The Detroit Red Wings must look into signing former 40-goal scorer Brock Boeser. Boeser will be hitting the market on July 1 after the first-round pick from 2015 and the Vancouver Canucks could not agree on a new contract.
Now, Boeser will be ready to negotiate with all interested parties, potentially signing a long-term deal this summer.
That situation opens the door for the Detroit Red Wings to add another top-six forward to its lineup. The Red Wings already addressed a major pain point this offseason by trading for John Gibson.
That situation leaves the Red Wings to address another pain point: Depth scoring. Boeser could jump into the Wings’ first or second lines, providing another useful weapon on the second power play unit.
A second line featuring center Marco Kasper and Alex DeBrincat with Boeser could be the best one in the NHL.
But there’s more to Boeser. Adding the former Canuck to the lineup gives coach Todd McLellan flexibility. Boeser can move up and down in the middle six as needed. For instance, Patrick Kane could be dropped to the third line at points in the game, while moving Boeser up. Then, the Wings could drop Boeser to the third line to play crucial matchups as needed.
On the whole, adding Brock Boeser is not an opportunity the Red Wings should pass up. If they have a legit shot at bringing in the 28-year-old winger, they should take advantage of the opportunity.
Signing Boeser Won’t Come Cheap for Red Wings
According to The Athletic, Boeser is projected to get a six-year deal worth $8.4 AAV. That contract means that Boeser won’t come cheap for the Red Wings.
Despite Boeser’s potential high cap hit, the Wings have the cap space to fit it in. PuckPedia shows the Red Wings have a touch over $17 million in cap space, even after re-signing Patrick Kane and adding John Gibson’s cap hit.
With that in mind, the Wings can afford to bring Boeser in without getting into trouble. The team doesn’t have any other big-name free agents to re-sign. Plus, Elmer Soderblom stands as the only RFA on the docket.
Beyond that, UFAs Craig Smith, Tyler Motte, and Jeff Petry are players unlikely to come back next season. So, if Boeser is serious about coming to Hockeytown, the Red Wings can make it work.
A Long-Term Deal for Boeser Could Be Concerning
The biggest concern surrounding a deal for Brock Boeser could be its length. A six-year deal may seem a bit long at this point. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that Boeser is 28. That’s why a six or even seven-year deal wouldn’t be outrageous. A six-year pact would bring Boeser to his age-34 season.
Of course, signing players to long-term contracts is always a risk. But then again, a long-term contract could be a good way for the club to keep Boeser’s AAV down slightly. If that’s the case, the numbers could make sense for everyone.
Both Boeser and the Red Wings have a unique opportunity to find a solid match. If there’s a willingness to get a deal done, both sides should take advantage of the opportunity.
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