Quick Hits: The Free Agent Frenzy Edition
In Red Wings Land
Yzerman brings practicality, small moves to first July 1 as Wings GM | MI Hockey
“I thought the shorter-term deals made the most sense for us at this stage, hence we signed three players on two-year contracts…they are all designed to help us immediately but our hands aren’t necessarily tied to long-term contracts.”
This is a smart decision by Steve Yzerman and the Red Wings.
...we have options but we’re looking for someone, play-making, can play on the power play, so we wanted to add a centerman and that allows the coach to put Andreas Athanasiou back to the wing.
Okay... so the return of Valtteri Filppula means Athanasiou goes back to the wing. Do they play together? What could the lineup potentially look like?
Bertuzzi-Larkin-Mantha
Athanasiou-Filppula-Zadina
Hirose-Nielsen-Svechnikov
Abdelkader-Glendening-Helm
On Nemeth: “He’s a big, strong, solid defensive defenseman. He kills penalties well, defends well, he’s a heavy body, and we felt playing with Mike Green or Filip Hronek, he’s going to be a very good partner for that type of player – a puck mover, offensive right-handed shot guy.
Okay, now the defense...
DeKeyser-Green
Nemeth-Hronek
The third pair is whomever is on the roster and not hurt? Fun to speculate, but so much can change between now and opening night.
Speaking of being hurt...
Union Dutchman/ @DetroitRedWings prospect Jack Adams (@J_Danglefest2) fully tore his ACL and MCL on the last day of development camp after a knee on knee hit. He told me Surgery is in a month. Full recovery expected.. 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/9Qp35E18WQ
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) July 2, 2019
That’s a bummer.
Around the League
Winners and losers of the first day of NHL free agency | ESPN
New York Rangers? Colorado Avalanche? Dallas Stars?