NHL.com is examining each and every one of the NHL’s 32 teams this month, asking five questions of each team. Today, NHL.com’s Nicholas J. Cotsonika covers the questions surrounding the Red Wings. Among his queries:
2. How much will the offense improve, particularly the power play? Detroit scored 127 goals last season, one more than the Anaheim Ducks, who scored the fewest in the NHL. Their power play (11.4 percent) also ranked second-to-last, ahead of the Ducks (8.9 percent). But three of the Red Wings’ top four scorers from 2019-20 — forwards Dylan Larkin (12 games), Tyler Bertuzzi (47) and Robby Fabbri (26) — missed significant time with injuries. Each is expected to be ready for the start of this season.
The Red Wings made key additions in the offseason: center Pius Suter, defenseman Nick Leddy and assistant coach Alex Tanguay. Suter scored 27 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 55 games for the Chicago Blackhawks last season. Leddy scored 31 points (two goals, 29 assists) in 56 games for the New York Islanders. Tanguay will run the power play.
“I think we’re going to generate a little bit more offense, will score a few more goals, I think,” Yzerman said. “How many, I really don’t know.”
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4. Can Moritz Seider contend for the Calder Trophy? Seider, the No. 6 pick of the 2019 NHL Draft, scored 22 points (two goals, 20 assists) in 49 games for Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League in 2019-20. After he was loaned to Rogle of the Sweden Hockey League during the coronavirus pandemic last season, he scored 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 41 games. He won the SHL Elite Prospects Award and was named SHL Defenseman of the Year.
Can the 20-year-old contend for the Calder? First things first.
“If he’s in the top six and he’s earned that spot in the top six, he’ll play,” Yzerman said. “I’m not sure if he’s not in the top six how much we’re going to want to sit him in the press box, so we’ll worry about that when it comes. But we anticipate him making a really good push to play.”
