Pro Hockey Talk’s Adam Gretz offers a Red Wings 2019-2020 season preview this evening:
Better or worse: This best hope the Red Wings have for significant improvement is some rapid development from a young player or two (Filip Zadina, Evgeny Svechnikov, Michael Rasmussen) and continued progress from players like Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou, and Anthony Mantha. Even if all of that works out perfectly there are still significant question marks around the roster. They may not be worse, but they may not be significantly better, either.
Strengths: Not to be overly bleak about this team’s chances, but there are not a ton of strengths here. Larkin has become an outstanding player and even though it seems like he has been around forever, he is still only 23 years old. He is probably just now hitting his prime years and is coming off of a great year. Beyond him, the Red Wings have a ton of draft picks at their disposal, some intriguing young players coming through the farm system, and they hired one of the top general managers in the league (Steve Yzerman) to help try and turn this thing around. Long-term, that provides some hope. Short-term, things still look rough.
Weaknesses: They lack proven impact players, they lack depth at forward and defense, they were 22nd in goals scored a year ago, 27th in goals against, 19th on the power play, 27th on the penalty kill, and 23rd in team save percentage and a lot of the same players responsible for that performance are still there. In other words, there are weaknesses everywhere.
Unfortunately players like Svech will be playing in GR at best, his knee is still healing. He needs a year to regain his skills, health, etc. Is h even ready to start in GR right now ?
Ras can stand in front of the net better. Can he stand up for himself when tested by NHL Vets. He has never been a great skater and grit is still a question mark for me. GR for a short time will/might be good for him.
Zadina, I don’t think I have seen the NHL version of Zadina. The odds are he can make the jump to NHL. I have no idea if it is now or more GR.
Veleno wasn’t mentioned but he may have all the requirements to at least start a limited role in the NHL. This team is still in the beginnings of a rebuild. GR is better off in GR, mor ice time and improve. IMO he has all the raw skills, a good hockey IQ, etc, really no ?? except to grow into an NHL player. Probably less to worry about than the 3 players mentioned.
I think they will all be in the NHL some point. Svech has had a big set back, he is determined and I for one hope he makes it. Svech an Ras on the same line , 6′ 3″ and 6’6″ with Hirose might be a fun line to watch.
Time will tell. Mantha, AA were not rapid developing NHL players, Larkin had the chance to jump right in to the NHL and quickly improve.