Detroit Red Wings: Contract Projections for 2024 RFAs

What does that equate to in a new contract? Well, that depends on the term. Signing a one- or two-year deal will make Veleno an RFA once again after that contract expires, so there’s value in that path. A longer-term pact could be beneficial as well, following the same logic noted above.

Regarding the long-term option, the best comparable is Calle Järnkrok when he was with the Nashville Predators. He signed a one-year deal after his entry-level contract, then followed that up with a six-year, $2 million AAV extension. Nashville knew what they had – a versatile, bottom-six forward. Järnkrok wanted stability. It was a win-win for both parties.

This is an option to consider with Veleno. It would cost a little more, but something similar. 

That said, my model suggests a two-year deal with an AAV range between $1.75 million and $2.73 million. A two-year contract extension at $1.9 million is the most likely outcome. 

However, this calculation could change if Peyton Krebs signs a new deal with the Buffalo Sabres before Veleno agrees to terms. The two players profile similarly.

Red Wings’ Options With Berggren

Of Detroit’s RFAs, Berggren is the biggest wild card. So before we dive in, let’s lay out the facts:

There was also the report that the 23-year-old and his representation rejected a contract offer, though that was likely a tactical ploy from Berggren’s agent.

Overall, I wouldn’t be surprised if this went to arbitration. There’s a case to be made for how Berggren would have performed at the NHL level if he was in Detroit all season. And to that, the Red Wings can argue that there was a reason he wasn’t there. That dissonance—plus Berggren’s actual performance in the NHL and AHL—screams arbitration. 

For what it’s worth, the model predicts a two-year deal between $1.18 million and $1.6 million. It would not be surprising, though, to see Berggren bet on himself and take less on a one-year contract – just like Veleno last summer.

Red Wings & Qualifying Offers

As a refresher, qualifying offers are one-year contracts that come with a slight raise from the prior year. Players can either accept the offer or hold out for a better one. If the Red Wings decline to issue a qualifying offer to a player, they become an unrestricted free agent.

It’s fair to assume that the Red Wings will qualify Albert Johansson this summer. That would mean a one-year deal with an $813,750 AAV. The 23-year-old blueliner is expected to skate in Detroit in 2024-25.

Lastly, I don’t expect Jared McIsaac to receive a qualifying offer. The Red Wings tried to find ice time for him in Europe this year, and he was ultimately dealt to the Providence Bruins in an AHL trade (though Detroit retained his rights).

Final Word

If the Red Wings sign their RFAs to the projected contracts noted above, the organization will have $7,634,443 in cap space to fill out the remaining roster spots:

Filling the two open top-six forward roles will be a tall task for Yzerman. He’ll likely need to shed salary in order to do so. Bringing in a prospect or two on entry-level contracts to play further down in the lineup could help, but more work would still need to be done.

There are many ways to accomplish this, and there’s more to come from The Hockey Writers analyzing how the Red Wings can load up during the summer to break free from their rebuild in 2024-25.