The Score’s Josh Wegman posted his offseason grades for Atlantic Division teams today, and he gave the Wings a very solid mark:
The Red Wings were among the busiest teams in the NHL this offseason, and we love Steve Yzerman’s pursuit to help his squad take the next step. The Compher and Holl contracts could wind up being regrettable one day, but they’re not egregiously bad.
The DeBrincat addition is an obvious home run. This team needed more star power up front, and locking up the two-time 40-goal scorer at a fair cap hit through his prime years without sacrificing the future was some tidy business. The 25-year-old hailing from Michigan is a plus, too.
Adding Petry, another Michigan native, at a reduced cap hit was another savvy move. He’s 35 now, but he’s still a capable top-four defenseman. We also like the high-upside bargain signings of Kostin and Sprong – both of whom flashed potential in depth roles last season.
It remains to be seen if this’ll be enough to propel the Red Wings to the postseason, but they’re headed in the right direction.
Grade: A-
It’s nice to read somebody not pan the Wings for their offseason makeover.
