Detroit Hockey Now’s Kevin Allen examines the state of the Red Wings’ defensive corps with the subtractions of Jake Walman and Shayne Gostisbehere, and the additions of Erik Gustafsson and William Lagesson:
The Red Wings’ defense will be different in 2024-25. Jake Walman (traded to San Jose) and Gostisbehere (left through free agency) are gone. That’s 20 missing goals.
Barring a trade, the Red Wings will have nine defensemen at training camp: Gustafsson, Moritz Seider, Ben Chiarot, Olli Maatta, Simon Edvinsson, Jeff Petry, Justin Holl, William Lagesson (signed Monday as UFA) and Albert Johansson.
Seider, Petry and Holl are the only right-shot defensemen in that group. It’s not unthinkable that [Holl] will play much more than he did last season.
Presumably, Johansson will compete against Lagesson and maybe others for the eighth and final spot defensive spot on the roster. Johansson is no longer waiver exempt, meaning he has to go through waivers to be sent to the AHL. The Red Wings don’t believe he would get through waivers without being claimed. Lagesson is on a one-way contract for $775,000, but has spent time in the minors throughout his career. The Red Wings probably would be comfortable having a big salaried player in Grand Rapids.
Edvinsson will likely be in the second pairing with Petry.
With Gostisbehere gone, Seider again becomes the No. 1 power play point man. Gustafsson may get a shot as the No. 2 point man. Edvinsson may also get an opportunity.
It doesn’t seem like the team will move Holl. He has two years remaining on a contract paying $3.4 million. They could certainly use that cap space. If you set aside $17 million to re-sign Lucas Raymond and Seider, they have about $3.5 mill to sign one more forward.
Continued; I still think that Holl’s going to exit the team, somehow.
