Steven Stamkos

The Red Wings expect to make a pitch for Steven Stamkos if he hits the free-agent market on July 1.

(The Associated Press)

The 2016 free-agent class could feature many good forwards for a team seeking an offensive boost, like the Detroit Red Wings.

Steven Stamkos might top that list. If he doesn't re-sign with the Tampa Bay Lightning before July 1 Stamkos will be the biggest free agent to hit the market in some time.

Is it realistic to think the Red Wings have a legitimate chance of landing this sniper? Or is it a fantasy? That is what some MLive readers were asking this week:

Q: In what universe do you see it being a possibility that Stamkos goes to the Red Wings? - Ben

A: The stars and planets would need to be perfectly aligned.

First, the Red Wings would need to shed Pavel Datsyuk's $7.5 million cap hit in order to have the money for Stamkos. There are only a handful of teams that might need that salary (they won't actually be paying it) to reach the cap floor - Arizona, Carolina, Ottawa and Florida are possibilities. It will cost the Red Wings something to get rid of the contract and general manager Ken Holland said he is not going to relinquish a valuable asset (i.e. high draft pick, top prospect, good roster player) to do so.

Then the Red Wings have to decide whether it is worth paying one player between $9 million and $10 million a season on a maximum seven-year deal. That is likely what it will cost because Stamkos turned down $8.5 million a season from the Lightning, the only team that can give him eight years.

Finally, would Stamkos want to come here? If the Lightning offer is still on the table, would he prefer to stay on a talented team that is ready to win the Stanley Cup now? Does he want to return home to Toronto, which could probably offer a higher annual salary than anyone else and is loading up on young talent (soon to have No. 1 pick Auston Matthews and perhaps college free agent Jimmy Vesey)?

I still think the odds are against the Red Wings landing Stamkos, but I expect them to make a pitch if they're able to shed Datsyuk's contract.

Q: What are the chances of signing Stamkos? He'd be pretty close to home, he would have media that wouldn't tear him up like Toronto and he'd be guaranteed a center slot and the go-to guy. The Wings also have a good future with the Grand Rapids Griffins' success, the playoff streak and a beautiful new arena to play in. If we can trade Datsyuk's cap hit, is this pretty reasonable? It makes sense for him, and a one-two punch of Stamkos and (Dylan) Larkin is a good look for the Wings.

A: The Red Wings would love to generate some buzz, especially entering their new building in 2017-18. Landing the biggest free agent prize would accomplish that.

Stamkos is 26 and would anchor their top-line center spot for the foreseeable future.

Under ordinary circumstances, they might hesitate to allocate that much of their cap space to one player (maybe $1.5 million to $2.5 million more than Datsyuk's cap hit, but Stamkos is much younger). But it could be the kind of bold move needed to rejuvenate a team that has lost in the first round of the playoffs the past three seasons.

If the Red Wings sign Alexander Radulov - they were expected to offer a one-year deal between $4 million and $5 million - it mightl preclude them from making a run at Stamkos.

The Red Wings have several restricted free agents to sign, including Petr Mrazek, Danny DeKeyser and Riley Sheahan, and would like to re-sign Darren Helm, who would be unrestricted on July 1.

The $71.4 million cap reportedly will rise only slightly, to $72.8 million.

Q: Gustav Nyquist and Tomas Tatar were finalists for the 2014-15 NHL play of the year. They showed their speed and stick-handling ability in scoring spectacular goals. Nyquist and Tatar did not demonstrate the same offensive abilities during the 2015-16 season. I can't help but wonder if the team management expectations to be better defensive forwards affected Nyquist and Tatar's offensive production. I have to wonder if Steven Stamkos signs with the Wings, will they expect him to be a better defensive forward? If so, will his goal production decline? - Rod

A: The Red Wings hope they face that issue with Stamkos.

Regarding Nyquist and Tatar, less ice time, different lines and a struggling power play all were factors in their decline in production. I don't believe they were expected to be any better defensively than in the past. The club realizes they are offensive players, not two-way forwards like Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg. Coaching surely played a role in their regression, but ultimately, I believe the onus is on the player to produce.

Q: Do you think Petr Mrazek will play better this year having his goalie coach from Grand Rapids, Jeff Salajko, in Detroit? - Jody

A: The Red Wings are hoping that is the case; it's why they promoted Salajko.

Mrazek has been strong, overall, the past two seasons, going 43-25-8, with a 2.35 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and seven shutouts. He's been better in the playoffs, with a 1.88 GAA, .931 save percentage and three shutouts in 10 starts.

The problem has been late-season lapses both years. He was pulled five times in 14 starts and had a 3.44 GAA and .886 save percentage from Feb. 14 to the end of the 2015-16 regular season. The year before, he was pulled four times in a span of 12 starts from Jan. 18 to March 29.

Whatever the reason, that's what they must solve.

Q: Do you see any possible Griffins getting moved up to the Red Wings depending on how contracts shake out at each level? - Brad

A: Defensemen Xavier Ouellet and Ryan Sproul and right wing Martin Frk are out of options. I would expect Ouellet to be on the Red Wings roster. I think Sproul and Frk will either make the Red Wings roster or be dealt. I doubt the team would waive them and risk losing them for nothing because I think both would be claimed.

If Anthony Mantha has a good camp and preseason, he should be on the NHL roster from the start. If he doesn't and the Red Wings face a roster crunch, Mantha might start the year in Grand Rapids, since he is waiver-exempt for one more season.

I don't consider Andreas Athanasiou a Griffin anymore, even though he played for them in the postseason. He has earned a spot on the Red Wings.

Forwards Eric Tangradi, Tomas Nosek and Tyler Bertuzzi and defensemen Robbie Russo and Nick Jensen (who is out of options) also are candidates to be called up at some point during the season.

Q: Is it Bertuzzi's time for the NHL next season after his impressive postseason with the Griffins, or should he just stay in AHL one more season? The line with him, Mantha and Athanasiou can make a good third line for the Red Wings. I hear everyone asking about if Ryan Sproul or Xavier Ouellet should move up, and not anyone really touching Robbie Russo, who is doing fantastic for the Griffins. So shouldn't the Red Wings move him up rather than those two? - Geek Freak

A: I expect Bertuzzi to spend at least one more season in the AHL. He has stepped up in the past two playoffs for the Griffins, with 14 goals and 20 points in 23 games. He had 12 goals and 30 points in 71 regular season games.

Russo had a terrific first pro season (five goals, 34 assists, team-best plus-40) and might get called up at some point during the season. But they know what Ouellet can do (he's appeared in 30 NHL games) and they need to find out if Sproul is ready for the NHL because he can't be sent down without waivers.

Q: Is Dylan Sadowy meant to play next year or for later down the road? If you think he'll play next year, how much of an impact will he make on the team? -- Geek Freak

A: Sadowy is expected to play in Grand Rapids next season. He'll likely need a couple of seasons of development in the AHL.

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

-- Follow MLive Sports on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

-- Download the Detroit Red Wings on MLive app for iPhone and Android

-- Follow Ansar Khan and Brendan Savage on Twitter