If you’re looking for a team that could give you plenty of value in fantasy hockey this season, the Detroit Red Wings are it. For that reason, it was tough to pick just three players since a couple of unsigned restricted free agents as of August 13th, anyway, in Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, could be cornerstones for your team this season as well.
But for today, let’s talk about a trio of players already signed onto the team who should enjoy a big season in the Motor City from a productivity standpoint, starting with one who, if they stay healthy all season, could be a top-15 player.
Dylan Larkin
All summer, I’ve been wondering what Dylan Larkin’s final point total would have been if he never got hurt late in the year. Unfortunately, we’ll never know, but after averaging a point per game in 2023-24, there’s a good chance he would have ended up with 82-plus if injuries didn’t provide a roadblock for his otherwise successful campaign.
Anyway, Larkin could snag between 35 and 40 goals, especially if he builds even more chemistry with his forwards this season. It also wouldn’t surprise me if he sailed well over 40 assists, meaning 75 points is my floor for Larkin - not far from ESPN’s projection of 78 points.
Patrick Kane
I never would have remotely considered Patrick Kane to be potentially a viable fantasy hockey asset for 2024-25, but an outstanding comeback season proved otherwise. Something tells me his 47 points in 50 outings last year was nothing more than a foreshadowing of what to expect in 2024-25, with ESPN clocking him in with a projected 74 points and 25 goals in 71 contests.
No, he still won’t be the player who routinely wowed us with 80-plus points while in Chicago, but with 70-plus projected points, Kane is still worth a mid-round pick if you play in a larger league. If you’re in a smaller or mid-sized league, he should be there for you in the late rounds.
Alex DeBrincat
Finally, we got another former Blackhawk in Alex DeBrincat, who also enjoyed a good first season in the Motor City. Consistency wasn’t DeBrincat’s strongest suit, yet he still wound up with 67 points and 27 goals in 82 contests, but it’s something to build on in Year 2 with the Red Wings now that he’s built chemistry with the team.
ESPN’s projecting a rather modest total of 69 points and 28 goals, hardly an increase over 2023-24, but I can see DeBrincat faring much better than that. This projection could leave DeBrincat available later if you’re in a more modestly-sized league, and given the way he got hot a few times last year, there’s a good chance he could end up as a steal.
(Projections powered by ESPN)