After reporting that long-term contract talks are heating up between Lucas Raymond and the Red Wings, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that Moritz Seider and Detroit are also working on a long-term deal

After reporting that negotiations between Lucas Raymond and the Detroit Red Wings are focused on a long-term deal, insider David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period had more good news for Red Wings fans this evening.

Pagnotta followed up his earlier Raymond report with news about fellow Detroit restricted free agent Moritz Seider. He shared that the "wheels are in motion" for long-term extensions with both restricted free agents although "there’s still work that needs to be done" for all sides to come to an agreement.

Whether you put full faith in Pagnotta's scoops or not (or even if you groaned at the wheel pun), the idea of both Raymond and Seider signing long-term is a dream scenario for the Red Wings. Players traditionally make more money the more times they hit free agency, so limiting the number of times they can hit the market brings a savings to Detroit's checkbook in the future. With the salary cap projected to rise significantly in the next few years, even a high salary contract should age like wine.

Getting these numbers correct for all parties is a complicated dance, and it makes sense that the team would progress on each RFA's contract at the same time. They are important not only individually, but also in context of each other, and this explains the already-long delay in their eventual signings.

In the case of Seider, a long-term deal could be even more valuable considering his overall importance to the blue line. As a No. 1 pairing, right-shot defenseman, Seider could get a king's ransom on the open market of free agency. Signing him for many years trades what assumes to be a higher cap hit now for more wiggle room in the future.

Of course, getting players on long-term deals requires teams to use their cap space well. In the case of the Red Wings, 2027 projects to be a busy offseason. They will only have three players (Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher and Michael Rasmussen) under contract for a light $17 million. Depending on the value of Raymond and Seider's cap hits — and whatever happens to fellow RFA Jonatan Berggren — Detroit might find a lot of cap flexibility at a time when a lot of its young prospects right now will have progressed to the NHL.

After a long and quiet offseason, the Red Wings are nearing a point where they have to get Raymond and Seider signed. If they wind up inking long-term deals, the wait might be well worth it.

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