Red Wings can still find some potential in free agent class

With the salary cap set to explode, the NHL's free agency frenzy has become more akin to what it is in the NFL or NBA. In those leagues, you rarely, if ever, see a big-name player reach free agency.

This upcoming free agency class is a harbinger of just how badly it'll be in the future. The vast majority of upcoming free agents are great additions to bottom-six depth. Few, if any, are legit needle-movers.

While they're not the flashiest players, they do hold their weight in usefulness. Some of the names this season could be great grabs for the Detroit Red Wings going into the 2026-27 season.

Scott Laughton brings grit, tenacity

Scott Laughton is a consistent 30-40-point player that's been known as a heart-and-soul guy everywhere he's played. Even Toronto Maple Leafs fans will tell you that Laughton is one of the most consistent guys on and off the ice every day.

I know that the Red Wings have enough two-way players, but the difference is that Laughton plays like he cares night in and night out. He provides solid defensive play and some extra depth scoring, something the Red Wings desperately need. He's also a career 50.7% in the faceoff dot and was 57.7% in the faceoff dot over 768 faceoffs during the 2025-26 season.

Now, admittedly, that's less than the total amount of faceoffs the Red Wings' top three centers took by roughly 200, but it's still a fantastic FO% for a guy who's largely played bottom-six minutes this season.

Bringing in Laughton beefs up Detroit's center depth, while adding a David Perron-esque presence in the locker room.

Bobby McMann adds 20+ goals to the lineup

Bobby McMann is probably the top candidate sought after by Red Wings fans. He's big, plays fast and is coming off two consecutive 20+ goal seasons. He's an ideal middle-six fit for a majority of the season. Plus, he has plenty of top-six experience in his time with the Maple Leafs and the Seattle Kraken.

As mentioned earlier, McMann is considered one of the biggest names in this year's free agency class. That might be more of an indictment on the quality of free agency than McMann, though. He's exactly what the Red Wings need to beef up their bottom-six and improve their 5v5 play, with 40 of his 46 points in the 2025-26 season coming at even strength.

Putting a guy like McMann on your third line with players like Emmitt Finnie, Carter Mazur or Marco Kasper would go a long way in making the team's bottom-six harder to play against (and much faster than it has been in a long time).

Boone Jenner

The current captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets isn't somebody that many Red Wings fans have considered. But those who have know that he would be a good pickup for the Red Wings for a multitude of reasons.

First and foremost, he's fantastic in the faceoff dot. He ran a 52.6% faceoff percentage in the 2025-26 season and carries a career 54% success rate, with most of his faceoffs coming the defensive zone. This could take a huge weight off of Dylan Larkin's shoulders as the go-to defensize zone guy. Jenner plays a similar style to Andrew Copp, but has more scoring touch and a better net-front presence -- something the Red Wings have needed for quite some time.

It's important to note that he hasn't played a full NHL season in almost a decade. But these stints have been largely on the shorter side while dealing with minor injuries. When healthy, though, he is a great option as a middle-six center.

Michael Bunting

You probably just rolled your eyes and let out a scoff or quick chuckle. But I'm serious. Michael Bunting is almost exactly what the Red Wings need in a middle-six player. He's a guy who can get under opponents' skin while also scoring 20 goals.

He isn't the fastest player in the world, but he's going to make things difficult for opposing players in front of the net and along the boards. He's the kind of player fans hate -- unless they're on their team, that is. He's a massive pest and an extremely good one at that. Sure, he'll probably get you into trouble on occasion with the refs, but ultimately, he'll be able to draw plenty of penalties.

If you were to put him on a line with the likes of Carter Mazur or Emmitt Finnie, the group could become a major menace of a line that opposing teams would hate to go up against.

This season's free agency class is rough to say the least. It's essentially only bottom 9 talent at best. With that in mind, you have to make do with what you've got and look to see what these guys can help improve.

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