The Red Wings and their fans have got to be tired of Justin Holl holding the team back. Holl was supposed to at least provide some kind of stability on the third pairing but instead has looked like a player who just took the money and ran. That said, general manager Steve Yzerman must find a way to move him and try again with another blueliner.
Below, I got three defensemen ready to take the mantle, assuming they don’t re-sign with their current teams. Two of them could factor into the top four, and if last season was any indicator, the Wings need some serious help there.
So, which players should be on their radar this offseason if they’re serious about bringing a better on-ice product to Hockeytown? These aren’t dream defensemen, but they’re efficient and would be more effective than Holl, even if they don’t quite live up to expectations should they make the Motor City their next stop.
Ivan Provorov, Columbus Blue Jackets
The youngest name on this list, Ivan Provorov could sign a four or five-year deal with the Red Wings and jump right into the team’s core. He’s also got the credentials to back it up, having been part of a resurgent Columbus Blue Jackets team this past season. And he did his part, ending the year with a plus-11 rating.
Like the other two blueliners on this list, Provorov isn’t a major points producer, but he’s not bad, putting up seven goals and 33 points this past season. His 127 blocks show he’s not afraid to invade shooting lanes, and 23:21 of average total ice time means he’s good for second or even first-pairing minutes.
Vladislav Gavrikov, Los Angeles Kings
He was part of arguably the best defensive team in the regular season, and one that could end up shuffling around a few veterans. He’s also a little younger than Holl, which could give Steve Yzerman an incentive to sign Gavrikov to a longer deal, especially given his overall play across these past two seasons in Southern California.
Gavrikov would also give the Wings another seasoned veteran to place on at least the second if not the first pairing, if need be, given his 23:05 average ice time per game in 2024-25. He’s also not afraid to get in front of shots, having blocked 140 of them. Gavrikov is also not half-bad in producing points, giving the Kings 30, 25 of which were assists.
Cody Ceci, Dallas Stars
Cody Ceci showed off serious durability during the regular season, appearing in a ridiculous 85 games between his time with the San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars. He finished the year with just 24 points and four goals, but Ceci notched top-four minutes, a plus-6, and he was a shot-blocking machine, getting in front of 155 pucks.
Ceci may put up just solid, if not unspectacular play, but he’d give the Red Wings more reliable ice time on the second or third pairing, and step up in ways Justin Holl never could. He wouldn’t be my first choice, but Ceci would be nothing more than a one or two-year stopgap.
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