The Detroit Red Wings have yet to make their free agency moves, but fantasy hockey experts are already looking forward to next season, and a trio of scribes posted columns which include discussions about Red Wings players.
ESPN’s Victoria Matiash rounded up the 2022 NHL Draft’s trades and picks with assessments of both parties, and she offered this take on the Ville Husso trade as it applies to fantasy hockey poolies (and she’s not optimistic about Husso’s future exploits):
Ville Husso, G, Detroit Red Wings
Superb in subbing in for a sub-mediocre Jordan Binnington though much of 2021-22, Husso will have a rougher go of it with a Red Wings club, however promising, that’s not there yet. Plus, there’s that pesky Alex Nedeljkovic to battle for Detroit’s bulk of starts – and Ned will feel extra inspired to enjoy the best campaign possible in the final year of his current contract. There are about 25 other fantasy netminders I prefer to the former Blues goalie in his current environment. Unless GM Steve Yzerman’s squad comes together quicker than I anticipate, Husso will be in tough trying to replicate his 2.56 GAA and .919 SV% from this past season. Never mind the 25-7-6 record.
On the other hand, DobberHockey’s Tom Collins gave praise to “Gritty Rookie” (as opposed to “Rookie Gritty”) Moritz Seider:
Moritz Seider: The Calder Trophy winner is already on everyone’s radar thanks to his 50 points in 82 games, making him the third rookie defenseman to reach that mark since 1993-94. However, it’s his production in peripheral categories that should have fantasy hockey general managers salivating. Not only did he put up 187 shots, but he also had 34 PIM, 151 hits and 161 blocked shots. He was the only rookie to reach 30 PIM, 100 shots, 100 hits and 100 blocked shots and led all rookie defensemen in shots and blocked shots. Add in his value in other categories (21 power-play points and two shorthanded points) and Seider is someone who can contribute in almost every fantasy category.
Finally, the Hockey News’s Jason Chen suggests that two Red Wings stalwarts might make good fantasy hockey picks as they go into their pre-unrestricted free agency contract seasons:
Tyler Bertuzzi, LW/RW, Detroit Red Wings (159.6): Bertuzzi’s vaccination status will likely be far less of a factor going forward after being banned from playing in Canada and he scored at a 75-point pace last season.
Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings (176.7): Larkin was one of the best value picks last season and the Wings are on a major upswing with a projected $65 million (!) in available cap space for Larkin to take advantage of. Larkin’s easily a top-100 option this coming season.
