Follow me on Twitter Follow @TheJeremyLaura
A few days off of games is a bit of a blessing. It’s seemed like a whirlwind to get through January as the team continues to keep their post season alive as they battle through very tough opponents. This season has seen some big changes in the team. Scoring is up, and now Lyon is protecting the net as forwards are acclimating to a stronger back check. That said, most fans know there are young players in Grand Rapids, Jr. Hockey and Europe that are going to hit the ice around August looking to grab a spot. So, what does the rest of the year look like?
Cap Friendly posts the expected available cap space for each team along with LTIR and total roster size. In the offseason one of the player agents complained that the cap has cost around 20 jobs this season. Teams simply don’t have the resources to carry the max roster. We are at the intersection of the CBA and a flat cap world. You can look at next year’s projected cap space and there isn’t a lot. Currently, only 13 teams are set to have more than 1 million available this year as we head to the trade deadline. That means “money in, money out… or some LTIR that will magically clear up the second that cap constraints are lifted for the year.
The easiest response in the world is, “well, raise the cap…. Except that players are still paying for debt from the shutdown with maxed 20% escrow. I debated this with someone who covers sports for a living (and has for a while) but isn’t into hockey. “I’ve never heard of a league where players give money back…. It is incredibly difficult to explain escrow and the 50/50 split to the mainstream pundits of the NFL, NBA and MLB. However, for the cap to go up, if the incoming revenue doesn’t match the raise, it will take more escrow. Players have to vote to raise what they’re paying and now there is media pressure for them to do it.
So, cap space is a coveted asset. Raises are coming and at the same time multiple owners want to cut spending. The positive? More ELC prospects may find starts. The downside, there are veterans who are meeting with an unceremonious end. Each night it seems like Seider is mentioned for being on a pace similar to Lidstrom in different areas. 3rd fastest defenseman to 100 points for Detroit, making strong decisions, and someone the team will want to lock up for as long as possible. Raymond will be the next priority but the urgency to get him locked down isn’t the same as Seider. This feels likely to be a shorter term, bridge type deal.
Here are Detroit’s expiring contracts: Detroit UFA - David Perron (4.75m) UFA - Daniel Sprong (2 m) RFA w/ arb - Rasmussen (1.46m) UFA - Christian Fischer (1.125m) RFA - Lucas Raymond (.925 m) RFA w/arb - Joe Veleno (.825m) UFA - Shayne Gostisbehere (4.125m) RFA - Moritz Seider (.863,333 m) UFA - James Reimer (1.5 m) UFA - Patrick Kane (2.75m) UFA - Matt Luff (.775m)
Grand Rapids RFA w/arb - Jonatan Berggren (.925m) RFA - Albert Johansson (.820) RFA w/arb - Jared McIsaac (.787,500,) RFA w/arb - Wyatt Newpower (.787,500) UFA - Taro Hirose (.850,000 m) UFA - Nolan Stevens (.775,000m) UFA - Zach Aston Reese (.775,000m) RFA w/arb - Tim Gettinger (.775,000m) UFA - Austin Czarnik (.762,500m) UFA - John Lethemon (.787,500m) UFA - Michael Hutchinson (.775,000m)
Take a look at the list. Like many of you, I’d like to see Gostisbehere and Kane come back. I also love the dynamic Perron adds, but this is where it gets tricky. Of those three, Perron may be the easiest to get a “discount… for.
Let me know your thoughts. Is Berggren going to break through or does the team have a different view of the team? Who on the current roster do you see departing, who gets promoted? Put on your GM hat and let’s see if we can get the lineup for next year in these couple of days of.