Noah Pedrazzoli looks at Atlantic Division teams that may challenge the Islanders for a wild card spot, starting with the Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are in a position riddled with uncertainty. While the past few years have been categorized as a part of their rebuild, general manager Steve Yzerman expedited that process through his trade for disgruntled right-wing goal scorer Alex DeBrincat from the Ottawa Senators.
What was considered the blockbuster trade of the 2023 offseason, the Red Wings were listed as contenders for the Atlantic Division and thus their rebuild was deemed to be over.
But after a collapse at the end of the season and missing the playoffs due to the infamous playoff-clinching game by the Washington Capitals at game 82, this year’s offseason has not been kind to the original six franchise.
Upgrades
The Red Wings began free agency by determining where veteran star wingers Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane would be playing. Kane will reassume his role on the top-six alongside JT Compher and Tarasenko on the second-line. The two decorated wingers were both trade acquisitions of the New York Rangers in 2023 where they played alongside each other and then went their separate ways after losing in the first round to the New Jersey Devils.
Alex Debrincat posted 27-40-67 in 82gp last season
Re-signing Lucas Raymond to an $8.075 million 8-year contract is housekeeping Yzerman allowed to go unsolved until three weeks before the start of the 2024-2025 season. Raymond is a young player with upside, but now with his expensive contract, he will be entrusted to continue carrying Detroit’s offense alongside Dylan Larkin and Alex Debrincat. There is simply no more room for error for Lucas Raymond now that he got paid.
The Wings have also re-signed bottom-six forwards Tyler Motte, Joe Valero, Christian Fischer, along with Jonatan Berggren to maintain depth. This revamped bottom-six demonstrates Yzerman’s decision to sacrifice middle-six depth in favor of top-six reinforcement as he takes additional steps to illustrate his young team is ready to compete.
“There is simply no more room for error for Lucas Raymond now that he got paid.”
Needs and Losses
The trademarked “Yzerplan” has been a rollercoaster as of late. Yzerman is clearly making a gamble that his top-six will carry the offense over reinforcing the goalie tandem and defense that was clearly lacking in last year’s end-of-season collapse.
In regards to the middle-six, the Red Wings have lost critical pieces in David Perron and Daniel Sprong. Perron signed with the Ottawa Senators this offseason, strengthening a division rival Detroit will be competing with.
Daniel Sprong was signed by Vancouver to a reasonably cheap deal to provide bottom-six depth, a commodity in this league. Rabbi Fabbri was additionally traded to the Anaheim Ducks for goalie Gage Alexander and a 2025 second-round pick where the young developing Ducks will get some crucial middle-six depth.
On the back end, losing Shayne Gostisbehere to free agency is devastating as Detroit has let go of a veteran who served as a major piece of its firepower at five-on-five and on the power play.
The head-scratching trade of Jake Walman to San Jose, which also saw the Red Wings giving up a second-round pick to move a reasonably priced contract, is another critical piece of depth on the backend lost in Detroit’s attempt to power their offense at the price of their defense.
As a result of these losses, recently signed Moritz Seider and Erik Gustafsson will be needed to not only maintain Detroit’s offense from the blue line, but also to keep a semblance of defensive structure.
The goalie carousel continues in the motor city as the Detroit Red Wings are trending to having recently signed netminder Cam Talbot become their starter. While Ville Husso was projected to be the goalie of the future for Detroit after the 2022-2023 season, the Red Wings have had a hero in Alex Lyon carry the load for them and almost had them break through to the postseason last year.
Steve Yzerman has decided to bring aboard more depth in former starters Jack Campbell, James Reimer, and Michael Hutchinson. There is a lot of uncertainty surrounding how the Red Wings keep the puck out of their own net.
Red Wings Division Outlook: 6th-7th Place
The Detroit Red Wings have taken a step back from being a proper competitive team. They attempted to upgrade their offense by adding Kane and Tarasenko at the cost of bottom-six depth and defensive backbone. Their goaltending is an amalgamation of former starters that, while they have veteran experience, may not be able to keep up against a faster paced 2024-2025 season.
The Red Wings are in a division surrounded by teams that did more to improve during the offseason. Their best case scenario, unless everything goes right defensively and goaltending-wise, will likely be competing for a wild card spot. Steve Yzerman’s attempt to fast-track their rebuild will not be enough to sustain a playoff push and could potentially send the Red Wings back to square one.
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