Check out Puckpedia—many of you already do religiously—and start crunching the numbers. Next season, the team has 14 players under contract and roughly $27 million in projected cap space.
Upcoming Free Agents
UFA:
- Patrick Kane
- Christian Fischer
- Tyler Motte
- Jeff Petry
- William Lagesson
- Alex Lyon
- Austin Watson (currently in Grand Rapids)
RFA (Arbitration Eligible):
- Jonatan Berggren
- Albert Johansson
Buyouts:
- Only Justin Abdelkader remains on the books at $1,055,556
- Yamamoto and Husso’s buyouts will be off the books
Potential Call-Ups
- Axel Sandin-Pellikka: Impressive performance in the SHL (10G, 15A in 35 games) and stood out at the WJC (4G, 6A in 7 games). He could go straight to the NHL but might start in Grand Rapids.
- Amadeus Lombardi: Has been limited in games but could follow a similar path to Kasper, potentially starting on the wing.
- Antti Tuomisto: A big right-shot defenseman with 19 points in 40 games. If Petry moves on, he’ll likely compete for a roster spot.
- Shai Buium: A player of high developmental interest, with 15 assists in his first Griffins season. Likely a call-up candidate.
- William Wallinder: A left-shot defenseman praised for his skating (2G, 11A in 35 games). He’ll need to force someone onto waivers to secure a spot.
Other Prospects in Limbo:
- Ryan Cotton & Buchelnikov: Unclear where they fit into the organization’s plans. Cotton could aim for Grand Rapids, while Buchelnikov has a two-year deal that could be bought out.
Developmental Timeline
- Nate Danielson: Strong playmaking ability, might compete with Lombardi for a spot in camp.
- Michael Brandsegg-Nygard: Last year’s first-round pick opted for Sweden over Detroit. Currently producing modestly (5G, 6A). Grand Rapids could be his next step.
The Alex Lyon Question
Lyon has proven himself as a reliable goaltender, but the numbers game complicates things.
- He’ll be 33 by season’s end and has only played 105 NHL games (66 with Detroit).
- He’s never made more than $900K, making this his best shot at securing a multi-year deal and financial stability.
- If he’s open to a 2-3 year contract, Detroit might keep him.
- Cossa is pushing for a call-up, and Augustine is poised for the next step—possibly even staying in college under new rules.
Other Key Players
- Patrick Kane: He’ll decide his own future, but when retirement comes, expect a one-day Blackhawks contract.
- Christian Fischer: His future depends on Grand Rapids’ prospect pipeline, particularly a healthy Carter Mazur.
- Tyler Motte: A prospect may take his spot.
- Jeff Petry: Likely gone, with Tuomisto a potential replacement.
- William Lagesson: Has played just two games—returning seems unlikely.
- Austin Watson: Originally brought in for toughness, but Soderblom has likely taken that role.
- Jonatan Berggren: A different player this season. Unless traded, he’s found his place in Detroit.
- Albert Johansson: Flourishing under organizational changes—Detroit should keep him.
Trade Market Outlook
Detroit is involved in trade discussions, but prices may be too steep. With time left before the deadline and GMs staying active during the Four Nations tournament, things could still shift.
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