Quoting: DiehardRedWingsFan58
Detroit doesn't need RD help like Russel, So we pass. Nevermind he's LD that plays RD still not interested and i doubt he'd waive to Detroit anyways.
I'm going to hold you to a more in-depth answer. Assume the following:
1. Detroit will not be competitive next season
2. Quality UFA's are not expected to sign in Detroit next season due to them being a bottom-feeding team (ie, TOI > 19min, point-producing, etc.)
3. The Red Wings RFA's are re-signed
4. Free agents aged 36 and older retire
5. Trading key assets is not in the cards for the Red Wings
A quick glance at the Red Wings contracts for next year suggests that Bowey, Hronek, and Nemeth are the only full-time NHL defenders Detroit currently has on the books for next year. Biega is a 7th defender by every means and should be used as such. He probably spends the season rotating in and out with Lindstrom, but I doubt either will be effective in their role and neither will be on the team next season. Cholowski probably makes the team out of camp and the amount of games he actually gets in will likely vary on a multitude of factors. Maybe this season is his first full NHL season. Thus, I imagine the NHL depth chart looks something like this:
Nemeth - Hronek
[] - Bowey
Cholowski - Lindstrom
Biega
Now consider that your only real UFA options are as follows:
- Really overpay Edmundson or Gustafsson in terms of AAV and term
- Overpay Merill, Del Zotto, or Hutton to play more minutes a night than they've ever had
- Sekera?
Given that none of these fit either Yzerman's style of management nor does paying high picks and prospects fit Detroit's timeline, the following conclusion is evident:
Detroit's best option for filling their gap on the blueline is via trading for a short-term solution.
There's a chance a Hjarlmarsson or Marc Staal could shake loose, but they have the same conditions as Russell does. It's likely they cost more in terms of future assets than Edmonton's shot-blocking machine does: Arizona and the Rangers are in much more dire cap situations than Edmonton is. Ian Cole might not be a terrible option if the Avalanche are looking to move on from his salary, but like Zadorov, might come at a cost the Red Wings shouldn't be interested in paying.
I recently did an analysis on Russell over the past three years relative to the top-201 defenders in the NHL (Post #19,
https://www.capfriendly.com/forums/thread/333746&post_id=1478874) which pegged him as the #129th best defender in the NHL. He's in the ballpark of a quality #5 defender, and certainly qualifies as a poor man's #4. For the cost of a bottom-six center that won't fetch much at the deadline, this isn't a terrible trade for Detroit. I'm sure Edmonton wouldn't mind adding a late pick or a B-prospect if necessary.