April 24, 2024 | 10:58am ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
RED WINGS READY TO TAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman
With just over $29 million in available salary cap space for the 2024-25 season, the Detroit Red Wings are expecting to have a fairly active summer as they set their sights on the playoffs next season.
Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman told reporters last week he is “disappointed, as most people are,” with falling short of the post-season this year, but is optimistic about the club’s immediate future.
“Overall, I’m encouraged by the progress of the organization and the development of some of our younger players,” Yzerman said. “I’m kind of disappointed, as most people are, at the end of the season here because it was, particularly the last week of the season, incredibly exciting.”
With pending restricted free agents Lucas Raymond and Mo Seider set to eat a big chunk of Detroit’s cap space, the team will still have plenty of room to navigate and build their roster.
Veterans Patrick Kane, David Perron, James Reimer and Shayne Gostisbehere are among the players set to become unrestricted free agents July 1 and Detroit will surely look to hold on to Kane and Perron. But Yzerman acknowledged that some of their younger players could make their case for a fulltime NHL role next season.
“We, as a staff, have to make some decisions with our roster – whether we make changes, whether it’s with younger players coming up,” Yzerman said.
“Looking at some of the younger players within our organization that didn’t finish the season in Detroit, I think there’s potential.”
One player whose future with the Red Wings is in question is forward Jonatan Berggren, who will requires waivers next season. Yzerman indicated he doesn’t expect Berggren “to clear waivers” and the team did dangle him as trade bait this season.
“It’s a bit of a puzzle,” Yzerman said. “We have some restricted free agents who have to sign too that are going to have a significant impact on our salary cap, regardless of whether we go short- or long-term. I have an interest in bringing back all those players to a certain level.”
With Alex Lyon and Ville Husso under contract, Reimer could be on the outs between the pipes. The Wings will evaluate their goaltending position soon, but the objective for Yzerman is to upgrade his roster at all areas, if he can.
“To try to look to see if I can improve our team in any way, and I will look to do that at any position,” he said.