The Detroit Red Wings can't afford for anyone to hold the team back. Lately, the one guilty party has been John Gibson. Gibson's 0.870 save percentage and 3.46 GAA hasn't won over many fans in Hockeytown, and there's a chance that, if Cam Talbot can play even a remotely solid game, he'll be relegated to the backup goalie moving forward.
But with a 10-team no-trade clause and a $6.4 million cap hit, moving him probably won't happen unless someone else Gibson is willing to play for inquires. Therefore, as bad as Gibson has looked, he's not playing his way off the Red Wings' roster.
As for the three players listed below? They're more expendable than Gibson. Two can be easy to move with smaller contracts or get sent to the AHL without much of a buried cap penalty. As for the third name on this list? Should the Wings shuffle their lineup in the near future, he would end up shelved in the press box.
Michael Rasmussen
Michael Rasmussen has been given too many chances since he arrived in 2018-19. Fast-forward to 2021-22, and Rasmussen became a full-timer, but he always performed below expectations. Starting in 2024-25, the wheels really started coming off, with Rasmussen putting up just 21 points and 10 goals in 77 games. He also looked turnover-prone with 42 giveaways.
This year, things haven't gotten any better. Rasmussen has dressed for only 19 contests, putting up five points and two goals. His 11:39 of average total ice time is the lowest of his career, and his overall effort has been stagnant.
If the Wings are looking for ways to shuffle their lineup and try to gain more consistency, Rasmussen may be the first domino to fall. Other factors playing into Rasmussen's poor play include his 7.2 on-ice shooting percentage at even strength, coupled with his 88.0 on-ice save percentage.
There is, at this point, nothing worth noting that would help Rasmussen's cause. Now, it's all about what the Red Wings decide to do with him. Hide him in the press box? Bury his contract? Or maybe find a taker and move him elsewhere. That would be the best bet.
Travis Hamonic
It's still hard to figure out why Steve Yzerman signed Travis Hamonic before the season kicked off. And if fans were expecting the worst, Hamonic has so far delivered, with just one point in 14 games, a minus-9, 16 penalty minutes, and questionable decision making.
The only caveat with Hamonic is that he's an experienced player providing depth on a team that doesn't have enough of it at the blue line. So, if the Wings want to admit their mistake and move on from him, they need to find an upgrade.
Jacob Bernard-Docker has shown he can be a solid player, but he's currently locked in a timeshare with Hamonic for that sixth/seventh defenseman role. That said, Bernard-Docker is good, but he fares best as a part-time player.
Further, neither Erik Gustafsson nor Justin Holl looks like a viable answer, especially if Hamonic made the final cut back in October over the duo. Right now, Steve Yzerman should be inquiring with other teams for a defenseman. If he gets any leeway, he should have no problem moving Hamonic as part of the deal.
Andrew Copp
In 2024-25, Andrew Copp proved he was more valuable than given credit for. When he went down with a season-ending pectoral injury, the Red Wings folded and missed the playoffs for the ninth straight season.
But Copp hasn't returned to form, despite being seventh on the team with nine points and a goal. Copp has fared well in the face-off circle with a 55.9 win percentage and has a solid 22 blocked shots in 23 games, but his minus-9 rating and overall performance at even strength has been telling.
Despite a 51.2 Corsi For at even strength, Copp has just a 5.1 on-ice shooting percentage, meaning he's rarely on the ice when the Red Wings score. His 86.8 on-ice save percentage likewise shows he's been on the ice for one too many goals, which isn't a good number when the Wings are relying on him to be a solid defensive forward.
Of the three players listed, Copp would be the toughest one to move, thanks to his $5.625 million cap hit and 10-team modified no-trade clause. Still, the Red Wings can limit his minutes and put him into the press box if his pedestrian play continues, and that could entice him to seek a trade out of Detroit.
Overall, all three players listed could find themselves in new homes or with significantly curtailed ice time if their play doesn't improve. Detroit needs players in town and on the ice who won't hold the team back as they pursue their first playoff berth in nearly a decade.