Jeremy Laura: Something’s happening! Draft Day blog

Pour one out for the goat

But why now?! Why not wait a year and bury him. He has to need the space for something, but what?!

But why now?! Why not wait a year and bury him. He has to need the space for something, but what?!
- DRW1991

The ONLY thing I can guess is that this is, in part, a favor to keep Abby from minor league assignment. Maybe he wants to try somewhere else? I have no idea. May well be out of respect

Pour one out for the goat
- General Mokus

Colt 45. It works every time

Montreal bought out Alzner.

https://www.prohockeyrumo...-buy-out-karl-alzner.html

Ugh, I mean Abdelkader was nothing good for the team, but this cap hit for 6 years is just brutal. Though he bulk of it does come when they won't be contending at all. Still as multiple people have said, bury him GR for the same price essentially and let him be a mentor.

That said, Stevie was a player and I'm sure he sees it from that side too. Abby doesnt want to bebforced to the minors and maybe this just betters the way players in the league see how this Franchise is run. Hopefully it pays dividends down the road.

Still though.... 6 FREAKIN' YEARS, ugh.

Ugh, I mean Abdelkader was nothing good for the team, but this cap hit for 6 years is just brutal. Though he bulk of it does come when they won't be contending at all. Still as multiple people have said, bury him GR for the same price essentially and let him be a mentor.

That said, Stevie was a player and I'm sure he sees it from that side too. Abby doesnt want to bebforced to the minors and maybe this just betters the way players in the league see how this Franchise is run. Hopefully it pays dividends down the road.

Still though.... 6 FREAKIN' YEARS, ugh.
- Feury

I feel you. Luckily the amount is fairly low. There’s also the chance the AHL can’t start up. Yzerman is on that committee.

Is anyone else surprised Veleno won’t be given a shot at the roster this year?

Yzerman has to change the culture in this team. For too many seasons, the guys have gotten comfortable losing. This is not good for the development of the younger players coming in.

I think this is what he's doing.

Is anyone else surprised Veleno won’t be given a shot at the roster this year?
- Jeremy Laura

they cant pull him out of Sweden?

Is anyone else surprised Veleno won’t be given a shot at the roster this year?
- Jeremy Laura

Surprised yes. but if Sweeden has things rolling, it looks like their season ends in March. If that is the case and the NHL begins in January, can we not bring him in at the end of the year? Also it won't waste a year of his ELC during a bs year.

they cant pull him out of Sweden?
- wingz4life

Sounds like he is there for the season.

they cant pull him out of Sweden?
- wingz4life

They’re opting not to. The agreement is for their entire season

Surprised yes. but if Sweeden has things rolling, it looks like their season ends in March. If that is the case and the NHL begins in January, can we not bring him in at the end of the year? Also it won't waste a year of his ELC during a bs year.
- DRW1991

It’s possible, but if ELC is the concern, he’d be limited on games played. What surprised me the most is that it took this long. He was originally slated to go with Veleno. They cancelled that. I think his name may have come up in possible deals, but nothing was completed.

I'm glad Abdelkader won't be playing any more games in Detroit, but six more years on the books is brutal. Would have preferred him to be sent to the minors (or, honestly, just be the 13th or 14th forward in Detroit) and just run out the clock on his deal as long as possible.

There's no urgent need to do a buyout unless the cap space is needed this year, at least in theory. So I'm a little puzzled by the timing. Some possibilities:

- Yzerman has a plan to spend the money and / or knows something about the cap for next year that we don't.

- Yzerman was told by ownership to cut salary expenses and decided buying out Abdelkader was the least painful way to do it.

- Mercy killing? It's possible the AHL can't even put together a season at all next year and the team felt like freeing Abdelkader to look elsewhere was the right thing to do.

I'm glad Abdelkader won't be playing any more games in Detroit, but six more years on the books is brutal. Would have preferred him to be sent to the minors (or, honestly, just be the 13th or 14th forward in Detroit) and just run out the clock on his deal as long as possible.

There's no urgent need to do a buyout unless the cap space is needed this year, at least in theory. So I'm a little puzzled by the timing. Some possibilities:

- Yzerman has a plan to spend the money and / or knows something about the cap for next year that we don't.

- Yzerman was told by ownership to cut salary expenses and decided buying out Abdelkader was the least painful way to do it.

- Mercy killing? It's possible the AHL can't even put together a season at all next year and the team felt like freeing Abdelkader to look elsewhere was the right thing to do.
- Sven22

I agree that there may be an underlying reason. Luckily the last three years are only 1 million dollar hits. That’s a small price to pay

Makes me think this is a prelude to another move or moves.

Yzerman has to change the culture in this team. For too many seasons, the guys have gotten comfortable losing. This is not good for the development of the younger players coming in.

I think this is what he's doing.
- chelios_24

Very possible!

It'll be Drysdale and most of the Red Wings fanbase will want Yzerman fired. 🤣

Another slight (very slight) possibility. Most buyouts happen after exhausting trade talks. A team may want him at league min. I can’t imagine where that would be, but it is a remote (very remote) possibility

Holy (frank)! I can't believe it! Abdelkader bought out!? I love you Steve Yzerman! 👍

It'll be Drysdale and most of the Red Wings fanbase will want Yzerman fired. 🤣
- gergeswillems

Last year people freaked out because of Seider, very possible that could happen

Holy (frank)! I can't believe it! Abdelkader bought out!? I love you Steve Yzerman! 👍
- gergeswillems

I never thought that would happen.

I agree that there may be an underlying reason. Luckily the last three years are only 1 million dollar hits. That’s a small price to pay
- Jeremy Laura

Abdelkader sets a bad example for the young players. He's all about floating and cashing a paycheck. Yzerman likely saw this. This makes total sense to me. I've been saying it for years!

Nielsen is washed up but he still tries his best and is a good teammate.