Five Players That Shouldn’t be Red Wings Next Season
Danny DeKeyser, LHD
Danny DeKeyser has been one of the more disliked Red Wings on social media. My thoughts are it’s because he isn’t a very good defenseman. Additionally, he isn’t a very good offensive player either. Which, to sum it up- he’s a sub-par player. And it’s for that reason that I wouldn’t even bother bringing him back.
DeKesyer is set to become a unrestricted free agent this off-season after him compelting the final year of his six year contract extension he received back in 2016. At the time, I didn’t like the extension and looking at it now, it disgusts me.
Last year DeKeyser made $5,000,000. And apparently, if you pay someone $5,000,000, he only produces11 assists in 59 games. And when I say only 11 assists, I mean he didn’t even record a goal. He finished last season with 11 points- all of which were assists.
Now, I know as a defenseman, your job is very rarely to score goals. However, for $5,000,000, I’d expect at least a couple. Moreover, if he isn’t going to produce for $5,000,000, I’d expect him to be a lockdown defenseman… which he wasn’t.
Everything about his play last year disgusted me. I doubt he returns unless he takes a very small deal. Especially with him being 32 years old, I’d expect them to go after someone in free agency to replace him on the left side.
Thomas Greiss, G
Now, I know this one if probably a given to most of you guys. However, this article is about who I think won’t be a Red Wing next season and Greiss is on my list.
Greiss has spent the last two seasons in Detroit but nothing has really come of his time here. Having played in 30+ games in the last two seasons, he has a 18-30-9 record along with a 3.14 GAA, and a save percentage of .901. Now, although the stats aren’t terrible, it’s definetly not going to work here. Especially given that they are trying to be a younger team.
I expect that they will take a good, strong look at top goalie prospect, Sebastian Cossa, and hope that he’s ready to play with the team next season. Now, is that a realistic expectation? Probably not. Especially because the goalie position is one of the hardest to adjust too. He will need to develop for sure before being thrown into the NHL. Therefore, I expect they will go target someone in free agency or maybe via. the NHL trade block.
Nonetheless, I feel Greiss’ time in Detroit has reached it’s end.
Pius Suter
Pius Suter’s role with this team is pretty much the reason why I feel he needs to be traded. He’s supposed to be the Red Wings second line center, but everytime he is given that spot in the lineup, it makes me want to hurl. It’s not a pleasant sight for me to see.
Now, I know that is harsh for me to say- and I get it. However, Suter is not a second-line center. He just isn’t. No matter how much we wish he was, he’s not. If he was, we as Red Wings fans, wouldn’t be hoping for a top center in free agency or through the draft.
In a previous article I wrote how I’d like to say Joe Veleno should be the second line center. However, he hasn’t produced as a second line player and until he does so, that position will need to be filled.
Looking at what the Red Wings should do with Suter is what makes this hard. Suter still has a year left on his contract and is set to make $3,250,000 which, given the lack of production, will make him hard to deal. But, Yzerman found a suiter for Stecher therefore, finding a potential spot for Suter shouldn’t be too difficult.
Adam Erne, F
Adam Erne falls under the same category of Suter. His role on this team doesn’t fit the contract and I don’t feel his skill-set fits the talent around him. In other words, I feel whatever line he is on, he is going to hold them back.
Erne this past season played in 79 games for the Red Wings all the while only scoring six goals and having 13 assists. So, in other words, in 79 games, he had 19 total points. Furthermore, he also finished the season with a -22 which is not good. He just doesn’t really bring a lot to the table in my eyes.
Erne is still under contract with the Red Wings for this season and is set to make $2,100,000. The contract, although it’s not a very hefty contact, still feels like an overpay. Especially for what he offers the Wings. He just doesn’t bring a lot to the table and his skill-set doesn’t currently fit the direction this team is heading. Dealing him via. trade of putting him on waivers is fine by me.
Marc Staal, D
This one hurts my heart to be completely honest. However, this is a business and I think that recognizing that Staal is replaceable is going to be helpful in this free agency class. With him being 35 years old, his career will shortly be coming to a close and I feel that he will still be able to earn some money in free agency.
He finished this past season having a +/- of -1 which, given the level of goalie play, is pretty good. Not to mention the veteran leadership he brings to the table. He can definetly find some money from a team looking to bolster their defense with a veteran defenseman. Potentially a team like Vancouver or Winnipeg could be interested in him.
Vancouver is there and they have the offense to make it to the playoffs, they just lack the defense. They got Oliver Ekman-Larsson this past off-season but let’s face it, he’s not as good as everyone thinks he is. He just isn’t. Plain and simple. Therefore, they could be willing to pay a guy like Marc Staal quite a bit of money to come play for them. Same goes for Winnipeg.
Letting Staal go will be hard, but there are a lot of defenseman out there that could be very good fits with the Red Wings. Not to mention the young guys that they have. I don’t expect Staal to be back.