The Detroit Red Wings let the eight year extension window close without locking up Alex DeBrincat or Simon Edvinsson, and the fanbase noticed inside the hour.
The Grind Line Podcast called it extremely disappointing in a post that has already pushed past 4,400 views this morning.
The mechanics are simple. Eight year extensions died at 9 p.m. Tuesday, and seven years is the ceiling under the agreement that kicked in today.
NHL.com had both files listed as pressing business for the front office on Tuesday afternoon. Neither got done.
Start with the winger, because that one hurts immediately. Forty one goals and 85 points on a $7,875,000 cap hit, and he can become an unrestricted free agent when this season ends.
He also buried 15 of those goals on the power play. That is not a player you let walk into a contract year without a plan.
Look at what others paid this week. Ryan Leonard got eight years and $84 million off a 45 point season, and Drake Batherson landed eight years and $86 million off 71.
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Alex DeBrincat and Simon Edvinsson news has Red Wings fans furious
The defenceman is 23 and is coming off 25 points at plus-12 while making $894,166. Restricted free agency is the only leverage the club has left.
Every team in the league is hunting for a young defenceman who can skate and move pucks. Detroit has one and just let the cheapest path to keeping him expire.
The back end is not exactly stacked behind him either. Moritz Seider carried it with 60 points and 25 power play assists, and Axel Sandin Pellikka finished at minus-20 as a 21 year old.
None of this happened in a vacuum. Shawn Horcoff was named interim general manager on Tuesday, two months after Steve Yzerman moved into an adviser role.
The captaincy is also vacant. Dylan Larkin requested a trade after last season and the club confirmed it will open the year without a C on anybody's sweater.
The record was fine on paper. Detroit finished 41-31-10 and ranked 16th overall.
The last two weeks were not fine. Two wins in 10 games to close it out, including an 8-1 night in Florida.
John Gibson gave them a .902 save percentage and four shutouts. Point at the crease all you want, that was not the problem.
So who exactly was supposed to be making these calls in August?
Missing the eight year option is like showing up at the bank the day after your rate lock expired. The house is still for sale. It just costs more now.
Camp opens Thursday with an interim general manager, no captain, and two of the best assets in the building on shorter runways than they needed to be.
Somebody will pay for that eventually. The question is whether it is the guy holding the clipboard or the guy who spent two months deciding who gets the desk.
Did the Red Wings blow it by letting the eight year window close on Alex DeBrincat and Simon Edvinsson?
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