flames have a situation brewing. Or I suppose you could also use the term ‘dilemia’. The Flames have a large majority of their team needing new contracts. After going all in this season at the deadline, the Flames now are going to have to pay the price.

With 11 players needing new contracts, just like the Red Wings, the Flames will now have to decide what to do. They are on the cusp of making a Stanley cup run, but they don’t have the cap space to sign all those players back. Especially given the fact that both Tkachuk and Gaudreau are free agents.

So, knowing what situation they are in, is it possible that Gaudreau or Tkachuk could be hitting the free agency market? And if so, could the Red Wings make a run for either of them?