In the world of hockey, even during the dog days of summer, the NHL rumours never stop swirling. Some may believe that this time of year is a dead period for the league, but there is still plenty of action happening on the hot stove front. One of the biggest topics of conversation during the mid-summer lull in the hockey world is the situation with restricted free agents.
As we near the end of arbitration, there are still some notable RFAs who have yet to sign new deals. Two of the higher-profile RFAs who are still without contracts are on the Detroit Red Wings. It’s time to take a closer look at where negotiations stand with these players.
Both players, Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, are key parts of the “Yzerplan” of General Manager Steve Yzerman. Seider has been a rock on the back-end, while Raymond has been making an impact on the offensive side of things for Detroit.
The Red Wings currently have over $17.6 million in salary cap space, according to Puckepedia. While they have already locked up one of their RFAs in Joe Veleno, they still need to reach deals with Jonatan Berggren, Seider, and Raymond.
There have been rumblings of a potential $8.6 million contract for Seider, a figure that would put him in line with other young defensemen who have recently signed new deals. This would not only secure Seider for the prime years of his career but also leave room for a contract for Raymond.
If the salary cap continues to rise, a deal like this could end up being a bargain for the Red Wings, especially if Seider continues on his current trajectory. It’s clear that Yzerman wants to lock up Seider for the long term, ensuring that the defender’s contract doesn’t become a headache down the line.
As for Raymond, discussions are still ongoing about whether his next deal will be a bridge or a middle-term agreement. The hope is to have both players signed and ready to contribute to the team’s success for years to come. Stay tuned for more updates on the status of talks with the Detroit Red Wings RFAs.