The Detroit Red Wings blue line still isn't a great rotation, but it's shaping up to be better than it was last season. There's a lot of young talent in the prospects pool, like Axel Sandin-Pellikka, and others, like Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson, have graduated and are playing substantial NHL minutes.
Where do Edvinsson and Johansson rank when compared to the rest of the Wings blue line? Check out the table below for some quick hits.
Rank | Name |
|---|---|
10 | Ian Mitchell |
9 | William Lagesson |
8 | Justin Holl |
7 | Jacob Bernard-Docker |
6 | Travis Hamonic |
5 | Erik Gustafsson |
4 | Albert Johansson |
3 | Ben Chiarot |
2 | Simon Edvinsson |
1 | Moritz Seider |
10 - Ian Mitchell
If needed Ian Mitchell's someone who will grind out bottom-pairing minutes and invade just enough scoring lanes to get by. But you'll probably see him playing an organizational depth role and mentoring youngsters.
9 - William Lagesson
William Langesson's in a better position to guide the likes of Axel Sandin-Pellikka, William Wallinder, and Company. He's got more NHL experience, and his age shows he's been around the game for a while. Like Mitchell, he'll only play in Hockeytown if needed.
8 - Justin Holl
Arguably the most uninspiring player in the lineup, Justin Holl's days with the Red Wings are more than numbered. In a best-case scenario, he's watching games from the press box, or joining the group of mentors over in Grand Rapids. With so much more depth, even patchwork depth, chances are, Holl's not playing many games in the Winged Wheel, regardless of his role.
7 - Jacob Bernard-Docker
Maybe the sneakiest good signing in the summer, Jacob Bernard-Docker could be in line for a full-time role. But if he wants to snag that role, he must prove he's more valuable than Travis Hamonic and Erik Gustafsson in camp and the preseason. And that higher perceived value needs to keep going when the games count.
6 - Travis Hamonic
Background noise. That's what Travis Hamonic's role should be. If he's playing more than part-time minutes, then something's wrong with Detroit's defensive rotation. But if he's looking like a mentor for the younger players at the top level and spending half his time in the press box, you got permission for optimism.
5 - Erik Gustafsson
He's in the top five mainly by default, but at least Erik Gustafsson's shown he can put up good two-way minutes in the past. If he shows shades of solid play this season, the Wings defensive unit will be deeper than it currently looks.
4 - Albert Johansson
Finally, we got someone who should be ready to step up into a larger role. Albert Johansson didn't take the league by storm last season, and nobody expected him to. This year? Top-four minutes are a must if he wants his 2025-26 campaign to be successful.
3 - Ben Chiarot
Ben Chiarot's the Red Wings best veteran stopgap. He won't wow you at this point in his career, but Chiarot should play well enough to at least help the Wings blue line hold its own while it gets younger.
2 - Simon Edvinsson
He's got a full season behind him, so now it's the moment of truth for Simon Edvinsson. If and when he makes the jump, Edvinsson's giving the Wings another two-way player that'll create mismatches for opponents.
1 - Moritz Seider
As it stands, Moritz Seider's in a league of his own among all Red Wings defensemen. The hard-hitting, durable blueliner only needs to bring some valuable points production, or more valuable production, and he'll be a top-tier D-Man.