The Detroit Red Wings are still deep in the playoff race despite losing their last four games, and with the trade deadline coming up fast, general manager Ken Holland is having trouble making any moves because of the Wings' low cap space. The team had numerous players on long-term injury reserve, such as Pavel Datsyuk, Johan Franzen and Drew Miller, which affects the Red Wings' salary cap. They are looking to be buyers, but it will be difficult to simply add a noteworthy player.
"[I]f we do anything, from a cap standpoint, to bring in the type of player that would have a real impact, we would have to move somebody out," Holland said last week, according to the Detroit Free Press' Helene St. James.
We should not expect Holland to settle for a mediocre player. If he makes a trade, it will be a significant one.
Number one goalie Petr Mrazek will "undoubtedly be their No. 1 man in the playoffs," according to MLive's Brendan Savage. Holland also stated that backup goaltender Jimmy Howard's job is safe in Detroit.
"I'm keeping Howard," he said, according to St. James.
This is most likely due to Howard's $5.3 million cap hit, which would be tough for another team to handle, as well as the Wings' lack of alternative backup goalies who would be playoff worthy.
"We don't need depth," Holland said. "We're a deeper team than we were a year ago, and part of that is because we put people on waivers and they cleared, so now we have flexibility to move them in and out. So I'm not looking to acquire depth. If there is a player out there we think can come in and be a top-nine forward or a top-four defenseman, at a price we're prepared to pay, and at the same time, I have to consider next season's team and next season's salary cap."
As the Red Wings' core of Niklas Kronwall, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg are all reaching their mid-30s, Holland has been trying to rebuild while still being a contender, and it has worked out for the GM, but this means they would not be willing to give out any high draft picks.
"Teams are assessing where they are at, seeing where something might fit," Holland said. "You exchange ideas. But most teams want to see what goes on the last few games before the deadline," according to St. James.
It is not clear whether we will see a move from the Red Wings before the deadline, but one thing is certain: If they do make a move, it will be a big one.
"Based upon all the information from our scouts, based upon calls with other general managers, based on internal conversations, gut instincts, conversations with the coaching staff, we'll either do something or we won't do something," Holland continued, according to St. James. "I think 27 teams would say they have areas they'd like to address. We all want to get better. But at what cost?"
