ESPN’s Kristen Shilton and Greg Wyshynski posted a massive article for ESPN+ readers today, offering off-season grades for every one of the NHL’s 32 teams’ post-2021-2022 season trades and free agency moves.
My ESPN+ subscription costs seventy bucks, so I’m going to share what Shilton had to say about the Red Wings, and leave the rest to you:
Key players added: D Ben Chiarot, C Andrew Copp, G Ville Husso, F Dominik Kubalik, F David Perron, D Olli Maatta
Key players lost: G Thomas Greiss, G Calvin Pickard, D Marc Staal
Remaining cap space: $10,296,111Coach status: The Red Wings moved on from Jeff Blashill in April, ending his seven-year tenure as head coach. Detroit has since named former Tampa Bay assistant Derek Lalonde as Blashill’s replacement. Lalonde has never run his own NHL bench, but as part of Jon Cooper’s staff since 2018 he has helped to guide the Lightning to consecutive Stanley Cup championships. It’s a winning pedigree that would give most general managers confidence in Lalonde — including Steve Yzerman.
Overall grade: A
Yzerman has not messed around in free agency. Detroit had cap space to use, and he has given this group a great chance to be in the playoff mix this season.
Going after the rights to Husso was a good start. Yzerman traded for him from St. Louis and then got a three-year extension done. The Red Wings should have a terrific tandem now in Husso and sophomore Alex Nedeljkovic.
Getting Perron on a two-year, $9.5 million pact was nice work by Yzerman, too. Perron hit his highest goal total (27) in eight years last season and was a force in the postseason (13 points in 12 games). That’s a savvy veteran who, at 34, is also playing excellent hockey. Perron will be huge for Detroit on the ice and in the dressing room.
Copp signed a five-year, $28.125 million deal to bolster Detroit’s top six. He was a 20-goal scorer between New York and Winnipeg last season and drew ample interest ahead of free agency. Copp is from Detroit and wanted to play at home; Yzerman was happy to oblige.
The Red Wings’ also have a solid middle-six option in Kubalik, a former 30-goal scorer clocking in on a two-year, $5 million deal.
To punch up the Red Wings’ beleaguered blue line, Yzerman added free agents Chiarot and Maatta. Detroit needed an upgrade on D after giving up the second most goals in the league a year ago (3.78 per game). Offering Chiarot a four-year term at age 31 might not age well, but in the short term Chiarot should play his role well.
This has been the type of offseason that sets Detroit up for long-term success. Yzerman knows Dylan Larkin and Tyler Bertuzzi are UFAs after this season. Enticing them to stick around requires a clear plan forward, and that’s what he is unfolding. Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider were already in the Red Wings’ ranks for years to come too. Putting all these new pieces around them — plus a fresh voice behind the bench — and Yzerman has knocked this offseason out of the park.
The massive article continues (paywall), and it’s a heavy undertaking.
