One of the best players for the Red Wings this season has been goaltender Jonathan Bernier. Initially, the team was switching between Bernier and Thomas Greiss – but it became clear quickly that Bernier is playing at an elite level this season.
In multiple games thus far, Bernier has willed the team to victories, even in matchups where they were outshot handedly. His save percentage on the year is currently sitting at .918, and more importantly, his win loss record currently sits at 6-3.
A winning record and a save percentage over .900 are extremely impressive, especially for a team like Detroit. Keeping up with this sort of production for the rest of the season could be a key to the rebuild – giving the team the ability to win on any night.
Bobby Ryan
What more can you say about him that hasn’t already been said? Ryan scored four goals in his first three games and instantly became one of the fan favorites of this team. It started with his admiration for Steve Yzerman as the reason he signed with the team while adding a spark on the ice whenever he’s out there.
Though his scoring has cooled since his torrid start, Ryan leads the team in points with 12 (6-6) and is a calming and veteran presence the team needs right now. Ryan, when considering that it’s possible he’s dealt at the deadline, has indicated he would be more than willing to return to Detroit next season.