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?
What Would a Contract Look Like?
The Red Wings have a need primarily at the center position, but there always room to improve. And when it comes to sports, I ave always felt that if you can improve, you should improve. That’s always been my modo, and that’s why I feel this article and the idea needs to be talked about.
So, with that being said, let’s take a look at the contracts that they’d be looking at.
Johnny Gaudreau
Johnny Gaudreau will more than likely be looking to get a contract that would pay him in the upper half of the league. However, finding a team that would be willing to pay him as much as he’d be looking for over a multi-year contract is probably slim.
When I say multi-year, I know you just think two years. But when I say multi-year, I’m referring to a 5+ year contract. I feel that, when looking at the history of the game, when you pay a player a big contract when they are 27+ years old, you generally don’t get what you want out of them because they brake down once they hit the 30 year old mark. And, so with that being said, Gaudreau is 28 years old. So, If I was Steve Yzerman, what would I be willing to pay Gaudreau if he hits the free agency market?
Contract Options
Option A: 5 year contract worth $40,000,000($8,000,000 per year)
Option B: 4 year contract worth $36,000,000($9,000,000 per year)
Option C: 6 year contract worth $42,000,000(Front-Loaded Structure)
Matthew Tkachuk
This is the more tricky option in my opinion because Tkachuk is currently a restricted free agent. So, when deciding his worth, you also have to consider what you’ll have to give up in return for him. Which, more than likely, would be two/three years of first-round picks. And, say you decide to do that, they also have the chance to match the contract which makes it that much more difficult. So, here’s my hypothetical situation that I’m basing this off of.
Matthew Tkachuk is a restricted free agent as a 24 year old winger. He signed a contract with the Flames back in 2019 that paid him $1,775,000 per year. Now, he is a star in the league and will be looking for his first star contract. His offer sheet is three years of first-round picks. What do we offer him?
Contract Options
Option A: 8 year contract worth $72,000,000($10,000,000)
The Detroit Red Wings have had enough draft picks come through their system the past couple years, it’s time to make something happen now. Someone that has already established themselves in the league. Matthew Tkachuk is already a star in the league and is only 24 years old. Making him a Red Wings winger that can be a big part of the team moving forward, and who fits the timeline, they should lock him up. This move, I feel, would go down as one of the best moves the organization has made.
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The Detroit Red Wings have a lot going on right now, but what do you think? Would Tkachuk or Gaudreau fit the Red Wings and if so, what would you be willing to pay them?