The Athletic’s Max Bultman, an NHL insider, predicts that in the summer of 2025, the Detroit Red Wings will try to acquire Justin Holl.
After playing with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Holl signed a three-year, $10.2 million contract with Detroit on July 1, 2023. Although Holl underperformed in his first season in Detroit, he was expected to help stabilize the Red Wings defense.
Holl was mentioned as a potential buyout target this summer after having a difficult 2023–24 NHL season, but Detroit decided against it. But Bultman thinks Holl will be acquired in 2025 if he doesn’t step up his game.
They most likely didn’t want to pay a buyout price that would have resulted in a dead cap of four years. While $1.13 million annually wasn’t a huge sum, four years is a long time to pay a dead cap. It’s conceivable that Holl’s management group thinks he can play. I don’t get the impression from Yzerman that he believes Holl is a lost cause, but whether Lalonde exploits him is another matter,” Bultman wrote in his piece.
“Your concern regarding the cap hit while sitting in the press box is valid, but it’s likely that the Red Wings won’t be as fortunate with injuries this year as they were in 2023–2024. If so, Holl may see increased playing time this season. However, Bultman continued, “I’d have to believe they’ll look into a buyout next year, for just two years of dead cap at the same $1.13 million cost, if he doesn’t and he’s again a $3.4 million scratch for the majority of the season.
Detroit’s situation becomes more acceptable if Holl is bought out the following season, as the Red Wings would only have to pay him $1.13 million for the next two years.
Holl skated in 38 games for the Red Wings past season, scoring 5 points (5 goals) and dishing out 5 assists.
The defensive depth chart for Detroit
To bolster Detroit’s defense, the Red Wings signed defenseman Erik Gustafsson to a $4 million, two-year contract.
According to DailyFaceoff.com’s lineup projection, Holl is currently expected to be a scratch.
Mortiz Seider – Ben Chiarot
Edvinsson Simon – Petry Jeff
Erik Gustafsson as Olli Maatta
The likelihood of the buyout in the summer of 2025 increases as Holl is anticipated to be a healthy scratch.
Red Wings General Manager Expects Team to Qualify for Postseason
Detroit made significant summer improvements to their team after the Red Wings missed out on the playoffs in the 2023–24 NHL season.
The addition of Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko was Detroit’s most significant move. Steve Yzerman, general manager of the Red Wings, is pleased with the roster his team has after the first round of free agency.
“We’re in with that group of teams that can really contend for the postseason,” Yzerman declared. “We could make it if our players perform above your expectations, our goaltending is strong, and we stay healthy.” Alternatively, you could just miss the season’s last game by a single point.
That is how everything has a fine line. When I compare this year’s roster to the one from previous year, there are several noticeable differences. In terms of the players’ duties, it could be a little bit better where they are on the roster right now, Yzerman continued.
Since the 2015–16 campaign, the Red Wings have not advanced to the postseason.
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