The Detroit Red Wings' defense (if you can call it that) has always been an issue since the rebuild began. For the last four seasons, the Red Wings' defense consisted of Mo Seider and five to six other random low-budget free agents.
General manager Steve Yzerman has tried to run with a "patchwork" defense and "spotfilling" goaltending while the Red Wings were drafting and developing their defensive and Goaltending prospects. Unfortunately, most haven't worked out as Yzerman may have wanted.
Much like the forwards, I went pairing by pairing, giving every defenseman a grade based on how I believe they looked from the season's start to the season's finish.
Here's how the Detroit Red Wings forward group graded out
Criteria that I used to grade each player:
1. How well did they perform in the role they were given?
2. What did they bring to the lineup?
3. Were they able to play at or around the same pace all season?
4. How well did they produce in the role they were given?
5. Player must be part of the organization at the end of the season
Each player must have played at least 10 games with the Detroit Red Wings to be considered. Unfortunately, players such as William Lagesson, Sebastian Cossa, Petr Mrazek, Olli Määttä, and Ville Husso didn’t make the cut.
The top pair once again did most of the heavy lifting
Moritz Seider: A-
82GP 8G 38A 46Pts (-5)
Mo Seider was once again the Red Wings' primary workhorse. Getting 40% of his starts in the defensive zone at 5v5, being a primary penalty killer, and getting some of the league's toughest deployment for the 3rd season in a row.
Seider was the only Red Wings blueliner who stayed in the same spot all season, largely due to him being the team's most consistent defender all season. But also because the Red Wings' blue line was largely useless outside of a few select players.
He hasn't been able to reach the heights of his Calder trophy rookie season, but if given a permanent partner who is consistently competent, there is no doubt in my mind that Seider will be a top 5 defenseman in the league every season.
Ben Chiarot: C-
81GP 4G 9A 13Pts (-14)
Ben Chiarot, what are you? After a much more improved 2023-24 season, he somehow managed to regress from that and maybe even from his first season with the Red Wings. Over-deployment has played a big role in that, as the team doesn't have the blueline depth to move Chiarot down the lineup.
Unfortunately, it seemed like Chiarot was on the ice for every goal against the Red Wings. He was largely out of position and continuously made some of the worst pinches in the offensive zone that I have ever seen, not to mention his apparent need to screen his own goalie.
What stops him from getting a lower grade is his physicality. Having 127 hits was good enough to net him 4th in team hits, falling in line just behind Michael Rasmussen. He was also the first one to jump into a scuffle and protect his teammates. Hopefully, he can do that lower down the lineup next season.