9 - Joe Veleno
Quality minutes and more quality minutes will make up Joe Veleno’s physical, reliable game. He’s a jack-of-all-trades on this Red Wings team who can win roughly half of his faceoffs and put up double-digit goals, giving him sound value on what should be the team’s lower lines.
8 - Michael Rasmussen
Much like Joe Veleno, Michael Rasmussen is a reliable scorer for the average total amount of ice time he’s given - 15:11 last season. That may not be the case this season with more competition on the Red Wings. But it shouldn’t matter, as the depth forward should be reliable in landing body checks, blocking shots, and in the faceoff circle.
7 - Andrew Copp
Andrew Copp still isn’t the player he was in 2021-22, when he put up 21 goals and 53 points with the Winnipeg Jets and New York Rangers. That productivity fell even further last season when he finished the year with 33 points in 79 games, but he’s ultra-reliable in the faceoff circle, and he’s also unafraid to get in front of pucks when the Red Wings aren’t in possession.
6 - Vladimir Tarasenko
There’s nobody better equipped to help the Red Wings contend for a Stanley Cup than someone who recently won one this past season. Vladimir Tarasenko was a later addition in free agency, but a necessary one who should be a reliable points producer in the Motor City.
5 - J.T. Compher
Another recent Stanley Cup winner (Avalanche 2022) who has also since made his home in Detroit, J.T. Compher may not put up a ton of points, but he produces well enough. Add to the fact he brings at least a solid defensive game every time he steps out onto the ice, and there’s little argument to make as to why Compher shouldn’t snag a top-five spot on this list.