Let the Young Guys Play

Équipe: 2021-22 Red Wings de Detroit

Date de création initiale: 2 mai 2021

Publié: 2 mai 2021

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I had recently done a third edition of my Ottawa 2021-22 season outlook, and afterward I realized that a similar case could be made for Detroit.

I think Detroit is in a similar place as Ottawa, where they let their young guys start to play together this season and it worked, and they look to be closer to competing than people might have thought. I think the key to next season (like I said with Ottawa) is to continue that trend: not to over-sign vets (they did this this year but still made playing room for younger players), and to continue to let your young core play together and build chemistry.

You might notice that I've signed some quality players to small/short deals (Cholowski, Rasmussen), but that was mostly to avoid both giving them long deals and walking them to UFA status at 25. I also think this helps cap-wise, as they will be up for bigger contracts (along with some RFAs who WILL get long-term deals) after players like Pánik, Namestnikov, Greiss, DeKeyser, and Neilsen expire (they might bring back Namestnikov if they have room).