Going into the offseason, the Detroit Red Wings have two (now three) needs they have to address: depth scoring and centers. One is much easier to address, while the other is far more complex.
The simpler of the two - the depth scoring - can be solved in a variety of ways. The Red Wings have plenty of prospects chomping at the bit for a chance at the NHL. They've also got plenty of older veteran players that are so underwhelming it might require some drastic solutions.
Should the Red Wings choose to buy out a player like Michael Rasmussen, there are quite a few easy replacements they can find for him.
The most notable candidate to keep an eye on is fellow 2017 draftee and Seattle Kraken forward Eeli Tolvanen.
How Eeli Tolvanen is an upgrade over Michael Rasmussen
For those especially frustrated with Rasmussen's recent season, they might look at anything as an upgrade over him. Fortunately, Tolvanen brings much more to the table than a pitiful 14 point season. The Finnish forward finished his most recent season with 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points in 78 games with the Kraken.
If those numbers don't leap off the page, it's important to note that the Kraken had an absolutely putrid offense, sporting a -37 goal differential. (Detroit's, for reference, sat at -17).
Just 19 of Tolvanen's 92 career goals have come on the power play. This season, two thirds of his production came on the power play. The Red Wings are in desperate need of even strength scoring. Having a depth guy like Tolvanen who can shoulder some of that burden will go a long way with the future.
Tolvanen is a consistent 35-40 point depth forward, hitting that mark (and exceeding it) over his last three seasons. Rasmussen, on the other hand, has only produced over 30 points once in his career. If the Red Wings truly hope to make their bottom-six better, there are few free agent candidates capable like Tolvanen.
Why the Red Wings may shy away from Tolvanen
That said, there's always a chance general manager Steve Yzerman stays away from Tolvanen. The main argument against the Finnish forward comes from the current roster makeup. Why give a spot to a free agent when you could fill that void with a prospect? Younger players like Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, Nate Danielson and Carter Bear will be knocking on the door next season. It might not make sense to give Tolvanen a deal if they hope to push for a full youth movement.
As of right now, AFP Analytics has Tolvanen set to sign a $3.6M a year, two year deal. This would be an extremely low risk buy, but, as mentioned earlier, might block a prospect from making his debut.
It will ultimately depend on what direction the Red Wings take this offseason.
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