After Part 1, which discusses how the Detroit Red Wings should manage the NHL Expansion draft, the NHL Entry draft, and free agency, here’s where the Wings would stand entering the 2017-2018 season:
- The Wings have lost one of Justin Abdelkader/Darren Helm to Las Vegas in the expansion draft
- The Wings have re-signed Tomas Tatar to a three-year, $13.5 million deal ($4.5 million AAV), Xavier Ouellet to a two-year, $2.5 million deal ($1.25 million AAV), and Andreas Athanasiou to a two-year, $5 million deal ($2.5 million AAV)
- The Wings have parted ways with Robbie Russo, Drew Miller, Ben Street, and Joe Vitale
If all holds true, the Wings will enter the 2017-2018 season with a cap hit of $72,450,000 for their 23-man roster, regardless of whether or not they lose Helm or Abdelkader based on how Johan Franzen’s long-term injured reserve benefit is calculated.