UPDATE:
Earlier we wrote about the Red Wings being contenders for Trevor Daley. Well, it looks like things have progressed quite a bit today. Free agency doesn’t officially open until Saturday and technically teams and players aren’t supposed to discuss term and salary during the current negotiation period, but according to Elliotte Friedman, Daley and Detroit seem to have come to an agreement.
A look at some of what’s going on out there: https://t.co/eMpP6rwDr9
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 29, 2017
DEFENCEMEN
Two that seem close — if not done — are Trevor Daley (Detroit) and Dan Girardi (Tampa Bay).
If Daley is indeed coming to Detroit, the questions that remain are the most important: how many years and for how much?
Let the silly season begin.
The other day it was initially reported the Red Wings are interested in adding a free agent defenseman or two. This morning we got a little more information about just who they’re in the running to sign.
Boston and Detroit both contenders for the services of UFA D Trevor Daley.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) June 29, 2017
I’ll just come out and say it right away… I’m not completely against the idea of Trevor Daley signing in Detroit. Quite frankly, I’m open to most options. It’s really just a matter of being concerned with Ken Holland signing someone to a deal that’s too long and/or for too much money. It’s a broken record at this point. It’s been discussed a ton that signing a vet to a one year deal that can be flipped at the trade deadline is a great idea. However, I think competition and a shallow free agent market for defensemen will make that difficult. Someone is going to offer more term to sweeten their offer.
Daley put up 19 points in 56 games last season with the Penguins and played a big role for Pittsburgh on their way to a 2nd straight Stanley Cup. Daley’s point total would’ve been second among defensemen on the Red Wings behind Mike Green (36 points). It’s hard to argue that Daley wouldn’t help the Wings blue line, but it needs to be a smart deal that doesn’t further clog up the already bad salary cap situation in Detroit.
