Stephen-Weiss-9-29-14

Stephen Weiss has appeared in just one of he Red Wings' first seven games despite being completely healthy.

(AP File Photo)

Stephen Weiss is finally healthy after being plagued by a sports hernia last season, but he can't crack the lineup.

He had a bad preseason for the Detroit Red Wings and coach Mike Babcock, as promised, is playing the best players at his disposal.

In this week's mailbag, one reader wondered what will become of Weiss. And there's more talk about Tyler Myers, the big defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres who the Red Wings have been trying to acquire.

Here we go:

Q: Explain to me why (the Red Wings) didn't use their final compliance buyout on Weiss. It doesn't look like he's going to play much and I'm worried we're going to be stuck with his cap hit for the next three years. That's a lot of money sitting in the press box. Do you think they'll use a regular buyout on him in the summer? How much would that save? -- Mike

A: First off, players who are scratched don't actually sit in the press box.

Anyway, Weiss was signed to his five-year, $24.5 million contract during the current collective bargaining agreement (post 2013), so he wasn't eligible for a compliance buyout.

Even if he was, I don't believe the Red Wings would have used it on him. It makes no sense to give up on a player brought in to be your second-line center after just 26 games, during which he played hurt.

Weiss, who's played just one of the first seven games, likely will need an injury or an extended slump by a top-nine forward to get back into the lineup.

He'll get his chance. It's a long season.

Can he be productive, like he was with the Florida Panthers between 2006-07 and 2011-12 (when he averaged 19 goals and 53 points)? That remains to be seen.

But I think it's too soon to write him off. The Red Wings can use all the offensive help they can get, so the Weiss of old would be a tremendous boost.

What can they do if he doesn't rediscover his scoring touch? His contract makes him untradable. The no-movement clause in it precludes the club from waiving him without his permission. If they use an ordinary course buyout on him this summer, he'll be owed $1.6 million per season for the next six years, with a cap hit of slightly more than $1 million for two seasons, $2.5 in 2017-18 and $1.6 million for three years after that, according to capgeek.com.

Q: I'm concerned about this defense's ability to score. Seems like Wings teams of the past had a dynamic defense that could contribute offense and take some heat off the forwards. Are they going to be able to put up points? -- Husker

A: They definitely need their blue line to chip in more offensively. Niklas Kronwall scored two goals on Thursday and can be relied on to contribute his share of points. The other D-men have no goals and five assists between them.

If they continue using the power play formation they have, with just one defenseman on the ice, it will reduce the points put up by the other blueliners.

Danny DeKeyser and Brendan Smith have the ability to score more but they're going to put up a lot of points.

The only way the Red Wings can see a significant increase in production from their defense is to acquire a puck-mover who can quarterback the power play.

Q: Do you think the Wings will trade Dylan Larkin for Tyler Myers? I hope not. I like Myers' size and right shot but I hope they don't sacrifice the future for him. - Coco1

A: My guess is they won't part with Larkin in their efforts to acquire Myers. They're committed to building through the draft. They relinquished a young center (Calle Jarnkrok) last season because they felt they needed a veteran center (David Legwand) to help them reach the playoffs.

They have a couple of other promising centers in the system in Tomas Nosek and Mattias Janmark, but Larkin, their top pick in 2014 (15th overall), by several accounts, has the potential to be much better. It's no surprise the Sabres are seeking him, after being told top prospect Anthony Mantha isn't going anywhere.

The Red Wings will have to relinquish something of value to land the young (24), 6-foot-8, puck-moving defenseman Myers. At 1-7, the Sabres are well on their way to reaching their goal of gaining the most lottery balls for the Connor McDavid draft in June, so they shouldn't be in any hurry to get rid of all their best players.

Q: Was real impressed by Monster's (Jonas Gustavsson's) play against his old team. I hope he pushes Howard. Is there any chance he takes the starting job? And will (Petr) Mrazek be on the team next year? -- Beatrice

A: Howard is firmly established as No. 1 and I don't believe that will change this season or in the near future. He's off to a good start (3-1-2, 1.96 goals-against average and .929 save percentage).

Gustavsson, who shut out Toronto last Saturday in his lone appearance, should be a reliable back-up if he stays healthy. He was sort of their savior last season, going 16-5-4, but was supported well offensively. He needs to improve on last season's GAA (2.63) and save percentage (.907).

Mrazek is exempt from waivers through 2015-16, so the Red Wings can keep him in Grand Rapids next season, too, if they want him to play 50-plus games in the AHL as opposed to 20 or so as Howard's backup here. But after three seasons in the minors he might be better off being in the NHL full-time next season, even if he isn't playing as much. So I think he'll be with the Red Wings next season.

Thanks for participating. If you have a Red Wings question, email me at akhan1@mlive.com.

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