Detroit Red Wings: Analyzing the Opening Night Roster
By Chris Giles
Defensemen
The opening night defense has been set since the beginning of training camp. At the start of training camp, General Manager Steve Yzerman indicated that the Red Wings would carry eight defensemen on the 23 player roster.
To start the year, Danny DeKeyser, Marc Staal and Troy Stecher return to the Red Wings and each of them are in the final year of their contracts before becoming UFA’s.
Top scorer Filip Hronek will have a reduced role on the team this year. This should allow him to play fewer minutes and be more effective when he is on the ice.
Nick Leddy is the newcomer who will shoulder the load on defense. He is very good at both ends of the ice and will help mentor rookie defenseman Moritz Seider. Unless he signs an extension, Leddy becomes an UFA after this season.
Moritz Seider is the only rookie on defense. He won the top defenseman in the SHL and World Championships last year and, teamed with Leddy, will represent the top defense pair for the Red Wings.
Free-agent signee Jordan Oesterle and returnee Gustav Lindstrom will complete the eight defensemen on the Red Wings opening night roster.
Opening Night Defensemen: Danny DeKeyser, Marc Staal, Nick Leddy, Moritz Seider, Filip Hronek, Troy Stecher, Jordan Oesterle, Gustav Lindstrom