Detroit Red Wings: Which RFAs will return next season?
By Alex Faber
The Detroit Red Wings will have seven RFAs (restricted free agents) to deal with this offseason. With what’s been a long pause, let’s make some early predictions about how the team will handle the expiring contracts, especially what we know thus far.
Likely to re-sign
Zadina might be having a rough start to the year, but he’s almost certainly going to re-sign with the team. A trade is the only way he doesn’t get offered a contract. It’s been said to death, but Zadina really has been statistically solid this year, he just can’t seem to find the back of the net. The team knows this. In all likelihood, the lack of production will just make the contract a bit cheaper for Detroit.
Fans haven’t seen much of Stephens, as he’s been injured since mid-November. Before that, he had four assists in 16 games. He mainly acted as a center on the bottom-six and a frequent member of the penalty kill unit.
Stephens isn’t really a player that moves the needle for this team. However, he’s a competent bottom-six player, acting more as a distributing and defensive center. He can also eat up minutes on the penalty kill. Stephens might not be the most exciting player, but he’s a safe, cheap and young transitional piece as Steve Yzerman turns the roster around.
Chase Pearson
At this point, Pearson is comfortable with his position in the AHL. He doesn’t score enough to warrant a move to Detroit, but he’s more than capable as a consistent AHLer. Also, if needed, he can slot into any injury/COVID related gaps in the lineup. Expect a cheap deal.
Maybe
Fulcher was solid for the Griffins last year (.905 save percentage through seven games) and he’s been strong in the crease for the Toledo Walleyes this year (.924 save percentage through eight games). He isn’t the prospect that Sebastian Cossa is, but depth in the pipeline never hurts. With two other goaltenders in the pipeline also entering RFA status in the offseason, Fulcher has positioned himself to be the best of the three.
Likely not returning
Hirose is officially stuck in the AHL. It’s clear that the organization sees him as a minor league player, able to slot into the main roster when injuries necessitate it. It’s unlikely that the team offers a player like that another contract, unless Hirose is hell-bent on sticking with the organization. However, he could be intent on making a roster somewhere around the league and not playing second fiddle with the Red Wings.
Filip Larsson
Larsson is a goaltending prospect that never really got off the ground. He’s had decent stretches, but overall his statistics just aren’t good enough to convince the front office that he’s a necessity in the pipeline. He currently has a .912 save percentage in HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-tier Swedish league. At 23-years-old, he’s quickly running out of time to prove himself.
Victor Brattstrom
Brattstrom is another goaltending prospect that probably won’t end up back on contract. Brattstrom was downright bad in his four starts with the Griffins this year, with a .835 save percentage and 5.32 average goals against. He hasn’t even managed to hit a .900 save percentage in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye (.829 save percentage through three starts). He wasn’t terrible in Finland last year, but his start to this season will likely leave a bad taste in management’s mouth.
A look at the Red Wings Prospects & how they fared at the WJCs. light. More