On the Detroit Red Wings …
Helene St. James: GM Ken Holland said there would be a minimum of two, maybe up to four or five young players to be on their roster that weren’t on it this year.
Craig Custance: Pending RFA forward Anthony Mantha said that he spoke with his agent Pat Brisson out in Los Angeles when the Wings were playing there. He expects that contract talks could pick up in the next month or so. It sounds like he may be thinking about doing a bridge deal as he believes he has more to give before being locked into a long-term contract.
Craig Custance: GM Holland said that he would love to make a “value for value” trade to help out their rebuilding process.
Craig Custance: Holland said that he’s hoping to beef up the Wings front office.
Greg Krupa of The Detroit News: The Red Wings seem to be stuck in a partial rebuilding phase that has lasted five or six seasons. The Red Wings could have been bigger sellers at the deadline last year with two capable goalies and some veteran salaries they could have moved.
“You’re wondering if I should have started sooner or started later, and I’m saying to you, what difference does it make? Holland said, as the team cleaned out their dressing room for the season Tuesday.
“The reality of it is every franchise is going to have to go through it, at some period in time. You get a run at the top, and then you’ve got to spend a period of time rebuilding.
“And we’re going to try to get this thing back up and running as quickly as possible.”
The Red Wings plan on going younger and letting the kids play next season.
