5 blueliners the Red Wings can steal from the Metropolitan Division in NHL free agency
The Detroit Red Wings can use one more blueliner to solidify their defensive rotation, and the Metro Division has a few pending unrestricted free agents.
The Detroit Red Wings could use another blueliner, as the results from their up-and-down 2023-24 campaign should give general manager Steve Yzerman every reason to seek one out in NHL free agency. And if there is one division full of sound defensemen, either to ink to a long-term deal or just to find a potential stopgap, it’s the Metropolitan.
This is rather curious since of the four divisions in the NHL, the Metro comes across as having by far the weakest class of pending unrestricted free agents. But there are always outliers, and we found one; you may be shocked by the sheer number of blueliners available that would help bolster what was a weak Red Wings defense.
So, which players should Yzerman target in free agency IF they don’t end up signing a new deal with their current teams? Let’s start with a pair who are currently trying to earn a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Brady Skjei, Carolina Hurricanes
Top-four minutes, a two-way game, and a career-high in points, someone like Brady Skjei would be an adequate replacement for Shayne Gostisbehere if the latter doesn’t re-sign with the Red Wings. Skjei’s 47 points didn’t match the 56 Gostisbehere accumulated, and he wasn’t as effective on the man advantage - though he still had 12 power play points. But he also brings a better defensive game.
One reason Skjei is on this list is because the Wings need more reliable play in the defensive zone from its blueliners. He was on the ice for 56 goals allowed at even strength, just a fraction above his 55.4 xGA. That was nowhere near the case with Gostisbehere, who had an xGA of 50.3 at even strength but was on the ice for 61.
The big challenge would be Skjei’s contract, which sat at an AAV of $5.250, and he’s likely to earn even more with his next contract. But if Steve Yzerman can make it happen, Skjei would be a perfect signing, and he’s the top player on this list.
Brett Pesce, Carolina Hurricanes
It would be tough to see the Hurricanes re-signing both Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce and since the latter was part of numerous trade rumors in 2023, he’s the likelier of the two to be available this summer. One major downer with Pesce is his drop-off in production, in which he contributed just 13 points and three goals this season, the lowest total of his career.
But Pesce has also never put up outstanding production offensively, so this shouldn’t be a major concern. Plus, the Wings need help when they don’t have the puck. So unless their high-scoring ways drop next season, they should have no problem bringing in a blueliner not known for logging goals and assists.
Pesce also ended the regular season with 113 blocks, his highest since 2018-19, though his number of takeaways declined from 60 to 35. He was also on the ice at even strength for more goals for than allowed, and the 53 goals against was also 11 fewer than last season.
Although Pesce’s productivity fell when the Hurricanes had the puck, his Corsi For percentage at even strength ended with a career-high of 58.1. This implies Pesce was still a significant reason behind the Hurricanes not only receiving a high number of chances in the offensive zone but also why they finished seventh this season in goals for.
He was surely responsible for driving a few of those plays and creating chances, and that would give him some incredible value in Detroit.
Brendan Smith, New Jersey Devils
Sometimes, you need to reunite with an older player who was there when your team last made the playoffs, and Brendan Smith is one player on this list who fits that criteria. He was a member of the Red Wings between 2011-12 and 2016-17 before he moved on to the New York Rangers, the Hurricanes, and finally, the New Jersey Devils.
Smith would make for a good option for Steve Yzerman if the latter wanted a cheaper blueliner who could hold down a spot on the third pairing or as a seventh defenseman for a season with over a decade of experience in the NHL. Smith would give the Red Wings between 55 and 65 games at most, but he’s one who would add that much-needed edgy play.
This past season saw Smith take part in 63 games, where all he did was hit opponents and block shots. No, he won’t bring as much value as Skjei or Pesce, and he was on the ice for 15.6 more goals allowed at even strength than his expected 34.4 xGA. But it’s also worth remembering that the Devils entire blue line struggled through a down season, and that didn’t help Smith.
Although Detroit wasn’t much better without the puck, his experience and aggressive play would nonetheless bring value.
Erik Gustafsson, New York Rangers
Like Brendan Smith, Erik Gustafsson is a journeyman, but he carries more upside, mainly thanks to his ability to put together more of a balanced game. Although it’s not as pressing of a need, Gustafsson would give the Red Wings more scoring help, and we only need to look at his previous two seasons of work to drive that point home.
With the New York Rangers and, before that, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Washington Capitals, Gustafsson finished with 73 points and 13 goals in 146 games played since 2022-23, a plus-12 rating, 23 power play points, 52 takeaways, 115 hits, and 129 blocks. These aren’t All-Star-caliber numbers, but Gustafsson still put up solid play for someone most recently logging third-pairing minutes.
This is a player who also wouldn’t cost anywhere near as much as Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce, and Gustafsson’s advanced statistics further show off his value. He’s got a Corsi For of 54.5 at even strength, and his possession quality has been positive since the 2021-22 season.
Also, like Smith, Gustafsson comes across more as a rental than an actual long-term solution. But if Steve Yzerman wants to keep promoting prospects come 2025-26 and beyond but would like a stopgap this season, Gustafsson is the ideal candidate here.
Mike Reilly, New York Islanders
As you may have guessed, the theme here was to start with potential long-term answers, then discuss a few short-term stopgaps. Mike Reilly lands in the latter, as he’s spent time with six different franchises since the 2015-16 season, and he too factors in more as a seventh defenseman or someone who predominantly rotates with a seventh blueliner but receives the nod most of the time.
He also put up some surprising numbers with a New York Islanders team that struggled to score this past season, with 24 points and six goals in 59 contests. He’s not the type of blueliner who will land big hits in every game, but a possession quality of 5.9 and a respectable 51.1 Corsi For imply value at yet another cost-effective price.
It’s also worth noting he put up these solid numbers as a waiver claim and one that turned out to be a solid pickup for a team that needed to fight all season just to stick around in the playoff hunt before a couple of hot streaks late in the season. If he lands in Detroit, Reilly would have a good chance to put up 20-plus points two seasons in a row for the first time in his career.
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(Statistics provided by Hockey-Reference)