Red Wings Add More with Vanek

The Detroit Red Wings are making a good go of free agency, as they used a little bit more of that extra cap space they acquired at the draft by signing forward Thomas Vanek to a 1-year, $2.6 million deal.

Vanek was bought out of his last deal in Minnesota, one that carried a cap hit of $6.5 million, where he wasn't able to produce the sort of numbers that would justify that price tag.  In 2016, he finished with 18 goals and 41 points in 74 games, not quite what the Wild were expecting out of him.

His new price tag could end up being quite the bargain for Detroit, since they are putting together an interesting lineup after the departure of Pavel Datsyuk to Russia.  Vanek's addition gives them seven pool worthy forwards from last season and could feature in any one of many combinations that would see some talented players line up with each other.

Now the focus for the Red Wings will be to get Petr Mrazek signed on and add some depth to their blueline, but it's still early in the Summer, so there shouldn't be a huge rush to do it.