3 Defenseman the Red Wings Should Target in Free Agency

Mario Ferraro, LHD

Mario Ferraro is probably a name that not many of you expected to see on this list. However, that’s part of the reason I chose him as the final guy- a dark horse.

The Red Wings need right-handed defenseman more than they need left-handed defenseman. The reasoning for that has all to do with the fact that they have so many left-handed defenseman prospects just waiting for their chance in the NHL. Some of those names include Simon Edvinsson, William Wallinder, Albert Johansson, and Donovan Sobrango. And that’s just to lift a couple names. So why am I choosing another left-handed defenseman?

Ferraro has been one of the names that I feel slips under the radar having been on the Sharks for the last couple seasons. Furthermore, he is playing behind Erik Karlsson and Brent Burns who pretty much draws everyone’s attention. But Ferraro is not a knock-off. Ferraro can hold his own without a doubt. Additionally, compared to some of the other names the Red Wings could target, they’d be much more expensive. Ferraro would be a cheaper option.

Ferraro joined the Sharks in the 2019-20 season and since that point, he’s really grown and developed as a player. What I find fascinating with him is that he’s not necessarily a large player but he’s a very good defensive defenseman. He’s a very talented player in the defensive zone.

Having played in 180 games in the past three seasons with the Sharks, he has 415 hits, 305 blocks, and 76 takeaways. But, let’s just re-wind for a second. 415 hits and 305 blocks in 180 games. In case you’re wondering what that averages out too:

• 2.30 hits per game
• 1.69 blocks per game

As you can tell by those stats, he doesn’t shy away from anything in the defensive zone. He is aggressive and likes to play physical.

When it comes to Ferraro, really the only concern I’d have with him is just his offensive zone ability. He hasn’t exactly proven to be much of an offensive defenseman which the Red Wings are in dire need of.

Rather or not Ferraro would pan out would be interesting. But his youth fits with the organization and he’d be a great left-handed defenseman on the second-line with Filip Hronek should they not go after anyone else.