It’s time for another batch of NHL rumours for your work week. We’re rapidly approaching the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, teams are already thinking about the off-season and how lineups will look next season. A number of teams need to take stock of what they need for the 2024-25 campaign. The two teams we’re referring to are on the fringe of Stanley Cup Playoff contention. However, they might need some improvements next season. Today’s NHL rumours focus on the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Detroit Red Wings
Rumour: Max Bultman of The Athletic said the Red Wings might be in the market to make a few upgrades on the blueline this off-season.
The Red Wings lost again Friday, their third straight on this road trip. Results elsewhere are keeping them afloat, but what has their crunchtime skid really meant for the playoff race, and their future? https://t.co/NL3A0MFSjY
— Max Bultman (@m_bultman) March 29, 2024
Analysis: The Red Wings are fighting for their playoff lives after holding a spot for most of the season. One of the major issues has been defensive depth. Moritz Seider has been playing well for most of the season. However, there are some concerns that he’s been overworked and starting to wear down.
In a previous edition of NHL rumours, we’ve talked about how re-signing Seider is likely the first priority for general manager Steve Yzerman. However, there may need to be more additions to shore up the rest of the back-end.
Shayne Gostisbehere can put up points from the blue line. However, there’s some defensive risk to his game. Justin Holl also has two years left on his deal at $3.4 million and has been a healthy scratch. Jeff Petry has struggled at times this season and become the scapegoat of choice among the Detroit fan base. The Wings do have seven of their eight current blueliners under contract for next season.
Does Yzerman run it back with the same group? Can the Red Wings actually make a change this off-season?
St. Louis Blues
Rumour: The Athletic’s Jeremy Rutherford said the Blues might undergo a retool in this coming off-season.
Blues mailbag, Part 1
– What will Armstrong do this summer?
– Will there be a buyout?
– Trade Binnington while stock is high?
– Realistic ceiling for Neighbours?
– Which Blues prospect will be next All-Star?https://t.co/weqKCAqrd9 #stlblues— Jeremy Rutherford (@jprutherford) March 29, 2024
Analysis: St. Louis has done well to get itself back into the Stanley Cup Playoff race. The team has a critical matchup against the Nashville Predators on Thursday that could decide their playoff fate. Despite the positives since the hiring of Drew Bannister, general manager Doug Armstrong may make some moves in the summer.
Rutherford points out that it’s likely that forwards Sammy Blais and Kasperi Kapanen won’t return for the 2024-25 campaign. Defenceman Marco Scandella might not get a new deal with the Blues. However, don’t rule out a possible new contract for the veteran if Armstrong can move out a couple of blueliners. Scandella would likely have to take less than his current $3.25 million if he does wish to stay with the Blues.
Armstrong likely doesn’t want to tie up the salary cap with a buyout. Doing a buyout on one of the defencemen deals that he has would likely leave dead money on the salary cap for the next five or six seasons. The salary cap is probably going up each of those years, but it’s still dead money on the books.
One of the names that springs to mind is Torey Krug. He’s got three more seasons with a $7 million cap hit each of those years. It wouldn’t make much sense for the Blues to have Krug’s dead cap hit on the books for six seasons when there are only three years left.
A trade may be Armstrong’s best way out, but he may have to attach a sweetener to find a trade partner. The Blues can still be competitive during this retool, but they could tear it down further than some people think. Armstrong has plenty of decisions he needs to make this off-season.
Main photo by: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
