Whether the Philadelphia Flyers receive Leo Carlsson or not, Philadelphia Flyers general manager Danny Briere is the leading candidate for NHL Man of the Year in his city.

It seems like fans in every NHL city want their GM to be aggressive enough, and bold enough, to use an offer sheet to land one of their opponents restricted free agents. They love Briere in Philadelphia now for trying. That’s certainly true in Detroit where social media posts include fans posting the Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman should use an offer sheet to go after Columbus center Adam Fantilli or Dallas winger Jason Robertson.

The problem is the Red Wings don’t have the cap space to do that. Right now, the Red Wings have, according to puckpedia.com, just over $18 million. They still have Simon Edvinsson to re-sign. The projection (AFP Analytics) for the Edvinsson signing is that it will cost $8.7 million for a long-term deal. But the Red Wings can’t just leave that amount aside because maybe it will cost them $9 million or $9.5 million. It’s a changing financial NHL landscape. It’s impossible to know exactly they will need.

More importantly, the Red Wings have to protect themselves from an offer sheet to Edvinsson. That’s why the Anaheim Ducks didn’t make any big moves this summer. They knew this might happen and they made sure they could cover it.

The Red Wings probably need to make sure they have $12 millionset aside, just in case, for Edvinsson.

That leaves $6 million plus. Plus, what if Patrick Kane wants to come back, they will need $4 million (plus bonuses) for him.

You can say that Dylan Larkin’s $8.7 million will be coming off the books, but when? And aren’t you expecting the Red Wings will get a contract back of a player who helps them now? You could just take three first-round picks for Larkin and perhaps Detroit would get some help in three to six years.

But even then, the Red Wings would not have enough cap space for a $16 million offer sheet to Fantilli or $15 million to Robertson. Here’s the other thing: the Blue Jackets are going to match, and probably the Stars would too. NHL offer sheets to top players don’t work.

In Case You Missed It

Red Wings add some depth for their Grand Rapids Griffins’ farm team.

With the exception of Patrick Kane, there’s not many players the Red Wings would want in the UFA market. As of this morning, there still has been no word on Kane’s plans.

GM Steve Yzerman’s Detroit squad is much harder to play against.

Red Wings Extra

There’s more evidence out there that the Red Wings have a chance of hitting big with J.P. Hurlbert. Red Line Report, an independent scouting review that has been around for decades, said J.P. Hurlbert was the most underrated player in the 2026 NHL Draft. RLR had the University of Michigan recruit ranked at No. 12 and Detroit landed him at No. 23. “Many will regret passing on him,” Red Line Report offered in its draft guide. Red Line Report had plenty to say about Detroit picks. The publication stated Detroit second-round pick Victor Plante was the draft’s biggest pest. “(He’s) 163 pounds of yappy little mutt who’s always nipping at your ankle.” Red Line. It wasn’t all positive for Red Wings picks. Red Line Report had goalie, Detroit’s third rounder, as the draft’s most overrated player.

Hockey Now Digest

Colorado: How will the Carlsson offer sheet impact Cale Makar. Aarif Deen weighs in. Colorado Avalanche.

Florida: Radko Gudas plans to create more havoc in the name of helping the Florida Panthers.

New Jersey: The Devils may be looking at a trade for Shane Wright as the Plan B if their Barrett Hayton offer fails. New Jersey Devils.

Philadelphia: Could the Flyers make another trade that would prompt the Ducks not to match the Leo Carlsson offer sheet? William James lays out the scenario. Philadelphia Flyers.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski looks at whether the Penguins should create more fireworks by using their $24 million in cap space to create more fireworks in RFA market. Pittsburgh Penguins.

San Jose: The Sharks’ desirability factor is growing. Jacob Trouba chose the Sharks over similar offers in the free agent marketplace. San Jose Sharks.