Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill and players weren't interested in tanking for lottery position this season. (AP file photo)

The expansion Vegas Golden Knights’ remarkable run to the Stanley Cup Final proves that almost anything is possible in the NHL.

But can the Detroit Red Wings, who finished 24 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, reach the playoffs next season?

That’s unlikely, given their lack of roster flexibility due to several hefty contracts.

They could be better than their 27th overall finish this season, but that wouldn’t necessarily be good for them, as explained in this week’s mailbag.

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Frans Nielsen is one of several Red Wings on big-money, long-term deals. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

Big contracts limit roster flexibility

Q: How on earth does this team get any better outside of winning the draft lottery (make that next year's draft lottery) with all the horrific contracts they currently have? (Justin) Abdelkader, (Darren) Helm, (Frans) Nielsen, (Jonathan) Ericsson: these are all bad contracts. Realistically, the Wings are going to have to ride these contracts out, as it seems unlikely they will be able to trade or will chose to buy out (a bad idea) any of these players. Is there any realistic possibility of improvement with these anchor albatross contracts on the books? – Saskatoon Wingnut

A: They could improve. A better power player and stronger goaltending would help. Continued growth from younger players like Dylan Larkin, Anthony Mantha, Andreas Athanasiou and Tyler Bertuzzi, coupled with contributions from potential incoming prospects Michael Rasmussen, Evgeny Svechnikov and Filip Hronek would be a boost.

But unless they make the playoffs, they’re better off not improving, record-wise, to enhance their draft lottery odds in the next couple of seasons as they rebuild. Coaches and players don’t want to hear that because they’re not focused on the future like the front office is, they’re trying to win each game.

I doubt any of the players you mentioned can be traded now, not without the Red Wings retaining a large portion of their contracts or taking a bad contract in return, and I doubt anybody on the roster will be bought out.

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The Red Wings will have a decision to make with Gustav Nyquist -- re-sign him or move him? (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

On free agents and gentlemen's agreements

Q: Can you help me understand why when it comes to expiring contracts it's usually trade or sign a new deal? In other words, it's one or the other. When it comes to (Gustav) Nyquist and Detroit, why not trade for the draft picks and/or prospect with the understanding that you'll then sign him again as a free agent if both parties are interested? Is that typically frowned upon or is there an unwritten rule against that type of thing? -- Matthew

A: I don't think it's necessarily frowned upon and don't believe it's an unwritten rule. The Red Wings tried to do this with Brendan Smith in 2017 after trading him to the New York Rangers at the deadline, but he signed a four-year, $17 million contract with the Rangers after the season.

Had the the Red Wings moved Mike Green at this year’s deadline (a neck injury, which ended up requiring surgery, prevented it), they would have looked to re-sign him on July 1 (and still might).

The problem with the scenario you describe is that circumstances can change drastically in a matter of months. The player might get comfortable with his new club, like Smith did (luckily for the Red Wings), or he might opt to explore the market if his value increases. His stock could drop with a poor performance down the stretch or in the playoffs or he could get injured, prompting his former club to reconsider its interest. No “gentleman’s agreement” is binding before a contract is signed.

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Martin Frk is one of the Red Wings' few right-handed shooters. (MLive/Mike Mulholland)

Better righty-lefty mix could help

Q: We see the teams in the playoffs like Nashville, Winnipeg and others who have a nice complement (some have and abundance) of right-handed forwards and defensemen. In the past several years that has not appeared to be a priority for the Wings when it comes to drafting and player development. Do the Wings value having a balance when it comes to evaluating players and building a team, or are they just judging the player regardless of which side they shoot from? – Norm

A: Clearly, the latter. They've lacked right-handed shooters at forward and defense for many years. Their draft philosophy has been to take the best available player, and most of the time it's been a left shooter.

They have some right-handed shooting defensemen in the pipeline with Hronek, Vili Saarijarvi and Gustav Lindstrom. They have no highly regarded right-shooting forward prospect, so that imbalance won’t change anytime soon.

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Jeffrey T. Barnes

Don't expect this fantasy to materialize

Q: If possible, what would Detroit have to give up to move up in the draft to take (Rasmus) Dahlin? Two first-round picks, a first-round pick and prospect. Two firsts and a prospect? – David

A: I don't know, and it doesn't matter. The Buffalo Sabres aren't trading the first pick in this year's draft. Dahlin is widely regarded as a generational talent and the best defense prospect to come along in decades. High-end defensemen are at a premium in today's NHL and it makes no sense for the Sabres to relinquish the pick.

Incidentally, the top overall pick has been traded only twice since 2000. The Florida Panthers parted with it both times.

In 2002, the Panthers traded No. 1 to Columbus for No. 3 and the right to swap first-rounders the following year. The Blue Jackets selected Rick Nash and the Panthers took Nathan Horton.

In 2003, the Panthers dealt No. 1 to Pittsburgh for No. 3, a second-rounder and Mikael Samuelsson. The Penguins selected Marc-Andre Fleury. The Panthers took Jay Bouwmeester.

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The Vegas Golden Knights have amazed the sporting world. (The Associated Press)

Which miracle on ice was more improbable?

Q: What was more improbable, the Miracle on Ice or Vegas reaching the Stanley Cup Final? Is it embarrassing for the NHL to have an expansion team in the final or good for the league? – Joy

A: I remember watching the 1980 U.S. Olympic team play the former Soviet Union live on Channel 42, a station in Kitchener that my old black and white TV with its powerful antennas could pick up, albeit grainy. ABC (Channel 7) didn't show it live, only tape-delayed later that night.

Team USA’s 4-3 victory was the most incredible and unexpected result I’d ever witnessed.

But I think what Vegas is doing tops that on the amazement meter. This isn’t a team on a two-week hot streak, the Golden Knights have been doing this all season.

Sure, they had advantages in the expansion draft that previous first-year teams did not, but their Pacific Division title, 109-point season and 12-3 run in the playoffs is unfathomable.

I think it’s good for the league because it brings more exposure and gets more people talking about the NHL. It was the lead story on SportsCenter Sunday. That doesn’t happen if the Winnipeg Jets or just about any other team had advanced. People who might not ordinarily watch the Cup Final will be tuning in to see this remarkable story.

If you have a Red Wings-related question, email me at akhan1@mlive.com.