It’s time for another edition of NHL rumours. We’re getting ready for the start of training camp pretty soon, but the scramble is on to get deals done. There are a number of restricted free agents yet to sign. Some contracts have been taken care of, but there are others that are getting close to the witching hour. One team that’s trying to scramble to get a deal done is the Detroit Red Wings. This edition of NHL rumours focuses on one particular Red Wings defender that’s yet to sign.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Detroit Red Wings Defenceman Contract Update
Rumour: On the season premiere of TSN’s Insider Trading, Chris Johnston gave an update on talks between the Red Wings and defender Moritz Seider. The German blueliner is an RFA, but yet to sign his new deal.
INSIDER TRADING…
– Clock ticking on RFA talks
– CBJ monitoring trade market for forward help
– How NHL clubs will help manage roster selection for CHL/USA Prospects ChallengeMORE: https://t.co/qLGuVNHNJk pic.twitter.com/kULldwL5W3
— TSN Hockey (@TSNHockey) September 17, 2024
Analysis: Detroit General Manager Steve Yzerman has been busy making deals happen already this week. Yzerman has already signed Jonatan Berggren and Lucas Raymond to deals. The former got a one-year “prove it” contract while Raymond got himself an eight-year deal. This eight-year pact is the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement.
Detroit is looking to do the same for Seider, but there have been sticking points in the deal. Yzerman wants to make sure that captain Dylan Larkin is the team’s highest-paid player at $8.7 million per season. It looked like the Red Wings wanted to give an eight-year deal to Seider, but also slot him under Larkin and above Raymond in salary structure.
However, the rising salary cap means that more money could be had sooner rather than later. The cap could jump up another $4 million next season and then steadily increase. Players want to make sure they’re getting the maximum dollar value.
Detroit has nearly $8.75 million in cap space and Seider will probably eat most of that up. However, the Red Wings probably want some flexibility if they need to make a move.
A Happy Medium
Some may think it’s doom and gloom with a deal not getting done. However, that may not be the case. Yzerman told the media that the club is not terribly far apart when it comes to a deal with Seider.
Johnston mentions that both sides might go with a six or seven-year deal for Seider to get him under Larkin’s number. That might be a way to get Seider into the $8 million range and into camp sooner rather than later.
Yzerman and company may have to pony up more down the way, but it might be the play to keep him under Larkin’s cap number and get Seider into camp. The German is the only domino left for this team to put into place, but he’s a significant part of this club.
Detroit does have some good young talent and only just missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season. However, getting a deal done is imperative for both sides. Missing time in training camp can be sometimes hard to make up and the Wings don’t want to risk that.
Main photo by: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
