Detroit Red Wings: Does Latest Suter Report Mean Done Deal for Red Wings?

Ryan Suter will test the unrestricted free-agent market according to an NHL.com report released today by Nashville Predators general manager David Poile.

This is great news for the Red Wings and their fanbase, right?

I mean, the Red Wings are supposedly the "conceded" front-runner to land Suter in free agency, assuming he makes it that far.

But the big factor here is that Nashville can still find a team that would be able to sign Suter, and trade his rights to that team, prior to free agency.

This would negate the apparent Red Wings' advantage and obviously be a huge plus for Nashville (not losing Suter to Detroit).

For Red Wings fans waiting for July 1, it is almost worse than waiting for that Christmas present that you know is under the tree.

The question is, will that Christmas present still be under the tree with the Red Wings' name on it when the calendar hits July 1?

The alternative is one that Red Wings fans would rather not think of: Suter is already signed and locked up (for the rest of his career) by another franchise.

That is an opportunity that Detroit cannot afford to pass up, as no other defenseman on the market provides the instead top-tier quality that Suter does.

But will they make the move?

At this point, they don't seem to have much of a choice.

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