The Detroit Red Wings got busy early on, but do you blame them? The free agent market was really thin to start with, but the Red Wings got busy early on, grabbing themselves a couple of impact players and some who will serve as depth for the team.
For the Detroit Red Wings, they got busy and were able to bring in a couple of forwards to add some depth. While they grabbed JT Compher on a long-term contract and then Daniel Sprong on a one-year deal that could work out exceptionally well, they also grabbed two other forwards.
Let’s get into these two forwards and talk about what they may bring to Detroit in 2023-24.
Detroit Red Wings add two forwards to provide depth.
Christian Fischer – RW
The Detroit Red Wings signed Christian Fischer to a one-year deal as the free agency period opened up. Grabbing themselves another player from the Arizona Coyotes. Fischer is a seven-year veteran of the NHL and headed out for greener pastures, getting out of the Coyotes organization.
The Red Wings grabbed Fischer on a one-year, $1.1 million deal to come in and serve as a depth addition to the forward core. Fischer is a right-handed shooting winger who should be able to help in the bottom six and possibly be one of those players who turns it on out of nowhere.
He’s another player signed who is coming off of a nearly career-year; something to be said about Steve Yzerman’s free agency hunting. Fischer played in 80 games last season, scoring 13 goals and adding 14 assists for 27 total points for the Coyotes.
He’s someone the Red Wings have to have high hopes for. He’s someone with a low floor and high ceiling as to what he could produce with the team, so it will be interesting to see who he gets utilized by the team moving forward in his year in Detroit. Who knows, he could even be a trade chip.
Nolan Stevens – C
On the less exciting side of things, the Detroit Red Wings also signed Nolan Stevens to a two-way deal as free agency continues. They grabbed the former St. Louis Blues forward on atwo-way contract for one season, likely allowing him to serve in a depth role with the team this year.
He could very well be the insurance policy to call upon as needed, keeping him in Grand Rapids for the most part. Stevens should remind fans of someone like a Kyle Criscuolo or a Taro Hirose. A journeyman AHL guy who could come up to Detroit as needed to eat up some ice time in the event of an injury.
Stevens is a 26-year-old center. After spending time in the AHL with various affiliates, the left-handed shot came from the Blues’ organization. In 2022-23, Stevens played in 48 games for the Utica Comets. Stevens scored 15 goals and had 18 assists for 33 total points.
He’s not a jaw-dropping signing or anything like that but is another forward that Detroit has added into the mix to help bolster some depth as they continue preparing for the 203-24 season.