Red Wings: Projecting the Defensive Pairings for 2021-22 Season
After the extension of Marc Staal, the defensive pairings for the Detroit Red Wings’ upcoming season look locked in. Let’s look at the players that’ll make up Detroit’s blue line this year.
DeKeyser – Hronek
The top defensive pairing of Danny DeKeyser and Filip Hronek in Detroit next season shouldn’t really be a surprise, as they were at the top in 2020-21 as well.
31-years-old, at the end of his expensive ($5 million) contract and with the injuries piling up, DeKeyser might be entering his final season in Detroit. However, with the limited number of players on the left side of the defense, it seems as though DeKeyser will play a large role in what may be his final year wearing the winged wheel. With Marc Staal almost certainly tied to Troy Stecher and Nick Leddy to Moritz Seider, DeKeyser is the only real option left to slot in with Hronek at the top.
Hronek is essentially used to a top-pairing role with the team; he’s averaged over 23 minutes of ice time per game the past two seasons. While he didn’t necessarily flourish or develop in the role this season, Hronek did act as an important piece in game-deciding situations. He’ll be getting well over 20 minutes a night yet again this season.
Staal – Stecher
With the signing of Marc Staal, the Red Wings seem to have filled the last major hole on the defense. Staal played 56 games in Detroit this season, scoring three goals and seven assists. Although he was never one of the team’s best defenders throughout the season, Staal was efficient when paired with right hander Troy Stecher.
It’s a bit of a surprise that Detroit will be getting another season of Stecher. After he was left unprotected by the organization in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft, it seemed more than likely that Stecher was the pick. But Seattle opted to go young, selecting Dennis Cholowski. That means fans will get another season of the Stecher-Staal experience.
Stecher and Staal made a fantastic defensive pairing last year, which means re-establishing the duo is a no-brainer. In fact, the two were one of the best pure defensive pairings in the entire NHL.
Defensive pairs with the lowest expected goals against per 60. (Minimum 200 minutes played together at 5 on 5) https://t.co/qJ34bzwQWo pic.twitter.com/uSv3CbTAWZ
— MoneyPuck.com (@MoneyPuckdotcom) March 7, 2021
Yes, that’s right. Staal and Stecher had the lowest goals against per 60 for a good chunk of the season. While it might not be the most exciting pair in Detroit, the two will probably be Detroit’s best pure defenders.
Leddy – Seider
The newest pairing for the Red Wings will also be the most exciting.
Moritz Seider has been in the organization for a few years now, selected 6th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. However, this season will be Seider’s first on the main roster. His first season after the draft was spent in Grand Rapids, where he notched two goals and 22 assists in 49 games. With Covid-19-realted uncertainty over 2020-21 season, Detroit decided to loan the young German defenseman over to Rogle BK in the Swedish Hockey League. That decision turned out to be a fantastic one, as Seider had a breakout season in the SHL. Seider left a wake of crushed players on his path to SHL defenseman of the year, finally utilizing that speed and 6-foot-4 frame to blow opponents away. Seider also unlocked his offensive potential in Sweden, as he scored seven goals and 21 assists in 41 games.
Nick Leddy is the newest addition to the Yzerman’s rebuild, acquired from the New York Islanders in exchange for a second round draft pack. While he isn’t quite the player he once was, Leddy is a puck-moving vet that will act as an important addition to Detroit’s blue line.
Perhaps his most important duty? Guiding Seider as he transitions into the NHL. While not an exact match, Leddy’s playstyle is somewhat similar to Seider’s; he’ll play a key role in molding the young defenseman’s play in the best hockey league in the world.
Seider might not get quite as many minutes as Leddy, but the two are almost certain to be a pairing. Although they might be listed as the bottom-pair on the projected lines, the two might be the best duo in Detroit this year. The duo will certainly be the biggest offensive threat on the blue line, especially on the power play.
Things could change by opening day, but for now, Leddy-Seider just makes too much sense. Keep an eye on this pairing, as it might be the most intriguing storyline out of Detroit this season – the aging veteran and the up-and-coming star.
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