Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press grades the Wings,

Justin Abdelkader
Stats: 5 goals, 8 assists, 13 points in 41 games.

Salary cap hit: $4.25 million.

The buzz: Playing better after a poor start to the season but needs to be more physical, especially when the points aren’t coming. Part of his game is being net-front, but he needs to figure out how to do it without being the reason goals are disallowed (as happened Oct. 20 and Dec. 29).

Grade: C

Frans Nielsen
Stats: 7 goals, 17 assists in 37 games.

Salary cap hit: $5.25 million.

The buzz: He’s another guy who had a rough October, then trended much better. He has produced consistently, never going more than two games without a point. Does little things right, and is good with self-accountability.

Grade: B+

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