Tyler Toffoli, W/Winnipeg Jets
If the Red Wings wanted to add even more power to their lineup, or if they were looking to swap out one unrestricted free agent and upgrade with another, Tyler Toffoli would do two awesome things. For one, he would help Detroit score even more goals, and for another, the 32-year-old wouldn’t be in town long if he was okay with signing a shorter deal for between two and three years.
His current contract carries an AAV of $4.25 million, slightly less than that of his previous deal. For a player who registered over 70 points just once in his career, it’s hard to see his overall AAV trending north, though it could happen if any specific team wanted him in their organization badly enough. But if he’s affordable this summer, Steve Yzerman could have a good value signing here that wouldn’t get in the way of a prospect for too long.
Tyler Johnson, C/Chicago Blackhawks
Should the Red Wings seek more depth scoring, and if someone like Tyler Toffoli is out of their range this July, Tyler Johnson is one of two solid consolation prizes in the Central Division. Despite playing for a poor Blackhawks team, Johnson still tied for fourth in the lineup with 17 goals, and his 15.2 shooting percentage ranked second out of all players who saw ice time in at least 65 games.
Johnson has also played for some strong Tampa Bay Lightning teams in the past and has even been a sound defensive forward throughout his time in the NHL. He’s an ideal player to insert onto the bottom-six, the third line more than anything else, and let him play his game.