3 areas the Detroit Red Wings need to focus on improving this summer
Following what feels like a heartbreaking ending to a roller coaster-like season, the Detroit Red Wings have work to do to improve in three specific areas this summer.
The Detroit Red Wings have missed the postseason for eight consecutive seasons, which is the second-longest active streak. Suddenly, that 25-year recording-setting playoff streak seems like a distant memory. One thing we learned over the past couple of weeks is that the Red Wings fan base remains a very passionate group. With Detroit right in the thick of things to the very end of the regular season, fans continued to pack Little Caesars Arena and remained quite vocal to the very end. That gave many, including the players, a sense of what it would feel like once the arena saw the first opportunity to host a playoff game.
The Detroit Red Wings finished the season 8-15 (removing the overtime losses or games in which they received a single point for this exercise) with two losses to the Washington Capitals and a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, both teams that stayed in the hunt until the very end. This is on the heels of a 7-16 finish a year ago. However, the Red Wings sold ahead of the trade deadline before that skid.
Expectations altered for the Detroit Red Wings as the season progressed.
So, to blame the Flyers, who needed a Detroit loss and a regulation win of their own to stay alive, for pulling their goaltender with three minutes to go in a tied game isn't very rational. John Tortorella was getting updates on the Red Wings game as the Red Wings brass was getting updates on that Flyers/Capitals game, but they are not getting minute-by-minute updates as they are coaching.
Don't forget, Detroit was trailing until David Perron scored with three seconds remaining in the third period. Tortorella pulled his goalie with three minutes remaining and said he was notified moments after T.J. Oshie hit the empty net for Washington that the Red Wings had forced overtime. Plus, what does Tortorella owe Detroit anyway? This is what happens when you don't control your own destiny. Rewind a few weeks prior, and the Detroit Red Wings did hold the keys to their future but collapsed. Now, Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman needs to focus on making adjustments this summer to ensure this type of late-season collapse won't happen for a third straight time.
I've heard fans say, "Well, Steve Yzerman said before the season began that he wasn't sure this was a playoff team," in an attempt to temper expectations. He did say that before the year began, but don't forget that it was before the Red Wings signed Patrick Kane. Also, expectations change as the year goes on. Don't you think Yzerman felt this was a playoff team when they sat eight points up in the wild card race and in the first wild card position, looking down at Tampa Bay? Of course, he did. It's OK to be optimistic, but it's also OK to provide constructive criticism.
The Detroit Red Wings need to add a top center this summer.
I know I sound like a broken record. I've been saying this over the past three years, and here I am again banging the drum for a center who can drive Detroit's second line, someone who can be Robin to Dylan Larkin's Batman.
Two years ago, Yzerman signed Andrew Copp to a five-year deal with an average annual value of $5.625 million. Yikes. Copp was supposed to fill that second-line role, and he plays a two-way style that Yzerman appreciates and pursues when he's looking to add forwards, but Copp has proven to be way overpaid for what little production he provides. In year one with the Red Wings, he tallied just nine goals over 82 games. This past season, he notched 13 and totaled 33 points in 79 contests. When you look at the salary cap, knowing Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider are about to garner significant raises, this Copp deal really becomes a roadblock for the Red Wings moving forward.
Sure, it's not the end of the world as Detroit enters the off-season with the sixth most cap space across the league, but if Copp's money could be spent on a more productive player, the Red Wings might be able to take a larger step forward. In hindsight, it's just a bad deal and one that Yzerman will have trouble trading/moving. Also, Copp, who is expected to be a formidable two-way defender, had his share of defensive zone blunders this season, which also doesn't help his cause.
This past summer, the Red Wings signed free agent J.T. Compher to a five-year deal that averages $5.1 million per season. It's not a bad deal, but Compher has proven to be more valuable when playing as a third-line center. However, in Detroit, he is slotted as a second. He's an upgrade to Copp in every aspect of the game. Compher is a more productive offensive player and every bit as good or slightly better defensively. During his first season in Detroit, Compher scored 19 goals and totaled 48 points over 77 games.
If the Red Wings can sign a high-quality player in free agency, it would enable Compher to lead the third line and provide Detroit with flexibility for their fourth unit. They might choose to play Copp as the fourth center or consider putting him on Compher's wing to form a dependable checking line with offensive potential. Michael Rasmussen would complement these two players very well."This elect to play Copp as the fourth center or perhaps put him on Compher's wing and form a reliable checking line with offensive upside. Michael Rasmussen would fit nicely with those two.
If you think of Marco Kasper or Nate Danielson, that's not a bad thought, but neither is likely to step into the role. I hope Detroit improves. Both may eventually work into the role, but it won't be as soon as next season. Don't forget, it took Dylan Larkin a few up and down years before lifting off into the player he's become.
It would be great to land a player like Sam Reinhart (28) this summer, but it seems a bit unrealistic as the 50-plus goal scorer will likely command a double-digit average annual value on the open market, but never say never. Two others I would consider are Elias Lindholm (29) and Steven Stamkos. Lindholm is a more rounded player but falls more in line with what the Red Wings already have production-wise with Compher and Copp. Stamkos, 34, will come at a cheaper rate and is likely willing to accept a short-term deal at this point of his career. Plus, he comes with a lot more scoring upside.
