Red Wings begin maneuvering for next season

Ted Kulfan The Detroit News Comments Zoom The Red Wings have tendered a qualifying offer for defenseman Brendan Smith. (David Guralnick/Detroit News) Detroit — Chicago won the Stanley Cup on Monday — its second title in four seasons — and now the focus already is on next season. With Sunday’s draft, a dizzying week around the NHL kicks off with the start of unrestricted free agency five days later. But even before all that, teams can buy out player contracts — players would receive two-thirds of their salary over twice the length of the contract, with nothing counting against the salary cap — through 5 p.m. July 4. Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, however, won’t use a buyout until...