Red Wings Rebuild: The Untouchables

Every rebuild of a professional sports franchise follows a set of particular steps. Some happen simultaneously with others, while other steps in the process follow a more sequential plan of action. In the first phase of a rebuild, two essential tasks take place at the same time. Teams attempt to acquire youth whether through the draft or trading for prospects while shedding some of the more burdensome contracts and parting ways with players that no longer fit the formula.

For the Detroit Red Wings, they are unfortunately cursed with an abundance of players that are either on the wrong end of the age curve, come with a heavy-duty cap hit, or both.  The simple solution is to trade all of those players; however, teams are not necessarily chomping at the bit for a 30-plus forward with a $5 million cap hit. This dilemma, of course, leaves Detroit in a bit of a bind as they struggle to find room on the roster for the youngsters to come up and strut their stuff and clear up some room on the payroll for players that fit the current plan.

For conversation’s sake, we will dub this group of untradeable individuals taking up space on the Red Wings roster as “The Untouchables.” With any further ado, here they are.

On the first day the free agent market opened up in the summer of 2016, Detroit went out and inked the former Islanders forward, Frans Nielsen, to a six-year, $31.5 million deal. Now, the 33-year-old is on the Red Wings books until the summer of 2022 with a $5.25 million cap hit. After a 2017-18 season where Neilsen put up only 33 points in 79 games, it will be impossible to find any team willing to strike a deal.

The Justin Abdelkader contract extension, which was signed in November of 2015, is another one of those deals that forces us to pose the question, “what was Ken Holland thinking?” The seven-year, $29.75 million contract was merely undeserved, making Abdelkader un-tradeable. The $4.25 million cap hit would be absorbable for some teams if the player proved to be worth it. Unfortunately, the 31-year-old’s 35-point 2017-18 campaign does not necessarily scream valuable asset. Additionally, he will be on the books until the age of 36.

In July of 2016, the Red Wings signed Danny DeKeyser to a six-year deal worth $30 million, with an annual cap hit of $5 million. As is the theme to this point, DeKeyser has shown that he is not worth the contract he was awarded. At the age of 28, could a team aiming to reach the cap-floor possibly show interest in bringing him aboard? It’s possible; but so is that particular team finding a better option. Regardless, DeKeyser currently has a No Trade Clause, which gives him the final say in any deal. It is safe to say that any team DeKeyser has interest in joining, a contender, does not have the same interest in trading for him.

With an annual cap hit of $4.25 million until the summer of 2020, Jonathan Ericsson is another one of the players that fall into the category of the cap hit not matching the quality of player. Ericsson could fit well into the bottom-pairing of a playoff contending team. However, it is likely that they can find a cheaper option.

To this point, “The Untouchables” have consisted of individuals who other teams simply would not be interested in obtaining. Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall fall into a completely different category because they have earned the title of “Red Wings for Life”. These two have accomplished so much for this franchise that they have earned the respect of finishing their careers in Detroit unless they choose otherwise. Kronwall’s contract is up at the end of this summer, and he is likely to retire after that. Zetterberg, on the other hand, is on the books until the summer of 2021 with a cap hit over $6 million a year. At 37-years-old, it is unclear whether he will play out the entirety of his contract. However, if he does, it will be with the red and white.

The argument can certainly be made a few more gentlemen deserve to make this list. Holland and the rest of the Red Wings front office are definitely going to have some difficulties with shedding some cap space this summer. Still only the men above deserve to be a part of the “exclusive” category that is The Detroit Red Wings Untouchables.