Lehner won't sign a 5x6M contract to play for a rebuilding team. I think Detroit will try to speed it up a little bit. They'll pick top 4 this year, which will be a forward. I think Yzerman might try to sign Sergachev to boost the LD. If you get a core like Larkin, Mantha, Bertuzzi, Sergachev and Lehner; with players like Zadina, Veleno, Hronek and Lafreniere/Byfield/Stutzle who'll probably be pretty good in 1 or 2 more years, Detroit might be in the conversation in the final year of Larkin's contract. And they need to give Larkin a reason to stay with them haha. Otherwise Detroit will lose him to free agency I guess

Lehner has been taking this short deals so it’s time he gets a long term one and gets paid. Could be his last deal. I know Carolina has chased him a couple times. They’ll have to dump one of their two to sign him. Reimer going to Detroit with a sweetener could be a good move for both teams. This could be a quick rebuild with a lottery win and a couple good signings down the road

Sure, but not with a bad team like Detroit.

Idk about that. He took a short term deal in Chicago and has to be frustrated that Bob got a huge deal last season and he got left out. I'm not saying spending a ton on him is the right move but I think if you out bid other teams and especially giving him 6 years you can get him.

They have a ton of cap to do it and not even blink. Tough place to play goalie in right now but would be good to reestablish from the back end out. Already have a good future up front

Overall, I think you've got a solid setup. Couple of points:

1. Other than the Bowey contract, I think you are pretty close with everyone else on the RFA side. Bowey did show some improvement after he was demoted, but not enough to earn that raise. He's is a non-tender candidate (but most likely a trade candidate). I think you can add Perlini to the list of RFAs though. I know he didn't do much after his trade, but Steve could get him for below the waiver dump price, and assign him to GR if need be (they'll have several holes to fill in GR as well on the F side).

2. I'm not sure Veleno graduates just yet (he may finish the year in DET though), but I believe Rasmussen will be given every chance to graduate and center the 3rd line. I think your Cs will be (in order): Larkin, Fils, Rasmussen, Nielsen.

3. I think the Honka trade is spot on value-wise. Basically, DET is sliding down a couple rounds to pick a "known" entity, which is in Yzerman's MO.

4. The Lehner debate is interesting. $6mm is on the higher end of his value, but not so outrageous. Would Lehner come to DET? Who needs a 1A goalie? DET, SJS, OTT, BUF are the 4 obvious teams that have G needs, and they are all in the same boat rebuild-wise (though, after this draft, those fortunes may change for DET and OTT). BUF is kinda stuck in no-mans land, and SJS is just starting their rebuild (or retool, I think it's rebuild). I had been offering another goalie: Cam Talbot. He can be the 1B to Bernier's 1A (if you look at Bernier's play, he played REALLY well for a VERY bad DET team, numbers be damned). He'd probably come in with a smaller, shorter contract as well (I know cap isn't an issue). While DET doesn't have anyone close prospect-wise to play G, they aren't contending yet either, so your need may change in the future.

5. I think Abdelkader is really a waiver option at this point. Unless something dramatically changes with him, he's been passed over by several players in GR (Smith for sure, Pearson is pretty close as well). Erne would fill some of his role, and Svech needs a spot. Timashov showed a lot in his short time too, which you have him in the lineup.

6. There is going to be a big battle between Seider and Lindstrom. They'll want Seider to graduate, but Lindstrom may be the safe option. I also think they want Cholowski to graduate as well. If they want a "vet" to come up, it wouldn't surprise me if Lashoff is that guy instead of an FA. Known entity in the org/league, spent time with both Seider and Lindstrom, could be more of a mentor for the kids.

Overall, extremely solid. This draft could change things significantly (especially if they get 1OA or 2OA). They are also big on the UFA European market, so that may change this up as well. I don't think DET is as far away from contending as others believe, and help is definitely coming.