NHL.com is posting late-July assessments of the offseason moves made by each and every one of its 32 member franchises. Tonight, Nicholas J. Cotsonika examines the Red Wings trade, free agency and coaching alterations, suggesting that GM Steve Yzerman is attempting to kick-start the team’s rebuilding effort.
As you know by now, the Red Wings added Ville Husso via a draft-day trade, Andrew Copp, Ben Chiarot, David Perron, Olli Maatta and Dominik Kubalik via free agency, and coaches Derek Lalonde, Bob Boughner, Jay Varady and Alex Westlund are all part of the mix as well.
Cotsonika lists defensemen Marc Staal and Danny DeKeyser as key subtractions, as well as 31-point-scorer Sam Gagner and #1B goaltender Thomas Greiss (among others), and he offers the following take as to who’s “on the cusp“:
On the cusp: Simon Edvinsson, D: The 19-year-old, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract on April 24, will have a chance to make the NHL roster after playing for Sweden at the 2022 IIHF World Junior Championship in Edmonton from Aug. 9-20. Edvinsson, the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, was a finalist for rookie of the year in the Swedish Hockey League last season after he had 19 points (two goals, 17 assists) in 44 games for Frolunda. … Jonatan Berggren, F: The 22-year-old, who was selected in the second round (No. 33) of the 2018 NHL Draft, led Grand Rapids of the American Hockey League with 64 points (21 goals, 43 assists) in 70 games last season. … Elmer Soderblom, F: The 21-year-old, a sixth-round pick (No. 159) in the 2019 NHL Draft, had 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists) in 52 games for Frolunda last season.
What they still need: General manager Steve Yzerman said he is content with the roster entering training camp, so for now, the Red Wings need their new coaching staff to sort out the returning players and new pieces. They need everyone to jell.
They said it: “I think we’ve addressed some needs. I’m hoping we’re a better team. I think we’re progressing slowly in this rebuilding of the Red Wings. Are we good enough to make the playoffs [this season]? I don’t know.” — general manager Steve Yzerman
I’m not certain that the GM is done adding pieces–as he told us all, he’s going to explore trades with cap-strapped teams–but I do think that the Wings are largely done making moves for the summer, and it’s going to be very interesting to see what a largely new coaching staff does with training camp and the preseason to establish a new message and a new work ethic within an overhauled roster.
Anyway, Cotsonika’s analysis continues with a bit of fantasy hockey talk via NHL.com’s Ana Dua, and he offers an estimate of the Red Wings’ healthy opening-night lines.
