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Red Wings: Defenseman Madison Bowey Shouldn’t be Re-signed

By John Manzo

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 10: Rudolfs Balcers #38 of the Ottawa Senators battles for the puck against Madison Bowey #74 of the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 10: Rudolfs Balcers #38 of the Ottawa Senators battles for the puck against Madison Bowey #74 of the Detroit Red Wings during the third period at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 3-2 in a shootout. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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Defenseman Madison Bowey hasn’t panned out as throw-in asset in trade with Washington Capitals.

It hasn’t been fun while it’s lasted, and hopefully it ends soon.

The Madison Bowey project needs to end when the season is over, despite being second in goals and assists among all Detroit Red Wings defensemen. That’s more a sign at how historically awful this team is rather than the skillset Bowey presents.

Bowey is a player the Red Wings took a flier on after sending Nick Jensen to the Washington Captials in February 2019. Fortunately, Jensen hasn’t turned into a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman or anything himself, but Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman needs to let Bowey walk as a restricted free agent at seasons end.

Despite being a somewhat adequate play maker – on a roster that lacks capable defensemen – Bowey isn’t good at his job, as a, well…defenseman.

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Hell, the team waived him in December 2019 because of “defensive issues.” It’s probably not a good sign for your team if you’re employing a player who can’t even do the job in his title.

Bowey has been beat to or off the puck countless times this season and regularly plays out of position. At 24 years old you can argue that mistakes can be corrected with better coaching, but it says something when a young player gets dumped to the wayside via waivers midseason and doesn’t get claimed.

He’s back on the team and will more likely than not finish the season with Detroit (because nobody else wants him). He has a couple months left to turn it around and show Yzerman that he deserves a roster spot next season, but my gut says he’ll be gone, thankfully.

Lacking defensemen or not on the team, Yzerman isn’t a fan, already releasing him once.

That speaks volumes.

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