Thomas Vanek tallied 15 goals and 38 points in 48 games with the Red Wings (MLive/Mike Mulholland).

Red Wings have history of bringing back familiar faces

Players come and go, and some of them come back again.

The Detroit Red Wings have brought back several players over years for a second stint with the club.

Sometimes the move pays off, like with Chris Osgood. Sometimes it backfires, like with Mikael Samuelsson.

The Red Wings moved four players at the trade deadline for draft picks. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say they will have some level of interest in the three that hit the free-agent market on July 1.

Thomas Vanek, for what he earned compared to what he produced, proved to be a bargain. Steve Ott was an inexpensive role player who provided a necessary element of abrasiveness. The club tried to re-sign defenseman Brendan Smith.

But should a team that finished 16 points out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference bring back essentially the same roster?

Not if they can help it. Changes need to be made, at least for the sake of change.

Problem is the free-agent market is remarkably thin and the cost of making a trade for a puck-moving top-pair defenseman would be high, possibly one of the club's promising young forwards -- Anthony Mantha, Dylan Larkin or Andreas Athanasiou -- or the ninth overall pick.

Options appear limited for the Red Wings, but perhaps teams with protection issues prior to the expansion draft can help.

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The Red Wings dealt Thomas Vanek to Florida for a third-round pick at the trade deadline. (AP file photo).

Should Red Wings sign Thomas Vanek for a season?

Q: What are your thoughts on bringing back Vanek? I have mixed feelings. I was pleasantly surprised by how well he fit in but have a feeling he'd be a bust if (general manager Ken) gave him a long-term deal. Maybe a one-year deal for around the same money? – J.B.

A: When Vanek was flourishing mid-season I thought he set himself up well for July 1 – maybe a multi-year contract at a significant bump from his $2.6 million salary from some team. It was surprising the Red Wings got no better than a third-round pick for him (from Florida).

Maybe it shows teams still aren’t sold on him. Maybe he’ll need to accept another one-year offer.

If the Red Wings can get him for one year at around $3 million I’d do it. I wouldn’t sign Vanek or any other veteran free-agent forward for more than one year.

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Will the Minnesota Wild move defenseman Matt Dumba prior to the expansion draft? (AP file photo).

Which teams might deal a defenseman prior to expansion draft?

Q: Should the Wings be keeping close tabs on the Wild for a potential move, considering their protection problem for the expansion draft? -- Jim

A: There's a few teams with potential protection issues on defense, including Minnesota, Nashville, Anaheim, Winnipeg and the New York Islanders.

If the Wild opt to protect three defensemen, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon surely will be two of them. That leaves one spot for either Jonas Brodin, Matt Dumba or Marco Scandella.

Dumba’s name surfaces in more trade speculation than the others.

Nashville is another club with a decision to make. The Predators might elect to protect four defensemen (P.K. Subban, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis and Mattias Ekholm) and just four forwards. If not, they’ll need to move a good defenseman.

The Jets might opt to protect four defensemen as well, unless they make a trade. Dustin Byfuglien and Tobias Enstrom have no-movement clauses and Winnipeg isn’t going to expose Jacob Trouba or Tyler Myers.

The New York Islanders might need to move a defenseman, perhaps Calvin de Haan, who is rumored to be on the Red Wings’ radar. Johnny Boychuk must be protected due to his no-movement clause (unless he agrees to waive it) and the two other spots could go to Nick Leddy and Travis Hamonic.

The Ducks have a plethora of defensemen. They figure to protect Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen, assuming Kevin Bieksa waives his no-movement clause (he might as well, since Vegas won’t take a 35-year-old). That would leave Josh Manson exposed.

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Red Wings defenseman Jonathan Ericsson has three years remaining on his contract. (AP file photo).

Any buyout candidates for Detroit?

Q: Any chance the Red Wings will buy out anyone, like (Jonathan) Ericsson or (Jimmy) Howard? – Doug

A: It's doubtful. The buyout period is June 15-30.

They’re on the hook for $7.5 million over the next four years for Stephen Weiss. I don’t think they want to pay anyone else millions to go away and add to the dead space on their cap.

Ericsson has three years remaining on his contract at a $4.25 million cap hit. If bought out, he’d count $1.6 million against the cap next season and $1.3 million in each of the following five seasons.

If Howard isn’t traded and isn’t claimed by Vegas in the expansion draft (if he’s exposed), they’d have no issues with him returning at a $5.3 million cap hit. He had a strong season, while missing a lot of time with a knee injury, and played well at the World Championship.

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Red Wings defense prospect Dan Renouf drops the gloves during a preseason game. (AP file photo).

Any room for a defense prospect next season?

Q: Will the Wings give Dan Renouf or Dylan McIlrath a shot at making the roster? Detroit sorely needs some bite on defense. – Hockeymle

A: McIlrath is an unrestricted free agent who I don't think will be re-signed.

Renouf, who appeared in one game this past season due to injuries, will surely start next season in Grand Rapids. I could see him getting called up for a few games when there’s injuries or they feel they need some size (he’s 6-3. 209) and abrasiveness on the blue line.

But he's behind Robbie Russo in the pecking order and I'd expect Russo to also start next season with the Griffins.

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