from Max Bultman of The Athletic,
With the 2023-24 season in the books, though, and the proud franchise’s playoff drought now at eight years, one thing is clear: Expectations have begun to arrive in Detroit.
Arriving at the same time, however, is a complicated, challenging reality: Though the Red Wings took steps forward this year, they did so with a roster made up largely of veterans — not all of whom will be back next season. Yzerman has said he has interest in bringing all six of Detroit’s unrestricted free agents back, but realistically, he will have to prioritize certain players over others — and likely also do some subtracting elsewhere to make room on the roster and salary-cap ledger. Especially with young cornerstones Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond in need of new contracts.
And when some of those veterans inevitably depart, that will leave holes to fill and lost production that will need to be made up. Likely, those will be filled at least in part by younger players.
In some ways, that possibility is exciting. Yzerman’s conservative approach to promoting young players has been among the most criticized aspects of his GM tenure, and this season, despite the team’s rebuilding status, only one player with rookie status dressed for Detroit: Simon Edvinsson, who played in only 16 games.
Edvinsson looks locked into next year’s lineup, after an excellent stint to close the year, and in addition to him, Yzerman singled out forward Jonatan Berggren and defenseman Albert Johansson as players the team will need to make space for, as both will no longer be exempt from waivers.
“As far as young guys, anyone else, I wouldn’t rule out anybody,” Yzerman said.
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from Bob Duff of Detroit Hockey Now,
Philly shoulda got credit for a goal in the first period, Yzerman said. It was a terrible call. They shoulda been winning 1-0.
Later, Yzerman was discussing David Perrons game-tying goal with three seconds left in regulation the same night in Montreal.
The faceoff, we got a bit of a break on the icing call, Yzerman said. Finally, they did us a favor.
Both responses brought laughter from both Yzerman and the gathered media. They also drew notice from the national media.
Only Yzerman could take two hilariously unprompted shots at officiating during a year-end review, noted Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman in his weekly 32 Thoughts column. There would be no officials on the ice if he was in charge.
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If I was drafted by the wings I would be pissed off knowing that I would have to spend more time in the minors than most. Clear evidence is Berggren.
What exactly has Berggren done at the NHL level that indicates he should be there? BTW, there is clear evidence to the contrary when both Seider and Raymond got to the NHL pretty quick.
Berggren needs to spend the offseason working his tail off to get stronger. He's likely going to get a pretty decent chance to prove he is an NHLer this fall. He's got to earn it.
Agreed. Johnny burgers played most of the season with the wings in 22-23 and wasn't very effective most nights. He's already had a fair chance with the wings. He has decent skill but is soft on the puck with average speed at the NHL level IMO. If he doesn't show that he's uped his game in the fall, then he might need a change of scenery.
Yup.
Ted Kulfan of the Detroit News with his grades for the season,
▶ Alex DeBrincat 82 games, 27 goals, 40 assists, 67 points. Contract: Three years left, $7.875 million AAV. Analysis: Supplied the Wings with the offense they badly were looking for, a pure goal-scorer they hadnt had in a long time. The downside was the streakiness, and occasional slump DeBrincat endured. He has tremendous chemistry with Patrick Kane. Grade: B-minus
▶ Robby Fabbri 68 games, 18 goals, 14 assist, 32 points. Contract: One year remaining, $4 million AAV. Analysis: Fabbris role wasnt as big as previous seasons, but he still had an 18-goal season and was a effective on the power play. Plays with the grit and chippiness the Wings want to see. Grade: C-plus
▶ Christian Fischer 79 games, five goals, 14 assists, 19 points: Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: An unheralded free-agent signing, but one who made the Wings better. Fischer plays an energized, tough, checking role and does it well. It probably wont dent the Wings salary cap much to bring Fischer back. Grade: B
▶ Patrick Kane 50 games, 20 goals, 27 assists, 47 points: Contract: Unrestricted free agent. Analysis: For a player who many analysts felt would be washed up given his major hip surgery, Kane surpassed expectations. A dynamic offensive playmaker, Kane fit superbly with the Wings. So well, maybe, that he might get a better deal elsewhere. Grade: A-minus
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I wrote that shortly after the last game, and this would be hard to take for Red Wings fans (and surely Larkin and other core players) but there is no guarantee that the Wings will make the playoffs or be as good next year as they were this year.
What if Gostisbehere is not brought back? He got a lot of criticism from fans for turnovers and had a bad +/- figure, but remember how pathetic the Detroit PP had been for years? Id say more than anyone he was responsible for making it very effective. Hes around top 10 for defenseman PP points and total points and maybe .7 PPG.
If hes not signed for who replaces those points, positive effect on the PP and 19 minutes per game? If he is re-signed at $4M and Lucas and Seider get big pay days can they afford to bring back Kane? Maybe only if they dont bring back the other Veteran UFAs who all provide some aspect that would hurt if they are not re-signed.
It looks like theyll need, and have to put in some youth, maybe overdue, but as they cut their teeth in the NHL that could result in a loss of standings points.
As the former mlive and one-time poster on A2Y, the comical Doomsberry often said, Prepare for the worst."
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