Day One of free agency couldn't have gone better for the Detroit Red Wings. They addressed positions of need, added some toughness and smoothed out the even-strength scoring drought. Best of all, they've still got plenty of cap space (and roster spots) for players down the line.
There are still quite a few free agents available on Day Two, from former Red Wing Anthony Mantha to all-time great Alex Ovechkin. While the latter isn't likely to don the Winged Wheel, a comeback is potentially possible for the former.
Besides Mantha, these three Day Two candidates are perfect for the Red WIngs:
1. Eeli Tolvanen
While the Red Wings addressed a lot of their even-strength scoring with Viktor Arvidsson, adding a player like Eeli Tolvanen would put them over the top. The Seattle Kraken forward scored nearly every one of his points at 5v5 this last season, putting up 36 points in 78 games last season -- 22 of which came at even-strength.
Tolvanen isn't going to be a top forward for the team, but he adds extra depth to the bottom-six and is a clear upgrade over, say, Michael Rasmussen. The more even-strength scoring the Red Wings add, the farther they depart from the problems they faced last season.
2. Patrick Kane
At this point in his career, everyone knows what they're getting out of Patrick Kane. The legendary American forward ended last season with 57 points in 67 games, good for fifth in team scoring. He'd almost certainly slot right back into the team's top-six, providing Alex DeBrincat with a little extra chemistry and giving the team some more offense to work with.
That said, every year, Kane takes a little step back. Sometimes it's a tiptoe, other times it's a huge leap. His defensive lapses, coupled with a few boneheaded plays last season, make him a top candidate for regression. At this point in his career, he'd be best served on a "two kids and an old goat" line, but the Red Wings would likely play him on the top-six again.
3. Patrik Laine
Perhaps no candidate in free agency this year is poised for a bounce back season like Patrik Laine. The Finnish forward suffered an injury-shortened season last year, putting up just one point in five games with the Montreal Canadiens. Despite this, he's a consistently reliable goal-scorer that can take on power play minutes as needed.
With the inevitable departure of Dylan Larkin, the Red Wings need all the help they can get on the offensive end of things. Signing Laine to a low-risk, one-year deal gives the team an extra goal-scoring threat they can throw at any situation. If he pans out, they can either trade or extend him. If he doesn't, the contract will likely be short enough to either bury him or scratch him most nights.
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