The deadline names that DIDN'T land: Pettersson, Bunting, Trocheck + more

by DetroitTom· 6 replies· started 3mo ago

Closing the book on deadline week. Per the chatter making the rounds, here's who Detroit was reportedly in on and missed: Elias Pettersson was a name, with retention apparently the sticking point. They lost Michael Bunting to Dallas. And they kicked tires on a long list, Trocheck, Robert Thomas, Ristolainen, Ekman-Larsson. Big disclaimer: this is reported interest, not all of it is confirmable, so grain of salt on the specifics. Point is, they were active on more than just the two guys they got.

tj_morris3mo ago

if the Pettersson stuff was real and retention was the only wall, that's the one that hurts. you're telling me we couldn't find a third team to eat salary? i had a whole three-way drawn up in my head lol

mike_d223mo ago

Retention being the sticking point on Pettersson is the most believable detail in the whole report. Retention is ALWAYS the sticking point. Half the deals in this league die on whether someone eats the last 15%. If the report's accurate, that's not Yzerman being cheap, that's the seller wanting a king's ransom for the retention slot.

doug_g3mo ago

losing bunting to dallas. of course. the one depth guy that wcouldve actually helped goes to a contender. classic.

kwilson3mo ago

Quietly fine that the Trocheck / Thomas tire-kicking didn't turn into anything, honestly. Some of those names come with term and AAV that would've boxed in the very UFA decisions Yzerman's about to face this summer. Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.

RedWingRusty3mo ago

Fair to remember these are reports, not confirmed offers. Teams call on everybody. "Linked to" can mean a 30-second phone call. They got their right-shot D and a cheap scorer, didn't overpay beyond the Faulk first, and walked. As deadlines go that's a clean enough exit.

GrumpyInGrosse3mo ago

we get "linked" to everyone every year and end up with the bargain bin. nothing new under the sun.