from Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press,

Ultimately the record shows the 2018-19 Detroit Red Wings were not very good.

They played hard and they played with speed, but they had trouble scoring (2.73 goals per game, 21st in the NHL), they had trouble keeping the puck out of their own net (3.32, 27th). Their power play was good in spurts but middling overall (18.1%, 19th) and their penalty kill was among the worst in the league (77.1%, 28th)....

Justin Abdelkader
2018-19: 6 goals, 14 assists, 19 points in 71 games.

Salary cap hit: $4.25 million.

2019-20 status: Signed.

Grade: It’s troubling just how much Abdelkader’s play has dropped off. He doesn’t contribute much offensively (he went 40 games between goals five and six), isn’t physical, and doesn’t move well. There are four years left on his contract. If next season begins as poorly as this one has gone, the Wings need to consider sending a message and putting him on waivers. D.

Andreas Athanasiou
2018-19: 30 goals, 24 assists, 54 points in 76 games.

Salary cap hit: $3 million.

2019-20 status: Signed.

Grade: He’s realized how much of an impact he can make, and is doing it consistently. He’s become a threat both at wing and at center, and has asserted himself as a central part of the rebuild. With continued growth, he could become a 40-goal scorer with his ability to create on his own. A.

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