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Kronwall Presents Perplexing Problem |
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Defenseman Niklas Kronwall presents a perplexing problem to the Detroit Red Wings.
On performance alone, Kronwall, headed for unrestricted free agency on July 1, merits a spot among the Red Wings blueline corps for the 2019-20 NHL season. But the situation is far more complicated than that.
Kronwall will be 38 next season. He has chronic knee issues, although he managed to play a team-leading 79 games last season.
The Wings are already burdened next season with the contracts of three veteran rearguards whose bodies appear to be breaking down. Between them, Mike Green (39), Trevor Daley (38) and Jonathan Ericsson (30) combined to miss 107 games last season.
Signing Kronwall a new deal with those three already on the books would prove problematic if all of them were to suddenly regain their health. It would clog up the path to the NHL and to more prominent roles for some of Detroit’s young defensive prospects.
Kronwall isn’t guy who’d play 25 minutes a night and deliver consistent offense. But he’s still a reliable third-pairing defender who can give a team 18-20 minutes per game. Off the ice, he’s been an outstanding leader and mentor to players like Filip Hronek and Dennis Cholowski.
At this point, Kronwall doesn’t yet know what the future holds for him.
“I’m gonna take my time now with the family and just kind of let time play itself out as well,” Kronwall said. “I think over the next few weeks or months, or whatever that might be, I think it will be a little bit clearer.”
If you were to lay odds on the scenario, betting that Kronwall comes back on a one-year deal would be the favorite. He’s played 953 NHL games, all with Detroit, and you know how much the Wings organization loves their milestone celebrations.
“A thousand games is definitely something I’ve always looked at as a huge milestone,” Kronwall said. “That’s something that would be, if that were to happen, a huge milestone, something I’d be extremely proud of.
“Given the opportunity to represent this organization all these years has meant a lot to me.”
World Stage
Hronek delivered an assist in the Czech Republic’s 5-2 defeat of Sweden 5-2 as the world championship tournament got underway Friday in Slovakia.
Elsewhere, Wings farmhand Patrik Rybar blocked 25 shots and ex-Wing Tomas Tatar scored as the host country dumped the USA 4-1. Wings center Dylan Larkin was held off the scoresheet. Detroit coach Jeff Blashill is behind the USA bench and Wings assistant coach Dan Bylsma is one of his assistants.
Canada was humbled 3-1 by Finland. Wings forwards Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi got an up-close view of what might have been had Detroit not won so many meaningless games in the closing weeks of the NHL regular season. Forward Kaapo Kakko, expected to go second overall in the 2019 NHL entry draft, scored twice for the Finns.
McIlrath Signs
The Wings have signed veteran defenseman Dylan McIlrath to a two-year, two-way contract extension.
McIlrath, 27, played 52 games last season for AHL Grand Rapids, leading the team with 98 penalty minutes. He also played seven games for the Wings.
According to capfriendly.com, McIlrath would earn $700,000 at the NHL level and $275,000 in the minor leagues. He’s guaranteed $325,000 of the entire deal.
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