You can blame the Eastern Conference, and cry foul about a few bad bounces, or a couple of key injuries. But none of that changes the unfortunate truth: The Red Wings failed because of the Red Wings. Period. Or, at least their weaknesses in the lineup tanked the team.
Inconsistency when they had the puck, issues in the defensive zone, and the inability to adapt to opponents later on sank the season. But let’s dive deeper and figure out exactly how this occurred.
Yeah, I can talk all day about what types of players the Wings need to sign if they don’t plan on this happening again. But if you want full insights, we need to dissect the problem first. If I don’t, then we’re throwing darts at the wall all day in making claims of who Steve Yzerman must bring in.
We know the blue line was built to break
Jeff Petry and Justin Holl were the two primary suspects, but let’s not forget about Erik Gustafsson. Gustafsson looked like he’d be a serviceable fill-in for Shayne Gostisbehere, but that plan fizzled early and never regained momentum. Ben Chiarot is aging, but he played well last season and has another year left on his deal.
That leaves Moritz Seider, Simon Edvinsson, and Albert Johansson. I like this group, featuring the hard-hitting, two-way Seider, and an up-and-comer in Edvinsson, and a bruiser in Johansson. Axel Sandin-Pellikka could be the next in line, and it’s something I wouldn’t be opposed to, but that would also leave a young rotation, should the Wings plan to call up Sandin-Pellikka.
What’s missing here though, are more dedicated play-punishers. Petry and Holl weren’t it, and while I have faith in Seider, Edvinsson, and Johansson to step up and force opponents to adjust, they’re not enough. Holl doesn’t deserve another chance and should be moved in a cap dump-off, and Gustafsson could stick as a seventh blueliner.
So, if I’m the Wings and I’m looking to add to my blue line - and they should - I’m rolling with physical play-punishers who can create chaos in the defensive zone. Give those goaltenders help, and watch the Wings win a few more games.
No real bruisers up front crushed the Red Wings down the stretch
The Red Wings managed 1,570 hits all season, that’s good for 19.14 hits per game. Most playoff-bound teams aren’t averaging under 20 hits a season, and the Wings traded away one of their most physical up-and-comers in Joe Veleno. A real bummer, to be frank.
No, Veleno hadn’t lived to expectations, but he looked like a lower liner who could bring in the intimidation factor. Unfortunately, that isn’t happening, and it’s left the Wings with the likes of Marco Kasper and Michael Rasmussen. Kasper will only get more physical, even as his scoring prowess sails north, but the Wings need lower liners ready to land body checks.
Give me two more players who can add another 150 hits each should they stay healthy. That would, with all things being equal, give them roughly 1,870 hits next season, or 22.8 per game. Chances are, adding more muscle and edge will deny a few more sequences, further helping out their aging goaltenders.
Steve Yzerman’s caution is destroying this team
It’s time to admit this, and I know a contingent of the fan base has. But when is Steve Yzerman going to let loose and start making sound acquisitions to help this core? In order for the above two (more, really) moves to occur, Yzerman must get out of his own way and stop being his own worst enemy.
If he can make that quality free agent signing or pull off a trade to bring in a real hitter (who, preferably can also score if they’re a forward), then fans will have a greater, more positive outlook heading into 2025-26. But if the Wings offseason is as bland as what we’d seen at the trade deadline? Forget about it.
So, to reiterate, Yzerman needs to bring in physical players. Play-punishers. Both to his group of forwards and to the blue line.
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