first go around on this site...pretty addicting

Team: 2017-18 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 22, 2017

Published: Apr. 22, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

Protected List: Zetterberg, Nielsen, Nyquist, Tatar, Mantha, Athanasiou, Sheahan, Green, XO, Jensen, Mrazek. Leaves all the questionable long term contracts exposed and forces Vegas to either take them or one of Sproul, Russo, Coreau...none of which I'd lose any sleep over. I know they'll probably end up protecting DDK over one of XO and Jensen and one of Abby and Helm over Sheahan but I was told this site is for dreaming so......here we are. Vegas selects Sproul because he's cheap, young, and still has some potential.

From what I've read, unless we win the lottery and get Nolan or Nico, I don't think our first rounder will be NHL ready next season so I have not included him on the roster. Ideally I would like best player available regardless of position. The wings need young talent everywhere.

I realize I have done nothing to the defense. That is mainly because I have no idea on what to do other than draft talent and wait for contracts to expire. I don't think the wings should be trading away futures for someone like Cam Fowler. Maybe Trouba but he'll be even more expensive. I think we have to suffer for a year or two and hope two or three of Cholowski, Hicketts, Hronek, and Saarijarvi pan out.

Same deal with Howard. With this goalie market, I think it's going to be very difficult to move him. And given that we're not going to be contending for a couple years, we don't absolutely need to clear his cap space to sign that one UFA that "makes us a contender" or whatever people like to say. I'd be fine with not getting him moved this summer. That still leaves next year to move or buy out. If it comes down to having to retain a bunch of his salary only to get a late round pick...I'd rather keep him (he was our best goalie last year after all). If VGK takes him, so be it. If we don't get that 2018 5th rounder for him I won't be heart broken.

This roster would set us up to trade Green and Sheahan at the deadline for decent futures. Maybe either Nosek or Bertuzzi play well enough to gather some value at the deadline. Regardless, a successful deadline for me would be moving Green and Sheahan for decent returns.