One dream, one realistic, and one bargain free agent for the Red Wings to sign in NHL free agency
The Detroit Red Wings won’t end up with much cap space for NHL free agency after they make some key re-signings and extensions, but they’ll sign some talent.
Once they make a few key re-signings, conventional wisdom assumes the Detroit Red Wings will have very little cap space to top into NHL free agency. And conventional wisdom is correct, considering how much Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, among other assets, will cost them to keep.
Luckily for the Wings, they can still make a dent in free agency if general manager Steve Yzerman spends his money wisely. And by that, I mean he spends no more than roughly $4 million on a cap hit for any pending free agent. But it doesn’t mean there isn’t a dream free agent out there who could go for a bargain price and wouldn’t dramatically improve the Wings, especially when they don’t have the puck.
Let’s check out who that dream free agent is, but there’s also room to discuss a more logical signing who should be well within Yzerman’s budget, plus a bargain deal who wouldn’t fare as a half-bad addition.
Dream Free Agent: Nikita Zadorov, D/Vancouver Canucks
Nikita Zadorov is one of a few pending free agents on the Vancouver Canucks blue line, and it would be tough for general manager Patrik Allvin to find a way to keep all of them intact for 2024-25. There could be several odd men out, and Zadorov is no exception despite enjoying a fine season in British Columbia.
But that doesn’t mean he can’t be a dream free agent for a team that needs better play among the blue line. Someone like Zadorov may not flip the rotation’s success, but he would improve the second he signs a deal in a place like Detroit - assuming Steve Yzerman tries to bring the 29-year-old to town.
Zadorov was only on the ice for 29 goals at even strength throughout his 54 regular season games in a Canucks uniform. He can help move the puck and set up plays, something his 48.1 Corsi For, while dipping 50 percent, shows us from his time in Vancouver despite a lower offensive zone starting percentage of 40.5.
No, Zadorov may not hold the ‘dream label’ in the eyes of every fan, but for a team that allowed 274 goals this past season, plenty of those following the Red Wings would more than welcome him to their team’s lineup.
Realistic Free Agent: Jonathan Drouin, W/Colorado Avalanche
This one wouldn’t happen if the Red Wings re-sign Patrick Kane, but until an extension becomes a reality, I’m never one to assume anything. Instead, I’d rather speculate that Steve Yzerman, if he can’t reach a deal with Kane, goes out and brings in a winger whose projected salary is roughly what it would be if he were to re-sign the 35-year-old.
Alexander MacLean of Dobber Hockey has Jonathan Drouin going for a projected cap hit of $2.54 million, something Yzerman should fit into the team’s budget regardless of how much money he dishes out to re-sign Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. Drouin is also younger, and he would give more years than Kane. So if Yzerman can’t or decides not to reach a deal with the seasoned veteran, someone like Drouin makes for an outstanding consolation.
He finished last season with 19 goals and a 15.0 shooting percentage, both of which were good for the second-best numbers of his career. Drouin also had 37 assists, giving him a career-high 56 points, and his performance also earned him a career-best in average total ice time at 18:11.
While the Colorado Avalanche were the best-scoring team in the NHL, it was still remarkable to see that Drouin was on the ice for an outrageous 49 power play goals. And his numbers on the man advantage weren’t anything to brag about, with five goals and 19 points. But either way, his presence at 5-on-4 had more than just a positive effect on the Avalanche.
Bargain Free Agent: Laurent Brossoit, G/Winnipeg Jets
Signing someone like Laurent Brossoit would be used as a last resort should the Red Wings fail to bring in a goaltender via trade, or even a couple of names who would factor in as a 1B. One objection against bringing in Brossoit lies in the fact that he’s never played in over 24 games in a single season and is firmly entrenched as a No. 2 goaltender, but he’s never had the chance to scale up.
Perhaps a place like the Motor City, which would be perfect for Brossoit to try his hand as a 1B should someone like Alex Lyon take over the net and Ville Husso goes elsewhere - just being hypothetical. Sure, he’s only made 72 regular season appearances between 2020-21 and 2023-24, but it’s also been among the best stretches of his career, with five shutouts, a 0.625 quality starts percentage, a 0.915 save percentage, and a 2.39 GAA.
Yes, you can argue that, defensively, the Winnipeg Jets and Vegas Golden Knights are much better teams than the Red Wings. But still, Brossoit has more than paid his dues. He deserves a chance to earn between 35 and 39 starts, and, ideally, it would come with a team that is more than halfway decent.
No, Detroit may not give him much help when they don’t have the puck unless Steve Yzerman addresses the issue. But it’s also fair to speculate Brossoit, even if he doesn’t put up remarkable numbers with more time and on a team with lesser defense, could still fare better than Husso or James Reimer.
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(Statistics powered by Hockey-Reference)