Team: 2020-21 Detroit Red Wings

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 20, 2020

Published: Jul. 20, 2020

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

This is a team I put together without taking on cap dumps or signing any UFA's. Just to be clear, I wouldn't necessarily make all these moves if we were able to acquire other guys in a cap dump trade or sign some UFA's to fill the same role. This is based on a hypothetical scenario where we are unable to take any pure cap dumps and absolutely no UFA's will sign in Detroit.

TOR Trade:
Johnsson is a guy I'd be willing to take a chance on. If the Red Wings don't acquire any other good forwards this offseason, Johnsson could play a 2nd line role with Detroit. He's still 25 so if he turns out to be a long-term fit, he's still young enough that he could still be around when Detroit is competing for the playoffs again. With consistent top 6 minutes, maybe he turns out like Fabbri and has a boost in scoring after ariving in Detroit.

The Leafs are in cap trouble and it appears as if Johnsson is on the trade block. The Leafs would get a mid-round pick back for him. I know that some Toronto fans will want more back but with the flat-cap I'm not sure if you'll be able to get a 2nd.

VAN Trade:
Detroit needs to add 1-2 NHL LHD this offseason. If we can't add anybody from FA, I think Benn would be a good candidate. Benn is a decent 3rd pair LHD. Many of the better options would require a 2nd/3rd and wouldn't really make sense for rebuilding Detroit. Benn would be a cheap option and is solid defensively which is why I'd take a chance on him. Please, nobody comment about Benn being a cap dump, he's only making $2 million. Also, Benn would be a trade candidate at the TDL given his term and salary. If he plays well in Detroit, we could gain an even higher pick when trading him at the deadline.

With Vancouver's cap situation and Benn being expendable, I think they'll be willing to take this to clear another contract off the books.

PIT Trade:
Detroit would need to acquire another goalie (since we can't sign one in FA) so we might as well take a chance on Murray. He is coming off a bad season so we could buy cheap on him. If he improves back to his former self, than Detroit has their goalie of the future.

Pittsburgh gets a decent offer for Murray and gets to go forward with Jarry. This offer is below market-value but Pittsburgh might make the trade if there aren't any better offers.

Note: In a normal scenario where Detroit could sign another goalie in free agency, I don't think we should trade for Murray. We'd be better off waiting a couple years in case one of our goalie prospects turns out. Also, we'll have a much better team in a couple years which could really help out a goalie rather then putting them in a bad place. If we still need a goalie when we begin to rise back up to a playoff team, we could make a similar trade for a goalie then.

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