I’ll be honest Zetterberg will retire a wing next year after his “back give out” as he will only make $1 mill in his last 2 years. Also highly doubt they’re looking to move the first round picks unless they’re getting a 20 year old top end defenseman. If your just looking for a 2nd line left winger I’d say Nyquist would be affordable

If Zetterberg retires, doesn't Detroit get hit by huge cap recapture penalties (that contract is just textbook cap circumvention lol)? I agree that they don't need to make this trade but wouldn't it be more logical to LTIR him?

That’s exactly what will happen. He won’t be officially retired his back will just “give out” and he will LTIR for the final 2 years, very similar to Hossa and his skin condition or other players and concussions.

The league will almost certainly start to crack down on the bogus "Hossa" claims. With a CBA coming up, this is high on the list of both some owners and the players' union, since it messes with the cap when teams game the system.

The way I see it Detroit has about $21M to sign 8 players. Larkin is going to take $6M at least, Mantha $4M at least and Athanasiou likely $3.5M or so. So that leaves about $7M to sign 5 players. Freeing themselves of Zetterberg would make that more like $13M for 6 players, which means the Wings can be competitive in trying to shore up the D with a UFA or two. Otherwise, the Wings are signing Larkin, Mantha and AA and then still sucking for another year or two.

If they don't trade away the old guys, I'd take a run at Mantha and Larkin with offer sheets. There's no way they could sign them both and not blow the cap.

It's not just Larkin, Mantha and AA. The Red Wings also need to extend the contracts of Nyquist and Howard. Neither will get a huge raise, but it's a drain on cap nontheless. I assume they'll let Kronwall walk/retire, but

Z has had back issues in the past I’m just calling it now. Holland has already said something about rebuilding. Mantha and AA are going to get a bridge deal of 2 years 7-7.5 between them. Larkin will probably get a 6.5 for 8 year type deal. Bert will probably get something like 1.25 for 2. They’ll have a few kids coming up like Rasmussen, and Svechnikov to come up for the top 9 and they have a kid or two coming up for the 4th line. There are also more kids coming up for the blue line. One was a top blue line AHLer and another was a first round pick plus this years higher pick will either be a top 6 talent or a top 4 D. The kids will be coming up as part of the rebuild.

Wings fans have accepted the rebuild thanks to Holland’s poor contract signings

Z & Kronner will retire RedWings they're valued leaders to teach the kids how to be pros.. Wings WILL NOT trade picks let alone 1st rd picks unless they can get an Erik karlsson doughty type d man back..now word is AA can be had for right price obviously Nyquist etc...Howard prob stays too not ripping your post just wings management view from real insiders that's the plan ..keep leaders bring couple kids in each year unless they can add an elite stud.. The process continues & won't change whether fans like it or not.. They're not buying out guys either ..they are just letting them "bad contracts" expire if no trade takers..clarity.. Z will play unless he REALLY IS UNABLE to play in which he will be franzen'd to LTIR.. Same for kronner will play this last year unless he can't..so NO cap or league penalties will occur

If Holland tries to offer Mantha less than he's worth, a team like AZ or MTL can/should come in with 4x4M and force Holland's hand. If he signs Larkin for that much, he's not supposed to be able to keep the others. That's what I was saying about the NHLPA getting twisted up because, not punishing teams for signing stupid-long contracts like Zetterberg and Toews means these younger guys end up having to take less money on bridge contracts. Holland should have to pay someone to take out his garbage (contracts) if he wants to keep his young kids.