Detroit Red Wings Analysis: Who Will Make The Final Cut?

According to NHL guidelines every team in the league must submit an “Opening Day Playing Roster” before the start of every NHL season. This said roster must contain no more than 23 players names and no less than 20 (18 skaters, 2 goalies). As we inch ever closer to the start of the 2015-2016 season, let’s take a look at what the Detroit Red Wings opening day roster may look like.

Forwards Who Will Make The Cut:

Thoughts: I honestly believe in my heart, or maybe I just want to believe, that Dylan Larkin will be on the Red Wings’ opening night roster come October 9th. Call it fate, destiny, or divine intervention but I believe that the injuries to Datsyuk and Helm will open up a temporary chance for Larkin to break the mold of Detroit prospects and allow the 19 year-old to don the Winged Wheel.

Call it fate, destiny, or divine intervention but I believe that the injuries to Datsyuk and Helm will open up a temporary chance for Larkin to break the mold of Detroit prospects and allow the 19 year-old to don the Winged Wheel.

With so many of Detroit’s youngsters having a successful preseason and becoming very close to being NHL ready, I believe that we will be seeing at least one of them sooner rather than later. Coach Blashill has a great opportunity to shake up the way the Red Wings have managed their roster for the past decade.

Tomas Nosek, Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha could also be long-shots to crack the Red Wings’ lineup this year but I think all three will be better suited to spend some time in Grand Rapids. Again, we still will most likely see these three players sooner rather than later.

It’s also important to remember that once Darren Helm is cleared and ready to play somebody will have to be sent down to Grand Rapids to make room. If Dylan Larkin does indeed crack the Red Wings’ lineup he will obviously be the person to be sent down.

Defencemen Who Will Make The Cut:

Thoughts: Much like the forwards, the defense could also provide some intriguing possibilities. While Detroit’s top two defensive-pairings are pretty much set in stone, the third-line could find itself having a few different looks throughout the season. Quincey, Smith and Kindl will most likely be the three leading candidates to start on the third-line but could also easily lose their jobs if their showings prove to be less than stellar.

With young blue-liners like Ouellet and Marchenko proving that they have what it takes to play in the NHL last season, any slip in play from either Quincey, Kindl or Smith could result in a demotion. It will be interesting to see what Blashill does with the third defensive-pairing throughout the season.

Goalies Who Will (obviously) Make The Cut:

Thoughts: No big surprise here, both Jimmy Howard and Petr Mrazek will battle and possibly share the starting goaltender job for the Red Wings this season. The NHL is really turning into a two-goalie league, so a healthy and productive pairing of Howard and Mrazek would be the best case scenario for the Red Wings this season. The NHL season is long and grueling and the Red Wings will look to both Jimmy and Petr to carry to the team between the pipes.

I’m not a member of the Red Wings’ decision making team and this list reflects my humble opinion of what Detroit’s roster could look like come opening night. There is a lot of room for changes to be made, some of which could be exciting and/or surprising.

Next: Getting Defensive About Jakub Kindl

Forwards Who Will Make The Cut:

Defencemen Who Will Make The Cut:

Goalies Who Will (obviously) Make The Cut:

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