NHL 2021 free agency updates: Detroit Red Wings add to blue line with pair of signings

The Detroit Red Wings will start spending this offseason!

Or maybe next, after Steve Yzerman’s rebuild has another year to mature. (The Wings’ general manager didn’t give a timeline for the “Yzerplan” when asked last month.)

Whatever the Wings decide during the 2021 NHL free agency period, fans can bookmark this page to get live updates on the moves from Detroit and all other teams.

For those in need of a recap, the Wings (19-27, 48 points) entered the offseason after they tied for last place in the Central Division, never winning more than three games in row (but running up an eight-game losing streak and another four-game losing streak).

SO LONG LUKE: Glendening leaves Red Wings for Dallas Stars

WELCOME BACK SAM: Why Steve Yzerman decided to extend Sam Gagner

Injuries and coronavirus-related absences marked a season that didn’t start with particularly high expectations to begin with. For all their trouble, they “fell” to the No. 6 pick in the NHL draft, thanks to the lottery.

ST. JAMES: Marc Staal eyed free agency. Then Red Wings GM Steve Yzerman called

But the Wings have seemed to already (mildly) improved their roster with trades to acquire defenseman Nick Leddy and goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic.

The team then drafted another defenseman, Simon Edvinsson, and traded up to take a goalie, Sebastian Cossa, in the first round.

Yzerman has made it clear he wants to build the Wings through the defense, but last year dipped into free agency to grab Bobby Ryan and Vladislav Namestnikov. Could another one-year flier be in the works? Something bigger, perhaps?

[ Here’s how you can gain access to our most exclusive Red Wings content for an insanely low price. ]