Wow, the Detroit Red Wings blueliners need some work, there’s no denying it. Shaky play at the blue line was one of a few reasons the Wings found themselves packing after another 82-game season.
Overall, it was one brutal showing from nearly half of this group, and if they proved anything, it’s that they need some reinforcements quickly. That said, there’s still a lot to like from the defensemen the Wings got, and for those ranked No. 4 or above, they’re surefire keepers heading into next season.
Oh, and before I go any further, I only counted players who appeared in at least 40 games last year. That left just seven defensemen vying for my No. 1 spot. Check it out…
7 - Justin Holl
The writing has been on the wall for a while now, but will anyone take what’s left of Justin Holl’s contract? He’s got a $3.4 million cap hit and a 10-team no-trade clause. That’s not a good combo unless there’s a team out there that thinks Holl’s a good fit for them.
6 - Erik Gustafsson
Erik Gustafsson looked like a decent signing until he wasn’t. Then, fans were missing Shayne Gostisbehere. Like Holl, Gustafsson’s got another year remaining, but a smaller cap hit worth just $2 million and no trade protections. He should be the easier one of the duo to move.
5 - Jeff Petry
Goodness, this has been a painful ranking so far, with Jeff Petry hardly faring any better than the bottom two names. As an unrestricted free agent, there’s nothing holding Steve Yzerman back from letting Petry walk in free agency.
4 - Albert Johansson
Okay, now we’re getting somewhere. Albert Johansson is looking like a keeper, and the pending restricted free agent should stay in Hockeytown for at least another few seasons. Johansson isn’t a two-way player, but he’s shown he can block shots and lay the smackdown on opponents. That’s what this team needs in a third-pairing defenseman.
3 - Ben Chiarot
Ben Chiarot may be an older player, but he enjoyed a solid campaign pitching in with top-four minutes. The Red Wings didn’t have too many players with an edge, but Chiarot was one of them. Best yet, he’s got another season left on his contract, and there’s no reason to move him.
2 - Simon Edvinsson
Simon Edvinsson looked like a future playmaker out there on the ice with 24 assists and 31 points. He also routinely denied opponents getting the puck through shooting lanes, and, while he wasn’t the most physical blueliner of the bunch, he added a surefire edge that will only grow.
1 - Moritz Seider
You didn’t expect anyone else, did you? Moritz Seider still has room to improve in points production, but wow, talk about a sledgehammer you don’t want to skate around. Seider landed 212 body checks and 181 blocks last season, and he’s developed a reputation as one of the NHL’s most tenacious blueliners.
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