Breaking: Red Wings sign in a $32.8 million mega star in a blockbuster deal……

The Detroit Red Wings’ available cap space of $32.8 million is a misleading number to say the least.

It’s not enough space to do what GM Steve Yzerman would like to do. The problem is that roughly $17 million of that total is going to go new contracts for restricted free agents Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond. It could even end up being a bit more than that. They are crucial to the rebuild. The team wants to tie them up for eight seasons.

Another $4.2 million is going to Joe Veleno (RFA), Jonatan Berggren (RFA), rookies Simon Edvinsson ($894,000) and Albert Johansson ($775,000). The latter two are penciled in for next season.

Detroit would then have five roster spaces to fill and about $11.6 million remaining. That won’t be sufficient to re-sign David Perron, sign a free agent like Steven Stamkos or Jonathan Marchessault, sign defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere, and use two additional youngsters like Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur.

Although the Red Wings would prefer to keep Patrick Kane, it seems unlikely that they will re-sign him given his insistence on a multi-year contract.

They want Gostisbehere because he helped their offense develop and gave their power play a significant boost the previous season. Given Yzerman’s friendship with Stamkos from their time together in Tampa, the Red Wings seem to have a chance to sign him should he decide to leave the Lightning. Marchessault is a proven scorer if they can’t get Stamkos. Because Perron contributes some scoring and has a great, positive dressing room presence, the Red Wings want to keep him.

By moving defenseman Jake Walman and giving up a prospect, the Red Wings were able to boost their cap room. Many fans were not pleased with the decision. Other methods to raise cap space include the following:

Exchange or Purchase Justin Holl
A trade for Holl or a buyout of his contract are the most likely outcomes. At $3.4 million, he has two years left. In the event moving Jake Walman required the Red Wings to forfeit a second-round pick. How much would Holl’s relocation cost? But the squad would have more freedom to do as they pleased with that extra $3.4 million.

For four years, a buyout would cost $1.33 million annually. It would free up almost $2 million in cap space. But to fill Holl’s roster spot with a minimum wage player would cost roughly $775,000.

Go ahead. Veleno Joe
With rights to arbitration, Veleno might earn $2 million year. Veleno can move quickly up and down the lineup and is a dynamic forward. He’s liked by the Red Wings.

Veleno was probably easier to trade than other players. The savings might be put toward signing a free agent by the Red Wings.

Acquire Andrew Copp
Copp is a defensive player for the Red Wings, and he will receive $5.65 million a year for the following three seasons. Due to his salary, Yzerman would not be able to move him.

For six years, his buyout will cost $1.9 million every season. It is difficult for a team to accept given that they will have little cap space for the foreseeable future. However, this season would see a $3.7 million save. They might be able to land Stamkos with that. It doesn’t appear likely, though, that the Red Wings would acquire Copp.