DET will be offered first cause they were last right?

I could see it happening. It's really hard to gauge Johnson's value. Apparently Tampa will buy him out if he doesn't get claimed so I'd love to see Yzerman target him in free agency for less term/money.

No. Too much money for too much term.

He’s on regular waivers not unconditional so I’m assuming he’s going to the minors if he doesn’t get picked up

Correct!

That's the thing even if you want him, you could wait a possible buyout, get him a bit cheaper with less term. The thing is you'd be competing with 29 other teams if TJ is bought out. So you can claim him if you are the Wings and guarantee the asset but won't be able to flip him at the deadline with that contract.

Exactly! I figured DET won't be his first choice so that's why for them I think they have to claim him to get him. Although, there is the Yzerman connection...

I’d be okay if Wings claimed him if they leave him unprotected and he gets picked by Seattle.

No way the wings take him , that contract and his diminishing returns. They can sign ufa forwards that would be better for that cash .

That’s the thing.
Seattle, I’m sure would take him.
He’s a versatile player, can play anywhere in the lineup. Coaches love that and why you look at players like Bergeron even at 37 yrs old, a good possibility for Team Canada at the Olympics in 2022. TJ. Overpaid but he still produces and is responsible.

He would simply be a place holder. The more I think about it, the more I think the Wings should take him.

Maybe, maybe, the Wings get something for him at the deadline IF this worst kept secret in hockey (TJ to the Kraken, the local Spokane product) is know around the league.
You could trade a pick for TJ’s versatility on a playoff run for a contender and then leave him exposed or trade him to the Kraken.

I think it’s a decent plan for the Wings. It’s not like it’s an insane amount of money. It’s the term but expansion could fix that. I think in any other year absolutely not but this carrot of expansion makes TJ palatable. Maybe.