Who should be the highest-paid player on the Red Wings for 2024-25?

As I write this, we’re still waiting to see how much Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond will affect the Detroit Red Wings cap hit. But considering that nobody on the Wings will make over $9 million as far as the overall cap hit goes, there could be a chance that one of the two will end up pacing Detroit for 2024-25.

Last week, I talked about how the future contracts of Seider and Raymond could affect the Red Wings average salary projection. I wouldn’t think Raymond as much as I do Seider, so if you’re reading this article after the duo sign their respective deals, expect the latter to at least be in strong contention for that No. 1 spot. 

Now the question bodes, Who is currently sitting at No. 1 here in early August? The answer to that question is Dylan Larkin, whose $8.7 million cap hit is nearly $1 million above everyone else’s on the team. Only Alex Debrincat, $7.875 million, comes close to Larkin, and nobody else has a cap hit of over $6 million. Though the latter will inevitably change once general manager Steve Yzerman inks Seider and Raymond. 

Dylan Larkin, Moritz Seider deserve to be the Red Wings highest-paid players 

Whether Dylan Larkin remains in the top spot or if Moritz Seider passes him, it shouldn’t matter: Both deserve to be the Red Wings highest-paid players in 2024-25. Larkin is the game-changer at forward, something that he may have dramatically augmented last season if it wasn’t for an injury late in the year that kept him out for an extended period. 

Seider can do just about anything, from putting up over 22 minutes per contest to making big plays in the offensive zone and landing ultra-hard hits in the defensive zone. Overall, they’re a pair of cornerstones to what should be a tough Detroit Red Wings team heading into 2024-25. 

By the time Seider signs his contract, he will, or should, rank No. 2 on the team at the absolute least, while Larkin either maintains the top spot or drops to second on the team. Oh, and I also wouldn’t count out Lucas Raymond, as he could be on the cusp of transforming into the Wings most productive forward this season.