It certainly isn’t a good sign for the Detroit Red Wings that the best available player in the NHL free agent market today is a player they had hoped, maybe even expected, to re-sign.

There is no final decision by Patrick Kane but reports have him likely to go elsewhere.

It’s unknown whether Kane’s decision is being influenced by captain Dylan Larkin’s decision to ask for a trade or whether Kane, 35, simply wants to join a team with a realistic chance to help him win a fourth Stanley Cup.

Regardless of the reason, if Kane abandons Detroit, it leaves the team with another major hole and no good option to replace him.

According to Puckpedia.com, the Red Wings have $18.6 million in available cap space. The Red Wings need to re-sign restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson. The projections (AFP Analytics) for a seven-year deal is roughly an $8.7 million AAV and $5.6 million AAV on a three-year deal.

Even with a longer-term deal for Edvinsson, the Red Wings have roughly $10 million in cap space remaining but no obvious targets to pursue in the UFA market.

The best remaining UFA forwards are Claude Giroux, Michael Bunting, Adam Henrique, Eeli Tovanen, Anthony Mantha, Vladimir Tarasenko and James van Riemsdyk. The last three are probably not an option under a been-there-done-that mindset. Giroux is interesting, but he has not been linked to Detroit.

Tolvanen has been linked to Detroit because he has the ability to score 16 to 20 goals while recording 200 hits per season. Tolvanen is likely to get a four-year deal worth at least $4.5 million per season.

Keep in mind that Dylan Larkin is making $8.7 million. If or when they trade him, depending upon the return, they could end up with more cap space.

At this point, the best hope of plugging holes may come from the players coming back in the Larkin trade. GM Steve Yzerman has made it clear that he wants a return that helps the Red Wings now, not four years from now.

The Red Wings are also looking at possible trades, although the No. 1 trade option Vince Trocheck is now in Utah.

Based on Yzerman’s position, he may expect Larkin to come back to the team to play until he can find a desirable trade.

The best hope would be that Detroit receives a center back in a Larkin deal, but that isn’t likely. It’s possible that the Red Wings will start the season with Marco Kasper and Andrew Copp as their top two centers.

There’s always a possibility that Nate Danielson, Michael Brandsegg-Nygard or Carter Mazur could earn an expanded role. The Red Wings seem intrigued by Swedish player Wilmer Skoog, 26, who played in Florida’s chain. He registered two assists in Florida’s win against Detroit in the final game of the season.

There’s a chance he could play in Detroit, although probably not right away.

Lidström said that Skoog will Start in AHL, but if he does well he will get a chance in NHL.
He also said Arvidsson is aquired to play top 6.

— Martin Hultberg (@D1SCO8) July 3, 2026