Report: Trade or Buyout

The Detroit Red Wings are facing many salary cap issues during the 2016-2017 regular season, and general manager Ken Holland isn’t surprised. Despite long-term injured reserve exemptions for Johan Franzen and Joe Vitale, the team will remain above the $73 million mandated salary cap, according to The Bleacher Report:

 

“Probably a million dollars or just a little bit less over the cap if you don't count Vitale and Franzen,” Holland told MLive.com.

While the Red Wings might not be the only team in the NHL dealing with a similar situation, there are still changes that the GM must bring to the team in order to allow them to once again be competitive and squeeze into the Stanley Cup playoffs for a 26th consecutive and final season at the Joe Louis Arena.

There are multiple options that present themselves, such as trading goaltender Jimmy Howard who is off to a great start (2GP, 2W, 0L, .50 GAA and 9.84 SV%). With a $5.29 million cap hit, it would be hard to convince other franchises of his value unless he continues to play consistently well, something that he is up to the task for.

Another option would be a contract buyout, where defenseman Brendan Smith’s $2.75 million hit would be easily digestible for a team looking to offer him a chance to succeed and eventually be re-signed. The problem is Detroit might do well in waiting to see how he performs this season, as it’s his last one in the red and white until further notice.

Jonathan Ericsson’s name is being tossed around as well, but the 32-year-old’s performances thus far have perhaps convinced the Red Wings brass to keep him around for the remaining four years of his $4.25 million AAV contract.

The ideal choice would be Smith, as he could be relatively well-replaced by Xavier Ouellet or Ryan Sproul in the long-term plans of the team. Both players have been in and out of the lineup, and none have caused the organization to hit the panic button yet.