Red Wings 2021 Final Opening Night Roster Prediction

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Preseason games are now over and the management of the Detroit Red Wings have several important decisions to make. There are a number of ways that General Manager Steve Yzerman and his team can go.

Should the best players make the team out of training camp? Should the team send all waiver exempt players to Grand Rapids (AHL). Should some veterans who played poorly in the preseason be sent through waivers with the possibility of being claimed by another organization?

I believe that they best players should be kept on the opening night roster, and if a player has not earned a roster spot, they should be sent to the AHL or placed through waivers.

Here is my final roster prediction before opening night rosters are revealed.

Centers

The top two centers are easy, Dylan Larkin and Pius Suter provide the 1-2 depth that has been lacking for several years.

Joe Veleno continues to improve every game and should slot in as the center for the third line. During preseason, Veleno played in all situations and is probably the best center at taking faceoffs.

Mitchell Stephens has played admirably throughout the preseason and deserves to be on the opening night roster. He provides speed and occasionally adds offensive production that was sorely missed last year.

Carter Rowney is in the bottom six mix and should play in plenty of games once the season begins. He will start opening night as a healthy scratch.

Michael Rasmussen has been nursing a minor injury and should start the season on Injured Reserve (IR).

Opening Night Centers: Dylan Larkin, Pius Suter, Joe Veleno, Mitchell Stephens

Healthy Scratch: Carter Rowney

IR: Michael Rasmussen

Left Wingers

Tyler Bertuzzi is ready for opening night and appears ready to make an impact on the top line with Larkin.

Robby Fabbri has terrific chemistry with Suter and will open on his left side.

Vladislav Namestnikov will play left wing with Joe Veleno. This provides the 3rd line with two very dependable players who can take faceoffs and are interchangeable between center and left wing.

Adam Erne provides depth scoring and tenacity on left wing on the 4th line. He tied for the team lead in goals last year and can move up and play anywhere in the bottom six wingers.

Like Rasmussen, Givani Smith has been nursing a minor injury and will most likely start the season on the IR.

Open Night Left Wingers: Tyler Bertuzzi, Robby Fabbri, Vladislav Namestnikov, Adam Erne

IR: Givani Smith

Right Wingers

Filip Zadina has looked excellent during the preseason playing on the top line with Larkin. Until Jakub Vrana comes back from injury in February, I believe head coach Jeff Blashill will give Zadina the chance to play an offensive role with Larkin and Bertuzzi.

During the first preseason game, Lucas Raymond looked terrific on a line with Suter and Fabbri. With Vrana out for four months following shoulder surgery, Raymond deserves the chance to see if he can play in the NHL on a nightly basis.

Bobby Ryan is finished with his professional tryout and should sign a one-year contract with the Red Wings before opening night. He brings a veteran presence both on and off the ice and he can play anywhere in the lineup including on a half-wall during the power play.

Sam Gagner can play in all situations and easily slots into the 4th line with Stephens and Erne.

Opening Night Right Wingers: Filip Zadina, Lucas Raymond, Bobby Ryan, Sam Gagner

LTIR: Jakub Vrana (shoulder)

Defensemen

Steve Yzerman has indicated that the Red Wings will start the season with eight defensemen. This number will be fluid throughout the season, especially when the team travels to Canada and Bertuzzi is unavailable to travel with the team.

Throughout the preseason the defense pairings have remained the same.

Nick Leddy and Moritz Seider remain the top pair. They move the puck out of their end with ease, create scoring chances on virtually every shift, and are the best tandem the Red Wings have had on defense in a very long time. Hopefully, the Red Wings can sign Leddy to a new contract before he becomes an UFA. Leddy has looked exceptional with Seider throughout the preseason.

Even though Danny DeKeyser has had trouble throughout the preseason, he will be given every opportunity to play on the 2nd pair with Filip Hronek. Expect the pair to play less minutes against the top lines this year and this should allow them the chance to not be exposed defensively by exceptional players.

Marc Staal and Troy Stecher will remain the Red Wings third defense pairing. Last year, this tandem played more minutes against top lines then they will see this year.

Waiting as extras are Gustav Lindstrom and Jordan Oesterle. When injuries occur, both defensemen can easily slide into this lineup. Veterans such as DeKeyser and Staal will also need nights off when the team plays back-to-back games.

Opening Night Defensemen: Nick Leddy, Danny DeKeyser, Marc Staal, Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek, Troy Stecher

Healthy Scratches: Jordan Oesterle and Gustav Lindstrom

Goalies

With the addition of Alex Nedeljkovic, the goaltender situation seems to be solved. Thomas Greiss is the incumbent and should start the first game against Tampa Bay.

With nine games in 17 days to start the season, both goaltenders will split games in order to identify who deserves to play most often.

This tandem should keep the Red Wings in most games throughout the season.

Opening Night Goaltenders: Thomas Greiss, Alex Nedeljkovic

Final Opening Night Predictions

Forwards (12)

Bertuzzi-Larkin-Zadina

Fabbri-Suter-Raymond

Namestnikov-Veleno-Ryan

Erne-Stephens-Gagner

Defense (6)

Leddy-Seider

DeKeyser-Hronek

Staal-Stecher

Goalies (2)

Greiss

Nedeljkovic

Extras (3)

Rowney

Oesterle

Lindstrom

IR (2)

Rasmussen

Smith

LTIR (1)

Vrana

Top Prospects and NHL Veterans Assigned to Grand Rapids (AHL)

Detroit will fill their AHL team with a blend of prospects and NHL veterans. Most of the players on the list below will see time in Detroit throughout the season. Yesterday’s news that Berggren was assigned to Grand Rapids starts that process.

Berggren

Hirose

Renouf

Murphy

Witkowski

Pickard

Final Thoughts

This opening night roster has four new forwards along with two new defensemen and one new goaltender. The seven new additions will create more depth on the Detroit roster which should translate into a better record. This team will be more skilled, younger, and more competitive than last year. This team will score more goals, especially on the power play. With a stronger defense core, the Red Wings should allow fewer goals against. This contributor to Octopus Thrower is excited to see this revamped lineup in action.

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