My thoughts on Chiarot

A whole lot of people don't like the Chiarot signing/contract. I get it, they probably overpaid a bit. But, what's important to remember here, is this is the final year of the flat cap. Next year, it starts going up again. Then he's only got three years left on the deal. So, sure, they overpaid, but the term is reasonable. Not to mention, this is just a stop-gap between now and when the bounty of defensive prospects begins to sign new deals.

The Red Wings' defenseman who was consistently hardest to play against last year (aside from Seider) was Marc Staal. Since he's gone, there is a clear hole back there. He can stick around for a few years and provide a stable veteran. For five years, this contract looks a whole lot worse, but for four, that's realistically the time it will take for the Wings to really start contending. All things considered, it's not all that bad, and it still fits (and further defines) the timeline that Steve Yzerman and Co. have on this rebuild.

Patrick Kane? Keep dreaming...

First off, I must admit, it would be great to see the Red Wings get a bona-fide star on offense.

Now let's quit dreaming...

Patrick Kane is a no doubter for the hall of fame, but the Red Wings aren't ready to compete yet. The Red Wings are certainly an improved team this year, but they are still far from being a contender, let alone making the playoffs.

Believe me, I like the team Stevie has put together, but there East is stacked with them. In the Red Wings division alone, Tampa, Toronto, and Florida are all shoo-ins, while Boston is still hanging around, and Ottawa is one team that arguably had a better off-season than Detroit. All in the Atlantic. Shifting to the Metropolitan, Carolina, New York Rangers, and Washington all seem like locks, and Pittsburgh is still hanging on there.

At best, one player of Kane's caliber would likely just put the Wings in contention for one of those final spots. Obviously, a couple of pleasant surprises along the way could help, but just because one player has a breakout year, that doesn't mean someone else won't take a step back (see: Adam Erne).

Cap space isn't really an issue here. Sure, some of you are still bitter about the Chiarot signing, but Chicago will likely want to hold onto some of Kane's salary to garner a bigger return, weaponizing their newly found glut of cap space. They will ultimately land at least one first-round pick for Kane, probably a pick and a prospect. Not a place the Red Wings are ready to go, especially with Kane on an expiring contract. Odds are, Kane will be on his last season or two when the Wings are truly ready to compete. As of right now, he's probably got four-five more solid ones ahead of him.