from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Here are eight options for the organization.

F Valtteri Filppula
The ex-Red Wing is coming off a one-year, $2.75 million contract. Filppula, 35, had 17 goals among 34 points in 72 games with the Islanders last season, plus four assists in eight playoff games. As general manager of the Lightning, Yzerman signed Filppula for five years, $25 million in 2013. Filppula could be a good fit as a third-line center or wing, and he’s a good penalty killer. He’s reliable, a good fit in the locker room, and a one-year deal could make sense.

F Gustav Nyquist
The Wings flipped him to San Jose at the trade deadline, acquiring a second-rounder and third-rounder in return for a guy on an expiring contract. This was Ken Holland’s decision after extension talks revealed Nyquist was looking for five years at more than $5 million plus per season. Nyquist, who turns 30 in September, had 22 goals among 60 points in 81 games last season (and 11 points in 20 playoff games). He’s topped 20 goals in each of the past two seasons (before that, he’d had two subpar seasons). He’s coming off a four-year, $19 million contract, a cap hit of $4.75 million. It’s hard to think he’d take a pay cut. Would he be worth the investment even if it were a three-year deal? Certainly he’s a good fit in the locker room, but if he’s brought back, the team would look even more similar to the one that’s missed the playoffs three years running.

F Thomas Vanek

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