Bob Duff: Yzerman: Don't Expect Buyouts Or Offer Sheets From Him Detroit Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman has no plans to buy out any contracts and doesn't foresee the team presenting any offer sheets to restricted free agents.

Y knows he needs to keep Applicator. Guy is a Gud Pro and can slide up and down the lineup.

no point in buying out anyone just yet, wings aren't going anywhere this year, might as well wait until the buyouts are less expensive.

no point in buying out anyone just yet, wings aren't going anywhere this year, might as well wait until the buyouts are less expensive.
- porkchops1977

Can we buy out Duff?

Yeah, as I've said in comments to previous blogs, the only compelling reason to ever buy anyone out is if you need the cap space immediately. Which, barring some very unexpected offseason signings or trades, the Red Wings most decidedly don't.

The Wings have no critical RFAs to re-sign, only about 3 roster spots to fill (all forwards, assuming Cholo and Hronek start in the NHL), and theoretically could add more than $22 million to their payroll and stay cap compliant once Z and Franzen are placed on LTIR.

There's simply no reason to put a buyout penalty on your cap for the next X number of years to create short-term cap space you aren't going to use anyway.

If the problem is simply that the player isn't good enough anymore and you need to clear the roster spot for a better player (cough, Abdelkader Daley Ericsson, cough), then just waive the vet and send him to the minors. Same effect, no ongoing cap penalties.

I’m fine with this. For years our better prospects didn’t break in until 25 or 26. Nyquist, Tatar both were a little older. We need D in the system and could use a top 6 pick again next year. Veleno could be good, Zadina, McIsaac, who knows with Svech.