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With the #Red Wings settling their Arb case with Adam Erne 4 days ago, the club had access to a second buyout window.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) August 19, 2021
As a result, Detroit has opted to buyout 37 year old forward Frans Nielsen.
Buyout Breakdown:
2021-22: $4,250,000
2022-23: $500,000https://t.co/PuBFpDdokW pic.twitter.com/vuFFa24fUe
Yesterday, I was asking about rookies when I asked Seider vs Nedeljkovic for Wings rookie of the year? Today is about as far the opposite as you can go. Frans Nielsen’s time in Detroit is over.
The buyout window reopened due to Adam Erne’s filing for arbitration. Wings will have a 4.25m cap hit this year, but only 500k next season. Nielsen was on his last season of his deal, but Yzerman decided to open up a roster spot and send one of the all time best on the shootout. Nielsen’s game has certainly declined, and it wouldn’t have been a surprise to see him on waivers at some point.
Yzerman continues to open up the roster. This is his second buyout as the GM enters his third season at the wheel. Abdelkader was the first to be bought out, in a move that was almost unanimously praised in the comments section. I think the same will be true for this. The bottom is 6 got much younger after Helm and Glendening left. Now, someone else will have a shot at Nielsen’s roster spot. Sam Gagner is with the team for another season, and newly acquired Mitchell Stephens can also play center. Vladislav Namestnikov has found himself in the bottom 6, and Chase Pearson may compete for the 4th line center spot.
I continue to be impressed with Yzerman’s roster turnover. The defense has had a major retooling, goaltending as well. And now, the bottom 6 is much younger. Rasmussen grabbed the third line center spot, and now the 4th line will look very different this season. The GM keeps trimming older contracts and brining in younger players.
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