Henrik Zetterberg, center, would be a restricted free agent when the NHL resumes play under a new bargaining agreement. The league likely will institute a salary cap and a 24 percent salary reduction.Wings will change in new NHL
Agreement could yield a different Detroit team because salary-cap issues might force buyouts.
Holland
Cut him loose
Among the NHL salary issues being discussed is a one-time buyout option, in which teams would be allowed to rid themselves of existing contracts at two-thirds of their total value. The deals would not count against the salary cap. If the Red Wings have to shed a contract, which player would you like them to buy out?
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DETROIT -- The NHL lockout is creeping to an end.
Management and players association representatives have been working 80-hour weeks recently in hopes of reaching a new collective bargaining agreement.The agreement would end a lockout that wiped out last season and is approaching 300 days in length.
Reports of having an agreement in place by Friday appear to be overly optimistic.
But few in the NHL -- team employees, players or agents -- doubt a resolution is near.
While most people are eager to see the NHL re-emerge, the implementation of a salary cap will greatly affect the Wings and other big-market, free-spending teams.
The cap is expected to be in the neighborhood of $36 million to $40 million. The Wings' payroll was $78 million last season.
Even with players accepting a 24 percent reduction in salaries, which is expected, the Wings will have about $32 million committed to 12 players. (That figure assumes that Brendan Shanahan will exercise a player option, which is likely.)
The Wings would have to make decisions on Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, who are restricted free agents; Steve Yzerman, if he chooses to return for one more season; Chris Chelios, Curtis Joseph and Mathieu Schneider.
Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said he won't begin to speculate as to what the Wings will do until the new CBA, with all of its wrinkles, is completed.
The Wings could find economic relief under the cap in the form of a one-time buyout option.
If reports of the buyouts are accurate, teams would be allowed to rid existing contracts at two-thirds of their total value. The deals would not count against the salary cap.
The Wings are likely to be active in this area.
Veterans Derian Hatcher ($20 million left over three years, before the 24 percent reduction) and Ray Whitney (due $3.5 million this season, plus a player option next season) would appear to be buyout candidates.
Players bought out will not be able to re-sign with the team, meaning they'll be free to sign elsewhere.
Still, with a young core of players such as forwards Datsyuk and Zetterberg, defensemen Jiri Fischer and Niklas Kronwall, and several good prospects waiting to make their debuts, the Wings have a base whenever the NHL begins playing again. Don't be surprised if an agreement is announced around the baseball All-Star break (July 11-13), so it will gain maximum media attention.
"If everything I'm hearing is true, we should get something done here in the next few weeks," said Manny Legace, the Red Wings player representative.
Holland sees it as a positive sign that both sides have hunkered down in recent weeks and focused on reaching an agreement. "I'm cautiously hopeful," he said.
Commissioner Gary Bettman and Bob Goodenow, the players' association executive director, haven't made themselves available for interviews in weeks.
A string of official statements after marathon negotiating sessions have been the lone link between the sides and the media.
You can reach Ted Kulfan at (313) 223-4606, or ted.kulfan@detnews.com.
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