Stamkos has remained healthy over the past three seasons, posting 42, 34, and 40 consecutive goal seasons with 106, 84, and 81-point seasons.
The Detroit Red Wings need to solidify their group of defenders.
The Detroit Red Wings need to tweak their backend this summer. With Moritz Seider set to anchor the group fresh on what is expected to be a massive new contract extension. Ben Chiarot, Jake Walman, and Justin Holl are all signed for two more seasons. Chiarot rebounded this past season after a horrible first year with the organization. Over the past few weeks, he found himself paired with Seider, and the two performed well together, but if the Red Wings want to go top-heavy, maybe elevating Edvinsson to play with Seider wouldn't be the worst idea. Edvinsson is only going to improve and looked every bit the part of a top-four defenseman with top-pairing potential to close the season.
Although Walman found himself on the outside looking in to close out the year, he and Chiarot will maintain their roster spots. That leaves (as of right now) Olli Maatta, Jeff Petry, Holl, along with, say, William Wallinder and Albert Johansson, to battle it out for the final three roster spots, assuming Detroit will only carry seven defenders to begin the season. Oh, and as he's not mentioned, I predict that the Red Wings will let Shayne Gostisbehere walk in free agency as they likely hope to replace some of his offense with Edvinsson.
So, without adding anyone that group doesn't seem much better than this past season, although having Edvinsson slotted in from day one will be an upgrade.
The Red Wings should look to add more of a rugged defender to this group if the price is right. Again, they will need to allot for contract extensions with Lucas Raymond and Seider, plus fill out their roster with players that will improve the club from this season. If you hope to re-sign Patrick Kane and bring in a player like Stamkos, as I mentioned on the page prior, and address what will be on the next page that doesn't leave a ton of funds to add a five or six-million defender.
One player I'd love to add if a deal could be done is Radko Gudas. He fills a couple of needs. Gudas plays a physical brand of hockey and plays with an edge, which is required in the postseason. Also, the Anaheim Ducks are currently in the early stages of a full-blown rebuild, so they might be willing to part ways with a 34-year-old defenseman who is under contract for the next two seasons. Gudas is also a right-handed shot and that is something Detroit should look to add as they have a plethora of lefties, they could use another right-hander. Gudas would make the perfect third-pairing partner for Olli Maatta and serve as a bridge-gap defender until Detroit's highly touted prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka is ready to debut. Gudas is also a right-handed shot, which Detroit should look to add as they have a plethora of lefties; they could use another right-hander.
This past season, Gudas averaged nearly 20 minutes of ice time per night with 151 blocked shots and 228 hits. He totaled six goals and 18 points over 68 games and maintained a plus-11 rating.
The Detroit Red Wings need to address their goaltending situation this summer.
If the Detroit Red Wings genuinely hope to take the next step next season, they must find a true No. 1 netminder. Alex Lyon began the year as the Red Wings' third option but was elevated to the starter role when Ville Husso went down with the first of many lower-body injuries this year. Lyon proved to be a workhorse and was a big reason why the Red Wings were the second-best team through January and February.
Although he's quickly become beloved among Red Wings fans, as the year went on and the pressure built, Lyon proved to be what he is: an NHL backup goalie. When he was on, he was playing at an elite level, but when he was off, as he was most of March and April, he was allowing what seemed like five goals a night. Lyon has one year remaining at a very team-friendly $900,000 for next season and will have a role on the Red Wings. He finished the year with a 21-18-5 record, sporting a 3.05 goals-against average paired with a .904 save percentage. Through March and April, Lyon went 3-9-3 with a .889 save percentage. That type of play with the season on the line won't work.
On the biggest night of the year, the Detroit Red Wings turned to another backup goaltender in James Reimer. Reimer, 36, won't likely be back in Detroit next season, but he played ok in his 25 games this past season, at least well enough to earn a backup spot somewhere, but he shouldn't be counted on to shoulder the load. Reimer posted a 3.11 goals against average and a .904 save percentage this past season.
The biggest question remains: What will the Detroit Red Wings get from Husso moving forward?
Husso was sidelined with a lower-body injury in December and then provided the Red Wings with about eight minutes of play this past February before reinjuring his lower body. Still, it was reported to be a different injury from the one sustained in December. Then, just last week, on a conditioning stint with the Grand Rapids Griffins, he suffered a setback in his rehab and could not make an appearance. Don't forget, he was shut down last season with a lower-body injury but also suffered from mental fatigue, as it was the first time he served as a No.1 goaltender.
This season, Husso provided the Red Wings with a 9-5-2 record, backed by a subpar 3.55 goals against average and .892 save percentage.
If the Red Wings looked to make a blockbuster move at the position, adding Jacob Markstrom would be a great addition. The Calgary Flames are entering a rebuild, and Markstrom has two years remaining at $6 million per season. The problem is that Detroit would need to entice the Flames to take Husso and his $4.75 million the other way. That could be done by adding additional compensation to the deal in the way of a prospect or better draft pick package. Markstrom went 23-23-2 this past year in Calgary with a 2.78 goals-against average and a .905 save percentage. Markstrom paired with Lyon next season would be a significant upgrade over this past year, plus it buys top prospect Sebastian Cossa another season in Grand Rapids.
The following year, Lyon will become a free agent and could be replaced in Detroit by Cossa. The battery of Cossa and Markstrom for a season would be a great way to break in a rookie netminder.
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