Steve Yzerman is trying to balance negotiating smart contracts with stoking the Detroit Red Wings rebuild in both the present and the future. He has more than enough bodies to fill an NHL roster at this point, but might yet dip into the free agent market or make a trade.
Yzerman has been busy over the past few weeks participating in the draft, signing fresh faces and re-upping a couple of his own players. His latest deal — a four-year, $22.8 million contract for Anthony Mantha — fit the framework of locking up a key player without risking future growth.