Detroit Red Wings: Checking in on the 2019-20 Core

In 2019, the Detroit Red Wings seemed to have found their core. Although the team was terrible, the trio of Larkin, Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha provided some hope for the future, each averaging over .68 points per game (Bertuzzi .68, Larkin .75 and Mantha .88). However, the core had some major alterations this year.

One third of the core’s future is certain: Mantha’s time in Detroit has come to an end. He was shipped off to the Washington Capitals at the eleventh hour of the deadline, as Steve Yzerman sought to gain some capital off of an asset that didn’t quite match the trajectory of the rebuild.

Tyler Bertuzzi

Tyler Bertuzzi’s situation is a bit more complex. He is 26 years old, meaning Yzerman could view him as similar to Mantha: too old for the current rebuild. More concerning than his age, however, is his health. Bertuzzi played only nine games after a season-ending back injury against the Dallas Stars. Recently, the Red Wings announced that Bert will be ready for training camp after a successful back surgery. But Detroit fans are familiar with the affect a back injury can have on the trajectory of a career – just look at Danny Dekeyser and Henrik Zetterberg. It’d be unfair to write off Bertuzzi’s future because of one injury, but this next season will be telling of his future with the organization.

Dylan Larkin

The third piece of that 2019 core is Dylan Larkin. The Captain’s future seems to be safe with the organization; not only was he given the “C” in the offseason, he was also designated as one of Steve Yzerman’s “untouchables” at the deadline. But his 2020-21 campaign wasn’t particularly stellar.

Larkin spent much of the season banged-up, missing the end of the season due to an upper body injury. Although he certainly looked like one of, if not the most talented Detroit player when on the ice, the scoresheet tells a different story. Although Larkin’s nine goals and 14 assists lead the team in points this year, the numbers are a step down from his last few seasons. His 2020-21 season average of .52 points per game is the lowest since his sophomore year (2016-17) average of  .4 points per game. To keep the rebuild in a good place, Larkin’s contribution to next year’s team will be key. If he can stay healthy.

Final Thoughts

In a rebuild as long as this one, changes are certain to take place, especially with an organization led by Yzerman. He has already shown his dedication to keeping the rebuild on track, with the Mantha trade being the obvious example. This year has illustrated just how fragile even a solid core can be. Don’t be surprised if Yzerman continues to shift around the lineup, even those players considered key to future.