via Ansar Khan of Mlive,

How much improvement will the Detroit Red Wings make in Steve Yzerman’s first season as general manager? Not much, according to oddsmakers.

The Red Wings’ over/under point total projection for 2019-20 is 75½. They finished with 74 points last season, when they missed the playoffs for the third year in a row, and 73 in 2017-18.

Only Los Angeles and Ottawa have lower over/under projections.

The Red Wings plugged a couple of holes in free agency with the signings of center Valtteri Filppula and Patrik Nemeth, but neither is a difference-maker. If they’re going to take a significant step from 2018-19, the improvement must come from within.

Expectations will be higher in 2020-21, after several contracts come off the books, giving Yzerman more flexibility to make moves, and recent draft picks get another seasons of development.