Helene St. James

Detroit Free Press

Free agency begins high noon Friday, and the Detroit Red Wings have needs and spending power. 

Their prime objective was Steven Stamkos, but this afternoon, news broke that Stamkos is staying in Tampa Bay.  So much for adding a 26-year-old, 312-goal scorer to the lineup.  Stamkos re-signed for eight years, $68 million. 

Stamkos beckoned as far and away the potential biggest prize when the market opens July 1, but there are other options.  On Tuesday, we analyzed Milan Lucic, Frans Nielsen and Troy Brouwer.  Here are five more options:

Kyle Okposo

Snapshot: Heavy forward (6 feet, 217 pounds) who shoots right-handed and hit 27 goals three seasons ago and 22 this past season.  Had a career-high 42 assists in 2015-16.  Had eight points (two goals) in 11 playoff games this spring.  Is only 28.  Despite a good season, he did not make the cut for Team USA’s World Cup roster. 

Price point: Okposo consistently scores in the 20-goal range.  A report in Newsday had Okposo looking for as much as $7 million annually on his next contract, which is prohibitive. 

David Backes

Snapshot: Big (6-feet-3, 220-odd pounds) with six 20-goal seasons to his credit.  Reliable 50-point producer.  Just put in a stellar playoff performance with 14 points in 20 games.  Plays in all situations.  Great character. 

Price point: Reports from earlier in the season had Backes rejecting a three-year, $15-million extension offer from the St. Louis Blues.  If he wants a five-year deal, that's a lot of term for a 32-year-old with a concussion history from 2014. 

Loui Eriksson

Snapshot: He has hit the 20-goal mark six times in his career (and he had 12 goals in the 48-game 2013 season).  Very good at both ends of the ice.  Has 14 points in 34 playoff games. 

Price point: He'll be 31 on July 17.  Again, it comes down to term.  He'd be a good investment if he could be had for three years, but someone is bound to offer more than that. 

Andrew Ladd

Snapshot: He’s a two-time Stanley Cup champion one season removed from a career-high 62 points.  He had 25 goals and 21 assists (46 points) this past season.  Didn't have much of an impact in this year's playoffs. 

Price point: He's believed to be looking for six years and at least $6.5 million annually.  That's a prohibitive cost.  The Wings would be better off with Troy Brouwer, who is similar to Ladd but should come at a cheaper price. 

Mikkel Boedker

Snapshot: He was the eighth overall pick in 2008.  Excellent skater.  Had a career-high 19 goals in 2013-14 and 17 goals among 51 points this past season (between Arizona and Colorado).  Has nine points in 20 playoff appearances.  Was a minus-33 player this season, but he spent most of the year with the Coyotes, who had the third-most goals allowed in the NHL. 

Price point: He's only 26, so a contract length in the five-to-six-year range is not an issue.  But he reportedly wants about $5.5 million annually, which would be a lot of money for a guy with a limited resume. 

St. James: Datsyuk trade allows Red Wings to charge into free agency

Contact Helene St. James: hstjames@freepress.com.  Follow her on Twitter @helenestjames.