Red Wings: Are There Any UFA’s Worth Adding Before Camp?
By Chris Giles
Training camp is right around the corner and the Detroit Red Wings roster is close to being set. Currently, the Red Wings have 22 players signed with Givani Smith left as the only un-signed RFA. Once Smith gets signed, Detroit will have their 23 man roster pretty much set going into training camp. The Red Wings still have approximately $14.2 million left in cap space. Certainly, General Manager Steve Yzerman doesn’t want to use up all the cap space available.
Are there any UFA’s still available that could challenge for a roster spot on Detroit?
Here is a short list of players who could be signed for affordable contracts or training camp tryouts with the Red Wings.
Bobby Ryan
Age: 34
Position: RW/LW
2021 Salary: $1,000,000
2021 Team: Detroit
GP: 33
G: 7
A: 7
PTS: 14
Bobby Ryan finished last season on the injured list. He started the season on fire when he scored four goals in the first three games. Ryan’s season slowed considerably after his first week in a Red Wings uniform.
At best, Ryan could sign for one more year. If Detroit isn’t interested in anything guaranteed, Ryan could be invited to a tryout. This scenario probably isn’t something that Ryan would entertain, but it is one way for him to be given a chance to prove himself.
In 2005, Dan Cleary came to Detroit’s camp on a tryout and that turned into a 10 year career with the Red Wings.
For the Red Wings, signing or inviting Ryan to training camp would be a depth move that would be affordable and a low risk move for a familiar veteran presence in the Detroit locker room.