Red Wings Make Perfect Sense for Erik Karlsson
By Brendan Azoff
The Erik Karlsson sweepstakes is heating up before our very eyes.
Karlsson reportedly wants both the Canadiens and Senators to make competitive offers to him in free agency, insinuating that he may want to move back to Canada. On the other hand, the Rangers, Sharks, Canucks and Lightning have been rumored to be four potential landing spots for the highly-touted defenseman.
While not mentioned as of yet as a likely fit, there should be another team waiting in the wings for Karlsson. and that team is the Detroit Red Wings, who happen to be relatively close (An 8 hour drive) to Ottawa.
LRT: if being in Ottawa or close to Ottawa is what Erik Karlsson really wants, I’d look at Detroit as well, I think they’re in a better position going forward than both Ottawa and Montreal.
— NHL Prospects Watcher (@Prospects_Watch) June 4, 2019
A factor in the Red Wings signing Karlsson is their current cap situation. On defense, Detroit has nearly $19 million in cap space tied up between five defenseman, four of which carry some type of no-trade clause.
This does create a dilemma for a team which does only have 40 out of a possible 50 contracts signed and only has $13 million in cap space as of June 5th. However, if Detroit utilizes their system and allows their UFAs such as Thomas Vanek and Niklas Kronwall to walk, they may have enough flexibility to sign the former Norris Trophy winner.
Erik Karlsson to Detroit
— ??? ?????? ????? (@TheWingerDaily) June 4, 2019
Make. It. Happen.
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The Red Wings are not in the greatest of financial situations to make a push for Karlsson, but if they can move around their cap situation, Detroit could make a push. MoTown definitely checks all the boxes.