The Detroit Red Wings got a head start on their summer for yet another season following a disappointing conclusion to the 2024-25 campaign. Several experts picked the Red Wings to take the next step and make the playoffs for the first time since 2017.
But after a tough start and a coaching change in December, the Red Wings struggled to keep up in the Eastern Conference playoff race heading toward the latter half of the season.
One of the crucial areas that affected Detroit the most was the blue line. While Moritz Seider and Ben Chiarot carried most of the load, the rest of the defense corps had a hard time keeping their heads above water at certain points in the season.
So, let’s take a closer look at three Detroit Red Wings defensemen who’ll be fighting to keep their roster spots following a tough 2024-25 season.
Jeff Petry
Jeff Petry did not have his best season in 2024-25. He played in 44 games producing just one goal and eight points. That’s a significant fall from his career-high 13 goals and 46 points from 2018-19 while he played for the Montreal Canadiens.
Even last season, Petry notched 24 points in 73 games. But inconsistency and Father Time have kept the 37-year-old from returning to his once top-four status.
As a UFA this summer, Petry is likely done in Detroit. While there’s a chance the Red Wings could bring him back for one more season, it won’t be at his current $6.25 million cap hit. It’s a bit unclear how much the Red Wings would be willing to pay for Petry. My estimation is that he’d come back on a one or two-year deal somewhere between $1 to $2 AAV.
Erik Gustafsson
Erik Gustafsson is another veteran blueliner the Red Wings brought in to shore up their depth and provide support to emerging players like Albert Johansson and Simon Edvinsson. However, it is these younger blueliners that have made Gustafsson expendable.
In 60 games this season, the Swedish blue liner produced two goals and 18 points to go with a minus-19 rating. That rating looks pretty rough even on a non-playoff team.
With one year left on his contract at $2 million, Gustafsson will have to battle for the sixth or seventh defenseman spot on the team. It’s tough to envision him getting more playing time beyond that.
However, as injuries mount during training camp, the Red Wings might find a trading partner needing depth defense help, allowing the Wings to move on from Gustafsson.
Justin Holl
Justin Holl found himself in the AHL to start the season. However, injuries allowed him to find a lineup spot early in the season. He remained on the club for the rest of the year, playing 73 games, producing just eight points.
Holl yo-yoed up and down the Red Wings depth chart, featuring predominantly on the bottom pairing. And, that’s precisely where things get a bit dicey.
Holl has one more year left of his current deal at $3.4 million along with a modified no-trade clause. That cap hit is just too high for a depth defenseman. However, the Red Wings will find it hard to move Holl at that price point. The club could try to find a trade partner and perhaps eat as much as 50% of this cap this year.
That being said, the Wings could just hold on to Holl and hope he can play similarly to this season. If that’s the case, the predictability factor, even as he gets burned every so often, could give Detroit some stability moving forward.