Trust me, this right-wing UFA class is not all that exciting. Rarely any proven NHL talent, but it does hold a lot of experimentation and risk-taking. Several young players that did not receive qualifying offers from their NHL clubs are available and if they’re young enough, there really is no risk in signing the player. It’s free money.

Clearly the most skillful right-winger in this free agent class, Grabner finished his successful stint with the New York Rangers and was shipped to the New JerseyDevils at the trade deadline last season. The first trade between the two hated rivals, and it was not a very big one.

The Austria native was drafted out of the Spokane Chiefs from the WHL, to the Vancouver Canucks at 14th overall in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. After spending two full seasons in the NHL, he broke into the NHL with the Canucks but only played twenty games for them before being shipped off to the Islanders in a trade for Keith Ballard.

Grabner signed with the Rangers as a free agent during the 2016 offseason, for just two years and around $1.6 million per year. A very cheap contract for a winger that can bring some offense to your middle-six forward group. I imagine Grabner will get the same in this year’s free agency. Possibly just a one-year deal at a higher cap hit, but at 30-years-old, Grabner is coming close to that age where it will be hard to find a settling spot. He might want some security.

Grabner’s fit with the Red Wings is questionable, but he would certainly fit their system of fast wingers to breakout in the rush. He scored 25 goals in just 59 games for the Rangers this season, but a good portion of those goals were empty-netters or on the powerplay. A little more realistic production is with the Devils – two goals and five points in 21 games.

He would certainly be cheap, but at his age and production, I would consider someone else to take the job for the Red Wings.

First, in a run of young wingers that were not given qualifying offers by their team, is 25-year-old Tobias Rieder. Hailing from Landshut, Germany, Rieder has spent time on both the Arizona Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings last season due to a trade before the deadline. During that time, he played a total of 78 games and scored 12 goals and 13 assists.

He is not the most offensive player, but he can certainly use his icetime well and contribute regularly. At 1.1 Primary Points/60 at even-strength (hockeyviz.com), he would be a great scoring option on any team’s bottom-six. But other than some scoring touch, Rieder is brutal when it comes to shot attempts for his teams. At 46.29 5v5 CF%, Rieder did not perform up to par to be a reliable winger. You can blame that on him having to play on a terrible Arizona Coyotes team and a slow Los Angeles Kings team, but with a -2.32 5v5v CF% relative to his teammates, those teams were even worse at attempting shots when he was on the ice.

With the Red Wings, Rieder would provide some youth that is desperately needed upfront, as well as some solid production with limited icetime. He would most likely project to be on a line with Frans Nielsen and Andreas Athanasiou, if we read the depth chart literally. Not the most flashy option, but Rieder would be cheap and young.

The former first-overall pick in 2012, Nail Yakupov has been trying to revive his NHL career after being traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the St. Louis Blues in 2016. That has not really gone to plan, but the amount of ice-time he has been given doesn’t help his case at all.

Between his last two seasons with the Blues and Avalanche, Yakupov has averaged only 10:44 TOI. While playing that little of time, he still produced at a solid middle-six forward level, with a 1.2 Primary Points/60 at even-strength (hockeyviz.com)

He will certainly be able to get a little more time on the ice, than his previous teams. But since we know Blashill loves to barely play young forwards (like Svechnikov last year), I highly doubt Yakupov would be able to get a solid footing in Detroit.

It’s a risky move, but if any team is ready to take on a reclamation project, it is the Red Wings.

One of the young forwards listed that actually has shown promise is 22-year-old Anthony Duclair. He one of the youngest UFAs in this class, but age is not all that is on Duclair’s side. This season for both the Arizona Coyotes and Chicago Blackhawks, Duclair recorded 1.5 Primary Points per hour at even-strength – a rate similar to that of a high-end 2nd-line forward.

This wasn’t just a one-time season either with Duclair, he has steadily been around the same rate so far in his young career. Especially with the rise of the Vegas Golden Knights and how they shaped their roster from underused players, giving them an increased role and seeing them flourish – this might be something that many NHL teams are looking at doing this upcoming season. Duclair would be an excellent candidate for this.

His highest average was 14:22 TOI with the Arizona Coyotes in the 2015-16 season, so it is clear that he has never really had the limelight he has been producing at. His even-strength points per hour has been among some key names that do get that spotlight. Some players like Jonathan Toews, Brian Little, Elias Lindholm, and Mike Hoffman – all produced at a lower rate than Duclair last season.

With the Red Wings, Duclair would get the opportunity he deserves to have. If Holland is set on the rebuild, players like Nyquist and Athansiou might see themselves on another team shortly – freeing up the spots for a winger to come and take them.

This might be a weird one.

Czarnik only played ten games with the Bruins last year, but he performed extremely well. At 25-years-old, he isn’t considered a prospect anymore but he still has some potential to grow. The only problem is that his height has held him back from getting more attention at the higher level – he’s 5’9″.

The right-handed winger played 64 games for the Providence Bruins last year, scoring 25 goals and 69 points. He clearly has the skill to make it in the AHL, but the problem is if it translates to the NHL.

Signing with the Bruins as an undrafted college free agent in 2015, Czarnik has walked the now more common path of undersized players getting a shot at professional hockey, and he has certainly earned his job. Playing 157 games in the AHL, scoring 51 goals and 155 points. He is a cheat code when it comes to that level, but the big question is if he can fit in with the NHL, or is he just one of those AAAA players?

He will require waivers, so he won’t be able to join the Griffins and just tear it up with Givani Smith, but I believe he can be somewhat useful with the Red Wings. He had four assists in ten games with the Bruins this year, so it’s not like he’s completely useless when it comes to the top professional league.

Czarnik could be an experiment to whatever team decides to sign him, but it might end up being an experiment every other team wishes they did.

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